He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
This passage is bringing me great comfort this morning as I consider the absolute wreck of a world we find ourselves in. That last line is especially soothing.
I am crying right now listening to Pastor Giglio describe the formation of our EYES - and the Holy Spirit brought to my soul how SAD and HORRIBLY REBELLIOUS our world is to rejoice at KILLING THE MIRACLE OF LIFE IN THE WOMB!! We truly must be at the "end of the age" because I honestly do NOT want to be in this world anymore--we celebrate all of the EVIL and suppress and deny the POWER, MIGHT AND GLORY of our Gracious, Holy Creator God!!
Several years ago I put together and led a women's Bible study on God's character and several of Louie's videos fit nicely with our subject matter. Whenever I hear his voice, it takes me back to our time sharing and rejoicing in our amazing God.
Janice, that is so true! He can deliver a message with such power and we, too, are filled with amazing wonderment each time we listen to these videos of how fearfully and wonderful the human being is created. I’m always amazed at how AMAZING God’s creation is, from a grain of sand to the stars in the universe which Psalm 147:4 says each is numbered and named by their Creator. God never stops amazing us! Then my mind begins humming “How Great Is Our God” and I wonder why I never get anything done😊!
So thankful for your input of scripture into this community! Blessings.
I just listened to that last part of Pastor Giglio's presentation - and when the picture of "laminin" flashed on the screen--my HEART LEAPED FOR JOY - the CROSS - that horrible method of crucifying designed by pagan Romans actually is the SHAPE OF BASIC HUMAN CELLULAR CONSTRUCTION. Our very EXISTENCE is the miracle God wrought by allowing His only begotten Son to hang on a CROSS and shed His blood for the remission of all humanity's rebellion and sinfulness!!
George Beverly Shea would sing this at Billy Graham crusades for decades! We sang it in our EUB church as well when I was a little girl (many moons ago--LOL!)
You are most welcome, LS! A single piano and a single guitar are my fave 'sounds' when it comes to ANY genre of music. I can hear Bev Shea singing this right now!!
No evil people like you are "responsible for the absolute wreck of a world we find ourselves in." He gave humans free will to choose to come to him or to destroy themselves. Everybody makes their own choice. But, God will come and separate "wheat from chaff, saving the wheat and destroying the chaff". Since you are of evil and therefore unable to understand parable, I will spell it out for you. You are chaff, abidingfool.
"Judge not", asshole... or did you not read or believe that part?
You are filled with Satan's poison, as you well know.
You screech like the harpies in hell... were you will soon be... I hope you are fully jabbed and boosted, roach-boy... so you can begin your BBQ very soon!
Have you heard it explained how there is no room for heroism and growth, without difficulty and hardship? That to say "this cannot be justified" means that you are claiming to know for certain that there is *no possible* good eternal outcome that can outweigh the evil? (And don't forget that, since you two are basing this on the Bible, a good part of the blame goes to humans for giving god the middle finger, so to speak.)
He could, but does he want to? The Bible says "behold, I stand at the door and knock", not "I'm gonna barge right into your house and harass you so you can't ignore me".
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves."
------
According to Christians, God was physically seen as a human in the 1st century, and the entire New Testament is all about that. Not to mention, Christians have the Spirit of God "within them", though perhaps that doesn't count as "seeing" Him per your standards.
What do you think of the argument that God wants to allow people to choose him willingly, rather than demanding subservience through raw power?
So... the world is FUBAR because "God" is revenging "himself" on us for giving him the finger...
Since "he" designed and created us, supposedly... that would be pretty sadistic and psychotic... no?
You figure "God" is a man? With emotions like hate? Takes a lot of hate to send your children to eternal torment... even if they "gave you the finger"... no?
More like, God gave instructions for how to do life properly. If we turn around and say "eff you" and ignore the manufacturer's instructions, how does that make it his fault if bad things happen?
(Are you going to say "but omniscience..."? If I warn my kid that he's going to fall on his arse if he doesn't tie his shoelace, does that make me an evil parent if I let it happen to teach him a lesson?)
Will you send your child to eternal torment if he doesn't tie his shoe correctly?
And ignoring "manufacturer's instructions" written and revised, manipulated and corrupted over the many centuries since they were supposedly written.... deserves eternal torture, but "teaches them a lesson"??
Better analogy, if your child turns to drugs, becomes an addict, and repeatedly refuses your attempts at intervention and persuasion, are you evil for eventually leaving them to the consequences of their choices?
And you were asking about why the world is FUBAR, not about "eternal punishment".
EVERYONE needs to pray to God for His intervention. And that He uses us as instruments of His Will. Doing nothing is not going to restore sanity - evil gets a vote as does all of the evil surrogates and there are a lot of evil surrogates willing to do the will of evil.
You might need to ask Him "why", but if you pay attention to the Bible, then it seems He does...
