Sunday, May 28, 2006
Friday, May 26, 2006
My Nephew...
I finally got some pictures of my nephew, Josiah, from my sister.
Here is a really cute one.
Here is a really cute one.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Ramani's Reply
From: Rishi
To: Ecc_1:9
Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 5:05 am
Subject: Re: Reply to Last PM
Dear Kristina, Thank you very much for your letter of Hope.
It require s cogitation and introspection. As said earlier I shall continue my study of the Bible. I shall also get back to you on any specific doubts that may arise.
With regrds, Ramani
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice how much shorter this message is than all his previous ones?:
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. -Romans 3:19
I had to look up the word "cogitation" in the dictionary. It means "ponder something: to think deeply and carefully about something."
Please pray for Ramani, that the soil of his heart would be softened to the seed of the gospel, he would realize his guilt before God, and that his only hope is in Jesus Christ. Thank you.
~Kristina
To: Ecc_1:9
Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 5:05 am
Subject: Re: Reply to Last PM
Dear Kristina, Thank you very much for your letter of Hope.
It require s cogitation and introspection. As said earlier I shall continue my study of the Bible. I shall also get back to you on any specific doubts that may arise.
With regrds, Ramani
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice how much shorter this message is than all his previous ones?:
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. -Romans 3:19
I had to look up the word "cogitation" in the dictionary. It means "ponder something: to think deeply and carefully about something."
Please pray for Ramani, that the soil of his heart would be softened to the seed of the gospel, he would realize his guilt before God, and that his only hope is in Jesus Christ. Thank you.
~Kristina
Friday, May 19, 2006
Evolutionary Ideas
A Short List of the Theories Evolutionists
Have for the Extinction of the Dinosaurs:
-they starved to death
-they died from over-eating (no contradictions there)
-they were poisoned (how and by what?)
-they developed cataracts, became blind, and thus couldn't reproduce (huh?)
-mammals ate their eggs (afraid to eat T-Rex eggs?)
-volcanic dust somehow killed them
-poisonous gasses such as methane (and this filled up the entire earth?)
-comets
-sunspots
-meteorites
-mass suicides ("I can't take it anymore..." If only they had Zoloft)
-constipation (no Pepto-Bismal)
-parasites
-shrinking brain (which means the evolutionists need to look-out, too)
-slipped disks ("my back is killing me... literally")
-changes in the composition of air
But, hey... us creationists are the ones who are deluded and brainwashed into believing in God, and that He created the world in 6 days. Evolutionists are the smart ones (?) and their theory stands up as tall as the little single celled creature they believe they evolved from.
I'm so glad I believe the Word of God...
Have for the Extinction of the Dinosaurs:
-they starved to death
-they died from over-eating (no contradictions there)
-they were poisoned (how and by what?)
-they developed cataracts, became blind, and thus couldn't reproduce (huh?)
-mammals ate their eggs (afraid to eat T-Rex eggs?)
-volcanic dust somehow killed them
-poisonous gasses such as methane (and this filled up the entire earth?)
-comets
-sunspots
-meteorites
-mass suicides ("I can't take it anymore..." If only they had Zoloft)
-constipation (no Pepto-Bismal)
-parasites
-shrinking brain (which means the evolutionists need to look-out, too)
-slipped disks ("my back is killing me... literally")
-changes in the composition of air
But, hey... us creationists are the ones who are deluded and brainwashed into believing in God, and that He created the world in 6 days. Evolutionists are the smart ones (?) and their theory stands up as tall as the little single celled creature they believe they evolved from.
I'm so glad I believe the Word of God...
Follow-up With the Gospel
Ramani,
I'm sorry about the delay in getting back to you. My mind has been on other things, and the subject of religion and spirituality can get very deep, and take a lot of mind-power.
I believe you are right about those who follow their religion in truth being able to stay content no matter what comes in their way. And I also believe that if everyone (with the exception of those that command people to believe by force) were to follow their religion exactly how it was meant to be followed, there would a be peace in the world.
However, it is apparent that man is not capable of following any divine set of rules without fail. Just reading the Old Testament in the Bible makes it clear that the Israelites failed miserably at keeping the laws God had given them. God had visibly manifested Himself in their presence and given them the 10 Commandments (along with a few hundred other food, clothing, and familial laws). If everyone kept the 10 Commandments, there would no doubt be peace and love abounding on this earth. But we know that man fails miserably every day at keeping even these basic laws.
