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 |    We live much of life amid unique choices. Joy is anchored in The One beyond our life. |
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“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” ― Charles Spurgeon “Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” ― C. H. Spurgeon “Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” ― Charles Spurgeon “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ― Charles Spurgeon “When your will is God's will, you will have your will.” ― Charles Spurgeon https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2876959.Charles_Haddon_Spurgeon (Philippians 2:13, KJV)    |
| The word, respect, needs to be better understood these days. Too often, respect is simply a substitute for the word, "like." If you say, that you respect someone, it automatically follows, that you like that person in the modern social context. However, if rightly understood, we consistently need more respect for our detractors than for our friends. For example, Clemson is preparing to meet LSU in the college football championship game. It doesn't take much to believe, that Dabo Sweeney and his team of support coaches are pouring over every bit of game footage, that they can find, to help them learn how to defend against Joe Burrow. We may say, that Dabo Sweeney and the Clemson Tigers have much respect for Joe Burrow. Do they like Joe Burrow? Possibly, but in the context of a championship football game, "Like" has nothing to do with the point. Neutralizing the strengths of Joe Burrow's offense and the LSU defense has everything to do with their purpose of winning back-to-back national championships. In other words, respect and like are separate concepts, and they should never be mistaken as substituting for each other. I respect atheism strongly, but I do not like atheism at all. Atheism is the extreme result of the Original Sin. The Original Sin showed, that Adam and Eve, our first parents, chose to accept truth as being from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil rather than continuing to accept the truth of God Himself, who is the Source of all Truth since He is TRUTH. (John 14:6) . (Truth is a Person. Truth is NOT a set of inanimate facts.) My hat is off to all atheists. These men and women must fancy themselves to be really strong individuals. Actually, these people have way more courage and faith than I will ever possess. Atheists believe they are strong enough to control air, sun, gravity, heartbeats, breathing, all within the short lifespan of 100 years, more or less, leaving the Earth more fit for subsequent generations than they received it when they were born. I believe in the existence of One and Only One God, since the belief in no God or multiple gods has no possibility of succeeding, given the scientific parameters of the physical universe. Every item required for the existence of human life on Earth has such a small range of allowable error for the continuation of human life on this planet, that these may each be said to sit on the edge of a sharpened razor. 1. Oxygen and nitrogen in breathable air are in such a tandem, that much remixing and life on Earth ceases to exist. 2. The tilt of the Earth is required for seasons to aid plant growth and food production, thus providing sustenance for humans. 3. The spin of the Earth on its axis is maintained at such a speed, that day and night aid in the food production, mentioned in the previous example. 4. The annual course of Earth around the sun is maintained at such a speed as to help the two previous examples to maintain life on Earth. There are many more examples, that could be given, but the point would remain the same. Chance (i.e. no God) has no ability to begin nor to continue these life-specific events. Multiple gods would fight over supremacy to the destruction of all life on Earth since everything would be quickly out-of-balance in the fight to become the supreme god. Over the years I have come to understand and to respect the strengths of each argument espoused by atheists, singularly and corporately, as well as atheism as a belief system, (whether or not any atheist ever confesses, that it is actually a belief system.) Atheism poses a formidable counterpoint to my belief in Jesus Christ as my only Savior as well as being the only possible Savior of any human being. As a formidable detractor, atheism has my highest respect. One does not enter a debate on the subject of God with beliefs, comprised of no more than "warm, fuzzy teddy bears." Atheists are highly intelligent individuals, who have come to their position through years of hardship, doubts, and personal questioning. However, in one regard it's humorous, that atheists are so much like the preachers, whom they vehemently oppose. Atheists and preachers alike are not always right, but they are rarely in doubt,...at least, publicly. Finally, this piece is not intended to necessarily gain me any friends among atheists, since most continue to find some point of contention with whatever I say, even if it is my attempt to "offer an olive branch" on some issue, minor though it may be. The point of this piece is to give an admonition to atheists and believers alike. Respect, especially those, who differ with you, intellectually. Each person has no doubt come to his or her position through great mental effort, and probably a great deal of emotional/spiritual wrestlings. Bottom Line: Atheism and belief in God are matters of faith. Atheism can't prove the nonexistence of God any more than a Christian prove, that God exists. The scientific evidence can be used to prove the existence of God, pro or con, with the final arbiter being the viewpoint, that one maintains, philosophically. Nonthinking believers are no better than nonbelieving thinkers, and vice versa. Honest humans confess, that we do not know everything. The part we can't know requires faith on some level. Belief in that which is true cannot be harmed by rational thought. To believe without examining that belief, ruthlessly, demonstrates irresponsibility, and, potentially, the demise of that belief. True respect for belief in the One True God means coming to grips with the tenets of nonbelief if one is to maintain the best belief at one's very core. If Dabo Sweeney were to "just wing it" in the game against LSU a week from today, then he could be the victim of a 73-0 defeat. However, if he studies Joe Burrow and LSU (as I have no doubt, that he is doing,) then he has at least a fighting chance to win. Disrespect of an opponent means sure defeat in any sort of contest or debate. Respect is wise. Respect shows, that you know what is at stake. by Jay O'Toole on January 6th, 2020 |
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