The here today, gone tomorrow thread. (And it doesn't really matter if you pray)

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
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Birmingham, al
I will not pollute up other members threads with this rant.

And I know that it will get moved, or removed sooner or later. It is not my intention to be indifferent to anybody here. If you believe in God, believe.
Believe what you want for that matter. I'm not here to change your mind, and It would be fruitless to try.

I just gotta say this:

I see and hear it everyday. Somebody giving credit to God fro answering their prayer, or looking out for their loved ones. Because for some reason or the other that person didn't die, didn't get shot, didn't suffer, got the job, made more money, was able to buy the house, or simply made the decision to choose Coke instead of Pepsi. The whole thought process seems a little naive.

Somebody gives credit to God for somehow guiding their love one to make a decision to turn off of the path that a deranged "active shooter" is on, while at the same time another person at the other end of the road has just chosen to turn on to it. One person lives that day, another person dies. Does it not seem naive then to assume that God chose the loved one instead of the poor bastard at the other end of the street?

You can apply this thought to every scenario imaginable. Whether it be in a hospital waiting room, on a battlefield, in a school, on the ball field, or in a job interview,...for all of those that pray that they're saved, make the right choice, or get what they want,............. there's just as many that didn't.

Maybe it's because the other guy didn't pray enough? or as often?

"We can't fathom how the lord works,..... our feeble minds can't even imagine the process". "God had a different plan for you ( or him, or her) ." " The lord works in mysterious ways."..."It's a miracle!" All come out of the mouths of people who can't explain why or how something happened, because at the other end, there's somebody who needs to hear it.

Too many people suffer at the hands of other men. Too many people are abused, injured and killed. Just as many people suffer quirks of fate. (i.e. the pedestrian bridge collapse that smashed cars beneath) How many of these people believe ya spose?

A large percentage did. Yet,....there they are.

This is what I think.
With very little exception, men suffer their fates at the hands of other men. Men kill other men.
At the same time, it's the people who save people. Whether at the hands of a doctor, a therapist, a fireman, a policeman, soldier, or a minister....it's the people right here on earth that change our circumstance. Nobody or nothing else.
 
Whew, thats some serious stuff for a Wednesday morning. Its one of those things where if it bothers you, move on to the next thread brother. I get what youre saying, and just quizzed one of my religious buddies the other day. He has and continues to make unethical choices in life, but goes to church regulary and thinks he is a good person for it. Thing is, he is a great friend, and over all a decent person, and lastly, who am I to judge... I do me, and he does he. Get back to assembling the Monster!
 
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Yeah I usually try to stay out of all of that, believe whatever makes you feel whole. As for myself I can't fathom how there can be so many different versions of God... Don't pick the wrong one! Better get in this arbitrary building and pray or you won't be blessed... Really?
Now I know my views usually ruffle feathers and if you are religious I mean you no offense, i tried to be part of the faith at one time. The only thing I found to be true, some people use it as a crutch to be as crooked as they want and repent for it on Sunday.
 
I make a point not to bring religion up in conversation as I'm with you guys, believe what you want to believe. I have no faith and haven't for years. I agree with all that was said above. I don't care what you believe or where you can from, I only care who you are right now. My fiancé does have faith and we've made it work just fine for 15+ years. You control the things that happen in your life whether they be good or bad.
 
. I get what youre saying, and just quizzed one of my religious buddies the other day. He has and continues to make unethical choices in life, but goes to church regulary and thinks he is a good person for it.

I've actually got a "friend" like that. Does absolutely repulsive things at times, but "finds God" every couple of months and thinks all is forgiven.

I'm actually atheist, and lead a pretty good, caring life in which I donate quote a bit of time, money and service to helping others. But according to him I'm the evil person because of my lack of God. :rolleyes:

I believe in people. People for the most part are awesome. It doesn't matter what you believe because good people come in all shapes ,forms, beliefs, etc. Once in a while you run into an a hole.
 
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You can believe or not believe, the choice is each of ours, our free will. If those who choose to believe are right, then they did the best by choosing. If the ones who choose to believe are wrong and there is no eternal life in Heaven, then they are no worse off.

On the other hand, those who choose not to believe.....are doomed to Hell whether God exist or not.

Just as those who posted above, I am not ashamed to speak on my beliefs or my faith. As a Christian I know I fail daily, we are human. Where we [Christians] fail the most is not living the life we should and judging others. Judging is not our job, but too many times we do this and turn others away.

I could easily write off all those who come in here and denounce God's existence, but what is worse, those who do not believe or those who believe and still refuse to follow? It's not up to me to decide that. My job is to follow Christ and share him with those around me. Sometimes that means talking with others about him and other times it simply means letting others see him in me by my behavior and actions.