(Genesis 18:20)
So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
“Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.” Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
So, Abraham was just hanging out with this Yahweh character, and they are trying to figure out what is going on down in the city. I thought no one can see god and live. An omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent being should not have to wander into the town to see who is naughty or nice. And then to consider killing innocent women and children due to the actions of a few.
This god is a psychopath, and this fable reads like a dark Monty Python skit.
Unfortunately the ancient world was full of this stuff. Because if he killed just all the men who participated in gang-r***ing visitors, suddenly you have a bunch of women and children with no protection and no food supply. Yay starvation. And if he magically provides food for every starving person, then bye-bye causality and consequences.
The bible talks about a God who comes down and engages with humans on our level. Maybe you think that's undignified and he should just sit in heaven smiting everyone from way up there? YHWH ain't Zeus.
"As a theologian of a loving God, how do you explain that Yahweh orders the extermination of men, women, and children and claims for himself 675 sheep, 72 oxen, 61 donkeys, and 32 virgins after a battle against the Midianites (Numbers 31:32-40)? This portion of the spoils was not for the service of the tabernacle, as Numbers 31 explains: it was for Yahweh’s personal use. One only wonders why a spiritual and transcendent “God” would need 32 virgins — or 61 donkeys, for that matter"
Give it up, Bryan Dair! You know exactly what it means and why we pray... AND WHY GOD TELLS US TO PRAY!
You're obviously in need of some attention. And then as folks attempt to give you "good" answers... based on their Faith and belief... you can wallow in your "smirk-itude"
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Prayer
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
"As a theologian of a loving God, how do you explain that Yahweh orders the extermination of men, women, and children and claims for himself 675 sheep, 72 oxen, 61 donkeys, and 32 virgins after a battle against the Midianites (Numbers 31:32-40)? This portion of the spoils was not for the service of the tabernacle, as Numbers 31 explains: it was for Yahweh’s personal use. One only wonders why a spiritual and transcendent “God” would need 32 virgins — or 61 donkeys, for that matter"
Or don't you read the "bible"?? It is YOU, you smug, pompous assclown, that is the delusional moron. We mock YOU, fool!
Clueless. No, satan worshipper, unlike you, I know of only one God, the one true God and I praise, honor, and glorify him.
It is you who seek to deceive with your evil lies. But you will get to answer for them. You should go pray for awhile, awhile meaning years, you are going to need a lot of time to overcome your delusion and insanity.
From the cancerous hate and bile that issues from your every orifice... you are no "christian", ahole, you are demon-possessed.
Your hate will have you roasting in eternity, IF your mythology is true. If not, you will rot in some liar's grave, unloved, unmourned, forgotten. Again, eunuch, F-OFF!
Your words, not mine, you must quit projecting your evil on to me and others "abidingdude": "From the cancerous hate and bile that issues from your every orifice... you are no "christian", ahole, you are demon-possessed.
Your hate will have you roasting in eternity, IF your mythology is true. If not, you will rot in some liar's grave, unloved, unmourned, forgotten. Again, eunuch, F-OFF!"
I get comfort from your self immolation, in allowing you to out your true evil nature evil dude...
Why do you put out comments to disrupt? You, like Bryan Dair, know how most people on here believe. You even know that the writer of this blog has a strong and secure Faith in the ONLY GOD WHO EXISTS.
If your questions were a sincere inquiry, many/most Believers would do their best to provide faith-building answers. But that's not your purpose at all.
Scripture tells us that YAHWEH laughs at efforts to prove He is not EVERYTHING He claims.
Wait, your faith is confusing to me. Do you believe in just one god,
or in the Holy Trinity? (By the way, 'Holy Trinity' is the name of the school I went to as a child.) Is that not three gods? Do you deny the Holy Spirit?
Coward, you are so full of crap... you post this schit and then block me? What a vile ahole you are!
So... "the ONLY GOD WHO EXISTS"??? Idiot!!! "christians are around a third of world population, and muslims are outbreeding them in a BIG way. But you condemn all others to the pit, you yeasty psycho turd?
the ONLY GOD WHO EXISTS?? Fool christians are a THIRD of world pop... you, arrogant swine, condemn all others to your imaginary pit of hell?
And speaking of bible writings... how do you explain that Yahweh orders the extermination of men, women, and children and claims for himself 675 sheep, 72 oxen, 61 donkeys, and 32 virgins after a battle against the Midianites (Numbers 31:32-40)? This portion of the spoils was not for the service of the tabernacle, as Numbers 31 explains: it was for Yahweh’s personal use. One only wonders why a spiritual and transcendent “God” would need 32 virgins — or 61 donkeys, for that matter".. WELL, big mouth???
Thank you Janice…this verse is what I think we all needed to read and be reminded of today. He is, Jesus is, before all things and in Him all things do hold together 🙏🏻 God bless you dear Janice.
