Maggie's Farm

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Sunday, February 18. 2024

Quick Questions Please

I have emailed my local Pastor.  I will be meeting with him, and possibly (if she chooses) Mrs. Bulldog will join me.

I have specific questions.  Basic things.  Nothing major.


Open to anything anyone might want to suggest or offer as potentially useful.  I don't know what I might ignore or avoid - probably nothing, but sometimes not sure what may be enjoyable.


So if you have thoughts, questions, views, ideas - please feel free to share your thoughts.  I'm open for ideas of any kind! 

Posted by Bulldog in Religion at 15:58 | Comments (24) | Trackbacks (0)

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Long time lurker here... what an ugly word though.

Without knowing where you are in your walk with God, I would suggest addressing with your pastor the matter of scriptural metaphors. Much of what Jesus speaks of is intended to be taken literally. Some is metaphor. Which is which?

Having observed churches for a while, I'll make the statement that the more liberal the church the more they consider Scripture as metaphor, i.e. a good suggestion.

In the end of the matter, this is a life and death concern: what is real? How then shall we live? Even to drilling down to whether Jesus Christ is a wise teacher or the Messiah. Important stuff I would want to speak about.
#1 CT on 2024-02-18 17:46 (Reply)
As a practicing, senior citizen Catholic, I readily identify with CT's remarks, for me, for you, and for Mrs. Bulldog. Good, basic stuff.
#2 Peter on 2024-02-18 18:13 (Reply)
100%
I doubt she will join - not for any obvious reasons - but we have just said it may vary. She is wondering why I'd like to speak about things. Usually not really anything in particular.

My main thing, so far? Well, a few things.
1. Confession? Eh...unnecessary or meaningful. Is what it is, but I'm not sure there are gains from that. Used to believe it useful and important as a child. Now? Eh...seems more a priest personal gain they don't discuss well enough.
2. Death - why is it so easy and is there something I should consider that right now isn't really happening in any way? Oddly good, really. Not frightening or concerning in any way.
3. How I want to continue as long as I can and how to manage if I lose capability and hoping for some additional assistance and management of others' POV. Obviously want it as honest and open as possible.

It's an odd way to approach all this. So I need to find some level of consistency and open agreement.
#2.1 Bulldog on 2024-02-19 10:35 (Reply)
If you are seriously exploring "The Permanent Things," i.e., questions of the Ultimate Reality, I would encourage you to check out Tim Keller's work, https://timothykeller.com/books/the-prodigal-god, as well as https://www.amazon.com/Walking-God-through-Pain-Suffering/dp/1594634408, the book he wrote during his final battle with cancer. He has had an unusual ability to articulate God's love and purpose for us in the here and now. Blessings and grace for the journey ahead. --Nancy Bergner
#2.1.1 Nancy Bergner on 2024-02-19 17:56 (Reply)
Discuss how the Bible (specifically New Testament) was written in the language of the time, and to speak to the people it was written to in their time...important to stidu understand the Word in historical context and to whom it was written, and why, when we try to understand it and how it applies to our lives today...however theology is ultimately worthless without belief!
#3 steve (Link) on 2024-02-18 20:14 (Reply)
My prayers are with you. Best, Bob Wilson.
#4 Bob Wilson on 2024-02-18 21:06 (Reply)
Bulldog, I have found a great many of my questions answered to my satisfaction by watching the teachings of Derek Prince, a great many of which can be found on YouTube. His ministry is still active and distributing his lessons and sermons, if you find yourself also satisfied.

But above all, Christianity is about a personal walk with our Lord and Savior, not about cultish following of any one or another of the teachers, preachers and leaders that have followed since. Jesus wants you to come to him directly, and I have yet to see that He prefers any one sect over another in that regard.
#5 John Bowen on 2024-02-18 21:11 (Reply)
Thank you - very interesting.
#5.1 Bulldog on 2024-02-19 11:02 (Reply)
The only important questions (IMHO):
1. Do I believe there's an all-powerful God?
2. Do I believe that He loves me and wants me to live eternally with Him?
3. Do I believe His Son died to save me?
4. Do I believe that His apostle told the disciples that we must "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins" ?

Blessings to you, brother.
#6 Frank on 2024-02-18 21:33 (Reply)
I have been wondering about that, as well. You made it all a little more clearly than I'd arranged it so thanks!
#6.1 Bulldog on 2024-02-19 11:03 (Reply)
As a teen, I asked the Senior Minister of our Presbyterian church:
1) Did Jesus resurrect from the dead? and
2) Is Jesus coming to earth again (Second Coming)?
If I had the chance now, I would have also asked 3) Is the Bible the inerrant Word of God? and 4) How can I be saved from my sins?
He failed on all questions.
I got out of that church as fast as I could.
#7 Inquiring Minds on 2024-02-18 21:36 (Reply)
All great.

My one weird thing so far is the view of sin and approach.

Oddly - not feeling a thing.

I KNOW what my sins have been for many years. Not that I'm deeply evil and deliberately sinful all the time. Just that after you think and know what you've done, you just wonder about it (now). But oddly I tend to think "It doesn't really matter and I don't feel like I did anything to be evil or wrong - even if I know I did something sinful and impactful."

I do feel like with my current situation I get to think about all this a lot differently and being open about it all for myself, nobody else. Why should they need to know? They don't. I don't care if they make assumptions or think they know anything and are making choices. That's up to them, and if I don't like it, that's their issue. I'll take my own version and approach. Non-judgmental or decisional. Just "Hey - is sinfulness really dealt the same with everyone?" Nope. Not really.

Don't even really worry about God or Jesus or any other religious leader or participant. Hey - God has an opinion and a goal already. I'll NEVER figure out what that reality is while I can think about it. I am wondering what may happen if I get to the point my mind ceases working properly - how might I handle it all then? We have NO CLUE - but it's not hurtful to think about that.

So it's all really interesting to think.
#7.1 Bulldog on 2024-02-19 11:09 (Reply)
Yes. Derek Prince. The man goes straight to the point.
#8 Fodderwing on 2024-02-18 22:00 (Reply)
The church hymns are so tuneless and uninspiring. Is there a copyright problem with church congregations singing or hearing hit contemporary Christian hits?
#9 WA-mom (Link) on 2024-02-19 01:27 (Reply)
HA! Interesting.

There's always some kind of copyright/contemporary/congregation questions about songs of many types - religious or normal! LOL

But yeah, agreed. Some is tuneless and uninspiring. Others? Way more interesting and enjoyable. Even thoughtful at times.
#9.1 Bulldog on 2024-02-19 11:11 (Reply)
Is it possible to prove there is a God? If so, by what evidence? If not, why should I believe in a God that hasn't proven Himself?
Is the attainment of salvation an issue of doing more good than bad, or is it an issue of guilt or innocence?
These are two of the more important questions an avowed atheist and I are discussing. I, a believer, on the one hand and he on the other.
#10 Tellurian on 2024-02-19 01:40 (Reply)
Good point.

I don't think I've ever wondered "is there a God?"

Usually I just take that step. God exists. How? Who? Why? In what way?
Hmmm....usually "I don't know. Does any of that really matter?"

Oddly, most of my answers after years of study has been "Nah - God is real, even if we have no clue about some of the details we THINK we understand."

But maybe I'm wrong or need a little more information and/or guidance. Rarely unwelcome or unneeded.
#10.1 Bulldog on 2024-02-19 11:13 (Reply)
„ Ein Gott, der uns seine Existenz beweisen lässt, wäre ein Idol. “

("A God who let us prove his existence would be an idol.")

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
#10.1.1 JJM on 2024-02-19 22:45 (Reply)
I had a friend who was terminal at Johns Hopkins that called me and asked the same thing and I said "If there's another side let me know will ya?"... I.D. someone, and IF, let them know.
#11 Jerry Weintraub Jr on 2024-02-19 07:05 (Reply)
My similar last story - he too was Johns Hopkins 3 years ago (only 9 months unfortunately with a memorial in Florida for him a year later).

He was an old roommate from 1983 in London and a great, wonderful, fun friend for every year since.
2 weddings of his I attended - different wives. Eventually he lost it to Pancreatic Cancer. Related (sadly) to his diabetic issues which oddly were first learned in 1983 when he and I met, shared a room with, and he was the finest person I'd known for 37 years. Not a single complaint, criticism, anger, disappointment, dislike. This guy? Greatest guy I'd known ever personally.

Great at sports (even when we had different favorite teams outside of Syracuse), great at history, politics - but mostly to just have fun and laughable conversations. I always called him the "true mayor" of Syracuse. He wasn't. But he may as well have been as a great human.

Not religious at all. Not like it was needed or wrong - we did discuss from time to time as friends. But such a pleasure human that - really? Was religion that much of an issue for you? NOT AT ALL.

I miss him deeply. In an odd way, I'm actually hoping I can finish as well as he did and he and I can have some more fun after my time is up.
#11.1 Bulldog on 2024-02-19 11:18 (Reply)
In dealing with my own my own mortality I found some comfort in a special on PBS. Sister Una lived a good death. I don't agree with the politics but did agree with her on how she wanted to spend her last months. I hope it helps and you are in our prayers.
#12 Don on 2024-02-19 14:01 (Reply)
My solution to just about everything is to read more CS Lewis.
#13 Assistant Village Idiot on 2024-02-19 18:02 (Reply)
Can God 'reproduce' and make more 'God'. If so, what would it look like? Since God is forever, do you think this is the first time he created humans? Maybe he knows what's going to happen because this is the billionth time He/They have done it.
#14 Dan Schuller on 2024-02-19 21:44 (Reply)
Interesting. I do not know. Good one to ask.
#14.1 Bulldog on 2024-02-20 00:50 (Reply)

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