The Center of the Universe

[rdunk]

zorgon, I fully understand most everything you say, relative to what you believe, and I do respect that. When I was very young I did much reading, and I even had a book titled "The Magic Power of the Mind". I was pretty amazed by some of the things said in that book. However, I don't know if any of the bigger claims were true. One of the claims was that when we look at a newspaper article, the eyes see, and the brain stores, the entire page, word for word. Hypnosis was used to prove that occurrence. And many others.

It also used a number of biblical scriptures, including the "ask anything, and it shall be done" scripture. I really believe God used some of that to show me his presence and the reality of the power of his Word, which pretty much was not being presented at that time in the church I was going to.

Anyway, I am completely comfortable with what I believe to be truth - - and prayer does change things! 

 

[rdunk]

Amaterasu, I will try one more time - so I will say it another way. God gave Adam dominion over this Earth, and Adam in essence gave to satan man's dominion.  Man continued in every sinful way. Here is what God saw in man.

Genesis 6

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

While God doesn't have to check with us, one can assume he did not see the wickedness in the heart of Noah, and thus Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord!

All others had to die, including the airbreathing animals, fowl, etc.

If you want to know more, then study the scripture!

[The Matrix Traveller]

Usually people pray only when they don't agree or understand God.  Quote;

6.   His disciples questioned Him and said to Him,

"Do You want us to fast?

How shall we pray?

Shall we give alms?

What diet shall we observe?

Jesus said, "Do not tell lies,
and do not what you hate,

for all things are plain
in the sight of Heaven.

For nothing hidden
will not become manifest,

and nothing covered
will remain without being uncovered."

And...

14.  Jesus said to them,

"If you fast,
you will give rise to sin
for yourselves;

and if you pray,
you will be condemned;

and if you give alms,
you will do harm
to your spirits.

When you go into any land
and walk about in the districts,

if they receive you
eat what they will set
before you,

and heal the sick among them.

I am Powerless to change these "Historical Writings".

[Amaterasu]

Amaterasu, I will try one more time - so I will say it another way. God gave Adam dominion over this Earth, and Adam in essence gave to satan man's dominion.  Man continued in every sinful way. Here is what God saw in man.

Genesis 6

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

While God doesn't have to check with us, one can assume he did not see the wickedness in the heart of Noah, and thus Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord!

All others had to die, including the airbreathing animals, fowl, etc.

If you want to know more, then study the scripture!

I have read the Bible...  Several times.  Come out of it each time just shaking My head.  I cannot find a good definition of "sin."  I find many contradictory things.  And I just cannot believe God could find only one Human (and His wives, I presume) to be "good enough."  And STILL I have no idea why a flood.  Why not *POOF* the People He was unhappy with?

You keep telling Me what the Bible SAYS He did, but give nothing as to why He didn't just take care of it without the horror of drowning.  Nope.  I cannot open My acceptance to any "God" that would drown People instead of just making Them cease to be, if (S/He/It) was so dissatisfied with what (S/He/It) created.  That's just mean and...sinful, I guess, in My view.

[Littleenki]

It is hard to find much concrete proof in there Amy, its just a big book of metaphors....no offense anyone.

Cheers!

[rdunk]

Amaterasu, that would between you and God. Ask him if you have questions of him or his actions. He might give you an answer, if you earnesly seek him.

One point, you can "read the Bible" one thousand times, and if you have no spiritual discernment, you just won't get it! No matter how bright one is.

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Romans 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Amaterasu, a first thing one needs to understand about God is, nothing is about us, it is all about him, and about the sacrifice he made to "set us free" from the death of sin!

Certainly, God made man, and he has made a way for us. But, then we also have a "free will. Adam exercised that free will when he disobeyed God in the Garden, which through generations eventually resulted in the flood. Adam is to blame for the flood, not God. God was doing what he had to do!!

When we are able to get our "self" out of the way, then we can begin to receive what God has for us in his word.

Just say'in!!

[The Matrix Traveller]

Isaiah 29:11-12  Quote;

11. And the vision of all
is become unto you
as the words of a book
that is sealed,

which men deliver to one
that is learned saying,

Read this, I pray thee:
and he saith, I cannot;
for it is sealed:

12. And the book is delivered to him
that is not learned,
saying, Read this, I pray thee:

and he saith, I am not learned.

I was Once a Church goer (before 1973) but now I have seen the LIGHT.   

[rdunk]

It is hard to find much concrete proof in there Amy, its just a big book of metaphors....no offense anyone.

Cheers!