Yahweh’s character is also worth investigating. When not violent, Yahweh’s behavior often seems bizarre, extravagant, and arbitrary. Yahweh’s words demonstrate his eagerness for the smell of the smoke of burnt flesh, prescribing elaborate rituals for the holocausts and commanding that violation of pedantic rules for the sacrifices be punished by death. Yahweh also moves and intervenes in human businesses in peculiar ways; for example, at times, he literally arrives “flying riding on a cherub” (Psalm 18:10) or aboard flying machines called “ruach” or “kavod,” which I discuss extensively in Gods of the Bible. Yahweh destroys cities with terrifying weapons, crushes villages, and demands his share of the spoils.
Paul’s use of the word “image” is not as we understand it today. Rather, it’s definition would be more like “representation.” Something taken from the original as representation. Meaning Jesus is the visible representation of the “invisible “ Creator.
The part of us that is invisible, our soul /spirit lives within us. It is this "invisible body" that presents itself to God when our physical body dies.
"In my Father's House are many dwellings... I go to prepare a PLACE for you, so that you may be where I am" John 14:2-3
In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells us the story of the beggar Lazarus, and the rich man who when both of them died, Lazarus was comforted in father Abraham's bosom, but the rich man was in torment in Hades.
These are not states of mind or imagination.
We each decide, while yet alive where we go by saying to God, "Thy will be done" or else God saying to us "thy will be done"...
Greek εἰκὼν was used of the images and statues of kings and emperors that were erected to symbolize their authority in a region. The biblical usage of "image of God" is best understood in a similar way. (Well, unless you're intentionally trying to misread the bible, in which case the foolishness is with yourself rather than the text. Think: obviously the author knew that you can't see something invisible, so are you saying he wrote nonsense on purpose? And nobody noticed until now? Suuuuure...)
Apparently, anyone can read the bible and interoperate it to say anything they want. The language is extremely vague, and I am sure much has been lost in the translations of the edits of the translations of the rewrites.
Paul did not speak English obviously but he did speak Hebrew, Greek, and likely Aramaic. The Bible as we know it is translated from Hebrew to Greek then to Latin, and eventually to English. The word image though not written in English by Paul was written in Hebrew and Greek. Image: from the Hebrew word tzelem, from the Greek it is Eikon, and From the Latin it is imago. The first English translation comes in the 14th century. So while you are correct Paul did not use the English word image he did use the Greek and Hebrew version of what we have come to know as the word image. I’m not really sure why you are choosing to be so pedantic on the subject.
Jesus was of heaven, you will get that realization when you get to the "Gates of Heaven" and get your ticket to eternal damnation for your determined disavowing of God and Jesus. Don't ask for help at that moment, God will judge you with perfect justice. Jesus gives you a way to change your awful, evil, hatefulness. You should take it. I know you wont. Oh well, everyone has free will.
You "abiding dude" are delusional and projecting your own mental meltdown. You desperately need to get off the hallucinogens and oxygenate your foul body.
"You worship an imaginary psychotic lunatic who relishes casting his own creations into eternal torment." I'm not judging you fool, but God surely will. Good luck and GFY.
Typical pseudo "christian", spewing your hate and insults... you are not judging me? LOL!! You are a damned liar and assmaggot, a fearful eunuch and POS...
IF there is a "god", he would cast you into the pit, without even having to smell your BO or hear the scum that flows from your big diseased pie-hole.
You can go right ahead and follow your own advice, evil satan worshipper. Everything you call me is your projection of yourself, its why you find it so easy to do. I realize you hate yourself.
To SM's comment, it can be images as in 'impressions' or an 'imprint' felt or sensed, a kind of mental 'thought image'. We see 'pictures' of things all the time in our minds. It's how we function.
And it's odd. Look around and ask yourself this. Do we actually 'see' an object? Or is it a light cast impression, an illusion received by our eyes and translated into an image in our minds? And it all begs the question, just exactly what is consciousness?
According to Einstein's E=mc2, all matter consists of energy. This energy is one vast intelligent consciousness; otherwise how could this awesome creation exist with all its endless variations of physical, mental, and spiritual beingness? Therefore I agree with SM that Jesus was a physical incarnation of the Invisible/Supreme Consciousness known as God. Furthermore, in a sense, Daverkb, you are correct that objects we view are illusions, not concrete objects without energy but manifestations of energy in its most dense form. One more thing, who is it that is seeing these objects? Is it the mind? But when the mind is completely quiet, we still see the objects. For example, when we see a majestic mountain, an eagle in flight, a dolphin leap out of the sea, our minds stop in awe, yet we still see the object. It is the soul beyond the mind which perceives, the same soul that perceives through all the senses and feels emotions also, the soul that God planted in each of us.
It's the Bluebird singing a song again. And yes, there is much, much more to things than I once upon a time could imagine. And the largeness and grandeur of Creation is humbling. And once glimpsed and understood, an addiction to the things of this world is rather nonsensical.
