 | Blogs > ms_warriorthingy > A Follower of Christ > IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE I WAKE..... |
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I once knew this man who was an atheist. There was nothing I could say to warm him to the fact that there is a God who exists and who loves him. He would fight me at every turn, and have a comeback for everything I said. Finally in exasperation, I told him this......... If the whole thing is a lie, if God doesn't exist and the Bible is just a book made up by some crazy person..... then you will die and return to the dust and there will be nothing......your life will have meant nothing in the end....and you will have lost nothing I guess... I will lose nothing either. I will also return to the dust totally deluded that a Saviour came to die for me, that my life became one of freedom rather than one wrapped in chains of bondage...I will have lived a life trying to please a God who doesn't exist....and I will die with a hope that there is something beyond the grave.......even if I were to go to just dust, I will have gone with hope....and I will have lost nothing coz I will become just dust.... BUT........... If God really does exist, if the Bible really is God's Word to us, if everything in there is true........ I will still lose nothing....in fact I will have the most wonderful and amazing future beyond the grave, eternal life, another life with no tears, no sorrow, no strife.....only pure bliss FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER! I will dance on streets of pure gold! I will stand in the presence of the Creator of the Universe......I will be in HEAVEN!!! Literally!!! And what about you???????? Maybe that was kind of a harsh reality to paint......but it is a reality. We have a choice, we have free will.....to follow the One who says He is the One True God, King of the Universe.....or to just ignore that He exists. For every action, there is a reaction. Our choices in this life will determine the outcome in the next. There are consequences to the choices we make.....we can choose to believe in the gospel of Christ....or not. We can choose to believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and EVERY book speaks the truth.......or we can choose to believe it's all a big set up by some whacko who wants to mess with our minds. We can choose to believe the morals God set for us or we can choose to live a life of depravity. We can choose to honour and obey God and strive to live a life pleasing to Him.....or we can choose to set our own code of conduct. We can be instructive....or we can be destructive...... It's all about choice....... I wonder, if you are reading this, and you think Christians are a deluded bunch of hypocrites.....are we really?????? What makes you so sure????? How do you really know????? Are you really that clever, that insightful, that wise?????? Sometimes I wonder what makes an atheist an atheist? Could it possibly be that someone in the church turned them off God???? Let's make this week and next week and all the weeks to follow, a "let's show atheists God's love week"....not just in words but in actions too! And then maybe........we can step back and allow God to do the saving? Food for thought huh? God placed this in my heart this morning. Penelope Captive of Hope 
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9/15/2008 3:45 pm |
. . .
. . . Without Absolute Truth, there are only lies disguised as truth, if you know not the Absolute Truth and it is NOT within you, you will embrace a relative truth that fits your eternity, that is presently before you. Continue to be faithful, deliverance is near, obedience must be seen, be an unconditional blessing as He continues to bless you. This time is short, serve Him well, serving all. Without exception. Know? Yes? ? .
Meow ? .
.
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 9/15/2008 4:02 pm |
Well said. Amen.  Greetings from Calgary Canada. Located on the east side of the Canadian Rocky mountains. Where the deer and the antelope play, Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, And the skies are not cloudy all day.
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9/15/2008 4:24 pm |
my mom is an atheist. She's highly intelligent and studied literaly everything. I asked her once. Don't you want to be with me and Gerald (our brother who died in vietnam) when You die? I waited for the tirade. No tirade. That was an accomplishment there. She's 82 and still atheist. Pray for her pls. Great post. blessings, well you know who it is ...the one with nestle's sno cap chocolates! haha Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/15/2008 4:50 pm |
Yes, Tis all about choice in the face of evidence,, thanks,,N
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9/15/2008 5:01 pm |
Woman, gimme those sno caps! If I have to come over there... Thomas and Robin
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9/15/2008 5:11 pm |
Right on there Missy! They(the atheists) are sure wagering against frightening odds if they're wrong. Let your gentleness be evident to all. Philippians 4:5
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9/15/2008 7:02 pm |
"Yes they are, Jeff.....perhaps they need to read the Bible for themselves....ask God Himself...if He exists!" That's the best thing I've heard all day! It's always the Living Word... He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’ "But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house; for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’ "But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ "He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ "He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’" GB!
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9/15/2008 8:08 pm |
well put Pen! Luv is patient, kind, unselfish, hopes 4 the best...