Hey littleenki, do you not know the physical proof is all around you, and includes "YOU"?
All that exists was made/started in someway/by somebody . So, I guess your need for proof lies in the thinking of your not knowing "who done it"!

And maybe you will be fortunate enough to find your answer to that question some day, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

[The Matrix Traveller]

Jesus said, Quote;

56.  Jesus said,

"Whoever has come to understand the world

has found only a corpse,

and whoever has found a corpse

is superior to the world."

[Amaterasu]

Amaterasu, that would between you and God. Ask him if you have questions of him or his actions. He might give you an answer, if you earnesly seek him.

One point, you can "read the Bible" one thousand times, and if you have no spiritual discernment, you just won't get it! No matter how bright one is.

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Romans 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Amaterasu, a first thing one needs to understand about God is, nothing is about us, it is all about him, and about the sacrifice he made to "set us free" from the death of sin!

Certainly, God made man, and he has made a way for us. But, then we also have a "free will. Adam exercised that free will when he disobeyed God in the Garden, which through generations eventually resulted in the flood. Adam is to blame for the flood, not God. God was doing what he had to do!!

When we are able to get our "self" out of the way, then we can begin to receive what God has for us in his word.

Just say'in!!

Well, rdunk...  Call Me a failure.  When I was younger, before I experienced being all/all-Consciousness, before I gave up on the idea of some God "out there," when I begged with all My heart for answers - I got nothing.  Later, after a journey through many spiritual paths, I had the experience that convinced Me Consciousness is "God," co-creating the NOW.  I was everything and every Being.  I was dimensionless, I was all dimensions.  And I could see the overall efforts of Consciousness to attain bliss in all experience. 

And from this experience I found an answer - whether it suits Others or not.  "God" is all of Us and everything, and We are co-creators creating the NOW.  NOW is the only thing that's real.  (Thank You, Skinny Puppy.)  We have far more power than most of Us believe.

And in the form of religious texts that cap the pronouns of "God," so too I cap the pronouns of the Ones I see as God.  Beings of sentience, sapience.  Humans and ET alike.  But the Bible still only seems to Me to be an incomplete history of events written by Those who did not understand what They were witnessing, translated by those with an agenda (I am led to believe that the phrase, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live," was a "translation" of something about not tolerating poisoners...) for the purpose of entraining  and controlling the masses.

If it brings You comfort, more power to You.  [smile]

[The Matrix Traveller]

Hi Amaterasu,

But the Bible still only seems to Me to be an incomplete history of events written by Those who did not understand what They were witnessing, translated by those with an agenda (I am led to believe that the phrase, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live," was a "translation" of something about not tolerating poisoners...) for the purpose of entraining  and controlling the masses.

What you have written here, is 100% Correct.

[rdunk]

Matrix Traveler, you said,

56.  Jesus said,

"Whoever has come to understand the world

has found only a corpse,

and whoever has found a corpse

is superior to the world."

Matrix, I have looked in several translations, and so far I don't find this. Can you give us the book of the bible this came from?

Pending getting the info, I will say what this looks like to me.

It is pretty obvious what is being said. In God's eyes, the "world" is already dead spiritually to sin (corpse), and knowing that comes with "understanding".

And whoever finds a corpse (dead sinful world, and knows it with "understanding), is absolutely superior to it.

That is what this says to me!

[The Matrix Traveller]

From "The Gospel of Thomas"

[Amaterasu]

Hi Amaterasu,

What you have written here, is 100% Correct.

So it would seem to Me.  [smile]  Others' realities seem to differ...  [shrug]

[Pimander]

THE TRUTH ABOUT SCRIPTURE: Gospel of Reality

Right, I'll tell you all what I think.  I don't mind if you think I'm wrong/stupid.  But I ask you to consider what I say seriously at least once.  And please, nobody take this personally.  It applies to all scriptural religion.

Scripture and holy writings are often pretty dull, badly written history or stories.  At their best they describe spiritual experiences.  Second hand spiritual experiences.  Why would I want a spiritual experience meant for someone else?

So this mighty all knowing, all powerful God can do anything right?  Right!  So, if that God has a message for me, IT is big, clever and powerful enough not to need a book.  Especially not a 3500 year old book copied - incorrectly - countless times.

If God has a special message for me, if I'm ready to hear it, God will give that message straight to me.  Keep your BS message you worked out from your Bible that differs from the last preachers twisted message from their Bible who also thinks they know better than I do how to run my life.  It's nonsense.  Complete and utter tripe.  KEEP IT FOR YOURSELF!