Daverkb, so true what you say - that the longer one walks on the path to knowing God's truth, the less the material world means and the greater the sublimity of Spirit means and is experienced.
Davekrkb, please expound on “glimpsed and understood”, specifically “understood”. I agree with you totally and I know there’s not any absolute nirvana in this world, but making this world nonsensical seems to be easier for some than others.
Incorrect, as a general statement. The significant majority of modern Bibles are translated directly from greek and hebrew; a few of the older ones are from latin which in turn was from greek and hebrew. Worst possible case might be if you had an OT translation from latin, which in turn was from greek (septuagint), which in turn was finally from hebrew. In which case... just pick a better translation. (I suggest the NET, since they have copious footnotes explaining each translation decision and the range of meaning of words in the original language.)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
— Colossians 1:15-17 LSB
This passage is bringing me great comfort this morning as I consider the absolute wreck of a world we find ourselves in. That last line is especially soothing.
Phewww, and in Him all things hold together. Deep
https://youtu.be/6-BJQjuRxxU?si=P0oJN9pkE2c9YvjH
I’ve always loved this Louie Giglio which he uses this scripture to coincide with his teaching.
I am crying right now listening to Pastor Giglio describe the formation of our EYES - and the Holy Spirit brought to my soul how SAD and HORRIBLY REBELLIOUS our world is to rejoice at KILLING THE MIRACLE OF LIFE IN THE WOMB!! We truly must be at the "end of the age" because I honestly do NOT want to be in this world anymore--we celebrate all of the EVIL and suppress and deny the POWER, MIGHT AND GLORY of our Gracious, Holy Creator God!!
1000% agree with you Sharon... COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS!!!
Louie steers the ship well!
I bet that is about laminin!
Yes, Janice, it is. We just listened it to it again as was posting this.
Several years ago I put together and led a women's Bible study on God's character and several of Louie's videos fit nicely with our subject matter. Whenever I hear his voice, it takes me back to our time sharing and rejoicing in our amazing God.
Janice, that is so true! He can deliver a message with such power and we, too, are filled with amazing wonderment each time we listen to these videos of how fearfully and wonderful the human being is created. I’m always amazed at how AMAZING God’s creation is, from a grain of sand to the stars in the universe which Psalm 147:4 says each is numbered and named by their Creator. God never stops amazing us! Then my mind begins humming “How Great Is Our God” and I wonder why I never get anything done😊!
So thankful for your input of scripture into this community! Blessings.
I had never heard of Pastor Giglio - just listening to this "you are a miracle" sermon right now--MANY THANKS, Oma!
Check him out he has many sermons where he uses science, the cosmos, etc. to preach amazing wonders of our God and Maker
I WILL, C.M. (BTW...I really appreciate your 'moniker' - I am a "Concerned Granna"!!
You’re welcome Sharon❤️
((HUGS))
❤️❤️❤️
I love TRUE science, and MOST of all our Scientific Majestic CREATOR!
Wow- the laminim images brought me to tears. Truth!
Thank you Janice. I was very “unsettled” this morning. The world, including the USA, is a wreck. I needed to read that.
Amen!
I come before my Lord in awe and gratitude that I, through the precious blood of my Savior, am eternally found “in Him.”
Amen!
Thank you for posting this🙏 soothing me this morning too
Like balm on dry crusty skin.
Needed this.
Yes, it reminded me of this video explaining that the laminin molecule is shaped like a cross. All things hold together in Jesus Christ. ✝️✨ https://www.facebook.com/1168825914/posts/pfbid0a5ucU5DMywfGfaLhwMtxbQQZQpoiShMbBH7HhbKHCmhJCdmsN4bBNVPoV5sHscgUl/?
I just listened to that last part of Pastor Giglio's presentation - and when the picture of "laminin" flashed on the screen--my HEART LEAPED FOR JOY - the CROSS - that horrible method of crucifying designed by pagan Romans actually is the SHAPE OF BASIC HUMAN CELLULAR CONSTRUCTION. Our very EXISTENCE is the miracle God wrought by allowing His only begotten Son to hang on a CROSS and shed His blood for the remission of all humanity's rebellion and sinfulness!!
OH WHAT MAGNIFICENT MERCY, GRACE AND LOVE!!!
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYrcrP1ysjw
Not so fast...
https://stateofthenation.co/?p=246118#more-246118
Now THIS comment of yours today, Janice, reminds me of another old, Christian hymn..."My Anchor Holds"--do you know that one?
Yes, but I have to go look it up right now for a refresher. :)
George Beverly Shea would sing this at Billy Graham crusades for decades! We sang it in our EUB church as well when I was a little girl (many moons ago--LOL!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB1pErp9buc
That is one of the most soothing pieces Inhave heard in such a long while. Thank you for sharing!
