How can we get rid of our sinfulness?

[selfactivated]

I've never needed it to help people. Matter of fact, I've used the Tao Te Ching because I can explain the passages waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay easier. Heck, a textbook in 4th year organic chemistry is more direct and clear than the bible.

Here's a Pressie Maple.........a bit of enlightenment

http://terebess.hu/english/tao/gia.html

 

[selfactivated]

When I first came on this thread I did feel your were accusing us all of being worse than awful and that you placed yourself above others because you were a priest. In your posts lately you are the kind of priest that I always believed would win more hearts and minds for the church. I agree that a lot of people fill their lonely souls with stupid things but to me the worse are the elderly and the children. Everyone need God in their souls (per say) but I find alot of elderly people are seemingly religious are still lonely. Could this be that their religious belief is due to fear drummed into them when they were young? I ask this question because there is an elderly lady (over 85) that I take out for coffee at least once a week. Her husband died 25 yrs ago, no children, one sister died and one sister really far away. We had her over for Christmas supper and try to include her in family events. What else can I do to help her, do you have any ideas?

May I stick my nose in? When I was with Sally Ally we went to the nursing homes after services. Those people just ate up our company.......Just do what your doing Love you are a light in her darkness and a beautiful example.

 

[L Gilbert]

Maple luv, the bible has the answer to all our questions, just need to dig in and find them.

Years later, one finds the answer to his question but has forgotten why he was looking for it. Tons of books out there with the same messages and are a lot less obtuse, polysemous, and don't include ridiculous faerie tales.

 

[L Gilbert]

Just........................................................six, of them critters.

Peace>>>AJ:love9:

Ah. Something about "And God said, "Go forth and multiply" so humans did just that and are still doing that and the rest of the life on the planet suffers because of the abundance of humans. Nifty.
Um, don't feel singled out, I gave the same spiel to my cousins, who have 5 kids.

 

[L Gilbert]

That's a pretty good perception of life, there Dexter.

A marriage is between two opposites. Originally, God and clay, creating a living soul.

rofl
So I musta been the "god" part and the wife musta been the "clay" part. Of course, she wouldn't see it that way, but that's the way the clay god crumbles.

 

[L Gilbert]

We had it in English......root word meanings, suffix and prefix. I can pick apart a big word and figure its meaning. My teachers were always blown away. But I HATE spellin!

Latin is a language. Like French, Gaeilge, Portuguese, Cantonese, etc. It has a grammar, it has spelling, etc. all to itself. Perhaps one can learn a few words of Latin in an English class, but that's about as far as it goes.

 

[talloola]

Is it sucking up? Or is it acknowledgement of our place in His Kingdom?
It's "sucking up"


Mind you, you're not all that wrong in the context of your points. I don't believe for a second God requires us to mouth praises to Him daily without putting our faith into action.
We don't need "something" other than our own intelligence, pride, and energy,
to drive us forward through life in a successful way, but if there are some
who do "better' when they believe in god, then it is a form of discipline for
them, and a guide,and one way for some people to have a "full" life, so I
urge them to do whatever is best for them.

I despair of people who sit around waiting for God to move in their lives without taking steps themselves
Those types will not only wait for god, but for everyone to do for them, as they
don't have the will, and are too lazy, to do for themselves.

 

[L Gilbert]

Well, after almost a hundred pages, I guess I ain't gonna be saved, go to heaven, accept anything other than blood into my heart, etc. Funny, though, I don't think being an evil, hollow, loveless, spiritually dead, soulless heathen as all that bad.

 

[L Gilbert]

Here's a Pressie Maple.........a bit of enlightenment

http://terebess.hu/english/tao/gia.html

If you do become interested: http://www.taopage.org/

 

[selfactivated]

If you do become interested: http://www.taopage.org/

I bookmarked it with the others. Thank You ....Im a slow reader but I like drinking it in, its calming.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Maple luv, the bible has the answer to all our questions, just need to dig in and find them.

Maple, since you've more or less admitted to being young and seeking, and from the great heights of my ancient wisdom ;-) I'd also suspect someone so young might be impressionable, the first lesson should be that that statement is simply not correct.

