PDM, I am not sure you can interject logic into the equation-for those who question certainly being agnostic is a solution. Those who choose to believe don't necessarily do so for reasons that have anything to do with logic.


Joe Blogs--I find it even more annoying when an atheist insist-thiers is the "only truth"--because in my mind- the concent of "truth" runs counter to thier insistant views that science disproves the existance of God.

Amen Carl...very well written. My sentiments exactly. Ones beliefs or lack thereof should not be ridiculed or discarded.
That is the beauty of our freedom, the right to believe or not.

Joe, well stated yet again.

PDM, I believe to be an agnostic one must acknowledge there is a possibility of something although uncertain of what the something is (the fence thing Joe mentioned). In my opinion, I have found Him. I hope and pray that I don't come across as arrogant or rude. I may come across as certain, because I am certain of what I have found. I am certain although everything I believe is based on faith. The same faith you or anyone else may have that nothing is out there (and I am not stating that is what you believe, just using it as an example). Jesus called us "blessed" because we believe without seeing.

I agree that it is a difficult concept to explain because people need things they can see, touch, etc.

I will share a small testimony with you folks. Two weeks ago, I felt inspired to write an email to all of our relatives regarding the crumbling state of marriages in our own family. Within 24 hours, I received a response from one of my husband's nephews stating he was planning on moving out of his home the very same day my email arrived. He read my email and decided to work on his marriage and to seek God's help in his marriage instead of moving out and subjecting himself to a second divorce. Now, as a non-believer I would state that it was just a coincidence that he read my email when he did. As a believer, I now know why I wrote it...it was for this young man and his family. Frankly I don't know why I even wrote it other than I was feeling a heavy burden for our family. If only one person benefitted from what I wrote, praise God. I do not pat myself on the back for this young man's decision to stay and work things out. I give God the glory because He inspired me to write what I did and what I wrote touched someone when they needed that touch.

Thanks you guys for listening, thanks for your fairness and thanks that we are able to communicate as we do. May we never forget that lack of courtesy leads to chaos and we already have enough of that in the world....let's keep it out of the forum.

Blessings,

Emilie

Yes, atheists are just as guilty about "the truth".

LL - I think it a coincidence that your nephew decided to try again.

After all, you stated that you sent the email to "all of our relatives regarding the crumbling state of marriages in our own family".

That implies more than just your nephew.

If EVERY person who you sent that to responded the same way, I'd call that a miracle. But if one person responded that way, it's just one factor of many that probably prompted him to do it.

If you had written to people in China and warned them abuot an earthquake, perhaps that would be more "miraculous" and "God inspired".

I think that each of us are a miracle in our own way.

The fact that one nephew was the only one to respond in this way does not make it less a positive thing - if counseling and working on the relationship help make it a giving and receiving kind of marriage. I hope it works for them. Making an effort - if both do so, is a good thing, IMO.

LL, you never come across as arrogant or rude - completely the opposite.

I respect you for the strength of your views but also for being able to discuss and debate with those who believe differently. The same goes for others on here, too. That's what makes the forum great.

Oh it certainly was positive. No arguing that.

But, IMO it wasn't a miraculous epiphany to write at that moment.

Maybe, maybe not. I confess that I sometimes think that destiny has a hand in things I've done or said. But that could just be my interpretation, or desire. Things I might have said or done, and didn't, or things that I have said or done that caused harm or less than positive outcomes, I'd not like to think of as destiny. So maybe all we can really do is do the best we can, and trust that the good outweighs the omissions and bad.

I often think that people I meet and interact with are "led" to me, or that I am "led" to them. But it could equally be true that I remember fondly the occasions which lifted my spirits, and I thought, theirs.

LL's examples, and mine, are just more reasons that "proof" is quite subjective.

What a surprise! My buddy mbas thinks it's a coincidence. I find that hard to believe!!!!!

I did not mean to imply it was a miracle. I don't consider myself worthy of providing miracles. Had I warned China of an earthquake that would not only be a miracle but prophetic as well. I also don't believe I have the gift of prophecy. What I was implying was that my email was sent at a time when this young man was at a crossroads and it helped him make a positive decision. Why was he the only one who responded? Perhaps because he was the one who needed this email the most. Perhaps God put it in my heart to write just for him. It could have happened for a number of reasons known only to God. I was just really happy it moved him to work on his family.

Blessings,

Emilie

Regarding: "I often think that people I meet and interact with are "led" to me, or that I am "led" to them" [carl], I, too, have felt like this at times.

*

And Emilie, I think I mentioned, before, that my cousin is very ill. Like my Mum, he is RC. My Mum said a prayer to St Theresa for him and wrote to tell him so, with a little St Theresa charm. We didn't know this, but he also prayed to St Theresa to intervene on his behalf, and he asked her for a sign that she had heard his prayer. The next day, he received my Mum's letter. He saw this as a positive sign ~ and I can't say I blame him!

Who knows?!
I wouldn't deny that there are mysteries.

And I agree that your email was sent when he needed to receive it.

But do you attribute that timing to Jesus working his magic?