Leaf99

Maybe people spend too much time on the forum! I post here and there, but generally do my Bible studies every night while in the chat. We're a pretty friendly group there. I haven't seen any arguments here haha. I'm sure some people have disagreed with my posts, but yes.. more time reading the Word, less time posting.

Tongues is an interesting topic. I have heard people speaking in many tongues with the Word of God, usually English. The Bible clearly attributes great merit to speaking with the power of the Holy Spirit. I've heard some people speaking in a sort of mix I suppose is the best description? A glossalalia it's called. Lots of other religions have the same sort of utterances. I'm more skeptical of it in big groups only because the Bible warns against speaking in disorganized fashion, and other religions. Biblically, there are lots of interesting circumstances in Acts where people spoke different languages while evangelizing. People speak very powerfully around times of conversion too! I haven't experienced anyone break out in Hebrew yet haha. Hopefully one day I will experience that gift! All gifts of the Holy Spirit are God given!

Because my spirit flees to it in times of need. I studied philosophy, practiced other religions, and when I am faced with a life or death situation I cry out for my Father and the strength of Jesus as if it is second nature. Now I seek to make it my first nature. It's similar to asking, why drink water? Many people will answer, because it sustains life. But we also drink because we're thirsty. And in fact usually the need is so primal we need not ask why. I was reading Corinthians today, and Paul says in 1:18 that the message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction and that nonbelievers will not comprehend the significance of God's word. He says that is what the scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him" (2:9). So it would make very little sense explaining why the word of God rings true to us. And also as a note, the word of God can be found outside the Bible, but the Bible is our inspired source; our litmus test, and it corresponds to the wisdom we receive through Christ Jesus. It rings like a bell.

Hmm, does my university education or my part time job serve God? It does speak of the merits of hard work throughout proverbs. But in general I think it would drastically change how we live and who we live our lives with.

An interesting thing that the Bible DOES teach, is that mankind is not capable of comprehending God. The Bible, in language I think you might appreciate, is just a little handbook to help all us rebellious creatures to know in which direction we can find the God Who created us. What exactly are you trying to prove? You seem to be getting at something, is there a shortcut to get to it? hmm I really said exactly what I was getting at. But I'll reword! It's more important to believe and know the Father, Jesus, and the holy spirit than to develop and understand terminology.

Well, quite simply... the Bible does not hold all answers. It is first and foremost a work on salvation. It is also compilation of documents relating to one particular narrative of salvation. The Bible is a historical work, an archival work, a work of literature, and many other things. It does not explain the workings of say the reproduction of pine trees. It won't help me with differential equations. It is very lacking as a source of mechanical knowledge. But that is not the object of the Bible. So, if the object of the Bible is to teach salvation, and it does not explicitly state the trinity, then explicit statement of the trinity is probably not necessary for salvation. What is necessary, it would seem, is understanding that God exists, Jesus is the son of God, and the Holy spirit is imparted from the Father to Jesus to us. That this faith as well as the fruit it bears are necessary. It is likely many believers would go on to say, aha, this is the trinity... But it is the substance, not the token, that matters.

Lol! That octopus is such a boss. He held that shark the whole time haha.. We have an octopus at our local aquarium that was actually assassinating the small sharks in his tank.