http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884 You know as humans I think we can get greedy. We want things, I mean as we live here we are called to be servants of Jesus Christ but we also want. And becuase we have so much faith in our Lord and savior we pray to Him and ask Him of these things. And sometimes what we have to come to understand is that we pray for what we thought would come true didn't come true in our hearts of what we thought what we wanted, God knew best. And when we didn't see what we wanted to see, we should walk by faith. And even when we understand things or don't understand things we should still walk by faith because faith is not when you see you're like &quot;Oh okay well I'll walk by faith now because I see&quot;. That's not faith. Faith is when you can't see, and something that you've been praying for, and that you've been wanting and you have been praying for that and it didn't come true in your own heart. And when you don't see what you wanted to see, you need to walk by faith. That's faith! When you walk and you don't see. Those are the words of Jeremy Camp before singing the song he wrote on his honeymoon called &quot;I Will Walk By Faith&quot;. He was praying for His wife to be healed. And she ultimately was, she's with Jesus. But she passed away evidently. So what he may have wanted in His own heart didn't come true, but that's because God knows best. God knows exactly what we need and when we need it and why we need it. He is truly our map in this world. And when you are praying for something like that, and you cannot see, you continue to walk by faith, not by sight. Because if we were to walk by sight we'd be doing things that cause us to become spiritually dead. But if we walk by faith, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His plan for your life, we will only grow that much stronger. But like I said, everybody wants something. Weither it be that new job, or perhaps that guy or girl. And you were just praying for something that you really wanted, and it didn't come true in your own heart. But you still continue to walk by faith and you don't let anything interrupt your walk and your focus on the Lord. Because only God knows what is best for you, and if something doesn't work out, it was for a reason. But realize this, what God wants for you is only the absolute best. So if something doesn't go according to how your heart had planned, then don't fret about it. Because what will be put in place of that will be so gloriously better than what you wanted, that you won't even remember it anymore. Nobody can script your life any better than our Lord Jesus Christ. I've experienced this the past couple of months. I won't say exactly what it is my heart wanted and what I was praying for and what I thought I wanted(though those who know me probably know what it is anyway), but in the end The Lord made it exactly clear to me why. And I couldn't believe it, how he just spoke to me and it just hit me so hard that this is something I've wanted for so long, and now that it didn't work out, look at what happened? Look at what this really is and why it wouldn't have worked out. It was incredible to say the least. And now I understand why it is so important to walk by faith and through walking by faith it makes it so much easier to put things and experiences past you. Because you know what the Lord has planned out for you is going to be so incredibly great that nothing else would come close. Who better to decide your life than the one who granted it to you? And after that experience of what I had my heart set on for the past few month didn't work in the way I had expected, I just had to ask the Lord to help take it off my mind now that it is over so I may regain my focus towards Him. And that He did. I wanted to make this a two part blog, but I don't think there is anymore that needs to be said honestly. Just something I've learned and heard about and a very important experience I wanted to share. I fully understand now why it is so very important to walk by your faith and not by what you see. And by doing that not only does your relationship come closer to the Lord,but it teaches you to not become so disouraged when something doesn't go according to the way you planned. So, the most important lesson here to will learn and have to understand is that you have to walk by faith, even when you cannot see. Because if you can suddenly see and say &quot;Well okay now I'll walk by faith because I can see&quot;, then thats not truly faith. You're just now believeing and walking by faith just because someting happened the way you wanted it to and because now you believe you can see. And sometimes to fully understand the importance of walking by faith one may have to actually experience something like myself. how I wanted something so badly and prayed about it and even said to the Lord &quot;I want what you want, but this is what I desire. Show me what you desire.&quot; and when I wanted His will, he showed me what he wanted. And even why he wanted something not to turn out the way I wanted it to. I hope and pray that my experiences can be your prosper. :) 2 Corinthians 5:7 &quot;For we walk by faith, not by sight.&quot; - King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, American Standard Version &quot;We live by faith, not by sight.&quot; - New International Version &quot;For we live by believing and not by seeing.&quot; - New Living Translation &quot;But we live by faith, not by what we see.&quot; - Contemporary English Version &quot;Our life is lived by faith. We do not live by what we see in front of us.&quot; - New Life Version &quot;For through faith we walk, not through sight.&quot; - Young's Literal Translation You know as humans I think we can get greedy. We want things, I mean as we live here we are called to be servants of Jesus Christ but we also want. And becuase we have so much faith in our Lord and savior we pray to Him and ask Him of these things. And sometimes what we have to come to understand is that we pray for what we thought would come true didn't come true in our hearts of what we thought what we wanted, God knew best. And when we didn't see what we wanted to see, we should walk by faith. And even when we understand things or don't understand things we should still walk by faith because faith is not when you see you're like &quot;Oh okay well I'll walk by faith now because I see&quot;. That's not faith. Faith is when you can't see, and something that you've been praying for, and that you've been wanting and you have been praying for that and it didn't come true in your own heart. And when you don't see what you wanted to see, you need to walk by faith. That's faith! When you walk and you don't see. Those are the words of Jeremy Camp before singing the song he wrote on his honeymoon called &quot;I Will Walk By Faith&quot;. He was praying for His wife to be healed. And she ultimately was, she's with Jesus. But she passed away evidently. So what he may have wanted in His own heart didn't come true, but that's because God knows best. God knows exactly what we need and when we need it and why we need it. He is truly our map in this world. And when you are praying for something like that, and you cannot see, you continue to walk by faith, not by sight. Because if we were to walk by sight we'd be doing things that cause us to become spiritually dead. But if we walk by faith, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His plan for your life, we will only grow that much stronger. But like I said, everybody wants something. Weither it be that new job, or perhaps that guy or girl. And you were just praying for something that you really wanted, and it didn't come true in your own heart. But you still continue to walk by faith and you don't let anything interrupt your walk and your focus on the Lord. Because only God knows what is best for you, and if something doesn't work out, it was for a reason. But realize this, what God wants for you is only the absolute best. So if something doesn't go according to how your heart had planned, then don't fret about it. Because what will be put in place of that will be so gloriously better than what you wanted, that you won't even remember it anymore. Nobody can script your life any better than our Lord Jesus Christ. I've experienced this the past couple of months. I won't say exactly what it is my heart wanted and what I was praying for and what I thought I wanted(though those who know me probably know what it is anyway), but in the end The Lord made it exactly clear to me why. And I couldn't believe it, how he just spoke to me and it just hit me so hard that this is something I've wanted for so long, and now that it didn't work out, look at what happened? Look at what this really is and why it wouldn't have worked out. It was incredible to say the least. And now I understand why it is so important to walk by faith and through walking by faith it makes it so much easier to put things and experiences past you. Because you know what the Lord has planned out for you is going to be so incredibly great that nothing else would come close. Who better to decide your life than the one who granted it to you? And after that experience of what I had my heart set on for the past few month didn't work in the way I had expected, I just had to ask the Lord to help take it off my mind now that it is over so I may regain my focus towards Him. And that He did. I wanted to make this a two part blog, but I don't think there is anymore that needs to be said honestly. Just something I've learned and heard about and a very important experience I wanted to share. I fully understand now why it is so very important to walk by your faith and not by what you see. And by doing that not only does your relationship come closer to the Lord,but it teaches you to not become so disouraged when something doesn't go according to the way you planned. So, the most important lesson here to will learn and have to understand is that you have to walk by faith, even when you cannot see. Because if you can suddenly see and say &quot;Well okay now I'll walk by faith because I can see&quot;, then thats not truly faith. You're just now believeing and walking by faith just because someting happened the way you wanted it to and because now you believe you can see. And sometimes to fully understand the importance of walking by faith one may have to actually experience something like myself. how I wanted something so badly and prayed about it and even said to the Lord &quot;I want what you want, but this is what I desire. Show me what you desire.&quot; and when I wanted His will, he showed me what he wanted. And even why he wanted something not to turn out the way I wanted it to. I hope and pray that my experiences can be your prosper. :) 2 Corinthians 5:7 &quot;For we walk by faith, not by sight.&quot; - King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, American Standard Version &quot;We live by faith, not by sight.&quot; - New International Version &quot;For we live by believing and not by seeing.&quot; - New Living Translation &quot;But we live by faith, not by what we see.&quot; - Contemporary English Version &quot;Our life is lived by faith. We do not live by what we see in front of us.