Is there really a God??

[solo1]

In other words,  You are hinting at my having dumb Faith.

I have respect for your opinion, which is what it is, opinion.   My answer.  

Time for a ride!

[Alien]

My life has gotten so much easier and carefree since I rejected church and religion. I'm seriously making more money, less bills, less stress, and I'm much more happier with out the whole god/satan thing in my life.

There's nothing more disgusting than to watch people professing to be "Christians" treat people the way they do.

[Alien]

I respect anyone's religious/spiritual beliefs and ask only that they do the same and do not try to force me to live by their beliefs.  

Whipitnow, While I realize that this is for the most part a white, Christian, conservative board, you are WAY out of line.  Your comments about those of other races and religious beliefs has exposed you for what you are.  You disgust me.  You continue to espouse racist, anti semetic views on EVERY SINGLE POST you make.  It is people like you who drove me away from organized religion in the first place.  People like you, who are so arrogant as to believe that they have the right to pass judgement on others have sickened me my entire life.  What makes you so superior to all the rest of us?  Your posts are hateful, make little if any sense and you don't seem to understand the meaning of the big words that you use to support your strange little opinions.

[Wizzard]

I feel sorry for the lost.

Was thinking the exact same thing Damon.

Many years ago a co-worker was a new christian with lots of enthusiasm and in one of our talks I told him that while I didn't go to church I felt like I was living my life trying my best to be good to others, help the needy, assisted the injured and sick by being a firefighter/EMT, etc and I figured that should count for something. His reply? "Well you will be the nicest guy in Hell".

At the time it kind of offended me, but I didn't say anything and just laughed it off. What I came to find years later was that no matter what I did, it would never be enough to grant me passage to the kingdom of heaven. Christ died on the cross for our sins and the only way I can enter heaven is to accept him as my savior. No matter what my deeds are here on earth, good or bad Jesus is The Way.

I am far from a perfect person and make mistakes all the time and I would never presume to tell others how they should live their lives. However I do feel sorry for those that I see consumed by such hatred or bitterness that they cannot see The Way.

I could not have said it better. 

[SANDMAN5]

I didn't read all the replies, so this may be a repeat of someone else. Two things come
to mind...the Bible says it rains on the just and the unjust, meaning sometimes bad
things happen to good people. That is because when God made the earth, about 6,000
years ago, he handed ownership to us (Adam and Eve) and we messed it up. We let
sin in the world and that's where bad things come from. That's where Law/Grace comes
into play. The Law (OT) taught mankind that we can't be good enough to live up to God's
expectations or His standards. Paul's letter to the Romans says we have ALL sinned and
come short of the Glory of God. That's where God's Grace comes in. It's not something
that can be earned so He GAVE it to us. Many people get off track because "If God loves
me why did so and so die?" We're ALL gonna die (our bodies will, our soul and spirit are
eternal) except for those living when Jesus returns. Those people will not "taste sleep", as
the Bible says. Short version...if you want to base your eternal life on one instance of someone
dying young, go ahead. It's YOUR choice. But remember, if you choose wrong you'll have an
eternity to regret it. For the atheists....don't worry....God's not mad at you, but you'll still end
up in Hell because YOU choose to do so.

[SANDMAN5]

encountered with the catholic church because of a divorce and re-marriage, so I won't go into it again. Suffice it to say, I refuse to be extorted.
But, that issue got me to study religions which I have found to be very interesting.

Exactly!! Jesus didn't come to earth to die and resurrect so we could have religion!!
He did it so we could have a relationship with God.

[Gryphon Rider]

I believe God is sovereign and has the right to intervene on whoever's behalf He chooses. I also believe He often chooses not to suspend the laws of physics, or not to suspend the natural susceptibility of our bodies to age and disease. God never promised perfect health or perfect justice in this life. He will, however, honour our choice to either accept or reject his offer of perfect health, etc. in the next life.

To be certain, there are those who wear Christianity as a costume in order to fool people into helping them reach their selfish goals, and there are those who wear Christianity because it's what their friends and family are wearing. Jesus Christ had something to say about these, as recorded in Matthew 7:

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

If you or your loved ones have been turned off of Christ or his true Church (those who actually follow Him), by people such as these, it's kind of like distrusting math because someone has used it to defraud you or because the person trying to teach it to you had a poor understanding of it himself.

