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Post by X factor on Sept 30, 2013 21:29:25 GMT -5
I really hope there's an after life...
The idea of being 'nothing' after being 'something' is kind of disheartening...
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Post by X factor on Oct 23, 2013 17:47:19 GMT -5
The longer you live, the more your realize man can't help you...the more you see the futality of it all.
You begin to see how 'conditional' your value is to man.
You have to be healthy, young, fit, cute or handsome, and rich.
If you're not young, fit, healthy, cute or handsome, or rich, your value to man isn't much.
And the older you get, the poorer you become, the less value you have to society, to man.
And when you get to the point where you can't produce anything, an income, or pay taxes...than your put on the cutting block.
At times I'm not sure what makes sense anymore...I listen to radio sermons...and they like repeat themselves...tell the same bible stories you've heard since age 5.
They never bring it into 'today'...talk about modern miracles, a modern Moses, a modern Peter a modern Danial....
Instead they, Pastors, just keep retelling the same stories over and over again...not sure why.
I think there's a few who want to derive hope from 'today'...see that 'God' is alive, and working miracles today, changing lives today, in people who are alive and breathing.
If Jesus indeed is a loving, kind spirit, than I invite that love kind spirit into my life...
Cause I've encountered many hateful, mean, dark spirits...and they're no picnic.
So if there's a spirit savior, that loves the world, died, and was resurrected for the world...I accept their gift...
The alternative is what?
Acclimades from man?
I've seen celebrities rise and fall...and mans temporary acclimades, or praise, wasn't able to save them from anything.
The world is a dark and scary place...I think when you're alone you realize that more.
When no one loves you, cares for you...you see things differently, than those surrounded by caring souls.
The world itself, the matter, the trees, the wind, clouds, ect...isn't dark....it's the intent of man, or the evil that seems to run through man like a current, that is dark and scary.
And not just man...
Try surviving in the jungle naked and exposed...everything will feed off of your flesh...misquitoes, ticks, mites, spiders, ants, bats, tigers, lions, cougars, coyotes...even the nature of animals is brutal.
In a tame environment...we don't notice that so much anymore...but nature can be brutal also.
Although with nature, it's survival, and not really 'intent'...nature, animals, insects, don't know better, man does, and still chooses to hurt others...that's the difference.
Who doesn't want to get away, separate away from...but unless one is filthy rich, you just can't do it.
So you're forced to live all up close with mentally ill folks, dishonest folks, people who are mean, loud, rude.
So for those who find solace in 'The Lord'...I cannot blame them at all.
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Post by X factor on Dec 8, 2013 10:57:16 GMT -5
 Is the Lord still coming back, returning to earth? or is it all just hype? “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3 How many people have died terrible painful, brutal deaths, awaiting for this event to occur? Seems for many the Lord never comes back, until you simply die in the flesh, to go meet him. The 7-Day Adventist, in particular, are one of the churches that really use to, or still, push that doctrine heavily...people wait in anticipation, as if weekly, for the Lord to return.. As if going to the airport, waiting for flight, but jet never shows up. At this point, not really sure what 'The Lord' is waiting for...to me, it's almost cruel, and without purpose anymore, to continue making people wait for a return, the Lord promised so long ago. I was on another sight yesterday...some 'Faces of Death' site...and viewed some very grizzly photos of dead folks...suicides, accidents and so on. It just showed me how brutal and grizzly death is...that most of us never see, that usually only 1st responders see and deal with. Every day, grizzly deaths occur in the 10's of thousands...horrific terrible deaths...daily, weekly, monthly, yearly... As such, one might ask why does God keep delaying his return, to put an end to this ugly cycle? How many people could be spared the ugly cycle of life on earth, if Jesus, as he stated in scripture, simply returned and put an end to this madness...and usher in his new perfect heaven or realm...  What's the delay? So as many souls can be saved as possible? as many churches teach... But if for every soul saved, 10,000 must suffer and die a brutal death or live a miserable life cycle, where's the efficiency in that? If God can see into the future and past...than God should already know who's apart of his kingdom ahead of time whether their born yet or not. Sometimes it just makes no sense to, for, those who faithful await or awaited. Is the Lord still returning or not? is what people want to know... And how will like Islamic people feel, when 'Jesus' returns? But I suppose, any man, regardless of preferred faith, if witnessing supernatural event, probably will realize it's a divine being. Or what if a Muslim deity returns instead? How would Christian feel? There's like a billion muslims in the world, who own have the realistate on this planet...how would Jesus, the Messiah deal with them when he returns? Pastors really need to deal with matters like this while at church...instead of always preaching the same sermons over and over again about the Mt of Olives.. |
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Post by X factor on Dec 30, 2013 10:13:27 GMT -5
I've said this before in the past, but I often think that 'God' is simply 'ourselves', our own self interest.
