buddy the zealot

[buddy]

Have I freaked anyone out yet?

You do not need to be distraught or wait until your at deaths door before you offer Jesus an invitation into your heart. Granted, He'll come wherever we are and whatever condition were in, but I think He would prefer to meet each of us under calm, peaceful circumstances. I mean, after all, one of His titles is the Prince Of Peace. Oh, He can untangle the knots in our lives (He can also solve Rubiks Cube in record time and do the NY Times Sunday Crossword).

His plan for your salvation is simple (He had to make it that way for simpletons like me). Funny thing about Salvation. It always made me think of The Salvation Army. And now I'm a Salvation soldier! Yippee - I - O - Ki - Ay!

He is the King.

And it is no joke.

Praise the blood of Jesus.

 

[Happy Hippo]

Have I freaked anyone out yet?

Yes? :shrug:

Really Buddy - I grew up in a fairly strict Mennonite family, attended a Mennonite school, went to Chapel everyday, church every week and youth group every Wednesday. After 18 years of having religion "shoved" down my throat, I gave up on it (well, actually around the time I was 15 I became an agnostic with atheist tendencies because of some things that happened in my life).

For me, no one can ever convince me of religion or the existence of God through words or saying things like "Praise the blood of Jesus"... I don't think you are going to convince anyone of the existence of God on here with words like that, but maybe I am wrong. I think it has to be through events that happen in one's life (like happened in yours and shamrocks) that people accept the existence of a higher being.

That said, I do now believe in some higher being, as life is a constant evolution of thought and change, but I don't prescribe to any organized religion for several different reasons. I will not get into them all, but a couple reasons are that I got tired of all the "fake" people going to church on Sunday and being hypocrites the rest of the week and the hatred of others that seems to accompany most religions. Your prostelizing is reminding me why I can't go to church every week, thus perhaps having the opposite effect of what you have intended (at least for me).

Good luck. I don't mean to be rude and sincerely wish you the best, but you did put yourself out for criticism.

 

[buddy]

Happy Hippo,

Thanks for your reply. I never grew up in a strict religious family, had to go to Chapel everyday nor did I ever have religion "shoved" down my throat. I did go to Catholic school from fourth through eighth grade, though. Made me a great speller. But even some of those Catholic memories were, ehhh, how can I put this? Forceful? Intimidating?

Now, I go to church regularly. To be honest, I went regularly for years even before this most recent calamity in my life. But attending church really meant nothing to me. I was merely hoping for God's mercy without doing anything for Him. I figured it this way...75 minutes of church service is equal to 6 days, 22 hours and 45 minutes worth of sin. Safe to say, I am not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. I was far from being "delivered". I simply enjoyed sin and worldly pleasures. "Have at it, buddy. You have a free will. Go to town." My intentions were silently devious. I wasn't ten steps out of church before I was thinking what porn site I would be on while watching basketball scores. Oh, and of course, I always put my bets in before leaving for church. I was so cool. What a jerk. Yeah Happy Hippo, I know. They sure were fakers in church. One of them is typing this reply. But it's funny. Life is moment to moment. And things can change dramatically....

in the blink of an eye.

That's what happened to me.

 

[smurphy]

Yes? :shrug:
.

:mj07: :mj07: :mj07:

It's all a personal journey. Buddy - I understand your enthusiasm right now. Just remember, very few of us are going to share it, certainly not at that level anyway. I'm really happy you have something to get you through these days....for you - as a fellow human - and obviously nice guy - regardless of religious beliefs.

 

[THE KOD]

I knew this guy I worked with for years. His name was Peppers. He was probably the biggest atheist around. Drank, smoked, cursed, woman, the whole deal. Just a overall mean spirited person.

But he wasn't the smartest guy in town and had a hard time saying no to people.

So one day at work he is telling me about what happened to him the past weekend. He was home alone and the doorbell rang. It was two jehovah witness type people. They begin talking to him and before you know it they are in his living room and he has no idea what to do to get rid of them.

They told him they wanted him to get on his knees and pray with them , and I ask him, well what did you do ?

He says , I got on my knees and prayed with them and they left.

Didnt faze him in the least as he was back to his old ways immediately.

Moral of story is .... you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

The good thing about God though, is that all he wants is his children to lead people. He really dont seem to care if they convert at that time.

Kinda like its the thought that counts.

And of course many will accept salvation and accept the Lord into their hearts just by mentioning it to them. They are so ready.

I am glad that smurph loves freedom.

 

[THE KOD]

........................................................

This is smurph , he just don't know it yet.

 

[smurphy]

Do you guys think Budhists can go to heaven if they've led exceptional lives, have been loyal to their faith, but never even remotely considered accepting Jesus as their saviour?