So go find someone who loves math and can recommend a good textbook, and ask him to help you get started and walk you through it when you get stuck.

[Moonshot_1]

I can't claim some great and profound understanding of all things, but this is kinda how I see things as it relates to God.

To get through this I have to separate religion from God.

Religion is a human endeavor.
God is...God

If one believes that God has a plan and your life belongs to God or Christ or whatever deity you believe then perhaps, God has a plan for something to happen but that it requires that lives cross paths that would otherwise never cross so a terrible accident occurs. A young couple and an unborn child perish. Perhaps at their funeral or as a result of the lives of the first responders crossing at the accident maybe there is a greater good that comes from it and that's how God works.

It could be just a tragic fate of the people killed in the crash. Perhaps God doesn't work things at this level. Perhaps he just sets things in motion.
If so, it makes life even more precious. Sometimes, unfortunate as it sounds, we need that kind of tragedy so as to gain the proper appreciation of the thing called "life".

Went to a funeral this weekend. I used to be the umpire coordinator for our local little league back in the day. He was one of my umps and he was a coach too.
His professional life had him serving the community as a social worker. One of the good guys. You could not talk about this guy without a smile on your face kind of guy.

In a perfect world, Bob dies at 97 years old.

Bob was 57. Heart attack out of nowhere.

Was a giant funeral. My hope is that his death brought together people, that his death helped to cross the paths of other lives so great things will happen. Even if it is to share an example of his life.

I don't spend much time at all in religious matters. Doesn't interest me much at all. It's really a human endeavor of power and politics. Doesn't matter which religion either.

When it comes to God, I see him like an umpire.
As I said, back in the day, I was the local umpire coordinator.
Our community also hosted the Continental Amateur Baseball Assoc. 10 and under World Series. I got to be part of the umpire crew for a number of years.
This is a Series that is serious baseball. We had teams from as far as Samoa and  Hawaii, Texas, Puerto Rico, and some as close as Nebraska. Big money, high pressure. 10 year olds playing like pros. Unbelievable.

One game, we were running a 4 man crew and I had 2nd base. Man on first, pitch goes in and the runner steals 2nd. Catcher launches a throw that was a little off the mark but on the right side of being off the mark. 2nd baseman came to cover 2nd for the throw and that was the side the throw came to. 2nd baseman caught it, makes the tag on the outfield side of the runner's hip in a cloud of dust. I see it. Just me. The runner and dust shields the tag from the rest of the universe. The throw being a little off the mark made it look like there was no chance for the tag.
I knew when I made the call nobody was going to like this one. But the 2nd baseman made the tag. I made the call.

Sometimes I think God's got to make a call only he can see. Even when he knows nobody is going to like it.

[Xtracho]

I can't claim some great and profound understanding of all things, but this is kinda how I see things as it relates to God.

To get through this I have to separate religion from God.

Religion is a human endeavor.
God is...God

If one believes that God has a plan and your life belongs to God or Christ or whatever deity you believe then perhaps, God has a plan for something to happen but that it requires that lives cross paths that would otherwise never cross so a terrible accident occurs. A young couple and an unborn child perish. Perhaps at their funeral or as a result of the lives of the first responders crossing at the accident maybe there is a greater good that comes from it and that's how God works.

It could be just a tragic fate of the people killed in the crash. Perhaps God doesn't work things at this level. Perhaps he just sets things in motion.
If so, it makes life even more precious. Sometimes, unfortunate as it sounds, we need that kind of tragedy so as to gain the proper appreciation of the thing called "life".

Went to a funeral this weekend. I used to be the umpire coordinator for our local little league back in the day. He was one of my umps and he was a coach too.
His professional life had him serving the community as a social worker. One of the good guys. You could not talk about this guy without a smile on your face kind of guy.

In a perfect world, Bob dies at 97 years old.

Bob was 57. Heart attack out of nowhere.

Was a giant funeral. My hope is that his death brought together people, that his death helped to cross the paths of other lives so great things will happen. Even if it is to share an example of his life.

