Brother I love this explanation and it makes alot of sense. But I must say, the word "religion" has gained somewhat of a bad reputation (if I may) lol When I follow the Law of God, I find that I naturally follow the teachings in the Catholic Church. So I see my religion (as a Catholic), as my faith in reality, because my faith lies completely in God and He has truly spoken to me and told me very clearly to listen to what I was being taught the night I asked Him. I don't know what lies ahead, brother. Like you said happened to you, QUOTE: " I found that when I went through religion another denomination and learnt what I learnt I today count it as all Joy for I would not know what God was teaching me without that experience, so no regrets." Brother, this could be my learning experience like it was to you, or it could be the Truth. I'm not closed minded to rule anything out. All I'm saying is, this is the path that God so clearly led me too, and I have found no fault in it yet (obviously, for I was led to it by the Almighty!! lol). But I can see your point, and it's very interesting and sounds like it has some truth in it. And God bless you for sharing it with me.
Just a couple of questions, brother, if you don't mind, that have been bugging me (not about you. You could never bug me lol). If I were to leave the Catholic Church and adopt this method of faith that you have so graciously shared with me, which Bible would you recommend I follow? Why would you recommend that particular Bible? And how would I be sure that it was the True and correct translation? And again, Howard, thankyou and God bless. My true brother in Christ!!!!
Charlie Thank you again and I am not trying ot get you or anyone to see what I see, I am only exposing truth as God has shown me
I am going to share some experiences personal.
When I was 12 I got left behind at a campfire I was left behind to put out that fire and then meet the rest back at the cabin this was in Skylandia, Lake Tahoe a Church camp function it was the last night before going home the next day.
I put out that fire with sand and yes it was now dark and I then realized I had no flashlight and no coat, getting cold now and can barley see being a tough 12 year old a smart alec and a womanizer acing all cool all week, doing crazy things like making fun of others and now here I am lost about 1 to 2 miles in the dark and I am starting on the path back to the cabin, I trip fall into a hole twist my ankle and I started to pray, and the next thing I saw was the light at the cabin my hands and arms were out in front of me and dropping down as I saw the lights in the cabin, I ran into that cabin and apolgozed profusely to all that I had knowingly hurt and was so thankful to God for what he had done for me he was a light unto my path and I was healed no spranged ankle. I was 12 and what happened next was tragic, when i was 14 my Sister youngest Sister died at 18 on a overdose, I was devastated and did not understand, then when I was 17 my Dad died at 63 , of a lot of diseases that occured in him after Sue my Sister died. Then at 21 My oldest Brother John gave me on my Birthday 21 dollar bills and was living back home with us in Sacramento at the age of 33.
He had been working for Campus Crusade for Christ, all of his life he had been on fire for the Lord and at this time in his life he was distraught he had in the Hospital had a nervous breakdown, starting drinking and smoking I was bewildered, and wondering what had happened to my Legalistic Brother who was always so careful to do was right and if he saw you or anyone not following law he would be right there in there face. And now there was a big differance in him. Well Brother I was at this time in my life carrying on in the drunk and drug scene myself.
Now I came home one night late and saw the light on to my brothers room and the door part way open I peeked in and saw that he was asleep but I noticed all around him surrounding him was pictures of Christ sayings and all strategically placed around him, I was creeped out and yeah okay and walked away, this went on for another two nights. Then I saw him on a Wednesday and he was heading back for Campus Crusade for Christ, he wanted to say something to me and pulled back thinking and refrained from what he was going to say and said to me Howard all I can tell you is that all this drinking and smoking is not good, He did not say I had to quit as he would have done and had done in the past, he just said it is not good. I yeah okay as no big deal.
Well the next thing that came to be was that he was found dead on Campus Crusade for Christ two miles above the Sanctuary leaned against a Boulder with a Bilbe in his hand, he was found by Hikers
Now it came to pass that from the autopsy report that there was no physical cause of death, the only thing they got out of the Autopsy was the he died on Thursday might found on Sunday morning.
Now this convinced me that Christ is real and alive no doubt and here I am today been being peeled like an onion and have today been peeled all the way to the center and Brother it is sweet, this unconditional love of God is what changed me as I see in you too. So here is what I have seen a waste of life via drugs my Sisters death, but have learned to use it to help others see this and leave the drugs and alcohol by there free choice as I also chose as well to do freely not by Law, because by Law it kept me trapped in it. Secondly I learned from Dad dieing at an early age 63 what stinking thinkng does to a person and by that guilt placed on him over Sues his daughters death actually is what killed him, him thinking bad thoughts caused his sicknesses unto an early death. Finally my Brother John's death at 33 was Wow!!!! when I heard this from my other Sister that John told her before going off and dieing he said Gretchen all my life I have been trying to please Mom and Dad and God by what I was doing and just never could attain it. Today he said to her GOD JUST LOVE ME. And so today as God has been growing as well as you i by God's grace one year ago God through me came up with the blogger at
www.godjustloveyou.blogspot.com First as you already have said you have had your epithany that God is 100% real as I have had too, no matter wheree you go or what you do he is there with you to teach you and just love you, and by this you will learn truth the truth that sets you free in him as you already are.
The Bible I read while in the USMC was The Living Bible Pharaphrased. It was excellent for me and in easy to read language, I read the King James verson and the New living translation, along with many others.
Bottom line I have read for self to tell others they are wrong and I am right and as I grew in understanding and wisdom those reasons were completely the worng Motive. So my Motive changed to the following quote God Speaking here
"Comfort Me by letting Me know that you would see Me just to dwell in My Presence. Not for teaching, not for material gain, not even for a message, but for Me. The longing of the human heart to be loved for itself is something caught from the Great Divine Heart."
and I learned these following quotes:
Lesson your judgement of others. You never see the whole picture. Never.
there are 1,000 reasons a person can behave a particular way. You don't know what is going on in their movie that motivates them to act in that way. You never know how you'd behave if you were in their shoes. Today little by little, learn to be more forgiving. Learn to where you can come from a place of help, rather than Judgement.
Judgements are only based on what one sees, from their owns thoughts. From their own experiences. There is truly only one that knows all. that one would be and is the creator of all.
If one learns to listen to the creator as Jesus Christ revealed to all mankind. (He taught us, to do nothing or say nothing w/o Father's instruction first and foremost), we would make the right judgements, with out condemnation. ( coming from the one listening)
The ones that argued would reveal their true selves, as was done in the day of visitation from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Steer clear from arguements, seek the truth in all things and one shall be free from the world and it's traps.
A man must learn to understand the motives of human beings, their illusions, and their sufferings.
Brother you are already there in Christ, and in Christ you are made perfect in God from God's perspective because of his Son Christ. Without this without the resurrection we would all still be in our sins and faith would be void but Christ is alive raised and is our high Priest forever and will never die again and neither wil his believers. read the latest two posts at he blogger or as many as might be led to if led at all
In love Howard Schultz