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There's a garden with a mango tree, a few coconut trees, and bamboo shoots below the apartment that I live in, it's a great place to sit down, think, and pray for me. I pray to God, and most of the time I ask him to reveal himself to me. I pray about all sorts of things, like work, love, money. I worry about the future and I ask God for a little help. Sometimes, I just thank God for different things. Sometimes I just look at the birds and the sky, or listen to the crickets at night, and just appreciate nature. Yeah, I pray.
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A prayer to the families of the marines killed in a accident in aussie recently while attending a training exercise.Comment
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My apologies, I was thinking of what Party said and confused it with what you said.Originally posted by Tara123 View Post
I guess my question might have merit still. Is Party correct in this and it is God's plan or are you correct in that it is our own plan?Comment
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I can't believe that God plan's what happens to us. If that so, then I certainly wouldn't want him as my God.Originally posted by Dontrike View Post
Look at events like the Holocaust for example, no that's down to mankind.
We are soley responsible for our actions.Women were created from the rib of man to be beside him, not from his head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but from under his arm to be protected by him, near to his heart to be loved by him.Comment
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Things are never even close to how I choose them to be. In my life I mean. Nevermind the global aspects.Originally posted by Tara123 View PostALL THE WAY WITH GOOD OLE JAY!Comment
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Absolutely!Originally posted by CUSP82 View Post
Although I was raised Catholic, I would say I'm non-practicing. Although I do enjoy Mass for the ritual and knowing that when we do go to Mass, my family in other parts of the country (and world) are discussing the same scriptures. But, I don't believe organized religion is the end-all/be-all of Faith.
Re: Praying specifically, I pray nightly. I thank God for all the amazing things he's given me and my family. I have a roof over my head and food on the table every day -- no matter what challenges I'm personally facing, there are millions of people that don't have those things, so I have to be thankful. It helps me keep things in perspective.
When things are challenging I pray for strength to make the right decisions and the faith to know that I can get through anything. It helps me keep centered during times of strife, while also, again, being thankful for the blessings I do have.
I always pray for my friends and family who are in special need at that time. Some of you are in my nightly prayers - you know who you are. Anyone who needs prayers are more than welcome to PM me at any time. I'd be happy to add you to my list.
I truly believe the energy you put out in the world either has a positive or negative effect. I personally have seen the power of prayer and how faith and positivity can make miracles happen.
No, I don't believe God controls every single aspect of our lives. Someone mentioned - If there's a God, how can he let things like the Holocaust happen? -- well, I believe Man has freewill.
We are not puppets in a scripted play. Rather, we're given options. My final prayer each night is that everyone in the world will see which path they're meant to walk down, even if it's difficult, even if it's dark at the moment - that we all have the strength and the love in our heart and the courage to spend our time on this Earth making it a better place.Comment
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Though I sometimes call out His name during sex, I am actually addressing my wife.Originally posted by CUSP82 View PostValued Member of 12+ years at the PEGym12/'09 (start) NBP EL - 4.5, EG - 4.4
12/11 NBPEL - 5.1, MSEG - 5
01/13 NBPEL - 5.35, MSEG - 5.1
01/14 NBPEL - 5.35, MSEG - 5.25
01/16 NBPEL - 5.4, MSEG - 5.5
Fat Pad = 1+/-
Real cars have two seats. Everything else is a bus.Comment
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I pray to God Almighty because I need Him and His strength everyday. This doesn't make me weak or having a crutch...this means that I realize that I need His grace, mercy, and forgiveness everyday.How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! ~ Song of Solomon 4:10
“For things to change, you have to change.” - Jim Rohn, The Art of Exceptional LivingComment
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LOL, as a great theologian said, this is an adult conversation.
This IS an adult conversation.
Prayer is simply a conversation one believes to be having with some being who listens.
Some Christians only prayer to the Godhead (Father, Spirit, Son)
Some Christians prayer to angels and dead saints (who they believe to be alive and made perfect in the spirit realm)
Nature worshiping religions also prayer to elements and anthropomorphisms of natural creation such as moon, sun, stars, etc.
To say prayer is "a crutch" or "this" or "that" is an oversimplification, a logical inaccuracy, and does not describe at all what "prayer" encompasses.
In most religions, prayer combines both the idea that there is a helper/creator/sustaner (God, universe, nature) with the idea we need to be connected in relationship to it/him/her.
There are four main groups of prayer
Supplication (asking for help and blessings)
Praise (giving thanks for things)
and my theological term
complaining (about living in a fallen/imperfect/ world)
prophetic (speaking desires over what you want to happen)
My stepdad gave me a ride to a dilation eye exam today, I needed his help but I would not say he was/is a crutch.
And even if he was, there is NOTHING wrong with needing help from others.
You so called "free thinkers" who look down on needing a "crutch/God" fail to see that most of your opinions were formed with the help of others and not of original thought. The very mechanism of learning is based on the need of support.
In fact, the very mechanism in which you learn to speak and write is SOLELY based on support from others, some crutch
After high school I need support at college
After college I need graduate support
After that, post graduate/doctorate
IF there is a God such as the Bible says, as I believe, and if that God is the giver/creator of our human ability to reason and think logically, then it would be foolish for me to pursue learning and understanding through human educational systems without also seeking the source of all knowledge.
If on the other hand there is no God, then EVERY militant atheist does nothing but waste time trying to fight against believers.
"If Jesus was not God, was not resurrected, then it means nothing, if He is God and is risen then it means everything."
So that is my big worded educated answer. As a normal person I can say this, faith and prayer is a bitch. a double edged sword. I pray all the time for others to be blessed, healed, made whole, and for the bitterness and suffering in this world to be lessened. I have to at the same time hold on the hope of restoration while seeing the pain in this fallen world. Hope is hard to hold on to, easy to give up.
This world is fallen, Christians say because of sin. We see that the world is filled with the greatest injustice. Children aborted, born with cancer, all other sicknesses. So yes, this world sucks in that way, no normal person would wish this on anyone.
Yet we see a glimpse of beauty, a shadow of paradise that the bible teaches this world was and will be again.
The beauty of Nature, of creation, of diversity, even the heavens, how the moon, sun, and Earth are ordered in the sky. These things are beautiful no matter what your beliefs.Last edited by closed278; 08-09-2017, 01:39 AM.Comment
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I am always praying for others. For myself, I just say "Thank you, Lord." I think I
always prayed a lot in my own way--guess I still do.Comment
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A thought on religion: https://www.pegym.com/forums/gym/114...ml#post1407572A candle loses nothing by lighting another candleComment
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