I don't spend much time at all in religious matters. Doesn't interest me much at all. It's really a human endeavor of power and politics. Doesn't matter which religion either.

When it comes to God, I see him like an umpire.
As I said, back in the day, I was the local umpire coordinator.
Our community also hosted the Continental Amateur Baseball Assoc. 10 and under World Series. I got to be part of the umpire crew for a number of years.
This is a Series that is serious baseball. We had teams from as far as Samoa and  Hawaii, Texas, Puerto Rico, and some as close as Nebraska. Big money, high pressure. 10 year olds playing like pros. Unbelievable.

One game, we were running a 4 man crew and I had 2nd base. Man on first, pitch goes in and the runner steals 2nd. Catcher launches a throw that was a little off the mark but on the right side of being off the mark. 2nd baseman came to cover 2nd for the throw and that was the side the throw came to. 2nd baseman caught it, makes the tag on the outfield side of the runner's hip in a cloud of dust. I see it. Just me. The runner and dust shields the tag from the rest of the universe. The throw being a little off the mark made it look like there was no chance for the tag.
I knew when I made the call nobody was going to like this one. But the 2nd baseman made the tag. I made the call.

Sometimes I think God's got to make a call only he can see. Even when he knows nobody is going to like it.

That my friend....is an analogy I can live with! Well written and thanks! 

[Skipper]

Yes.  On May 22nd 1992 at 3:45 am God put his thumb on me. I aint been the same since

[Hoser]

If I did not believe in God and the eventual reunion with my dearly departed Daughter and my other family I would have no reason to go on living.  Hoser

[3fan4life]

I've said this before but I'll say it again.

I understand how and why people have different ideas about who and what God is, but I cannot understand how people conclude that there isn't a God.

For me there isn't any question about the existence of God.

There is a God and he is Good.

Like many others I cannot explain nor fully understand why bad things happen to good people.

I do understand that evil does exist in this world and that man is his own worst enemy.



I spent 30 years working in EMS and I have seen my fellow man at his best and worst many, many times.

I have witnessed tragedy and I have witnessed miracles.

I am a firm believer that when it is our time it is our time.

I have seen people die when it seemed that they shouldn't have, and I have seen people survive things that it seemed no-one should have.   



Sometimes tragedy seems to be unexplainable, most of the time though someone is the blame.

God is here for us, but he doesn't control us (religion may try to but He doesn't), we
(mankind) have free will and sometimes our free will imposes itself upon others with a tragic outcome.


When this happens we fail to understand and some cry out, "Where is God" ?

These tend to be the same people that spend the rest of the time (some of them loudly and proudly) telling God to stay OUT of their lives. 



When bad things happen Romans 8:28 is a verse that is often quoted. More often than not it is also often misquoted:

And we know that all things work together for good

is the part of the verse that is usually quoted.

The part of the verse usually left out is:

to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

If you ask God to be a part of your life he will,

if you tell God to stay out of your life he will. 


If you spend your time denying the existence of God or telling him to stay out of your life, you have NO RIGHT to ask Him where He was when something bad happens.   

[Wetrudgeon]

We think the tragic story does not disprove the existence of God.  What it does, however, is further evidence the existence of the Devil.

We trudge on.

[bscrive]

There ain't no devil, hell, god or heaven.  When you die you go to dust.  It is just us and what we make of ourselves.  You, yourself is in total control over your life and you are responsible for what you do, not any god or any devil.

[Chrisj CMA]

There ain't no devil, hell, god or heaven.  When you die you go to dust.  It is just us and what we make of ourselves.  You, yourself is in total control over your life and you are responsible for what you do, not any god or any devil.

And......I bet you sure hope you're not wrong!  Just sayin I wouldnt want to live your theory till the end and then have to explain it to God.

[G-Man]

IMHO

Each of us has the capacity to choose life or death, the blessing or the curse

What you do is up to you, the spark of the Lord is in all things.

I choose life, and to live it in a manner that sets an example for my children

Life is not fair, nobody gets out of this world alive

But how you live the life my friends, that is what makes all the difference.

[SANDMAN5]

There ain't no devil, hell, god or heaven.  When you die you go to dust.  It is just us and what we make of ourselves.  You, yourself is in total control over your life and you are responsible for what you do, not any god or any devil.

You forgot the "I believe" or the "IMHO" in your statement.
Otherwise you are claiming to have proof....and that doesn't
exist for either side.

[DarkSideR]

Free-will/God?

Good people understand. There is God. The God that gave you free will. You are not a robot programmed to do God's bidding (if we were I'm sure we would live in harmony). NO! He gave you choice, free will. And I am so thankful for that.

There is also a devil. It is the very same free will that I am so thankful for that the devil seizes his opportunities on. Everyday we have the choice to love/hate, show humility/pride, workout/sit on the couch, respect/disrespect.

In this case the choice was to drink and drive, and the outcome of that humanly choice was horrific.  This is coming from a person who has lost loved ones to cancer, and drunk driving. I don't blame or question God. I understand it's the choices people make that I have to live with.

God is in control of my life because I have made that choice. I pray more people will make the same choice so that we can live in a better world.

What choices will you make today? /

[bscrive]

There ain't no devil, hell, god or heaven.  When you die you go to dust.  It is just us and what we make of ourselves.  You, yourself is in total control over your life and you are responsible for what you do, not any god or any devil.

And......I bet you sure hope you're not wrong!  Just sayin I wouldnt want to live your theory till the end and then have to explain it to God.

Chris, since there is not any god, no need to worry is there?  I don't need anything greater than myself to believe in to be happy or content.  I make my own.  Great for you, that you do believe in god.  I don't need that kind of thing to make my life complete.

[Fudd]

I found this study interesting.  Draw your own conclusions.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12082681/ns/health-heart_health/t/power-prayer-flunks-unusual-test/

[Chrisj CMA]

There ain't no devil, hell, god or heaven.  When you die you go to dust.  It is just us and what we make of ourselves.  You, yourself is in total control over your life and you are responsible for what you do, not any god or any devil.

And......I bet you sure hope you're not wrong!  Just sayin I wouldnt want to live your theory till the end and then have to explain it to God.

Chris, since there is not any god, no need to worry is there?  I don't need anything greater than myself to believe in to be happy or content.  I make my own.  Great for you, that you do believe in god.  I don't need that kind of thing to make my life complete.

Well, Im glad you are happy. Let me just ask this as an analogy and a hypothetical.  If I decided I didnt believe in gravity so to prove this (I mean if I really dont believe in gravity) I go the top of the Empire State Building and jump off....................what do you think is going to happen?

[Xtracho]

I found this study interesting.  Draw your own conclusions.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12082681/ns/health-heart_health/t/power-prayer-flunks-unusual-test/

OK here are my conclusions.
1) did the study indicate any patients that were admitted with prior complications before their surgery?
2) did the study take into account any predisposing conditions such as diabetes?
3) how many of the patients were smokers vs. non-smokers?
4) how many patients responded to the post-operative therapies that have been proven to reduce recovery time and complications?

Clearly, as the article states, there is no scientific method to determine if God exists. On its face this study is meaningless.

I can tell you this....on 01 July 2011 I had triple bypass surgery. 4 days later I left the hospital under my own power. There happened to be another patient in cardiac recovery, in the room next to me, that had double bypass. A month after I was discharged I had to return for a post-operative evaluation by my cardiologist and surgeon. In an effort to show my appreciation to the nurses up on the cardiac care ward, I bought some flowers to give to them. I learned when I went up to the cardiac care floor that this guy was still in the hospital. He was a smoker and contracted pneumonia. Were there people praying for me? Absolutely there were. Were there people praying for him? I don't know.



I told my wife I wanted to tattoo a zipper over the scar. She said she'd divorce me if I did!   

[bscrive]

Chris, you are comparing fact with fiction.  Gravity is fact.  God is fiction.  My wife is a Jehovah Witness and very religious, and we have had many discussions on this.  She gave up on me believing a long time ago.   IMO, there is no god.

[Moonshot_1]

I found this study interesting.  Draw your own conclusions.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12082681/ns/health-heart_health/t/power-prayer-flunks-unusual-test/

The study is absurd on so many levels it's ridiculous.