&quot; - New Life Version &quot;For through faith we walk, not through sight.&quot; - Young's Literal Translation en-us Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:19:49 PST And I will walk by science and knowledge.&nbsp; I wish you a pleasant journey. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59143 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59143 And I will walk by science and knowledge.&nbsp; I wish you a pleasant journey. Random,<br /> <br /> It appears the Age of Enlightenment passed some people by. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59145 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59145 Random,<br /> <br /> It appears the Age of Enlightenment passed some people by. And that's fine.&nbsp; I wouldn't force enlightenment on anyone.&nbsp; I just ask that they keep the darkness from swallowing the rest of us. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59148 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59148 And that's fine.&nbsp; I wouldn't force enlightenment on anyone.&nbsp; I just ask that they keep the darkness from swallowing the rest of us. Well, if today's news is any indication, we're in for a long battle.<br /> <br /> <span class="vitstorybody"> <p>The second most powerful member of the Texas House has circulated a Georgia lawmaker's call for a broad assault on teaching of evolution. </p> <p> House Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, used House operations Tuesday to deliver a memo from Georgia state Rep. Ben Bridges. </p> <p> The memo assails what it calls &quot;the evolution monopoly in the schools.&quot; </p> <p> Mr. Bridges' memo claims that teaching evolution amounts to indoctrinating students in an ancient Jewish sect's beliefs. <br /> </p> <p>http://tinyurl.com/3xaavz</p> <br /> <p>You really need to read the entire article to see just how loopy these people are.<br /> </p> </span> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59152 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59152 Well, if today's news is any indication, we're in for a long battle.<br /> <br /> <span class="vitstorybody"> <p>The second most powerful member of the Texas House has circulated a Georgia lawmaker's call for a broad assault on teaching of evolution. </p> <p> House Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, used House operations Tuesday to deliver a memo from Georgia state Rep. Ben Bridges. </p> <p> The memo assails what it calls &quot;the evolution monopoly in the schools.&quot; </p> <p> Mr. Bridges' memo claims that teaching evolution amounts to indoctrinating students in an ancient Jewish sect's beliefs. <br /> </p> <p>http://tinyurl.com/3xaavz</p> <br /> <p>You really need to read the entire article to see just how loopy these people are.<br /> </p> </span> <p>Oh, I not only read the article but went to the supporting &quot;blog.&quot;&nbsp; They seem to think God hung the Earth upon a set of magnets He bought at Sharper Image.&nbsp;&nbsp; But then, it is the Texas Lege, &quot;the national laboratory for bad government.&quot;</p> <p>.</p> <p>At the heart of much antiscience nonsense is a nugget of anti-Semitism.&nbsp; This one's just more blatant than most.&nbsp; Oh, and apologies to Matthew for the temporary thread diversion...</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59160 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59160 <p>Oh, I not only read the article but went to the supporting &quot;blog.&quot;&nbsp; They seem to think God hung the Earth upon a set of magnets He bought at Sharper Image.&nbsp;&nbsp; But then, it is the Texas Lege, &quot;the national laboratory for bad government.&quot;</p> <p>.</p> <p>At the heart of much antiscience nonsense is a nugget of anti-Semitism.&nbsp; This one's just more blatant than most.&nbsp; Oh, and apologies to Matthew for the temporary thread diversion...</p> <p><font color="#ff0000">MSgherzi: Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. There are&nbsp;people in here that will attack you on everything you post about Jesus, as you see one has alway. Just remember no matter what they say&nbsp;their opinions means nothing compared to the Word of God. What you have in your heart can only be taken away if you aloud it, remember the scripture, fear not he that can kill the body, but fear him that can destroy the body and soul. Demons, evil spirits enter these people and works though them but, it's&nbsp;not flesh and blood&nbsp;we fight against, but those evil beings with false teachings.&nbsp; Non believers are in the natural world, many churches are in the natural, but being BORN AGAIN allows you to excape the natural world and be in tune with God and His Son&nbsp;Jesus.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000">Keep up the good fight and forget about the rat pack that will try your every post.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000">Ron.</font></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59175 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59175 <p><font color="#ff0000">MSgherzi: Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. There are&nbsp;people in here that will attack you on everything you post about Jesus, as you see one has alway. Just remember no matter what they say&nbsp;their opinions means nothing compared to the Word of God. What you have in your heart can only be taken away if you aloud it, remember the scripture, fear not he that can kill the body, but fear him that can destroy the body and soul. Demons, evil spirits enter these people and works though them but, it's&nbsp;not flesh and blood&nbsp;we fight against, but those evil beings with false teachings.