Capnmike02

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Lord of Lords, God of Gods, Lord of Hosts"???

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Hebrew culture of that time had no qualms in using such idioms as you should see in their references to "Baalzebub/ Baalzebul" one being a respectful the other a derogatory term regarding "Baal"... Their's is not an antiseptic, purely religious/legalistic language... In fact Scripture is replete with such, full of idiomatic speech, plays on words and such... Some proper names could have multiple meanings portraying the character of their possessors...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Hebrew culture of that time had no qualms in using such idioms as you should see in their references to "Baalzebub/ Baalzebul" one being a respectful the other a derogatory term regarding "Baal"... Their's is not an antiseptic, purely religious/legalistic language... In fact Scripture is replete with such, full of idiomatic speech, plays on words and such... Some proper names could have multiple meanings portraying the character of their possessors...

Can anyone verify this? If it is true, it appears to be one of the earliest sources of confirmation of the Genesis accounts. Interesting stuff! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I know this: That before China became polygamous, it practiced the very same "once a year" Sacrifices as described in Torah, on "The Day of Atonement" with the "Emperor" acting as High Priest...

Oh, I understood what he was trying to do, but I thought that what he wanted to do probably belonged in Apologetics. I thought this was a thread about the barber story. I'm all about the sciences, I study as much as I can (and of course compare what I read with the holy word of God). I'm actually in a second-level apologetics class at church as well as a Reformation Fathers class. I enjoy apologetics, just think that capnmike should start a new thread elsewhere. Of course, I mean no disrespect to you, capnmike. To disrespect my brother is to disrespect the Saviour, in my humble opinion. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Was under the impression that it is a thread on :"Does God Exist" as it`s title implies... And, I suffer far worse indignities amongst atheists and other and sundry forms of heathen than you can possibly rain down upon me here... Hopefully I`ve developed a thick hide, yet also a propensity for quick and acerbic response... Might I offer you a delicious root beer? I just think that this would be nice if placed in Apologetics, because more people with whom you wish to discuss this issue will be seen in that area than in here- that's all. No offenses were intended at all, and if I did offend, please accept my apologies... and root beer. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I was`nt aware of the rigid categorization rules here... Now, if someone would tell me how to get into that category??? "Nebula", if you`re reading this, look for my comments on the "impromptu experiment" in behaviour over there... I guess... Capt.Mike...

Oh, I understood what he was trying to do, but I thought that what he wanted to do probably belonged in Apologetics. I thought this was a thread about the barber story. I'm all about the sciences, I study as much as I can (and of course compare what I read with the holy word of God). I'm actually in a second-level apologetics class at church as well as a Reformation Fathers class. I enjoy apologetics, just think that capnmike should start a new thread elsewhere. Of course, I mean no disrespect to you, capnmike. To disrespect my brother is to disrespect the Saviour, in my humble opinion. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Was under the impression that it is a thread on :"Does God Exist" as it`s title implies... And, I suffer far worse indignities amongst atheists and other and sundry forms of heathen than you can possibly rain down upon me here... Hopefully I`ve developed a thick hide, yet also a propensity for quick and acerbic response...

Yes, I do. Thank-you! That was a very interesting insight and way of expressing things. (I'm into the sciences BTW.) And the testimony you shared brought a tear to my eye. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Interested in "behavioural sciences"??? If so, I have some "impromptu results" from an unintentional (by me) three year experiment... The results of which actually set me to thinking in just this vein of "Stimulus begets results"... It stemmed from an assertion that I made on another board that:" They who accept evolution cannot really say that they actually believe, simply because they`ve been given no choice in the matter due to a one sided indoctrination process performed within academia." The responses were interesting, amazing and fully validated the accuracy of these "assertions"... Capt.Mike...

First of all, so far from what have read, you are not a fellow Christian so that statement is about as solid as the rest of the statements you have made. Let me ask, when you turn on the lights in your home, assuming you have one, do you usually expect them to come on? What about when you eat food and drink water? Do you expect to eliminate the waste your body does not need, or do you store it somewhere inside? When you start your car do you usually expect it to start? When you dial a certain number on your phone do you expect to be conected to the number you dial or do you usually just hope you may be randomly connected to it out of the hundred of many thousnads of numbers possible? In short, you are a BOOF-HEAD as we call people like you down under. Not an insult, just a fact! Even Jesus Christ called people like you worse that I have. He called them Vipers, and hypocrites! and whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness, (Matt. 23:27). Some advice, The best way to sound like you know what you're talking about is to know what you're talking about. If getting out of bed every morning is a chore and you're not making any sense on a regular basis, try another choice. Haz. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Well, at least you`re partially right... That is that you and I are certainly not "fellow Christians", but who has the deeper draft before God remains yet to be seen... I really did`nt expect such negativity on such a site as this, don`t you think that you`d be a bit more comfortable on the "Do You Believe" board... I`ll send a link if you wish, Digger...

I know in the Hebrew understanding of the word "faith" - it involves action, not belief. I am definitely curious as to where you are going with this. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It`s very simple; Now, I know that I am "saved", but how??? By persuasive argumentation, convincing speech??? No, something much deeper... You see, if my "Faith" is no more than the product of "intellectual persuasion", convincing argumentation then it rests, not upon God, God`s Word (Logos) or (Most importantly) a personal relatiionship with Christ Himself, but upon my personal state of mind... It is mutable, changeable, it stands to reason, that if I can be "convinced" of the one, then just as easily could I be convinced of the other... Do you see??? So, "Faith" is something much deeper than a mere "belief", "The demons believe and tremble". (James 2:19)... My personal experience, as well as all evidence and Scripture tells me that "Faith" well transcends mere belief... I have found that there are three steps to Faith, they are Hebrews 11:6, Romans 10:17 and James 2:14-26... The first step is ours, we seek God, believing that He will reward us for doing so... At that point in our initial search for God, that "reward" mentioned in verse 6 is very simply, an answer from God, an acknowledgement of His existence, a fulfillment of our need to know, would you agree??? And He gives that (Or rather, he did so in my case), He manifests Himself to us in that initial Salvation experience... It was beyond mere emotion, it was Spiritually moving, profound, and beyond that experience no one could ever convince me that I had not actually stood withing the very Presence of God and communed with Him in Spirit, no one could or can ever tell me, convince or persuade me that I have not experienced Salvation at the Hands of God Himself... Do we agree thus far??? This step, the "reception" is the second step of "Faith", it is the "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word (Rhemati) of God"... This step is beyond us in any effort other than simply being there, which comes with the first, Hebrews 11:6... But, "Faith" is not complete without action, it is not fulfilled until put into practice... And so, you carry out your "orders from God" whatever they might be... You put your "Faith" into action... But, you become an addict, you want more of God (And if you do not, then I can safely say that you have`nt really come to know Him.) and so you come again before the Throne and bask in the Presence of Messiah, you again recieve, and go out to dispense this "New Wine", and "Oil of the Spirit"... And as you feel your cup running dry, your oil used up, you constantly return to that place, before His Throne... And He consistently responds, yet each time with more, because as you walk in His Presence, you grow, you become responsible for more... Now, whether or not any here agree with me, I don`t really care, because I know "experientially" that this is the simplicity of "Faith" and the core of Christianity, an ongoing, live and personal relationship with God through Jesus the Christ and actuated by His Holy Spirit... I`ve been living and preaching, evangelizing and teaching for years, I know the Scriptures well enough to back up everything that I say here while keeping all in context, and if any here do not have such a relationship and their "beliefs" are nothing more than the product of mere "intellectual persuasion", then I adjure you to seriously seek God... Forgive the digression, and please only take this personally if under conviction??? I`ve said this to make an illustration. Does anyone sense a parallel here between these "steps of Faith" and "Scientific investigation"??? First, you form the "hypothesis", "Is it true, is it possible that God exists.?" You begin the search for "evidence", you read, speak with others and gather enough data in order that said "hypothesis" now morphs into "theory"... But now, "theory" must be tried, proven... And so, the "experiment"... You provide the "stimulus" (Prayer), and you persist... It pays off, the "experiment" succeeds, you receive a "reaction", A Word from God, but is it really??? It must be further conducted and so you perform that "Word"... It proves true, and so, you repeat the process, time and again, proving to yourself and your fellows that; Yes, God not only exists but he intervenes in mortal affairs... But, that is only personal proof, preaching to the choir now, and you need something to stymie the hostile unbeliever... In a court of Law, how many witnesses would it take for a conviction??? When proofing old documents how many extant copies does it take for verification??? How many "Christians" worldwide have gone through the exact same process as I`ve described here, and received the exact same results??? Even throughout History, we have written accounts by men of God who have experienced the same, and it would be impossible, even ludicrous to think, that there has been collusion or collaboration on their part... Many do not even speak the same languge, and quite a few are (As was I) isolated from any psychological influences... In other words, it`s ridiculous to even imply some sort of mass delusion... No, they may not receive, and in fact, in my recent experiences they contend the matter always devolving to that position of mere intellectual persuasion and projecting such upon us and our Christian experience as though we operated under the same worldly rules and premises... But, that does`nt stop me from telling them... My (late) Father in Law, was an avowed humanist and debated and argued with me constantly... But through this, we developed a mutual bond, and so much so that I actually missed his jibes and barbs when he became ill and wrote a letter to that effect... As the disease that stole his strength and wracked his body progressed, he began to consider our conversations and those words that I had spoken through God`s prompting, and not very long after his incapacitation, he came to know Jesus The Christ as his Lord and Saviour... So, I don`t really care if they argue, or if they insult, demean, denigrate and disparage... Just as long as they hear... They`ll think on it eventually... Thanks for allowing me to flesh this out, I`d so far had not said it all in one piece... Capt.Mike...

With all due respect and humility, allow me to quote that scripture through verse 3 using both the ESV (which I use), and the KJV (the version upon which I was raised) KJV- 1.Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2.For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3.Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. ESV- 1.Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2.For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3.By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Both versions are clear to me. This verse is giving the definition of faith("Faith is") - believing in and hoping for those things which are not seen. This verse is not challenging us to "prove" God through any sort of scientific evidence. Who are we to try to "prove" God? The Bible clearly states that God is revealed to us through His creation. In fact, it states that, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'" Psalm 14:1 Anytime that science says that they have discovered a new species of insect, or have discovered how genetics determine how long my toenails grow before I notice them and cut them, I simply praise God that His creation functions so amazingly. Science simply proves that Creation functions in a functional way, and that does not surprise me at all. God does not make mistakes, and has an order for everything. I don't need to prove Him, He does that, and only a fool can look at Creation and say, "There is no God." I am backed up by scripture on that one. So, as I said, with all due respect, that verse simply gives the definition of faith, it does not call for any evidence to be shown to prove the existence of God. It actually even says how the universe was made- by the word of God. May the Lord our God richly bless you and your family! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The verse specifically says that "Faith is the ....evidence, (elengchos) of what is not seen"... It actually says that "Faith" itself is the "evidence"... In Greek or English... What could that possibly mean??? Other than "Faith is the evidence"??? How can "Faith" be evidence??? We equate Faith as "belief", so how can "Faith" itself be "evidence" of anything??? Unless of course, the definition of "Faith" is not that which is commonly accepted and is really something else altogether... So, what exactly is "Faith"... Because, if we could examine this, we may find those "scientific evidences" that I spoke of...

There are none. The box science makes isn't big enough for God. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sorry, but there are, many and evidential... Ok, I don't have to "prove" God. An "atheist" (I use the quotes for a reason as there is no such thing as an atheist) has to "prove" there isn't a God. Out of 100% of the ENTIRE knowledge of the universe- everything from how many tiles are on Wayne Gretzky's bathroom floor to what's under the smallest rock on the most distant planet, how much could one say that one knows? 1%, 2%, shoot, be brave and say 99%. So, can someone say to me that in that 99%, 98%, or even 1% about which they have not a single clue that there is no God? They can't. They must say that they don't know if there is a God in that percentage about which they are clueless. It's like saying there is no gold in China without having absolute complete knowledge about everything (and I mean everything) in China. They are, therefore, not an atheist, they are an agnostic, and require more searching. I suggest that they start with the Bible. It has stood up to the most incredible scrutiny, and has been proven to be accurate. (Might I suggest Lee Strobel's book The Case For The Real Jesus as a reference?) I can, however, say that there is a God by simply looking at creation and saying, "There is a God because this had to be made." I can also say that there is gold in China with some VERY limited knowledge about China- all I have to do is go to China and find one jewelry store with one piece of gold in it and confidently say, "There is gold in China." I do this with God with some very limited knowledge of the universe. I know that this earth is here, and had to be created, and therefore say, "There is a Creator." There is a God. I love my friends who are agnostic. I hang out with them, I bowl with them. (Not very well, but I still bowl) I am not commanded to hate anyone, nor am I to pass judgment on anyone. I do not have to worry about proving the existence of God- He does that just fine through His creation. What I do have to be concerned about is truthfully living out the faith which I have through Him. May God bless you and your family, and I do love you! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Actually, I`m talking about something a little more immediate, and useful... Something more evident than these examples... I was sure that someone would catch on by now... I use it on the "heathen boards" to make a cogent point...

Let me ask then, and I`m assuming that I am dealing with fellow Christians here, let me ask ; Just what does Hebrews 11:1 mean by "Faith is the evidence of things not seen."??? Empasis upon "Evidence"...

There are none. The box science makes isn't big enough for God. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sorry, but there are, many and evidential...

I would like to hear anyone`s scientific evidences of the existence of God, some good hard and undeniable proofs... Further; I would like to see how one would go about convincing the avowed and hostile atheist of these "proofs"... Thanks... Capt.Mike...

How about it just being literal? How long do you think it would take to physically mark every person who worships the beast? Revelation 13 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, Notice the Word says "all", not just some, but "all". That's a lot of people. The world population right now stands at 6,776,331,434. That's well over 6 billion. Even if you cut that number in half, that's still a lot of people. And those numbers are todays population. What will those numbers be next year, five years, or ten years from now? That's only one item to be considered when we look at what the mark of the beast will be. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ None of what I'm saying is etched in stone. I'm just putting it out there for consideration. As I stated, if there are other interpretations, I would like to hear them. If you believe it to be taken as literal, let's discuss the possibilities of how that can be accomplished. Instead of arguing about who's right and who's wrong, let's discuss it and see where it takes us. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> In the Hebrew culture, and especially in that time when people accepted prophecy as it is, the "right hand" signified strengths, for work or war, and of course the "forehead" always symbolically implied "On one`s mind" as in The Older Writings "Old Testament" when God commanded the Israelites to "Bind the Word, on their foreheads' and their "arms"... Of course, they took this injunction in the merely temporal sense and thus the "phylactery" was created...