We're gonna test God's ability to answer prayers? If I were God I'd be a bit miffed at the prospect and cover everyone involved with leeches or have them spontaneously combust or something. Would definitely be smote'n somethin and somebody.

And what do we know about the prayers that were said. Maybe the people praying were praying for less than good outcomes. Maybe they were mean and wicked. Was the sincerity of the prayers verified? God can't take non serious prayers seriously.

Maybe there could be a lawsuit claiming the study itself interfered with the quality of the prayers, the motives of the study having an adverse effect on the prayer strength. Would Love to see that court case! Where was the quality control?

I think to give a study like this real credence, only professional praying people should be used. Like the Pope. To assure the quality of the prayers being prayed and quality of the delivery of those prayers. I'd bet he's got lot's of experience.

Maybe the prayers being said in the study were being said by idiots. Maybe they were synthetic prayers.  We don't know. Maybe they were Harley prayers and only worked to that end.

[Moonshot_1]

Well, Im glad you are happy. Let me just ask this as an analogy and a hypothetical.  If I decided I didnt believe in gravity so to prove this (I mean if I really dont believe in gravity) I go the top of the Empire State Building and jump off....................what do you think is going to happen?
[/quote]

They are going to arrest you. As soon as you float down. (Assuming that is your back up plan)

[Hooter]

A religious / God argument usually goes this way. The believers call out those that don't believe with the usual "your going to hell" statement. The non believers reply in the opposite direction. The non religious person isn't going to care much about the "going to hell" statement because they don't believe there is a heaven or hell, so does that statement matter to them? Not so much.

On the other side, if the non religious or the non God believing person tells the religious person to believe like you do, but when you die you are dead with nothing more, does it matter? Not so much. Who's right here, guess it depends on what you do or don't believe in? No one wins this discussion and each side will hold steadfast to what they believe.

[Chrisj CMA]

Well, Im glad you are happy. Let me just ask this as an analogy and a hypothetical.  If I decided I didnt believe in gravity so to prove this (I mean if I really dont believe in gravity) I go the top of the Empire State Building and jump off....................what do you think is going to happen?


They are going to arrest you. As soon as you float down. (Assuming that is your back up plan)

[SANDMAN5]

No one wins this discussion and each side will hold steadfast to what they believe.

That point has been made several times over the years. Pity that so many people
still want to argue. Jesus told His disciples (us) to spread the Good News around
the world. If someone we talk to doesn't receive it we're not supposed to stand
there and argue with them. We're to move on. Far too many churches(people) still try
to force people to believe...as do many non-believers try to ridicule people into
changing their beliefs. Watch almost any discussion between atheists and Christians.
It's usually not too long before the Godless start spewing hate-filled insults......and
occasionally it starts from the other side.

[Chrisj CMA]

No one wins this discussion and each side will hold steadfast to what they believe.

That point has been made several times over the years. Pity that so many people
still want to argue. Jesus told His disciples (us) to spread the Good News around
the world. If someone we talk to doesn't receive it we're not supposed to stand
there and argue with them. We're to move on. Far too many churches(people) still try
to force people to believe...as do many non-believers try to ridicule people into
changing their beliefs. Watch almost any discussion between atheists and Christians.
It's usually not too long before the Godless start spewing hate-filled insults......and
occasionally it starts from the other side.

SANDMAN5  I never argue or try to force someone to believe.  I just feel at the end I dont want to have to answer the big question......"Why didnt you tell him about me?"  I know from personal experience (before I was a believer) I hated it whenever someone tried to tell me I wasnt "right with God"   But, Ill tell you this, I never forgot any of the things those people said, and after awhile God was able to use each and every one to show himself as real to me in 1985.  So, while not everyone will embrace the Gospel right away, its still worth putting it out there.  I let God do the rest, but arguing...I agree that is worthless.

[Chattanooga Mark]

IMHO

Each of us has the capacity to choose life or death, the blessing or the curse

What you do is up to you, the spark of the Lord is in all things.

I choose life, and to live it in a manner that sets an example for my children

Life is not fair, nobody gets out of this world alive

But how you live the life my friends, that is what makes all the difference.

