Hi Been There, I just wanted to explain the Urantia book to you some. It’s mostly a history book, but it has philosophy, & science in it too. The first part is about the history of the 7 (I think) universes. It tells about a very complex hierarchy of beings that God ceated like Angels, to do different things in God’s creation. The second section tells about the history of our own universe. Like how it was created, how it’s maintained and so on. The third section is about how Urantia (Earth) was created and so on. The word Urantia, is their word for Earth, so you can see what the book is ...
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Yes I’ve seen that before. I think it’s part of The Lost Years Of Jesus story. That story is interesting, but didn’t fill the gaps in the Bible, for me at least. It still has some good stuff in it though. I remembered another good book I didn’t mention before called The Aquarian Age Gospel of Jesus, the Christ of the Piscean Age. So I looked it up and wound up at The Reluctant Messenger site again. That book is at http://reluctant-messenger.com/aquarian_gospel.htm I liked this book second to the Bible before I found the Urantia book. But at The Reluctant Messenger site there was a pop-u ...
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Ok Tom, I’ll see you again some day. I know this is something you have to do to grow in God, and it shows you really want to. I know the gaps you’re talking about. I read every book there is on Jesus & nothing comes close to the Bible and Urantia. If you want the gaps filled Urantia is the answer. No other book will fill them. I’m not telling you to not read any other books, just trying to save you time. If you want to check it out start at http://www.urantia.org/papers/paper122.html When you come across something you don’t understand ignore it, and compare the book with the story of Jes ...
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Hi Tomi, I don’t see the need for you to go, but if you do then go. We do reap what we sow which is one reason for you to stay in my opinion. I know you’ve helped me understand a few things, so I say keep sowing! You don’t have to be a pastor to do that. It’s good to hear you’ve taken what you can use from the Bible and are leaving the rest. All I can say is keep up the search. Now you can use the good base you’ve received from the Bible to journey on further. There is TONS of other information out there that will help in your journey. Each view is another person’s experience with God. J ...
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June 6th is coming up, 6/6/6. Any thoughts?   [End]
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Remember, even if prayer does not change God, it very often effects great and lasting changes in the one who prays in faith and confident expectation. Prayer has been the ancestor of much peace of mind, cheerfulness, calmness, courage, self-mastery, and fair-mindedness in the men and women of the evolving races. If you truly desire to overcome the habit of criticizing some friend, the quickest and surest way of achieving such a change of attitude is to establish the habit of praying for that person every day of your life. Prayer has turned many an irritable and complaining invalid ...
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The Bible doesn’t include God making hell in the creation story, so where did it come from? Is it real, and what exactly is it? Take Care, Gaylen   [End]
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Hey Karlin, You got it right in some ways. Apparently most Christians can’t see fruit, and only know how to listen to the mouth. I totally agree! I think a lot of atheists could see Bush wasn’t walking the walk, and just talking the talk. Bush has long been against the global warming. The head of the EPA ”resigned” after Bush’s administration altered the EPA’s report a few years back. Another thing, people see what they want to though. People see what they believe too. So it’s easy to see ”hypocritical christian people and activities” if you want to look for it. The same can be said for ...
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~He Is God~     He is the First and Last, The Beginning and the End!   He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all! He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times. He always was, He always is, and He always will be ... unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!     He was bruised and brought healing! He was pierced and eased pain! He was persecuted and brought freedom! He was dead and brought life! He is risen and brings power! He reigns and brings Peace! The world can’t understand him, The armies can’t de ... [Image Embedded Here]
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~He Is God~   He is the First and Last, The Beginning and the End! He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all! He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times. He always was, He always is, and He always will be ... unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone! He was bruised and brought healing! He was pierced and eased pain! He was persecuted and brought freedom! He was dead and brought life! He is risen and brings power! He reigns and brings Peace! The world can’t understand him, The armies can’t defeat Him, The schools can’t exp ... [Image Embedded Here]
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Sorry I didn’t get back sooner Been There, long week, but sorry if I took it wrong. Take Care, Gaylen   [End]
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You can call it ”manipulate and contort,” but I was just trying to show how God didn’t say each ”day” was a 24 hour period, man did. No I don’t think Genesis is a myth. The conventional understanding of Genesis might be. Take Care, Gaylen   [End]
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I don’t understand what you’re talking about I admit. You asked: would it then be possible that god could tell someone to kill another for some greater good? And I said: In the Bible, God says it’s ok to stone people for the good of the community doesn’t it? And You said: i dont think you understand death. So what are you talking about?   [End]
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No I don’t feel you’re judging, and I know we’re different, but I feel we walked down a simular path still. I guess we’ve all tried to find satisfaction in our lives without suceess until we came to know God. I had the emptiness in my life too, but didn’t know it at the time. Too busy living my R&R dream. I guess you think I still need to find God, and are not probably the first to say that. I wonder why. Because I don’t display the average Christian attitude or beliefs? Or because I don’t go around telling people how I’ve found God? I don’t feel the need to do any of that. I think if you ...
