Might I say this is all rather silly?  

I'm Christian. I BELIEVE in God.  It is a belief.  A belief I hold as fact.  However, I have absolutely nothing to back this up.  It boils down to "I believe."  I don't have proof.

My existance or lack thereof doesn't prove God exists or that he doesn't.  Lack of proof is not lack of something's existence.  How long did people think coelocanth was extinct before it was found?  Of course that is a little different.  There was proof it existed just not that it still existed. Alternately, existance of one thing doesn't prove the existence of another thing.  My dog doesn't exist b/c I do, and God doesn't exist b/c I do.  My existence doesn't prove there is a god.  

Really,  I find it funny when people try to prove God for "X" reason.  I believe in God and I still find it humorous.  You can give what you feel is evidence, but don't be upset when others have other explanations for your "evidence."  

They can't know there is no God anymore than we can prove there is one.  All we have is belief.  We can hold our beliefs as facts, I do.  At least, try to be smart enough to realize that if someone is looking for proof you don't really have it.  They are miracle driven.  They are those who see and will not believe.  You can "prove" nothing to them, and in actuality we should realize we have nothing to prove anyways.  

And to get the topic back on track:
The best thing to do when they ask for proof of God is to turn the question around.  Do they have proof there is no God?  Christians don't have proof God existed, and athiests don't have proof that he didn't.  That's all there is to it folks.  Honestly, it works for me.  Most questions can be turned around.  Why to why not?  I find that often times they want an answer they can't give a proper refute to when asked the opposite, and wish to use your lack of "appropriate" answer as the chink in your whole argument.  Why not point out their's as well?

Mayhap a good start would be to find out what certain christian faiths say is the role of families, and if possible find a general statement.  My faith actually has a statement on families, of course it isn't specific to America.  Maybe see what non-christian faiths feel the role of the family is.  What do Muslims see as the role of families?  What about Jews?  Or Hindus?  Maybe ask some non-christians what they feel the role of family is for personal input.  

Perhaps it needs to be on just christians, so you could look at the top 5 major christian faiths and talk about that and then discuss how your faith (if it isn't one of the 5) views the role of family.

Is this to be first person?

I usually just drink water.  Not even soda.  I splurged the other day and had lemonade.

I don't drink coffee at all.  Not only is it not condoned by my faith, it tastes awful.

I don't drink anything with actual tea leaves in it.  BUT I love peppermint tea with sweetner and a bit of half and half. I saw some the other day with some spices and rose petals, but it's expensive so one day when I'm feeling rich.  I also like lemongrass tea provided I can find it with no tea leaves added.  Finding tea for me is hard b/c I don't want the actual tea leaves in there (again has to do with my faith), not to mention as an anemic I don't need the tannin.

I heard about this book "Shadowmancer," by G.P. Taylor.  It has been called the Christian Harry Potter, or the christian alternative to Harry Potter.  I was just wondering if anyone had read it.  If so, what were your thoughts on it?  I'm thinking about reading it, and wanted an opinion.

O.O  Cats are evil b/c.....? You can't just make a comment and not give reasons.  Well, I suppose you can, b/c you just did.  

Cats get rid of mice.

They get rid of other insects they can catch.

There is a certain amount of entertainment in watching a cat try to catch a fly.

Cats are great to curl up with.


Not that I'm saying they are better than dogs or rabbits....  I like them all actually.   Poor guy I marry(if I marry) will have to accept zoos b/c I can't get rid of any of my "babies."  

I had a boa for a while.  I named him Mars.  I sent him home with a missionary that was in our area.  Mom was scared of him and wouldn't come in my room with the snake there.  They are neat creatures.

We raised them when I was younger.  Flemish Giants, French Lops (the other big ones), and Mini Lops.  We also had 1 Holland Lop, and a Rex.  The most we had at once was 32.  But we sold the babies.  We showed them with ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association).  Lyle is actually show quality if I cared to go to shows anymore, his parents are both Grand Champions, and he has the traits to be one himself.  I just don't have the time for that much and for now 1 is just fine.

Willowbirch,
I think he blackeyedpeas was just saying that with 13 rabbits you have a herd.  Not that you hadn't heard of them.  But I can't speak for him....

btw, colleen, there used to be a pioneer pizza up here too... maybe we could discuss which pioneer pizza it the true pioneer...

mike

I was not even aware it was a chain.  Or maybe just 2 places with the same name?   At any rate it's good food.  

We recently moved out to my sisters and we've not even been there a week and I've had 3 ticks, my mother has had about 4, my sister and father have all gotten ticks. One of the ticks that bit my mother has left a rash that is getting bigger, and she is going to the doctor today.  Please pray for her to be alright.  The type of tick she had, a lonestar tick, can carry both Limes Disease, and Rocky Mt spotted fever.  I'm concerned about her.

I believe he died for all sins we have or will commit.  He atoned for them whether or not people accept this sacrifice or him.  I believe that it is still important to ask forgiveness and strive to better ourselves, and work on not committing those sins again.  I believe we owe it to Christ to do all that we can.  The less we sin, the less torment he had to bear for us.... not that we can change the amount now, but... I guess, I feel that the less I do wrong, the less I am assured he had to suffer for me.  I feel that when a person admits their wrongs and seeks forgiveness, it helps them to be a better person too, and brings a peace in their heart that they've done all they can to recitfy their wrong.  I hope that makes some sort of sense....

I like Acts. I like the conversion of Saul.  It reminds me that we all do bad things and can be forgiven.  

I also like Job.  It reminds me to constantly thank God for all he has done.  The past few years have been extremely rough and it's easy to fall into a pit of despair given the circumstances, but I am reminded to keep my head up, thank God, and be happy b/c nothing is so bad that we can not overcome it.  

This is a theological debate?  

Errr... I actually like this litle place in Cashiers, NC called Pioneer Pizza.  The food is awesome.  And it's a pretty area to live.  You have to love the smokies.

1. My scriptures, the ones I use everyday that have all my lovely notes in them. I don't want just any scriptures.  I'm rather attached to my personal set.
2. Kingdom and the Crown (if you count this trilogy taking place at the time of Christ as one book).
3. A Dr. Suess book (if you stretch meanings you can find a spiritual meaning).

Hmm.  I should state I don't have kids, and so I have no authority.

I went to public school in the US. I feel that certain areas of my education were lacking.  However, I am grateful to have had the education I did.  I am working on furthering my education now.  I think I want to go into physical therapy or botany (Hey, I'm only 22.  I don't have to make a decision yet).  I personally don't think it is that bad for a child as long as you are parents like mine that constantly ask questions about what I learned.  My mother was always able to help me with english and sciences and my father was great with maths and technical things.  They gave me a good home foundation to learn from to supplement what I learned in school.  

I have personally seen homeschooling go both ways as I have public education.  I dated a homeschooled guy and him and his sister both were smart, but one could tell they were behind on things.  His sister went to a community college and ended up having to take longer b/c she had to take a ton of catch up classes.  He never really had the desire to further his education and as far as I know he still lives at home and works at a casino.  Now I date a guy who loves education.  He grew up in a small town and had lacking education... he was taking college courses in highschool b/c they couldn't offer him what he needed.  He recieved his bachelors in chemistry and is currently working on his Master's.  I see him, and he has such a desire to teach and to care about really getting it across to students and I wish more teachers really had his passion for it.  I can't say my teachers were awful, and I think I was fortunate to have the ones I did.  

My bf and I, as we look at a future together, have discussed homeschool and public.  We both agree that public school was lacking, but there is the question of whether or not we'd really be better teachers.  Private education is non-appealing b/c of costs.  He and I didn't really choose careers that would support sending a kid to private schooling. I guess we are still undecided for now.  Which is fine.  We aren't married and we have no kids (we like that no sex until marriage idea, and no I'm not taking jabs at anyone...just saying) and so we don't really have to worry about it too much.  

Eeep.  My Lyle is only 20lbs.  But 79?  Wow.  He's not that big.....Yeah, Cody (my great dane) is 150.  He's actually really good around new animals even the small ones.  He knows he's not allowed to hurt them.  I just have to worry about them getting bathed b/c he likes to lick them.  Cody actually doesn't even getting into Alpha male contests with other dogs when out.  I'm glad b/c he is a whole lot stronger than I am and if he wanted he could drag me around.   He just kind of looks at other dogs that owners are straining to keep back like they are nuts if he even acknowledges them at all.  

I actually moved in with my sis this past weekend so I'm living with a siamese cat, 2 rabbits (the other is a mini lop... broken sable), a cockatiel, and there are 2 more greatdanes that live outside.  It's busy.  I think my sister is working on finding homes for the cat and bird.  Personally it is too many pets, but I try to find time to give them all love even if only 2 are mine.... Busy busy busy.