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9/15/2008 9:47 pm |
I pray that the eyes of her spirit will be opened...in Jesus name!! Truth is Black and White Paula Marie
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9/15/2008 9:50 pm |
This day...choose life! Truth is Black and White Paula Marie
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9/15/2008 11:27 pm |
Woman, gimme those sno caps! If I have to come over there... Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/15/2008 11:32 pm |
And thanks for the prayers for my mom Pen. Sorely needed. Blessings my sweet, bestest sister friend. Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/16/2008 2:38 am |
> If the whole thing is a lie, if God doesn't exist and the Bible is just a book made up by some crazy person, then you will die and return to the dust and there will be nothing. Your life will have meant nothing in the end. And you will have lost nothing, I guess.... I will lose nothing either. Hey there, Do you really want a comment on this? As in "philosophical"? It won't be pretty. LOL. Let me know. © Feel free to come see my Blog. And Enjoy! If you want to meet me or just get to know me. Hallelu-Yah! Praise Yah! wpx1 ©
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9/16/2008 4:07 am |
> MS_WARRIORTHINGY replied on 9/16/2008 3:00 am: Go on..... Get philosophical on me..... Hang on, let me put my suit of armour on first!!! Oka-a-y, You asked for it. LOL. I am writing quickly, and posting without fully editing maybe. (I am not in the mood.) I WARNED that it would not be pretty. So here it is. I hope it's clear! In short, People who follow some religion -- or other person -- are in a situation where they are in obedience to another. This is true whether it's Christianity or Nazism, religion or some other system. They are virtual slaves. On the other hand, The agnostic or maybe atheist has no Master to obey. (Or so it appears.) Of course, an argument can be made about the Christian being free from sin, and that they are slaves of it. And an argument may be made that, as with sin, so with satan. And I know that invisible beings are real, and are there, and try to control people. But, What many religions have in common is this OBEDIENCE thing: Obey our god, our leaders, etc. This is possibly one of the big reasons why some people who feel and believe in being "spiritual" also do not believe in "organized religion". The Bible or The Scriptures (and some other works ) certainly aren't a collection of books by a crazy person. What is questionable, though, is the thought in nearly every religion -- which is why they, we, need to question! -- that maybe, just maybe the invisible being or beings that we feel, hear, experience, and who inspired various writings, just might NOT be God. As two contradict one another, it is unlikely that they are both right. And as they claim God-inspiration for their writings, if they contradict, it is possible -- if not required by logic -- that one of them is wrong. This does not make the other right. They could both be wrong. They could all be wrong. And the inspired writings could be inspired by ANY being. We can't see the being. We can't check its reputation, its credentials. We can't even check its IDENTITY. If you assume it's all God or the Devil, then you'll put the inspiration and experiences into one category or another. But that is assuming a lot. In the physical world that we can see, people claim -- almost boast even -- that no one is perfect. But somehow people are able to believe that some invisible being IS! This is pretty darn scary if you think about it. And what makes it scarier yet is that supposedly this invisible being is to be called Master, Lord, God; and that if you don't obey it -- several religions say this -- you WILL be punished, maybe even severely. (And some believe in Hell.) As wonderful as all the religions may try to make their supposed god sound, when it comes to requiring us to do incredibly huge things -- like, deny ourselves, accept that we're evil and helpless, and even incapable of Good, and to also accept that some invisible being is perfect, all powerful, wonderful and willing to supply us with power, even making promises to people (most of which don't get fulfilled till after people are dead or raised ), and all this without a huge CURRENT list of evidences to show us just WHO this being might really be -- it can seem pretty crazy to someone that we're claiming to "know" what in fact and in reality we do not know. There are impostors in life. And there are impostors in the invisible. Even Paul the Apostle said that satan comes as an ANGEL of Light. What a person who isn't quite as trusting may be saying within -- or feeling -- is maybe they're all impostors. > you will die and return to the dust and there will be nothing. Your life will have meant nothing in the end. Atheists might assume the first part, up to the period. But others who don't necessarily believe, but are not atheists, may not. As to whether life meant nothing or not, it's a huge