Posts by THE GLADIATOR

1495

An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

by AK - Jeff in

estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

THE GLADIATOR

Yes Tammy that’s about it. Why would God help someone in a minor matter in the western world who prays to him? Yet people who have never had the opportunity to learn about salvation through Christ are ignored and allowed to starve because they were born in an undeveloped area of the world.

My feeling is that no being capable of intervention exists. We are on our own and have to make the best of it. I would rather not have come to that conclusion but any other option would leave me with the dilemma that this thread is about.

I have read everyone’s comments and realize that the subject has been thoroughly explored and no conclusion reached that everyone can agree on. You have put up a Spirited fight and defended your corner admirably.

1495

An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

by AK - Jeff in

estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

THE GLADIATOR

soft+gentle The quote in your post is indeed food for thought. If there were a God that intervened then we would lose our free will. I do realize that people starving in far away lands have already lost their free will and will in time loose their lives. Even so, once an all powerful being chooses to exercise its free will and make adjustments to our world it ceases to be our world.

That makes sense as far as it goes. The difficulty is that accepting this as a reason is that believers will tell us that God has at times intervened. Adam & Eve, Noah's flood, miracles of Jesus and execution of undesirable nations such as Sodom and Gomorra. Even if we discount all these biblical accounts we are still left with the fact that Christians ask God to intervene in their lives when they are say ill or in danger. Sometimes they believe he has helped, sometimes he ignors the plea. I have no answer to the dilemma.

Perhaps there is a God who goes around setting worlds in motion and moves off millions of light years away and only revisits every few thousand years? Or perhaps there is no such being?

13

When is it time to fully open up to a spouse

by ihadnoidea in

jw
friends

recently my very active jw wife has been more critical of the wt and some of their stances.

she has particularly been critical of topics that hit home to some of the things going on in lives of our families.

i am still going through the motions as an active servant, but i am mentally out.

THE GLADIATOR

The answers you have had are good advice. Listen but don’t lecture. If you attempt to make your wife move ahead too fast she may become defensive. An attack on her cherished beliefs could be seen as a personal attack on her. Softly, softly catchee monkey.

1495

An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

by AK - Jeff in

estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

THE GLADIATOR

"Or an hermaphrodite (that's both genders, right?). But no 'parts' so to speak, I agree."

Hi Tammy!

I have never heard of an hermaphrodite before but no doubt you can get a lotion for it!

1495

An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

by AK - Jeff in

estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

THE GLADIATOR

The difficulty for me always comes back to what God would ‘be’ if he existed. The Bible shows him to be a vengeful and judgemental bully. His son, it seems, was a more lay back guy with a penchant for sandals and casual clothes, who talked about love and peace man; the original hippy, minus the camper van.

I cannot conceive of an all powerful God being like either of them. Firstly God would have to be an ‘it’ as sex is confined to those in possession of a physical body with a need to reproduce. An invisible power pervading the universe and aware of what was happening throughout the millions of light years of space, in every part of every galaxy, is beyond our comprehension. That is why God is usually explained in human terms. To an eternal God the existence of the human race would amount to a few seconds in time be as important as bacteria on a fly’s legs. As it is I don’t believe in a personal God that is accountable to humans. Whatever there may be out there is unknowable in human terms. It’s out of this world!

So all this talk about what God thinks, feels, who he talks to, who is not worthy, will he end suffering and if not why not? Whether he inspired a book to be written once upon a time is in the realms children’s stories compared to the reality that we as surface dwelling humans have to make the best of our world. The planet is what it is. Suffering has always taken place and always will until the sun burns out.

It’s a cruel world and we all need a little comfort. If believing Jesus lived and still lives and is a cool guy, helps people be loving and kind and have hope, I personally have no problem with it.

N.drew I am unable to make sense of your posts or think of a reply without my head hurting - but you sound like a hell of a lot of fun!

24

Comic relief from Cornwall

by THE GLADIATOR in

jw
friends

post card from cornwall .

two weeks ago i returned from an escape to truro, cornwall the toe of england where i rented an idyllic detached cottage with my other half.

cornwall was bathed in sunshine and god was in his heaven instead of the box i usually keep him in.