"Fundamental Christians," like myself, are merely Christians who filter their world-view through a literal interpretation of the Bible, and try to follow the fundamental teachings of it. Keeping this in mind, we also believe that man is incapable of doing good apart from divine intervention, since we take the Bible literally:
Mark 10:18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. "
Psalms 53:3 Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
Romans 3:10 - 12 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
(Also see Matthew 19:17; Psalms 14:3; James 2:10)
Taking a close look at the Ten Commandments, we can see that it truly is impossible for anyone to keep them:
Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me."
Has God always been first in your life? I am certainly guilty of breaking this commandment.
Exodus 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. "
Have you ever used God's name in a way that would be less than honoring to Him? I have also broken this commandment. We use the name of God and Jesus Christ so carelessly these days, but the consequences are very serious.
Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. "
Have you always done everything your parents have asked you to do without fail? Have you ever disrespected your parents? I am guilty of breaking this commandment also.
Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.
Most people think they are innocent of breaking this law, but let's see what Jesus said:
Matthew 5:21 - 22 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire."
And the Bible also says in 1 John 3:15 "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."
Have you ever hated anyone? Or have you ever called someone "stupid" or "fool"? I am also guilty of breaking this commandment.
Exodus 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery."
Most people think they are innocent regarding this commandment, too. But again, Jesus made it harder:
Matthew 5:27 - 28 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. "
Have you ever looked at another person and had a sexual thought about them? I am guilty of this, too.
Exodus 20:15 "You shall not steal."
Have you ever taken anything that didn't belong to you? Even something small, like a pen or fruit from someone else's tree? The value is not what matters, it's the intentions of the heart. I have broken this commandment.
Exodus 20:16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. "
Have you ever lied, or told a half truth? There is no-one who can say they are innocent of this. I am guilty.
Those were 7 of the commandments (the commandments I didn’t mention can be found here: Exodus 20:4 -5; Exodus 20:8 - 10; Exodus 20:17). I know I have broken all of them. Everyone has. But even if you break only one, you are guilty of breaking them all:
James 2:10 "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."
The point is that, while it's true that if everyone were perfect in keeping the laws of their religions the world would be at peace, it's obvious that man is not capable of doing that. So, according to my beliefs and the Bible, all would be destined for hell:
Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
1 Corinthians 6:9 - 10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
This should be very concerning to you and me. If the Bible is true, everyone will end up being punished for their transgression of the law in a lake of fire! That is not what I want for you, or me, or anyone.
It's not what God wants, either.
1 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Since we have all broken God's law, and since God knows everything, we will have to be brought to justice. We can't get ourselves out of it. It's similar to breaking the law on earth; if you were brought to court because you had broken 10 serious laws, and had a huge fine that needed to be paid or else you would have to go to prison, what could you do or say to the judge for him to let you go? There would be nothing you could do to bribe the judge out of serving justice. But, if a friend came in and told the judge he had sold his house, his car, and everything he had to pay your debt to the law, and gave the judge the money, then you would be free to go.
So, how does this apply to God's law? We have all broken God's law, and one day we will all die and be brought into God's courtroom. What will we have to say for ourselves when it is brought out that we have broken His Ten Commandments? Nothing we have done ourselves can get us into heaven. Only the payment that God's Son, Jesus Christ made for us on a cross 2,000 years ago can help us.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "
All we have to do is believe that God has done this for us, and then repent of our sins, of breaking God's laws. And then we must trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation. Not any of our good works. Only in Jesus Christ.
I believe that you can compare Islam, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and all the other faiths except Biblical Christianity, and each of them will give you the same basic rules for gaining peace and eternal life.
But the religion that Jesus taught says: "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
This is what my faith is according to the Bible. I don't want anyone to take me at my word, though. Read the Bible for yourself, letting it stand on it's own, not comparing it to any other writings. I pray that the truth of God's Word will become clear to you. I speak to you out of love and concern for your soul, I am not trying to convert you. Only God can do that.
Sincerely,
-Kristina
I'm sorry about the delay in getting back to you. My mind has been on other things, and the subject of religion and spirituality can get very deep, and take a lot of mind-power.
I believe you are right about those who follow their religion in truth being able to stay content no matter what comes in their way. And I also believe that if everyone (with the exception of those that command people to believe by force) were to follow their religion exactly how it was meant to be followed, there would a be peace in the world.
