Is God triune?

 I used to believe in the Catholic trinity I heard but, if you don't mind this simple idea I will leave: At the cross I see two things happening. GOD, who dwelt in Jesus' body-TEMPLE left Him alone in that cross that now saves us. That was the moment Our Lord and Savior Jesus quoted Psal 22.


So, to my dull understanding, GOD "died" leaving Jesus body alone in His cross. Later on, few moments, the very Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ died, leaving His own body; because dying is leaving the earthly body (and those cells die the medical way we probably know, from lack of oxygen, etc).


On the other hand, no one would die for misunderstanding the theory of the trinity (same way those who believe in the theory of the evolution, a thing i desbelive). I have believed GOD dwelt in Jesus body and, several times GOD spoke using Jesus' mouth and, if Jesus was God, our Father, how come would the devil have dared to test Him in the dessert?


Thank you again! I have spent years believing that way and, when i die, I hope this possible sin be forgiven too, because I'm tired of believing things "heard" and big truths, like these, GOD could help His people understand or believe, but no one will die for being dull... Just and example -the apostle Thomas- He had to see the resurrected LORD to believe He was alive and resurrected so, that one who spent more than 3 years with the Lord, who saw His miracles (and God's too) disbelieved the Good News (His Gospel) and this secular hermit rejects following things heard -and taught- by human traditions and Catholic lecturers.

I dared to be wrong (and wronged) by saying it publicly and I hope God (or Jesus) see the personal struggle I have largely inside (and I'm not the only one with this). And John's gospel tells more on those things, but that is a second hand "experience" I want Jesus would sort out because each time I read the 1st martyr (Stephen's witness) he said He saw "two", because he said Jesus was somewhere at God's hand (I forgot that place of Acts) and I hope it wasn't another Jews way to say things NOT ACTUALLY seen.

Somebody asked me: "So, what would it take to convince you?"

I said: "God's (or Jesus') self revelation but, Jesus clearly told his believers to believe in God and ALSO in Him, not only by the works He mentioned on John's. So, I think salvation doesn't not depend on believing in the theory of the trinity, but in Jesus, for he said: "Whomever who does not believe in me, dishonors my Father..." 

So, by being dull (and earthly limited) I do not dishonor Him, neither His Father."

Love at 1st sight?

Many folks grew with this hunch. Many watched those romantic movies telling our heart “this might be true” but, how many people have found it as completely true?

Perhaps many grew with Disney's movies. Millions of people heart it was real, up to the moment the faced it wasn't that way, but it was worthy to keep it alive, because it gave them live.

I can remember a couple of faces I saw in my childhood, but that feeling it wasn't love, but a desire to get it, to have it, to hold it; but it wasn't real, we didn't make it worked.

Growing old we saw those faces, but we couldn't get their minds, their inner beings and, if we ever had a glimpse on those hearts, we all were to dark to see the light in between: We split, we left, we hurt when being hurt (or cheated on).

Love is not just a telling, a feeling, it's a real giving. Love is not a simple choice, it is much more than a simple decision: It's a willful decision.

Someone wrote “the Curse of choosing a soul-mate” and said something about Rebekkah and Isaac. He said God was all behind that marriage, but he forgot to tell that there were more human reasons pushing Rebekkah to marry a man she never saw or knew. He bypassed mentioning the monetary status Rebekkah (and her family) saw as an additional blessing on Isaac's father, because that servant told them Isaac was the heir of Abraham's belongings.

That someone wrote this: “ If Rebekah went to Isaac, without seeing him, and accept it as the Will of God/Elohim, then why do all of these "believers" today think that they get to cast the deciding vote? ”. I'd like to share my ideas here -and there- because I cannot post in that article I found it “fine”, up to the moment that person said “it is a curse making a personal choice”.

As far as I read the OT, I see GOD gave each man freewill. He brought to Adam each animal and Adam gave them some names (I don know) but it is the first proof I see He (God) man freedom to pick, to choose, as a freewill.

Afterwards, He saw the man so “alone”, that He gave him an Eve...

How come will a man be ONE, with his “flesh”, if a woman lacks what he likes from a woman?

I guess Adam saw something “missing” he founded out on the person GOD gave him to LOVE, to care, to protect, etc.

Rebekkah, on the other side, saw Isaac's grace on the prosperity his servant brought to her house. Laban bent down, as a servant, just after he saw the generosity that man carried, but it was for Abraham's sake. It wasn't the servant's wealth! (Do you need to pick “poverty” instead of some earthly confort?)

God prospered Abraham and that servant way's, but the blessing was on Abraham's hand, and on Isaac reach, as heir.

Yesterday I visited someone (whose name I won't say) and she told me some domestic problems she had at home. She told me her man hides the coke or bread he buys, just to avoid that person's daughter eats what he brought “home”. I got shocked, but I was told he came to her life when he was jobless, when he wasn't studying and -barely- he had finished high school and -being in that condition- she took him into her heart (and house) and, more than once, she gave him money and helped him to finish a college career. Let's thank GOD for that! But now he is jealous his benefactor had had one children before they both have “made” one son he now wants as her unique heir...

Wow! He is not jealous of my friend's daughter. His zeal is not for his son, because I know he likes that woman's daughter leaves them alone in that apartment, to get more marital power and, in case they divorce, he thinks he could get his big share (I know it! Because I have talked with him, several times, before I knew this domestic problem).

None of them are committed Christians.

That person is a sibling, so I am related to this very closely, and I am happy to know SHE LOVES HIM THE WAY HE IS (He was hurt in his childhood; but I don't condone it, because both parents are responsible for the end of this very local “domestic” problem: They made a choice and one is eagerly more coherent -and committed- with this loving and unresolved problem: That woman).

