Greetings!

[Truth Sailor]

I am very excited to find out more about the knowledge that Christians have to share concerning life's most profound questions. I do not currently have a particular religion, but am open to the possibility of adopting one. There are so many religions in the world, and I feel like I should take every opportunity to learn as much as I can before deciding which is the right one for me. Thank you for allowing me into your company and I look forward to learning more about your beliefs.

 

[Claudya]

Welcome!

Your avatar is awesome, did you take the foto?

 

[Truth Sailor]

Thank you! No, I don't even remember what I searched that made it come up, but I really like it too.

 

[stovebolts]

Welcome Truth Sailor
I do hope that you'll find our community inviting.

James says,
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

So if you are looking for a religion, that's what our God desires from us.
The first part is pretty simple. The second part takes a lifetime. Why? Because we live in a broken world which is evident all around us and often, we are the cause of said brokenness.

We serve a God of reconciliation. A God who desires all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of Him who created all things. If you are seeking with open ears, then may God bless our time together for the edification of all.

 

[Claudya]

Thank you! No, I don't even remember what I searched that made it come up, but I really like it too.

If you have a camera, or a friend with a camera, you could try to reproduce the image. Would be even more awesome if it was *yourself* holding the sun in your hand.

 

[Truth Sailor]

If you have a camera, or a friend with a camera, you could try to reproduce the image. Would be even more awesome if it was *yourself* holding the sun in your hand.

I agree. I think it's not even a real person. It looks almost like a drawing.

I did something similar to this at Disney World this year with the iconic castle. I'll have to remember to upload it.

 

[Truth Sailor]

T

Welcome Truth Sailor
I do hope that you'll find our community inviting.

James says,
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

So if you are looking for a religion, that's what our God desires from us.
The first part is pretty simple. The second part takes a lifetime. Why? Because we live in a broken world which is evident all around us and often, we are the cause of said brokenness.

We serve a God of reconciliation. A God who desires all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of Him who created all things. If you are seeking with open ears, then may God bless our time together for the edification of all.

Thank you for your most kind and warm welcome. I have always enjoyed the kindness that is akin to many of the Christians I encounter.

Forgive me if I read this wrong, but it sounds like you believe (or James believes) that the particular religion isn't important to your God? I must have read that wrong. I'm still very unclear on a lot of the tenets of Christianity, but I would very much appreciate any patience you could afford in hopes of offering clarification. Thanks again for the welcome.

 

[Eugene]

Hi Truth Sailor and welcome. I do hope that you discover the desires of you, but most of all that you discern truth here. I reckon that if there are many religions all cannot be saying the same thing, but there is in man the need of worship even if only a statue. Hopefully we present God in a manner you can understand, and the only sacrifice for man acceptable in His site. May you be blessed on these forum in Jesus' name.

 

[Truth Sailor]

My desire is to learn what others claim to know. If there is knowledge that you have on God, I certainly lack it, and I most humbly request that you share it with me. I have an everlasting thirst for philosophical discovery and am always eager learn what others have already discovered to be true. Thank you for your kind welcome, and I look forward to hearing what you have to share.

 

[stovebolts]

Hello Truth Sailor

When I read what James wrote, he is simply declaring what our God views pure religion as and from that perspective, I think God is concerned about how we view religion.

Some view religion as particular traditions, rites and rituals. And while I have nothing against these things as a whole, and I even attest to some; would it be fair to say that God views those things in the same manner we do?

Now then, lets look at what James said and we shall break it into three parts.
First,
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
Second:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress
Third:
and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Anyone can look after orphans and widows in distress and we see this even from those who claim there is no God.
But what does it mean to: keep oneself from being polluted by the world and how does one view the world around them?

Really, this is the entry point for what it is to be a follower of Christ. You see, it's not simply what we do, but it's why we do what we do. We are all following somebody or something. The simple question is, "Who are you following". One might eve ask, "What impact is it having on your life and the lives of those around you."

Take care, I'm off and about for the weekend. Enjoy your conversations.

 

[Claudya]

My desire is to learn what others claim to know. If there is knowledge that you have on God, I certainly lack it, and I most humbly request that you share it with me. I have an everlasting thirst for philosophical discovery and am always eager learn what others have already discovered to be true. Thank you for your kind welcome, and I look forward to hearing what you have to share.

If you have specific questions feel free to ask. Start threads for your questions, if you like. Or read the threads that already exist.
It's always easier to answer questions than to just "share our knowledge on God", because that'd be quite a huge scope!

 

[reba]

A wise man once told me,

Religion is mans plans for God
Salvation is God's plan for man.



Well said Claudya

 

[Truth Sailor]

If you have specific questions feel free to ask. Start threads for your questions, if you like. Or read the threads that already exist.
It's always easier to answer questions than to just "share our knowledge on God", because that'd be quite a huge scope!

Lol, I guess you're right, it is a bit vague. I just don't know where to start. I started a thread in apologetics because (after googling the word) it seemed like if I were to find people that had answers to tough questions, that would be the place to start!

 

[Truth Sailor]

A wise man once told me,

Religion is mans plans for God
Salvation is God's plan for man.



Well said Claudya

That's very interesting, I would love to find out more about your views. I have started a thread in apologetics, and would very much enjoy any input you may have to add.

 

[stovebolts]

Lol, I guess you're right, it is a bit vague. I just don't know where to start. I started a thread in apologetics because (after googling the word) it seemed like if I were to find people that had answers to tough questions, that would be the place to start!

I would suggest thats the last place to find answers and the first place to argue. I've since moved your thread to the questions and answers forum where oonly Christians can answer which should help your focus.

There is a story in the bible of a great man who sought out God. He thought he would find Him in the grandest of places. To his surprise, God was found in a still small voice.

This is the narrative, and yet we boast of our Lord born in an animals feeding bowl.

If you want to find out about our God, then let go of yourself and accept him iinto your life. Submit your mind to him and be obedient to him through Baptism and then learn to walk in his sons footsteps.

It all starts with believing there is s god. And if we have to prove him to you through fine sounding arguments, then I'm afraid you will never find him even when he is all around you.

Be well.

 

[Truth Sailor]

Thank you very much. You have very kind words, but to be completely honest, they are a bit discouraging. I guess it may be too hard for some of you to understand my position. How do I believe there's a God without having been given good reason to accept a specific one? Is this what the process entails? Believing before knowing? Belief is a subset of knowledge, it comes after. How can I be sure that I'm not delusional? Surely you also realize that there's any number of Gods that I could just blindly accept, and I could do so simultaneously, how would I distinguish the difference between me believing them into existence from actual divine intervention? I could blindly accept all the Gods in the world and then start attributing the positives in my life to them, but that wouldn't help me be sure that I wasn't just arbitrarily assigning value to wishful thoughts. Does this make sense? How have you reconciled this? These are the kinds of things I was hoping the members on this forum could help me clarify. If you are Christian, you must have a way of resolving these things, no?

 

[stovebolts]

I can see your are a tthinker.

My suggestion... give it a try. Let yourself believe. There coes a time when you just start. Don't let your intellect stop you and don't be worried about being called a fool. Its all part of the package.

Being a follower of Christ is demanding. If your not up for it, then walk away. If your up for it, then simply belived there is a god which has been made known to your already, or else you wouldn't be searching for ssomething you already know is... and given the right time, God will reveal to you glimmers of what you seek, but oonly when your trust is in him first.

 

[stovebolts]

My phone is horrible for replies... sorry