However, it is apparent that man is not capable of following any divine set of rules without fail. Just reading the Old Testament in the Bible makes it clear that the Israelites failed miserably at keeping the laws God had given them. God had visibly manifested Himself in their presence and given them the 10 Commandments (along with a few hundred other food, clothing, and familial laws). If everyone kept the 10 Commandments, there would no doubt be peace and love abounding on this earth. But we know that man fails miserably every day at keeping even these basic laws.
"Fundamental Christians," like myself, are merely Christians who filter their world-view through a literal interpretation of the Bible, and try to follow the fundamental teachings of it. Keeping this in mind, we also believe that man is incapable of doing good apart from divine intervention, since we take the Bible literally:
Mark 10:18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. "
Psalms 53:3 Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
Romans 3:10 - 12 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
(Also see Matthew 19:17; Psalms 14:3; James 2:10)
Taking a close look at the Ten Commandments, we can see that it truly is impossible for anyone to keep them:
Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me."
Has God always been first in your life? I am certainly guilty of breaking this commandment.
Exodus 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. "
Have you ever used God's name in a way that would be less than honoring to Him? I have also broken this commandment. We use the name of God and Jesus Christ so carelessly these days, but the consequences are very serious.
Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. "
Have you always done everything your parents have asked you to do without fail? Have you ever disrespected your parents? I am guilty of breaking this commandment also.
Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.
Most people think they are innocent of breaking this law, but let's see what Jesus said:
Matthew 5:21 - 22 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire."
And the Bible also says in 1 John 3:15 "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."
Have you ever hated anyone? Or have you ever called someone "stupid" or "fool"? I am also guilty of breaking this commandment.
Exodus 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery."
Most people think they are innocent regarding this commandment, too. But again, Jesus made it harder:
Matthew 5:27 - 28 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. "
Have you ever looked at another person and had a sexual thought about them? I am guilty of this, too.
Exodus 20:15 "You shall not steal."
Have you ever taken anything that didn't belong to you? Even something small, like a pen or fruit from someone else's tree? The value is not what matters, it's the intentions of the heart. I have broken this commandment.
Exodus 20:16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. "
Have you ever lied, or told a half truth? There is no-one who can say they are innocent of this. I am guilty.
Those were 7 of the commandments (the commandments I didn’t mention can be found here: Exodus 20:4 -5; Exodus 20:8 - 10; Exodus 20:17). I know I have broken all of them. Everyone has. But even if you break only one, you are guilty of breaking them all:
James 2:10 "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."
The point is that, while it's true that if everyone were perfect in keeping the laws of their religions the world would be at peace, it's obvious that man is not capable of doing that. So, according to my beliefs and the Bible, all would be destined for hell:
Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
1 Corinthians 6:9 - 10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
This should be very concerning to you and me. If the Bible is true, everyone will end up being punished for their transgression of the law in a lake of fire! That is not what I want for you, or me, or anyone.
It's not what God wants, either.
1 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Since we have all broken God's law, and since God knows everything, we will have to be brought to justice. We can't get ourselves out of it. It's similar to breaking the law on earth; if you were brought to court because you had broken 10 serious laws, and had a huge fine that needed to be paid or else you would have to go to prison, what could you do or say to the judge for him to let you go? There would be nothing you could do to bribe the judge out of serving justice. But, if a friend came in and told the judge he had sold his house, his car, and everything he had to pay your debt to the law, and gave the judge the money, then you would be free to go.
So, how does this apply to God's law? We have all broken God's law, and one day we will all die and be brought into God's courtroom. What will we have to say for ourselves when it is brought out that we have broken His Ten Commandments? Nothing we have done ourselves can get us into heaven. Only the payment that God's Son, Jesus Christ made for us on a cross 2,000 years ago can help us.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "
All we have to do is believe that God has done this for us, and then repent of our sins, of breaking God's laws. And then we must trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation. Not any of our good works. Only in Jesus Christ.
I believe that you can compare Islam, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and all the other faiths except Biblical Christianity, and each of them will give you the same basic rules for gaining peace and eternal life.
But the religion that Jesus taught says: "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
This is what my faith is according to the Bible. I don't want anyone to take me at my word, though. Read the Bible for yourself, letting it stand on it's own, not comparing it to any other writings. I pray that the truth of God's Word will become clear to you. I speak to you out of love and concern for your soul, I am not trying to convert you. Only God can do that.
Sincerely,
-Kristina
Friday, May 12, 2006
Witnessing to a Hindu
Here is a conversation I have been having with a Hindu. The first three posts were on a public forum, but the last two were private messages. I am working on a response to his last post that will have the complete Gospel using the law.