I don't know how they fell in love. I don't need to know how romantic that was. “Romantic” is that they sort it out, because that woman had a daughter from a man who mistreated and, now, she see another man misbehaves, but both agreed on having one son (not legally married! But in Venezuela same “right” applies as if they were a married couple).

Love at first sight is -somewhat- and infatuation. All those hopes, wishes, may come in a flashback dream, but it needs cement, GOD as a matchmaker, and renewed commitments. I'm sure all made wrong choices but, those who keep them alive, are devoted to the person they chose, and seldom (or never) planned to be cheating, because they stopped winking at their secrets emotions.

Why do you see too many persons getting well dressed on Fridays?

Do they plan a date with another person (not being their spouses)?

God assured Isaac's wife by giving some wealth to his father. God worked on Rebekkah, but also worked on the ways this present world works: Material stuff are an asset, particularly when a woman already has children (or plans to get them).

I don't know why many persons hide with their lies.

I'm sure Abraham chose his wife willfully, from his very people or siblings. Just read the O.T. What was the reason he called her “sister”? It was! But they didn't have the same parents. Moses took another wife, different from the former, and the new one was from Africa... Was it the reason Miriam fought against his brother's leadership?

Jacob loved the one he chose, but Laban tricked him to get him would work for seven more years... Was it love at first sight? Jacob showed the love he had for Rachel with deeds, not with empty words.

The whole life tells me we needed to choose -and pick- each decision. Those granted things were sometimes disregarded. Those who came along, who wanted to be very close to us -by clinging- were somehow despised or utterly ignored with their fears and pains, hurt, with those lies we thought we could hide.

Someone talked back. He told he (or she) could be hidden as long as it pleased, but history has shown humans needed to make choices and God, as well, has shown He made His decisions and -the last- was sending His own Son to invite us to repent, to turn away from our “domestic” sins...

What an awesome history Jesus has written in our lives!

A.T.

P.S.

Wow! Here's a reply someone gave at that religious person who have said “there was a curse when choosing”. I just leave it here for you to see:

“Listen, this whole dating thing is wired into the human brain. The way people and other living creatures work is that we seek out the strongest, smartest, nicest, kindest, prettiest, healthiest partner that we can find. You shouldn't blame people for that. This is the way we work. You don't want to marry a frog, do you? So, outward appearance does matter. Of course, if we were living in a culture where arranged marriages are the norm, then we would probably go with our traditions. I don't know where you live, but in my culture, we have to find our partners ourselves. Others aren't going to do it for us, so we have to do it ourselves. This has some advantages and disadvantages, of course.

Everybody is different in some ways, so all of us aren't looking for the exact same woman or the exact same man. But we all look for someone who appears intelligent, healthy, etc... you get the point. By the way, I don't think that you should put so much emphasis on the word "soul mate." Marriage is about love. You either love someone or you don't. Of course, people can easily and naturally co-exist with some people but not with others. We also have to find a partner that is a good fit. In other words, if two people are roommates and can't get along at all, then those people would not make a good couple, I think. ”

Removing the leaven: Random Jesus' commands.

I see it impossible that another men could be revealing God better than Jesus, the one who came out of Him. Yet He said there were things His disciples were not ready to bear or understand but, it's hard to believe Jesus' job was incomplete.

If I'm honest enough I'm going to dare to say I don't believe the traditions I once believed and I don't care being rejected by men, but from God and Jesus.

No man but Jesus knew God better than Himself. God dwelt in His body so they were ONE spiritually, but not the same. Pick up your stones when I say Peter neither Paul could be more enlightened than Jesus regarding God's issues and here are few hints:

“Do not be called rabbis, leaders or fathers...” (Jesus on Matt. 23:8-10)

I just contrasted this teaching of Jesus vs Paul's and I've fond Shaul Paul loved to be called “father” and he addressed as sons several of his disciples (I Cor. 4:17; I Tim. 1:2, 18; II Tim. 1:2; Phm 1:10). In a letter to Philemon (Phm. 1:8, 19) he made used of a sort of authority I never read or heard of from the Lord Jesus and before that claim, he said he avoided being compulsive (Phm. 1:14) which is not true.
Jesus spoke about equality (Matt. 23:8) and He also said what I would invite you to read on Matthew 20:25-28.
Can I demand things from BROTHERS by using my “spiritual” authority?
I felt Paul´s words somewhat biased on things linked to authority I never heard from Jesus´ teachings. “It shall not be so among you…”He said (Matt. 20:26).
Is it Jesus´ teaching or Paul´s what I need to obey? So I'd better choosing Jesus' guidelines, particularly when Paul seemed to be the one founding churches under a hierarchical coverage the rest of the apostles too seldom wrote about.
Yes! I'm a sinner! Use your stones to shoot down your sins too, to lord your traditions over me.
The RCC chose Peter as their “cornerstone”, but Christian foundation rests on Jesus' example.
Several religious traditions are after the RCC´s as well as their commercial calendar we now have rulings as X-mass or those days like Sunday, Moonday...

If you have liked the Pauline epistles, I have liked more the 4 Gospels.

Yes! Ignore me and ban me from wherever you want. If you are perfect enough and holy as Jesus and God wants us to be, just follow Paul´s command: 1Co_5:11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
Excommunicate me but I'm not longer the one I was and I've planned to remove the leaven I had.
Have you wondered why we have those churches emptied?

