Religion and Spirituality

2

Comments

  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 43
    tonybear said:

    truth in advertising
    i once had a pastor teach, your job is to be their friend, be the example of christ. when you invite them it is then my job to preach to them. i have also been taught they will know us by our love for each other, not our ability to beat them with a 40 lb bible.

    i have friends of other faiths, and i keep them as friends by loving them, not condeming them or judging them. i don't have to agree with them, but i can respect them as a person.

    acceptance of a person and their beliefs or lack of, can open doors of dialog that years of spiritual attack has closed.
    tony

    My experience and miracles
    Wow, I have been posting here mostly on the anal cancer pages since last fall. Somehow I never got to this page. I guess this was the right time for me. I am so glad to be able to speak about my miracles. Last summer I was diagnosed and several months earlier on my way to church praying and kinda whining to God about being the only churchgoer in my family, I heard a voice in my head saying gleefully "I have a plan!" I didnt know at the time it involved my going thru cancer treatment but today I am grateful to have had that experience, as it has helped heal my relationship with my sister, put my husband and I into some needed marital counseling and myself into counsel with a wonderful woman. God sure knows what He is doing and I dont want to waste one bit of this experience. I feel that it has changed me in some profound ways and made me much more aware of the gift of life.
    Also there were several times during treatment when it became just at the edge of unbearable then, whoosh....the worst of the pain and burning would ease and I just knew and actually felt that someone was praying for me.
    Now I have faced my mortality with all the fears, doubts and confusion over what it is like on the other side.
    I choose to believe that God is good and that there are wonders awaiting that I cant even conceive of.
  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670

    My experience and miracles
    Wow, I have been posting here mostly on the anal cancer pages since last fall. Somehow I never got to this page. I guess this was the right time for me. I am so glad to be able to speak about my miracles. Last summer I was diagnosed and several months earlier on my way to church praying and kinda whining to God about being the only churchgoer in my family, I heard a voice in my head saying gleefully "I have a plan!" I didnt know at the time it involved my going thru cancer treatment but today I am grateful to have had that experience, as it has helped heal my relationship with my sister, put my husband and I into some needed marital counseling and myself into counsel with a wonderful woman. God sure knows what He is doing and I dont want to waste one bit of this experience. I feel that it has changed me in some profound ways and made me much more aware of the gift of life.
    Also there were several times during treatment when it became just at the edge of unbearable then, whoosh....the worst of the pain and burning would ease and I just knew and actually felt that someone was praying for me.
    Now I have faced my mortality with all the fears, doubts and confusion over what it is like on the other side.
    I choose to believe that God is good and that there are wonders awaiting that I cant even conceive of.

    zj,
    I have been on this cancer road for 23+ years, and I can promise you that the best is yet to come. As believers, we know that heaven will be worth whatever we are asked to endure here, but as you so cheerfully relate, we don't have to wait for heaven to receive some of the blessings God has in store for us. Like you, I saw some wonderful things come out of my cancer battle. Also some tragic things, which God eventually worked for good, as he always does.
    I wish you an abundance of God's blessings as you continue your walk with Him and your battle with cancer and whatever other challenges you encounter along the way.
  • donnare
    donnare Member Posts: 266
    Beautiful post Kimby
    So well put, and I agree wholeheartedly. I don't call myself religious; I am more spiritual. I believe there are many paths to God and some of the most un-Christ-like behavior is exhibited by many who call themselves Christians. Fanatics, of any kind, seem to me to just be destructive. The Golden Rule, the Ten Commandments, Do Unto Others, etc. are how I have brought up my daughters. My husband's dx has made me think more and more about spirituality, and of course, turn to God for help and comfort.

    I went to mass recently and the priest's sermon was something along the lines of Christ being "in the middle". He said in Christ's time that the church elders/priests were extreme in their adherence to the laws almost as if the laws were God, much like today how people are stuck in their corners/views and their way is the right way - God's way. Fanatics, extremists - religious, political, etc. He went on to say how un-Christ-like that was and is, and how Christ was actually "in the middle" with his arms outstretched to both sides to bring people, ideas, etc. together. I'm sure I'm not doing his sermon justice, but the sentiments of inclusion stayed with me.

    Anyway, thanks for the post Kimby.
    And I also saw the program Phillieg was talking about. Well worth watching.

    Peace,
    Donna
  • SonSon
    SonSon Member Posts: 174
    Christian Behavior
    Kimby,

    I want to respond to this portion of your message - "When religion becomes a weapon (we've all seen it happen) Christians come out of the woodwork with the most un-Christian-like behavior I've ever seen. I want to stand up for those Christians that choose to behave in a Christ-like manner."