    Well said Oss.


Yes, there is one and only God. Sure isn't fair to blame Him on the actions or the inactions of another though. There are also many millions of gods. Some through religion and others through peoples idolatry of making God into what they think He is, what they think He should be, what they want/expect Him to be, not what the Bible teaches He is.

Part of humans arrogance is to believe God is only God if we believe Him to be. He isn't lost and He doesn't need to be found. He is God, He always has been God and always will be God. Wether anyone believes in God or not doesn't alter His stance or position at all, it only alters and changes ours. It's us who get to choose our ultimate fate. God doesn't choose it for us. Religion has hurt many people over many years. A true biblical relationship with God, according to the bible, only ensures our ultimate destiny. Your life will NOT be wonderful and only rosey by choosing to die to yourself and to live for Christ. Quite the opposite, exactly as is taught in the bible.

Live like He's returning today and plan like He's about 100 years away.


All the best,

Mark

[oxfordhog]

After reading all these posts I'm going to say the serenity prayer.   

[MP]

bscrive:

I do not know for a FACT what is true.  None of will until we die.  If it is not true, we won't know that either, will we?  LOL

I do know that as a farmer/rancher, I marvel each spring at creation.  The world greens up, seeds sprout, animals are born.  Watching and/or helping farm animals be born is an amazement each time.

I wonder some each spring, if I will plant my seeds, and if they will grow.  They always do!

The universe is so complex, I think we only understand a very small part of what is happening, and how it interacts.

To not believe in some higher power that helped form and shape this, is hard to understand.

To not believe in something, means you HAVE to believe that it is all an accident.  That from  few molecules of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon,  that all the living world we see were created.  That somehow these molecules bumped into each other, and thru a miracle, came to life as some simple organism.

We have not even come close to doing that.  You put those elements together, and try to get life of ANY kind out of them!  Good luck.

Then, somehow, this simple little life, developed into ALL that we see now.  Plants, animals, etc.

I think it takes more of a leap of faith to believe that all this has happened by chance, than it takes to believe there was a hand guiding it.

The scientists are now saying that at the beginning, there was a VERY small nugget, that exploded, and became our universe.    They have no answer as to where this came from, or how it happened.

IN THE BEGINNING, where did the nucleus for this come from?  Science has NO answer.  Believers do.

Some think science and belief are exclusive.  I do NOT.  To me, they can go hand in hand.  You say selection and mutation drove development, I say it is not exclusive to believe that a higher power DIRECTED that selection.

I do not believe a belief in a God, and a belief in Evolution, are exclusive.

MP

[Valkorado]

IN THE BEGINNING, where did the nucleus for this come from?  Science has NO answer.  Believers do.

Agreed.  The "God molecule" doesn't exist without God.  He is the master scientist, his laboratory is limitless, and his time is eternal.  Human science can't touch him, or define him.

[Chattanooga Mark]

http://youtu.be/yzqTFNfeDnE

Very well said!

All the best,

Mark

[bscrive]

MP,

Why is it so hard to believe that we are here because of a whole set of coincidences?  A lot can happen over billions of years.  A lot of different combinations can happen before something takes hold.  The creatures we have today will not be the same ones in a thousand or ten thousand years from now.  If god was so omnipotent, the creatures of the past million years would never need to happen.  Why aren't the dinosaurs still roaming the earth?  Creatures change/die out over the years, it's called evolution.  No god.  Isn't your god an atheist anyways?

[Patrick]

Actually I think its all the fault of aliens. They tried a strange experiment, don't know if it succeeded or failed.

[Willow]

...  I don't need anything greater than myself to believe in to be happy or content.  I make my own.  Great for you, that you do believe in god.  I don't need that kind of thing to make my life complete.

I do.

I'm pretty certain I was not complete without Jesus Christ.  Oftimes I'm sure I've still got a ways to go, but I'm complete with Jesus whether or not I finish the journey.

I was a pretty bad person without Him, likely more bad than pretty and I was really pretty.  I'm still not nearly as good as I'd like to be.  

I guess to a great degree whether or not one is complete depends a great deal upon what were the plans for the build and at what point the owner is willing to settle for progress achieved.

As to the original post, we do live in a world in which evil abounds.  That said, through my eyes, I cannot sometimes accurately discern what is good and what is evil.  I trust that God can.  The Scriptures tell me that His ways are not our ways and our ways are not His.  I have come to accept that.  There are many times I've wondered why it appeared that God had intervened in one set of circumstances and not in another.  When I'm overwhelmed at injustice and wonder at God's not balancing the scales I'm reminded that I have certainly received more mercy and blessing than justice.  I will not judge God.
 
To be able to say authoritatively there is no God one would have to know all things and to have searched all places.  For one to accomplish that one would have to be God.  

A man will choose to believe what he will.  For the unbeliever the issue is further clouded by the large number of imposters among those who claim to be believers.  We don't have to look far at all to find them.  

I for one am persuaded of two things.  There is a God and I am not He.

   

[ragincajun]

That's why they call it "faith".  Nothing concrete to base your belief on, just how you see and interpret the world around you.

I for one believe.  But remember, we do have free will and God doesn't "stop" the idiots in the world.  And sometimes the innocent suffer.

I was heading to my daughter's confirmation Saturday, she had gone ahead with my wife to show up early at their appointed time.  I was bringing the two younger buckos and of course, one of them made me run a bit late for my desired departure time.  Anyway, I pull out onto the main road near my house and start heading towards the church.  About two blocks down...boom...traffic jam and I see people turning around.  Not a good sign with only two main roads heading east/west in my area. 

Anyway, I can see a red mini van turned side ways in the turn lane smashed in on the drivers side.  I see police lights and a fire truck and ambulances.  I make a u-turn, cut through a subdivision to the next road over, and skirt around the accident.  This was about 11:35am.  3:15pm, leaving church, I get back out on the main road, heading back towards the house.  Traffic still backed up.  I u-turn again, get over to the other street, skirt the accident area (yes, it turns out it was the same accident).  Get to the restaurant, one of my daughter's friends dad's is a cop.  He said the accident occured at 11:30, or about the time I'd have been getting on the road if my son hadn't held me up about 5 minutes.  Maybe a life and death decision there. 

Turns out some teens were speeding and swerving in and out of traffic, passing cars at a high rate of speed (estimates are 20+ mph over the speed limit).  Eyewitnesses said they had to hit brakes to avoid a wreck.  The teens lost control and went into oncoming traffic, hitting a truck head on and starting a five car pileup.  The truck they hit head on hit another car that flipped, killing that driver.  Another car went off the pile and into oncoming traffic, hitting the mini-van I saw. 

The driver teen was life flighted out and traffic was buggered for over six hours. 

Nothing against teens...but it's always the stupid ones that live, while innocents die.  Maybe that's God's punishment is he has to live with that the rest of his life.

[Reb]

IMHO

"There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his profit"   

[SANDMAN5]

Why is it so hard to believe that we are here because of a whole set of coincidences?  A lot can happen over billions of years.  A lot of different combinations can happen before something takes hold.  The creatures we have today will not be the same ones in a thousand or ten thousand years from now.  If god was so omnipotent, the creatures of the past million years would never need to happen.  Why aren't the dinosaurs still roaming the earth?  Creatures change/die out over the years, it's called evolution.  No god.  Isn't your god an atheist anyways?

Where did the matter for the universe come from? Really! Evolutionists do NOT have an answer.
Start at the very beginning. The Bible says God created everything from nothing. Evolution says
there was nothing and then nothing exploded. Huh? How can "nothing" explode? Another theory says
all the matter in the universe was at one time gathered together in a lump the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Where did the "lump" come from? They have no answer. Evolution says
ALL life on earth came from "pond scum". Plants, animals (including us) and every living thing started out in the water as algae. No, I'm not convinced of that....not even close. You contradict yourself
by using God and millions of years together. You can't believe both..at least as far as the age of the earth is concerned. Most of the dinosaurs died in Noah's flood. They are mentioned in the Bible, as is the ice age. Evolution has never been observed or proven. If you have PROOF of evolution the world
would sure like to know about it.