A brief random list of Jesus' commands:

1) I don't need another teacher, leader or father (Matt 23:8-10)

2) My “good” deeds are not to be shown in boastful arrogance (Matt 23:5-6)

3) I should learn to be humble (Matt 23:11-12)

4) Christianism is not another means to make profits or material gain (Matt 23:14-15)

5) I will not twist the former law with convenient human traditions (Matt 23:16-22) less they be reinforced by swearing lies (Lev. 11:11) misusing God's name.

6) Jesus is not God the Father, but His Son “...who was made a little lower than the angels...” (Heb. 2:9). I have settled down -just for me - that RCC invented that doctrine of the trinity and Jesus spoke for Himself: “My teaching is not mine, but He who sent me. If any man is willing to do His will (…) or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:16-17). How come they could be the same?

7) I don't need to seek my glory, but God's. “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who is seeking the glory of the ONE who sent him.” (John 7:18)

8) I don´t need to judge because he ordered me to avoid it, otherwise, I´ll be judged (Matt. 1-2). Jesus´s words will judge me the last day (John 12:48)

9) God´s commamets are eternal and Jesus (Jn 12:50) said they would no cease untill the earth and heavens would have passed and he spoke from the Father´s mouth.

10) God is able to kill both the bod and the soul (Matt. 10:28) Why didn´t He talked about the "spirit" of men here? I was taught we´re spirit, body and soul but Jesus said another thing made of two things that could be saved, the body and its soul (which is the real me, my ID). James also confirmed a body without its spirit is dead, like a dead faith fruitless (James 2:26) and contrary to Jesus Heb. 4:12 seemed to be backing up the trinitarian doctrine... No doubt Jesus spoke about the material nature of the flesh and of inmaterial / spiritual nature of the souls of each man. Mind exists because I have a body and living energy in it, yet both aren´t not made of the same elements. As God is Spirit (Jn 4:24) I´m also a body abled to have a living spirit.

11) Jesus praised the open and spontaneous attitude of Zacheus. His decision was sharing half of his wealth with the needy and the giving back of the money "he might have gotten the wrong way" from his people, as a restitution (Lk 19:8). Zacheous willfully turned away to follow God´s ways as a son of Abraham (Lk 19:9). What a change of mind! That was the same attitude His apostles did when they also left what they have to serve and study from Him. John´s teaching was coherent with Jesus´ (Lk 3:11) John sought the turning back to mercy and frugal compassion (Lk 3:13-14b) where several hearts were turned back to repentance and love (Lk 1:17b). Did John called people to live like a poor? No! It wasn´t a call to the material abandonement he was living for years and, properly, Zacheous left 50 percent of what he had! Who would not turn back to love and justice that way?

It could be assumed Jesus was living the same way John would have lived (Matt 3:11, 14) and John witnessed himself what he saw in Jesus, for He was blameless and it was proved to him GOD chose Him (Jn 1:29, 31, 33-34). Something special he attested about Jesus (Jn 1:30; Lk 3:6). Can I believe Jesus was morally coherent when asking those things He asked His followers and apostles? (Matt. 19:27, 29). Yes! If He was rich His lifetime He left what He earthly got to serve His Father those years in preaching. He had no place to dwell or sleep (Matt. 8:20) because He wanted His followers to depend on God´s daily provisions and He surely left a bunch of things behind (Lk 9:61-62).

Jesus was morally and spiritually fitted to ask those things He left Himself first (Jn 10:38).

12) Does the church have power to save people and itself, as the RCC believed, as well with many people? (Matt. 7:22-23). For "on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken... There will be two grinding the same place... one will be left." (Lk 17:34-36) Where am I resting or grinding now?

To be continued… September 22, 2014

“Habéis oído... pero yo os digo...”

Cada vez que alguien “contradiga” lo que se supone establecido, como un absoluto verdadero, habrá alguna reacción, cuando menos mental y hasta emocional. No se trata -necesariamente- de refutar, de negar lo que otro piense, sino de añadir algo superior y, quizá, más verdadero.

Jesús perfeccionó cumpliendo las cosa que sólo se decían. Si lo veo como un pecador, no tendría moral para añadir a lo que no cumplía más, siendo el que Dios escogió, el hombre en quien Su plenitud habitó, Dios mismo daba crédito y testimonio a lo que Su hijo amado decía (siendo Dios mismo el Espíritu que hablaba junto con su hijo).

Son varias las citas en que Cristo parecía “abolir” lo que dijo el Padre, y eso puede investigarlo usted mismo en Mat_5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39. ¿Jesús contradijo al Padre? Simplemente hizo ver una verdad nueva y perfeccionada.

Si alguien dijo, alguna vez: “...la raíz de todos los males es el amor al dinero...” (1 Tim. 6:10) Jesús dijo algo mayor y, dicho de los males humanos: La raíz de nuestros males está en no amar a Dios primeramente; y está en no amar al prójimo, como debíamos amarnos a nosotros mismos (Marco 12:32-33, Lucas 10:27). Fíjese que, Pablo mismo, aclaró tal verdad, de otro modo: “Rom_13:10 El amor no hace mal al prójimo; así que el cumplimiento de la ley es el amor.”

Es posible que, quienquiera que contradiga una verdad, padezca la apatía, la indiferencia, incluso la animosidad de quienes oigan una opinión distinta, porque se va contra una enseñanza largamente aceptada como principio, particularmente si ello va contra lo que se estima como un sistema religioso, contra la identidad de un grupo y lo que se supone la verdad que -cada individuo- está llamado a defender, privada o grupalmente.

Jesús no refutó al Padre, añadió y perfeccionó, cumpliendo lo que decía. Su verdad era superior a la práctica de Sus días, Su significancia era superior: Dios mismo hablando por la boca de Su hijo y, desde mi punto de vista, mucho gira al culto al personalismo a lo que hayan dicho los apóstoles y, en ese mismo sentido, Saulo Pablo habló de lo que oyó en su tiempo: “1Co_1:12 Quiero decir, que cada uno de vosotros dice: Yo soy de Pablo; y yo de Apolos; y yo de Cefas; y yo de Cristo.” Y, siendo más justo a lo que deseo de mí mismo, digo: “1Co_3:4 Porque diciendo el uno: Yo ciertamente soy de Pablo; y el otro: Yo soy de Apolos, ¿no sois carnales?

Si en ese tiempo había culto al personalismo, a la fama y a la parcialidad -hoy- también lo tenemos y, en relación a Jesucristo ¿Qué es otro hombre o mujer?

1Co_3:5 ¿Qué, pues, es Pablo, y qué es Apolos? Servidores por medio de los cuales habéis creído; y eso según lo que a cada uno concedió el Señor. ”

Dios juzgue lo que deseo haga de mi espíritu. Tengo celos del Señor Jesucristo, no de Pablo ni de enseñanza de hombres.

Asking the removal of pictures from social sites

 Some time ago my last ex-gf asked me to get removed several of my pictures I had on FB. That happened before I had deleted that account, a thing I did to get rid of the past that is finally passed. That moment she felt I didn´t have the right to keep them as "something" public I have memories (either good or bad) and she really upset me with her several claims but, the fact, it is I also saw her male friends telling her things like: "You are so pretty", "I love you" "you are so cute" or "charming and marvelous". How come wouldn´t I be somewhat "endangered" of having a relationship with someone who had a good body shape, sex appeal, who also had more "friends" than I think I had?

I was absolutely informed and aware of her past, her intimate secrets and confessions, her deepest desires as being a lusty woman.

I thought she was a committed Christian, more than me; so I also believed we were to be married, while she was "afraid" of me and my human longs (or habits to keep memories).

She claimed she had the right to ask me to remove those pics where I was with some of my EXes, but she wasn´t aware I knew she had too many men flirting (or wooing) around, even in front of me, and I also had total access to a complete set of her pictures where she was naked (...) and each time I was with her, her phone often received private SMSs from those I knew were more than simple or casual friends and, the few times we traveled, she introduced me to several of those who were her long-termed admirers (though I knew two of her EXes) and I also saw those who were pending to get an empty seat whenever I wasn´t present to take care of her emotional drives.

If you presently feel jealous for the odd habits and girlie friends your BF (or gf) has, know you chose him that way when you entered into that relationship. It is right and holy to be jealous and unsure your emotional investment would last or if it worth the emotional pain, but I´d bet you don´t have any reason for him to feel that same way insecure or embarrassed.

Aren´t you doing the same he does (or did) before coming closer?

If you want to be heard, if you want him to be stopped from those girlie pics you don´t like, I bet you don´t have pictures uploaded where you are also inappropriately (un)dressed on the beach, where you are shown publicly the nice looking woman you think you are to be bragged with, because many engaged or married people still try to be sold out as it is in window-shopping. ;)

It is not a secret there are controlling women who often like to rule men and how blind these are to see we men also feel jealous and those "fears" commonly shared (of being left any moment) are present in all humans when someone else comes to “seize” the woman we have liked (or simply entertained) for a time as long as she gets someone she thinks better.

It doesn´t matter the religion we say we are: We all want the best Mrs. / Mr. Right to be picked! I can vainly argue to show my wants are more “holy” than those who want to be married above, in heavens. What I wanted was equally desired by the living and the dead men!

I´m sure, before choosing our significant one as GF (or bf) we all needed to fast and pray to see if we were really directed to that person because we viscerally clung to her, or because it was GOD leading us to that person; because a constant fight to gain (and deploy) trust may erode an enduring trustiness and, statistically it is said that after more than a year, anyone might encounter -and discover- things no one knew before loving the one we should have avoided from the beginning: If he or she is seeking another person´s charm, just being engaged with you, a relationship like that deserves no real emotional commitment neither an emotional investment.   

I wish I were told.

I never planned to be married, neither to be a father (a thing I´m biologically, and not the way I have thought I could be).

I assumed that after you divorced you´ve found too many reason to it or, on the other hand, you ex-mate found enough reasons to be divorced and far from you (and me). It´s failure not acknowledging them where, sometimes, there are more than several guilty parts and, often, these hidden flaws are from either of their families or passed on the children left after separation, too.

Why did the Scripture ask high priests to marry only virgins? 

Some of those reasons probably were:

a) They had to work in the temple being absent more than a month  () far from their beds and houses, as long as their duty and service to GOD ended.

b) Probably the Lord wanted them to be relieved from emotional secular worries.

c) Priests were not supposed to be economically rich and, according to the Law, they would be “paid” from what their spiritual service gave them to live on, through God´s provisions (Num 18:23  But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the people of Israel they shall have no inheritance.).

What would be the character of a woman like that? 

Do they permited too many freedom their women? Such as visiting their masculine friends their homes and alone?

Culture sharpened our present day and its fashions lead us nowhere. 

I started to believe that the present day rates of divorce have too much to do with marrying without chastity, either of both sexual genders. If we would pay attention at this, life could be different, I guess.

Lev_21:14  He must not marry a woman who has had sexual relations with any man. He must not marry a prostitute, a divorced woman, or a widow. The high priest must marry a virgin from his own people. 

Eze_44:22  The priests must not marry a widow or a divorced woman. No, they must only marry a virgin from the family of Israel or a woman whose dead husband was a priest.

If GOD planned something big like that for those who served Him directly, why don´t we consider it an important information?

