Religion...

[dub]

I did not grow up in any church. I heard about God from my grandpa's actions the most. But all I thought about Christians was that they don't drink or do anything fun. I did try to go to church but only found judgmental hypocrites. I looked at many religions not just Christianity. I gave up on all of them.

But I always knew in my heart that there was a God. I figured no person could show me God. Now I can tell you the Bible says that if you seek God you will find God. But I had not ever read that. I just kept praying and would say something like the God of gods or the Main God. I knew in my heart God was there just not who God was. I came to know God living in a cow pasture not in a church. I did not go to any church I just found ways to serve other people and not let anyone know. I wanted God to know I was doing it only for God and not people. In serving others I found the peace I never knew.

I started looking at religions and only Christianity described the God I knew. I visited a few Christian churches and did not find anyone getting it right. Even now as an active member of a church I do not see many people that really seem to understand God. I asked my son the other day if the preacher was serving God. Of course he said yes. I asked how many people wanted to be a preacher on the stage. He did not know. So I asked my son, "How many people want to clean the toilets in the church?" Jesus washed the feet of the disciples

I look for the jobs nobody wants to do. My church has people to clean. So I show up and tell them I will do whatever is needed. I will not say what I have done or what I do because the God I serve knows.

I really pray for most Christians. Gandhi said something like, I like your Christ it is the Christians I do not like.

I do believe that church is important but I don't think you need church to find God. For the people born a different religion I think they know in their hearts what is right. It is their decision to make.

Romans 1:19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For those that are born another religion or not ever hearing the word.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.

I do believe everthing is in the Bible. I do believe that it is the word of God given to man. I have spent many hours reading the Bible and looking for faults. When I found place the Bible was wrong I would later learn that I was wrong. I would say if you find something in the Bible you don't like to read it over and over. Read what is before it and after it. I would say that God is telling you something. Sometimes a preacher or someone else can help clarify. But I would say you need to take it to God. The author of the Bible and the author of your heart.

[jimco]

I've never been anywhere in nature outside South Louisiana. During the winter months I spend a lot of time fishing by myself in the
Atchafalaya Basin. There are places in that swamp that are down right spiritual to be in. I feel a closer connection to God when I am in those places than I ever felt in church.  Unlike church where someone is telling me what they want me to hear, being in them swamps among those majestic cypress trees and some of the most beautiful landscapes known to man all you have to do is take it all in. you can just feel God's presence.

[dub]

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible."
Thomas Aquinas

Please explain...  

There comes a time when you have to decide you believe completely or you don't.  You can question everything in life until the day you die and you still won't have all the answers.  That's where Faith comes in.  Have you ever looked at all the people for all these years that have set out to disprove the bible and haven't. They've  done nothing but fail, or just learned to believe.  

I've met way too many people in life that were "blindly faithful" because they could not understand any further.... does not make it true.

A simple mind requires simple answers... sounds chitty but it the truth.

I ask everyone to look at the whole picture... not just out brief "window" in time...  We are not original... we are but a link in the chain of humanity...

People saw the miracles and did not have faith. Judas one of his disciples even turned Jesus over. Without faith you jst can't understand.

Jesus was asked why he spoke to the people in parables.
Matthew 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

   “Though seeing, they do not see;
   though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

   14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

   “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
   you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
   they hardly hear with their ears,
   and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
   hear with their ears,
   understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.â€

[Noah]

I've never been anywhere in nature outside South Louisiana. During the winter months I spend a lot of time fishing by myself in the
Atchafalaya Basin. There are places in that swamp that are down right spiritual to be in. I feel a closer connection to God when I am in those places than I ever felt in church.  Unlike church where someone is telling me what they want me to hear, being in them swamps among those majestic cypress trees and some of the most beautiful landscapes known to man all you have to do is take it all in. you can just feel God's presence.

I can't but give an AMEN to that brother....

[Noah]

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible."
Thomas Aquinas

Please explain...  

There comes a time when you have to decide you believe completely or you don't.  You can question everything in life until the day you die and you still won't have all the answers.  That's where Faith comes in.  Have you ever looked at all the people for all these years that have set out to disprove the bible and haven't. They've  done nothing but fail, or just learned to believe.  

I've met way too many people in life that were "blindly faithful" because they could not understand any further.... does not make it true.

A simple mind requires simple answers... sounds chitty but it the truth.

I ask everyone to look at the whole picture... not just out brief "window" in time...  We are not original... we are but a link in the chain of humanity...

People saw the miracles and did not have faith. Judas one of his disciples even turned Jesus over. Without faith you jst can't understand.

Jesus was asked why he spoke to the people in parables.
Matthew 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

   “Though seeing, they do not see;
   though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

   14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

   “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
   you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
   they hardly hear with their ears,
   and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
   hear with their ears,
   understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.â

Dub, when you rely on ONE book to define your ENTIRE reality..... it is impossible to disprove said logic.

