The next time you think YOU have it bad.........
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I needed this post today thanks for posting...0
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Thank you for posting this! It really puts a lot of things into perspective.0
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We all need that reminder....thank you!0
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Thank you for sharing! love this...0
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Am I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?0 -
(...skimming over the few flamers who feel the need to argue...)
Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective! Much love.0 -
Why the cheapshot then?I am not trying to start a religious debate or war here, goodness no, that would make me a horrible awful person in the eyes of many who troll the forums (which is why I typically stay away). I just want to tell you this: my prayer today is that God will meet my NEEDS, that God will meet your NEEDS and that we will all remember it is prayer, not a wish list.
I find this God stuff fascinating. It seems that it works however people see fit. Something bad happens? Well, if we had God. Something good happens? God gets the props.
BTW... how does this "God's will" thing work? Why is war, rape, poverty, genocide, natural disasters, and terrorism NOT God's will?
I am not knocking anyone. I just want to understand people better. If you see someone in need of change for their groceries, I think that was the universe telling you that someone was poor and hungry and you were in a position to help. You did that and so kudos to YOU, not God. Where was God's food bank when she needed it? If God programmed you to be a robot then I am not sure I could trust your authenticity.
It's just scary when you hear politicians say that rape is God's will and that Zimmerman guy say that he killed Trayvon Martin because it was God's will. What in the hell? I think people should take personal responsiblity over their actions, GOOD or bad.
You did what you had to do. You did what you felt was right. If you had to convene with God before giving that lady some spare change then I find that sadder than the lady's situation. Do tribal people not help each other out? Atheism might start more internet wars but theism has started more real wars.
I think the question(s) you pose and ask are such excellent ones and I think your manner in posing them is honest, sincere and marvelous. I will most humbly attempt to answer your question thusly:
Ya know, one time, this really rich young ruler ran up to Jesus and asked Him:
"Good Master, what must I do to be saved/to enter into The Kingdom of God?" and ya know what/how Jesus answered him? It is the answer to most of our questions, when we try to "understand" life, death, war, pain, love, hope, joy, goodness...Jesus answered the rich young ruler this way--He said:
"Why callest thou me Good? There is NONE Good but God." He went on to talk to the rich young ruler, but what he asked of him...(to give away all that he had to the poor and Follow Him, well, the that was too much of a sacrifice for the young brother and he walked away sad...
All this to say, where the greater majority of us get it wrong about God is that we honestly think we are "good" people. And compared to other people, perhaps we are--but compared to God, we simply are not. Liken it unto an ant, saying to one another, I don't understand how those human's think, speak why they behave the way they do...I want to understand like them--it's never going to happen, because though the ant is a special and wonderful creation of God...they simply will NEVER be able to comprehend all that we humans think or do, because they are of another kingdom. We people of of another Kingdom than God as well. The main difference between the ant and us and God and us is that God has given us The Godportunity to get to know Him and have a close and personal relationship with us, where He imparts a wee bit of His Knowledge, Understanding, Love, Grace, Power to us. Our requirement to obtain this tremendous offer from God is much like what you've done my brother...be humble and honest, your question(s) were/are indeed humble and honest.
In order to get to know God Himself, He requires that we 1.) humble ourselves, 2.)pray (meaning talk to God, honestly, openly--even though you don't see Him.) Lot's of people think that's weird, but when talk on our cellphones to people we don't see and think nothing of it, so 1.)humble ourselves (that means taking the humble position that we don't have all of the answers and could possibly be wrong in how we feel or believe) 2.)Pray (went over that already) 3.)Seek His Face (that means totally by faith, without really knowing, we begin to go after Him, like we would go after a job, a wife/husband/a loved one, food, or whatever it is that we are hungry and thirsty after) 4.) Turn from our wicked ways (now because 99.9995 percent of people honestly think they are "good" the greater majority will not honestly admit that we are NOT good, that we are a wicked people by nature...wicked literally means "twisted" we humans naturally call/see evil as good and good as evil, that's just the way we are and I'll not take the time to explain that. Anyhoo, I ONLY write to "attempt" to give you the super short version answer--I hope it helps you and who-so-ever will. :flowerforyou:
:flowerforyou: 0 -
Thank you for posting this!
I've been on both ends of this, counting dimes, as well as having an abundance of funds and resources. I am so grateful to have experienced both. I try not to take anything for granted. Thanks for this reminder and If I see someone struggling I will try to offer to pay.0 -
Am I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?
I'm with you two.0 -
Am I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?
No...God is no respecter of persons (like we people are, do and judge). This woman was/is struggling, just as we ALL struggle in one way or another. It has nothing to do with God's Goodness nor His Mercy...it has to do with her circumstances. Liken it to this....Ya know, years and years ago...when I was a child--medicine wasn't all sugary and yummy like many children's medicines are today--it was bitter, nasty and awful. Back when, a mere child may well have thought (as I did many a time) Wow, Mommy doesn't love me, she is making me take this medicine is it's so awful, it's horrible--mommy must hate me or I've fallen out of her grace because she is "allowing" me to suffer through this. Even though in my childish ignorance, I just didn't see "The Big Picture" I couldn't understand, because I was a child. Now that I am grown, I understand that it was her LOVE for me that allowed me to suffer. This is an extremely simplistic and base attempt to explain--but there you have it.
Admittedly a rather "foolish" attempt at an explaination, but those with ears to hear...let them hear :flowerforyou:0 -
Am I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?
No...God is no respecter of persons (like we people are, do and judge). This woman was/is struggling, just as we ALL struggle in one way or another. It has nothing to do with God's Goodness nor His Mercy...it has to do with her circumstances. Liken it to this....Ya know, years and years ago...when I was a child--medicine wasn't all sugary and yummy like many children's medicines are today--it was bitter, nasty and awful. Back when, a mere child may well have thought (as I did many a time) Wow, Mommy doesn't love me, she is making me take this medicine is it's so awful, it's horrible--mommy must hate me or I've fallen out of her grace because she is "allowing" me to suffer through this. Even though in my childish ignorance, I just didn't see "The Big Picture" I couldn't understand, because I was a child. Now that I am grown, I understand that it was her LOVE for me that allowed me to suffer. This is an extremely simplistic and base attempt to explain--but there you have it.
Admittedly a rather "foolish" attempt at an explaination, but those with ears to hear...let them hear :flowerforyou:
:noway:0 -
I like this explanationAm I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?
No...God is no respecter of persons (like we people are, do and judge). This woman was/is struggling, just as we ALL struggle in one way or another. It has nothing to do with God's Goodness nor His Mercy...it has to do with her circumstances. Liken it to this....Ya know, years and years ago...when I was a child--medicine wasn't all sugary and yummy like many children's medicines are today--it was bitter, nasty and awful. Back when, a mere child may well have thought (as I did many a time) Wow, Mommy doesn't love me, she is making me take this medicine is it's so awful, it's horrible--mommy must hate me or I've fallen out of her grace because she is "allowing" me to suffer through this. Even though in my childish ignorance, I just didn't see "The Big Picture" I couldn't understand, because I was a child. Now that I am grown, I understand that it was her LOVE for me that allowed me to suffer. This is an extremely simplistic and base attempt to explain--but there you have it.
Admittedly a rather "foolish" attempt at an explaination, but those with ears to hear...let them hear :flowerforyou:
Thank you OP for sharing....0 -
I approve this thread.0
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Am I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?
No...God is no respecter of persons (like we people are, do and judge). This woman was/is struggling, just as we ALL struggle in one way or another. It has nothing to do with God's Goodness nor His Mercy...it has to do with her circumstances. Liken it to this....Ya know, years and years ago...when I was a child--medicine wasn't all sugary and yummy like many children's medicines are today--it was bitter, nasty and awful. Back when, a mere child may well have thought (as I did many a time) Wow, Mommy doesn't love me, she is making me take this medicine is it's so awful, it's horrible--mommy must hate me or I've fallen out of her grace because she is "allowing" me to suffer through this. Even though in my childish ignorance, I just didn't see "The Big Picture" I couldn't understand, because I was a child. Now that I am grown, I understand that it was her LOVE for me that allowed me to suffer. This is an extremely simplistic and base attempt to explain--but there you have it.
Admittedly a rather "foolish" attempt at an explaination, but those with ears to hear...let them hear :flowerforyou:
Taking yucky tasting medicine is no comparison for the depth of suffering that exists. I would never ever say to a person that those things happened because of love.0 -
Am I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?
No...God is no respecter of persons (like we people are, do and judge). This woman was/is struggling, just as we ALL struggle in one way or another. It has nothing to do with God's Goodness nor His Mercy...it has to do with her circumstances. Liken it to this....Ya know, years and years ago...when I was a child--medicine wasn't all sugary and yummy like many children's medicines are today--it was bitter, nasty and awful. Back when, a mere child may well have thought (as I did many a time) Wow, Mommy doesn't love me, she is making me take this medicine is it's so awful, it's horrible--mommy must hate me or I've fallen out of her grace because she is "allowing" me to suffer through this. Even though in my childish ignorance, I just didn't see "The Big Picture" I couldn't understand, because I was a child. Now that I am grown, I understand that it was her LOVE for me that allowed me to suffer. This is an extremely simplistic and base attempt to explain--but there you have it.
Admittedly a rather "foolish" attempt at an explaination, but those with ears to hear...let them hear :flowerforyou:
Taking yucky tasting medicine is no comparison for the depth of suffering that exists. I would never ever say to a person that those things happened because of love.
Yes you are right, it's totally not.
Now, if this life that we live (you and I and everyone alive)...and what we "call or measure"that which we call "time", was ALL there is and/or that we had total and complete understanding of this, our "life" and life in general and that what we understand as "time", then the suffering we people ALL experience in this "life" and this "time" we could and do objective vehemently what "love" is...I mean REAL LOVE, God Himself is LOVE, so it understandable that one who doesn't know God or more important known of God, this would be utter non-sense. I would needs be have to be. However, when one dares to take the Faith (the literal definition of Faith is the "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen), when one dares to by Faith, dare to humble oneself, pray, seek God's Face and Turn from y/our wicked/twisted ways...God Himself will give ANYONE, whosoever will, a portion of His Wisdom, Understanding, Faith and Grace to understand and more important to believe what real LOVE is. We people "think" we know what real love is, we think we know what real goodness is, we think we know what Life in this world we live in is...but we don't---again, we are blind to these things and "Revelation" comes from God and if/since we don't have a close and personal relationship with Him, we go by and believe what we see, hear and understand based on our own very limited (compared to God's) knowledge. So that is why you and the greater majority of folks don't see this as love--again, we simply don't have a clue what REAL/TRUE love is...our opinion of love is based on our experience and knowledge--that doesn't mean our limited experience and knowledge is complete, because dear one, it's not complete. Most won't believe this...but it's true none the less. I hope this kinda helps and if not...I understand :flowerforyou:0 -
Am I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?
No...God is no respecter of persons (like we people are, do and judge). This woman was/is struggling, just as we ALL struggle in one way or another. It has nothing to do with God's Goodness nor His Mercy...it has to do with her circumstances. Liken it to this....Ya know, years and years ago...when I was a child--medicine wasn't all sugary and yummy like many children's medicines are today--it was bitter, nasty and awful. Back when, a mere child may well have thought (as I did many a time) Wow, Mommy doesn't love me, she is making me take this medicine is it's so awful, it's horrible--mommy must hate me or I've fallen out of her grace because she is "allowing" me to suffer through this. Even though in my childish ignorance, I just didn't see "The Big Picture" I couldn't understand, because I was a child. Now that I am grown, I understand that it was her LOVE for me that allowed me to suffer. This is an extremely simplistic and base attempt to explain--but there you have it.
Admittedly a rather "foolish" attempt at an explaination, but those with ears to hear...let them hear :flowerforyou:
Taking yucky tasting medicine is no comparison for the depth of suffering that exists. I would never ever say to a person that those things happened because of love.
They don't happen because of love. Many times they happen as a consequence of human choice be it theirs or someone else's. there are times that I let my kids suffer the conquinces of their own choices or the choices of the friends they choose to associate with. There are times that I discipline them for their choices and there are times that I reward or prais them for their choices. Each time I am doing it out of love wnd with their personal growth in mind. So I believe it is the same with God. Things may happen but I have faith that my personal growth is that God is focusing on not my personal comfort.0 -
It's ok, We all have our own journey. You have yours and I have been through mine. These concepts are not foreign to me at all. I've been through them and come out to different place. I respect your beliefs and your life path. There is no reason we all need to agree. Diversity is a nice thing about life. And one thing I do know for sure in my own life is that actual real love has been what has been most healing for me in my adulthood. I'm not going to go into all the scenarios in which the things you are saying do not apply because I don't want to bring up horrible images of suffering. But, I have no right to tell someone that suffering was for their own good when they were born into horrendous circumstances.0
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Not sure i get what god has to do with the lady being unable to easily afford her groceries.
Second.0 -
Am I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?
No...God is no respecter of persons (like we people are, do and judge). This woman was/is struggling, just as we ALL struggle in one way or another. It has nothing to do with God's Goodness nor His Mercy...it has to do with her circumstances. Liken it to this....Ya know, years and years ago...when I was a child--medicine wasn't all sugary and yummy like many children's medicines are today--it was bitter, nasty and awful. Back when, a mere child may well have thought (as I did many a time) Wow, Mommy doesn't love me, she is making me take this medicine is it's so awful, it's horrible--mommy must hate me or I've fallen out of her grace because she is "allowing" me to suffer through this. Even though in my childish ignorance, I just didn't see "The Big Picture" I couldn't understand, because I was a child. Now that I am grown, I understand that it was her LOVE for me that allowed me to suffer. This is an extremely simplistic and base attempt to explain--but there you have it.
Admittedly a rather "foolish" attempt at an explaination, but those with ears to hear...let them hear :flowerforyou:
Taking yucky tasting medicine is no comparison for the depth of suffering that exists. I would never ever say to a person that those things happened because of love.
They don't happen because of love. Many times they happen as a consequence of human choice be it theirs or someone else's. there are times that I let my kids suffer the conquinces of their own choices or the choices of the friends they choose to associate with. There are times that I discipline them for their choices and there are times that I reward or prais them for their choices. Each time I am doing it out of love wnd with their personal growth in mind. So I believe it is the same with God. Things may happen but I have faith that my personal growth is that God is focusing on not my personal comfort.
I agree with this--and at the exact same time, there are those of us who suffer seemingly unjustly. There is wickedness and evil in this world and life, where untold numbers of seemingly innocent people suffer and live and die in the most unjust and horrendous ways. It is RARE that we as people provoke the name of satan or even ourselves as the cause for evil and suffering and woe. It is natural for people to invoke the name of God as a cause of misery and woe. Even insurance company call disasters and woe as "an act of God" NEVER is it an act o satan...isn't that profound. God is Love and His Ways are far above our ways. He allows suffering and woe to the just and the unjust. He allows His blessing upon the just and the unjust. God is truly not a respecter of persons. Our suffering happens because we are a fallen and lost people. Our only hope is in God--the very One so rejected and despised and misunderstood, because we don't know God. If we did, we would understand suffering and woe and love and time and faith in and of Him. We don't understand much like the ant doesn't understand people...we are of a different kingdom from God and can understand and know Him and be known of Him if we dare humble ourselves, pray, seek His Face and turn from our wicked/twisted ways...it's really that simple.0 -
It's ok, We all have our own journey. You have yours and I have been through mine. These concepts are not foreign to me at all. I've been through them and come out to another place. I respect your beliefs and your life path. There is no reason we all need to agree. diversity is a nice things about life. And one thing I do know for sure in my own life is that actual real love has been what has been most healing for me in my adulthood. I'm not going to go into all the scenarios in which the things you are saying do not apply because I don't want to bring up horrible images of suffering. But, I have no right to tell someone that suffering was for their own good when they were born into horrendous circumstances.
That is perfectly said. Our journeys are our own and we have no right to tell anyone that they have to see it our way.:drinker:0 -
I need these kinds of reminders. It is soooo easy to forget what you have and be grateful for having it! Thank-you for sharing this. God is always there for me and is soo good!
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It's ok, We all have our own journey. You have yours and I have been through mine. These concepts are not foreign to me at all. I've been through them and come out to another place. I respect your beliefs and your life path. There is no reason we all need to agree. diversity is a nice things about life. And one thing I do know for sure in my own life is that actual real love has been what has been most healing for me in my adulthood. I'm not going to go into all the scenarios in which the things you are saying do not apply because I don't want to bring up horrible images of suffering. But, I have no right to tell someone that suffering was for their own good when they were born into horrendous circumstances.
That is perfectly said. Our journeys are our own and we have no right to tell anyone that they have to see it our way.:drinker:
:flowerforyou:0 -
'Kay, anyone else completely turned off by the wall-o-text preaching yet?
This isn't church, nor is it a place of atheists to spout their smug self-assurances. Let's all just get along and respect one another.0 -
Am I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?
No...God is no respecter of persons (like we people are, do and judge). This woman was/is struggling, just as we ALL struggle in one way or another. It has nothing to do with God's Goodness nor His Mercy...it has to do with her circumstances. Liken it to this....Ya know, years and years ago...when I was a child--medicine wasn't all sugary and yummy like many children's medicines are today--it was bitter, nasty and awful. Back when, a mere child may well have thought (as I did many a time) Wow, Mommy doesn't love me, she is making me take this medicine is it's so awful, it's horrible--mommy must hate me or I've fallen out of her grace because she is "allowing" me to suffer through this. Even though in my childish ignorance, I just didn't see "The Big Picture" I couldn't understand, because I was a child. Now that I am grown, I understand that it was her LOVE for me that allowed me to suffer. This is an extremely simplistic and base attempt to explain--but there you have it.
Admittedly a rather "foolish" attempt at an explaination, but those with ears to hear...let them hear :flowerforyou:
This^^...This person gets it.0 -
I'm here, too. This is as close to speechless as I will ever be.Am I the only person that thinks the 'God is good' comments are insensitive? God wasn't that good to this poor woman in the grocery store. I appreciate the sentiment of the OP but not the 'whew at least it's not me'. Because that is what some of you are saying.
It kind of seems that way to me also. Did this woman fall out of grace with God or something?
I'm with you two.0 -
My Atheist fiance once bought a bag of chips for a homeless man in the grocery store who was about to shoplift. Some god didn't do that. My fiance did, because he's a good person who didn't want to see a struggling man go to jail just for trying to feed himself.0
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A well-needed reminder. Thank you for posting!0
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This god **** pisses me off. This story is the example of how and why I am unable to wrap my head around a god in the first place.0
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There are more forces at work in the world than just God. Sometimes it's our own free will, wicked individuals, circumstances, environment, or just plain bad luck. If the world were perfect, what would we learn? Nothing. If God control everything, then what would be the point in living?
If an atheist believes they die and no longer exist I say fine...Stop existing. But what if you are wrong?
What if I'm wrong? Well then, I won't be around after death to regret it!
What I don't understand is why people feel the need to bash someone's beliefs. The sheer amount of animosity isn't atheism. An atheist simply wouldn't care what others believe, because in the end it doesn't matter.
(And the same can be said for the religious ones that choose to be "right" over brushing the dust from their sandals and moving on.)
If you don't like the message of a thread, move on. It's that simple.0 -
My Atheist fiance once bought a bag of chips for a homeless man in the grocery store who was about to shoplift. Some god didn't do that. My fiance did, because he's a good person who didn't want to see a struggling man go to jail just for trying to feed himself.
Your fiance is awesome !0
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