I wish I were young to marry one like those God thought for a simple man.

Guess what! Men, like me, never cared what others might find in their families, the sort of people they let their children to be and, at the end of the day, divorce is increased and single parents are seen the more, because I paid too little attention to the one I should have married and neither they paid enough attention on me to be sure if they chose me well.

Luk 6:31  Do for others just what you want them to do for you.

The GOD I believe.

For me it is important to say that I see only one GOD and only one Mediator:

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Act 4:12  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

(Heb 9:15,  12:24)

These last days GOD would do His job more individually and personally. Jesus said:

Joh 6:44  No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Joh 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The Holy Spirit is God Himself:

Joh 4:24  God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

The book of Acts teaches us how things were working those days Jesus physically left:

Act 7:55  But he (Stephen), full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

Act 7:56  And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

Mat 12:31 "So I tell you, people can be forgiven for every sinful thing they do and for every bad thing they say against God. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

I started to believed God -and the H.S.- is the very only ONE.

Isa 42:8 "I am YAHWEH. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another. I will not let statues take the praise that should be mine.

Gen 6:3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years."

Ezek 36:27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Ezek 37:14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD."

Joel 2:28-29 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions...

Mat 12:18 "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.    (That´s the Lord Jesus).

Act 2:17 "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

Act 2:18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

That´s the GOD I´ve believed!

ONE God and His chosen one, Jesus, the King of Kings. (Rev 19:16, 17:14; 1Ti_6:15)

Secular Hedonism.

After reading this: "Psa_73:3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. " I have thought that I know what that means.

Yesterday I spoke to my elder brother and mentioned several things I bypassed or he bypassed.

I see his system of beliefs is so around things he thinks he missed and around those he is aware he really regrets not having...

I saw, to myself, that a faith-based society clumsily set on wrong values would cause ME troubles (also lacks) to live a faith that gives me nothing in turn and, instead, keeps on withholding things I think I need, however I know not all things are needed to live.

I can live without a car, but the society I´m living in pushes me to believe a car is "essential" to be a desired person, to be "deeply" loved or admired (even sought as a singled person) (probably to be a dateable one).

Those wrong values I let to leak inside my beliefs would benefit my faith and, on the contrary, would lead me to disbelieve what I could be saying...

My faith serves me for nothing when I said: "The things I want to feel, the pleasures I want to enjoy, my religion -mingled with my value system- tells me not to seek this or these". So, in that case, that faith works against those things I considered important, desirable and enjoyable to seek and, a faith like that, giving me nothing real I can hold, pulls me away and far from the place I want to be.

The things I want to enjoy, far away from those whom I once said "I love you", are felt contrary to my aims, my dreams and human needs and values.

Time and things have shown me they loved me not. We have had a limited life for nothing, embraced in misery and religious tiny things that cared for nothing and those that really mattered were to spare me from suffering when I wanted to enjoy the mundanity of earthly life, so abundantly that these would never please.

Jesus was aware of those who He met teasing people around with man-made rules (Matt 23:4 They make strict rules that are hard for people to obey. They try to force others to obey all their rules. But they themselves will not try to follow any of those rules. ).

Pharisees so loved to control other people´s needs and their visceral longs ( Matt 19:10 ) and those were unwilling to set limits their own secular hedonism. So, materialistic talking, poverty or wealth have an important role in all religious systems (even in the way each approaches to sex). The more one of these three is considered above the other, our views about certain faith or belief will grow or dim, because ALL human nature tends to be hedonist: The more joy or pleasure we have freedom to seek or get, the better that religion could be seen (or sought) to be believed and lived.

Wealth/ poverty is part of the mundane world we were grown in and sex if part of its secular rewards we want to enjoy, particularly if we feel loved the way we think we are.

Uncommitted believers are alike atheists and agnostics: Both can hurt and have hurt believers.

These only seek one thing: Give them what they wanted and see what it feels.

How many times?

How long will you please those who know how to hurt you?

I´ve tried, more than once, to be melt into one person with one who is not that I thought and they also thought I was the person they needed: I wasn´t the one they wanted too!

I have tried to adapt myself to the ones they were, but I knew it was quite wrong: That it wasn´t the yoke it should be best.

Are my goals, my hedonism or needs the same they said they had?

No! That should be a miracle, and it´s, in deed.

Love Priorities

[ I believe that both the husband and the wife have to make the other's sensitivities their priority. You must put your spouse's wants and needs above your own hopes and desires. If the couple both practice this concept things generally go quite well. hurt feelings are avoided and deep love and respect for each other remains.  [QUOTE]

Good morning!

Allow me to show I agree with you, except where the line of priorities needs to be set and revised.

I really love seeing this you mentioned: "You must put your spouse's wants and needs above your own hopes and desires". I think this is an important line to be drawn between both life partners but, personal hopes, desires, etc., cannot be postponed too long neither utterly denied. Not that even the LORD has His own spiritual expectations from us, as believers.

I like this words (1Co 13:5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ...). I think of these as words inspired (though I don´t mind admitting issues with some of  Paul´s teachings).

I have perceived women have largely postponed too many thingsbecause of rearing their children for love (purposely I´m saying "theirs") because many of them have believed they are "the boss" in the family for everything and, sadly, they certainly know more their children, much more than us, unattached fathers (the problem I see is who is paying bills, and who is bearing the heavy plowing yoke, all the along, while children are growing up).

I had the pleasure of being "a mother" several years. I was laughed at, criticized, but I learned the lesson well. The thing I had it was redrawing that line too frequently and I got bored, so I left the yoke in her hands, because I also experimented dissatisfaction in the sexual area, the area of personal grow and achievements, and I felt like a sucking blood parasite (yet receiving nothing in turn I thought worths keeping).