 

[smurphy]

........................................................

This is smurph , he just don't know it yet.

dude - i don't think you realize. ....you just don't, and that's ok.

God understands me, i'm very sure She does.

 

[THE KOD]

Do you guys think Budhists can go to heaven if they've led exceptional lives, have been loyal to their faith, but never even remotely considered accepting Jesus as their saviour?

............................................................

This question always comes up as being difficult to answer and supporting atheist believes of denying people entry into heaven based on religious convictions.

Devout christians will tell you that no way you get into heaven unless you accept Jesus as your personal lord and saviour.

But then another one will say well what about a Russian child who has never had the chance to understand religion and dies. Will that child be excluded.

I would have to answer that child gets into
heaven, and so does the buddhist that has lived a good life and not hurt anyone.

I personally do not feel that people are excluded. I got to think that God is more forgiving than that.

 

[THE KOD]

 

[THE KOD]

...................................................


any further hat bets from buddy .......

 

[THE KOD]

hey smurph

I could tell you a few things that would give you the willies. Things that during my search for God that happened to me. God uses the vessals that are available to him to do his work.

buddy is definately on board the ship. Some never learn how to steer though.

I truly believe there is a higher power and that would be God and his boy Jesus.

Its so easy to get off track though.

smurph - I understand your jewish inclinations.
If you end up being adopted by AR , I will want to send a large donation for your bar mitzvah. All in pennies of course.

 

[smurphy]

Is AR going to hell?

Don't even get me started on atheists - that is a religion and they don't even know it.

I've heard every story. I'm sure your story will be fascinating, but not make me jump up and praise the Lord. Like I said, "personal journey".

Pennies happily accepted - remember, you're dealing with Jews.

 

[THE KOD]

One of the most eye opening things that anyone explained to me was about the Bible.

Some people will say, its a bunch of gobbley gook. I dont understand any of it.

The thing is , you have to believe that the Bible is the word of God. If you truly believe that , the bible becomes easy to read and understand.

it happened to me. As God is my witness.

 

[THE KOD]

Is AR going to hell?

Pennies happily accepted - remember, you're dealing with Jews.

...........................................................

AR probably gets a pass and gets in.

that was a good one.

 

[Agent 0659]

Hey aren't you the SAME Scott that carries multiple fire arms and has a shotgun poised behind the front door? What does God think about that?

Or maybe, he didn't completely convince you?:shrug:

 

[Happy Hippo]

Do you guys think Budhists can go to heaven if they've led exceptional lives, have been loyal to their faith, but never even remotely considered accepting Jesus as their saviour?

This is a question I have often pondered. It is kind of like asking, "Does a tree make a sound when it falls in the forest and no one is around?" That is...it is a question that can never be answered. I used to think about these kinds of questions often, but decided after awhile that it would just drive me crazy, because ultimately they are questions we cannot answer. I'll let God or whoever is up there make the final decision (although personally I don't see how he/she could exclude a Buddhist or child who has never heard of God but lived a good life...just sayin', if I were God, I would let them live in eternal bliss, but the Bible does say the only way is through Jesus, thus the exclusion that Christianity makes towards others and why I cannot accept it (and many other religions make these same exclusions)).

Overall, I try to leave all judgment towards others out of my life as much as possible. I have enough to worry about without judging others or considering whether their religion is right or wrong. And since everyone comes from a different walk of life and is influenced by a multitude of things, we as humans cannot possibly comprehend the complexity of each individual and their beliefs. I'll let the one in the sky take care of that...


Buddy - keep up the good work, cause I think those who act as they believe can never lose out on the good things in life and beyond.

 

[Agent 0659]

It is kind of like asking, "Does a tree make a sound when it falls in the forest and no one is around?" That is...it is a question that can never be answered. .

Are you kidding me? Of course this can be answered...and the answer is yes. Why wouldn't it? And why were you sitting around dumbfounded by the question?:mj07:


:weed: :weed: :weed:

 

[Happy Hippo]

Are you kidding me? Of course this can be answered...and the answer is yes. Why wouldn't it?

Did you hear it fall? As I stated earlier, I am an agnostic - so I need concrete proof. Provide it to me and then I will believe you.

:s1:

 

[Agent 0659]

Did you hear it fall? As I stated earlier, I am an agnostic - so I need concrete proof. Provide it to me and then I will believe you.

:s1:

No, I DID NOT hear it fall. The fact that I (or anyone else) wasn't "around" has been established.

The question is, why WOULDN'T it make a sound?

You can't be egotistical enough to think the tree only makes a noise because you are around, can you? :nono:

That aint philosophy, that is science...:SIB