Alive

That side of the coin and a discussion of such, is a big discussion. I think differently on the issue than some do. Predestination is taught from Genesis all the way to the last chapter. God has chosen men, women and nations. I ask my question from a thread I started. Did Lazarus have a choice? That is precisely what happened to me! :-)

My friend, you weren’t there. My will had nothing to do in that moment.

I will relate my 'salvation experience' for your thoughtfulness as it relates to the subject. I am the way, the truth and the life and none can come to the Father but by me. That is the first scripture I heard resound in my heart. I was 18 years old and a seeker. I was studying eastern religions and such things. One day while standing outside waiting for a ride, I found myself looking up to heaven and crying out--"God, whoever you are, I want to be aligned with truth". A couple minutes later a guy I knew from our HS came walking down the sidewalk toward me. He invited me over the next night to play guitars and sing songs. I did to find out it was a bible study--a bunch of Jesus Freaks. LOL John was my friend's name--he read the above scripture and I heard the Lord speak to me as audible and clear as can be--"I am the Truth". At that moment, I believed. He put the faith into me. My will was not involved.

There is a huge sub-surface ocean of water under the South Pacific that is leaking. It is fresh water and is changing the salinity, density and volume to a small degree. There is another one under the Arctic ice. The residual 'fountains of the deep'.

I believe that all companies of believers from the beginning are predestined--more pointedly in this Church age, not due to a greater importance, but because of the sharp point. I am in awe of God's Plan and I can only guess at most of it. To answer the question from above: it has never occurred to me to relax because He chose me to be 'In Christ'. I have relaxed and fallen short and even tried to run from God one season, but that was not the reason. Incidentally, that time when I tried to run from Him? He showed Himself to me in such love and grace, that it floored me. That was one of those milestones. His purpose and His calling can not be thwarted...He is indeed sovereign.

Watching what is happening with Turkey right now is interesting. I have not been an 'end time' guy for decades, but things are getting interesting, in my estimation. I reckon, my wonderment is more directed at the USAs place in the end. I suspect, it won't be significant. What other entity fits the 'made all nations rich' verse?

Well--I disagree. I think it IS the acceptable answer. I simply don't accept the validity of your sources. My source is my own ability to think. In ten years, we will see--if the Lord tarries.

Good morning, young man. All of these questions that you are asking yourself regarding existence, mind, self-determination, awareness and cause and effect and our place and abilities within the context of this 'universe' and 'its laws' that our Creator made---have been asked by many throughout the centuries. All of those questions and searchings are simply the result of man's internal sense of God looking outward. For the questing and bright mind, those things can be captivating. I have a suggestion for you and I have something for you to think about and tuck away for to recall over the years. Rom. 1:19, 20 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, My suggestion is that you exercise your mind in studying His creation. The more we study what He has made, the more we see of Him there. I have found molecular biology to be particularly interesting. Find a book by Stephen Meyers called ’Signature in the Cell’. This will get you going and provide a path that will allow you to use that brain God gave you. Now for the other: a high level of intelligence enables you to ask great and deep questions, but it cannot give you the important answers. Only God, by His Spirit and the Life within you are capable of doing that. The Paraclete (Holy Spirit) was given after Christ was ascended. He was anxious to go to the Father, so that the Helper (Paraclete) would come and dwell in the Sons of God. Continually be before Him and always seeking the knowledge that He can provide. That knowledge will always be a deeper understanding of and walk with your Lord. This is the function of the Holy Spirit—to convict of sin and to point to Christ. As your heart is set on Him, He will direct your path in all things. There is no greater quest! Jesus Christ is the Logos—the ‘rational reason for all things’. Seek Him and He will answer the questions and satisfy you more than anything else in this present life. Apologetics are nothing compared to knowing Him. Beware of the pride of intelligence and tuck the following bit away and pull it out regularly. Post it on your desk and write it on the front page of your bible or the desktop of your computer. "Intelligence enables you to ask questions, but it doesn’t provide the answers." Trust me on this and don't forget it. When it comes to the things of the Lord—be like a little child. After all--you really aren't all that smart. :-) The fear (awe) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Let's talk in 10 years.