claim, again based on the inspiration of the invisible that people say wants our unwavering obedience. And that demand or command for obedience can seem pretty creepy. "Trust... with ALL your heart...". Not only that, if you lived YOUR life after a lie, and they lived their live "true to themselves", will not that have meant something? One might argue that it was the life lived according to the lie that had no real meaning. Again, I am approaching this topic "philosophically", not necessarily from the Bible. And you permitted it here on your Blog. (So don't anyone get on me about it, LOL.) And I think that what I said, and the questions I raised, are pretty sound, and deserve people's attention. Even as a "Christian", I have never believed in "blind faith". And I don't see that concept taught in the Bible either. (Compare Acts 1: 3; Hebrews 11: 1a in the NASB, RSV, NIV, ESV, but not KJV or NKJV.) On the contrary, the BIBLE itself says, "Prove all things. Hold fast / tightly that which is Good!" (1 Thes. 5: 21.) That's very sound philosophy. Unfortunately, it doesn't always (or often ) get fully applied to the Book, and the religion from which it comes, Christianity. © Feel free to come see my Blog. And Enjoy! If you want to meet me or just get to know me. Hallelu-Yah! Praise Yah! wpx1 ©
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 9/16/2008 4:16 am |
Ok a word of warning to anyone who wants to intervene here.....this question is addressed to me...no one else so please don't flood this post with the usual infighting. I don't mean to be rude saying that, but I see what happens on the blogs and I WILL NOT have my blog used as an arena for disputes. I am happy for anyone to make views, but if anyone starts getting offensive, they will be deleted! Sorry to be so mean about it...but I am sick of doctrinal fighting! Penelope Captive of Hope
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9/16/2008 4:23 am |
> Ok I will try very hard to discuss this stuff with you. You don't need to. But it's up to you and elohim.  © Feel free to come see my Blog. And Enjoy! If you want to meet me or just get to know me. Hallelu-Yah! Praise Yah! wpx1 ©
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9/16/2008 8:45 am |
I would rather live my life believing there is a God, die and find out there wasn't than to live my life believing there is no God, die and find out there was. Amen? Love and Hugs ♥  Lord, keep one hand on my shoulder and one hand over my mouth!
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9/16/2008 10:10 am |
Mornin' Penn! Well ya got alot of philosophisin' ta do but I wanted to say...Here'w what I think you're praying. ...And if I should die before I wake...I pray For Robin's chocolate to take.  hahahaha love ya! BlessinnnggggsssssssKeep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/16/2008 10:18 am |
Hi Pen, Boy oh boy you must have serious writers cramp, .I agree with what Elizabeth said.Infact i couldn`t have said it any better.I`m off to ya next post now n my finger is already getting tired, .God Bless, Wendy   Show me the way Sweet JESUS.Lead and i Will follow. 
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9/16/2008 8:25 pm |
sister, I had a talk with my nephew about this, and I told him that even if none of it was real-the world would be a better place, because he was kind to others. Thomas and Robin
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9/16/2008 11:46 pm |
Good point Thomas ! And I'm gonna feel dumb but Penn, what is a wp? And ya got me! I went and said the prayer, you agreed, and now ya get my chocolate! Oh you're good. Reeaaal Good. Now I gotta ship ...no ya gotta come get 'em.  Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/17/2008 1:09 am |
Good point Thomas ! And I'm gonna feel dumb but Penn, what is a wp? And ya got me! I went and said the prayer, you agreed, and now ya get my chocolate! Oh you're good. Reeaaal Good. Now I gotta ship ...no ya gotta come get 'em. > wp? She meant me, LOL, wpx1. See above. © Feel free to come see my Blog. And Enjoy! If you want to meet me or just get to know me. Hallelu-Yah! Praise Yah! wpx1 ©
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9/17/2008 1:11 am |
"All the Law is summed up in one Word: 'You should love your neighbor as yourself'." Yep. Yep. © Feel free to come see my Blog. And Enjoy! If you want to meet me or just get to know me. Hallelu-Yah! Praise Yah! wpx1 ©
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9/19/2008 12:43 am |
