Given Grace

For me, I've always believed in the power of prayer. As I have in my signature, "Rogate, ergo..." Prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you resist evil... It's in God's power that we are able to stay in power...

It sounds not just belief and assumption, but false claim of what appears to be true. After reading the arguments, I can say these are fallacious...

There is no doubt that prayers can bring on miracles, yet I also think miracles sometimes happen without prayer, more time with prayer then not. In Iraq, five people in my platoon were riding in a Humvee, they were hit by an IED. The Hunvee was totaled, like it was peeled like an apple around the five passengers, yet for a few scrapes and one broken leg, nobody was killed. There was no doubt in my mind that Angels were riding with them that day, yet in that brief moment when the IED blew up, there was no time for prayer, but there were many prayers of thank-you God afterwards. I am not saying that you have to pray right then and there... Perhaps, one of your people had prayed for safety right before you guys were on a patrol or something... But I'm glad to hear you're all right though... God really works in wonders... miracles or not... "God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me..." just remembered this quote from a religious song...

I still believe that miracles happen when you least expect it... It has to be accompanied with prayers though...

It's worst than stealing, it's pathetic. Pathetic for those who can not pull out their ideas and, instead, use someone's work as their own...

I'd say being "right" is relative. In some religions, they say this or that is right. But some would say this isn't. A concrete example of this is the views of Christians and Muslims. Don't get me wrong here, I am a Catholic. However, when it comes to truth, then it is absolute.

This is nice-to-read thread since it shares some valuable thoughts on whether you have to set your mind on the things above or just here on earth. Allow me to add just a few issues why some people tend to think not on the things above or to be materialistic. You may agree with me or not. But I just want to share this. The first thing I'd like to raise is the proliferation of technology. Look around every household and almost each home has a computer. As a result, children tend to play video or online games because this is a good way for parents to make their children stay at home and enjoy. Aside from that, the movies nowadays have given more emphasis on the value of technology. Take for example "The Matrix", etc. The second thing I'd like to raise is the lack of guidance from parents since they're too busy in a lot of things. Lastly, postmodernism has been practiced by almost everyone nowadays.

That is His specialty. The Holy Spirit is the revelator! He opens up what is simply to the natural man paper and ink and words---Scripture, God-breathed and alive with great power, wisdom and insight to the mind and spirit of man. To quote something I have read: "Without the Spirit's wisdom and insight, science is but trickery, psychology is just self-obsession, sociology is just the workings of the rabble, language becomes merely a tool for manipulation, and religion really becomes the opiate of the masses that Marx thought it was." (http://www.spirithom...ork.html#seeing) Now, while it is within God's power to present Himself to men in powerful ways, the failure in knowing Him is man's alone. He misses God, or denies God, or thinks himself into a corner and stays there. It is all down to the sovereignty over his own destiny that God has built into him. To open up a closed person's mind is God's specialty, indeed. However, it bothers me to read this response. I mean, no offense Floatingaxe, I just can't see the answer to the second question, which is, "would that be a violation of fee will?" I like this thread because it stimulates my interest in reading more about this topic. However, that question is somehow more interesting, yet unanswered.... It is God's part and pleasure to reveal Himself to us and it is our part to either receive or reject Him. There is no violation of our free will going on. The only violation that happens is when one rejects the free gift of sins paid, and eternal life---it violates the One who created us for Himself and who loves us unfathomably. Thanks for your response Floatingaxe. I think agree more on your reply than on Steven's... God bless us all!!!

That is His specialty. The Holy Spirit is the revelator! He opens up what is simply to the natural man paper and ink and words---Scripture, God-breathed and alive with great power, wisdom and insight to the mind and spirit of man. To quote something I have read: "Without the Spirit's wisdom and insight, science is but trickery, psychology is just self-obsession, sociology is just the workings of the rabble, language becomes merely a tool for manipulation, and religion really becomes the opiate of the masses that Marx thought it was." (http://www.spirithom...ork.html#seeing) Now, while it is within God's power to present Himself to men in powerful ways, the failure in knowing Him is man's alone. He misses God, or denies God, or thinks himself into a corner and stays there. It is all down to the sovereignty over his own destiny that God has built into him. To open up a closed person's mind is God's specialty, indeed. However, it bothers me to read this response. I mean, no offense Floatingaxe, I just can't see the answer to the second question, which is, "would that be a violation of fee will?" I like this thread because it stimulates my interest in reading more about this topic. However, that question is somehow more interesting, yet unanswered.... Your answer God gives in the form of a question... Ro 9:14-21 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? NKJV the understanding is in the light of truth... God 'IS' and answers to no one and does He not have right over what is His to begin with? Personal witness- of all persuasion I have encountered~ His is the most gentle and humble that I have ever witnessed I have been given the understanding of perfection in the knowing of Him. This speaks of one experiential truth in me- He is not threatened by the need of proving what is but by His pleasure He proclaims Himself to be as He 'IS'. Hence I am not forced to Love Him but because He has placed His Truth within me I can do nothing else but Love Him... Love, Steven Thank you Steven for this response. But philosophically speaking, isn't it inappropriate to answer a question with another question? sorry, just thinking out loud... Anyway, I like the way you take out quotes from the Bible. I am just curious, did you learn them by heart and put them in action, or are you just using "CTRL + F" in your system?

I pray that the SOPA will be barred in the House of Representatives. Otherwise, a lot of innocent websites will be blocked.

That is His specialty. The Holy Spirit is the revelator! He opens up what is simply to the natural man paper and ink and words---Scripture, God-breathed and alive with great power, wisdom and insight to the mind and spirit of man. To quote something I have read: "Without the Spirit's wisdom and insight, science is but trickery, psychology is just self-obsession, sociology is just the workings of the rabble, language becomes merely a tool for manipulation, and religion really becomes the opiate of the masses that Marx thought it was." (http://www.spirithom...ork.html#seeing) Now, while it is within God's power to present Himself to men in powerful ways, the failure in knowing Him is man's alone. He misses God, or denies God, or thinks himself into a corner and stays there. It is all down to the sovereignty over his own destiny that God has built into him. To open up a closed person's mind is God's specialty, indeed. However, it bothers me to read this response. I mean, no offense Floatingaxe, I just can't see the answer to the second question, which is, "would that be a violation of fee will?" I like this thread because it stimulates my interest in reading more about this topic. However, that question is somehow more interesting, yet unanswered....