I wish to know Jesus but I don’t understand, even though I thought I did.

Lara said:
Oh. How do you know?
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I love you, Lara. I've seen you grow so much in your faith. I've seen you being kind and compassionate to others. I am happy for you. I've seen you begin as proselytizer to one who genuinely cares about the state of my soul, and everyone else's. I am proud to "know" you. My best friend in the world speaks as you do.

Given the vastness of the universe, I make no absolute claims. I know what I know, this is only me talking.
 

I love you too, Pepper. But let me clarify for others who read your post...I disagree that "I began as a proselytizer" as you say, which is a pushy person who "tries to persuade other people to accept a particular religious or political belief, idea, or way of life". No way. That would go against God's plan. But that's how you saw it. You said "I know what I know, this is only me talking"....well same here.

I had to post a signature line saying that God would never want me to make that choice for others. God created us with the ability to make our own choices because He wants to be genuinely accepted and loved by each and every one...just as He genuinely loves us. Otherwise He would have a bunch of Robots that He couldn't have a relationship with.

But thank you for allowing me the opportunity to explain this once again for new members who may see me in that light as you saw me.
 
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Lara said:
I love you too, Pepper. But let me clarify for others who read your post...I disagree that I began as a proselytizer which is a pushy person who "tries to persuade other people to accept a particular religious or political belief, idea, or way of life". No way. My posts were all Faith based.
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Didn't mean to offend you with that word. You are right, it was probably just the way I initially saw you, and have since learned more about you and your authenticity.
 

Lara said:
I had to post a signature line saying that God would never want me to make that choice for others. God created us with the ability to make our own choices because He wants to be genuinely accepted and loved by each and every one...just as He genuinely loves us. Otherwise He would have a bunch of Robots that He couldn't have a relationship with.
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Maybe Mr. Ed struggles with some of the conflicting ideas like choices. I know I do.

IMO making our own choices is not entirely true. There are commands that are to be followed.

What are the 10 commandments in the Bible?
The Ten Commandments | Come unto Christ
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” ...
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” ...
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” ...
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” ...
“Honour thy father and thy mother.” ...
“Thou shalt not kill.” ...
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” ...
“Thou shalt not steal.”

Shalt
a singular form of the present tense (indicative mood) of shall.
Shall
You use shall to indicate that something must happen, usually because of a rule or law.
 
Whatever way god is interpreted by me I promised to do anything if my god is with me. no one can refute what I believe because what I believe is only for me. What you believe is yours. Not mine.

the problem is you want me to be you in order to be correct in my beliefs. Conformity is mass control, individualism gives people the right to interpret as they feel led.

spiritual guidance or being led by the spirit is the awareness of completing tasks beyond the scope of your own ability.
 
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helenbacque said:
But we must remember. From caterpillar to butterfly, even that process is not always pretty.
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But is the butterfly in pain in the chysallis? Do we know? How would we measure that? Or is it like a coma and they don’t feel a thing?

I’m sorry - I have just heard far too many preachers in my lifetime promising people that Jesus Christ is gonna bring you pain - no gain without pain. Some of them are former jocks so they preach Jesus like he’s a *&^%ing football player.

What the *(%* is so WRONG with saying, “We don’t know completely how the metamorphosis happens, but we can see that it has.” OR, even better, let’s talk to a butterfly expert and he/she can explain the whole thing.

What the heck is wrong with just letting it BE - unexamined, without the Christian apologetics ???? That was what I was trying to help Mr. Ed with - Let It Be. Watch the caterpillars and see how they just ARE. No fanfare, no parades, no microphones with which to preach at people about it.

As you can tell, I have a lot of issues with traditional evangelists. I’ll be glad when they all die off or retire. Early retirements are desired for many of the most famous ones. Amen.
 
Even though raised religious I haven’t believed in decades. When you use your logical reasoning to examine the concept you realize it’s not possible for there to be a god. It does bring comfort to some people.

It was a way to explain morals, etc to uneducated people in the past. It’s also a huge moneymaking enterprise and a way to control people. So many people have died in religious wars and if there was a god the holocaust wouldn’t have happened as well as other horrific atrocities.
 
