Sesame Street 1970’s Pinball Counting Tune

🙂 Sorry, I was away for the weekend

Work in progress. Plus it’s been messed up because of the first scripture in my above post 🙂

Q. why is god’s creation in such a mess?
A. Because humans.

Not entirely.

1 John 5:19 We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.

You don’t know what God’s actual plan is, do you? Nor do the rest of us of course.

Genesis 9:7 As for you, be fruitful and become many, and increase abundantly on the earth and multiply.

Sorry, I’ve been away for a few hours. I’ll try and catch up.

Mr Woppit – Do tell.

I’m trying to live by God’s standards, not mans.

Hell is not the same across all Christian denominations.

So True.

Unlike the Quran (as far as I know anyway).

In what way? As far as I’m aware, the Quran also has many authors that add to it over time and some still do. The first being Mohammed

LD – 1 although don’t like to call it religion/religious.

I’m the same.

slowoldman – Are you sure? Have asked him? Sounds a bit intransigent to me.

His Word hasn’t changed since it was first written.

I’ve prayed to Him and asked these questions. The answers are in the Bible and history. The British Museum do a fascinating Bible tour, backing up a lot of what’s in there.

I do admire the way you do seem stick to the word. Less equivocation. The trouble is that means you will end up believing somethings which are pretty offensive and considered deserving of criticism by most people.

Thank you and yes, I am fully aware of this.

Thing is, if you stick to Gods view (which never changes) then you are putting yourself up there for ridicule. At the end of the day, who am I trying to please?

I’ve heard hell described as where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Do you disagree?

In its original languages, the Bible uses the Hebrew word she?ohl? and its Greek equivalent hai?des more than 70 times. Both words are related to death. Some Bible translations render them as “grave,” “hell,” or “pit.” However, in most languages there are no words that convey the precise sense of these Hebrew and Greek words.

What’s in the bible isn’t ‘gods word’

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness

Inspired being the biggest word in that sentence.

And if you knew your Hebrew and ancient Greek, you could see the original scrolls (that still exist) and read them yourself. They’d still say the same thing they did, when they were originally written between 2000 and 5000 years ago.

kimbers – Simply put, yes I can explain it all.

If I were to write my biography (auto-biography?) and I were to say “Everything went swimmingly well, no mistakes what so ever, all hunky dory” Would you believe me?

As for

patriarchal woman hating silliness

No women hating being taught in my congregation, in fact quite the opposite.

flaky irrelevancies

Nothing I read in the Bible is “flaky irrelevancies”.

People’s views have changed, God’s hasn’t.

SaxonRider – been there many times. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink 🙂

gonzy – Good work. My wife travelled the same path and now she’s back in the fold.

miketually – Now you’re going down a path where I may write something that could offend somebody. This is the territory I mentioned earlier and is best done on a one-to-one basis. Also, I think you already know the answers 🙂

Eph. 2:8-9

The entire provision for salvation is an expression of God’s undeserved kindness. There is no way that a descendant of Adam can gain salvation on his own, no matter how noble his works are. Salvation is a gift from God given to those who put faith in the sin-atoning value of the sacrifice of his Son.

Looking at the arguments over the centuries, that does appear to be what’s happened!

Humans again hu? Who’d have ’em? 😀

teamhurtmore – I like the way you work.

But, generally, the Bible is less clear, hence people disagreeing on issues because of it.

That’s the thing, it is pretty clear. All the way through. There might be a few scriptures that need a little more looking into but that’s all. It’s for the masses.

Take me for example, I used to hate studying at school. I have the memory of a goldfish but I get the Bible. Did I mention I have the memory of a Goldfish?

Do you think God would inspire a book for people who couldn’t understand it?

This is rarely the case.

Was the scripture I quoted not clear enough? (sorry if that sounds condescending, it’s not supposed to)

re works what if you were a crime fighting Methodist ninja but all the late Saturday nights meant you never got to church on the Sunday?

As a true Christian, why would you be fighting? 😉

Many of my Brothers have left jobs because it has stopped them from attending their meetings. Also, my work are fully aware of the meetings I attend and that I am not available to work on a Tuesday evening or a Sunday.

My point being, if your faith is that strong, surely it would come before any job?

teamhurtmore – But the Bible clearly states that it is. I was just pointing this out. So, wouldn’t you agree, that if you wanted to follow The God of the Bible, you would follow that scripture?

Someone up there (further up the thread not, you know, up there) tallied everything up, and we’re about as Christian as you’d expect for a bunch of borderline-autistic, (relatively) young, mainly male, Brits. So, the thread did achieve something.

I’m converting you! My work here is done. (Joke) 😀

Ah. the OP returns SaxonRider – Can of worms I might add 🙂

Not necessarily. According to the Catechisms, faith is simply to believe in him. The first of the three theological virtues.

According to the Bible

James 2:14 Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it?

Old Testament.

Doesn’t count

Of course it does (Even though it is new testament)

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness

attendance = works?

OK, sorry, that was just off the top of my head.

Hebrews 10:24, 25 And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near.

Cougar – trust me… you don’t meet anyone, see any bright lights are any of the other stuff that gets spouted about.

It just hurts.
A LOT!
Then it doesn’t.
Agreed.

Attendance isn’t a condition for everlasting life.

It is actually. Faith without works is dead.

You have to be in a state of piousness to have piety *Wibble* 😕

Sorry, I think I’ve made it worse.

Hadn’t realised the start of the point was cougar being a cheeky scamp, please disregard.

Disregarded, as requested.

Where??!!

I think he’s referring to the world outside of STW (there is one ya know 😆 )

Ah, STW, native home of the higher-functioning pedant.

I’d imagine that’s all forums 😀

Were they Christians then?

They weren’t of any religion, they were just God’s people.

Just for the record, Adam and Eve were not Jewish. The people weren’t known as Jews until around about the time of Moses.

Are you fishing Cougar? 😆

Some related links:

The Rev Richard Coles doesn’t do a great job of arguing for religion.

Lots of graphs

Believe it or not that’s one prophecy being fulfilled.

Matthew 24:12 and because of the increasing of lawlessness, the love of the greater number will grow cold.

It’s understandable why less people are believing in God.

kimbers – It’s about building faith.

When I first started even thinking about getting a new bike, I didn’t just go into a shop and buy the most expensive bike or a bike I just liked the look of (although admittedly I did get a 29er coz I liked the size of the wheels 😳 )

You start with the basics and work your way up. You ask important questions and to the right people.

I thought you said it could only be done face to face and forums aren’t suitable?

How about dealing with the actual arguments instead?
I didn’t say it could only be done one-to-one, I said it was better one-to-one.

I can still have my little say, can’t I?

😆 very good.

I love a good debate, done it on other forums. You learn a lot about people perceptions and how to deal with ridicule because of your beliefs.

I think you’re in agreement with most atheists. Now, if you could just convince all

organised

religion… [/quote]

I think you’ll find that most religion is not organised. To many disagreements to be organised.

molgrips is on the right track here 🙂

Strange that a “way” which has been constructed by a Super-Intelligent Being actually needs interpretation. You’d think it would be obvious.

Interpretation is the big issue , God’s Word doesn’t need it.

If everyone did it their own way and respected everyone else’s choice to do it their way, then there wouldn’t be a problem

Agreed. That should be the starting point for anyone’s belief system anyway.

Agreed molgrips

But now you’re asking me questions Mr Woppit, I’d love to answer on a forum but these things are better dealt with on a one-to-one basis.

If somebody really wanted to know . . .

It’s men and women that are the problem, not a belief in God. If everyone did it God’s way, then there wouldn’t be a problem. 🙂

1. practising

I’ve noticed that the only other 1 is the OP.

Psalms 118:18 Open my eyes so that I may see clearly The wonderful things from your law.

Went out yesterday, rides lovely. Already had to fiddle with the front derailleur. Also looking for a decent chain guard.

Other than that. sweeeeeet!

It’s here!

Whoop, whoop!

Ready to ride home too 8)

😀

Mrs PH said “yeah, that’d be well cool”

Sorry to rub it in and all

All done! Got one of these on order Jamis Dakota

😡 I’ve just been told that they are out of the 21″ frames 😐

On the plus side, I’ve just asked my boss to sign up for the Cycle to work Scheme, so my budget has just gone up a notch.

Thanks for all the input people. I’ve gone for the Jamis Nemesis

https://www.evanscycles.com/jamis-nemesis-sport-2016-mountain-bike-EV245146

I’ll post when I go out for my first trails experience.

Wouldn’t I have to grow a beard to look like Leonidas though 😕