Committed love partners certainly could learn to deal with their issues, for the sake of that love bond. I have seen several women who have been used (and abused) as the "well paid" maid. She has to do everything, even in their sleeping and boring bed (so these women have felt postponed, largely denied and neglected) and the same thing applies also for men, thought to be macho men. It´s sad, but I have seen it both ways and, additionally, recently I know one of my brothers was simply used to raise her mate´s kids and, soon after, she cheated on him and he worked hard to pay for the food of the children of another men he owed him nothing (except the wrong of having accepted a woman he did not married, but he took on charge, with her children, as well). Sad thing that is! (the same has happened to other women I know, she also cared too much children of other women) so there is where that line of priorities has to be underlined, clearly drawn, for EACH person priority: My responsibilities and her responsibilities (here I also agree with some ideas Mr Biscuit has mentioned before).

If I love I should seek my partner desires BUT, sometimes (and too often) being that way a caring spouse spoils each peoples responsibilities and, the line drawn to show where are EACH person duties is moved as I were using a funned giving me more benefits "thought" just for me.

In the bed, since women are quite different, I should consider their needs first. These are quite different from mine but, sometimes, that same "funnel" is sought to be for everything they wanted and, that female dissatisfaction is shown everywhere in life when we macho men are sued to be divorced.

The truth is, not every macho is being divorced because there are some funnels giving women benefits and I know it both sides: There are also ladies being used to give men, instead the other way around.

I just wondered what would be the real amount of people willing to do what you wisely said: I know that is true and should be our Christian view, the thing is we´re not behaving as we should.

There are so many "funnels" being used (abused) that I don´t want to be in either of both sides. These extremes are so abused, emotionally, economically sexually that I wish my life ends so soon; because I´m vulnerable to be both sides and I don´t see it fair. No one deserves to be used nor abuse, that´s way I believe equally joked dates or mates should be sought with a magnifying glass (particularly when I could be the one seeking the narrow bottom to get everything, giving nothing in turns).

Priorities:

Paying the bills in a fairly way. Generally ladies spend more $ than men (1) and if you had the chance to pay what you have consumed (2) that would be the better than making another person to pull that yoke.

(When you have loved -men or women- you´ve tried to pay it all).

Thanks GOD ladies now are willing to work outside... The bad news is also known and either of both genders are vulnerable to be cheating, though the rent is seldom paid by an outsider (let it be known I have seen there were men {and women} paying rent + services (while others enjoyed getting the narrow side of the funnel in their pockets).

As a matter of "priorities" two or 3 years ago I was with someone who told me: "This bots I got were paid by my ex husband, but these were greatly enjoyed by another..." She was somewhat my GF. The moment I knew it, I knew she was seeking her BBD... I wondered when I would stop thinking so selfishly and, as long as I live, I don´t want to use that "funnel", none of its sides (acknowledged is that the narrow side would be the best for anyone).

Since there is not sure deterrent to erasing or misplacing a wrong line between borderlines, responsibilities and priorities, both men and women could be vulnerable to more mistakes. These lines are to be checked so frequently that I´m bored...

I wish I were a disembodied spirit, now.

Ideally this could be sought "You must put your spouse's wants and needs above your own hopes and desires." but the truth is: Too many committed Christians (and unbelievers also) are seen their life as individuals denied and more complicated with “outsourced” children the never wanted to care.

Perhaps that´s the reason why many persons don´t want to be married, and those who are seeking it now (those who are called sexual perverted) look after it for money, their legal convenience (someone who takes cares after me when I get old or sick, many are seeking their visa, others long to get their "own" roof, a brand new car some else has bought, a ca$h flow provider while I´m lazy, no matter the gender or sex tendency).

That is not love!  Because love is free and expects nothing in turn (except loyalty, emotional and sexual exclusivity) and perhaps I dared to say too much.

Love gives, instead of taking for selfish gain.

1Co 13:6  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

There are too many committed Christians (and unbelievers also) who have been denied there personal priorities and this is more complicated to feature when one single person is pulling the yoke, each day and alone the more. 

Are you aware?

The first thought I have this morning was to write few ideas I had. Sometimes I have thought that I´m too slow to type while I lack time to ponder what I thought but, are you aware what´s misogyny or androgyny?

I have no idea about you (1).

I don´t know how you´re grown (2)

Do you love your father?

Do you love -equally- your mother?

If you see any difference in the size of that love, that´s normal!

It´s not easy to love several person the same amount or quality.

If you are a man you would love “easily” one, instead of the other.

If you are a woman, it´s expected you love a man more than a woman (and only you know whom you decided to love).

I started to believe misogyny or androgyny came to be so because someone has broken a heart. If you dislike a gender (even the human race) it´s because some hurt you so bad... I will not tell it more.

Think!

Are you aware of it?

Lesbians were so hurt that they tried another way.

Sodomy came “to be” because several things (several sins) were hindering the normal way to express love and affection.

In fact homosexuality came to destroy love and the natural love bond a family should have.

A further thought: Do you believe Mary, the virgin, is the mother of God? (as Catholics say). How come that a creature gave birth a Creator?

Without offending your beliefs I want to tell you that that “teaching” came as another add-on just to help millions of people to restore the wrong and distorted image a parent gave their sons or daughters.

Is child abuse a new thing?

Incest is not a new thing!

Have you read about two daughters having sex with their dad? 

Read it on Gen 19:30 – 36.

The Bible could teach old things that are “forgotten” for those who want to ignore them, just like using your finger to hide the sun.

If you hate a person, whatever the type she / he is, it is because you felt hurt (or offended) and you can Google to read more on these simple ideas I have left.

If you truly want your life restored, please, I do beg you to read about hundreds a people who wrote about their life, their decisions and those things witnessing GOD is still alive loving you the way you are: The place and the condition you are aware of!

Hope you also enjoy this testimony, from a person whose heart was healed:

http://christianchat.com/testimonies/94191-saved-his-mercy-grace-freed-spirit-fear.html#post1582367

As someone you would listen to...

 I have read the “love” story of Isaac and Rebekkah a couple of times. I´m not sure if it was given as a lesson for young people or old, but I like to say a word about it, then sue me or throw your stones.

As a father or person, I disliked Laban. His attitudes and ways suck, particularly when he tricked Jacob, when this worked so hard to get Rachel home.

The moment I saw him in Gen  24:29-30 (As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms)  I felt what I know about me... I think my sons are not like that but, how could it be when my daughter gets older, and one of her brothers behaves like that way?

Well, in short, I think that story teaches a lot on how giving up a daughter and what type of assurance a woman (and her family) needs to let her go.

Rebekkah left home with assistants. She went to see Isaac´s face, to meet him personally and yet she had the right to say “yes” or “not”.

Isaac´s dad was the wealthy. I don´t know how rich (or good worker) Isaac was, except he was Abraham´s heir. And my question, as a father: What kind of man would you give your daughter? (if that depended from you will).

Abraham´s fatherhood was blessed, not materially, but spiritually (Gen_17:21  But I will establish my covenant with Isaac...). I do believe it was God´s business on that matchmaking and, as Laban might have seen, Abraham was a good provider, since his son Issac enjoyed his wealth before Abraham was dead. Laban and his father Bethuel acknowledged Abraham, instead of Isaac´s genetic or social rank.

They assumed if Abraham spared nothing to convinced them so splendidly, there was no doubt he would care for their wedding and marriage. Will you marry your daughter with someone who has no work experience at all? With one who hasn´t finished high school, who is used to live on alms?

Those friends I knew went to meet their loved ones paying the cost, the time and the troubles. Those I have heard of (and seen) traveled a big deal of miles, and also paid their tickets and some other few were kind enough to pay for those they wanted to meet and know.

Abraham paid his servants the airplane ticket to meet one woman for his son Isaac. I think if he was younger or strong, he would have traveled to meet his relatives in Paddam-aram.

Will you send your daughter to meet a man alone?

Will you give her so freely? I guess not and I tell you why: We knew the world.

Bethuel sent his daughter with “guards”. She was with her helpers and, surely, they cared for their own life ( Gen 24:59, 61 ). Will you be happy is your sister or daughter leaves alone?

My mother got married to get rid of her mom (my grandma). She felt so abused (and tired) that she made that decision and it took her two years to be divorced (with one baby). How could one simple person care easily her child, alone?

Those I knew came to visit their loved ones and, asap they knew they could cope with one another they got married and, some others, moved abroad.

I saw one Mexican came to visit the one he was “dating” online. I´d witness about her relationship until the time she was visited and taken away, to be married somewhere else (just to ease the visa and those papers).

When I felt I had enough money to meet the one I loved in Colombia,  I made that trip and, without knowing it, she asked me to live with me in Venezuela, so I paid her trip my home (and also paid bribes to get her through, because she lacked the visa).

I don´t feel comfortable when I don´t have money to pay my half, or my share. I rather stay home (alone) than expecting someone helped me when I could not afford a travel abroad, not even an ice cream I deserved.

Believe me when I say I know what it is like that comfort zone: You asked and I paid. It could be also the other way around (I asked and you paid) but that is not fair and, of course, it´s the easy way for someone else´s advantage. The answer is “you asked and you paid” or “I asked and I paid”.

Would you let your sister go abroad alone (with someone who can´t not pay his airplane ticket to visit you, as her parents)?

Will you give your daughter money to visit someone you don´t know, in other state or nation?

This week my mother told me she wanted to take Joy on vacations... When I told Joy, she asked me if she could bring someone else into that trip. I said: “How come, Joy? My mother´s invitation is for you, alone, how come you thought about someone else she doesn´t know?” Even if I knew her friend, I will not take that responsibility, neither my mother.

Hope she would listen to this.

Puzzled

I´m puzzled about what future life would be, in eternity. Jesus said we´re not going to marry, we´re going to be like angels (Mark 12:25), so I have no idea what I would do there, except than traveling, discovering and worshiping the Almighty One.

Who knows if my detaching process has anything to do with it, though I´m not as detached as I think or say I am. I do like many earthly things I´m trying to wave goodbye, to renounce by denouncing each of those I said.

Probably I have more than one cable wrongly wired.

What kind of live would that be, in heavens?

What kind of love will that be, when I know how to express or feel it? What´s the difference if it´s felt with the mind (or its spirit) and those sensations lacked a body to convey them in?

I´m puzzled!

Last night I shared the sad experience I have when my mom attacked my dad with a knife, when I was little child, although I never saw his abuses and, however, on December 2013 my mom told me he was also an abuser and she told me the story where he tried to rape her (he probably did it) and she bit his tongue to escape (so she was acting in self defense) any time, she wanted to get rid of his abuse, his cheating and, as she said (and I don´t know my dad´s version) he also lived at her detriment, for some time, when she sent money for her two children and he used it to gratify himself, not taking care of their two children (I thing I don´t totally believed it, because I have written evidence he cared for us) (and by reading his letters with my grandmother´s, he also said he gave her some money to take care of a new baby she got from another man she encountered). Dudes! However, at her age, there´s no need to lie, and he could have lied to my siblings.

