Notice the similarity between the motionless photograph and the painting.
not seeing it - unless you mean that photographs of ‘round things’ are the same as a painting that includes a ‘roundish thing’ and that somehow is evidence of something or other (other, than of course, that round things exist and are common in art and photography)
And even still - neither of them are objective evidence for this so called “holy spirit”.
You do know what ‘objective’ means, don’t you?
It’s the one example of ignorance in this thread that might actually be correctable, at least. We’re not going to talk the OP out of God, but we can at least correct, “Wood floats because it’s not heavy!”
Well, duh - thats how we tell the difference between wood and rocks and witches and ducks!
That’s like science and shit!
The thing that impresses me most about Jesus is that he can look upon a great bucket of dick, and declare lo, for this bucket which is brought unto me contains a surfeit of dick, and yet I absolve it of all suckling and nuzzling thereof. Let this borne witness serve to bring the undecided into the fold.
Where were these spirits? In a bottle?
As a nine year old child, I recognized that it was Jesus and that is all I needed to know at that time. The entire meaning did not come to me until I was of age and able to understand it.
Joel 2:28. “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”
Yes, they are the souls of the dead. And I was not afraid of anything at the time. Come to think of it, this occurred when my parents had split up. That’s why I was on the plane going to stay with my uncle. I had stopped going to church and believing in God.
It’s NOT heavy, try hoisting 16 board foot of steel up to an eave … [whimper whimper]
But it has happened.
http://www.tijani.org/the-vision-of-the-prophet-in-the-islamic-tradition/
For that matter, Hindus have had visions of Shiva ( hinduism.co.za - This website is for sale! - hinduism Resources and Information. ) and Buddhists have had visions of Buddha ( https://sites.google.com/site/dharmadepository/writings/buddhism-and-transcendental-visions ).
How do you respond to accounts such as those?
When Jesus had found me, I had a vision of Him introducing me to Saint Peter.
Saint Peter looks over the flock.
John 21:16. He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me? He said to Him, “yes Lord, You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep.”
Saint Peter holds the keys to heaven.
Mathew 16:19. "And I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven.
There has been more visions as well.
The fallen angels are known as Gods.
How do you know your vision wasn’t of a fallen angel?
I have had relationships with both fallen angels and angels in heaven. I can easily tell the difference.
You got me there … I’ve never heard that before. My understanding is that the angels didn’t actually eat of the fruit of good and evil knowledge, how could they “fall”?
So, you;ve been to both heaven and the netherworlds?
How many times have you died?
I’m going to go ahead and conjecture that there is nothing, anyone, could say or show or do that would move you one inch off what you know, in your core, to be the one true faith, am I right? Not anyone, not any book, or science or logic. Because you believe. Am I right?
So why on earth would anyone so intimately acquainted with deep abiding, unwavering, faith, believe they could say something that would sway some one else? Even if you believe your God is mightier, bigger, stronger, truer or realer, you ,of all people , must intimately know exactly how intractable believers truly are. Why waste your breath?
Its funny. I started reading the OP but got so bored I fell asleep.
My wife was watching one of those musicals only she likes in the other room… and while I was asleep, I had the wildest dream…
cue dream sequence special effects
*I dreamed last night I got on a big white 757
And by some chance I had brought my bible-thump along
And there I stood, and I hollered, “Hallelujah Baby!”
And all the passengers knew something was wrong
**(Some Thing Was Wrong!)
**
For the people all said
Sit down, sit down you’re Havin’ a Stroke!
And the people all said
Sit down, sit down you’re Havin’ a Stroke!
And TSA will drag you outta here
in Tach Gear (for Docs in white coats)
Sit down, sit down (Sit down, sit down)
Sit down, sit down you’re Havin’ a Stroke!
Now I sailed away on that little 757
And by some chance found Jack Chic pamphlets in my fist
And there I stood nicely passin’ out Salvation
But the passengers now were Truly Pissed
(Quite Truly Pissed!)
For the people all said
Sit down, sit down or you’re outta this place!
And the people all said
Sit down, sit down or you’re outta this place!
Toss your ass right out at 50,000 feet
(so you can figure out if you’ll see god’s face)
Sit down, sit down (Sit down, sit down)
Sit down, sit down or you’re outta this place!
Now as I laughed at those passengers on a 757
Two great big men came and tossed me overboard…!
And as I fell, and I hollered out, “Oh dear god save me”
…And the wind whistled at me 'cause it was Bored
(So Ve-ry Bored!)
For the people had said
Sit down, sit down you’re Havin’ a Stroke!
And the people had said
Sit down, sit down you’re Havin’ a Stroke!"
No one wants to hear your book of fear
From Yester-year, you silly Jamoke!
Sit down, sit down (Sit down, sit down)
Sit down, sit down you’re Havin’ a Stroke!*
I would like to share with you some poetry that I had written during my struggles.
the devils -
*in my closet
under my bed
outside my window
in my head
wanting me in hell
giving me a choice
to my decline
I hear their voice
about some demons
in and out of my dreams
except for their powers
they go unseen
God knows where I’ve been
devils driving me insane
being defiled through sin
there’s nothing to gain
for deliverance
obedience is clear
I pray to my Savior
to always be near*
I have both seen and had conversations with demons. One said that it was his job to do evil to me. I was also told that they settle their differences with violence. And I was possessed twice by a demon masquerading as God. His deceit was short lived.
Leviticus 19:31. Give no regards to mediums or familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them; I am Lord your God.
Mediums and familiar spirits involve consulting the spirits of the dead. All contact with these or other spirits was strictly forbidden in Israel. It demonstrated lack of faith in and rebellion against God.
Evil spirits are all around us.
1 Peter 5:8-11. Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory through Christ [Jesus] will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. To Him be dominion forever. Amen.
ScottRP, how do your experiences, and your faith, impact your daily life and your actions? Apart from spending time witnessing, how else do you choose to represent the spirit of Christ in the world? How does your faith make you a better person in the world?
Psychological?..hmmm…ok. I try to be like Jesus. Apart from witnessing, I teach some scripture as well. And obedience to God makes me a better person in the world.