You are most welcome, LS! A single piano and a single guitar are my fave 'sounds' when it comes to ANY genre of music. I can hear Bev Shea singing this right now!!
Let us not dwell on the fact that "God" is responsible for the absolute wreck of a world we find ourselves in.
Ancient mythology is fun... no?
No evil people like you are "responsible for the absolute wreck of a world we find ourselves in." He gave humans free will to choose to come to him or to destroy themselves. Everybody makes their own choice. But, God will come and separate "wheat from chaff, saving the wheat and destroying the chaff". Since you are of evil and therefore unable to understand parable, I will spell it out for you. You are chaff, abidingfool.
"Judge not", asshole... or did you not read or believe that part?
You are filled with Satan's poison, as you well know.
You screech like the harpies in hell... were you will soon be... I hope you are fully jabbed and boosted, roach-boy... so you can begin your BBQ very soon!
But he loves you.
True, and true.
Have you heard it explained how there is no room for heroism and growth, without difficulty and hardship? That to say "this cannot be justified" means that you are claiming to know for certain that there is *no possible* good eternal outcome that can outweigh the evil? (And don't forget that, since you two are basing this on the Bible, a good part of the blame goes to humans for giving god the middle finger, so to speak.)
Food for thought.
It seems to me that an omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient god could easily make their presence known to me, and it seems like they could do a
better job of managing humanity.
He could, but does he want to? The Bible says "behold, I stand at the door and knock", not "I'm gonna barge right into your house and harass you so you can't ignore me".
We'll this Yahweh used to hang out with Abraham, Moses. and wrestles with Jacob. He renames Jacob Israel, but then he still calls him Jacob.
He has a memory like Biden.
Anyway, why has no one seen this god since the Old Testament?
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves."
------
According to Christians, God was physically seen as a human in the 1st century, and the entire New Testament is all about that. Not to mention, Christians have the Spirit of God "within them", though perhaps that doesn't count as "seeing" Him per your standards.
What do you think of the argument that God wants to allow people to choose him willingly, rather than demanding subservience through raw power?
Did Kamala Harris write that, it is complete nonsense.
LOL!! "God wants to allow people to choose him willingly, rather than demanding subservience through raw power..."
But IF you choose wrongly... you burn in hellfire for eternity?
These pompous, smug douchebags give me a pain... way down low...
So, Philip was not at all convinced that Jesus was anything special.
He was right to be skeptical and ask the 'the Father' present himself.
I have the same ask. If there is a god, then have him/her make an appearance.
Nonsense and you know it.
Read and comment:
https://stateofthenation.co/?p=246118#more-246118
So... the world is FUBAR because "God" is revenging "himself" on us for giving him the finger...
Since "he" designed and created us, supposedly... that would be pretty sadistic and psychotic... no?
You figure "God" is a man? With emotions like hate? Takes a lot of hate to send your children to eternal torment... even if they "gave you the finger"... no?
More like, God gave instructions for how to do life properly. If we turn around and say "eff you" and ignore the manufacturer's instructions, how does that make it his fault if bad things happen?
(Are you going to say "but omniscience..."? If I warn my kid that he's going to fall on his arse if he doesn't tie his shoelace, does that make me an evil parent if I let it happen to teach him a lesson?)
Will you send your child to eternal torment if he doesn't tie his shoe correctly?
And ignoring "manufacturer's instructions" written and revised, manipulated and corrupted over the many centuries since they were supposedly written.... deserves eternal torture, but "teaches them a lesson"??
You worship an imaginary psycho lunatic.
Better analogy, if your child turns to drugs, becomes an addict, and repeatedly refuses your attempts at intervention and persuasion, are you evil for eventually leaving them to the consequences of their choices?
And you were asking about why the world is FUBAR, not about "eternal punishment".
You figure "God" is a man?
Tell "him" to contact me and tell me himself.
(Thanks, I really WOULD like to hear from "him"!)
Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power...
EVERYONE needs to pray to God for His intervention. And that He uses us as instruments of His Will. Doing nothing is not going to restore sanity - evil gets a vote as does all of the evil surrogates and there are a lot of evil surrogates willing to do the will of evil.
I thought everything was god's will.
Why would he change his divine plan?
You might need to ask Him "why", but if you pay attention to the Bible, then it seems He does...
(Genesis 18:20)
So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
“Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.” Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
So, Abraham was just hanging out with this Yahweh character, and they are trying to figure out what is going on down in the city. I thought no one can see god and live. An omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent being should not have to wander into the town to see who is naughty or nice. And then to consider killing innocent women and children due to the actions of a few.
This god is a psychopath, and this fable reads like a dark Monty Python skit.
Unfortunately the ancient world was full of this stuff. Because if he killed just all the men who participated in gang-r***ing visitors, suddenly you have a bunch of women and children with no protection and no food supply. Yay starvation. And if he magically provides food for every starving person, then bye-bye causality and consequences.
