JonSR77
Senior Member
First of all, I would like to thank everyone for engaging in this thread, in this discussion. This is clearly a very distressing time for us all, following the news. Engaging in the discussion is, for me, a way to get some release from the stress. So, I definitely appreciate that.
And, you know, I want to wish all you nice folks, some kind of peace through the emotional mess that this situation has created.
I know that religion is a controversial subject. I am a believer. My mother and brother are not. My father was not either. So, I had that difficulty, right in my own family. Also, I have respect for those who believe and respect for those who do not believe.
I just want to offer my encouragement, as someone who does believe in God, about this situation.
I believe God is fully omnipotent. That there is no challenge to His power possible. And that he can change any situation at any time.
That the world is filled with great suffering certainly makes it difficult to believe in a caring and compassionate God. But, I believe that is, in fact, the case. And the real key there is that this life is just a very small part of a much larger existence. Our bodies die, but our souls do not die. Our bodies suffer, but through that suffering, we earn the right to an incredible, powerful spiritual reward.
Now, that is my belief and the belief of others. And I understand if it is not your own. I just want to encourage you of the possibility that there is always hope.
And now, I will offer a few extremely weird "coincidences" in history.
During the War of 1812, America decided its best defense against the British was defense against the British forces in Canada. This was a glaring error and allowed British troops to take control of Washington, DC. The war was basically lost. How did we win the war? Well, we didn't win the war, a tornado won the war. All of a sudden, an extremely powerful tornado hit Washington, DC, killing 5000 British troops and driving them from the city. How many tornadoes, that powerful have hit Washington, DC? I am not positive, but I am pretty sure that is the only one of that kind of power in recorded history. Coincidence? No, I don't believe it was.
During the Revolutionary War, the British sent over some very advanced Scottish snipers. One of them got General George Washington in his sights. Washington was done. But the sniper just changed his mind. He was so enamored of the great dignity of Washington's presence that he just could not pull the trigger. So, what changed his mind? Just coincidence? Or the intercession of God? What is the statistical possibility that a highly trained, elite military sniper, would just, out of the blue, decide not the kill the number one enemy of Britain? I don't think the statistics bear out that being at all likely.
July 4th, 1826 was the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is also noted for something else. It is the day that both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died. Even though separated by a large age difference, both men died on the same day. Both men died on July 4th. And both men died on the July 4th that was the 50th anniversary of the founding of the nation. What are the odds of that happening. I did a quick overview of the math...and the possibility of all those things happening are easily far less than one in a billion, or even one in a trillion.
And these are just two examples...that push the boundaries of statistical possibility and, you know, may just be a hint of God's underlying power.
Again, I do apologize if the discussion of religion is annoying or difficult for folks.
And I do just want to wish everyone a peaceful heart through all this tragedy and misery.
Must Springtime Fade?
Then Cry All Birds
And Fishes Cold Pale Eyes Pour Tears
- Basho
And, you know, I want to wish all you nice folks, some kind of peace through the emotional mess that this situation has created.
I know that religion is a controversial subject. I am a believer. My mother and brother are not. My father was not either. So, I had that difficulty, right in my own family. Also, I have respect for those who believe and respect for those who do not believe.
I just want to offer my encouragement, as someone who does believe in God, about this situation.
I believe God is fully omnipotent. That there is no challenge to His power possible. And that he can change any situation at any time.
That the world is filled with great suffering certainly makes it difficult to believe in a caring and compassionate God. But, I believe that is, in fact, the case. And the real key there is that this life is just a very small part of a much larger existence. Our bodies die, but our souls do not die. Our bodies suffer, but through that suffering, we earn the right to an incredible, powerful spiritual reward.
Now, that is my belief and the belief of others. And I understand if it is not your own. I just want to encourage you of the possibility that there is always hope.
And now, I will offer a few extremely weird "coincidences" in history.
During the War of 1812, America decided its best defense against the British was defense against the British forces in Canada. This was a glaring error and allowed British troops to take control of Washington, DC. The war was basically lost. How did we win the war? Well, we didn't win the war, a tornado won the war. All of a sudden, an extremely powerful tornado hit Washington, DC, killing 5000 British troops and driving them from the city. How many tornadoes, that powerful have hit Washington, DC? I am not positive, but I am pretty sure that is the only one of that kind of power in recorded history. Coincidence? No, I don't believe it was.
During the Revolutionary War, the British sent over some very advanced Scottish snipers. One of them got General George Washington in his sights. Washington was done. But the sniper just changed his mind. He was so enamored of the great dignity of Washington's presence that he just could not pull the trigger. So, what changed his mind? Just coincidence? Or the intercession of God? What is the statistical possibility that a highly trained, elite military sniper, would just, out of the blue, decide not the kill the number one enemy of Britain? I don't think the statistics bear out that being at all likely.
July 4th, 1826 was the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is also noted for something else. It is the day that both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died. Even though separated by a large age difference, both men died on the same day. Both men died on July 4th. And both men died on the July 4th that was the 50th anniversary of the founding of the nation. What are the odds of that happening. I did a quick overview of the math...and the possibility of all those things happening are easily far less than one in a billion, or even one in a trillion.
And these are just two examples...that push the boundaries of statistical possibility and, you know, may just be a hint of God's underlying power.
Again, I do apologize if the discussion of religion is annoying or difficult for folks.
And I do just want to wish everyone a peaceful heart through all this tragedy and misery.
Must Springtime Fade?
Then Cry All Birds
And Fishes Cold Pale Eyes Pour Tears
- Basho
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