We're often told if we just pause, stop and listen, we'll here Gods voice...
But actually at any given time there's all sorts of voices and thoughts inside of our minds, working, talking, blabbing all the time, like self talk.
I think God truly does give us free will...free logic, free to be rational and responsible or irrational, and irresponsible.
All life forms are self centered, and into self preservation...so when we pray, most answers we give ourselves reflect that...and then we top it off by saying 'God spoke with me'...like icing on the cake.
But actually, more than likely, we spoke to ourselves, using our own system of logic, based on our own indivusual moral code.
Cause if anything God, or Jesus, as portrayed in scripture, was very selfless...Jesus always put other peoples needs before his own...how many of us actually do that?
It's 'me' first, my needs, my comfort, my satisfaction first, then everyone else.
The only exception to that rule would be loving parents who through biological bonding, place the needs of their hobbits before anything else in the world...responsible parents that is.
But parenting aside, most put self first...and that's not nessisarily bad, it's called survival.
But I am saying, since I believe most 'pray to self', then the answer to our prayers usually reflects our own self interested, coated in 'And God told me'...
Proof of this, if God were truly in everyone, controlling everyone, guiding everyone, there would be no hate, jelousy, envy, ect.
There'd be no racism, no prejudging ect...even within the church, or other 'holy bodies'...
This tells me that people still operate as induvisuals, even within a church.
We are lead, guided, by our flesh, first and foremost, our sinful self centered flesh leads us to be bias, to hold grudges, to wish harm on others ect.
And this is indeed something Jesus addressed, Jesus and the apostles commonly refered to the 'Holy Spirit'...and commonly told followers to be guided by the holy spirit instead of the flesh.
Cause the 'Holy Spirit' (since it is a spirit) makes any human who is filled with it, think outside of instincts of human flesh...which according to scripture is 'tainted'.
In all my life, I have met just a handful of people with this type of fearless, non judgmental love in them.
Even I've had it, years ago, when I was really into 'God' and the Church...
(I'll start a separate thread on that in the future).
But in reality, most people who pray to God, aren't trying to be holy, being holy is the last thing on most peoples minds.
Most people just want things to go their way, our way...and it's as simple as that.
We don't want it to go any other way but our way, then we're happy, content, and feel God loves us, when things go our way.
We totally twist the meaning of serving a loving God by doing that.
And is why you can't distinquish a Christian from a Pagan now days...one admits to serving self, and the other pretends they're serving a God.
Not sure if anyone even knows how to serve God anymore.
I mean if those who claimed to 'serve God' mirrored the life of Jesus, you'd never get to work, we'd be to busy stopping helping others all morning, fixing flat tires, pushing broke down cars to the side, picking up hitch hikers ect.
And there's no income involved in being kind.
Odd that even back then, Jesus said you can't serve two master at the same time, money and God.
Anyways, I'm getting of track, but think I've made my point, and that is to most 'god' is simply self interest...
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Post by X factor on Jan 3, 2014 2:08:18 GMT -5
Not sure why most angels are depicted through art as being slutty females, with big busts... In scripture, angels are never ever ever described as being female, or half naked and clad, to resemble some mans lustful image. Angels in scripture are never depicted that way...so most, if not all angelic depictions I see in art, are nothing more than another mans lustful projections.  Art like this, where angels are depicted as prostitute females...really turn me off, and demonstrates how man always distorts things, including heavenly concepts, to fit his own needs, recreates even the heavenly and divine, to reflect self. I find that very selfish. And it alienates countless others from truly seeing the majesty, and purity of God divine. Angels are not slutty looking females...and should not be depicted that way... No where in the bible are angels depicted as being slutty looking females... |
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Post by X factor on Jan 9, 2014 5:39:42 GMT -5
Why do Athiest believe or think that the only people with the capacity to create anything physical out of atoms on the earth are, well, other atheist? or people who don't believe in God?
This idea that one has to denounce God, or the idea of a God, in order to re arrange and channel atoms on the earth is silly and flawed to me, as if one who believes in God, doesn't too see the value in shelter, shoes, clothing, and tools to make life easier.
Not sure why some Atheist frame it that way.
That the only way one sees the value in technology is if one denounces the idea of a creator, then suddenly 'creative genes' kick in or something.
Hogwash...
Science, which is a broad term, has nothing to do with salvation in ones soul.
All the scientific inventions in the world, whether pioneered by a person of faith or no faith, can't cleanse the soul.
This idea that only godless believing Atheist have contributed to the scientific advances of humanity is ridiculous.
God never told anyone, through the prophets or apostles that 'Hey, if you believe in me, don't invent anything from the earth, and just walk around naked'.
The creator created man in his image, including the desire to create.
People originally created things for comfort...example...it's raining, 'hey, it makes sense to use trees, mud, clay and other material to construct shelter so we don't get wet'...
That thought process has nothing to do with there being a god or not.
God made man intelligent, so this idea that if one believes in God, they don't or won't see the value in sandals for the feet, as to not expose bottom of feet to thorns and thistles, is false.
Whether a atheist or a believer in God, both will see the need to construct shoes for the feet.
And science really began in small steps, as man simply sought to use material of the earth to protect self, flesh, from the raw elements.
Add 1000's of years to that, and man just became more profesiant at harvesting matter from the earth to make his own life easier.
So this idea that only atheist see the value in science is absurd...
Egyptians were spawned to create the pyrimids, and they were highly religious...
They believed in 'the gods'...and look what belief in 'the gods' spawned them to create.
If I had been a guest or caller on Goerge Norris Coast to Coast, I would of challenged his guest more who implied that only being an atheist can spawn one to want see the need in technology...how absurd.
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Post by X factor on Jan 10, 2014 18:47:58 GMT -5
To simplify above post here's short precise example of what I mean.
A atheist and a Christian (or any one who believes in a higher power)
Both are standing naked in a field...it begins to rain, then snow...they both are miserable and cold.
Weather clears up...suddenly it begins to rain and snow again...
Both the atheist and Christian are compelled to seek shelter this time, and compelled to create garments for warmth, to weave, mold, create things out of nature in a way that benefits them.
At this stage, neither of their actions is compelled by whether there's a god or not, rather they're compelled by the need to preserve self by seeking, building shelter, and creating garments.
The Christian doesn't say 'Oh, I believe in god, so I'll just stand out here and freeze'...rather the Christian is compelled to use the brain god created inside of them, to construct shelter, and garments.
And that's basically science.
Science is not some ideology opposed to 'God', nor does science speak for god, science is simply the process of someone learning the how's and whys of their environment in ways to make life on earth more comfortable for self, family, village, tribe ect (early on)
Learning that fire produces heat, neither speaks for or against God.
Learning that a really hot fire melts minerals, to form metals neither speaks for or against God.
Learning about sound waves, building devices that receive sound ways, neither speaks for or against God, rather indivisuals do that, but science doesn't.
Scientific fact has nothing to do with whether there's a god or not, just like literary facts don't.
Just not sure how or why people equate the two?
atheistic scientis 'Man can fly now, inside an airplane, thus proving a divine creator doesn't exist'..huh?
I see no connection between constructing things from earth matter, and the divine.
It would be like placing someone in a room with lego's...and the person constructs a box with the lego set, and then reasons...'Well since I constructed a box, with all these legos, than the manufacturer of these legos must not exist'...again...makes no sense.
Well so much for this being a short post...
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Post by X factor on Jan 14, 2014 19:27:50 GMT -5
I get sumicious at times, that a majestic God, the creator of life, would only choose one or two, or a handful of people to speak through...
Why hide?
I don't get that.
Why would a God so powerful, only give a few people dreams, visions?
You often here people 'God told me this', 'God told me that'...
Why would God divine operate on such a small scale like that?
If you have a message, why not just tell everybody all at once?, why the back room secrecy when it comes to God sharing truth with others or some?
Sometimes that just doesn't sound right to me...
Like the President, when the leader of a nation gives an address...he/she addresses all, not just a few, as they sleep.
