Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!

"Does God exist? We know God exists because he pursues us. He is constantly initiating and seeking for us to come to him."

"I was an atheist at one time. And like many atheists, the issue of people believing in God bothered me greatly. What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people...to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had another motive. As I challenged those who believed in God, I was deeply curious to see if they could convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become free from the question of God. If I could conclusively prove to believers that they were wrong, then the issue is off the table, and I would be free to go about my life."

"proof of God I didn't realize that the reason the topic of God weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn't escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact, the day I chose to acknowledge God's existence, my prayer began with, "Ok, you win..." It might be that the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people believing in God is because God is actively pursuing them."

"I am not the only one who has experienced this. Malcolm Muggeridge, socialist and philosophical author, wrote, "I had a notion that somehow, besides questing, I was being pursued." C.S. Lewis said he remembered, "...night after night, feeling whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all of England."

"Lewis went on to write a book titled, "Surprised by Joy" as a result of knowing God. I too had no expectations other than rightfully admitting God's existence. Yet over the following several months, I became amazed by his love for me."

Does God exist? Unlike any other revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of God revealing himself to us.

Why Jesus? Look throughout the major world religions and you'll find that Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and Moses all identified themselves as teachers or prophets. None of them ever claimed to be equal to God. Surprisingly, Jesus did. That is what sets Jesus apart from all the others. He said God exists and you're looking at him. Though he talked about his Father in heaven, it was not from the position of separation, but of very close union, unique to all humankind. Jesus said that anyone who had seen Him had seen the Father, anyone who believed in him, believed in the Father.

proof of God He said, "I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." He claimed attributes belonging only to God: to be able to forgive people of their sin, free them from habits of sin, give people a more abundant life and give them eternal life in heaven. Unlike other teachers who focused people on their words, Jesus pointed people to himself. He did not say, "follow my words and you will find truth." He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me."

If you want to begin a relationship with God now, you can.

"This is your decision, no coercion here. But if you want to be forgiven by God and come into a relationship with him, you can do so right now by asking him to forgive you and come into your life. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. He who hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him [or her]." If you want to do this, but aren't sure how to put it into words, this may help: "Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. You know my life and that I need to be forgiven. I ask you to forgive me right now and come into my life. I want to know you in a real way. Come into my life now. Thank you that you wanted a relationship with me. Amen."

"God views your relationship with him as permanent. Referring to all those who believe in him, Jesus Christ said of us, "I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand."

Looking at all these facts, one can conclude that a loving God does exist and can be known in an intimate, personal way.

http://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html

Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,l so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

that's all hearsay. we are asked to believe that a bible that stumbles all over it's self is accurate and inspired by god.believe gospels written by men who never met jesus. believe jesus is god because he said he is, and that a bible is the word of god, because it says it is. afte 77 yrs and deep thought, NO WAY.

I actually believe in a god, BUT his only connection with the bible, the torrah, or the Koran is in the imagination of men.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

And you know this how?

SBW

Prove what you say. I would really love to hear how you know all this. I believe you are wrong. But at your age, you had better hope you are right.

green Loc: 22.1749611,-159.646704,20

well, when you put it like that, it sounds much more reasonable...

green Loc: 22.1749611,-159.646704,20

silly rabbit...you cannot prove faith.

SBW

Which is my point greenie.

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

Just more delusional nonsense ramblings from rac. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HZzGXnYL5I

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

Typical response from silver... ho hum.

Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!

"There is no thought/knowledge without a Thinker, no word without a Speaker/Author, no student without a Teacher, no deed done without a Doer, no law without a Lawgiver; no structure without a Builder, no breath without a Breather and no life/creation without a Creator."-Author Unknown

outdoorphotoman Loc: Helena, .MT

Why do atheists always try to argue against something they don't even believe in. They put us down for our belief in a living God whom they believe does not exist. If those people would ask God to show them He is real, what do you think would happen? If every morning they would sincerely ask God this question their lives would change. I think a lot of these people are afraid of God and would not follow through. If even one had the guts to try I believe it would change that person's attitude.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

by reading the bible cover to cover trice , putting two and two together. then using the common sense god gave me.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

this is not a proving thing, it's either a faith or come to your own conclusion thing. you go with the former, me the latter. i'm stating my opinion.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

And you came up with what? You began with doubt and worked at staying in doubt. If you could not see God's plan for mankind then you were not seeking God. You were looking for a god that you can control. A god that will serve your every whim. A god that fit your ideology. Have you found your god?

You might say that a story about a fish that swallowed a man and he lives three days in it's belly is to unbelievable. If you believe in a God that creates a universe and populates a planet yet, you can not believe that He could prepare a fish that could swallow a man and has the power to keep that man alive? Do you chose what to believe and what not to believe?

Jesus believed the story because He said that He would die and be in the grave for three days and raise to life - just like Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish. The fish story had a reason to be told. If you could not believe that God could keep a man alive in the belly of a fish for three days then you would find it impossible for God to raise a man after three days from the grave. And this is what your salvation hinges on, That Jesus had died for your sin and was buried and after three days God had raised this same man Jesus Christ back to life. If you do not believe this, then no matter what you believe about this man Jesus, your belief is in vain. Just to believe that Jesus was a good man and had taught us how to be good like him means nothing for your salvation. That is of works. God's salvation is of grace.

Of course, it could be that you hate God and you just want to do your own thing. That is rebellion against God, what got us in this mess in the first place and you just love your sin.

slocumeddie Loc: Inside your head, again

Bangee5, once again I am amazed at your ability to know the heart and mind of another..........over the ether, no less..........!!!