Pepper said:
You'll never have peace, I don't think, Mr. Ed. You set up too many obstacles. You can change though, and have peace. You won't allow that. You won't allow for change in your thinking.
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That’s a terrible thing to say. perhaps you mean well but I was in a vulnerable state of mind and I let it slide. You don’t know me or the places i have been metaphoricaly. Change my thinking you say, well sometimes I change my thinking a hundred times a day.

Recently, under doctor’s supervision I stopped taking four different types of medication that increased depressive symptoms. I was in a dark place and I expressed my concerns as well as a cry for help. The good thing is I prayed promising god as long as I am with him/her/it/? I will do anything. The depression cleared, now I wait and test my theory whether or not it is just another phase of a complicated mind or if the change is permenent.

I must nourish the change with love and goodness if I want to keep it or I could flood my braincells with negativity and nothing gained. It’s truly up to me who I am and what I choose to experince.

Does this sound like someone who will never have inner peace? The obstacles I set forth and tear down are of my own makings so you see, I am not a persson who does not know himself. I am a person with the will and know how to choose who I want to be and what I choose to reveal.

 
Never meant to say anything terrible to you. I care about you. I want to apologize to you for causing any new stress. Please forgive me. I don't express myself very well most times anymore. I don't want you to suffer. If you like, I shall refrain from expressing my sadness for you during these times. I haven't been doing a good job to try to help you, and I certainly don't want to make anything worse.

I hope you can forgive me.

eta
I used to understand this Jesus mentality, even seriously flirted with it. Long story, I've had my moments. Back to being confused about it, if that's the right word, which it isn't. The real word might offend, and I don't wish to do that, believe me. As a life long observer of Christianity, outside looking in, if you will........I see it from a very different perspective.
 
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Pepper said:
Never meant to say anything terrible to you. I care about you. I want to apologize to you for causing any new stress. Please forgive me. I don't express myself very well most times anymore. I don't want you to suffer. If you like, I shall refrain from expressing my sadness for you during these times. I haven't been doing a good job to try to help you, and I certainly don't want to make anything worse.

I hope you can forgive me.

eta
I used to understand this Jesus mentality, even seriously flirted with it. Long story, I've had my moments. Back to being confused about it, if that's the right word, which it isn't. The real word might offend, and I don't wish to do that, believe me. As a life long observer of Christianity, outside looking in, if you will........I see it from a very different perspective.
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No worries, I understand 💕
 
Mr. Ed said:
Recently, under doctor’s supervision I stopped taking four different types of medication that increased depressive symptoms. I was in a dark place and I expressed my concerns as well as a cry for help. The good thing is I prayed promising god as long as I am with him/her/it/? I will do anything. The depression cleared, now I wait and test my theory whether or not it is just another phase of a complicated mind or if the change is permenent.

I must nourish the change with love and goodness if I want to keep it or I could flood my braincells with negativity and nothing gained. It’s truly up to me who I am and what I choose to experince.
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My heart goes out to you as you struggle with this, Mr. Ed. Like you, I have experienced relief from mental stress through prayer. I also agree that it is important to nourish ourselves with good input (you put that so well.) In this world full of dark negative TV shows, movies, and news gathered from around the world covering every bad thing that happens, we need to turn all that off from time to time to protect ourselves.

I believe there is a God. I wasn't there when the big bang happened to know if there was a sentient being behind it, but I think there is a creator and that he communicates with us through our minds, through prayer, through Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. God has given us free will so of course bad things happen on earth, evil men do horrible things, but we also see good people doing brave and wonderful things.

One of my favorite preachers is Mr. Rogers. He was a Presbyterian minister who decided to dedicate himself to helping children, but I sometimes watch his shows for myself on YouTube, just for his comforting reassurance. He advised that when bad things happen in the world we look for the good people who are always there. So out of this recent assassination attempt I focus on the brave spectator who died because he threw himself over his daughter and took the bullet that would have hit her. I believe there is a heaven and he's there now.
 
