Believe?

😞 it is a very tough old world out there but I do believe and I believe I see proof of God. There's a difference between religion and faith though. I don't believe having faith makes me perfect, very far from it! 😜☺ the bit about a loving father leaving his children to suffer... I know my mum loves me lots she would never want me to hurt or feel pain but I have through my actions and the actions of others.... I think even the most loving parents stand back and just let the children live their own lives... If God stepped in EVERY time then I kinda think that would result in the taking away of our free will and I wouldn't want that! Sorry I rambled on so long! I do like this though it was well written and thought provoking 😊💗💗

Completely agree with @chy ....couldn't have put it better myself...my faith has helped me in many ways...I'm still on my journey with my faith too and I cock up ALOT but ultimately it's my faith that has saw me through many challenges...💜💗💜

@misslittleDHP 💗😘😘 me too I mess up on an hourly basis sometimes and my life is FULL of challenges and low valleys including a really annoying frustrating illness but I honestly do believe that my faith and God has and is continually helping and blessing me. It can be confusing understanding a loving and merciful father exits in the world the way it is but I found the more I got to know him the more I understand some things... Of course I'm not expert and like kim said its a journey..

@chy ty.. Think what I'm trying to say is that there's so many contradictions and do as I say not as I do type laws in the bible that it's hard to imagine them coming from a just god.. Then the laws and bible are translated via man and change depending on society's thinking, that's why I mention man loving man leading to damnation. I wholeheartedly believe on gay marriage and it won't be too long till its accepted by more churches.. Why is it no longer a 'sin'.. While I believe and have faith in more to life, I can't put my faith in any of the many religions out there. ? Am I making sense? A very hard topic to express 😉

@misslittleDHP I still pray and have faith, just can't put it into corrupt religion 👍

@Burrfoot @chy @misslittleDHP A thought provoking bit of writing there. But this God you are you talking about, the God who gave 10 rules to live by? The one who says that having a day off work on Sunday is more important than not murdering someone? It's a list, thou shalt not kill is 6th I think. I certainly won't impose my views on you but you might want to consider, is the God of Abraham (who was probably Jewish?) any better than Zeus, the King Of The Gods?.

@blindsilence your earlier piece inspired this and it kinda follows on from it 👍 would a just god not accept a person who led a righteous path but denounced god, yet accept a murderer who saw the light before he died?

@Burrfoot your right it's such a HUGE topic...there are things I'm still not understanding or things I need to know...there are things about me that make me wonder about my faith as I'm a very spiritual person yet some staunch Christians frown on that...some people adapt the bible or interpret it how they see fit...like yourself I believe in gay marriage so does that make me not have a faith??...so many questions??💗

@Burrfoot Great, chuffed that someone read it and glad there is just one more person who is willing to listen to reason, despite their faith.

@Burrfoot yeah I kinda get you but that's what I mean between faith and religion. You have to remember also that everything from God is being fed through man who is very imperfect... It's hard but we have to look beyond man to God its not just about the rules it's about a personal relationship with God. I don't think ALL churches will accept gay marriage but the "church" has bent A LOT towards the wants of the world... Society is getting a lot more permissible. Even pedophiles are getting more brazen and protesting their rights to their kind of "love" 😒 stating the case of homosexuals... But all this sort of thing is kinda prophesised in the bible (in different words onviously) I believe God speaks to everyone and has given everyone the free will to choose he just warns is of the consequences and tries to show us another way 😊 that's what I think anyways lol

That point about God accepting a criminal and denouncing a good, honest man of no faith was the main reason I gave up religion.

@chy @misslittleDHP I really respect people of faith as by it's nature and definition it must be without proof. @chy that's what I'm saying, if there was an original message it's been dilluted and polluted to such a degree that where does truth begin and end? That's why I'd rather believe in a personal god rather than anything in doctrine

Remember as well God knows we can't live up to all the laws which is why Jesus came to be sacrificed 😊 as for the whole do as I say not as I do.... That is hard... I once went to a church where the pastor was cheating on his wife... It was wrong I knew it he knew it everyone knew it! But who am I to judge him? If he gets up every Sunday telling me to live right and I do while he still cheats on his wife and at the end of our lives I get to heaven and he doesn't then does it matter to me that he wasn't doing what he said I should, that was HIS mistake. My choices and my actions shall determine my fate.