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Post by X factor on Mar 26, 2014 8:46:40 GMT -5
Seems the minute you join a church, they start telling you how wrong other churches are. If you join the Adventist Church They start telling you how wrong Catholics are and how wrong Baptized are and Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormon's, suddenly every other church and believer becomes bad and follow error, through their eyes. And if you join Methodist ChurchSame thing, all the other churches and members of other churches become 'flawed' since of course they're not at the Methodist church. And I could go on and on, so that when you join a church, you're once again caught up in who's better than who, who's more 'saved' than whom, and who's interpitation of scripture is more accurate than the others. Church doctorines can sometimes stifle a persons basic belief in salvation, a God and a Savior. Yet I do believe it's good to go and be around people who focus on a higher power or authority than mans Governments. No easy answer or solution here.
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Post by X factor on Apr 28, 2014 15:37:02 GMT -5
Are you an 'Angel' to someone? Or have you ever been 'leased' by God to help fulfill or satisfy someone else's needs? Some times it's like you do something kind for someone, and think nothing of it, and then they, right in front of you, say 'Oh thank you Lord', or something similar. In other words they were in need, prayed to God for help, and some how, some way, you end up unwittingly being that help...  But it's not like you planned it that way, you were just being nice, kind, gentle or financially generous (cause it's just who you are), but the person your nice, kind, gentle or financially generous to thanks God for you fulfilling their needs at that moment. Hmm. I have no problem with that...cause I think God, good spirits, Angels, can only move people, or use people who are already kind to help others in need. So I have no problem with that...I mean I'd rather be on Gods side than the devils... |
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Post by X factor on Jun 29, 2014 8:44:00 GMT -5
The older I get, the more I learn, the more my world view broadens, based on history and events of the past, which totally shape today, the more it all just makes me wonder. For instance, take African slaves and church...the way the whole thing occurred. Basically Africans had to be hi-jacked or stolen from Africa, brought to the Americas as 'slaves', beat and tortured, separated from family, language and culture, soxually abused and misused, they had to go through all of this just to learn that 'Jesus loves you'...  Why couldn't Jesus had revealed himself to them while in Africa? None of it makes sense really. That people would have to go through 300 years ect, of slavery, then endure countless other decades of embedded racism, just to be converted to your captures religion or 'God'. How does that make sense? Every Church I see in black community simply reminds me of a captured peoples, simply worshipping their capturer's 'God', simply cause most were forced to do so 200 years ago or so, and the tradition has simply been past down. Questions1. How could people be convinced to worship the God of the very people whom are mistreating you, calling you inferior, denying rights to you? I just don't get that mindset...to me if the people are treating me like dirt, than why would I then turn around and worship their God whom I presume they're taking orders from? But yet that's what millions did, do, and have done. Makes no sense.Yes, I know 'Jesus' is a universal savior, died for 'all of mankind'...but why did Jesus only reveal himself to so few, and then those who spread his word, set out with such brutality to conquer other nations in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries? Why would a majestic God spread his majesty through word of mouth and scrolls? Something is 'off' here, and I think most thinking people know that. I have nothing against belief, I think believing is something, anything, often gives us hope, and hope is a good thing. And don't get me wrong, I actually want there to be a 'Savior', I actually want there to be a God, who sent their son to die, then get resurrected, one who has conquered death. I find comfort in that. But none the less, something still just feels 'off' about the whole thing. Like how America could say it's such a Christian nation, yet full of some of the worst racism ever, back until about 1975 or so.  Click to enlargeWhen they tried to integrate neighborhoods and schools in the 60's, the most vile, demonic, anti human behavior and hostilities came gushing out of a lot of whites... Yet these same whites could be found in church on Sunday worshipping 'The Savior'...makes no sense. If indeed a loving God was in them, then why would they demonstrate such hatred towards other Christians of a different color? It just doesn't add up... If there's only 'One spirit of Christ' as most Christian claim, then why all the conflict over 'race' for most of Americas history? If Jesus's spirit is in black person and white person, back in 1955, than why the hatred? And if anything, blacks from back then were more noble, all they wanted was an education, and to be constructive citizens, this was back before gangs, and drugs and crime ect...yet were treated the worst. And now today, society would do anything to have those 1950's type of blacks back who were family orientated and up right. None of it makes sense to someone who's honest and thinks. |
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Post by X factor on Jun 29, 2014 19:18:32 GMT -5
I don't doubt there's a God or creator or even a Savior, I just doubt most have the slightest idea who or what it is.
Even the Sunni and Shiite Muslims both claim to worship one God, yet are at each others throats.
If One spirit were truly in all believers, than there'd be unity, regardless of cultural differences.
And if there is a 'God', than something is separating most from truly knowing or wanting to do 'his will'.