The bible talks about a God who comes down and engages with humans on our level. Maybe you think that's undignified and he should just sit in heaven smiting everyone from way up there? YHWH ain't Zeus.
"As a theologian of a loving God, how do you explain that Yahweh orders the extermination of men, women, and children and claims for himself 675 sheep, 72 oxen, 61 donkeys, and 32 virgins after a battle against the Midianites (Numbers 31:32-40)? This portion of the spoils was not for the service of the tabernacle, as Numbers 31 explains: it was for Yahweh’s personal use. One only wonders why a spiritual and transcendent “God” would need 32 virgins — or 61 donkeys, for that matter"
The Lord loves the sweet savor of a good BBQ,
and I would bet he fancies a bit of bestiality with
those donkeys.
The donkeys will take turns on Daniel L... the hysterical Pansy loser who screeches like the fat pigs of the "View".
Shame on you. God will not be mocked.
Which "God"?
https://stateofthenation.co/?p=246118#more-246118
What is she going to do about it?
This god is sounding more like the Wizard of Oz.
Just a normal guy, not really all powerful and all knowing.
LOL!!! So true!
Is Yahweh a "good guy"?? Or... ???
https://stateofthenation.co/?p=246118#more-246118
Give it up, Bryan Dair! You know exactly what it means and why we pray... AND WHY GOD TELLS US TO PRAY!
You're obviously in need of some attention. And then as folks attempt to give you "good" answers... based on their Faith and belief... you can wallow in your "smirk-itude"
"Be not deceived, GOD is not mocked"
Matthew 6 -
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Prayer
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
"As a theologian of a loving God, how do you explain that Yahweh orders the extermination of men, women, and children and claims for himself 675 sheep, 72 oxen, 61 donkeys, and 32 virgins after a battle against the Midianites (Numbers 31:32-40)? This portion of the spoils was not for the service of the tabernacle, as Numbers 31 explains: it was for Yahweh’s personal use. One only wonders why a spiritual and transcendent “God” would need 32 virgins — or 61 donkeys, for that matter"
Or don't you read the "bible"?? It is YOU, you smug, pompous assclown, that is the delusional moron. We mock YOU, fool!
Which "God"?
As you know, there are many and the "christian god" is worshiped by a minority... other "religions" outnumber you 2 to 1.
Clueless. No, satan worshipper, unlike you, I know of only one God, the one true God and I praise, honor, and glorify him.
It is you who seek to deceive with your evil lies. But you will get to answer for them. You should go pray for awhile, awhile meaning years, you are going to need a lot of time to overcome your delusion and insanity.
Oh, here you go clueless "dude", suck on this:
Religion Adherents Percentage
Christianity 2.365 billion 30.74%
Islam 1.907 billion 24.9%
Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist 1.193 billion 15.58%
Hinduism 1.152 billion 15.1%
From the cancerous hate and bile that issues from your every orifice... you are no "christian", ahole, you are demon-possessed.
Your hate will have you roasting in eternity, IF your mythology is true. If not, you will rot in some liar's grave, unloved, unmourned, forgotten. Again, eunuch, F-OFF!
JFY.
Not.
Your words, not mine, you must quit projecting your evil on to me and others "abidingdude": "From the cancerous hate and bile that issues from your every orifice... you are no "christian", ahole, you are demon-possessed.
Your hate will have you roasting in eternity, IF your mythology is true. If not, you will rot in some liar's grave, unloved, unmourned, forgotten. Again, eunuch, F-OFF!"
I get comfort from your self immolation, in allowing you to out your true evil nature evil dude...
Thanks.
Your delusions and judgement of others will have YOU roasting, maggot-boy, if your mythology is true.
Why do you put out comments to disrupt? You, like Bryan Dair, know how most people on here believe. You even know that the writer of this blog has a strong and secure Faith in the ONLY GOD WHO EXISTS.
If your questions were a sincere inquiry, many/most Believers would do their best to provide faith-building answers. But that's not your purpose at all.
Scripture tells us that YAHWEH laughs at efforts to prove He is not EVERYTHING He claims.
"Smug" fades away... and what will you have then?
Wait, your faith is confusing to me. Do you believe in just one god,
or in the Holy Trinity? (By the way, 'Holy Trinity' is the name of the school I went to as a child.) Is that not three gods? Do you deny the Holy Spirit?
Coward, you are so full of crap... you post this schit and then block me? What a vile ahole you are!
So... "the ONLY GOD WHO EXISTS"??? Idiot!!! "christians are around a third of world population, and muslims are outbreeding them in a BIG way. But you condemn all others to the pit, you yeasty psycho turd?
the ONLY GOD WHO EXISTS?? Fool christians are a THIRD of world pop... you, arrogant swine, condemn all others to your imaginary pit of hell?