    I lived in Iowa for a few years and lived next door to a family that I will forever hold in my memory as THE example of Christian character - they demonstrated the Christ that I learned about. They were always kind, patient, charitable, neighborly... The husband came over and helped to hammer down the corregated fiberglass over our patio, we cooked dinner for them, their daughter came over for flute lessons, I went and listened to the wife and friends practice for church choir.

    I am not Christian (it is plain to know if you saw me) and they treated me as part of the community from the very start.

    I believe that if every Christian behaved as well as they did that we'd go a long way toward peace. Really, if everyone of any religious persuasion behaved as well as they did we'd have such a wonderful world.

    Fatima
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    SonSon said:

    Christian Behavior
    Kimby,

    I want to respond to this portion of your message - "When religion becomes a weapon (we've all seen it happen) Christians come out of the woodwork with the most un-Christian-like behavior I've ever seen. I want to stand up for those Christians that choose to behave in a Christ-like manner."

    I lived in Iowa for a few years and lived next door to a family that I will forever hold in my memory as THE example of Christian character - they demonstrated the Christ that I learned about. They were always kind, patient, charitable, neighborly... The husband came over and helped to hammer down the corregated fiberglass over our patio, we cooked dinner for them, their daughter came over for flute lessons, I went and listened to the wife and friends practice for church choir.

    I am not Christian (it is plain to know if you saw me) and they treated me as part of the community from the very start.

    I believe that if every Christian behaved as well as they did that we'd go a long way toward peace. Really, if everyone of any religious persuasion behaved as well as they did we'd have such a wonderful world.

    Fatima

    unChristianlike behavior "ruining it" for the rest of us
    Just a comment on how many people are turned off to the idea of becoming a Christian because of the unchristianlike behavior they see or have heard about by people claiming to be Christians. People talk about the whole thing with the Crusades, how southern Christian plantation owners had no problem owning slaves, some of the TV evangelists falling greatly into public shame, supposed "Christians" who bombed abortion clinics, etc, etc...

    Well, of course, most of us on this board know that there's a difference if someone merely says they're a Christian and if they truly ARE and act like it. I find myself just cringing when I hear of someone who is a Christian (or has at least claimed to be) falling in a big way. The same thing when I once visited a church as a teenager and they invited me to go with them after church to "witness to others about Christ in the mall". My thoughts were, "Oh, no! That's NOT the way to win people to the cause of Christ- they'll just think you're a bunch of weirdos and will want nothing to do with you, or with becoming a Christian at all for that matter, after they see you in action at the mall!" I also remember when I was in college that there was a guy who'd get up on a table in the middle of campus and start preaching. Some people would listen, but most would laugh and think what a nut he was. I was already a Christian myself, then, and wished now that I had it in me to talk with him back then. Perhaps there were actually a few people who became converted by listening to him- I don't know. But, I bet most people just remember "the kooky guy who used to preach on the table" & it certainly did nothing to help them become Christians- just perhaps it embarrassed them, as it did me.

    I just wish that anytime someone sees an "offensive Christian", that they would remember people are people- no one is perfect (and they are sinning themselves if they put on the "holier than thou" attitude. People need to remember that even Christians are just ordinary people with their ordinary faults. People who are arrogant before becoming a Christian may still be arrogant in their Christian faith. Christ condemns that, but it still may be something they struggle with. People who are obnoxious in whatever their beliefs and ideas are before becoming Christians, still may be that same way later.

    Killing others in the name of God is always, always wrong- whether it's a supposed "Christian" who shoots a doctor who performs abortions or a Muslim extremist killing "infidels" in the name of Allah. That's really scary- so many in our country are trying to paint the religion of Islam as one of peace. It's only peaceful coming from those who aren't devoted in their faith and who don't believe their Quran literally. I've read excerpts of the Quran, and it really does talk about "killing infidels" and about how they will be rewarded in heaven for doing so. To them, it is the highest honor to kill others "opposed" to their ways and beliefs.
    Sorry if I offend anyone for saying this, but I really believe that the Muslim extremists and the Quran is straight from the evil one. Other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. are not religions I know a huge amount about, but I do believe that they are peaceful religions. Islam is NOT a peaceful religion- if anyone thinks otherwise, then get your hands on a Quran and read what it says- it very much advocates violence towards non-Muslims. I believe trying to negotiate with terrorist leaders (like the pres. of Iran, for example) will never, never work because of his devotion to this "kill the infidels" and "wipe the Jews off the map" belief (that problem goes way, way back and I don't believe the Arab/Jewish hatred for each other will even end until the end of time). I believe the Evil one in this universe is responsible for the sweeping Muslim/Islam religion explosion and that this is really a good vs. evil fight on a spiritual level. The "evil one" also can influence people to do evil things all the while they're claiming to be Christians.

    God is love- love does not produce hate or violence. If it does, then it's not truly from God.

    My two cents worth, (or two hundred!)

    Lisa
  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670
    lisa42 said:

    unChristianlike behavior "ruining it" for the rest of us
    Just a comment on how many people are turned off to the idea of becoming a Christian because of the unchristianlike behavior they see or have heard about by people claiming to be Christians. People talk about the whole thing with the Crusades, how southern Christian plantation owners had no problem owning slaves, some of the TV evangelists falling greatly into public shame, supposed "Christians" who bombed abortion clinics, etc, etc...

    Well, of course, most of us on this board know that there's a difference if someone merely says they're a Christian and if they truly ARE and act like it. I find myself just cringing when I hear of someone who is a Christian (or has at least claimed to be) falling in a big way. The same thing when I once visited a church as a teenager and they invited me to go with them after church to "witness to others about Christ in the mall". My thoughts were, "Oh, no! That's NOT the way to win people to the cause of Christ- they'll just think you're a bunch of weirdos and will want nothing to do with you, or with becoming a Christian at all for that matter, after they see you in action at the mall!" I also remember when I was in college that there was a guy who'd get up on a table in the middle of campus and start preaching. Some people would listen, but most would laugh and think what a nut he was. I was already a Christian myself, then, and wished now that I had it in me to talk with him back then. Perhaps there were actually a few people who became converted by listening to him- I don't know. But, I bet most people just remember "the kooky guy who used to preach on the table" & it certainly did nothing to help them become Christians- just perhaps it embarrassed them, as it did me.

    I just wish that anytime someone sees an "offensive Christian", that they would remember people are people- no one is perfect (and they are sinning themselves if they put on the "holier than thou" attitude. People need to remember that even Christians are just ordinary people with their ordinary faults. People who are arrogant before becoming a Christian may still be arrogant in their Christian faith. Christ condemns that, but it still may be something they struggle with. People who are obnoxious in whatever their beliefs and ideas are before becoming Christians, still may be that same way later.

    Killing others in the name of God is always, always wrong- whether it's a supposed "Christian" who shoots a doctor who performs abortions or a Muslim extremist killing "infidels" in the name of Allah. That's really scary- so many in our country are trying to paint the religion of Islam as one of peace. It's only peaceful coming from those who aren't devoted in their faith and who don't believe their Quran literally. I've read excerpts of the Quran, and it really does talk about "killing infidels" and about how they will be rewarded in heaven for doing so. To them, it is the highest honor to kill others "opposed" to their ways and beliefs.
    Sorry if I offend anyone for saying this, but I really believe that the Muslim extremists and the Quran is straight from the evil one. Other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. are not religions I know a huge amount about, but I do believe that they are peaceful religions. Islam is NOT a peaceful religion- if anyone thinks otherwise, then get your hands on a Quran and read what it says- it very much advocates violence towards non-Muslims. I believe trying to negotiate with terrorist leaders (like the pres. of Iran, for example) will never, never work because of his devotion to this "kill the infidels" and "wipe the Jews off the map" belief (that problem goes way, way back and I don't believe the Arab/Jewish hatred for each other will even end until the end of time). I believe the Evil one in this universe is responsible for the sweeping Muslim/Islam religion explosion and that this is really a good vs. evil fight on a spiritual level. The "evil one" also can influence people to do evil things all the while they're claiming to be Christians.

    God is love- love does not produce hate or violence. If it does, then it's not truly from God.

    My two cents worth, (or two hundred!)

    Lisa

    Lisa,
    there are people who believe there is a God and who assume that makes them a Christian. There are people who have had a salvation experience, and therefore are Christians, but who are not letting the Holy Spirit reign in their lives or allowing Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. And then there are Christians who are really focused on living as Christ would have them to do, but who fall short and succumb to temptation. I have been all these people.
    I no longer try to 'decide' who is and who isn't a Christian. I try to discern what is right and good for me to do and keep trying to raise the bar. I compete only against my past record and have only the example of Christ as my goal. That pretty much keeps me busy.
    God bless.
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    lisa42 said:

    unChristianlike behavior "ruining it" for the rest of us
    Just a comment on how many people are turned off to the idea of becoming a Christian because of the unchristianlike behavior they see or have heard about by people claiming to be Christians. People talk about the whole thing with the Crusades, how southern Christian plantation owners had no problem owning slaves, some of the TV evangelists falling greatly into public shame, supposed "Christians" who bombed abortion clinics, etc, etc...