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You attack the messenger labeling them something that in your mind seems correct? Just because someone presents a possibility, theory, idea, or even a belief, or something to be debated other than yours, ”their motive is fame (grandiosity)?” That seems narrow minded, and limited. I don’t claim to have ”COMPLETE” thoughts, no one can. As far as flying saucers, I know a few Christians who have seen them on three different occasions. One hovered over me while driving down the highway, but I didn’t see it. But I don’t expect you to believe it. Personally I’ve seen a fireball in the sky befor ...
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In the Bible, God says it’s ok to stone people for the good of the community doesn’t it? That was the moment where I said wait a minute, do not kill? but it’s ok to stone people to death? That’s when I had to decide which God I loved. A angry jealous God, or a loving God. It CAN’T be both. Take Care Trapper, Gaylen   [End]
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You and I have been down just about the same road. I was more extreme though playing in R&R bands for 20 years. Living the ”true” R&R lifestyle. Sex and drugs and R&R. Making 2-$3,000 a week in the 80’s and 90’s. You wouldn’t belive what a crash ending it all came to. I won’t get into it all, because I doubt anyone would believe it, and I know ”been there done that” wouldn’t for sure, and I don’t need more labels and garbage from him. But I had the same moment of truth in my life where you cry out from the bottom of your soul to God. In the end we both found the same truth. God. Life has ...
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You attack the messenger labeling them something that in your mind seems correct? Just because someone presents a possibility, theory, idea, or even a belief, or something to be debated other than yours, ”their motive is fame (grandiosity)?” That seems narrow minded, and limited. Like it has long been said about the Bible. The only message in the Bible is know God and love God, all the rest is commentary. Is it any different here? Take Care, Gaylen   [End]
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First of all S.S. I know you know I present possibilities, what I may believe, or sometimes present things just for debate purposes. No one truly knows the answers to questions like these. The only thing I claim to know as fact is there is a God. I think your reason for why God waited so long to put life on Earth would be a good reason. It would have killed any life in Earth’s first stages. ”Could it be that when God ”created light” that he simply cleared away the earth’s toxic, opaque atmosphere with the newly-created plants and trees?” Maybe, but I think it might have been some ki ...
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Have you ever noticed in Genesis verse 3 it says: ”3 And God said, ”Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light ”day,” and the darkness he called ”night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” So there was ”light” and God called the light ”day,” and the darkness ”night” on the ”first day.” Then in verse 14 it says: ”14 And God said, ”Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons a ...
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I want you to know I respect your beliefs too Been There. We may disagree, but are still brothers. I do think it’s possible to not be jealous. I can only remember one time in the last 20 years where I was jealous, and I can’t even remember what it was about. I remember I found it weird though. I agree with most of your message though. I do think love is a lot different than just about everyone else does. I don’t believe it’s an emotion or desire. I think that’s where most people’s marriges fail. People fall in love under certain conditions. Like if this person treats me this way I’ll love ...
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Well you can choose to be jealous for what ever reason you want. I choose not to. Being jealous is a choice, just like love is. ”not letting anything or anyone to come BETWEEN” us and God does not require jealousy. All it requires is faith that is stronger than any other obstacle. Jealousy doesn’t exist, just like fear, but those thoughts do. Take Care, Gaylen   [End]
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Oh my, now I’m even more convinced jealously is wrong. There was too much to respond to in your jealousy theory, so I’m just going to make this other point. ”Jealousy is a necessary part of love” Ok, so Paul WAS wrong. Jealousy is part of love. So there are parts of the Bible that are wrong, and now you’ve admitted it.   [End]
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Good Post Been There! I still don’t agree with the jealousy part. Is the second death you talk of where the spirit can die after the physical does? I agree with that. That post was more like the Been There I thought I knew! You were right too about not saying the Bible IS the word of God. Sorry! Take Care, Gaylen   [End]
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Sorry to hear your mind is closed by such an unusual interpretation of John 19:30. Most say Jesus said that because he had completed everything that was prophesied for his life. His job was complete, nothing was left undone. Which is what happened. If he said it for the reason you say, it would make him a lier. ”that there will be no future revelations of the truth of God” Apparently you don’t realize the only thing that could be called a Bible back then, was the Old Testament. So what do you say about the New Testament that was written AT LEAST 30 years after Jesus died? ”It is finishe ...
