Alicia Loc: NYC

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Oh, I don't know. On three occasions I truly believe iI saw ghosts. One was a young girl (this occurred in my own house) and a man (at a friends house). After I explained what I had seen to my friend, he admitted that others had seen specters in his home but didn't wish to precondition my mind (or frighten me) regarding them.

Alicia Loc: NYC

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I had mentioned earlier that a friend suggested that it was not necessary for me to start at Genesis (all those 'begats' bored the hell out of me and I found no purpose in them); that I could choose whichever portion of the bible I so wished. I should preface this with the fact I was raised Roman Catholic and Catholics rarely read the bible. We receive that information from the priest. For the last 50 years I have had nothing to do with any church as they are not places of worship but businesses.

So, I picked up the book and flipped open to any place. It happened to be the Book of Job.

Okay. Here's my experience in reading the Book of Job.

Now, I had heard this story about how a man went through all kinds of hell to prove his faith in and love of God. Previous to picking up the bible I had no idea of how this situation developed.

It seems that Satan challenged God to a bet that one man could not stand up to many, many difficulties and still maintain his love, faith and trust in God. So, God brings down on Job all the difficulties possible; he loses his wealth, his house, his wife, etc. Job comes through with his faith intact. Good for Job. But here's poor Job being faithful and, because of his faith, God wins the bet. GOOD! No?

Then Satan returns to God and says, “You win this bout but --- what do you think Job will do if you call down on him all types of physical pain and hardship? They think of all things to make this poor (now literally) man suffer.

How much faith would you put in someone who will take a sucker bet? And that's exactly what it was. No consideration of the human so long as they (each in his own mind) might win this stupid bet.

I truly cannot and will not put any faith in (if he were human) an idiot.

”. . .creation myth, portraying God as an absent-minded scientist, Satan as a skeptic, and humanity as a botched experiment. . . . final word on the Bible, the world, human nature and the paradoxical and contradictory religious beliefs of the human race. “Letters from the Earth” S. Clemens (M. Twain)

Slingblade68 Loc: Charleston SC

There is no doubt about it. He made his fortune here in America , and then has the audacity to go over to a dictatorial country and condone the behavior. I certainly agree with his first amendment rights. However, let him live in a country that is not provided that same right. Seriously, the man is a buffoon and deserves no more acknowledgement.

rhomin57 Loc: Far Northern CA.

I'm sorry for you that you read this with the wrong attitude. It is part of a big book. To take it out of it's context is wrong, when it is a vital part of a much larger picture.
When you went to learn Algebra I, did you instead jump to Trig? When learning about Jesus Christ the first book to read is Matthew, and John. Then, once you have gained an understanding from those you venture into Acts of the Apostles, and into the Concordance.
Church is the same principle as School. Church gives you structure when learning about our Lord. It's a worthy journey and has been alive for umpteen ages. The Holy Bible is still the number 1 best seller. Must be something to it.
I hope someday you will change your mind.

As far as "Ghosts," our Lord states that in Heaven his sheep will go in, and will go out. So spirits are around us. It is usually the very sensitive individuals to energy forces around them, that will see them.
That isn't our focus however, the spirits are already there- and we are 'hoping' to get there, so our focus is on Jesus Christ.

larry

The idiot was satan, God already knew what Job would do.
God knows everything.

Alicia Loc: NYC

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If God knows everything he would have already known about the bet. Why put this poor man, Job, through such difficulties and pain? That is called, according to your bible, the sin of Pride. Does the creator not have to follow the commandments?

rhomin57 Loc: Far Northern CA.

You know, your ignorance of anything Holy about God is beginning to irritate me. For our God knowing everything, he already knew Job would not fold in his faith. You didn't know that however until you read it.
There is no "Bet" Alicia. God was showing Satan and any reader that no matter what Job had to endure, he would not lose his Faith in God. There still are people like this. At the moment however, just not you.
I love my Lord and Savior with all my heart, mind and soul, but I'm no Saint- so back off.

rhomin57 Loc: Far Northern CA.