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Rishi:)
The One has posed a question that demands an answer.
The answer, which will render all else irrelevant.
Is this the right forum for such a discussion? What follows appears repetitive and bad grammar. Language has limitations when discussing such issues. I apologise for any confusion created. I may tread on many toes. Raise many hackles. My apologies for that too.
There is The Knower ( Yes, Singular. Just The One) and the ignorant. I am one of the latter. What I post below is a little bit of what I have gleaned in a long search lasting many years on this quest. I firmly believe it and am actively pursuing it.
All of us are caught in the web of 'I am this body-mind' belief. A bit of analysis reveals that the body itself is insentient. In this inert body arises a sensation of 'I'. This is the awakening mind. If one analyses this mind it is found to be just a bundle of thoughts, all of which can be traced to the first 'I' thought.
The 'I' thought is the fist thought that arises when one wakes from a deep sleep. Likewise, it is the last thought to subside when one finally falls asleep. In a deep sleep, or a faint, or in a coma, there is no awareness of the mind or body. Yet, the very first thought of stirring awareness is the 'I' thought.
It seems that the source of the 'I' thought is what one should track. This source is the pure super 'I'.
Pure, undivided, all encompassing, The One Being, unalloyed, eternal, timeless, BLISS.
This then is the blinding meaning of life.
Being, Universal Awareness, a timeless, still, silent, Infinitude.
The meaning of life is death and destruction. Death of the ego. Destruction of the mind.
In his post, The One rightly said that the way to find the meaning of life is by asking a question. However, the question is not Why? But, Who?
Who am I?
One has to dive within oneself deeper and deeper, tearing off veil after veil of ignorance, attachment to objects, and the subject-object relationship, the sense of 'I' and 'Others' that enmeshes one.
Not thinking 'I am this', or 'I am not that'. Just be. Be. BE.
The burning bush told, 'I am that I am'. The bible says, 'Be still and know I am God'.
This is the meaning of life: 'Be still and know I am God'. Not THINK 'I am God'. That is blasphemy. Thinking is mind’s activity. The ego in control.
Being still, Knowing I am God is when the ego is dead, 'person'ality is gone, and the mind sinks without trace into the Pure Awareness, 'I am'.
There appear to be billions and trillions of forms, and objects on earth and elsewhere in the universe. There is only The One Self, undivided, permanent.
The route to this is through the simple, direct quest: 'Who am I?'. Inquire within. The answer will be found.
At the core of every religion seems to be the One Truth. Central to Buddhism is the doctrine of No-ego. Islam asserts There is God and there is nothing other than God.. Medieval Christendom had the concept of self-naughting. Hinduism is non-dualism. All of which points to the dissolution of the ego, the individual, the 'I' thought into the Eternal Bliss.
Let each ask oneself diligently, unceasingly, 'Who am I' and just BE.
rishi
----------------------------------------------------
(Kristy:)
Rishi:
Thank you for sharing that. It's a very good description of your faith. Thank you.
However, you did take some quotations from the Bible out of context. In both of the places where you have quoted "I" it was the God of the Bible talking, not the person writing.
For instance, in the case of the burning bush:
Quote: Exodus 3:13 - 14 Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
And in the second instance, it was Psalm 46:10-11,
Quote: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"
I don't have any problem with others speaking out about their beliefs--none whatsoever. I just prefer that people don't use the Bible out of context to support them. Just like I wouldn't take quotes out of the Qu'ran or the Bhagavad-Gita, etc.
Thank you again for sharing with us.
-Kristy
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Rishi:)
Even unwittingly giving offence horrifies me. The foot should be firmly rooted in the ground and the mouth tightly closed. When the former is put in the latter, as I seem to have done, problems can arise.
The post was made after great hesitation. It was an innocuous, non-denominational, non-confrontational statement. No argument is presented nor any attempt at converting anyone to the posted view. Nor is any position of authority or expertise is presumed. It is a declared statement of an ignorant person on a quest. The person holds all religions including his own on par.
I (this individual ego) am a Hindu. My schooling was in a Catholic Seminary. I do go to churches, offer worship, and feel the Grace as I do at Hindu temples. The Bible gives me great comfort. The point is that there is absolutely no contradiction in this. What was posted was with the full appreciation of the quoted words as words of God Almighty.
It is said: 'Many are called but few chosen'. God in His infinite mercy is not discriminatory. The individual ego with its free will acts in ways to prevent being chosen.
