I Had the Most Amazing Day

[T'Baio]

I tolerate religious fanatics who believe in crazy things just as I tolerate the schizophrenics in my community. I love them, realize they're ill and hope they get help.

It's okay for the religious to say things like they think we are going to hell and hope we accept Jesus so we can be saved, but not for us to say from a psychological perspective we think you're ill and need help?

That seems a little hypocritical when talking of tolerance.

I mean, really...demons being driven out? Please. There's more of a chance it was a meeting between an altar boy and a priest.

 

[Misfit Toy]

Congratulations on feeling so great, Michael.

***ETA - Some of the responses I've read after the OP are just stunning. People that are seperated from God ask for tolerance from those that are not. How about showing some of your own and having a civil discussion? Or not posting in the thread at all? The OP, who I have certainly disagreed with in the past, did nothing to warrant these responses.

TLS - you're in NO position to discuss tolerance or civil discussion. You should leave your condemnations out of this thread as well.

 

[backstept]

I had a great weekend! This weekend was a conference for young adults in Central New York called Fuel. We had an amazing time of worship and teaching Friday and Saturday. God is doing great things in my life, and in the lives of everyone I know.

with regards to the tolerance argument, you have to realize that neither side will give way . . .
if I'm talking to someone about Christ, and if they, like some here, obviously don't want to listen, just move on to someone who is ready to listen.

 

[T'Baio]

By listen, do you really mean agree with?

'Cause the same could be said by either side. "Why do keep shaking your head and saying you just have to believe? Please listen to what I'm saying."

 

[JoeZhang]

if I'm talking to someone about Christ, and if they, like some here, obviously don't want to listen, just move on to someone who is ready to listen.

Out of interest - do you often have conversations about Jesus with people? Here in the UK, we consider religion something to keep to yourself and not to bother other people with (well unless you want them to avoid you in future).

 

[Outpost4]

For those of you who have never experienced what Michael did this weekend, I can only say you have missed something very special. It is an overwhelming feeling of oneness, a connection to the Universal Truth that can make you cry.

Being maybe a bit more ecumenical than some, I can say that while I have had this feeling the same way and in the same venue as Michael did on many occasions, I've also felt this connected to God while deep into a jam at a Grateful Dead concert, my head filled with chemicals. I've also had the same feeling of ecstasy at many other concerts, yet totally straight. I can remember feeling it during a particularly powerful Morning Dew back in '74 while I was as sober as the proverbial judge. I've felt it at sunrise in Arches National Monument and on a cold mid-afternoon in the Rockies. I've even felt it deep in meditation in my own living room. I say whatever floats your boat.

My only problem with Michael's post is that Matthew 6:5-7 tells us to not pray in public but in private. Testimony is great, Michael, but in such a public forum as this, I'm not sure it is appropriate. Wearing Jesus on your sleeve is the phrase that comes to mind.

Still, the wonder that Michael felt should not be discounted by anyone, believers or non-believers. It is real. I can testify to that. God bless you, Michael, and continue doing the work of the Lord. For the rest of you, I hope you find your own way to get connected to the soulful universe.

 

[JoeZhang]

My only problem with Michael's post is that Matthew 6:5-7 tells us to not pray in public but in private. Testimony is great, Michael, but in such a public forum as this, I'm not sure it is appropriate. Wearing Jesus on your sleeve is the phrase that comes to mind.

I was wondering about this - my bible says that a) praying should be done in private and that b) Jesus went off on his own when he wanted to pray.

So what's the deal with praying in church?

 

[T'Baio]

You're not gonna start on inconsistencies and hypocrisies in the bible are you? Cause if so, this is gonna be a long thread!

 

[Outpost4]

My only problem with Michael's post is that Matthew 6:5-7 tells us to not pray in public but in private. Testimony is great, Michael, but in such a public forum as this, I'm not sure it is appropriate. Wearing Jesus on your sleeve is the phrase that comes to mind.

I was wondering about this - my bible says that a) praying should be done in private and that b) Jesus went off on his own when he wanted to pray.

So what's the deal with praying in church?

A church is a private place, a community of like believers. It is a perfectly appropriate place to pray. It may be open to the general public but the buildings do have doors on them, you know. They shut them for the services.

So is a football game an appropriate place to pray. God knows I have. I just pray to myself. The athlete who scores a touchdown and points to the sky as a testimony to God is just showing off in my book. (I know some athletes point to the sky as a tribute to a dead relative. That's another story.)

You can pray in a subway full of people or in your kitchen. In one place it is appropriate to pray silently and the other it's OK to do it out loud.

 

[backstept]

the reasoning behind Matthew 6:5-7 is that you shouldn't pray for the benefit of yourself in a public setting ("Look at me, look how Christian I am!") hypocrites do that . . .

Jesus commanded that we go into all the world and preach the gospel. What's wrong with that? If you found something that changed your life forever, could you keep quiet about it?

 

[T'Baio]

In that case, I remember my first blow job...

 

[Deckerd]

I had a pretty good day yesterday too. We went out to lunch with friends and then all our good intentions of finishing projects in the afternoon turned into drinking wine and playing the xbox. Then we had smoked salmon and watched a movie.

 

[Outpost4]

In that case, I remember my first blow job...

I've often said that a great orgasm is everyman's easy connection to the spiritual world. It certainly takes you out of yourself.

 

[T'Baio]

I just pray I take myself out of her.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Some of you will probably think I'm crazy, but I just feel compelled to share about this awesome experience. I was at church when I felt the holy spirit on my heart like never before, and seconds later I could hear a man in one of the backrooms having a demon driven out of him by God. I could just feel God in the church. The love that God gave me during that time was just amazing, I was just so overwhelmed from the sheer joy of what He was doing!!

I've felt exactly like that before.

Except for "church" read "haematology ward".
For "holy spirit on my heart" read "supervising senior doctor watching my move"
For "man in one of the backrooms" read "man lying on his left hand side in the treatment room".
And for "demon driven out of him by God" read "bone marrow aspiration and trephine by me".

But that was a long time ago.

 

[Sagart]

There's more of a chance it was a meeting between an altar boy and a priest.

Nothing funny or smart about this comment and personally insulting to me and those of us trying to undo the evil that exists and heal the wounds caused by those who have shattered so many lives and who have betrayed the trust we are given in the priesthood.

Sorry, Michael Chris. I'm way off topic here.

 

[T'Baio]

No, really...demons being driven out vs. altar boy and priest...which is more likely? It's a factual statement.

 

[TheLonelySquire]

Congratulations on feeling so great, Michael.

***ETA - Some of the responses I've read after the OP are just stunning. People that are seperated from God ask for tolerance from those that are not. How about showing some of your own and having a civil discussion? Or not posting in the thread at all? The OP, who I have certainly disagreed with in the past, did nothing to warrant these responses.

TLS - you're in NO position to discuss tolerance or civil discussion. You should leave your condemnations out of this thread as well.

Excuse me? Who am I condemning exactly? You either believe in God or you do not and I said nothing about condemnation.

As far as civil debate goes, no one who has ever been civil with me has ever been treated with less than the same. Ever.

 

[Sagart]

No, really...demons being driven out vs. altar boy and priest...which is more likely? It's a factual statement.

Both, unfortunately, are a reality in my world.

Both are evil and both situations exist.

 

[Misfit Toy]

As far as civil debate goes, no one who has ever been civil with me has ever been treated with less than the same. Ever.

That's a debate for another forum - certainly for another thread - but you already know that.

Michael, sorry for the derailment.