And speaking of bible writings... how do you explain that Yahweh orders the extermination of men, women, and children and claims for himself 675 sheep, 72 oxen, 61 donkeys, and 32 virgins after a battle against the Midianites (Numbers 31:32-40)? This portion of the spoils was not for the service of the tabernacle, as Numbers 31 explains: it was for Yahweh’s personal use. One only wonders why a spiritual and transcendent “God” would need 32 virgins — or 61 donkeys, for that matter".. WELL, big mouth???
Thank you Janice…this verse is what I think we all needed to read and be reminded of today. He is, Jesus is, before all things and in Him all things do hold together 🙏🏻 God bless you dear Janice.
Interesting that I had a different passage queued up to post, but at the last minute I changed it. Seemed like I must.
Yahweh’s character is also worth investigating. When not violent, Yahweh’s behavior often seems bizarre, extravagant, and arbitrary. Yahweh’s words demonstrate his eagerness for the smell of the smoke of burnt flesh, prescribing elaborate rituals for the holocausts and commanding that violation of pedantic rules for the sacrifices be punished by death. Yahweh also moves and intervenes in human businesses in peculiar ways; for example, at times, he literally arrives “flying riding on a cherub” (Psalm 18:10) or aboard flying machines called “ruach” or “kavod,” which I discuss extensively in Gods of the Bible. Yahweh destroys cities with terrifying weapons, crushes villages, and demands his share of the spoils.
This is my favorite Bible verse! (Vs 17) Amen!
How do the invisible have images?
Paul’s use of the word “image” is not as we understand it today. Rather, it’s definition would be more like “representation.” Something taken from the original as representation. Meaning Jesus is the visible representation of the “invisible “ Creator.
Paul didn't use that word because it didn't exist yet.
How can you confirm that?
Because he didn't speak English because it didn't exist in his time.
ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου, πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως,
in other words:
He is the image (likeness) of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
BUT I suspect Vonu you DONT understand these either...
I only know English and FORTRAN.
If we were made in god's image,
then why aren't we invisible?
The part of us that is invisible, our soul /spirit lives within us. It is this "invisible body" that presents itself to God when our physical body dies.
We ARE made is His image AND likeness...
Where are all of these invisible souls going?
Is it a physical location, or is it only in the imagination?
"In my Father's House are many dwellings... I go to prepare a PLACE for you, so that you may be where I am" John 14:2-3
In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells us the story of the beggar Lazarus, and the rich man who when both of them died, Lazarus was comforted in father Abraham's bosom, but the rich man was in torment in Hades.
These are not states of mind or imagination.
We each decide, while yet alive where we go by saying to God, "Thy will be done" or else God saying to us "thy will be done"...
Greek εἰκὼν was used of the images and statues of kings and emperors that were erected to symbolize their authority in a region. The biblical usage of "image of God" is best understood in a similar way. (Well, unless you're intentionally trying to misread the bible, in which case the foolishness is with yourself rather than the text. Think: obviously the author knew that you can't see something invisible, so are you saying he wrote nonsense on purpose? And nobody noticed until now? Suuuuure...)
Apparently, anyone can read the bible and interoperate it to say anything they want. The language is extremely vague, and I am sure much has been lost in the translations of the edits of the translations of the rewrites.
Well sure you CAN interpret however you like, but SHOULD you? The intended meaning is not as obscure as you seem to think.
If you really care about the answer to your question, then look into the study of textual history ("textual criticism") some time.
“Jesus called the Hebrew god “YAHWEH” Satan and he reproached the Jews for having made the devil himself into their only single god.”
Citation needed.
Paul did not speak English obviously but he did speak Hebrew, Greek, and likely Aramaic. The Bible as we know it is translated from Hebrew to Greek then to Latin, and eventually to English. The word image though not written in English by Paul was written in Hebrew and Greek. Image: from the Hebrew word tzelem, from the Greek it is Eikon, and From the Latin it is imago. The first English translation comes in the 14th century. So while you are correct Paul did not use the English word image he did use the Greek and Hebrew version of what we have come to know as the word image. I’m not really sure why you are choosing to be so pedantic on the subject.
How many Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic words exist in English?
But don’t you just love the implication of what he’s trying to convey?
It treat it like the fraud that it is.
The stirrer of bullsh*t strikes again. Like a feather against a rock.
How "christian" of you, you hypocritical POS!
Just as the committer of ad hominem attacks returns to work.
Stir, stir, stir…you may hit the right consistency of bs to kill all that is good and right and pure and true in the world, yet.
Nah…won’t ever happen.
Peace and be still, Vonu. At least until you mis-understand more logical fallacies than ad hominem.
“Imprint of His nature” not his physical being
S/he/it has no physical being, being pure consciousness.
Oprah, is that you?
Do you think I'd bother with you if I were Oprah?
Have you ascended to heaven to verify that?
