Mockingbird

Right... You're more comfortable with NOT understanding the bible. Hey, that IS the inverse. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

There is no way you can make that statement gel with what you said earlier. I don't have to make it "gel." Truth stands on its own, and God causing EVERYTHING to work together to accomplish His purposes is truth. Ever read the the story of Joseph in Genesis (chapters 37-50)? Great story! You should read it. Joseph's brothers did some really horrible things to him, and through an interesting series of events, he ended up saving a nation. At the conclusion, he tells his brothers: "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." Really good story that illustrates God's hand in the world.

I love this thread! The problem is not the bible. The problem is your poor understanding. What worsens your understanding of the bible is your wish not to understand it. If you understood it, it might make you uncomfortable.

No. It is not inconsistent. It is biblical. See last post. (If you find the Bible "inconsistent", you can chalk that up to your own finiteness... like we all must do from time to time. It will become clear eventually.)

I believe in both. God having a "divine plan" doesn't mean that people are His robots. They do as they please/think best, or whatever suits them and/or their purposes. God weaves all the good and the bad into the tapestry of His plan.

Blind man. Keep it up. After all, if you admit that there was a Creator, you'd also have to admit that He made YOU, and the logical conclusion to that would be that you are accountable to Him. For you, that is totally out of the question. I mean, you wouldn't want your Creator interfering with your plans, would you? Unfortunately for you, we are all accountable to God who made us, whether we acknowledge Him as such, or not.

Hello? You don't see a difference between "br0k3n's actions" and the actions of those he cited? "br0k3n's actions"= good. Cited actions= bad. God is never behind the evil works in the world.

Mankind. There's plenty of blame to go around without bringing God into it. Man's greed and laziness. God is not unjust.

You are putting words in my mouth and lying at the same time. Christianity doesn't "free" anyone from responsibility. Just the opposite--- it motivates them to act and to meet needs. Worse, you are lying to yourself.

Posts like yours (the nonsense above) truly cause me to think that you are purposely misguided. You are so angry, not only at the world's injustices, but at God for "making" the world act so unjustly. 13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each of you is tempted when you are dragged away by your own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:13-17 (Today's New International Version)

Wow, br0k3n has been used of God to help starving people! How about that?! I wonder if br0k3n realized that he was part of God's plan! Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Is this a sincere question? Would you like to rephrase it? I don't know what you're asking. Maybe He wants you to go feed them. Bible quotes don't feed hungry people; they need food. Food that is available to them through the kindness of neighboring countries, not to mention available to them through hard work and ambition. There's no logical reason for them to be starving. Exhibit A: Look in the mirror. You've "been fearfully and wonderfully made; God weaved you in your mother's womb; He formed your inward parts." Then go look out the window--- no, not at office buildings and concrete. Look at the sky, look at the water, look at the trees and the mountains. Look up at night-- "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?" I could go on and on. Exhibit B: The Bible reveals God to you. The Bible is unlike any other book of antiquity; it is unique in many ways. Exhibit C: God appeared in human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. He revealed God to you. Lord Byron said: "If ever man was God or God was man, Jesus Christ was both." Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

And who exactly calls it "blind faith"? Only those who refuse to look at or accept the evidence. The Bible nowhere leaves the impression that our faith is based on nothing. It is always based on either eyewitness testimony) or the trustworthiness of the object of one's faith. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

What's truly ironic is that an educator can't read a simple paragraph and understand its meaning, or that a scientist can be closed-minded in refusing to acknowedge evidence. (And please spare me the "WHAT evidence?" game--- if you're unaware of the evidence, it's because you don't want to see it.)

This is very well put and illustrates my own definition of faith: "the assurance of the heart in the adequacy of the evidence." Skydivers exercise FAITH, based on adequate evidence, that they will survive every time they jump. For the "whuffos," NO amount of evidence will give them assurance. We are assured of and accept the evidence; they don't. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Kallend, you don't understand what you read. How did you become an educator? Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Not necessarily. As I already said, according to Scripture God works in accordance with His wisdom and purposes, and because this is so, our best interests are always served... It's just that we often don't realize what is in our best interest. As for everyday needs, like food, here's what Christ said: Matthew 6:25-34 (Today's New International Version) 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Blue skies & happy knots ~Mockingbird "O, joy and rapture unforeseen, the clouded sky is now serene!"

MB you must be living in a fantasy world, “always with our good in mind” have you opened your eyes to what’s happening in the “real" world??????? Or is it just that the millions or people suffering and dieing all over the world today are just heathens????? WAKE UP……… Whether they are heathens or not, I don't know. And frankly, I don't know how God responds to the prayers of heathens-- I mean, I don't know of any heathens who are praying, so how can we know how or if He responds to specific prayers by them? But I wasn't talking about the millions of people suffering and dying all over the world, broken-- I was talking about Christians specifically (by Christians I mean those who have been reconciled to God through Christ, and are now living in relationship with God), He acts in accordance with His wisdom and His purposes, and always has our good in mind. Blue skies & happy knots ~Mockingbird "O, joy and rapture unforeseen, the clouded sky is now serene!"

Jesus talked about prayer, yes. But whom was He addressing? Were His words meant to have direct relevance to everyone in the whole world, or just to the group or individuals He was speaking with? Sometimes there is a difference. Blue skies & happy knots ~Mockingbird "O, joy and rapture unforeseen, the clouded sky is now serene!"

"Prayer works"? Isn't that a bumper sticker? Whoever came up with that expression was, I'm sure, well meaning... but a bit "off"--- or at least the interpretation of that expression is a bit off. This came about for the same reason that many false ideas came about: a poor hermeneutic. Scripture should be interpreted carefully and accurately. You can't just close your eyes and point to a verse and say, "Whoopeee; I got a sign from da Lord!" Prayer isn't an incantation; it doesn't "work" or "not work." There's nothing magical about prayer in and of itself. GOD works, and often works through prayer, but He acts in accordance with His wisdom and purposes, not ours (tho' always with our good in mind). Blue skies & happy knots ~Mockingbird "O, joy and rapture unforeseen, the clouded sky is now serene!"

I'm frankly pleased that God isn't a vending machine or a genie. He doesn't bow to me; I bow to Him. The time will come when every knee will bow to Him and every tongue confess that Christ is Lord-- some in anger, tho' forced to recognize His sovereignty over all creation-- and some in joyful fulfillment.

Kallend--- still trying to appear objective in your criticisms of Christianity, I see. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Derek, thanks for these gear tips. As a beginner who just this week purchased a used rig (the whole works), I have to say that the prospect of keeping a rig safe to fly--- all the inspections, cleanings, adjustments, replacements of this and that--- is all very intimidating. I hardly know where to begin. Your list of tips is extremely helpful--- have you made a video to go along with it???? (fingers crossed) OR, can you recommend a gear maintenance video or DVD? Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Me too, Windcatcher. That's a pretty good description of what a Christian is. His followers were first called "Christians" just a few years following His ascension. Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Has anything changed on Saturday's schedule? Will it follow the schedule on the SkyFest website? Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?"