wingnut-

God created the light, so what you have here is a contradiction. For one to claim God is light physically, then that is claiming that God was created. How exactly does the Creator create Himself?

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=30E61E20-F51F-11E4-B575-048C47B2F2CB&siteid=yhoof2

I would echo what rustyangel and hippie had to say and add this thought to it. God doesn't shout to get your attention, He whispers.

As far as forgiving others, the most difficult for me was in forgiving my ex wife for leaving me for another man. I find it hardest though to forgive myself, for things I have done or said that hurt others.

Since the LORD God personally solemnized the first marriage, how could there even be such a question? It was MORE THAN legitimate. It was the foundation for all human marriages, but it was also a type for marriage between Christ and His Church (Eph 5:30-31). When Adam said "This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh" (Gen 2:23) he was prophetically speaking the words of Christ to His Church. How do Christians manage to miss all this and ask about the legitimacy of the first marriage? Hello Ezra, I agree completely that Adam and Eve were the first example of marriage, the question was asked because I was asked for a biblical example and I think this example is perfectly suited for this discussion. It is not at all representative of what our society has deemed to be a requirement for marriage, and clearly displays that a marriage in God's eyes requires the commitment between a man and woman, and Him. All the bells and whistles that people associate with marriage are not necessary, God is the same now as He was then.

Jesus is the way to heaven. Jesus is the Word, and the Word of God is truth, so believe what He said. Jesus is the life, because He is the only means by which people can obtain eternal life.

Hello Michael, Jesus is the only way to heaven, without Him, a person is lost. So any religion that does not hold to this truth is false, and the followers of said religion are in big trouble. If you are talking about denominational divisions within Christianity, these all spring up from doctrinal differences. I don't hold to any denomination, I am simply a Christian, and I view anyone who claims Jesus as Lord to be a brother or sister. God bless you.

John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”

John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Faith. Or another way to say it, trust in Him in all things and situations, which the passage from Matthew says best.

Hello Marilyn, My first thought is this, when Jesus spoke specifically in regards to Lazarus, his sister responded that he would be raised up on the last day. So I think that is problematic with your exclusion or separation of believers from this event. Jesus did not correct her, and I think considering that Lazarus was brought back from the grave by Jesus, he was a believer. Anyway, just something to chew on, God bless you sister.

Well, I think there are two points here that need to be made. First, I can't assume to know that these two people are viewing their commitment as nothing more than sharing a bed and a home, if they are committed to each other long term then they are committed. I don't have to understand their reasoning in regards to why they don't make it official as society deems customary, but I can think of a few reasons why people may not go that route. As far as Adam and Eve are concerned, time has no relevance to God, He is the same today as He was at the beginning. So if Adam and Eve and the example set forth represent a legitimate union (which I am sure we agree they did), then the same would hold true today.

I think they did. God brought them together and adam spoke words of commitment. That was a ceremony in my eyes. 22 And the LORD God made the rib (which He had taken from the man) into a woman. And He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman because she was taken out of man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh. I agree with your thoughts on this, but by today's definition that would be called a common law marriage. No minister, no witnesses, no piece of paper, just two people making a commitment to each other before God.

I would say that qualifies as uncommitted lol. Does it make a difference if this young couple ran off to Vegas and took part in a ceremony? Or visited the Justice of the Peace to get that piece of paper first? Either way, with or without that piece of paper and the nod of the government, I fail to see how changing your mind is appropriate. Marriage is sacred, and should not be taken lightly regardless of age. A piece of paper does not have any effect on the legitimacy of a marriage. Only God can look into people's hearts and know whether they are committed or whether they are just playing semantics with something He holds sacred. For any believer, they really need to consider that before they even consider making such a commitment. As far as biblical references, Adam and Eve, legitimate union or not? Honestly what this discussion is all about revolves around how we view marriage based on a societal definition of it. Where in scripture does God define a legitimate marriage as requiring a ceremony, a piece of paper, and govt approval? Here in the USA we are blessed with the opportunity to celebrate a wedding reflective of our beliefs. What about Christians who live in a place hostile towards their beliefs? Are they required to participate in a ceremony tainted with rituals from a false religion to be seen as legitimate in God's eyes?

If they are not committed then they are not committed. I can't imagine God would recognize a non-committed relationship as a valid union. I would say that is nothing more than the lust of the flesh. As for people that enter into such a situation committed to each other, I would say that is a union. For example, Adam and Eve didn't have a wedding ceremony.

I know laws differ from state to state, but here in Michigan it is considered common law marriage after a couple lives together for 7 years. 7 years to me would qualify as a commitment, considering how many marriages I have seen end in less than half that time.

Exactly how does one define such a thing, as far as living in a way that causes others to think you are sinning? Let's just take this thought out to conclusion, based on a real life experience. I dated my ex wife for about four years before we got married. One day, the topic of abstinence came up amongst my friends, and they were mocking the idea that teaching abstinence to kids was a realistic idea to solve the teen pregnancy issue. Naturally I responded from my perspective, which is that teaching abstinence would be a more appropriate approach than installing condom machines in high school bathrooms. Somehow in the midst of that conversation, the fact that I had abstained from relations with my wife prior to marriage came up. Their response was that I was lying, that there was no way we dated for all that time without engaging in relations. So was I sinning? According to you I was, because they are all convinced that I was. I guess that means Christians can't even date someone now then, because if an unbeliever sees you out with someone, they just assume you are intimate because that is what they do. I'm afraid I have to disagree with you, I don't live under the law, and if I did live under the law it would be God's law, not man's. Which by the way, I followed God's law, and I don't have to apologize for it to anyone.

For the record, I think it is unwise for couples to live together before they are married. However, it is absurd to say that someone is sinning because someone else thinks they are sinning. I don't live my life to please other people, I live it to please God.

Actually, I find that I am not desensitized by these things, quite the opposite in fact. It was having a negative impact on my health, and that is why I had to turn off the television regarding it. I still follow what is happening in the world, just in a different way than I did before.

I know exactly what you mean lady.

I turned off the television a long time ago as well, it just wasn't doing my blood pressure any good. It helps, or at least it did for me.

If Republicans don't start choosing that type of candidate, they will likely never win another presidential election. Voters like myself just won't vote for the mainstream candidates anymore. So if politicians are what they put up, I will be voting libertarian again, Carson is actually one of their best chances to win.

I know that he is a candidate I could get behind.

http://news.yahoo.com/officials-arab-coalition-reconnaissance-troops-yemen-115323249.html

Yes, I agree that is for the Christian, for an unbeliever death is not a good thing in either circumstance. But the people you are debating with are Christians, so that argument doesn't hold up against their personal beliefs. That is all I was pointing out.