&nbsp; Non believers are in the natural world, many churches are in the natural, but being BORN AGAIN allows you to excape the natural world and be in tune with God and His Son&nbsp;Jesus.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000">Keep up the good fight and forget about the rat pack that will try your every post.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000">Ron.</font></p> If you pray for something and it happens, God approved of what you wanted. If it doesn't happen, God knew better. Glad that works for you, Matthew, but for me it just displays the worthlessness and the waste of time and effort of prayer. Don't compare your beliefs too closely to Ron's. Any difference wil result in your exclusion from Heaven.&nbsp; http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59180 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59180 If you pray for something and it happens, God approved of what you wanted. If it doesn't happen, God knew better. Glad that works for you, Matthew, but for me it just displays the worthlessness and the waste of time and effort of prayer. Don't compare your beliefs too closely to Ron's. Any difference wil result in your exclusion from Heaven.&nbsp; Ron, we on the left&nbsp;fight against evil too.&nbsp; http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59195 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59195 Ron, we on the left&nbsp;fight against evil too.&nbsp; I'm sorry to say I'm up to 217.5 this morning, so I hope your golf bag doesn't weigh that much, Ron. If it does, remember, you're only allowed 14 clubs. If you've got a good &quot;in&quot; with God, so much so that he answers your golf prayers, that's a damned good edge. I have to rely soley(soully?) on my game...&nbsp;&nbsp; http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59228 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59228 I'm sorry to say I'm up to 217.5 this morning, so I hope your golf bag doesn't weigh that much, Ron. If it does, remember, you're only allowed 14 clubs. If you've got a good &quot;in&quot; with God, so much so that he answers your golf prayers, that's a damned good edge. I have to rely soley(soully?) on my game...&nbsp;&nbsp; <p>I don't know what God would think of you carrying my picture in your wallet, Ron. Better be able to remove it quickly in case it catches fire!</p> <p>update: Ron deleted his comments I was replying to in my last two posts. Something about wishing he could have straightened me out in a golf game, our weights and carrying my picture in his wallet. Just in case you were wondering what the hell I was talking about!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59233 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59233 <p>I don't know what God would think of you carrying my picture in your wallet, Ron. Better be able to remove it quickly in case it catches fire!</p> <p>update: Ron deleted his comments I was replying to in my last two posts. Something about wishing he could have straightened me out in a golf game, our weights and carrying my picture in his wallet. Just in case you were wondering what the hell I was talking about!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <font color="#ff0000">God knows my heart. He might not agree with it all the time.</font> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59236 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59236 <font color="#ff0000">God knows my heart. He might not agree with it all the time.</font> Matthew 18:6-7 -- <span class="highlight"> But he that shall scandalize (</span>that is, shall put a stumbling block in their way, and cause them to fall into sin.) <span class="highlight">one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.</span> Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh.<br /> <br /> Perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised that some folks do not understand Christ's words let alone use their eyes and ears to see and hear what they ought to see and hear. Even his closest followers had a hard tiime understanding some of his teachings in parables unless they went inside Peter's house where he sighed and explained more fully to them. Now what does Peter's house signify? Does the Vatican in Rome bring to mind any interesting parallels? Hmm? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59260 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59260 Matthew 18:6-7 -- <span class="highlight"> But he that shall scandalize (</span>that is, shall put a stumbling block in their way, and cause them to fall into sin.) <span class="highlight">one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.</span> Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh.<br /> <br /> Perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised that some folks do not understand Christ's words let alone use their eyes and ears to see and hear what they ought to see and hear. Even his closest followers had a hard tiime understanding some of his teachings in parables unless they went inside Peter's house where he sighed and explained more fully to them. Now what does Peter's house signify? Does the Vatican in Rome bring to mind any interesting parallels? Hmm? <p>I get a real kick out of AllRed.&nbsp; He begins by warning Msgherzi that he will be attacked&nbsp;by&nbsp;&quot;people&quot; &nbsp;in these blogs but to stay firm in his faith.&nbsp; Then he goes on to describe the &quot;attackers&quot; as&nbsp;being filled with evil spirits and demons. </p> <p>I've always tried to be polite to Allred and refrain from calling him names ie: delusional, easily influenced, needy, etc.