Alicia, for you to sit down and open the Bible to just anything per chance is really stupid. That's like twirling a globe around and putting your finger on whatever country it stops it and saying your going to live there not knowing the people, government, or whatever. Ridiculous.
What did you hope to gain by flopping open a Bible to whatever to read? Rushing winds, thunderbolts, and lightening? Still, very immature.
Since you did read Job, why don't you try and find a lesson in it for you? Maybe like some Friends who call themselves Friends aren't really. Especially when it comes down to the brass tactics of each others Faith.
So many non believers will stand and say "Why did this happen, or that, why can't I have this or that." Yet, not a one of them are willing to give the Lord anything of themselves, from within themselves.
You might as well have sat down and tried to read a book of hieroglyphics. None of it will make much sense until you read New Testament from it's beginning.
I won't address you again nicely, as I don't like provoking when it comes to Jesus Christ.

Alicia Loc: NYC

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I don't know why you should become irritated with another's interpretation. I did know the story of Job - but not until I read the bible did I learn what led up to the testing of faith. Read the opening again -- it was a bet!

Although I don't understand you, you do have the right to believe as you wish. I just feel lucky I was fortunate enough to have had experiences at a young enough age - before I was brainwashed.

I don't believe I must "prove" my decisions to anyone. Why do you? In case you have to be reminded, America's first premise is "The Land of the Free" where people can live, without condemnation, their beliefs. I allow you yours, why can't you allow me to Not Believe the same as you.? I believe I have that same privilege.

Is your last statement a threat?

larry

God knew He had a champion in Job. This was a demonstration of fidelity. God had already driven Satan out of business, but he let him impose hardship on Job so that he could see the fallacy of his attempts to dishonor God. It was not pride God was showing, it was confidence in His program. This demonstration not only amplified Jobs faith, but his friends as well, It was a demonstration of the futility of greed. Job became a better person, and satan a lesser entity. The experience showed that man could and would honor God in adversity. Just as you might honor your human father in trouble. What do you learn by conquering trouble. Could you do it? Have you done it? How do you feel about it ?

rhomin57 Loc: Far Northern CA.

Cheapen God all you want. A "Bet" is where one or the other is going to Fail. God does not ever fail, and knows his Faithful. Satan going up against God's Faithful Servant Job, set himself up for his own Fail. God never faultered, and again never Fails. It's your soul, not mine.
Stop following my Christian Posts around if all you want to do is match understandings.

A threat? What could I do, reach through my screen into yours??
Start our own site with your own interpretations, that's the Freedom part of it. Mine won't change.

mwdegutis Loc: Illinois

I won’t bore you with the details but I have quite the diverse spiritual background. I have come full circle and am now a non-church going Bible-believing Christian who is in the process of reading and now understanding the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit. I am VERY interested in eschatology (the study of the end times) and have determined – along with many others – that we are in the “last days”. With that being said, based on my faith and my research, I have come to the following conclusions:

Is Jesus the Son of Man and the Son of God? – Yes
Do I have a personal relationship with Jesus? – Yes
Am I saved? – Yes
How do I know I’m saved? – I admitted I’m a sinner; understood that as a sinner, I will die; believed that Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead to save me from sin and death; received, in faith through Jesus, his free gift of salvation; and have repented by turning from my old life of sin to a new life in Jesus (I’m not perfect but through Jesus I have forgiveness with perfection being my goal).

I’ll keep this part short and sweet:
Do demons exist? – My answer is unequivocally yes.
Do I have any experience with demons? – Thankfully no.
Who are demons? – Fallen angels

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

Why would God send His only Son to die for you on the cross????? BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU.

Brian Devon

Smile

:D :D :D Jesus loves you. Everyone else thinks you're an asshole.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

How completely R U D E and CLASSLESS! :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: