Signs from God (Jesus, Kingdom, followers, preaching, recall)

Ori · #1 06-02-2005, 09:16 AM

Surley if god, Jesus and the rest of the crew are up there and want to make themselves known to all of mankind they would choose more credible ways of doing it? If god has the power to create the universe and everything in it i dont think that this would prove to be to much of a problem for him. If it is the case that he wants people to make up their own minds and decisions about him, why do i get Jehovas Whitnesses disturbing me and informing me that it is now wrong to skateboard amongst other things?

ThisShouldMakeSense · #2 06-03-2005, 06:17 AM

this is why we keep bugging you on a sunday morning...Jesus told his followers to go preach and make deciples and to teach them etc... (Mathew 28:19,20).
And then there's Mathew 24:14 which says 'And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come.'

So as it's a command to christians to go tell others about the kingdom, we go out and do just that. personally i don't really enjoy it, most of the time, but i realise that it's my obligation as a christian to do it. (Romans 10:14,15)
'How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

*** 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'

so i do it anyway, and just think, eh, we don't even get payed for doing it...

EnhancedSpirit · #3 06-03-2005, 07:51 AM

There are signs from God, those seeking him, see the signs. Meaningful coincidences happen in our life every day, and most people ignore them.

As for being told that skating is wrong, this is man, not God. Man also says it's wrong to be naked, but God made us that way.

Peace · #4 06-03-2005, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnhancedSpirit

There are signs from God, those seeking him, see the signs. Meaningful coincidences happen in our life every day, and most people ignore them.

I agree with you EnhancedSpirit!

We must seek God, ask God and pray to Him to guide us to His way. God is there so close to us, closer than our jugular vein. We don't need a mediator to reach God. We can ask Him directly to guide us, if we are sincere in our asking, God will never disappoint us.

Peace be with you
Peace

michel · #5 06-03-2005, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orichalcum

Surley if god, Jesus and the rest of the crew are up there and want to make themselves known to all of mankind they would choose more credible ways of doing it? If god has the power to create the universe and everything in it i dont think that this would prove to be to much of a problem for him. If it is the case that he wants people to make up their own minds and decisions about him, why do i get Jehovas Whitnesses disturbing me and informing me that it is now wrong to skateboard amongst other things?

My way of looking at it is not that it's God's will to make himself known to us, but that we should seek to find him.

As for skateboards and Jehova's witnesses, well, maybe you could teach them; they could get around a lot faster.

ThisShouldMakeSense · #6 06-03-2005, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michel

As for skateboards and Jehova's witnesses, well, maybe you could teach them; they could get around a lot faster.

Actually, i got a friend who's ace on a board and he's a wintess! i can't find a scrpiture that says skating is wrong, however, the only thing i might be able to see is that the bible highlights the value of life and doesn't want us to risk our lives by being stupid, i.e base jumping or jumping motorbikes over helicopters or jumping off a burning building into boxes...i digress...

So it could be that that's what they meant about skating, the dangerous side of it, such as doing a tony hawk and doing the loop da loop on a massive ramp. you could do yourself an injury i think...but as for just skating along and having fun, i think that's ok. so, don't jump from your neighbours roof into his pool with your board, ok!!??

Tawn · #7 06-03-2005, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnhancedSpirit

There are signs from God, those seeking him, see the signs. Meaningful coincidences happen in our life every day, and most people ignore them.

If I may offer the opposite argument which is that often people can find what they are looking for if they look hard enough (ie theyll convince themselves).
Conincidences are based on the way our minds work. Ever notice how when something conincidental happens, you get a shock.. and you then mistakingly think that conincidences happen often as you recall vaguely all the other coincidences you have witnessed..
Unusual occurances make a stronger mark on your mind than usual occurances. This is because they dont fit the pattern of what your mind is expecting. You therefore remember with better clarity those times when coincidences happen yet all those times that coincidences dont happen dont make an impression at all.
It isnt that coincidences happen often.. its just selective memory that makes you think so. Just try to think how often coincidences don't happen.

EnhancedSpirit · #8 06-03-2005, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tawn

If I may offer the opposite argument which is that often people can find what they are looking for if they look hard enough (ie theyll convince themselves).
Conincidences are based on the way our minds work. Ever notice how when something conincidental happens, you get a shock.. and you then mistakingly think that conincidences happen often as you recall vaguely all the other coincidences you have witnessed..
Unusual occurances make a stronger mark on your mind than usual occurances. This is because they dont fit the pattern of what your mind is expecting. You therefore remember with better clarity those times when coincidences happen yet all those times that coincidences dont happen dont make an impression at all.
It isnt that coincidences happen often.. its just selective memory that makes you think so. Just try to think how often coincidences don't happen.

Last spring, my son saw the clovers and said "look Mom, a lucky clover'. I explained to him that it is only the four leaf clovers that are lucky. He spent all day digging through the clovers, I even helped him for a while. I asked God to please present a four leaf clover so my son could see the difference. Later that night a four leaf clover fell out of my bible. How do you explain that kind of coincidence?

Tawn · #9 06-03-2005, 10:24 AM

Thats not a coincidence - thats a remarkable claim. I cannot possibly determine whether you are lying, someone put it there, or you had the bible lying in the field of clovers and it was truly a coincidence.. or even that you were hallucinating / recalling dreams as memory. (Honestly there are events in my childhood which im not sure whether I dreamed or whether they actually happened)
However, lets apply a little logic. Why would God do this? All over the world people pray for things from God far more worthy than finding a four leaf clover and yet their prayers are not answered.
I suspect it was placed there.. but then of course I dont know the exact events.. a four leaf clover is the kindof thing a person would drop between the pages of the bible for temporary safe storage.. sorry to be the skeptic.. its nice to believe in these things.. I watch programmes about ghosts and occasionally read about the signs of the zodiac.. its fascinating stuff..

EnhancedSpirit · #10 06-03-2005, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tawn

Thats not a coincidence - thats a remarkable claim. I cannot possibly determine whether you are lying, someone put it there, or you had the bible lying in the field of clovers and it was truly a coincidence.. or even that you were hallucinating / recalling dreams as memory. (Honestly there are events in my childhood which im not sure whether I dreamed or whether they actually happened)
However, lets apply a little logic. Why would God do this? All over the world people pray for things from God far more worthy than finding a four leaf clover and yet their prayers are not answered.
I suspect it was placed there.. but then of course I dont know the exact events.. a four leaf clover is the kindof thing a person would drop between the pages of the bible for temporary safe storage.. sorry to be the skeptic.. its nice to believe in these thin