barefoot wrote:[Btw, I used to believe in God when I was a young child. It's what I was born into and I didn't know better at the time. But I think I must have held doubts early on. My siblings and I went to Sunday school at an Assembly of God church. I remember being skeptical of many of the bible stories. I would raise my hand and asking questions like: "How could they fit all the animals on one boat? Where were the dinosaurs? Why does God kill?"... They weren't met with much appreciation. I'm not sure where I got my skepticism. The rest of my family have never seemed to question their beliefs as far I can tell. ]
It is a shame they were unable to answer your questions, but see relationship with God opens the Bible to a reader and it is more that just words on a page. As Paul wrote, the Letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive. And you should have been skeptical. I questioned my beliefs from age 14 till age 19 that is when my introductory experience with God was met with answers to bring me into a more complete knowledge of him. But the difference was I asked him (God) to show me these things cause, just like you, my parents and sunday school teachers could not answer those questions. I Chose to read the book for myself and asked God to explain these things to me.
Oh, I also thought of something else relating to Bryan's statement "All those other religions are based on works, and Christianity.... TRUE Christianity is based on Love." Bryan, you might try looking at other religions more closely. You'll find this statement simply isn't true. At least in all of the major religions you will find sects that base "salvation" on what one thinks and feels, rather than what one does. Furthermore, the notion of a loving God goes back much further than Christianity. I think Zarathustra was one of the first to introduce the concept, in Mesopotamia around 1500BC. Many Hindus and Buddhists also believe that enlightenment (eternal salvation) has nothing to do with "works". They believe enlightenment is attained solely by evolving ones heart and mind into a state of universal love, acceptance, and oneness with God, everyone, and everything.
I studied those religions back when I was in my early 20's I spent an entire year studying these religions. See false doctrine is designed to be deceptive. The Bible says Satan Appears as an Angel of Light. Whose purpose is to deceive those whose eyes are covered from the truth. And it would take long long messages for me to show the various pointed differences between Jehovah (The God of the Hebrews whom I serve) verses Buddah and other Gods.
And let's do this one better than that, Jehovah according to the timeline of the bible is at least 5000 years BC. See when you really study Christianity, The "Jewish" Heavenly father is the one we serve. The Difference is when God Sent his Son Jesus, the Jews rejected him because they knew him, and in Jesus' Own words, A Prophet is not without honor but in his own country. They were familiar with him and thus could not receive from him.
There is more, but I will bite off one at a time.
I Know my God through personal experience and studying his word. There was a time I hated him but when I got to understand his true character and not what some uneducated, unexperienced preacher had to say, I realized who he really was and everything he does is based on his love for us.
James says it this way 1:16-17
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
That is the God I Serve. He is not in the business of teaching me lessons....
James 1:13
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
Take a look around. There's beauty everywhere... in many colors!
Thomas
I See his handiwork all the time
Psalms 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows forth his handywork.
And like you, My Daughters are also the most precious things on the earth. They melt my heart and like any good Daddy I seek to spoil them.
Bryan Giles