Are you saying that you don't sin? I am pretty sure that Paul, in that section of Rom. 7, is speaking in the present tense. My friend--if you believe that you never sin, then one day you are going to see differently. I fellowshipped for a few years with folks who held to the belief that 'sinless perfection' was attainable while still in these old bodies. There were all kinds of ways that they had convinced themselves it was true. The depth of this delusion and the blindness to their own shortcomings was an astounding thing to watch. I don't wish to 'prove' you wrong. Please believe that. I would however try to convince you to admit that you might be wrong on this point and to reconsider.

I heard that same bird nest illustration many moons ago. Thanks for the reminder.

I wonder. Has anyone in this subject mentioned that the language in 1 John seems to be saying that one born of God doesn't continue or abide in sin? Another way of saying this may be like so: one born of God doesn't take up an abode in sin or linger there. The balance of scripture and the experience of a myriad of sons of God seems to support this.

I see your point. Have a blessed day.

Good morning, Thomas. I did not mention any relative effectiveness, only the efforts--the changes we have instituted toward making a difference. You are rebutting something I did not say. Do you understand?

I don't know if God has a sense of humor. Sometimes, I like to think so. Have you ever watched a puppy chase its tail? Or a dog turn around three times before laying down?

Amen!

Offenses are inevitable. And in either direction. We are so fortunate that we can react in Love. The love of the Life within us.

Amen!

God believes in predestination. :-)

I like the illustration of placing a note into a book and mailing that book here and there. Everything the book experiences the note experiences. The history of the book, is the history of the note. We were placed 'IN CHRIST' by the Father...like the note in the book. We died in Him on the Cross, were buried, we rose and we ascended. This is history. It happened as ordained by our Father. Everything that Christ is--we are. We cannot add to this work. The understanding must start with this as the foundation. Everything has to be consistent with the Cross and Resurrection and Ascension. Christ's work and the Father placing us 'In Him' solved all the problems of 'Old Adam' and provided for the Father's 'eternal purpose'--to have many sons. To share 'being' with the universe He constructed. He didn't just sever us from the old Adam--He killed him and we were resurrected from that death to a 'New Life' Governed by an entirely new economy. This economy is as far from the 'principle of law and death' as the heavens are above the earth. And yet--we have this treasure in an earthen vessel. All of the scriptures that have been mentioned to argue this and that side of a coin, are due to the tension that is set up by the principles I have pointed to. The resolution was described by Paul. This stuff is not difficult folks. We need at times to allow a tearing down of the towers we erect. Or personal bastions of doctrine.

Thomas...perhaps you didn't read my sentence carefully.

Shifting sand and plate tectonics...all kinds of slow mo stuff. :-)

I think God deals with nations differently than He does individuals. We have embraced abortion as a nation and I am convinced our over all moral decline is connected to this. Our collective national conscience has been seared. I recall a prominent reason the sin of the Canaanites was full...they sacrificed their children to Molech. Humans are very adept at rationalizing.

It sounds to me as though you could use some fellowship with loving believers. Perhaps the Lord will use a forum like this to help you...I don't know. I can only share some experience and I hope its helpful. Everyone's life and circumstances are different and how the Lord deals with each of His children is as well. I have seen that one common thing to all of us is the importance of surrendering to what His will is for us and trusting that. There is a place for importunity, but I have found that prayer more often than not is 'agreeing with God'. "Thy will be done" In the worst of circumstances both peace and contentment can be found. Much fruit can be the result of the trials He takes us through. This is not a cop out. It is one of the realties of living on this earth and being a stranger in a strange land. I have been in a place where I was 'no good for this world' and no good for heaven either'. Ask the Lord to help you to trust His will for you.

In ten years, if the Lord tarries, we will look back and see that prediction as untrue. I have made it a point to keep my eye on the sciences for many years and the 'consensus' is often wrong. Peer reviewed and all. A couple of points: 1. Climate changes continually 2. Weather is not the same as climate 3. The two biggest contributors to weather and climate are solar activity and ocean currents and we don't have a handle on either. 4. The USA has done more to change our emissions than any other nation and continue to do so. 5. Axis variability may turn out to be a major cause potential (we just don't know) 6. Man-made climate change is not settled science 7. Man made climate change has both a financial and political aspect to it. 8. God made the earth and its entire biosphere to be one very large and effective filtering mechanism 9. Our present activity changes the balance no more than a large artifact changes the earth wobble. 10. Young people are being taught to live in fear and this has affected their health...look around.