&nbsp; However, if he insinuates once more&nbsp;that I'm filled with demons or evil spirits,&nbsp; I won't hesitate to set politeness aside and describe to him how I really feel. </p> <p>Someday Red will understand that there is no definitive &quot;right&quot; answer to religious belief.&nbsp; What is right for&nbsp;him may not be right for someone else.&nbsp; </p> <p>Anyway that's what God told me&nbsp;last night&nbsp;when we were kicking back.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59401 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59401 <p>I get a real kick out of AllRed.&nbsp; He begins by warning Msgherzi that he will be attacked&nbsp;by&nbsp;&quot;people&quot; &nbsp;in these blogs but to stay firm in his faith.&nbsp; Then he goes on to describe the &quot;attackers&quot; as&nbsp;being filled with evil spirits and demons. </p> <p>I've always tried to be polite to Allred and refrain from calling him names ie: delusional, easily influenced, needy, etc.&nbsp; However, if he insinuates once more&nbsp;that I'm filled with demons or evil spirits,&nbsp; I won't hesitate to set politeness aside and describe to him how I really feel. </p> <p>Someday Red will understand that there is no definitive &quot;right&quot; answer to religious belief.&nbsp; What is right for&nbsp;him may not be right for someone else.&nbsp; </p> <p>Anyway that's what God told me&nbsp;last night&nbsp;when we were kicking back.</p> <p>We have been the unwitting slaves of an invisible, perversely intelligent, deceitful, powerful, and heartless master who is the god of this world (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28864/eVerseID/28864">II Corinthians 4:4</a>). He has created cultures with ways of life appealing to our self-centered natures. He stimulates our spirit through corrupt music, literature, art, and religion. He diverts our attention from more important concerns of life by means of entertainment with erotic visual and auditory impact. He has enslaved our minds by appealing to the desires of the flesh and of the eyes and the <a target="_blank" href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/audio.details/ID/207/Faith-Part-6-.htm">pride</a> of life (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/30567/eVerseID/30567">I John 2:16</a>) almost from the time we were born. He confuses us by hiding or shading the <a target="_blank" href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/180/Truth-Part-1.htm">truth</a>, denying absolutes, distorting reality, emphasizing vanity, and making available such a spectrum of opinions that disagreement is the standard operational feature of life. He pits us in competition against each other and makes us feel defensive, insecure, and untrusting. </p> <p>By the time we are adults and God calls us, it takes a miracle mightier than God ever expended liberating the Israelites to even begin to free us from the demonic clutches of the pharaoh of this world, <a target="_blank" href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/167/Satan-Part-1.htm">Satan</a> the Devil! </p> <p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We are privileged to live when events&mdash;far beyond even nations to control and of vast importance to the outworking of God's purpose&mdash;are being maneuvered into position. Most assuredly, God is deeply involved. His dominion is over all creation, but for the present time He has appointed <a href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/167/Satan-Part-1.htm" target="_blank">Satan</a> and his demons, the principalities and powers of this age, to rule over earth (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29350/eVerseID/29350">Ephesians 6:12</a>).</p> <p>As we approach <a href="http://truegospel.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/library.sa/subj/return/jesus-christs-return-articles.htm" target="_blank">Christ's return</a>, Satan has designed ways of life that are fast-paced, spiced by a complicated array of sense-appealing entertainments, fashions, and gadgets, and filled with a confusing mix of educational, economic, religious, and political systems. These lifestyles are in a constant whirl and lived on the edge of disaster. No one has time any more to meditate on how to gain control over his life.</p> <p>Are we also allowing ourselves to be swept along on the crest of this surging tide of worldliness? Perhaps this is why Satan has created such a system.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59438 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59438 <p>We have been the unwitting slaves of an invisible, perversely intelligent, deceitful, powerful, and heartless master who is the god of this world (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28864/eVerseID/28864">II Corinthians 4:4</a>). He has created cultures with ways of life appealing to our self-centered natures. He stimulates our spirit through corrupt music, literature, art, and religion. He diverts our attention from more important concerns of life by means of entertainment with erotic visual and auditory impact. He has enslaved our minds by appealing to the desires of the flesh and of the eyes and the <a target="_blank" href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/audio.details/ID/207/Faith-Part-6-.htm">pride</a> of life (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/30567/eVerseID/30567">I John 2:16</a>) almost from the time we were born. He confuses us by hiding or shading the <a