And the second lesson might be that the Internet probably isn't a good place to find what you're looking for. About 80% of what's here is crap. I mean the Internet generally, not this discussion board, or even this thread. This place is pretty good, though like any other board it has the usual complement of transient trolls, weirdos, and dipsticks, but what you're looking for will come only from real life and real people, for which this is no substitute. Not that I'm suggesting you should go away, by all means stay around and keep talking with us, just don't make it the centre of your seeking.

 

[look3467]

Well, after almost a hundred pages, I guess I ain't gonna be saved, go to heaven, accept anything other than blood into my heart, etc. Funny, though, I don't think being an evil, hollow, loveless, spiritually dead, soulless heathen as all that bad.

That was a trick question.

You didn't mention "heart". If you say your are, kind, considerate, loving, slow to anger, forgiving and loving your enemies, then you know God.

But if you say your quote: "evil, hollow, loveless, spiritually dead, soulless heathen" end quote, then you don't know God.

Which is it, can't be both, or else, you'd be like the rest of us, poor souls.

Peace>>>AJ:love9:

 

[look3467]

Maple, since you've more or less admitted to being young and seeking, and from the great heights of my ancient wisdom ;-)I'd also suspect someone so young might be impressionable, the first lesson should be that that statement is simply not correct.

That’s what the whole debate is about, hello?>>AJ

And the second lesson might be that the Internet probably isn't a good place to find what you're looking for. About 80% of what's here is crap. I mean the Internet generally, not this discussion board, or even this thread. This place is pretty good, though like any other board it has the usual complement of transient trolls, weirdos, and dipsticks, but what you're looking for will come only from real life and real people, for which this is no substitute. Not that I'm suggesting you should go away, by all means stay around and keep talking with us, just don't make it the centre of your seeking.

Well, Brother Dexter, a truth comes from your lips. Guess what? The bible also comes from the self same bunch of people, all with their attitudes, faults and weaknesses, much as like you and I.
The difference is that the wording, the stories are all inspired to reveal certain truths, that unless one taps into the divine, there are no revelations.

Now, if, one should have a desire, (notice I said if and desire) to know God, then the bible is where one will find Him.
For all you young ones in the faith, there’s where you need to start, with the bible.
God will lead you around to many different sources, other than the bible, as His done to me.
Reason being, is that there are something’s to be learned by experience only.

I happened upon a set of books of which some of you might be familiar with: “Man, Myth and Magic. A set of 22 books in which one can find every belief under the sun.

I studied them rather seriously trying to find some answers. In which I did, but the answer was not there in those books but in the bible all the time, I just couldn’t see it. I was lead to study them so as to gain knowledge of them.


Now, talking about fantasies, myths and fables, those books take the cake.

The answer, (I know, that’s what your waiting for me to say) was very simple.

It is love.

Peace>>>AJ:love9:

 

[Dexter Sinister]

That’s what the whole debate is about, hello?>>AJ

If that's what you think, you've somehow managed to miss the whole point of this thread. In no sense is it about whether or not the Bible contains all the answers.

The bible also comes from the self same bunch of people, all with their attitudes, faults and weaknesses, much as like you and I.

Okay, we agree on one thing at least.

The difference is that the wording, the stories are all inspired to reveal certain truths, that unless one taps into the divine, there are no revelations. Now, if, one should have a desire, (notice I said if and desire) to know God, then the bible is where one will find Him.

Again, those are not demonstrable facts, they're simply the assumptions you bring to your study of the Bible.

For all you young ones in the faith, there’s where you need to start, with the bible. God will lead you around to many different sources, other than the bible, as His done to me. Reason being, is that there are something’s to be learned by experience only.

And what's that statement if it isn't a tacit admission that the Bible does not contain all the answers?

The answer, was very simple.
It is love.

Too simplistic to be useful or meaningful as a guide to how to live your life. It's not clear to me even after reading all your posts what question you think that's the answer to.

 

[look3467]

If that's what you think, you've somehow managed to miss the whole point of this thread. In no sense is it about whether or not the Bible contains all the answers.

The bible does contain the answers, but, devine revelation is needed. How does that happen? Just ask (pray), study and the answer will be forth coming.

Okay, we agree on one thing at least.
Yes, were're both being honest.

Again, those are not demonstrable facts, they're simply the assumptions you bring to your study of the Bible.

Well, again, facts because of revelation, otherwise, as you say, fairy tails.