It is a non-locality.
Did Jesus have to do that?
Jesus was of heaven, you will get that realization when you get to the "Gates of Heaven" and get your ticket to eternal damnation for your determined disavowing of God and Jesus. Don't ask for help at that moment, God will judge you with perfect justice. Jesus gives you a way to change your awful, evil, hatefulness. You should take it. I know you wont. Oh well, everyone has free will.
More like YOUR awful, evil, hatefulness. "Judge not"... or burn in hell, right, scumbag?
Check into the nearest asylum, nut-roll loser... you are obviously in some sort of mental meltdown.
You worship an imaginary psychotic lunatic who relishes casting his own creations into eternal torment.
Get help, Maggot!
You "abiding dude" are delusional and projecting your own mental meltdown. You desperately need to get off the hallucinogens and oxygenate your foul body.
"You worship an imaginary psychotic lunatic who relishes casting his own creations into eternal torment." I'm not judging you fool, but God surely will. Good luck and GFY.
Typical pseudo "christian", spewing your hate and insults... you are not judging me? LOL!! You are a damned liar and assmaggot, a fearful eunuch and POS...
IF there is a "god", he would cast you into the pit, without even having to smell your BO or hear the scum that flows from your big diseased pie-hole.
F-0ff, you pathetic turd!
You can go right ahead and follow your own advice, evil satan worshipper. Everything you call me is your projection of yourself, its why you find it so easy to do. I realize you hate yourself.
GFY and JSY.
“Jesus called the Hebrew god “YAHWEH” Satan and he reproached the Jews for having made the devil himself into their only single god.”
To SM's comment, it can be images as in 'impressions' or an 'imprint' felt or sensed, a kind of mental 'thought image'. We see 'pictures' of things all the time in our minds. It's how we function.
And it's odd. Look around and ask yourself this. Do we actually 'see' an object? Or is it a light cast impression, an illusion received by our eyes and translated into an image in our minds? And it all begs the question, just exactly what is consciousness?
According to Einstein's E=mc2, all matter consists of energy. This energy is one vast intelligent consciousness; otherwise how could this awesome creation exist with all its endless variations of physical, mental, and spiritual beingness? Therefore I agree with SM that Jesus was a physical incarnation of the Invisible/Supreme Consciousness known as God. Furthermore, in a sense, Daverkb, you are correct that objects we view are illusions, not concrete objects without energy but manifestations of energy in its most dense form. One more thing, who is it that is seeing these objects? Is it the mind? But when the mind is completely quiet, we still see the objects. For example, when we see a majestic mountain, an eagle in flight, a dolphin leap out of the sea, our minds stop in awe, yet we still see the object. It is the soul beyond the mind which perceives, the same soul that perceives through all the senses and feels emotions also, the soul that God planted in each of us.
It's the Bluebird singing a song again. And yes, there is much, much more to things than I once upon a time could imagine. And the largeness and grandeur of Creation is humbling. And once glimpsed and understood, an addiction to the things of this world is rather nonsensical.
Daverkb, so true what you say - that the longer one walks on the path to knowing God's truth, the less the material world means and the greater the sublimity of Spirit means and is experienced.
Davekrkb, please expound on “glimpsed and understood”, specifically “understood”. I agree with you totally and I know there’s not any absolute nirvana in this world, but making this world nonsensical seems to be easier for some than others.
Not all of we have brains that function in visions.
Out of the blue ... VISIONS. Visions EVERYWHERE I suppose?
(And by the way, it's 'of us' ... and not 'of we'. It the 'subject, object' distinction. Stop trying to look stupid!)
Are you one of those people who can't tell the difference between a vision and a hallucination?
Vonu! Time for you to beat on a different drum!
It won't matter if you continue calling the tune.
Praise be to the Invisible Pink Unicorn in all her glory,
the true creator of the universe.
2 Kings 6:17-20
Without the version, that is a incomplete citation.
With the version, it is a specification of a translation of a translation of a transliteration, like all modern bibles.
Incorrect, as a general statement. The significant majority of modern Bibles are translated directly from greek and hebrew; a few of the older ones are from latin which in turn was from greek and hebrew. Worst possible case might be if you had an OT translation from latin, which in turn was from greek (septuagint), which in turn was finally from hebrew. In which case... just pick a better translation. (I suggest the NET, since they have copious footnotes explaining each translation decision and the range of meaning of words in the original language.)
THIS! A most perfect illustration of those verses. https://vimeo.com/40180422
That took me right back to 2010! Thank you!
Read... and LEARN!!
https://stateofthenation.co/?p=246118#more-246118
“The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.”
― Delos Banning McKown
I guess Delos McKown never had an invisible thought that existed.
Maybe he never took LSD.
Unfortunately this has been used by tyrants to say their dominions are ordained by the Holy Power
All scripture has been twisted and misused one way or another by the enemy and father of lies.