DISQUS

So JPK, trying praying to the chair you sit on - you will still get an answer that is either yes, no or wait.

I didn't know his faith was so strong until I read last week's Warcry magazine. It's great that you could meet him in the same week. He seems a nice guy. God bless him.

So JPK, did God always say 'yes' to whatever you asked? Or did He sometimes say 'no' or 'not yet'? I'm guessing that you didn't always get a 'yes', so really what you believe is that no matter what the outcome of a situation that you prayed about, it was still answered by God. Or perhaps it was just coincidence - sometimes what you wanted to happen did happen, other times it didn't. The logic of some people just baffles me.

Are your comments in this post re "God like Santa Claus" some sort of response to some of the comments in your (God is amazing" post? If so, I am disappointed at your subtle mockery of the genuine questions I have posed.

Hi Guy,

You're correct. In the eyes of the state, marriage is a "contract" like any other transaction. The fact that it is a contract is what enables them to regulate it.

Long before some states legalized *** marriages, some churches performed marriages among gays and ********. That's fine. Freedom of religion allows them to believe whatever they want to believe. But that belief does not have the force of law unless the state signs off on the legality of the transaction.

Your assessment is therefore spot-on. Whatever romantics may say, in the eyes of the law, marriage is a contract like any other business transcation.

Cheers, mate.

"God knows best" - so for the molested child crying out to God for help and not getting it, for the parents crying out for their child to be healed yet the child dies, that is the answer you give to their "why"? Do you really believe that is what is best? You would look that parent in the eye and tell them that?


You say God has never let you down - either you have led a very fortunate life, or your belief system dictates that no matter what circumstances come upon your life, it will never be God that lets you down. This then renders the idea of being 'let down' as meaningless.



Jim, I attend one of your Corps, as I have done for many years, but over the past couple of years I have really been examining what I am 'supposed' to believe, what I do believe, and whether Christianity is in fact true. The more I examine, the further I move away from traditional, mainstream Christianity (which Salvationism largely follows). The rise of fundamentalism in this territory is one of the main things driving me from the church - if those that represent fundamentalism within the Army are what Christians should be, then I want nothing to do with Christianity. I am trying to work out how to remain a part of my Christian community, despite my doubts and questions. I don't want to hear people glossing over or ignoring the tough questions, blindly repeating mantras that have no real meaning.

Anon, I am truly sorry that you went through that as a child. I am just trying to make sense of things like "God loves you" and "God answers prayer", which roll off the tongue of nearly every Christian without any thought given as to whether those things have any real truth to them. What proof is there that God loves anyone? Because the bible says so? Is that it? The circumstances of billions of people's lives would seem to indicate at best an indifference to them by God.
If God can and does answer prayer, why would he say no to a child being abused, or to the family of a child dying of cancer, yet say yes to others for comparably trivial things? A God who says no to these things and yes to the trivial is evil. I can see 4 main options regarding God and prayer - 1. He hears them and chooses what to answer negatively or positively - this is the evil God. 2. He hears, but for whatever reason he does not act upon those prayers at any time - He has chosen to remove Himself from the world and leave it to us to effectively be His 'hands and feet'. 3. He doesn't hear - He is a remote creator who has no connection with us. 4. He doesn't exist.

How do you define "totally dependable" and how do you determine that "He will never let you down"? People go through all manner of circumstances in life - some great, some horrific, many somewhere in between. Are you happy to just accept that no matter what happens, God is in control and is doing what is best for us? To the child being regularly molested, who cries out to God for it to stop, yet it goes on - is God letting them down or not? Is God teaching that child a lesson? Can God act on this but chooses not to? If not, why not? Is He an interventionist or not?


Lots of questions, but ones that Christians don't want to think about. For me, having people proclaim cliche' comments about the dependability and love of God really don't cut it.

Fair enough Jim. I just wonder why Christians pick and choose from the bible (usually concentrating on the 'God is love' parts) rather than look at everything that it says. Do you wish the difficult bits just weren't in there?

Anon, you said "Those who have passed away in this tragedy will have comfort now, a greater joy than they have ever known" - according to traditional Christian theology, the majority of those that perished are now in a place of eternal fire. What are your thoughts on that?

Not all hotels are same obviously. Some are really good with their customer support.

These bull dogs have really grown

I'm sorry that you felt my comments on your previous post were so inflammatory that you needed to delete them. Would you take any notice of criticisms of your subordinates if they are made via email, or am I just wasting my time doing that?

I cant decide whether girls are more hot or limo.

Boy looks like you had a blast over there.

Jason & Cameron you wacky liberals, can you find me some true blue fundies that will tell me how I deserve to burn forever? Are they too busy unpacking at the training college?

Salvo in Tas, "23 Minutes in Hell" is a book written by a man who I think just had a very scary dream and has managed to make a lot of money out of gullible Christians. If hell is truly a place of eternal torture, no one deserves to go there, not even the most monstrous figures in history. Yet according to standard Christian doctrine, the majority of people on earth are going there. A 'God' that allows such a place to exist, allows people to be born knowing that will be their fate, is truly evil.

I'm not pointing any fingers Salvo in Tas, I'm asking Jim to articulate what he believes. But perhaps I should just withdraw the questions, as he really has no choice in his position - he must publiclly stick with the mainstream party line (hell is eternal torture), regardless of what he may personally believe.


I have had conversations with a number of officers who privately express at least some concerns over the eternal torture idea, but really can't talk about it publicly because it goes against that party line.



So I'll ask you Salvo in Tas, do you believe eternal torure as punishment for finite sins is just? If yes, do you see any conflict between this and the 'how much He loves you" idea?

So Jim, you've given lots of verses that speak of hell, but as Cameron has stated the word 'hell' has several different meanings. What do you believe yourself? Do you believe that all those people that do not repent of their sins and believe that Jesus is God will be eternally tortured after their death? If you believe this, do you also really believe it to be justice (eternal torture for finite sins)?

MBC - Any photos of the new Strand home North of the Pier? Price? Thanks

It shouldn't matter if we have to get up two hours earlier than most students. If we're losing sleep because we have homework, we should sleep one hour earlier the night before and get the homework done during the hour after zero period.

I cant believe this guy is President. But Clinton and Bush demonstrated just about anybody can be Pres if they want it bad enough. I think everyone is really surprised he is even talking this soon. I think everyone thought he would be pull an FDR and drive mkt into ground before he got into office by not saying anything. Could the Change be that a Democrat for the first time in my life did something for economy and country not his party? If he froze spending and didnt raise taxes the Dems would impeach him. I dont think it matters what he does,just so he tells the market what the rules are.
Gold baby. Too much paper. It doesnt matter if we are in a recession or depression,prices are just a symptom of inflation. Gold can still go up because paper is trash. We are a banana republic until we prove to the world we can be fiscally responsible and arent all crooks.

all the numbers appear to lean towards more downside.But,I wonder how much of this is a NY thing or WS event? Ate out both nights last weekend and three nights this past weekend. Every night each restaurant was packed. Was in houston galleria last weekend,not my idea,and it was like Christmas packed. Had to go into a mall in Austin Tx this weekend,could barely find a parking spot. And the weather was spectactular,yet all these people are indoors spending money? Or are they all tire kickers?
Driving around Houston and Austin the past two weekends it seemed every restaraunt and shopping parking lots were packed.

We keep wondering where this recession is? Everyone I know is bummed out but I still people spending like crazy down here.

Guess I will turn on CNBC and blow my brains out.

At last! I can't wait. This better be good, and if all the songs has the same quality like BETTER (or better:)) I will not be disapointed.

No, I can't see you post. Pls fix it asap.