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Hi Been There, I don’t think I have ”a self-fulfilling philosophy.” I may have a pride problem sometimes, but if you knew me you’d know it’s not a big problem, or dominates me. ”THERE IS NO MORE ”REVEALING” (holy writing/scripture) after Jesus’s death on the cross.” This isn’t true. The New Testament was written AFTER Jesus’ death. There were also may other writtings around before Jesus, while he was walking the Earth, and after he raised himself, that people liked and followed. It was the church that decided they weren’t to be included in the Bible, and then banned, and labeled. The ...
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Well thanks for the other possible reason for the silence. But trapper also wrote something like ”look who did it below.” It was my post that was below. It’s not that I care what people think about me. I proved my point, the Bible isn’t the only place for truth, and Christianity isn’t the only religion with truth either. Take Care Sans Sucre, Gaylen   [End]
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I’ve said all along no one killed Jesus. Jesus gave up his life freely like he said. He also said he could take it back, which he did. Jesus said something like a plant has to die before it can multiply. If Judas didn’t do what he did, Jesus would have died anyway. It was just the misunderstood teachings of Jesus by the desciples and church that have portrayed Judas this way for 2,000 years. It’s not the first time they misunderstood Jesus’ teachings. Nothing new here. It’s just like they did with Mary Magdalene. She wasn’t a prostitute like she is portrayed. Her and Jesus’ mother, anoth ...
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Look I wasn’t attacking the messenger, or trying to confront you. I did go through the post and state what I agreed and disagreed with. That’s all. I wasn’t accusing you of anything. I guess I won’t disagree with you, because you seem to think I’m attacking you when I do. I guess I won’t show you where you did say God is love. No you didn’t say any one should agree with that. I’ve only read revelation once. It just sounds like a bad dream to me. I don’t give it much credit. It might have had truth for people back when it was written, but I don’t believe what most Christians do about the ...
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What is conventionally called ”love” is an ego strategy to avoid surrender. You are looking to someone to give you that which can only come to you in the state of surrender. The ego uses that person as a substitute to avoid having to surrender. The Spanish language is the most honest in this respect. It uses the same verb, te quiero, for ”I love you” and ”I want you.” To the ego, loving and wanting are the same, where true love has no wanting in it, no desire to possess or for your partner to change. The ego singles someone out and makes them special. It uses that person to cover up the co ...
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Thanks for the compliment Been There. The Bible is not a book on how to love like you said. It only point you in the right direction, and tells you to go and find it for yourself. I know you’ve learned from the spirit too. I saw it in a post you did before. You are right about love not being an obligation. I’m glad to see! I’m not sure about your statement that love comes before faith. For me I had to have faith there was a God, then when I seen God acting in my life the love grew. Maybe it’s either way depenting on how the person operates? Who knows. True, God made us creatures of love ...
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Yes science some science is definately ”false logic” I would say. You can’t deny all science though. This is like saying all Christains are like the queer bishops. How can you call people who don’t love God ”never to be repentant ingrates”? Aren’t they our brothers ans sisters who are no better than us? That either raises them up to you, or lowers you down to them. When really there is no you or them. I wouldn’t say science is made by satan. Science is only another way of veiwing our world and reailty. Religion views it more from the inside out, and science views it from the outside in. ...
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So what do you think was meant by God not being a respecter of men? I think it meant God values everyone the same, and no one is superior to anyone else. God could care less what your place is in this world. You really think it’s an obligation to love, rather than a desire, pleasure, or something at our core? Yes Tesla had a great mind. He also invented the type of ozone generator I use too. They are still the best made. I don’t know if you know what I think about science. In general I don’t think it’s good for much. Some can’t be denied, but a lot of it can. I follow it to see if ...
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I just saw this on the science channel today! (Science keeps inching foward, but eventually be turned upside down, and blown away like dust on a counter top, and find religion was right all along.) ”A NASA probe has allowed scientists to peer back at the earliest moments when the universe was created, less than a trillionth of a trillionth of a second after the “Big Bang.” And what it’s telling them is that the universe suddenly grew from sub-microscopic, to astronomical size in less than a blink of an eye.” ”Astronomers have determined this by looking at the oldest light in the univ ...
