christ-on-a-stick

Hi davidH, thanks for joining us here (And I know how frustrating it is to lose a long reply. Argh.)

You asked: Not to steal WWSD's reply, but in all seriousness I can honestly say that he summed it pretty well with I was open to ANYTHING - I didn't make any special "demands" - I prayed and waited and looked (everywhere) for a sign, a vision, a "message" delivered through someone else, or even just a "feeling" - the feeling of assurance/"sensing God's presence" that so many believers talk about.

Zip. Zilch. Nada.

Does that answer your question?

Lauri

Amos

This is not to agree or disagree with David but it is impossible to seek God with your heart because God must find the very you that is seeking with your heart. Allen Watt's "Beyond Theology" deals with this. Notice that "beyond" means beyond for good reason. The "I surrender all" is misleading because the very I that does the "surrender" is itself the enemy. This in turn is why
so called Christians are the anti-christ now constantly looking for the enemy . . . which exist only in their own mind.

The above is why only mystery religions can have communicatins with God, or Buddha, Yeshua.

WWSD

Hey, get yer own revelations!!

davidH

WWSD

lpetrich
Lauri
I have never experienced a vision, revelation, or a deep voice coming out of the sky. But I have heard him, sensed him and the peace that he brings.

God mainly speaks and reveals himself through the Bible - hence the reason it is called "God's word" / God's voice.
I could be reading through any passage and then something that I read hits you hard - stands out from everything else. That is God.
The "inner voice" of the Holy Spirit - as you grow more in your relationship with him you begin to hear him. It's hard sometimes to make the distinctions between your own thoughts and his voice. But the more you listen the more you can tell.

But he also does speak in the ways that you mentioned - through dreams, visions, audible voice - but it is through the Bible that he mainly speaks.

The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of his people - it is when you worship him that you draw nearest to him and feel his presence the strongest.

You don't praise God, read the Bible and fast - expecting God to speak in an audible voice or vision - it's when doing these things that you hear him.

Yo, have to go - will finish the reply later on - but have to head here! Feel free to comment in the meantime

Cya.

davidH

Anyone still around?

Beetle

davidH
AND
Do you understand why that might be less than a satisfying response for an unsuccessful seeker? Why is it that if something "hits hard" while reading the Bible, it's God, but if I have the exact same sensation listening to a Rush instrumental, or reading "Wuthering Heights" it's just me? It seems as if emotionalism is being used as the standard of spiritual discernment, and is there really anything less reliable than that?

Thanks for the help, Bumble Bee Tuna!

Bumble Bee Tuna

Beetle- To quote, use the "[quote]" tags. They work like this: you start by typing "[quote]", then you type the text of the quote, then you type [/quote.] (minus the period). The vB software automatically does this to someone's whole post if you click the "Reply With Quote" button at the bottom of someone's post. For more on vB code, go here: http://www.iidb.org/vbb/misc.php?s=&action=bbcode

Enough off-topicality. Strangely, when I read the Bible, I am not struck by anything except what a ridiculous book it is.

-B

Asha'man

Why should finding God be so hard? Is he that terrified of rejection?

Seriously, this escapes me entirely. If I decide to look for God, shouldn't he come running? There is no free will issue, I've already made my decision, I just need him to show up.

He knows I'm looking. He knows what my reaction will be if I find him? Instead, he hides. He lets me suffer alone, when he could be comforting me. Is such cruelty really necessary?


Here is an analogy: A friend tells me that this really cute girl has a crush on me. I let the friend set up a blind date. She never shows. I go back to my friend, and he insists it was my mistake. I try again, and she never shows up. I try again and again, and this girl remains eternally elusive. Eventually, I can only conclude that she is utterly incompetent, doesn't care about me at all, or my friend is lying.

If God wants to talk to me, he knows where I live. I made the first 2,000 moves, now it’s his turn.

christ-on-a-stick

Asha'man sez: :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy