What led you to God?

Charlie--I messed around with your opening post a bit too much! I am a bit of a fussy guy in regards to opening posts!What was I thinking? I read all of your earlier posts at EvC forum. I remember you telling us about church camp. I never understood exactly what it was that happened to you there. (I edited you a bit...tell me if I misinterpreted your flow.)Personally, I interpret your topic as a sort of a testimony and a rhetorical question to EvC members at large. For those of us who believe that we know God, how did we find Him? I felt an emptiness inside...I could not describe it! It was like being in love with a girl that I had not yet met. One day at church, the blinders came off and I knew that I knew that God was real and that He really loved me!Its not about theology classes or definitions. Its not about Greek and Hebrew studies, or the philosophy of religion. To me, it is similar to how you described it, Charlie: Looking out a window at nature and being around friends and having awareness of family---when suddenly a light goes on and God is right there! Many people honestly say that they have had no such experience or that they tried and failed to connect to God. I respect their feelings yet I cannot understand how they feel!This message has been edited by Phat, 12-10-2005 01:49 AM

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Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.
Pensées (1670)We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart.
Pensées (1670)Heb 4:12-13-- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Holy Spirit--speaking through the Apostle Paul

Hi, pink sasquatch!---I noticed that you had a few questions directed at Prophex and wondered if you wanted my input on them also.Here is my input: In my opinion, God presents Christ to individuals and communities on the planet. A Christian does not become a Christian by birth, or indoctorination, or education. A Christian becomes a Christian through impartation, IMHO. It depends on what the missionary(ies) are doing. If they are shoving tracts in peoples faces outside a Rolling Stones concert--declaring that Mick Jagger is the antichrist--they are going against Gods plan, IMHO. If, however, they are helping an old lady clean out her garage, or helping habitat for humanity build a house for someone than they are being Christ-like rather than using the name of Christ to glorify their egos or whatever. Empirically, we could not measure the "good" Spirit from the imitation wannabe spirits. I would simply go with this scripture in answer to that question: Now...this does not mean that standing on a pulpit hollaring about fire and brimstone means that you know Christ. To know means to behave as He did and help the needy and the simple people---not just the cool looking ones or the ones that can do something for you. If there is only One God and One Spirit, He will draw you unto Him...any truth seeker that is worshipping other "gods" will either be drawn towards the Holy Spirit BY the Spirit or will believe the lie....since they had no internal love of the Truth.(The living Christ=the living Truth.)

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Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.
Pensées (1670)We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart.
Pensées (1670)Heb 4:12-13-- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Holy Spirit--speaking through the Apostle Paul

I had to give Brian an honest answer! PORTEUS, its just like sharing music! You love to give the crowd that special vibe!

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Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.
Pensées (1670)We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart.
Pensées (1670)Heb 4:12-13-- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Holy Spirit--speaking through the Apostle Paul

Its like this, Ringo....you meet a beautiful girl and you fall in love. She becomes the fullfillment of your life!Never a day goes by that you don't thank God (or your "lucky stars" or fate, or any generic system outside of your control) that you met her! If I were to ask you what your life was like before you met her...you would probably pause and then say that although you had many fun times before you met her, you simply could not imagine life without her at this point in time!Same with God. You seem to be trying to get me to say that happiness and reality can exist without God...but I am telling you that once He fills your heart you cannot see life without Him ever again!!At least give me a C+!

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Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.
Pensées (1670)We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart.
Pensées (1670)Heb 4:12-13-- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Holy Spirit--speaking through the Apostle Paul

Brandon, I liked your answer! In fact I loved it! I want you to get to know Charlie on a deeper level! I know both of you and I know that you can help Charlie with some of the issues that he faces and, at the very least, you can pray with each other! E mail him for me, please Brandon! OK? (Tell him that I asked you to do so..share your blog with him.) Nive avatar, btw! I like the shadow effect and the overall effect of the pic!PB

Ringo, the man in the black hat with the good heart! How are you this morning? OK, OK... Twist my arm. Sheesh. Life Before God:
1) Addictions
2)Loneliness
3)blissful times partying with friends...none of whom had any more of a clue about life than I did.
4) No knowledge of Charismaniacal church folk beyond what I saw on TV.
5) A vibrant life filled with an endless striving to climb high mountains, lose more weight, and find myself in the process.

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Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.
Pensées (1670)We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart.
Pensées (1670)Heb 4:12-13-- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Holy Spirit--speaking through the Apostle Paul

Content removed pending the confirmation from DL that it's okay to post.This message has been edited by Phat, 12-14-2005 05:43 PMThis message has been edited by AdminJar, 12-14-2005 08:15 PM

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Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.
Pensées (1670)We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart.
Pensées (1670)Heb 4:12-13-- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Holy Spirit--speaking through the Apostle Paul

I am more worried about the 21st century con-men that I encounter. Even the colleges are full of them, although the churches also have their share! I'll go with my heart and my intuition.

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Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.
Pensées (1670)We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart.
Pensées (1670)Heb 4:12-13-- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Holy Spirit--speaking through the Apostle Paul

Brennakimi! My homie! Worldwide, just so ya know!I believe that you should follow your heart. If your heart leads you towards another path, and your intuition agrees...then you should not be reponsible should God be real...now, should you?study the hearts and intentions of the messengers...not just the intellectual arsenal that they have amassed.

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Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.
Pensées (1670)We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart.
Pensées (1670)Heb 4:12-13-- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Holy Spirit--speaking through the Apostle Paul

pssst...chat

I suppose that it is debateable whether the purpose is entirly within ones own mind or whether it arose outside of the mind.This message has been edited by Phat, 01-18-2006 09:13 AM

Mike, you are back! Dang you have long explanations!! Here is my two cents worth:1) About the Bible: Some say it is innerrent and others say it is full of errors and contradictions. My opinion is that there is a definite character BEHIND the book, and the character of God speaks true to the heart....but He reaches us---we never "find" Him through intellectual verification!2) About God: To some of you, He is unnecessary. Perhaps, but if you can read my replies and listen to me--a human whom you really dont know---why not extend to Him the same invitation? You may never get an answer for ten years, but it does not mean that you conclude that nobody is knockin at your soul!

Are we taking sides? I now am Faiths lawyer! All future correspondance must be filtered through me!

OK...Hmmmm... A nail can be hammered with a wrench or a screwdriver as well as with a hammer, eh?The inventor of the hammer saw a need that was not entirely his own imagination----it was a practical consensus among many---otherwise, he would have not sold many hammers. People could have bought wrenches, used rocks, or even tried to use the automobile to pound nails into boards. The purpose of the hammer, seen with the eyes of the user, is subjective in that the use arises within their own logic internally. The purpose of the hammer, in a practical sense, was objective as the idea came from the maker of the hammer initially.All belief may well be subjective as the need for such and/or awareness of such springs forth internally.
The Creator, on the other hand, may well be an objective reality outside of our minds regardless of whether or not we have a subjective need or awareness of such a Being.Were one to ask God why He exists, the answer may well be I AM that I AM. For some reason, the Creator created us (through evolution, hocus pocus, or however He did it) with a built-in awareness that had the ability to see life without Him.Man discovered fire...(it was already a reality) yet we later invented matches. In the same context, humans may well discover God (or Not) yet we will never invent Him since by definition He preceeded us.In the context of the O.P. What led me to God, I would have to definitely say that I discovered God one day yet in reality He was there all along! This message has been edited by Phat, 01-19-2006 12:17 PM

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For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.