School shooting this morning

[Damnittsteve]

If praying makes people feel better, then more power to them. My question has not been answered, though. For believers, it won't matter, but for me, it's one of the many big questions that hasnt been answered and ultimately strengthens the doubts and even rejection of the notion of a great God.

If someone can seriously give me a solid explanation, I am all ears. And although I know there are others that may want to hear it, too, if the majority don't want it dragged out in this thread, I understand. Perhaps I should have started a different thread. My PM box is open, though.

this may sound like s dick statement, but i dont think the ears to your soul are open yet, maybe your logical mind's ears but those dont really apply when you are talking to what your brain think is you imaginary friend. you have an idea of how far down the hole i was jared, but Gods love brought me back, and now im pursuing a career in the ministry. im not a good example except for what not to do but ill say this. when i spent christmas in lew sterret in dallas my ears opened up to hear what God had to say. i hope you arent so hard headed that you will learn of his love and grace way before anything bad happens. God bless you.

wait that was elvis's line lol

[SMKR]

Words cannot describe.. I can't even watch the news. Kind of like 9/11, the images just make me tear up. It's disgusting. People these days just have no morals and no regards for human life.

I do commend channel 11 last night for airing family christmas movies and not following suit of all the other chsnnels covering this.

[jasone]

he didnt kill everyone that way. he sent out word to noah who testified that the world would flood and people damn near tortured his family thinking they were crazy religous people, and no one but noahs family got on the boat. once again, the problem is choice.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress[c] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.


I don't see how that is free will.

[The King]

I just went outside and posed my question towards the sky. No answer yet. I must admit it felt like talking to an imaginary friend. He is up there, right? And the bad guy is down?

But to answer your second question, I've found that a lot of people who believe in God have answers for questions like mine. It must be in The Book somewhere.

jluv,

The Book tells us that mankind deliberately and by his/her own free will took on the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and by so doing assumed the responsibility of inviting evil into his/her world. That is all I will post about this subject in this thread, and I only did so because the question was asked.

RIP to the ones who lost their lives yesterday.

[jluv]

this may sound like s dick statement, but i dont think the ears to your soul are open yet, maybe your logical mind's ears but those dont really apply when you are talking to what your brain think is you imaginary friend. you have an idea of how far down the hole i was jared, but Gods love brought me back, and now im pursuing a career in the ministry. im not a good example except for what not to do but ill say this. when i spent christmas in lew sterret in dallas my ears opened up to hear what God had to say. i hope you arent so hard headed that you will learn of his love and grace way before anything bad happens. God bless you.

wait that was elvis's line lol

Not a dick statement at all. It sounds like what I've heard other Christians say. I see the good intention behind your words, and I also see how believing has helped you or is helping you right now. More power to you if that is what you feel that you need. But, there are good people who either were always good or turned their life around (like you are doing) who don't believe in God, and there are tons who claim to be Godly who do really fucked up things. I was born and raised Christian, was baptized, asked Jesus into my heart, and the whole shabang. But it never stuck. I think I truly stopped believing right around the same time I stopped believing in Santa Claus.

Now this may sound like a dick statement, but it's not meant to be. I don't need God to live a good life, to avoid doing bad stuff, to be happy. I'm fine at doing that without Him. And of you're referring to heaven, well, I guess I don't need the idea of heaven or hell to help sway my decisions, either. And frankly, if there is a God (I'm not an atheist - I do believe just about anything is possible outside of our human world and understanding), then I'll just hope (and maybe even have faith) that he's a really cool dude who will recognize that I lived a pretty positive life and was overall a nice guy, and he'll invite me in with a high five.

[DallasSleeper]

Did this really turn into a religious debate?

[SMKR]

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress[c] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.


I don't see how that is free will.

He could have easily chose to disobey.

[Denny]

Why is it that when something like this happens, we ask, "What have we done to deserve this?"

Funny, knowing that I am a sinner and the wages of sin is death, I have that same question for God as well; only I ask it when something good happens in my life.

What I'm trying to say is that once you recognize who/what you are, who/what God is, Hiss role, your role and His expectations of you; your questions will be the same, only different.

It's a fucked up game, y'all. Play it the way He wants you to play it. The meaning of life isn't to suceed, but rather grow the best relationship you can with Him through all life's trials, tribulations and blessings. I think you can really find some good answers to going through tough times by reading the Book of Job. He is testing us constantly. He will never put us through a test we can't handle (and you must stop with thinking about earthly consequences on this one). He also expects us to test Him as well. It builds a healthy relationship for both sides.

[jluv]

Did this really turn into a religious debate?

Not a debate (yet), just honest discussion and questioning. But it shouldn't overshadow the reality of the incident or overwhelm this thread. I'll stop posting about the religious stuff.

[Denny]

Did this really turn into a religious debate?

Debate? I see confused and lost people looking for answers. Ya, there are some that will bring out questions in order to shoot anything down, but any opportunity to get the Truth out there is welcomed.

[Vertnut]

Did this really turn into a religious debate?

On this board, almost any controversial topic does. I find it funny (by this board's standards) it's OK to shake hands with a gin bottle all weekend or smoke half a bag in a time of pressure or crisis, just don't mention God! To each his own. LMFAO!

[Sgt Beavis]

My Mom was pretty emotional yesterday evening. Texted me saying that we HAD to homeschool Carpenter (whose only 10 months). But the moment I bring up that I'm armed she was all about how a man with a gun did this. Nothing about the character of the person carrying the gun. Or the fact that I'm an Army vet with years of handgun and rifle training.

I ended up telling her she should wait to discuss it next week when we see each other. I thought my Mom was a bit more pro gun than that but I think her emotions got the best of her. My older sister is a paramedic and very anti gun. I kinda understand her stance since she see's a lot of gun wounds on a daily basis. On the other hand, my younger sister is a nurse and has multiple shotguns.

[jluv]

Debate? I see confused and lost people looking for answers. Ya, there are some that will bring out questions in order to shoot anything down, but any opportunity to get the Truth out there is welcomed.

Eh, I definitely don't consider myself lost. Confused about others' beliefs, perhaps. But not lost. But thanks for realizing it's not a debate I'm trying to stir up. And thanks for wanting to give your side without attacking or assuming it's some kind of trap. It's not.

On this board, almost any controversial topic does. I find it funny (by this board's standards) it's OK to shake hands with a gin bottle all weekend or smoke half a bag in a time of pressure or crisis, just don't mention God! To each his own. LMFAO!

Do you really see anything like that going on in this thread? If so, you're badly jaded (and mistaken).

[Vertnut]

Eh, I definitely don't consider myself lost. Confused about others' beliefs, perhaps. But not lost. but thanks for realizing it's not a debate I'm trying to stir up. And thanks for wanting to give your side without attacking or assuming it's some kind of trap. It's not.



Do you really see anything like that going on in this thread? If so, you're badly jaded (and mistaken).

In this thread? No. But I see it all the time on this board, and if you don't, you truly have blinders on.

[Denny]

My Mom was pretty emotional yesterday evening. Texted me saying that we HAD to homeschool Carpenter (whose only 10 months). But the moment I bring up that I'm armed she was all about how a man with a gun did this. Nothing about the character of the person carrying the gun. Or the fact that I'm an Army vet with years of handgun and rifle training.

I ended up telling her she should wait to discuss it next week when we see each other. I thought my Mom was a bit more pro gun than that but I think her emotions got the best of her. My older sister is a paramedic and very anti gun. I kinda understand her stance since she see's a lot of gun wounds on a daily basis. On the other hand, my younger sister is a nurse and has multiple shotguns.

Right. It is a form of stereotyping. Not all gun owners act the same. There are days (like these) that I bet everyone there prayed for someone else with a gun and level head to intervene.