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I think you know more than you let on Beej!   [End]
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I haven’t seen any UFO’s either, but I know three VERY trust worthy Christian friends who have. One time three UFO’s were wittnesed for about five minutes by 20 people. Another time one was wittnesed by two people for about a half hour at close range. The other time one supposedly hovered over the car I was in driving down a highway for about a 30 seconds, but I never saw anything. I don’t believe satan is only allowed here on Earth. I believe Angels (which satan is/was the best of) can go anywhere in the universe. I believe satan’s grip of death on Earth was conquered when Jesus rose fro ...
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I like that first paragraph Beej! That’s something new for me. Something to stimulate the brain this morning.   [End]
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”the 99 of an actual 140 parameters as to the WHO and WHAT is Mystery Babylon” These could apply to other countries now or at other times. Have you ever thought the Mystery Babylon might just be Babylon? And it’s already been destroyed? (I’m not claiming it is, but it’s just as logical, no probably more logical, than your argument. :-) ”links to overwhelming stacks of evidence.” Overwhelming in quanity, not quality. ”Jesus did KNOW” I see. That’s why he said he didn’t know. It must be code. Like yes means no, and no means yes? Darn old Bible code stuff gets me every time. ...
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”The forum is for debate.” True! Unfortunatly you provide nothing to debate. Would you debate chicken little? The sky is falling. The sky is falling. ”Sadly, no one has been able to DISPROVE anything that I have posted.” You haven’t proved anything, so nothing to disprove. ”No one has been able to disprove the Mystery Babylon is America interpretation in light of military and political developments.” You haven’t proved America is ”the Mystery Babylon” once again. Look, all you have said is, she said he said. And you keep slamming America in the process like everyone is a whore who ...
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Hey Vtool, Here is another problem with your theory that I forgot to mention. These spy chips can easily be hacked. Here’s a story I ran across this morning in a health newsletter. Two U.S. Employees Injected With RFID Microchips At Company Request Date: 2/10/06 Source: http://www.spychips.com // http://www.nocards.org Two U.S. Employees Injected With RFID Microchips At Company Request Government Contractor Adopts Controversial VeriChip Implant In Workplace Cincinnati video surveillance company CityWatcher.com now requires employees to use VeriChip human implantable micro ...
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Who wrote the Bible? The Dead Sea scrolls were written over a thousand years before the Bible. Most of the scrolls are written in Hebrew, with some in Greek and Aramaic. 127 texts are the same as what is in the Bible out of the over 800 that were found. A few of the documents that were found have as many as 19 versions written by different authors of the same books in the Bible we have now. Some were shorter and some longer than the versions we have today. Some were better written and some were more confusing than the ones we have now. There were either different authors of the same boo ...
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Believe in the Lord thy God and thou shalt be saved.   [End]
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I don’t worship Jesus. I pray to God. Being one with God doesn’t make you God. Angels are one with God. Do you not try to be one with God also? Isn’t just before the verse you qouted where Jesus said, before Abraham was, I am? This is what made the crowd want to stone him. Yet Jesus was only saying before Abraham was born he was alive. So were the Angels. Are Angels God too? I ask you to show what verse says Jesus was God. Then tell me if it was a man or Jesus that wrote the statement. Don’t you think with all the teaching Jesus did he would have mentioned he was God if he was? Yet he made ...
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And Jesus said to them, with much delight I speak to you concerning life--the brotherhood of life. God is one, yet he is more than one; all things are God; all things are one. By the sweet breath of God all life is bound in one. And when you crush beneath your foot the meanest worm, you shake the throne of God, and cause the sword of right to tremble in its sheath. The bird sings out its song for men, and men vibrate in unison to help it sing. The ant constructs her home, the bee its sheltering comb, the spider weaves her web, and flowers breath to them a spirit in their sweet perfumes tha ...
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And they scolded him; and said, Jesus, master of the wise, this day will be an evil day for you. The news will spread that you consort with courtesans and thieves, and men will shun you as they shun an asp. And Jesus answered them and said a master never screens himself for sake of reputation or of fame. These are but worthless paste jewelry of the day; they rise and sink, like empty bottles on a stream; they are illusions and will pass away; They are the result of what the thoughtless think; they are the noise that people make; and shallow men judge merit by noise. God and all master men ...