ms_warriorthingy replies on 9/18/2008 1:55 pm: 1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. This is where I stand, wp. I know that the atheist would not see this. I can't save anyone who doesn't believe what the Bible says. But God can. GBU my friend! --- Yep, yep. LOL. Remember that the Gospel (not just any old verses from the Bible ) is "the Power of God to salvation". And its definition is not far from the verses you quoted! See 1 Cor. 15: 1-4ff. And The Gospel is pretty much preached in full in Acts 2. The atheist, Bible scholar that he is, LOL, (and some almost are! look out! ), would possibly quote another verse in 1 Corinthians 15: "If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." -- vs. 19 -- if the dead don't rise, that is, and if we aren't part of the "First resurrection". Then again, one might take issue with what I long ago thought was one of the more beautiful verses-- "We have as our ambition... to be pleasing to Him." --2 Cor. 5: 9. The (secular ) humanist concerns himself with how to please others, and him- or herself, not with pleasing some invisible being claiming to deserve our devotion and obedience. I think most if not all of us sense a presence. Sometimes warm and fuzzy, sometimes exciting, sometimes yucky. What or who it is (or they are ) is the real question. And giving over one's life to one of them -- even one claiming to be God, maybe especially one claiming to be God! -- can be pretty scary, if not creepy, and even dangerous for our souls and lives. (Viz. spirit possession, etc.) I've posted a couple blogs, I think, asking people for their take on How to know if it's God or not. Answers seemed unsatisfactory to me. Still would like a good, in-depth answer that satisfies "Prove all things". © Feel free to come see my Blog. And Enjoy! If you want to meet me or just get to know me. Hallelu-Yah! Praise Yah! wpx1 ©
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9/19/2008 2:43 am |
Well Penn, a new realisation about the prayer and how you win...uuh you prayed it you should die before ya wake....uuh they're good chocolates..but not to die for ! Rofl I win again!!!! Wiley I am too Ms. Penn. hahaha Aww you know I'd give ya my snow caps. Can ya mail chocolate? Love ya. Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/19/2008 6:31 am |
Crikey! A crate huh!? I'll get right on that lol. I would send ya some snow caps tho. Do ya like the dark chocolate? mmm I do. And it's good for ya too. We'll have to swap addy's and I can send ya some. And what were those new flavored peppermint patties? Cause i love the reg. kind. I want to try the new flavor. Wonder if wally world has 'em. Blessings Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/20/2008 10:31 am |
aaaw noooo! Ok what's your fav chocolate Pen? Ya know I never break my promises. Oh you will get chocolate!  Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/21/2008 7:39 am |
I have a draft, almost ready, that references Chocolate. Addicted to the "food of the gods", eh? © Feel free to come see my Blog. And Enjoy! If you want to meet me or just get to know me. Hallelu-Yah! Praise Yah! wpx1 ©
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9/21/2008 10:43 am |
ok got it Pen. Man we need all the girls to get to have a slumber party with CHOCOLATE! Remember slumber parties? Is that what ya call em way down there where you are? Probably not. Y'all got some SNAZY name for everything...blinkin snazy names...  I want snazie names for stuff! Is that face scary or what?! I love it. It reminds me of a face my brother and I used to call the family face. We freaked ppl out with it lol. blessings....Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/22/2008 6:39 am |
I will! And the scary face didn't work...did wrong face...this is it...freaks me out lol Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/22/2008 6:40 am |
ok smiley faces are not working right...hmmmm Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/25/2008 1:15 pm |
eating whoppers now lol...gotta google tim tams now... Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/25/2008 1:18 pm |
And thanks so much all who prayed for my mom. blessings, Robin and Thomas Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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9/25/2008 1:21 pm |
mmmmmmmm do y'all have whoppers mrs warrior thingy? mmmmmmm chocolate malted milk balls.....mmmmm Keep walking in the Light and you won't fall down and bump your head. (paraphrase mine)
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10/14/2008 3:40 pm |
WOW, this seemed like a nice interesting post!! Who should be sorry here? Sorry "I" did miss it? OR.... Sorry "YOU" didn't "sell" well this blog and didn't invite ME? You see... everything can always be seen from different angles...
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10/16/2008 5:23 pm |
WOW, this seemed like a nice interesting post!! Who should be sorry here? Sorry "I" did miss it? OR.... Sorry "YOU" didn't "sell" well this blog and didn't invite ME? You see... everything can always be seen from different angles... I think the malted milk balls scared people away. lol. I used to eat those. I kind of liked them, and kind of hated them. I think after about two or three of those over-rich things, I kind of wanted to barf. Anyone had "Ice Cubes"? Oh, whoops, this isn't one of the chocolate blogs. © Feel free to come see my Blog. And Enjoy! If you want to meet me or just get to know me. Hallelu-Yah! Praise Yah! wpx1 ©
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See, she made me cry 
Hey wp this is for you..... ♪♫ 