THE GLADIATOR

Well you seem to show a surprising interest in Cornwall which pleases me. If you do go it is best to wait until next spring as the warm season is now over. In the USA there is nothing to compare with the Cornish coast line and its many tiny fishing ports.

If you live in the UK and visit Cornwall I suggest that you join the National Trust for £80 for a year for a joint membership. It is a charitable trust that preserves many of our best grand houses and gardens. Entry and parking are all free to members. The cost was almost recovered on just this holiday.

While others fumble for money at the entrance to historic houses, we are warmly welcomed like congregation members. Now I feel I belong to something again and my life has a purpose. I have even bought a shoulder bag displaying the Trust logo, so that people know I have a heart and belong to an important organisation.

Happy holidays.

24

Comic relief from Cornwall

by THE GLADIATOR in

jw
friends

post card from cornwall .

two weeks ago i returned from an escape to truro, cornwall the toe of england where i rented an idyllic detached cottage with my other half.

cornwall was bathed in sunshine and god was in his heaven instead of the box i usually keep him in.

THE GLADIATOR

For those of you that mentioned your fondness for Cornwall I suggest you visit Lerryn. My favourite visit was to Lerryn, a small quaint village set by a tidal river that
can be navigated easily at high tide to Fowey or Lostwithiel or one of the small villages along the estuary. When the tidal river is out you can cross on stepping stone instead of walking to the bridge. We were directed here by friends who named their daughter 'Lerryn' as she was conceived there. These are all the details we have!

We walked for several miles through woodland that ran alongside the river and visited a sizable picturesque old church with an interesting history catalogued in albums with photos and drawings going back over 100 years. Some of the young men that attended fought in the Zulu war, others later in the Ist World War and never returned to the village. My god was not in so we returned to Lerryn. The local Ship inn served us the best fish in beer batter with hand-cut chips and chef made mayonnaise, we have ever had, washed down with Scrumpy cider from local Haye Farm. I hear yah dmouse! There are worse ways to spend a day!

1495

An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

by AK - Jeff in

estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

THE GLADIATOR

N.drew I have fought fearlessly in Caesars arena but You are scaring me!

1495

An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

by AK - Jeff in

estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

THE GLADIATOR

"Now, of course, I don't expect that you will have read what I posted here, dear Jeff... but that's your error and your loss. Take note, however, that you won't be able to say you didn't know... or didn't hear... or weren't told. You have been. Whether you LISTEN or not... is, like everything above... on YOU. YOUR choice." AGuest.

That rings a bell!

"So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet?...This "prophet" was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian witnesses....Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a "prophet" of God. It is another thing to prove it," ( Watchtower , Apr. 1, 1972, p. 197).

“I’m still one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I have many doubts and questions as to whether or not the Watchtower Organization is really ‘The Truth.’ I’m so confused, and I feel like I just want to walk away, but what keeps me here is the fear that Armageddon will come . I don’t want to be destroyed! I want to be on Jehovah’s side, but I’m so afraid. What if Jehovah’s Witnesses are right about Armageddon, after all? If I leave will I be destroyed by Jehovah FOREVER? I don’t want to die! I just don’t know what to do!”

24

Comic relief from Cornwall

by THE GLADIATOR in

jw
friends

post card from cornwall .

two weeks ago i returned from an escape to truro, cornwall the toe of england where i rented an idyllic detached cottage with my other half.

cornwall was bathed in sunshine and god was in his heaven instead of the box i usually keep him in.

THE GLADIATOR

wobble -You are right St Austel and Tribune ale also Betty Stokes ale.

finallysomepride - You are 1/4 Cornwallian/Kent...3/4 Irish. That would be Cornish from the knees down!

Black Sheep - So You'd love to be able to spend more time there. Sheep are very popular in Cornwall as they have close ties with the welsh

shamus100 - Monkeys have to be kept on a lead like dogs. We can't have you running wild now, can we?

bigmac - Yeah they do have a funny way of speaking though they are technically English we still think ofthem as foreigners.

talesin - Glad your foot is getting better. You'll soon be ready to walk the walk.

cantleave - That 's John Prescott. He got into politics via becoming a trade union leader and became BIG in the labour government!