And what's that statement if it isn't a tacit admission that the Bible does not contain all the answers?

The answers are there, but may need comparison analysis to decern the right understanding of the revelation.

Too simplistic to be useful or meaningful as a guide to how to live your life.

By no means is the bible to simplistic, but rather complicated to the unlearned. Life is an experience that needs divine guidance for it to have life more abundantly.

It's not clear to me even after reading all your posts what question you think that's the answer to.

Question and or questions. Everybody has a question concerning God in various degrees.

You are here because you, your self are seeking, otherwise, you wouldn't even bother to post.

And there's no reason why you shouldn't. For God's love for me is not any greater than for you, but equally the same.

We do find favor, and blessings when we do seek Him with our hearts.

Peace>>>AJ:love9:

 

[Dexter Sinister]

The bible does contain the answers, but, devine revelation is needed. How does that happen? Just ask (pray), study and the answer will be forth coming.

Not in my experience. I got no answers at all that way, ever, and the more studying I did the less sense it all made. I finally gave it up. It didn't work as advertised.

By no means is the bible to simplistic

I didn't say it was, I said saying "love is the answer" is too simplistic. The Bible's an extraordinarily complex, contradictory, and confusing document.

 

[L Gilbert]

That was a trick question.

You didn't mention "heart". If you say your are, kind, considerate, loving, slow to anger, forgiving and loving your enemies, then you know God.

But if you say your quote: "evil, hollow, loveless, spiritually dead, soulless heathen" end quote, then you don't know God.

Which is it, can't be both, or else, you'd be like the rest of us, poor souls.

Peace>>>AJ:love9:

What question? I did mention heart. I said something about not accepting anything but blood in it. It's a pump not a container for fantasies. lol
Well, I don't know any gods so I must be the evil guy.

 

[L Gilbert]

Now, if, one should have a desire, (notice I said if and desire) to know God, then the bible is where one will find Him.
For all you young ones in the faith, there’s where you need to start, with the bible.

roflmao One will find gods, leprachauns, faeries, Disney's dwarves, etc. in the same part of the brain where dreams, fantasies, and the imagination originate: the occipital region. Um, that's inside you, BTW, which some people have known for a while. The holEy bible is man's version of what he thinks Yahweh's words are.

I happened upon a set of books of which some of you might be familiar with: “Man, Myth and Magic. A set of 22 books in which one can find every belief under the sun.

I studied them rather seriously trying to find some answers. In which I did, but the answer was not there in those books but in the bible all the time, I just couldn’t see it. I was lead to study them so as to gain knowledge of them.


Now, talking about fantasies, myths and fables, those books take the cake.

The answer, (I know, that’s what your waiting for me to say) was very simple.

It is love.

Peace>>>AJ:love9:

lol What happens when you throw a clock out the window? Love. ??? Why did the chicken cross the road? Love. ??? What happens when one puts a bit of zinc into a small container of hydrochloric acid? Love. ??? What do you do when your tire goes flat? Love. ???
Hmmmmmmmmmm. "THE" answer doesn't seem to fit.

 

[selfactivated]

I am way to tired to make this sound sensible and after this Im going to bed.

There are 2 forses in this world...........Fear/evil/ect and Love/goodness/ect and that breaks down even further to just love because even fear comes from Love (a parent fears for a child out of Love) Do it is truely ALL Love.........The silence in Tao...........have fun with that........night gentlemen *kiss*

 

[L Gilbert]

Question and or questions. Everybody has a question concerning God in various degrees.

You are here because you, your self are seeking, otherwise, you wouldn't even bother to post.

And there's no reason why you shouldn't. For God's love for me is not any greater than for you, but equally the same.

We do find favor, and blessings when we do seek Him with our hearts.

Peace>>>AJ:love9:

lol I'm not seeking "the" answer here. I'm simply having fun here. Actually, I'm not seeking anything here but conversation and fun.
Um, my question of why people seem to think your god is anything but a bit of imagination has not been answered to my satisfaction yet. All I get is basically the answer that people feel it in their hearts, which is an inane answer because the heart is simply a muscle which pumps reoxygenated blood around the body. Oh, maybe the answer to that is also "love", after all, you called it "the" answer. Or is it the "mysterious ways" thing again? :shock: