*What's life about*

[marcus300]

Normally nothing would go right for me, nothing. I didnt want to get to deep into but I will since you asked. I prayed a lot. After I hurt my arm I realized I messed up, went back off course, I gave the devil control again, re-opened the door for him to come back in. When he gets a hold of me he makes life bad, this way I go back to my mean, nasty self. Its right there, everyday I battle to keep it surpressed, but by praying, reading my bible and keeping the lords message fresh in my mind....he gives me strength. I can fight it. I dont want to be the old me, but its there waiting. I feel good now, got rid of most of my demons and I want it to stay that way. Life is SO much better this way.

Its hard to understand if you havent read the bible. Its a great story, its an incredible guide on how to live life to its fullest while helping others....making a difference in peoples lives that need help. Im not a reader by any means, but I love reading my bible, its uplifting, inspiring and a road map on how to live a good life. Thats what he intended us to do. Could you imagine if everyone or even almost everyone lived this way? With hope and purpose. If you want to see what life is really like...................just watch the news. We are destroying the planet and our selves

You know I have much respect for you BG, we go back a long way and we always have each other's back on many issues and I am glad things are SO much better in your life now

I'm still struggling with this god and devil thing battling for control of you. Let me try and explain my thoughts a little bit better

I see it as some large scales with religion on one side and science on the other, over the years the weight seems to be piling on science side and religion just getting less popular because there is so much weight on the science side these days. Now getting back to my question why do you think it was the actions of god and not just good fortune! you didn't really answer me directly. I'm trying to get to the point where people change, that moment what changes them which happened to you and 405 and neither have answered really what I ask. Is there words to explain why you think this way or not? is it something what just clicks in your head or something what happens, ive asked 2-3 times now and still don't get an answer. I understand you feel you change for the better but why think it was god and not just will power, self belief and discipline?

I agree we are destroying the planet slowly.

What about all these different religions and gods, you ask a Muslim and he will preach from his book of choice. Why is he wrong and yours is right two beliefs and two different sides of religion?

I have a friend who was religious and while his son was on a around the world trip with his girlfriend they both died in an accident in their prime, they had everything going for them, the family was ripped apart and my friend totally lost all his faith and beliefs and now thinks is a total pile of brain washing garbage. If there was a god why was his son took away, that's why he asks and he got no answers from anyone, oh except they gone to a better place or were wanted somewhere else, this made him worse.

Sorry about the story and guess its not going nothing to do with what I am asking but why do you think its god and not just your inner self, self control and discipline what made good for you in your life, what was the point in time, where did the message come from and what happened to you to start thinking there is a god what changed you from being this drug fuel anger fuker to this new born Christian ?

It doesn't matter how deep you get I am willing to listen but the only thing I ask is don't quote bible quotes, Thanks

[marcus300]

for me it was enjoying it and seeing others happy, doing what others wanted to make them feel pleased

now due to illness it has to be about me for what i think is best, but somehow keeping trying to make others around me happy.

what life is about.... well happiness and health

man things have changed in the last 9 months most here prob wont understand.

really though marcus i couldnt word it for the life of me as to your question

Really happy to see you around mate

[Flagg]

Normally nothing would go right for me, nothing. I didnt want to get to deep into but I will since you asked. I prayed a lot. After I hurt my arm I realized I messed up, went back off course, I gave the devil control again, re-opened the door for him to come back in. When he gets a hold of me he makes life bad, this way I go back to my mean, nasty self. Its right there, everyday I battle to keep it surpressed, but by praying, reading my bible and keeping the lords message fresh in my mind....he gives me strength. I can fight it. I dont want to be the old me, but its there waiting. I feel good now, got rid of most of my demons and I want it to stay that way. Life is SO much better this way.

Its hard to understand if you havent read the bible. Its a great story, its an incredible guide on how to live life to its fullest while helping others....making a difference in peoples lives that need help. Im not a reader by any means, but I love reading my bible, its uplifting, inspiring and a road map on how to live a good life. Thats what he intended us to do. Could you imagine if everyone or even almost everyone lived this way? With hope and purpose. If you want to see what life is really like...................just watch the news. We are destroying the planet and our selves

While I am not a man of faith, I can agree with this. We are destroying the planet and ourselves. I have often said that humans are nothing more than advanced animals, but animals are not destroying themselves and they are not destroying the planet.

A lot of people are inherently selfish and violent and I have no idea why.

[Lunk1]

You know I have much respect for you BG, we go back a long way and we always have each other's back on many issues and I am glad things are SO much better in your life now

I'm still struggling with this god and devil thing battling for control of you. Let me try and explain my thoughts a little bit better

I see it as some large scales with religion on one side and science on the other, over the years the weight seems to be piling on science side and religion just getting less popular because there is so much weight on the science side these days. Now getting back to my question why do you think it was the actions of god and not just good fortune! you didn't really answer me directly. I'm trying to get to the point where people change, that moment what changes them which happened to you and 405 and neither have answered really what I ask. Is there words to explain why you think this way or not? is it something what just clicks in your head or something what happens, ive asked 2-3 times now and still don't get an answer. I understand you feel you change for the better but why think it was god and not just will power, self belief and discipline?

I agree we are destroying the planet slowly.

What about all these different religions and gods, you ask a Muslim and he will preach from his book of choice. Why is he wrong and yours is right two beliefs and two different sides of religion?

I have a friend who was religious and while his son was on a around the world trip with his girlfriend they both died in an accident in their prime, they had everything going for them, the family was ripped apart and my friend totally lost all his faith and beliefs and now thinks is a total pile of brain washing garbage. If there was a god why was his son took away, that's why he asks and he got no answers from anyone, oh except they gone to a better place or were wanted somewhere else, this made him worse.

Sorry about the story and guess its not going nothing to do with what I am asking but why do you think its god and not just your inner self, self control and discipline what made good for you in your life, what was the point in time, where did the message come from and what happened to you to start thinking there is a god what changed you from being this drug fuel anger fuker to this new born Christian ?

It doesn't matter how deep you get I am willing to listen but the only thing I ask is don't quote bible quotes, Thanks

I can simplify this Marcus. Believe...just in case, you aren't out anything by believing but may gain everything

[panntastic]

While I am not a man of faith, I can agree with this. We are destroying the planet and ourselves. I have often said that humans are nothing more than advanced animals, but animals are not destroying themselves and they are not destroying the planet.

A lot of people are inherently selfish and violent and I have no idea why.

Have you ever watched the documentary on the chimpanzees that kill others that come into their territory?
We are more alike than we think.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CPznMbNcfO8

[Flagg]

Have you ever watched the documentary on the chimpanzees that kill others that come into their territory?
We are more alike than we think.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CPznMbNcfO8

Why will cats and dogs kill small animals indiscriminately? Lions will kill Hyenas if they catch them, and not for food, and everyone knows how aggressive hippos are.

I guess savagery exists in a lot of species, but all other species are not slowly destroying the planet. They never take more than they need.

[panntastic]

They have been around in some form or another longer than man they are wise to their surroundings.

[marcus300]

I can simplify this Marcus. Believe...just in case, you aren't out anything by believing but may gain everything

Thanks for the input but still doesn't answer anything ive been asking, i'm on the fence one side of me says why should I believe is something so illogical and fair tale like and the other says well surely there's got to be something.....can you see where I am?

do you believe? if so why and if not why not?

[Hazard]

Why will cats and dogs kill small animals indiscriminately? Lions will kill Hyenas if they catch them, and not for food, and everyone knows how aggressive hippos are.

I guess savagery exists in a lot of species, but all other species are not slowly destroying the planet. They never take more than they need.

And if I'm not mistaken we're the only species that fvcks our own dead...... Lol

[Lunk1]

Thanks for the input but still doesn't answer anything ive been asking, i'm on the fence one side of me says why should I believe is something so illogical and fair tale like and the other says well surely there's got to be something.....can you see where I am?

do you believe? if so why and if not why not?

I was raised Catholic, baptized, confirmed and served as an alter boy through school (no I didnt get diddled by the priest). My wife and daughter are very devowed Lutherans. During my time in the service, after high school, I began to question. To this day I still have questions. It5's difficult for me to explain "if I believe" because it depends on my life at the moment. I still attend church (on occassion) with my family and like alot of ppl I still pray when times get tuff. On other days I ask myself things like "is there a god" when things are shitty mainly.

It was expalined to me by my wifes minister that it is normal and ok to question. So to answer your question the best that I can...yes I believe and at the same time question!

[marcus300]

I was raised Catholic, baptized, confirmed and served as an alter boy through school (no I didnt get diddled by the priest). My wife and daughter are very devowed Lutherans. During my time in the service, after high school, I began to question. To this day I still have questions. It5's difficult for me to explain "if I believe" because it depends on my life at the moment. I still attend church (on occassion) with my family and like alot of ppl I still pray when times get tuff. On other days I ask myself things like "is there a god" when things are shitty mainly.

It was expalined to me by my wifes minister that it is normal and ok to question. So to answer your question the best that I can...yes I believe and at the same time question!

Thanks Lunk for that, you believe but still question because of the bad things what happen in life.

[Lunk1]

Thanks Lunk for that, you believe but still question because of the bad things what happen in life.

Absolutely..and I think it's natural even for the most dedicated christain. For example: my dog whom I loved dearly got Cancer and had to be put to sleep. She was young and healthy and well taken care of...so it made no sense. Makes me question why god would allow this or is it because there is no god? But at the same time when things are going bad I will just as easily turn to god and ask for help...I'm a super hypocrite.

Some who believe without (supposed) doubt may argue that I don't have faith because I question...I for one think it's normal and human nature to question things and yet still be able to believe they exist just as easily

[marcus300]

Absolutely..and I think it's natural even for the most dedicated christain. For example: my dog whom I loved dearly got Cancer and had to be put to sleep. She was young and healthy and well taken care of...so it made no sense. Makes me question why god would allow this or is it because there is no god? But at the same time when things are going bad I will just as easily turn to god and ask for help...I'm a super hypocrite.

Some who believe without (supposed) doubt may argue that I don't have faith because I question...I for one think it's normal and human nature to question things and yet still be able to believe they exist just as easily

Ok, let me put this question to you then after what you just told me. What if it was either your daughter or son who got the cancer and died at such a young age and not your dog, makes no sense but would you still believe?

[Lunk1]

Ok, let me put this question to you then after what you just told me. What if it was either your daughter or son who got the cancer and died at such a young age and not your dog, makes no sense but would you still believe?

While I hope I never have to find out, I assume I would feel the same way. I would be angry and question for sometime and then I would ultimitly find comfort in believing, especially believing that she would be in a better place and that I would see her again.

[BG]

Man Marcus I just typed for 20 minutes and some how erased it. Need to step away from the computer for a bit, but I will answer your question again tonight. Unreal.

[marcus300]

While I hope I never have to find out, I assume I would feel the same way. I would be angry and question for sometime and then I would ultimitly find comfort in believing, especially believing that she would be in a better place and that I would see her again.

Again i'm struggling with this, a better place away from her parents and dying with such a horrible painful disease. I can understand anger but feeling comfort that she's been took away from you and you still believing answer's a lot of things for me. Because no matter what your child shouldn't of been taken away from you. I could give a similar circumstance say your daughter didn't die but was kidnapped for over 3 days and gang raped by a ring of paedophiles, this would cause serious damage to your daughter would you still feel comfort that this is what god wanted? can you see why I am questioning this?

thanks for the input

[marcus300]

Man Marcus I just typed for 20 minutes and some how erased it. Need to step away from the computer for a bit, but I will answer your question again tonight. Unreal.

ohh man, sorry to hear that but thanks and I will wait when you have time.

[Lunk1]

Again i'm struggling with this, a better place away from her parents and dying with such a horrible painful disease. I can understand anger but feeling comfort that she's been took away from you and you still believing answer's a lot of things for me. Because no matter what your child shouldn't of been taken away from you. I could give a similar circumstance say your daughter didn't die but was kidnapped for over 3 days and gang raped by a ring of paedophiles, this would cause serious damage to your daughter would you still feel comfort that this is what god wanted? can you see why I am questioning this?

thanks for the input

No doubt I would turn to the lord more than any other time! I would pray strongly for three things: a clear sight picture, slow steady breathing and a smooth trigger pull!!!!

[marcus300]

No doubt I would turn to the lord more than any other time! I would pray strongly for three things: a clear sight picture, slow steady breathing and a smooth trigger pull!!!!

But would you still believe?

[Lunk1]

But would you still believe?

I think it would be very difficult....not sure if I could under those circumstances. I hope I never have to find out!!!

[--->>405<<---]

IMO u cant believe "just in case".. it doesnt work like that. God sees your heart, and true belief is not an insurance policy. we dont get by god on technicalities.

to answer ur question about the gang rape, marcus, God allows things to happen in this world as a product of sin. sin entered the world and terrible things happen as a result.

[--->>405<<---]

my answer about why i know it is God is a very long answer which will probably require a good amount of dialogue. the biggest sign of the Lord i my life is the fact that my heart is changed. this is not something that can be measured by you thru reading on your computer screen, but it is something i know personally to be the case.

God presented himself to me at a drug rehab many years ago thru a series of events. i have learned to see here God works in my life moreso thru hindsight. i can look back in time and se where God worked and can see things how he actually saw them before they occurred.

an example would be my alcoholism. God knew i would become an alcoholic and that it would require years of pain derived from my alcoholism before i would be willing to consider my need for Him in my life. why did i need him? i needed him to help me stop drinking. he took my sinful lifestyle and used it as a means to bring me low enufff to see my need for his help.

i can see this now looking back because i have been sober 5 years, the same amount of time i have also been a christian. now my desires of my heart are to spread the hope i have been given by God for eternal life thru Jesus Christ to others. this is what i desire to do as opposed to having the desire to go out and do drugs and do all sorts of other evil things..

[marcus300]

I think it would be very difficult....not sure if I could under those circumstances. I hope I never have to find out!!!

Thank you very much finally an answer, I was struggling for anyone to answer me straight,
anyway I can work with this now,
lunk lets go a bit deeper on this if you don't mind. This kind of situation happens everyday to other families who are god loving and even more cruel situation happen so why still have belief all because its not happened to you but it as to others?

[marcus300]

IMO u cant believe "just in case".. it doesnt work like that. God sees your heart, and true belief is not an insurance policy. we dont get by god on technicalities.

to answer ur question about the gang rape, marcus, God allows things to happen in this world as a product of sin. sin entered the world and terrible things happen as a result.

Well my friend you just totally lost me now, god allows this to happen in the world as a product of sin!! I can't tell you what that sounds but its so bizarre to here that from you. So if it happened to your daughter you would still believe??

my answer about why i know it is God is a very long answer which will probably require a good amount of dialogue.

If you don't want to answer that's fine 405, thanks for you input

[--->>405<<---]

[QUOTE=marcus300;6485924]

Well my friend you just totally lost me now, god allows this to happen in the world as a product of sin!! I can't tell you what that sounds but its so bizarre to here that from you. So if it happened to your daughter you would still believe??

if it happened to my daughter yes i would still believe. does bad things happening to me or u or anyone else make my faith in God less true? no it does not. sin entered the world and as a result bad things happen. if adam and eve had not eaten the apple non of these things that happen now would happen. unfortunately this is not the case. i cant have faith in God only if everything goes my way..

God knows more than i do. i have to trust him even in the bad... especially in the bad..

If you don't want to answer that's fine 405, thanks for you input

no i am happy to answer it just will take awhile! i am glad u are curious.. this is what we hope for!

[marcus300]

my answer about why i know it is God is a very long answer which will probably require a good amount of dialogue. the biggest sign of the Lord i my life is the fact that my heart is changed. this is not something that can be measured by you thru reading on your computer screen, but it is something i know personally to be the case.

God presented himself to me at a drug rehab many years ago thru a series of events. i have learned to see here God works in my life moreso thru hindsight. i can look back in time and se where God worked and can see things how he actually saw them before they occurred.

an example would be my alcoholism. God knew i would become an alcoholic and that it would require years of pain derived from my alcoholism before i would be willing to consider my need for Him in my life. why did i need him? i needed him to help me stop drinking. he took my sinful lifestyle and used it as a means to bring me low enufff to see my need for his help.

i can see this now looking back because i have been sober 5 years, the same amount of time i have also been a christian. now my desires of my heart are to spread the hope i have been given by God for eternal life thru Jesus Christ to others. this is what i desire to do as opposed to having the desire to go out and do drugs and do all sorts of other evil things..

Thanks 405 for your inpout but it still doesn't answer my questions put forward to you and thinking about it I don't think you can otherwise everyone would think like you. The last few pages of this thread really made me want some answers but its not done anything I wanted it to except probably look further the other way. Its a very difficult debate what seems could go on forever

Thanks 405

[MR-FQ320]

Why just not quote the ultimate get out clause " God works in mysterious ways"

[AnabolicDoc]

Edit: I removed my post bc I decided I'd rather not get involved.

[marcus300]

[QUOTE=--->>405<<---;6485933]

if it happened to my daughter yes i would still believe. does bad things happening to me or u or anyone else make my faith in God less true? no it does not. sin entered the world and as a result bad things happen. if adam and eve had not eaten the apple non of these things that happen now would happen. unfortunately this is not the case. i cant have faith in God only if everything goes my way..

God knows more than i do. i have to trust him even in the bad... especially in the bad..


no i am happy to answer it just will take awhile! i am glad u are curious.. this is what we hope for!

That's some serious faith 405 and I commend you for having such faith, I find it hard to believe but thanks for being honest. I also thought the adam and eve story was disproven by science regarding how man started on earth??

There's not much I can say after your answer my friend, even if that happened to your daughter you would still believe,

would you forgive the rapist?

[panntastic]

I have a question for 405
You say god came to you in rehab
Was this you looking for god or did someone in rehab mention salvation in god?

[--->>405<<---]

Thanks 405 for your inpout but it still doesn't answer my questions put forward to you and thinking about it I don't think you can otherwise everyone would think like you. The last few pages of this thread really made me want some answers but it not done anything I wanted it to except probably look further the other way. Its a very difficult debate what seems could go on forever

Thanks 405

i know it was God who delivered me from my addiction because i am not addicted anymore after finally seeking him and coming to faith in christ. i tried everything else and it didnt work. why did i come to faith in christ?

it started at a rehab i was at in 2005 to stay out of prison due to multiple dui's (driving under the influence). i had been ther for awhile and noticed a bunch of the guys started talking about God. i did not believe in god and had the opinion, "what has god done that is so great? created the world? big deal!" this is what i thought.

for my higher power i decided if i could have any god i wanted my higher power wqas gonna be a big tittied blonde. i thought of god (if he was real which i highly doubted) that he was an arrogant being who held himself in high regard and what had he done to deserve my worship?? nothing in my opinion..

well one day we gathered for an AA meeting in the am and i sat down and opened my AA big book up to look like i was paying attention. it opened to page 387 and at the top of the page the first thing i saw when i looked down was the phrase "Be still and Know that i am God".. well i thought it was kind of interesting my eyes fell on this particular passage and i happened to open the book to that particular page, but that was that and i kept on about my business.

a few days later i went into the bathroom to drop a deuce and took a magazine with my (AA grapevine) and sat down on the toilet and opened it up to read and what did i see on the first page i opened the magazine to? "be still and know that i am God"... well.. at this point i began to wonder what was going on? here i am at this rehab, my life is crap, im worried about going to jail and all of a sudden everyone around me wants to talk about god who i did not like and not sure if i believed in and now all of a sudden im seeing 2 direct exact passages in literature im opening up to .. ?? WTF?? is this coincidence i thought? could this be God was communicating with me?

i even told a friend of mine at the time (the one i askd what god had done so great. he was a pastors son by the way that also hated religion because his parents forced it down his throat his whole life).. about my experience and askd him if it could be possible that i had been brought there to find god..

well i was able to blow these experiences off and keep on about my business. a few more days go by and i have to take a crap again. this time i dont have a magazine handy, the only thing i have quik access to for reading material is a dictionary (LOL) so i grab it and go to the bathroom.. i sit down on the toilet and open the dictionary up and u know what the first thing i see is? the bold word at the top corner of the page marking the last word on the page.. Believe is the word..

well im pretty thunderstruck at this notion.here i have 3 separate instances that it is very difficult to be coincidental. on a side note beer (my big problem) was also on the same page..

me and my hard headed ass still am able to dismiss it as coincidence although i did take mental note of the significance of these coincidences and i acknowledged that maybe something was going one here..

well when i get out of the rehab i go to stay at my parents house to get back on my feet. well im telling my mom this story i just was telling you and she gets this weird look on her face and says: "ive got something for you ill be right back" and she walks away and comes back a minute or two later holding a refrigerator magnet. she hands it to me and says "this is for you".. i look at it and what does it have on it? the word BELIEVE in big green letters. she then tells me that her daughter in law had given it to her just a day or 2 earlier..

this would be my first experience with God . and i can look back now and see this is where he first began making his presence known in my life..

[BG]

How do I know its God and Jesus doing these things for me. Because my whole life I could not do them myself. MY WHOLE LIFE I TRIED. You remember when I wasnt going to use gear anymore, Ive been struggling with my demons for ever. How do I know it wasnt just good fortune? I never had anything go way for a very long time. Since becoming faithful, things have turned around, as long as I keep my faith and dont get angry things end up working out for the best. The lord blesses me for my faithfulness. Ive seen doctors, psych, tried anti-depressants....nothing worked. Theres no definite answer Marcus, you have to try it, live it, to understand how having faith can give you strength. You cant sit here with a closed mind and think there will be an answer, you have to want to see it, want to be it. When you become part of the body of Christ you inherit a family, a brother and reunited with your true father...creator. You learn your life isnt about the material things, what people think of you. Life isnt about you. Its about everyone else, you help those who are need and they should help you when in need. Why should we live in excess when so many others have nothing. Our government programs us to want more and more, its a natural human quality to desire, they exploit it. It keeps us busy and spending money which allows them to remain in power. Its always been a struggle for power.

Last year I was on my final straw, about to give up on my marriage, quit my job and get a little place and life a selfish life. I was sitting on a bench, head down just thinking. One of my training partners came in and asked what was wrong. So I told him. He said to me "You need some faith in your life. Jesus will take the anger/pain out of your heart and replace it with peace/love." Now Im sitting there thinking, Im not so sure about that, but I will give it a try. The first 4 times I went buddy, I thought the Pastor was talking directly to me, I was in udder shock. I was doing everything wrong. Pride, selfishness, entitlement, all the things I held onto dearly was what was bringing me down. I had no faith in people, most everyone I knew were liars, cheaters just no good. After meeting people at my church I realized there was a whole different world out there, that life could be good. I actually had a chance.

[--->>405<<---]

[QUOTE=marcus300;6485957]

There's not much I can say after your answer my friend, even if that happened to your daughter you would still believe,

would you forgive the rapist?

i seriously doubt it. as a matter of fact id probably want to kill the guy. just because im a christian doesnt mean i dont sin, nor does it mean i dont want to do bad things sometimes. it only means i recognize my sinfulness and acknowledge i need christ to make me right with God..

[--->>405<<---]

I have a question for 405
You say god came to you in rehab
Was this you looking for god or did someone in rehab mention salvation in god?

funny u askd this while i was typing post 191

[marcus300]

i know it was God who delivered me from my addiction because i am not addicted anymore after finally seeking him and coming to faith in christ. i tried everything else and it didnt work. why did i come to faith in christ?

it started at a rehab i was at in 2005 to stay out of prison due to multiple dui's (driving under the influence). i had been ther for awhile and noticed a bunch of the guys started talking about God. i did not believe in god and had the opinion, "what has god done that is so great? created the world? big deal!" this is what i thought.

for my higher power i decided if i could have any god i wanted my higher power wqas gonna be a big tittied blonde. i thought of god (if he was real which i highly doubted) that he was an arrogant being who held himself in high regard and what had he done to deserve my worship?? nothing in my opinion..

well one day we gathered for an AA meeting in the am and i sat down and opened my AA big book up to look like i was paying attention. it opened to page 387 and at the top of the page the first thing i saw when i looked down was the phrase "Be still and Know that i am God".. well i thought it was kind of interesting my eyes fell on this particular passage and i happened to open the book to that particular page, but that was that and i kept on about my business.

a few days later i went into the bathroom to drop a deuce and took a magazine with my (AA grapevine) and sat down on the toilet and opened it up to read and what did i see on the first page i opened the magazine to? "be still and know that i am God"... well.. at this point i began to wonder what was going on? here i am at this rehab, my life is crap, im worried about going to jail and all of a sudden everyone around me wants to talk about god who i did not like and not sure if i believed in and now all of a sudden im seeing 2 direct exact passages in literature im opening up to .. ?? WTF?? is this coincidence i thought? could this be God was communicating with me?

i even told a friend of mine at the time (the one i askd what god had done so great. he was a pastors son by the way that also hated religion because his parents forced it down his throat his whole life).. about my experience and askd him if it could be possible that i had been brought there to find god..

well i was able to blow these experiences off and keep on about my business. a few more days go by and i have to take a crap again. this time i dont have a magazine handy, the only thing i have quik access to for reading material is a dictionary (LOL) so i grab it and go to the bathroom.. i sit down on the toilet and open the dictionary up and u know what the first thing i see is? the bold word at the top corner of the page marking the last word on the page.. Believe is the word..

well im pretty thunderstruck at this notion.here i have 3 separate instances that it is very difficult to be coincidental. on a side note beer (my big problem) was also on the same page..

me and my hard headed ass still am able to dismiss it as coincidence although i did take mental note of the significance of these coincidences and i acknowledged that maybe something was going one here..

well when i get out of the rehab i go to stay at my parents house to get back on my feet. well im telling my mom this story i just was telling you and she gets this weird look on her face and says: "ive got something for you ill be right back" and she walks away and comes back a minute or two later holding a refrigerator magnet. she hands it to me and says "this is for you".. i look at it and what does it have on it? the word BELIEVE in big green letters. she then tells me that her daughter in law had given it to her just a day or 2 earlier..

this would be my first experience with God . and i can look back now and see this is where he first began making his presence known in my life..

Thanks 405 for trying to explain but it wasn't what I was looking for, it sounds like you finally had the willpower and discipline to over come your addiction which is great....I've asked that many times I now I know I am not going to get an answer. Thanks for your input and I am so glad your in a better place with your life well done mate

[BG]

Like I said above, you cant explain faith, you cant explain the strength/love/peace that our creator and savior give us. You have to see it, feel it and live it. It takes a good church also, I wouldnt go near a RC church. My pastor goes up with a button up and jeans on. His son does tithe prayer with a Yankee hat on. Its different, Im blessed that its interesting. Faith isnt about going to church, its about what you do when you leave. Do you live the life god wanted, helping others, being a good person, role model, husband , father. Thats what it about. People need to leave the church thing behind, its about being the body of Christ. Living in spirit, not in the flesh.

[--->>405<<---]

Thanks 405 for trying to explain but it wasn't what I was looking for, it sounds like you finally had the willpower and discipline to over come your addiction which is great....I've asked that many times I now I know I am not going to get an answer. Thanks for your input and I am so glad your in a better place with your life well done mate

the rehab i mentioned above was in 2005.. i did not get sober until 2008.. the thing about it is there is no "magic answer" marcus.

my suggestion to you is to pray and ask God to reveal himself to you. he is faithful and will answer prayer. this is what i did.. it may not happen the way u expect, or in the timeline u expect..

[BG]

Now let me ask you a question....what has science done for you?

[BG]

I have a question for 405
You say god came to you in rehab
Was this you looking for god or did someone in rehab mention salvation in god?

Normal Rehabs have a 13-20% success rate. My church is affiliated with one that adds religion to it, it has a 75% success rate. Faith. I hope to work there soon.

[ppwc1985]

Marcus i found my faith in the bible and seeing and knowing he is working in my life. The bible is an amazing book and if you study it scripture for scripture you will be amazed. As far as bad things happening i look at it like this, all good things come from God all bad things come from satan. And like mr. FQ said the lorg works in mysterious ways. I was were you are now, but i was on the other side of the fence. I did not believe in God, i also always asked where did he come from. We as simple minded humans will never know all the mysterious of God. There are so many things in the bible that you can't explain away, ITS not a therory like most of science. How could something in a book written 1000s of years before come true to the exact thing. The perdictions of just jesus alone numbers in the hundreds. They tell of his birth, life, death, and ressurection. I mean they perdicted that he would be born to a virgin, when he would be babtized and start his ministy. Just about his death there were perdictions about how he would die, that not one single bone would be broken. That he would be pierced in his side, that the guards would bet over his garments. All these things were wrote 1000s years before, can you explain that? My faith is based on the word of God, and yes i know the way it is written that it can be hard to understand, But with him guiding me, and a great teacher i found the truth. I studied other christian faiths, but the one i think is the closes to the bible is the one i stuck with, and even though i use my own mind i still fall short of their beliefs. But i look at the bible ans what Jesus himself says, we all fall short. We are human and we born into sin. I can't save myself through nothin that i do, I am saved through Jesus my savior. Marcus the reason you are even asking these questions is because the holy spirt is trying to work on you. Thats a good thing, I hope these words help, but i will definatly ask him to help you see the light either way. I'm not here to judge anyone, I only have myself to answer to him for. Each man WILL kneel before him and answer his questions. ou asked if i had a daughter that bad things happened to would my faith hold. the answer is most definatly, cause without him to lean on i wouldn't make it through. But i know if something bad like that happened it sure wasn't God that was the cause of it. Yes he lets thing happen, but that in itself is another story. But to make it quick cause i don't want to preach. The best way to explain it is to say God is love, if he forced us than thats not love. Well its the same in heaven, but satan looked at himself and thought he should be in charge. He was the Numero uno angel, he was the leader. But his pride caused him to think he deserved more. Now God created him so the ? is why not just destroy him. Well the problem with that is all the other angels plus the other worlds he created was watching. If he had just struck him down than do you think the others would have continued serving him in love or fear. God knows all and he loves so he had no choice but to let it play out and thats what is happening now. Its hard to have faith in something you don't see,touch, smell, feel, and hear but with the Bible i am able too. So good luck in your search for your truth, but like lunk said just believe.