Wow! I keep writing books! Lol. If you wanna talk any more feel free to kik me 💗💗

@chy by do what I say not as I do.. I mean god himself.. He breaks many of his own rules

@chy Mary was a teenager, Joseph was a grown adult. (just thought I'd point that out) the Church has to change, look at the Dark Ages. Yes it was thousand years or so after Jesus, but that is the period in history that religion was taken most seriously, followed to the letter. Those times probably put us back in terms of Spirituality and technology by about 200 years.

@blindsilence errr I don't remember the bible stating that a day off work was more important than murder... And Jesus also stated in the bible that the sabbath was made for man not man made for the sabbath. God knew we couldn't live up to the rules which is why Jesus came to die for our sins... The God of Abraham created ALL mankind yes the Jews were his 'chosen' people but Jesus came to save the Gentiles too for he saw love and faith in us. And I love the stories of the Greek Gods but yes to me they ate very different from my God. I don't want to impose my views on anyone either and I'm glad you commented. I love a good discussion about pretty much everything 😊

@Burrfoot examples please old memory 😊

@blindsilence does it have the age of Mary in the bible? But yes she was probably younger than Joseph. Was that bit because of my pedophile comment?

I was around in the dark ages, I think I just missed them. But I do think that people can blame God for mans will and interpretation of his love. In slavery days there are accounts of Christians believing that they could rightly and God fearingly treat black people the way they did.

@blindsilence haha thats meant to read WASN'T around in the dark ages 😳

@chy examples of god breaking his laws? Murder springs to mind as in natural disasters? Covetness as in he is a very jealous god?

@chy this comes from months of soul searching, trying to find god and in the end I've come to find I like me and if I'm not good enough because I don't have faith in any one of the multitude of religions then I'm damned 😔 I try to lead an honest life and do onto others .. I hope f there is a god he recognises that and it please him 😉

@Burrfoot well as for the natural disasters... They could be God... But they could just as easily be the mess that man has made of the world... But yes he does say he's a jealous God but I don't think that's covetous the general interpretation is that he wants us to be in a faithful relationship with him and not stray... It's like my mum loving me to bits but then I keep going to my friends mums and treating them as mine. That's bound to make my mum hurt and jealous... @Burrfoot

I'm not even gonna go there... My finger can't take it!! 😉😄😄 GREAT discussion though guys and very amicable, if a little heated (keeping Opuss dirty-clean! 😄😄😉)

@Burrfoot he loves you to bits!!! You and all his children are very precious to him no matter what they do and he will always keep trying to being them closer to him (I believe there was a reason for your soul searching) none of us are perfect Christian or not ALL have sinned and fallen short 😞 fait isn't about being perfect and never breaking any of the rules it's about loving and trying to live the life he wants for us as our loving father 😊 it's crazy but with man my imperfections are a BIG thing but with God I feel so comfortable because I know he loves me in spite of my faults. I'm his work in progress 😊

@Burrfoot may I ask have you read the bible or talked to anyone about God/Jesus? If your open to more reading then the shack is an EXCELLENT book. It's a very hard topic and about one mans journey I thoroughly recommend it and the audio book affable is good too 😊😊

@MrsS lol are we getting heated? 😳 I love a good chat and hearing others views 😊 it is a very good topic and very well written piece! @Burrfoot

@Burrfoot let me know of you wanna kik me I'll try find my kik name 😄

@chy Why on earth is it called Kik? Sadistic, if you ask me!!! 😳😉😄😄

@MrsS 😄😄😄 I know!!! I prefer whatsapp 😊

@chy wife has breast cancer which started me thinking.. I was brought up in a very religious family and went to Sunday school then bible class.. I don't think you're wrong, I just haven't found a god that I can have faith in 😔 and if I found one it would be a different world

@chy from Exodus 20:1-17. And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage" Skipped a couple of commandments, this was number 4 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." Then a couple of commandments later "You shall not murder.", So your argument is that the all powerful, omnipotent God set some rules for man to follow, then waited for more than 2000 years to send Jesus to save us from breaking the law. Firstly, why? Secondly, he knew we would have broken the laws, why bother setting them in the first place, is it because we have free will, as in you can disobey my rules but you will be damned, hold on just one second, he sent Jesus to save us from those sins, we are absolved now. The remark about Mary being a child is accurate. Children of that time were married or wed at around about 12 years old. Also a custom at the time, the groom had to pay the brides family a fee a 'bride price' to the family of the girl to show that he was financially capable of supporting their daughter. An apprentice carpenter COULD NOT do this, therefore Joseph was an adult. He had a profession. A grown adult. I do not condone pedophiles or their behaviour, I was just pointing out how far society has came since then. The Dark Ages comment. I think you have misunderstood. I meant The Dark Ages, not the oppression of those of Africans/Caribbean heritage in recent history. I meant... never mind.

@Burrfoot I'm very sorry to hear about your wife 😞 had an aunt that went to breast cancer it's a terrible thing... I'm sorry you're having such a bad time. If you don't mind I'd like to pray for her and your family and sending lots big hugs.. All I can say is that if we look for God instead of religion then maybe... The thing is churches can be filled to the brim with religious people and it's definitely filled with sinners so we can't focus on man to try and see God... Have you ever tried just talking to him? Just let it all out, whisper, talk, shout, scream, cry if you want to...

See above commandment about slaves and having a day off.

@Burrfoot if there is anything else you want to know or talk about or just need a friendly ear and shoulder I'll be here and I will do my best for you 💗💗

@chy ty and I'd be delighted if you mentioned Gill in your prayers. She discovered it when pregnant and made a lot of hard choices that makes me so proud of her. I didn't blame god for it, we are now blessed with our third baby. Rather, It made me look for god again, but for the reasons listed and more I didn't find him in any book. But I have found peace in myself and I guess that is what god is to me 💪

@blindsilence sorry the comments aren't showing up for some reason. As for the whole Mary and Joseph thing there may have been a cultural norm but does that mean that everyone followed it? Does everyone follow the cultural norms now? I'm not disputing Mary may have been a child but I didn't know her personally so I can't say all I can go by is what it says. The whole sabbath thing... I know what the commandments say but it doesn't state that any is greater than the other as far as I can remember.., what I meant by my slave reference is that all throughout history it seems there have been people that have done atrocious things saying its Gods will but it doesn't meant it is... I do hope this is still a nice friendly discussion 😊

Off to bed now I think! Before I start making strange typos 😁 it has been lovely discussing this with everyone 😊 nite xx

@chy I loved this conversation. Most people usually ignore me when I bring this stuff up so it was really good having someone to reply. Good night, "God Bless" as my Nana used to say.

@chy goodnight and ty

@Burrfoot I love that you are able to see the blessings through the storm and that you didn't blame God ... Will definitely keep Gill and you all in my prayers. If you're up for it read the shack and listen to affable. I'd offer to let you borrow my copy and send you a copy of affable but that might sound a bit freaky and don't want to be pushy 😁😁😜 💗💗

@blindsilence it was a pleasure sir 😊 another discussion soon 😊 so many topics so little time... Nite x

Ok! Now I have held off of commenting on this as I find one of the hardest things about my faith is being able to talk about it. I came to Christ 5 years ago quite spectacularly. I had no faith prior to that but I was spiritual I guess? It took me four years to explore Christianity until I was comfortable and certain that my life was to be lived as a Christian. I was baptised last Easter. As a Christian I recognise we are all sinners in this world and me being a Christian does not mean I have stopped sinning. What I will say is despite many challenges continuing in my life my God brings me peace and eternal hope and instead of living life for me I live and want to continue to live my life for others. Every day I pick the bible up I have questions and I sometimes have answers to those questions given in the most unlikely way. Burr if you are asking questions yourself you need to explore more, don't stop asking them or even doubting but to me God is challenging you to listen. I promise you the peace you will find will not match any you have ever found before. I pray your ears and heart will be open. 🙏

@blindsilence enjoyed it 👍

@merlin1038 beddy booboos for me but will be giving this more thought 💪

@Burrfoot I just hope you and the missis find peace and find away to battle on.

@merlin1038 I could have sprinkled water over your head and you would be exactly in the same position. More questions and no answers. If believing gives you peace, good luck to you. Is there any reason why you chose this particular God?.

Groundbreaking

@Munford it's a proper question. Not very original I know but each answer tends to be unique in my experience.

*every...

@blindsilence as I age I ask many questions

You had no faith before you were Christian, you were spiritual before then you said, it took 4 year to explore Christianity. Did you explore any other faith system? @merlin1038

Woah. Confused by the black and white photos.. Ignite me, it's late, sorry about the confusion.confused@Munford with @merlin1038

@merlin1038 the two main stumbling blocks are: I can not put faith into a religion that calls love between two consenting adults a sin and I can't put my trust in a god that will ignore what a person has or hasn't done in their life (good or evil) by putting the primary qualification to 'heaven' as a faith in god.. But then if I find a more liberal or modern religion that matches my thoughts, I'm left thinking its been so diluted that it is not 'real'. Does that make sense? Catch 22 😔

* ignore me, stupid auto correct.

@Burrfoot whoaa!! 54 comments?!?! Wow your the famous 'round town aren'tchya??.....lol😜

@Hiilwis in between fart and poo poems I sometimes post serious stuff 😉 sometimes 😂

@Burrfoot @blindsilence @Munford @merlin1038 @chy @MrsS @misslittleDHP Interesting write... Correct me if I'm wrong but is there absolutely not one single, even the tiniest piece of evidence that there is a god? A reformed believer turned atheist and proud of it! @Burrfoot, I'm sorry to hear of your wife's illness, I myself have been touched by cancer, my thoughts are with you. @Munford, you are wise indeed... LLAP!!! :)))

@Burrfoot lol😹😹😹😹😹😹

@Barknbite ty 💪 and I guess lack of solid evidence is the point of faith? That's why I admire those of faith but can't find it myself 👍

@Barknbite been through all the ops n chemo, half way through radiotherapy and looking good 💪👍

@Hiilwis 😂😉

@Burrfoot This is excellent news, a tough journey I know, strength and my very best wishes to you both... :)))

@Barknbite ty and you 👍

@Burrfoot ...your point about lack of evidence being the point of faith, would you bet your life on it? Many do. And when a huge chunk of civilisation requires allegiance to a faith as a basis of law, economy, government and war, then surely you would want some evidence of it? I read a comment recently about blind faith, usually thought of as swimming with a ball and chain but within the context of a relationship, seen as a declaration of ultimate devotion, to die for, to sacrifice etc. etc. It's all too easy to die, it's living that's hard. I would not wish to be in a relationship based on anything other than the wish to live and take full advantage of everything our universe has to offer. I cannot, therefore, admire those who have (blind) faith but I do accept that we each and every one of us has the right to believe whatever we like... :)))

@Barknbite I get you and agree but differ, I admire anyone that has the courage of their convictions unless of course it is used as a weapon

@Burrfoot Ok... Courage, bravery, love, truth and chocolate, all great things... I just prefer them served from a real perspective... LLAP!!! 8)))

@Barknbite plenty of room for us all 👍 what is llap?

@Barknbite live long and prosper? 👽

@Burrfoot Yep! 69! Wow!

69? Lol what?

@Burrfoot 71 comments... :))