Lara said:
Share why you posted "The Cult Of Personality" video. What does it mean to you personally?
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This is also an important point that "the cult of personality" has affected myself, and I tend to see that it is a major bias , mainly promoted by western philosophy, of making people into "gods", or "leaders", or people we "look up to", because of the personal attributes we attribute to them, usually very positive traits, and then much our decision making has to do with those same attributes that this or these people promote.

What is interesting is that we tend to give certain people, or even ideas, attributes that are considered good ( for what ever reasons that person thinks as good ), and then begins to emulate those values in their own way, and then they think that they are living the best lives they can. Take Jesus. Think of all the wonderful attributes we assign to Jesus. He hardly has any that are bad.

Then we think that those very attributes are universal, because that is a major attribute we assign to Jesus. It might not be true. No one can prove it, but we accept it as the truth. Immortality, is an idea, not a personal trait, and yet yet Jesus has it and you can too. This is an example of a "cult of personality") IMHO.
 
Mr. Ed said:
That’s a terrible thing to say. perhaps you mean well but I was in a vulnerable state of mind and I let it slide. You don’t know me or the places i have been metaphoricaly. Change my thinking you say, well sometimes I change my thinking a hundred times a day.

Recently, under doctor’s supervision I stopped taking four different types of medication that increased depressive symptoms. I was in a dark place and I expressed my concerns as well as a cry for help. The good thing is I prayed promising god as long as I am with him/her/it/? I will do anything. The depression cleared, now I wait and test my theory whether or not it is just another phase of a complicated mind or if the change is permenent.

I must nourish the change with love and goodness if I want to keep it or I could flood my braincells with negativity and nothing gained. It’s truly up to me who I am and what I choose to experince.

Does this sound like someone who will never have inner peace? The obstacles I set forth and tear down are of my own makings so you see, I am not a persson who does not know himself. I am a person with the will and know how to choose who I want to be and what I choose to reveal.

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Of course Pepper meant well! And she is very smart. Could it be that you are too close to the problem? I mean, can you force your attention away from it? Maybe try wearing a rubber band on your wrist and, every time your focus wanders to your inner self, give yourself a painful snap of the rubber band and pick up a good book, or play with the dog.
 
@Mr. Ed

Perhaps you are doing is what your God wants of you? You ask many deep thought and emotionally provoking questions. You have an intense burning hunger for knowledge, albeit forged from your unsatisfactory upbringing. Your questions may not be for your benefit, but cast their light on many many others, of which you aren't aware, and aid their journey to what they're supposed to find. Not getting the answer you want or when you want it may be part of your function in some grand plan. Your cross to bear.
 
Knight said:
...IMO making our own choices is not entirely true. There are commands that are to be followed. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”...“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.”...“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”...“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”...“Honour thy father and thy mother.”...“Thou shalt not kill.”...“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” ..“Thou shalt not steal.”
You use "shalt not" to indicate that something must happen, usually because of a rule or law.
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So you are saying that God did not create us with the ability to make our own choices?...because there are rules that must be followed?
I'm sure you agree there are gazillions of people worldwide who have chosen to kill, swear, commit adultery, steal, disobey our parents (we've ALL done that once or twice)....etc

Those Commandments were for us to strive to choose to obey...for our own good. And when we choose sin, we are to ask forgiveness and not repeat it again over and over. So yes, God created us with the ability to make our own choices...hopefully obedient to God's perfect plan.
`
 
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What I'm saying is if a person believes there is a God then they also have to believe there are commandments that are to be followed. The word shall indicates no choice.

My understanding of the word shall
shall

Shall is an imperative command, usually indicating that certain actions are mandatory, and not permissive. This contrasts with the word “may,” which is generally used to indicate a permissive provision, ordinarily implying some degree of discretion.

As you point out
Quote
"I'm sure you agree there are gazillions of people worldwide who have chosen to kill, swear, commit adultery, steal, disobey our parents (we've ALL done that once or twice)....etc"

If those aren't followed then what are the consequences?
 

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