'Wide is the gate and broad the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate and narrow the way, which leadeth into life, and few there be that find it' . Christ taught: 'The man who wants to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for my sake will find it'. Is not this a direct injunction for the individual to shed his ego and attain eternal life?
The hesitation before the posting was made seems justified. Thanks are due to Ecc_1:9. Rishi should have gone about finding the meaning to his life rather than talk about it. If he had gone about his quest in earnest, he would not talk. An empty vessel makes the loudest noise. From now on, I will hold my peace on this.
To err is human. To forgive, divine. If it is felt that I erred, I beg: Be divine! Forgive.
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Kristy:)
Rishi:
I greatly respect your response and honesty. I could see that you weren't proselytizing, and I also respect that.
I agree with certain points you have made (obviously since I am a born-again Christian I can't agree with everything). I would encourage you to keep on reading the Bible (perhaps you could dwell on the Gospel of John especially).
You have probably seen a lot of the contradictions, hypocrisy, and shortcomings in all religions, especially having attended a Catholic seminary. However, I can tell you without hesitation that the Catholic seminary did not accurately portray Biblical Christianity. Although they are extremely similar in many aspects, it is a common misconception that Catholics are just another Christian denomination. Simply comparing their teachings to the Bible will make that clear.
Simply put, I feel that very few people have actually experienced the fullness and depth of true Christianity (being a follower of Christ and His teachings, who also said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6).
Again, I thank you for your honesty and willingness to correct mistakes. I wish to call you "brother-in-the-Lord" someday.
-Kristy
Ephesians 3:14 - 19 (NKJV) For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
------------------------------------------------------------
(Rishi:)
Dear Kristy,
Thank you very much. What you say about the hypocrisy in all religions is a very sad but very true state of affairs.
I have also seen that people that truly believe their own religion share a commonness of purpose. They all share a common, say, Christianity in the sense of tolerance, forgiveness, ability to take whatever the Good Lord throws at them with equanimity.
What all atrocities are done by various religions (like what is happening in some parts of India perpetrated by Hindus) in various parts of the world in the name of God!
We tend to think of God only when in trouble. Few sing His praise when times are good. It is the ignorance that we are the doers, which is at the bottom of most trouble. If we always act as the Good Lord's agents with the firm belief, 'Direct we besech thee, O Lord, our actions. May they begin from Thee and through Thee be likewise ended', there will be peace on earth.
I will spend more time with the Bible as you suggested.
Thank you for your time and advice.
Rishi is the label I have assumed for this site. My name is Ramani.
With warm regards,
Yours sincerely,
Ramani
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Rishi:)
The One has posed a question that demands an answer.
The answer, which will render all else irrelevant.
Is this the right forum for such a discussion? What follows appears repetitive and bad grammar. Language has limitations when discussing such issues. I apologise for any confusion created. I may tread on many toes. Raise many hackles. My apologies for that too.
There is The Knower ( Yes, Singular. Just The One) and the ignorant. I am one of the latter. What I post below is a little bit of what I have gleaned in a long search lasting many years on this quest. I firmly believe it and am actively pursuing it.
All of us are caught in the web of 'I am this body-mind' belief. A bit of analysis reveals that the body itself is insentient. In this inert body arises a sensation of 'I'. This is the awakening mind. If one analyses this mind it is found to be just a bundle of thoughts, all of which can be traced to the first 'I' thought.
The 'I' thought is the fist thought that arises when one wakes from a deep sleep. Likewise, it is the last thought to subside when one finally falls asleep. In a deep sleep, or a faint, or in a coma, there is no awareness of the mind or body. Yet, the very first thought of stirring awareness is the 'I' thought.
It seems that the source of the 'I' thought is what one should track. This source is the pure super 'I'.
Pure, undivided, all encompassing, The One Being, unalloyed, eternal, timeless, BLISS.
This then is the blinding meaning of life.
Being, Universal Awareness, a timeless, still, silent, Infinitude.
The meaning of life is death and destruction. Death of the ego. Destruction of the mind.
In his post, The One rightly said that the way to find the meaning of life is by asking a question. However, the question is not Why? But, Who?
Who am I?
One has to dive within oneself deeper and deeper, tearing off veil after veil of ignorance, attachment to objects, and the subject-object relationship, the sense of 'I' and 'Others' that enmeshes one.
Not thinking 'I am this', or 'I am not that'. Just be. Be. BE.
The burning bush told, 'I am that I am'. The bible says, 'Be still and know I am God'.