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Jesus said, Our Father-God asks not for needless waste of plant, of grain, of dove, of lamb. That which you burn on any shrine you throw away. No blessings can go to the one who takes the food from hungry mouths to be destroyed by fire. When you would offer sacrifice to our God, just take your gift of grain, or meat and lay it on the table of the poor. From it an incense will arise to heaven, which will return to you with blessedness. Tear down your idols; they can’t hear you, turn all your sacrificial altars into fuel for the flames. Make human hearts your altars, and burn your sacrifices ...
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Well now that that book was discovered, on to the next. Jesus said, God lives not in the noise of tongues; there is no way to him from any idol shrine. God’s meeting place with man is in the heart, and in a still small voice he speaks; and he who hears is still. The Holy Spirit cannot be seen with mortal eyes; nor can men see the Spirits of the Holy; But in their image man was made, and he who looks into the face of man, looks at the image of the God who speaks within. And when man honors man he honors God, and what man does for man, he does for God. And you must bear in mind that when ...
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the father. i think you know that answer. are you trying to make a point?   [End]
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I don’t think you have to call God by name when praying, or say ”in Jesus name” either. They’re just words. God looks at the heart. Not at the words or actions. So to me it’s how you pray, not what you pray. God reacts to the desires of the heart no matter what is said. I rarely if ever ask for anything material. I just about always apoligize for being such a sinner first. When I have gotten mad at someone, I forgive them. I ask God to help others, and give me what I need to do God’s will. Then give thanks for everything, like it’s already been given. That’s basically all I pray for. Some ...
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I mean adopt a life style of God being with you always, and adopt a lifestyle of Gods personality, if you want to be Godly. I also forgot to mention prayer, which is talking to God like God is right there face to face with you. Knowing that if you do these things, you will be aligned with Gods will, and anything you ask God for, God will do for you. For me at least, there will be an extreme test period in the beginning, before you see God doing things in your life. That is where a lot of people fail now days, and become atheist, or go to a different religion.   [End]
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To me, being Godly is being holy, or adopting as many of God’s characteristics as possible and making them real in your life to where they become you and you beomce them. To do this, I do things like imagining God is right next to me all day long for a month or so. I try to look at all different types of people and greet them with a holy kiss in my mind for a month or so. I try to imagine everyone I see as having God right there with them and treat them that way for a month or so. I live like I live in a world where there is only God and I. I try to see God in everything everyday. I learn ...
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No don’t believe God wanted Jesus to die. Sorry if I implied or said that. No I wouldn’t want my children to die for someone else’s sins like the Bible says about Jesus. (which Jesus never said) I believe all that is church, or man’s teachings, and it’s pure silliness.   [End]
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By ”Moses story” I assume you mean that he existed? Yes. I’m not sure if I believe all the Bibles says about Moses, and it doesn’t really matter to me. A lot of the old testement means little to me. A lot of the stories about different people and events through out the whole Bible mean little to me, except Jesus’ teachings. None of it really gets me any closer to God, except Jesus’ teachings, and that’s my only goal in reading the Bible, or any book.   [End]
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You win the $1000 prize! I was wondering how long it would take.   [End]
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”There is just too many interpretations made by men that creates so much confusion.” Couldn’t agree with you more! Oh except for interpretations by man and church. I think you forgot one there. :-) Oh, I guess the church is man, so never mind. Good post Stillhopin!   [End]
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The Master made it clear that the kingdom of heaven must begin with, and be centered in, the dual concept of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. The acceptance of such a teaching, Jesus declared, would liberate man from the age-long bondage of animal fear and at the same time enrich human living with the following endowments of the new life of spiritual liberty: 1. The possession of new courage and augmented spiritual power. The gospel of the kingdom was to set humans free and inspire them to hope for eternal life. 2. The gospel carried a message of new confidence and true ...
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The four biggest reasons I like is: 1. Because he was showing there was life after death to everyone on Earth. 2. He gave the desciples the unshakable faith they needed to spread his word, by showing he was alive again, after the desciples were TOTALLY crushed by his death. 3. He died so he could give his spirit of truth to all mankind. Without dying this couldn’t have happened. The wheat seed must be buried in the ground before it can multiply. 4. It was Gods will. There is another big reason, but no one is ready for that one.   [End]
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The four biggest reasons I like is: 1. Because he was showing there was life after death to everyone on Earth. 2. He gave the desciples the unshakable faith they needed to spread his word, by showing he was alive again, after the desciples were TOTALLY crushed by his death. 3. He died so he could give his spirit of truth to all mankind. Without dying this couldn’t have happened. The wheat seed must be buried in the ground before it can multiply. 4. It was Gods will. There is another big reason, but no one is ready for that one.   [End]
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