Any of them cheated on or hurt the other! Both were guilty -and responsible- for their wrong doings.

What would that be in the realm of eternity? No tricks, no pains and no hurtful memories.

People here tried the best possible answers to cope with, to understand each people we have liked (or wanted) but, what eternity could be without those drives, love bonds and the things we knew we cling to?

I´m puzzled!

Those eyes we liked, those smiles we felt. Those arms we´ve missed, those hugs we gave and received... Where are they going to be? Warm kisses, sweet words and those promises and desires… All of them gone?

I need to die to be born, anew.

Today, this very morning I knew another thing about me: Why am I drawn to women in troubles? Those I see without worries are out my concern or attention. Those I see married I left alone and, those who shared their needs with mine, those likes acknowledged -with similar interests- were sought and I wasn´t aware of, as unintended these were. How could I know who I am in the future?

Those I saw big for me, full featured, I ignored.

Those I saw too showy, too sexy or eager to be seen, I passed by.

Who am I to be in a new “world” order, if allowed to live a second life?

No doubt jewelry was used to draw people´s eyes and attention. Sometimes clothing was used for the same reason, though it was used to hide what they wanted to hide or protect, sometimes. Fashion served to make people looked different, somewhat desirable, different for themselves, somewhat interesting and seldom naive.

The more any person had, the more she / he showed.

What an angel could do to be seen or liked? Known or desired? (Rev. 19:10, 22:9)

You could be the person you are (or aren´t) on demand. You could guess how you are by hearing people´s opinions, because we´re not good enough at looking at those mirrors we heard or saw, we only see what we want to see and, of course, outsiders are less subjective than we do (sometimes).

As an example, recently I found a school report when I was a child and one of my teachers wrote: He likes to work alone... True! When I was asked to work in teams I didn´t know who to choose and that same handicapped disadvantage was for everyone else and, when picking someone out of groups, we all liked those who were known as good students, with good grades. Have you experienced the same?

We chose the “best”, those we thought were suitable, trustworthy, and the same standard was used to pick the persons we wanted to love, to share part of our life.

Being honest, we were not the best student in school groups. Sometimes we were lazy, we´d liked our comfort zone, and some were doing more than us (of course, sometimes we were better workers) but the next question is: Why we failed when choosing mates to love?

I never planed a family. I never wanted children and, as far as I can remember, I wasn´t interested in rearing any, until the moment Joshua came into my life, with my ex-wife... I was so body-centered, as hedonist as I was.

I´m puzzled.

What earthly life was meant for? I never knew who was the best mate for me and, of course, I didn´t know how to discourage those who saw something good in me (Yes! Sometimes we had things others liked or desired).

As a project, some people came in to help us grow and, while backsliding, we helped others to develop new abilities, their character, etc. What eternity would be if I tend to be alone? Just around the company of those few I liked or enjoyed.

Perhaps it is useless I´ve planned to write about the profile of those peoples I have liked -or shared with.

I wasn´t the type around those ones who liked to lead, because I disliked to be led. I wasn´t friend with those I felt they tried to use me, though I gave several of them the chance to take as much as they could... I think it´d be nice to make that profile chart to know me better, to know some of those I haven´t considered while I was associated with them. Perhaps that was the reason why I couldn´t stay too long in the Scouts or several churches: When I felt I was led, I fled! And run.

I must admit I sometimes wanted to belong. I desired to be part of something bigger than me and, as far as I can remember, being a scout was one of those dreams. I couln´t do it while I was a child but, when being a teen, I only volunteered into two groups and, the one I enjoyed more it was far from my house and its leader was one of my close friends and, his leadership was “democratic”, shared by other´s opinions too but, when I moved to the one I had near home, there was a hierarchical line I didn´t wanted, I was often criticized, although I was nominatively friend of the family ruling that business... Was it the reason I, with several others, decided to make our own group as rovers, to scout?

Several parents disagreed. Some of them regretted that division and, each of us had a personal reason: We wanted to scout and they often wanted us to be in their pen doing nothing but lines and knots, solely what they wanted (Yes! And at each meeting they wanted the money they asked, thinking they deserve it).

Nino and Ramphis Molina, Alberto Gómez, me and several others names (I forgot) agreed on a new scouting group. We designed the uniform for “Konied” and it wasn´t theirs... It was ours! (Prov. 15:22)

While I was with them, they often said: “Your´re not allowed using that uniform outside our meetings.” I often said: “Why? I bought it with my own money... Who are you to tell me what to do?”. So I wore it as long as I could...

I enjoyed those days. I was part of something, I belonged to what I belonged and each person there was free to say and do, and we were friends, although I forgot their names -and probably not all their faces- but those moments we enjoyed and the things we did remained.

What life would be in eternity?

Do we have to be the same?

Do we have to look like they want us to be?

What´s that about being an individual?

Some church people say: “If you are not like us, your´re not going to be saved”. Some even dared to cry out loud -publicly- giving God orders, as if they knew -better- the things asked to God (so that is where I´m going to flee, hide and run).

“If you do not think like us, your´re not saved”, they said. And I know these ones are quite wrong: There´s no freedom of choice, just a few looked to be self-willed. And I want my free will, because it was given to give it up to the One who loved me more than no one else: God!

But, as long as I think of those things I´m thoughtful “reasoning”, while I try to write about those things typified as “profiles”, pondering those voices I have heard, those faces I´ve looked at -and why- I cannot grasp what life would be in eternity.

How would I know I am me or those I would meet, just in case I´d be allowed to live a second time?

Who knows! I´m puzzled. Although I´m not another cliché...

 A.T.