This is the meaning of life: 'Be still and know I am God'. Not THINK 'I am God'. That is blasphemy. Thinking is mind’s activity. The ego in control.
Being still, Knowing I am God is when the ego is dead, 'person'ality is gone, and the mind sinks without trace into the Pure Awareness, 'I am'.
There appear to be billions and trillions of forms, and objects on earth and elsewhere in the universe. There is only The One Self, undivided, permanent.
The route to this is through the simple, direct quest: 'Who am I?'. Inquire within. The answer will be found.
At the core of every religion seems to be the One Truth. Central to Buddhism is the doctrine of No-ego. Islam asserts There is God and there is nothing other than God.. Medieval Christendom had the concept of self-naughting. Hinduism is non-dualism. All of which points to the dissolution of the ego, the individual, the 'I' thought into the Eternal Bliss.
Let each ask oneself diligently, unceasingly, 'Who am I' and just BE.
rishi
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(Kristy:)
Rishi:
Thank you for sharing that. It's a very good description of your faith. Thank you.
However, you did take some quotations from the Bible out of context. In both of the places where you have quoted "I" it was the God of the Bible talking, not the person writing.
For instance, in the case of the burning bush:
Quote: Exodus 3:13 - 14 Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
And in the second instance, it was Psalm 46:10-11,
Quote: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"
I don't have any problem with others speaking out about their beliefs--none whatsoever. I just prefer that people don't use the Bible out of context to support them. Just like I wouldn't take quotes out of the Qu'ran or the Bhagavad-Gita, etc.
Thank you again for sharing with us.
-Kristy
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(Rishi:)
Even unwittingly giving offence horrifies me. The foot should be firmly rooted in the ground and the mouth tightly closed. When the former is put in the latter, as I seem to have done, problems can arise.
The post was made after great hesitation. It was an innocuous, non-denominational, non-confrontational statement. No argument is presented nor any attempt at converting anyone to the posted view. Nor is any position of authority or expertise is presumed. It is a declared statement of an ignorant person on a quest. The person holds all religions including his own on par.
I (this individual ego) am a Hindu. My schooling was in a Catholic Seminary. I do go to churches, offer worship, and feel the Grace as I do at Hindu temples. The Bible gives me great comfort. The point is that there is absolutely no contradiction in this. What was posted was with the full appreciation of the quoted words as words of God Almighty.
It is said: 'Many are called but few chosen'. God in His infinite mercy is not discriminatory. The individual ego with its free will acts in ways to prevent being chosen.
'Wide is the gate and broad the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate and narrow the way, which leadeth into life, and few there be that find it' . Christ taught: 'The man who wants to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for my sake will find it'. Is not this a direct injunction for the individual to shed his ego and attain eternal life?
The hesitation before the posting was made seems justified. Thanks are due to Ecc_1:9. Rishi should have gone about finding the meaning to his life rather than talk about it. If he had gone about his quest in earnest, he would not talk. An empty vessel makes the loudest noise. From now on, I will hold my peace on this.
To err is human. To forgive, divine. If it is felt that I erred, I beg: Be divine! Forgive.
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(Kristy:)
Rishi:
I greatly respect your response and honesty. I could see that you weren't proselytizing, and I also respect that.
I agree with certain points you have made (obviously since I am a born-again Christian I can't agree with everything). I would encourage you to keep on reading the Bible (perhaps you could dwell on the Gospel of John especially).
You have probably seen a lot of the contradictions, hypocrisy, and shortcomings in all religions, especially having attended a Catholic seminary. However, I can tell you without hesitation that the Catholic seminary did not accurately portray Biblical Christianity. Although they are extremely similar in many aspects, it is a common misconception that Catholics are just another Christian denomination. Simply comparing their teachings to the Bible will make that clear.
Simply put, I feel that very few people have actually experienced the fullness and depth of true Christianity (being a follower of Christ and His teachings, who also said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6).
Again, I thank you for your honesty and willingness to correct mistakes. I wish to call you "brother-in-the-Lord" someday.
-Kristy
Ephesians 3:14 - 19 (NKJV) For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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(Rishi:)
Dear Kristy,
Thank you very much. What you say about the hypocrisy in all religions is a very sad but very true state of affairs.
I have also seen that people that truly believe their own religion share a commonness of purpose. They all share a common, say, Christianity in the sense of tolerance, forgiveness, ability to take whatever the Good Lord throws at them with equanimity.
What all atrocities are done by various religions (like what is happening in some parts of India perpetrated by Hindus) in various parts of the world in the name of God!