This thread does break my heart, but it gives me an opportunity to share my beliefs just as everyone else has.

Mike eluded to the evils of this world, and he is right. I have never openly talked about my profession because we had policy at work against social media post. However, as of December 31st 2017, I have "retired" from law enforcement where I was a dayshift patrol Seargent. I had spent time in various other positions over the years including Investigations and serving on our tac team. I say all that to say this: I have seen many evil men and women. I have seen children executed in their sleep, multiple people murdered over drug deals, husbands killing their wives or baby's momma, people killed by drunk drivers or just plain stupid drivers, a 5 year old girl who was raped and had her head beat against a tree in an attempt to kill her, the list can go on and on.

This stuff tests your faith daily, but there has to be hope out there. As for me and my family, we choose to believe in a loving God. I don't judge anyone who doesn't, I just hope that each of you will choose to believe before it's too late.

Joe
 
I am not athiest, but I also dont believe you need to gather in church every weekend to believe in a higher being. If there is a God, I think he/she/it will accept me for the fact I live a good ethical life and do well to others, knowing that in my end I will either have it good or bad, where ever my spirit lands. What trips my trigger the most with religion is that those that have strong beliefs always want to push them on others. That pushes me away more than anything else. If a person wants to believe and base their life on it, by all means thats great. Just dont go around telling everyone else that may not be on your level that they are in some kind of danger if I dont get to that level. And that is not directed at anyone on this site, just my experience in my personal life. I have nothing against anyone here, each of you has been nothing but kind and helpful to me which is all I can ask for.
 
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A friend of mine in college had a bumper sticker that read, "Is your God dead? Try one of mine." :)
I've often wondered how people can praise the Lord for good things happening, yet cry "How could He let this happen?!" when something bad happens to them? If God has a plan, well, there it is.
It really annoys me when people go to church every Sunday and say they're better for it, yet still do everything against those lessons the rest of the week. Seems very hypocritical to me.
I don't claim to know everything... I know everything else. ;)
 
A friend of mine in college had a bumper sticker that read, "Is your God dead? Try one of mine." :)
I've often wondered how people can praise the Lord for good things happening, yet cry "How could He let this happen?!" when something bad happens to them? If God has a plan, well, there it is.
It really annoys me when people go to church every Sunday and say they're better for it, yet still do everything against those lessons the rest of the week. Seems very hypocritical to me.
I don't claim to know everything... I know everything else. ;)
That's why I stopped going to church a long time ago. It's my business, I don't solicit it to others, I can worship from the privacy of my own home anytime I want. I've been brow beaten too many times by the "1 uppers" where no matter what you do, they're better than you. Besides, groups of religious fanatics are notorious for doing stupid acts, as well as violent ones.
 
I expected as much.

It's living in the South. In the heart of the bible belt, you hear it every day. "Did you pray on it?"

Pray for guidance, pray for an answer, pray for good fortune, pray that you don't choke on the dinner that you are praying over.
*You've got to prey,...You've got to prey,.....You've got to prey just to make it today"


* M.C. Hammer.

Today I just cracked a little. Not wanting to take anything away from the few members that have had some bad things happen to them lately,...I read a particular reply, and it forced the reply vomit that I gurged out this morning.

I guess I'm as close to an atheist as can be defined, except I'm willing to consider a creator. But even that is a stretch.

I keep thinking stuff like why didn't God send Moses into Egypt w/ an M1 Abrams instead of a stick. I mean,...He is God after all,...He should be able to see what we do/can do from the beginning to the end. An M1A isn't the biggest thing, or the worst thing he could've sent in there, but at least it would've saved all of those fish, and frogs, not to mention all of the first born Egyptian children.

Moses pops the hatch and steps up:...... " Hey P-Money,...You're gonna have to let these people go,.....The big guy commands it"
Pharoah: "Tell the big guy that I ain't doin' jack"
Moses: " This is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you".

Moses commands Joseph to load one round of HE, and train the smooth bore on the Sphinx. "Gunner! Heat Sphinx!" Joeseph calls back "Identified!",..."Up!"
Moses commands "Fire!"
WHOOM!
The sphinx explodes back into the sand it came from.
Pharoah: "Whoa! Maybe I was a little hasty."
 
All viewpoints are welcome here, and I'm glad you are able to help others as much as possible. :)

My views stated or implied above are simply my own, based on my personal experiences. No offense to others intended.
None taken sir. I've been around here long enough to stick to Mustangs and political things. And to ban Strype.