[Noah]

I can only imagine those of you that do not share remotely in described "religious views"....

Do not be scared to interact... I welcome the conversation.

[Noah]

And for all you Christian pastoral representatives...  explain me Genesis 6:4 if you would please...

[Reuben]

I've never been anywhere in nature outside South Louisiana. During the winter months I spend a lot of time fishing by myself in the
Atchafalaya Basin. There are places in that swamp that are down right spiritual to be in. I feel a closer connection to God when I am in those places than I ever felt in church.  Unlike church where someone is telling me what they want me to hear, being in them swamps among those majestic cypress trees and some of the most beautiful landscapes known to man all you have to do is take it all in. you can just feel God's presence.

I can't but give an AMEN to that brother....

x2....I live to understand nature and God... it is like they are the same. The more I understand the more awesome it is...the pattern repeats itself more often than not...

I keep thinking that nature at its highest level is a part of God...not just created by God...

[Noah]

Please do a favor for me brothers and sisters... ask your most respected pastor to look at this and respond.... for me.

I have been struggling with this for a while now... would love to be enlightened.

[SCHitemHard]

noah nephlims is a term for old warriors 

[Noah]

noah nephlims is a term for old warriors 

Try again grasshopper.... 

ANYONE?  As I said, this is a subject that even pastors of numerous congregation have been spooked to answer.

This is no play on words.  This is direct text from the almighty book that so many base their existence off of.

[SCHitemHard]

hey atleast i tried gotta give me that

do you care to enlighten me anyway, send me a pm if you wanna mum the word on here till someone breaks the silence

[jimco]

A few of the Churches I attend.

[Noah]

HAHA, sorry man, I have always taken this stuff pretty serious believe it or not... no need to PM anything brother.... the Bible is flat out describing "sons of God" having relations with "daughters of man" .... and progeny(kids) thereof...

Half "angel"/Half human...  men of renown... Quite a SPECIFIC TEXT to say the least.....

Come on Holy Rollers.... please explain this to me...

[Noah]

jimco... could not describe a more beautiful church... absolutely gorgeous.

"wherever two or more come together in my name."... enuff said.

[SCHitemHard]

id hate for you to be my preacher, id be cleansed within the first day 

[Noah]

id hate for you to be my preacher, id be cleansed within the first day 

The thought has always been on my mind... have not come to an understanding enough yet to help anyone yet however..... 

I am a passionate person... always have been.  Politics or preachin'... would fall right in to either... just haven't "finalized" my opinion on neither.... 

[SCHitemHard]

does ring a bell... "Noah for President... we dont want change!"

[Noah]

I can promise you the military would have my back... 

[Bryant]

Noah,

First off, let me ask, and meaning no offense.  With your daring, bring out your best, almost taunting approach is it the truth you seek or perhaps just a good argument?

I can give you my personal interpretation and the way I believe Genesis 6:4 is to be understood, but it would be just that.  I don't care the level of understanding of any theologian...there is not currently nor will there ever be any human being who can completely comprehend and understand all that is taught in God's Word.  Looking at it from a scientific approach the same can be said for even the world's most achieved scientists and renowned thinkers (including those who study merely in attempt to disprove).  I believe this to be God's intent.

Faith to me is much like the air I breathe.  I can't see it, but I can take a deep breath, blow in the palm of my hand and feel it's presence and know it's there.  I also know that without it, I cannot live.

Noah, in many ways you remind me much of myself.  A very strong willed person, who forms your own opinions not simply based on what someone says, but rather what you can prove or disprove.  You believe you are in control...you call your own shots and you have life by the horns.  Well let me just tell you from personal experience that God has a way of breaking people like you and I.  Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow or even in the near future but there will come a time that you will realize that you're not in as much control as you believe you are and you do need the guidance that only God can give.  (Very hard concept for me personally, because I am a control freak who tends to believe that no one knows best for me except for me).  Interesting that this topic comes up at the same time I made the post about being frustrated.  When I really think it through, you know why I'm really frustrated? Because I had a plan...I had things all worked out the way I think they should have been and things just continue it seems to go to heck and it just isn't working out the way I think it should have.

You can take me for my word, or you can choose to blow me off....you're choice, but I speak from personal experience here man!

I'll leave you with one of my favorite verses and one I reflect on often.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6)

As much as I like research...and as much as I like to prove or disprove an idea or theory there just sometimes comes a time when you have to take something at face value and simply believe....that's called faith.

Let me also say that often people say they don't hear God, or that God doesn't speak to them.  I question if they ever really take the time to listen.  When I refer to God speaking, I'm not necessarily refering to speaking in an audible sense.  I believe God speaks and shows us things all the time...perhaps through someone else, maybe by nature or even by something we see or hear.  Now if we choose to listen or not, that's our decision.  God will never force himself on you, but I believe he will definately get your attention!