We tend to think of God only when in trouble. Few sing His praise when times are good. It is the ignorance that we are the doers, which is at the bottom of most trouble. If we always act as the Good Lord's agents with the firm belief, 'Direct we besech thee, O Lord, our actions. May they begin from Thee and through Thee be likewise ended', there will be peace on earth.
I will spend more time with the Bible as you suggested.
Thank you for your time and advice.
Rishi is the label I have assumed for this site. My name is Ramani.
With warm regards,
Yours sincerely,
Ramani
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Excerpts from
Comfort, the Feeble-minded
(Consolation for People Who Do Dumb Things)
~-~
An Autobiography by Ray Comfort
Dumb MuttComfort, the Feeble-minded
(Consolation for People Who Do Dumb Things)
~-~
An Autobiography by Ray Comfort
It was some time in the early hours of the morning in July of 1995. We had bought a new home and the move had been an opportunity to break our new puppy of the habit of sleeping in our bed. However, in the blackness of the night I could see the dumb dog lying on the pillow next to me. I had just awoken from a deep sleep, and a thousand thoughts raced through my dozy mind as to why this pup would be back in bed with us.
I reached out my hand and stroked the animal, but felt confused. Its fur seemed a little strange. As I extended my hand to touch it again, to my horror it began to levitate! In the eerie darkness, I could see the animal's entire body actually lifting itself up off the pillow and into the air.
I regained my composure, apologized to my wife Sue for stroking her hair during the night, and went back to sleep, feeling rather stupid.
Oops!
A pastor in Southern California was asked to visit a woman named Margaret, in the hospital. Although she was able to speak with him, she was gravely ill. Therefore it was no surprise to him to have someone call a few days later and say, "Margaret died today, could you take the funeral?"
At the service, the pastor spoke kindly of the woman, giving a little background about her moving from the East Coast to live in California many years ago. This was something he did regularly at funerals. It was an "added touch"-a special gifting he had to comfort relatives by reviving warm memorials of the person who had died.
During this time, he noticed that some of the family members were whispering to each other. As he ended his comforting sermon, he casually walked over to the casket and to his horror, saw that is wasn't the woman he visited in the hospital! It was another Margaret who had died.
As relatives quietly filed out the door, he shook their hands and gently whispered, "I'm sorry," to each one.
Flaws of Doors
I spoke in a church one Sunday morning, then spent the afternoon with a couple whose church I was to speak at that night. I had stayed in hundreds of homes, but usually for one or two days rather than just one afternoon.
After a relaxing time in their living room, just before we left for the church meeting, I decided I would use their bathroom. I walked across the living room to the hall door, casually opened it to find the man's wife standing at the end of the bed in her underwear!
There was a scream like you've never heard, then I pulled myself together, stopped screaming, apologized and closed the door.
The hall and bedroom doors were identical and side-by-side, and I had opened the wrong one.
The Painful Tooth
I had just purchased a new special toothbrush that was supposed to remove plaque from the teeth. I had been using it for two days and was waiting to see radical results.
As I went passed the pantry, I put my hand into a container and scooped up six or seven M&M's, and sat down next to my wife. When I bit into the first one, there was strong metallic taste in my mouth. The next bite was worse. Sue looked concerned. She had read that the new toothbrush could cause a slight metallic taste in the mouth. I reached in and pulled out about half an inch of silver filling from my mouth-a slight metallic taste?...the new brush was making my fillings fall out, or at lest ripping the tops off them! This was going to cost a fortune in dental bills, not to mention the pain of drilling old fillings out to replace them with new ones.
I was beginning to have second thoughts about my new toothbrush, when I pulled another "filling" out of my mouth. It turned out I had been chewing on some Hershey's Kisses silver paper, which had been in the container with the M&M's.
Guest Speaker
Many buildings lack ventilation. Couple this with heaters doing their thing on a cold day and the atmosphere becomes the ideal place for many to nod off. So, before I spoke to a gathering of about 150 people, I crept around four large gas heaters and turned each of them off. After all, I care about the welfare of my listeners.
About thirty minutes later, I noticed that I was becoming rather light-headed. It was then that a gentleman stood to his feet and said, "I think that we are all being slowly gassed to death!" He was right. There was a gentle hissing sound coming from one heater that the gassed speaker hadn't quite switched off.
Location, Location
I had been given directions to New Life Center in Halswell, where I was to speak at a Sunday evening service.