    Well, of course, most of us on this board know that there's a difference if someone merely says they're a Christian and if they truly ARE and act like it. I find myself just cringing when I hear of someone who is a Christian (or has at least claimed to be) falling in a big way. The same thing when I once visited a church as a teenager and they invited me to go with them after church to "witness to others about Christ in the mall". My thoughts were, "Oh, no! That's NOT the way to win people to the cause of Christ- they'll just think you're a bunch of weirdos and will want nothing to do with you, or with becoming a Christian at all for that matter, after they see you in action at the mall!" I also remember when I was in college that there was a guy who'd get up on a table in the middle of campus and start preaching. Some people would listen, but most would laugh and think what a nut he was. I was already a Christian myself, then, and wished now that I had it in me to talk with him back then. Perhaps there were actually a few people who became converted by listening to him- I don't know. But, I bet most people just remember "the kooky guy who used to preach on the table" & it certainly did nothing to help them become Christians- just perhaps it embarrassed them, as it did me.

    I just wish that anytime someone sees an "offensive Christian", that they would remember people are people- no one is perfect (and they are sinning themselves if they put on the "holier than thou" attitude. People need to remember that even Christians are just ordinary people with their ordinary faults. People who are arrogant before becoming a Christian may still be arrogant in their Christian faith. Christ condemns that, but it still may be something they struggle with. People who are obnoxious in whatever their beliefs and ideas are before becoming Christians, still may be that same way later.

    Killing others in the name of God is always, always wrong- whether it's a supposed "Christian" who shoots a doctor who performs abortions or a Muslim extremist killing "infidels" in the name of Allah. That's really scary- so many in our country are trying to paint the religion of Islam as one of peace. It's only peaceful coming from those who aren't devoted in their faith and who don't believe their Quran literally. I've read excerpts of the Quran, and it really does talk about "killing infidels" and about how they will be rewarded in heaven for doing so. To them, it is the highest honor to kill others "opposed" to their ways and beliefs.
    Sorry if I offend anyone for saying this, but I really believe that the Muslim extremists and the Quran is straight from the evil one. Other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. are not religions I know a huge amount about, but I do believe that they are peaceful religions. Islam is NOT a peaceful religion- if anyone thinks otherwise, then get your hands on a Quran and read what it says- it very much advocates violence towards non-Muslims. I believe trying to negotiate with terrorist leaders (like the pres. of Iran, for example) will never, never work because of his devotion to this "kill the infidels" and "wipe the Jews off the map" belief (that problem goes way, way back and I don't believe the Arab/Jewish hatred for each other will even end until the end of time). I believe the Evil one in this universe is responsible for the sweeping Muslim/Islam religion explosion and that this is really a good vs. evil fight on a spiritual level. The "evil one" also can influence people to do evil things all the while they're claiming to be Christians.

    God is love- love does not produce hate or violence. If it does, then it's not truly from God.

    My two cents worth, (or two hundred!)

    Lisa

    The Koran does not have a monopoly of murderous passages in it, the Bible has them too.

    ~ from Deuteronomy 17
    "If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant; 17:3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshiped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 17:4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel; 17:5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die."

    The idea of unchristian behavior does not sway me one way or another toward any religion. I feel the problems lie with religion as a whole. I don't care for any of them, they (mostly) all give the OK to kill non-believers and they also preach that their religion is the only way to salvation. It all falls under if you believe in the whole religion concept. I truly believe that religion was a man-made creation in order to control people and to prey on them and not pray for them. God was created in man's image and aside from keeping the masses under control, it was an easy way to explain the unexplainable. That is until science came along and disproved many of the churches teachings or how they saw the world.

    Religion seems like it is here to stay though and until all involved fully understand each other and agree to disagree, there will be problems. I also think that things on both side (Koran and the Bible) are taken out of context at times not to mention the slaughter that has occurred on both sides for centuries. Argh, it all makes me sick that in the name of God or Allah, Peace can not be achieved. I really feel it is of such little importance what religion, if any, that someone subscribes to. It's what you DO with your life or what you do IN your life that matters, not what club you belong to.