And if color isn't a factor in next world, how will people who treated others so bad, do to color and ethnicity, reconcile in next realm?
Will a racist Christian, if resurrected, continue to hold grudges in next realm based on distinctions?
And if being racist was wrong, or dishonest, or judgmental was wrong, if Gods spirit were guiding them on earth, why wouldn't they have known it at the time?
If one is honest, and really thinks about it, none of it makes sense.
And I guess 'faith' is that bridge.
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Post by X factor on Sept 19, 2014 7:29:13 GMT -5
I actually feel like reading the bible again, a unmarked one.
I feel like reading the bible again with an open mind, as I first did as a mild, with no politics or social agendas attached.
That's really the only way to hear what the bible is saying, is to first empty the mind. (easier said than done).
But as we age, the easy to understand words of the bible become layered with other peoples interpitations, social issues, political issues, and soon the simple message of salvation, salvation of self, becomes choked out with other stuff.
And soon the bible becomes about correcting others, rather than healing and finding salvation for self.
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Post by X factor on Sept 24, 2014 13:58:37 GMT -5
Pick it up, yes, no?
This section may seem like the most unlikely place for Redman's rap song 'Pick it up', which was written as kind of a parody to a real life event that occurred where a bank truck carrying lots of money spilt it's cash onto the streets, and local residents were seen 'picking up' the money, and not turning it in.
They were later criticized by some commentators in the media as being 'dishonest', and other things associated with inner city mindset.
This occurred way way back in the day, like 1997 or 1996..over 18 years ago?
2014
1996
18 years ago....wow
Anyways, I remember hearing this song long and remember thinking...'Gee, if I found the money I'd definitely be honest and turn it in to proper authorities'.
But now that I'm older, have seen how life really is, I'm not so sure anymore.
I was always raised to always do what's right and proper, and to fear 'God'.
But as I get older, not really seeing the dividends of fearing God or doing what's proper.
Instead I see corrupt people who are getting ahead, taking advantage of their positions, jobs, to rob the companies they're with (I read this in news headlines).
Fat lazy types who earn 6 figures a year, the get big fat pensions for life, where as others have to labor till they die, with no benefits at all.
I see all this, and begin thinking to myself 'Ya know, maybe Redman the rapper was right, pick it up, take what's yours now as no one else really gives a damn about you or how you fare'.
In the past, I use to think if you were just good, followed biblical rules, all would work out for you like a story book, but I'm seeing every day now that that's not true.
If you find 1 million dollars and turn it in, you get none of it, and still must labor and slave till you die.
So why turn it in?, Redman the rapper asks in video.
Being nice, kind, and gentle and fair, has really gotten me no where in life, has opened no doors, and if anything seems like a punishment.
Where as those who operate like snakes, seem to be the ones getting all the breaks.
For some reason I'm starting to see Redman the rappers point of view here in this video, that if you find gold in the streets, you had better pick it up while you can, cause in the end it's just you.
No one else cares about you, no one else will give you money, cares if your car is running or not.
So Redman the rapper is saying 'Grab it now, while you can'...whether it's yours or not.
If you turn it in, all you get is pat on the head, yet you're still dead broke, still behind on rent, still can't pay medical bills...there really is no reward for being honest and fair, you just seem to get screwed more than others.
Check out the video, it's full of parody, and for some reason as of lately I've come to really enjoy it and see it's meaning or message of self survival or else.
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Post by X factor on Sept 26, 2014 6:40:34 GMT -5
I woke up this morning wanting to worship or acknowledge a 'God', but one far removed from mans narration.
One outside the walls of mans own culture and political needs.
That's hard to do, cause all the main 'gods' we're told about have been so over saturated with cultural and political colors, and wants, and needs.
It's why religion has become mute to many.
But deep down inside many instinctively know a true God or creator exists, or maybe even creators.
There may be only one ultimate God or Creator, just like there's only one President or leader of a nation or King or Queen.
But doesn't mean there's not other Godly administrators, and maybe that's where Angels and Demons or other entities come into place.
But of course they're not to be worshipped or praised according to the bible.
Outside of the bibles narration there really is no bounderies of what's possible.
For some that's good, for others it's scary.
What does God ultimately want from man?, from me, from yourself?
Not sure if any of us truly know or ever will.
I guess we could start with just 'Love', which in concept is easy when sitting at home alone, but as soon as someone cuts you off in traffic all the love and goodwill seems to evaporate.
Gotta scadudal, lots more to follow.
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