On the Sunday night at about 6:50 p.m., I was driving along Halswell Road when I saw lights on in a building and cars parked outside. As I entered, I glanced into the room to make sure is wasn't a service group or scout meeting. A group of people were obviously readying themselves for the service, with one young man putting transparencies on an overhead projector for the singing. It was obviously the right place. I then look for the pre-service prayer meeting. It was being held in a back room, so I quietly joined in with a feeling of excitement.
At seven o'clock someone ended the prayer meeting, then suddenly all eyes were on me! I greeted them, then asked, "New Life Center Halswell?" and received the startling reply, "No, Saint Luke's!" It turned out that New Life Center was two hundred yards down the road-I was at the wrong church!
Three days later, I was in another city staying in a block of apartments with some friends. At 10:30 that evening I arrived home somewhat exhausted after the meeting. My friends had kindly left the back door unlocked and the light was on to illuminate my path.
I opened the door, then carefully fastened the three locks on the inside and make my way to the bathroom. I stood there astounded that these people were able to renovate that bathroom in such a short time. Then it struck me-I was in the wrong apartment! I could hear voices coming from up the hallway, so I sneaked down the hall, quietly unbolted the back door and slipped out.
A Good Turn
I once made a 15-foot long wooden seat for the inside of a bus I purchased. I was thrilled that for a change everything had worked out fine. Then I turned my energy to the seating to go along the wall on the other side of the bus. I determined that I wasn't going to blow it, so I did everything identical to the first one. I had made an exact replica, knowing that I couldn't go wrong if I did so. It was only when I picked it up to turn it around to fit against the other wall that I realized my little error. There was a "clunk!" sound as it hit the wall of the bus. The seat was 15 feet long, but the bus was only about 10 feet wide and I couldn't turn the seat around.
I loved that bus. We put Bible verses around the outside and painted a large picture of a man in a coffin on the back of the bus. Piled around him were masses of money, and the words, "What shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul," under it. For some reason we didn't get too many tail-gaiters.
It was a big bus. In fact, it was so big, I steered the tings while Sue worked the pedals. One day I was driving through the city and found that it was so big, I couldn't get it around a corner. I carefully checked the rear view mirrors and backed up. It was then that I heard a sound I will never forget. It was a high pitched "Ne-ne-ne-ne-ne-ne!" with a "scrrrraaaaape" following it. I checked my mirrors again. Nothing there...and drove forward. Again I heard the mystifying "scrrrraaaaape" noise, so I pulled around the corner to check what I thought was something dragging under the bus. Suddenly, there was a feverish knock on the door. I opened it and saw a young man with a pale face. He had been parked directly behind the bus in a very small car, when a coffin with "What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul," began heading towards him. He honked his car horn "Ne-ne-ne-ne-ne-ne!" as the bus scraped across the hood of his car taking the corpse, the coffin and the scripture right up to his windshield. Poor man.
Ill-mannered Caller
I had to call a T-shirt company on an 800 number, so I quickly looked at the number, and wrote it in my diary.
It was typical Murphy's Law. The very second I got through to the T-shirt company, our 800 number rang on another line. I cut my call off, and answered the other line only to find that the caller had hung up the phone. I decided to change location, and asked Sue if she would get the phone if it rang while I was on the other line.
Typical. The second time I got through, our phone rang again, but fortunately Sue ran to answer it. It must have been the person who hung up in my ear a minute earlier Some people are so ill-mannered.
Just then, someone answered at the T-shirt company. What was my wife doing answering their phone? I had transposed our 800 number into my diary.
Ray Who?
I called a friend to tell him that I had a bad throat and couldn't speak at a Bible study. My voice was a little feeble, and because I had more speaking engagements I thought it would be wise to cancel a local Bible study. I would just be a simple matter of telling my friend Jimmy that I couldn't make it, and I knew he would understand my position.
When someone else answered the phone and said Jimmy wasn't around, I asked him to get him to call me. He said, "Who's speaking please?" I feebly said, "Ray Comfort." He said, "Who?"--"Ray Comfort." He said, "Ray Thompson?" I said, "No, Comfort."--"Comlin?" I squeaked "Comfort." He said, "Oh...Ray Tumlan...O.K."
I have in the past been introduced as Ray Columbus, referred to as Roy Cornfoot, Frank Beauford, Ray Crawford, Ray Comform, Ray Crumfort, Ray Counsellor, Ray Comb, Ray Confast, and Bob. I have even received mail for Roy Compost, so I gave up and said, "Thanks. Bye."
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