    There will never be peace on earth as long as people let their beliefs get in the way. It's too bad, but that's the way it seems to go. Lisa, I respect you and I hope your frustration toward fanatical groups goes both ways. There is plenty of hatred in the 2 main religions. For me, it all boils down to religion....the worst idea man has ever had.
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    eric38 said:

    In our situation we all have
    In our situation we all have to deal with the possibility of death. We plan to live but have to prepare for the worst. We should all be able to deal with these issues in our own way without fear of people becoming upset. It is ridiculous for people to get so worked up about talk of spirituality or religion. If you don`t like it then move on to another post. Why dampen a persons spirit? What is it about christianity that gets people so worked up? If atheists or agnostics had a post I doubt there would have been such a fuss about it. That`s their opinion. I personally believe that there is a God and prayers make all the difference. I`m a christian but I am certainly not going to tell a stage 4 cancer patient that I am ticked off about a religious post. That`s ridiculous. Get over yourself. Move on and do your own thing. Anyway, I didn`t mean for this to be a complaint but I should hope that we would be able to express ourselves freely without being brazenly offensive. I appreciate all the input,useful info. and comfort I have received from this site. I know I am preaching to the choir on this post but I think we should all care for one another and focus on the positive instead of getting all wound up over differences of opinion. You guys are great. You and others like you on this site are the ones that made me realize that it is possible to beat stage 4 colon cancer or at least live with it for a long time. That is invaluable. So, I am a christian but I do not give a flying rats tail if you are buddhist,agnostic,catholic,or you believe that dancing around in circles and flapping your arms like wings wards off the evil chicken lord.
    God bless all of you
    Eric

    Hi Eric
    Our situation is the certainty of death, not the possibility (unless you made a deal with some guy with horns...) The reason much of this discussion came over to this forum was that it was interfering with "cancer talk". It's hard to just move on to another post when you are involved with trying to help someone who is having a hard time dealing with cancer or cancer related issues and all of a sudden I feel like I'm reading the Bible or joined a Bible study group. Many posts in the particular thread got way off topic. It's just more of an issue of talking about the right thing in the right place. I wouldn't go to the breast cancer forum and make a lot of posts about colon cancer. I do not think that anyone has or had any objections to people offering prayers or mentioning God in a cancer post but things exploded a while back and the CSN folks decide it might be a good idea to have a "safe" place to have more in depth discussions or arguments or whatever that are based on religion, God, or someone's beliefs. That's about it.
    -p
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    PhillieG said:

    The Koran does not have a monopoly of murderous passages in it, the Bible has them too.

    ~ from Deuteronomy 17
    "If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant; 17:3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshiped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 17:4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel; 17:5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die."

    The idea of unchristian behavior does not sway me one way or another toward any religion. I feel the problems lie with religion as a whole. I don't care for any of them, they (mostly) all give the OK to kill non-believers and they also preach that their religion is the only way to salvation. It all falls under if you believe in the whole religion concept. I truly believe that religion was a man-made creation in order to control people and to prey on them and not pray for them. God was created in man's image and aside from keeping the masses under control, it was an easy way to explain the unexplainable. That is until science came along and disproved many of the churches teachings or how they saw the world.

    Religion seems like it is here to stay though and until all involved fully understand each other and agree to disagree, there will be problems. I also think that things on both side (Koran and the Bible) are taken out of context at times not to mention the slaughter that has occurred on both sides for centuries. Argh, it all makes me sick that in the name of God or Allah, Peace can not be achieved. I really feel it is of such little importance what religion, if any, that someone subscribes to. It's what you DO with your life or what you do IN your life that matters, not what club you belong to.

    There will never be peace on earth as long as people let their beliefs get in the way. It's too bad, but that's the way it seems to go. Lisa, I respect you and I hope your frustration toward fanatical groups goes both ways. There is plenty of hatred in the 2 main religions. For me, it all boils down to religion....the worst idea man has ever had.

    You are right Phil, in that
    You are right Phil, in that I definitely believe fanatacism goes both ways and in several ways. Yes, much violence and hate has been preached in the name of God. I believe that is wrong and I also believe, like you said, that peace will never be achieved. We can keep trying and perhaps there will be a facade of peace for a while, but it will never last- beliefs and hatreds are far too ingrained to ever be gone. Don't want to be a pessimist on the "Think World Peace" idea- but I just don't believe it will ever be achieved.

    So, what are WE all going to do to achieve peace in our own lives and in the lives of those we love who are around us? I guess that's the important question we should each address in our own lives.


    "Peace" to you- :)
    Lisa
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    lisa42 said:

    You are right Phil, in that
    You are right Phil, in that I definitely believe fanatacism goes both ways and in several ways. Yes, much violence and hate has been preached in the name of God. I believe that is wrong and I also believe, like you said, that peace will never be achieved. We can keep trying and perhaps there will be a facade of peace for a while, but it will never last- beliefs and hatreds are far too ingrained to ever be gone. Don't want to be a pessimist on the "Think World Peace" idea- but I just don't believe it will ever be achieved.

    So, what are WE all going to do to achieve peace in our own lives and in the lives of those we love who are around us? I guess that's the important question we should each address in our own lives.


    "Peace" to you- :)
    Lisa

    From Pieces to Peace
    I think what WE all can and should do is to be tolerant of others, even if we disagree (I do not always do that) and I still believe in that Golden Rule. Just treat others like you want to be treated. I also try to do random acts of kindness with people. I will sometimes pay for someone's bus fare in NYC when I'm in for chemo, I try to bring in food weekly for the food pantry we support through work, or pick up garbage I see on the street or where I work. I think if everyone gave a little extra we'd be on the right path.

    ;-)
    Peace Lisa
    -phil
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • papajedi
    papajedi Member Posts: 110
    Yup a different pace ")
    Cancer is so transforming on so many levels it is hard to grasp really. I like you are a christian and see it in a spiritual way but not just limited to that. Modern medicine has done a lot to give us hope, treatment and options we didn't have just 15 years ago. For that I am thankful and blessed. I spend a lot of time praying for the sick and have seen some very dramatic results, myself included.
  • papajedi
    papajedi Member Posts: 110
    lisa42 said:

    You are right Phil, in that
    You are right Phil, in that I definitely believe fanatacism goes both ways and in several ways. Yes, much violence and hate has been preached in the name of God. I believe that is wrong and I also believe, like you said, that peace will never be achieved. We can keep trying and perhaps there will be a facade of peace for a while, but it will never last- beliefs and hatreds are far too ingrained to ever be gone. Don't want to be a pessimist on the "Think World Peace" idea- but I just don't believe it will ever be achieved.

    So, what are WE all going to do to achieve peace in our own lives and in the lives of those we love who are around us? I guess that's the important question we should each address in our own lives.


    "Peace" to you- :)
    Lisa

    World Peace
    I wish it were possible but man's very nature seems to make it impossible. Unless his very nature is transformed man seems to have no limit to the evil and trouble he can inflict on himself, others and the planet. But we also know the earth groaneth...............:)
  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 43
    papajedi said:

    Yup a different pace ")
    Cancer is so transforming on so many levels it is hard to grasp really. I like you are a christian and see it in a spiritual way but not just limited to that. Modern medicine has done a lot to give us hope, treatment and options we didn't have just 15 years ago. For that I am thankful and blessed. I spend a lot of time praying for the sick and have seen some very dramatic results, myself included.

    Developments since I last posted in July
    Wow has a lot happened...I found out in Aug that my husband of 34 yrs was seeing prostitutes at the time I posted. I knew as I had written that God had a plan but was blindsided by this. I believe Gods will was for me to stay in the marriage and I have come to realize that part of God's plan was to get both myself and hubby into recovery in a 12 step program at my church and to save him from the destruction he was headed for. I am so grateful that God is healing our marriage, has saved hubby and is having me look at issues I didnt even realize I had. My Lord is good all the time even when I dont much like what He is doing. Please pray for us to stay the course He has laid out for us.
  • papajedi
    papajedi Member Posts: 110
    blueroses said:

    My Two Amazing Miracles
    As promised, in my previous post, here I am sharing with you an event that occurred during my bone marrow transplant isolation that changed my life and ways of looking at the whole topic of religion and spirituality. Grad a coffee, this is going to take awhile, lol.

    First let me say that I am far from a bible thumper, lol. I don't carry around a bible and preach at or to anyone and rarely get to church - mostly due to my physical problems - but even before that I was not an avid church goer. Having said that though I have always believed in God and have had a very personal relationship with Him. I don't get into examining the bible or all of the saints and personalities in the bible - I just know that there is indeed a God and a Divine plan.

    So, since I have this type of christian outlook it was even more remarkable as to what I experienced those 2 Fall days in 1991.

    I was in isolation, after my bone marrow transplant was completed, and not doing all that well. I had tubes coming out of everywhere, fed intravenously - all kinds of fun going on in that room. lol. Anywho, one day I was sitting up in bed - unable to even get to the bathroom on my own after all the intensive treatments I had had - and unable to lie down even to sleep because of pneumonias I had that made lieing down a danger with too much fluid in my lungs. But even with all of this going on, all of a sudden something came over me and I realized that I felt better. Not getting up and going out and playing tennis better, lol, just not like I was going to pass on for a change. After a few moments of this great feeling I called my then husband at the time and asked him to get a video for him and I to watch that night in my room because I felt so much better, happy to hear that he agreed and hung up - he was at work. Remember that cause it's important to the story in a minute here.

    So I sat back and was feeling happy that I was feeling so much better when all of a sudden I realized that 'yikes, I can't catch a breath'. I started to panic and looked over in the chair in the corner and waved frantically to my husband to go get help, as I couldn't even think straight enough to hit the call button. He was reading the newspaper and threw it down and ran out to get help. The nurses rushed in with crash carts and that's all I remember. I went into a coma from congestive heart failure. After a few days in the coma I woke up and a day or so later was speaking with my husband about the incident and talking about how lucky I was that he was in the room to get me the help I needed when I went into distress. He looked me rather strangely and said 'I wasn't in the room, I was on my way to the hospital after they called me to say you were in trouble?' So why did I see him clearly in the room that day? Who went for help then? What the heck was going on? I put two and two together later on that day. That was my first miracle.

    Several days later I was sitting up in bed and feeling not too bad, all considered. Nothing was going on really - the boredom of isolation only really - when all of a sudden I felt something strange. It felt like a line of heat at the top of my head. I immediately thought 'hmm, strange drugs', lol. However, this line of heat I soon realized was moving. It was moving slowly down my head, deliberately and slowly and seemingly with great purpose. I can't say that I was scared per se but it certainly caught my attention. I pushed myself up on my hands, in the sitting position I was in, as to in some way, I suppose, escape the sensation I guess - not sure, but undauntingly this line of heat kept travelling down my body on some sort of mission it seemed.

    'What the heck is this?, I asked myself. So I sat there, seemingly helpless against this line of heat as it moved through me. When it reached my lower chest it stopped and lingered there for longer than in the rest of my body and then it hit me (I'm kind of slow, lol), could this be a healing? I had never directly asked for such a thing or even really thought of something like this but of course like most cancer patients in trouble I was praying my face off most days - mostly praying to please be allowed to live for my children - just let me live long enough to raise them til they are self sufficient. Could this be what was happening? Were my prayers fully heard and the results appearing in such a dramatic way? And why me? Nah, that can't be it. Could it?

    Anywho, the line of heat then continued down my body and once again stopped on the top part of my legs - the site of the first cancer. It lingered there even longer and before it started to move on I had this sort of message come to me - not a full blown voice kind of thing, just a powerful thought came over me - but it was put in my head, I didn't produce it - that I know for sure. It said 'This is a healing from God and your cancer will never return'. Then the line of heat continued down my legs and out the bottom of my feet and that was that.

    Hmmm, that was interesting I thought, lol - a master of understatement for sure, lol. I can tell you though that from that day on I never ever had one moment of worry that my cancer would return - why would I? I had God's word on it.

    This event was important to me, obviously, for many reasons but the biggest gift to me was the gift of peace, at KNOWING like I have never KNOWN anything before, that I needn't fear recurrance. Also just the real genuine feeling of 100% KNOWING something to be 100% true, that God gave me, was like nothing I had ever experienced before. Through our lives we KNOW many things but this kind of KNOWING, right from God, was something totally different. It held not only complete peace of mind but embodied understanding in it's purest form, goodwill, oh my - just everything good all wrapped up in one brief episode. It's so hard to explain but I was certainly blessed many times over to have received it.

    I share these two incidents with you because of course it changed my life and I hope in some way will change yours as well. I KNEW now with TOTAL CERTAINTY that yes there is a God, whatever the name you put to Him, there is a higher power - He had just shown me that in no uncertain terms. I share this with all of you who need the hope and the knowledge that you are being looked after - sometimes maybe you won't get exactly what you want but I am sure that you will get what you need. It truly is, I believe, part of His divine plan - all for the greater good.

    I hope my story inspires you and gives you the courage and strength to get through the life challenges you face - now and in your future. God Bless you and yours, as he did me and mine. Blessings always, Blueroses.

    Same Thing Happened To Me
    It happened to me this last Oct. when I was prayed for, the heat moved on me like a furnace for a few minutes. I've prayed for a number of people over the years and have witnessed it happening but a first for me. I also had an intense healing touch for my bone mets after that.:) What's interesting that this manifestation is well documented for centuries down thru church and revival history. Fire is the main rep of the holy spirit since the beginning and is well reped and taught from before the torah/old testament and up till now.
  • papajedi
    papajedi Member Posts: 110
    Marcia527 said:

    I've had amazing things
    I've had amazing things happen to me too. They can not be explained. I can not prove them to anyone else (well, except one to my husband because he was involved) but I had the thought that maybe everyone needs to get the proof for themselves. I did have one experience while on chemo.

    One day I was feeling pretty bad. I was feeling sorry for myself because I didn't have my Mom alive to comfort me. Later I had this experience: While just waking but not quite awake, I felt a pressure on my forehead like someone was touching it and feelings of comfort flooded my body. I lay still to see what would happen next and it lasted for a minute or so and than stopped at the same time as the pressure on my forehead stopped. I don’t know what caused it but someone must have heard my distress call. I wasn't told who sent these feelings of comfort.

    That is so COOL!
    It's so amazing how he can just invade our life and reality to provide a comforting :) Blessings !!
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    papajedi said:

    World Peace
    I wish it were possible but man's very nature seems to make it impossible. Unless his very nature is transformed man seems to have no limit to the evil and trouble he can inflict on himself, others and the planet. But we also know the earth groaneth...............:)

    I Agree PapaJedi
    It seems our nature is to destroy everything. Either we try to destroy each other or we try to destroy our planet. No other species has the wisdom we have and look at how we use it. Not unlike the mediums of TV and the Internet. We hold such great tools that are capable of teaching/educating so many people. What do we do? We get emails on how to enlarge our "members" and then TV ads on how to keep them enlarged.

    Ernie Kovacs once said something like this "Television is a medium. It's not rare and it's seldom well-done".

    Maybe all of this is a test of what mankind does with the ability to think and reason, however we came upon those "gifts".
    -p
  • papajedi
    papajedi Member Posts: 110
    PhillieG said:

    I Agree PapaJedi
    It seems our nature is to destroy everything. Either we try to destroy each other or we try to destroy our planet. No other species has the wisdom we have and look at how we use it. Not unlike the mediums of TV and the Internet. We hold such great tools that are capable of teaching/educating so many people. What do we do? We get emails on how to enlarge our "members" and then TV ads on how to keep them enlarged.

    Ernie Kovacs once said something like this "Television is a medium. It's not rare and it's seldom well-done".

    Maybe all of this is a test of what mankind does with the ability to think and reason, however we came upon those "gifts".
    -p

    Yeah
    It is so discouraging that humankind can in this age still practice war, genocide..ect. My son did a tour in Iraq, was almost killed three times. It really had an impact on my participation in goverment. I'm a vet and have had many in my family but I became an ardent anti war protester. For the troops but against what our goverment started. I just don't get how destructive man can be....:)
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    papajedi said:

    Yeah
    It is so discouraging that humankind can in this age still practice war, genocide..ect. My son did a tour in Iraq, was almost killed three times. It really had an impact on my participation in goverment. I'm a vet and have had many in my family but I became an ardent anti war protester. For the troops but against what our goverment started. I just don't get how destructive man can be....:)

    Iraq
    I have nothing but the highest regard and admiration for you son and his sacrifice for our country. While I am not vet my Dad was in WWII. The Vietnam War vets got such a raw deal. I think people today can separate the men how are there fighting and those who start the wars and, like in the case of Iraq and Afghanistan wars, none of those who "dealt it" ever served in the military. The exception was Colin Powell who was booted out of the last admin because he disagreed with the war in Iraq.

    I don't get it either. I think the planet is big enough for us all to live peacefully but there are those who want it all for themselves.
  • papajedi
    papajedi Member Posts: 110
    PhillieG said:

    Iraq
    I have nothing but the highest regard and admiration for you son and his sacrifice for our country. While I am not vet my Dad was in WWII. The Vietnam War vets got such a raw deal. I think people today can separate the men how are there fighting and those who start the wars and, like in the case of Iraq and Afghanistan wars, none of those who "dealt it" ever served in the military. The exception was Colin Powell who was booted out of the last admin because he disagreed with the war in Iraq.

    I don't get it either. I think the planet is big enough for us all to live peacefully but there are those who want it all for themselves.

    Hi Phil
    Talk about the evolution of a person it would be me when he went to Iraq. I began to loathe the Bush tactic of using fear, axis of evil ect. to force us to adopt his policies. I prefer to be an "intelligent" patriot :) If the average person could be as involved with the soldiers as we were they would be livid to see how they have been treated.
    I really admire Colin Powell, more after Bush hung him out to dry at the United Nations