target="_blank" href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/180/Truth-Part-1.htm">truth</a>, denying absolutes, distorting reality, emphasizing vanity, and making available such a spectrum of opinions that disagreement is the standard operational feature of life. He pits us in competition against each other and makes us feel defensive, insecure, and untrusting. </p> <p>By the time we are adults and God calls us, it takes a miracle mightier than God ever expended liberating the Israelites to even begin to free us from the demonic clutches of the pharaoh of this world, <a target="_blank" href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/167/Satan-Part-1.htm">Satan</a> the Devil! </p> <p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We are privileged to live when events&mdash;far beyond even nations to control and of vast importance to the outworking of God's purpose&mdash;are being maneuvered into position. Most assuredly, God is deeply involved. His dominion is over all creation, but for the present time He has appointed <a href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/167/Satan-Part-1.htm" target="_blank">Satan</a> and his demons, the principalities and powers of this age, to rule over earth (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29350/eVerseID/29350">Ephesians 6:12</a>).</p> <p>As we approach <a href="http://truegospel.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/library.sa/subj/return/jesus-christs-return-articles.htm" target="_blank">Christ's return</a>, Satan has designed ways of life that are fast-paced, spiced by a complicated array of sense-appealing entertainments, fashions, and gadgets, and filled with a confusing mix of educational, economic, religious, and political systems. These lifestyles are in a constant whirl and lived on the edge of disaster. No one has time any more to meditate on how to gain control over his life.</p> <p>Are we also allowing ourselves to be swept along on the crest of this surging tide of worldliness? Perhaps this is why Satan has created such a system.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p> <p align="left">In the beginning, Adam and Eve were not created with the evil nature we see displayed in all of mankind. At the end of the sixth day of creation, God took pleasure in all He had made and pronounced it &quot;very good,&quot; including Adam and Eve and the nature or the heart He placed in them. An evil heart cannot possibly be termed &quot;very good.&quot; They were a blank slate, one might say, with a slight pull toward the self, but not with the strong, self-centered, touchy, and offensive heart that is communicated through contact with the world following birth.</p> <p align="left">Following Adam and Eve's creation, God placed them in Eden and instructed them on their responsibilities. He then purposefully allowed them to be exposed to and tested by <a href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/167/Satan-Part-1.htm" target="_blank">Satan</a>, who most definitely had a different set of beliefs, attitudes, purposes, and character than God. Without interference from God, they freely made the choice to subject themselves to the evil influence of that malevolent spirit. That event initiated the corruption of man's heart. Perhaps nowhere in all of Scripture is there a clearer example of the <a href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/180/Truth-Part-1.htm" target="_blank">truth</a> of <a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28752/eVerseID/28752">I Corinthians 15:33:</a> &quot;Evil communications corrupt good manners.&quot;</p> <p align="left">Comparing our contact with Satan to Adam and Eve's, a sobering aspect is that God shows they were fully aware of Satan when he communicated with them. However, we realize that a spirit being can communicate with a human by transferring thoughts, and the person might never know it! He would assume the thoughts were completely generated within himself.</p> <p align="left">Following their encounter with the evil one, &quot;the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked&quot; (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/63/eVerseID/63">Genesis 3:7</a>). This indicates an immediate change in their attitudes and perspectives. It also implies a change of character from the way God had created them, as they had indeed willingly sinned, thus reinforcing the whole, degenerative process.</p> <p align="left">This began not only their personal corruption but also this present, evil world, as Paul calls it in <a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29062/eVerseID/29062">Galatians 1:4.</a> All it took was one contact with, communication from, and submission to that very evil source to effect a profound change from what they had been. The process did not stop with them, as <a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28060/eVerseID/28060">Romans 5:12</a> confirms, &quot;Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.&quot; Adam and Eve passed on the corrupt products of their encounter with Satan to their children, and each of us, in turn, has sinned as willingly as our first ancestors did.</p> <p align="left">When we are born, innocent of any sin of our own, we enter into a 6,000-year-old, ready-made world that is permeated with the spirit of Satan and his demons, as well as with the evil cultures they generated through a thoroughly deceived mankind. In consequence, unbeknownst to us, we face a double-barreled challenge to our innocence: from demons as well as from this world.</p> <p align="left">Six thousand years of human history exhibit that we very quickly absorb the course of the world around us and lose our innocence, becoming self-centered and deceived like everybody else (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/30901/eVerseID/30901">Revelation 12:9</a>). The vast majority in this world is utterly unaware that they are in bondage to Satan&mdash;so unaware that most would scoff if told so. Even if informed through the preaching of <a href="http://truegospel.org/" target="_blank">the gospel</a>, they do not fully grasp either the extent or the importance of these factors unless God draws them by opening their eyes spiritually (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/26302/eVerseID/26303">John 6:44-45</a>).</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59439 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59439 <p align="left">In the beginning, Adam and Eve were not created with the evil nature we see displayed in all of mankind. At the end of the sixth day of creation, God took pleasure in all He had made and pronounced it &quot;very good,&quot; including Adam and Eve and the nature or the heart He placed in them. An evil heart cannot possibly be termed &quot;very good.&quot; They were a blank slate, one might say, with a slight pull toward the self, but not with the strong, self-centered, touchy, and offensive heart that is communicated through contact with the world following birth.</p> <p align="left">Following Adam and Eve's creation, God placed them in Eden and instructed them on their responsibilities. He then purposefully allowed them to be exposed to and tested by <a href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/167/Satan-Part-1.htm" target="_blank">Satan</a>, who most definitely had a different set of beliefs, attitudes, purposes, and character than God. Without interference from God, they freely made the choice to subject themselves to the evil influence of that malevolent spirit. That event initiated the corruption of man's heart. Perhaps nowhere in all of Scripture is there a clearer example of the <a href="http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/180/Truth-Part-1.htm" target="_blank">truth</a> of <a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28752/eVerseID/28752">I Corinthians 15:33:</a> &quot;Evil communications corrupt good manners.&quot;</p> <p align="left">Comparing our contact with Satan to Adam and Eve's, a sobering aspect is that God shows they were fully aware of Satan when he communicated with them. However, we realize that a spirit being can communicate with a human by transferring thoughts, and the person might never know it! He would assume the thoughts were completely generated within himself.</p> <p align="left">Following their encounter with the evil one, &quot;the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked&quot; (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/63/eVerseID/63">Genesis 3:7</a>). This indicates an immediate change in their attitudes and perspectives. It also implies a change of character from the way God had created them, as they had indeed willingly sinned, thus reinforcing the whole, degenerative process.</p> <p align="left">This began not only their personal corruption but also this present, evil world, as Paul calls it in <a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29062/eVerseID/29062">Galatians 1:4.</a> All it took was one contact with, communication from, and submission to that very evil source to effect a profound change from what they had been. The process did not stop with them, as <a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28060/eVerseID/28060">Romans 5:12</a> confirms, &quot;Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.&quot; Adam and Eve passed on the corrupt products of their encounter with Satan to their children, and each of us, in turn, has sinned as willingly as our first ancestors did.</p> <p align="left">When we are born, innocent of any sin of our own, we enter into a 6,000-year-old, ready-made world that is permeated with the spirit of Satan and his demons, as well as with the evil cultures they generated through a thoroughly deceived mankind. In consequence, unbeknownst to us, we face a double-barreled challenge to our innocence: from demons as well as from this world.</p> <p align="left">Six thousand years of human history exhibit that we very quickly absorb the course of the world around us and lose our innocence, becoming self-centered and deceived like everybody else (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/30901/eVerseID/30901">Revelation 12:9</a>). The vast majority in this world is utterly unaware that they are in bondage to Satan&mdash;so unaware that most would scoff if told so. Even if informed through the preaching of <a href="http://truegospel.org/" target="_blank">the gospel</a>, they do not fully grasp either the extent or the importance of these factors unless God draws them by opening their eyes spiritually (<a href="http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/26302/eVerseID/26303">John 6:44-45</a>).</p> <p>Allred</p> <p>Would you please point to the area of the Universe where god resides?&nbsp; The Hubble hasn't picked up on him yet.</p> <p>&nbsp;If you can give me a second reference (no bible chapter/verses please) that proves any of your&nbsp;statements I will read it.&nbsp; Otherwise, all this is old, old hat.&nbsp; I am interested, however, &nbsp;in hearing what you think a &quot;loss of innocence&quot; constitutes.&nbsp;&nbsp; Also, who is in bondage?&nbsp; You're the person&nbsp;who's &nbsp;compelled to live by the dictates of a book written by cave dwellers.</p> <p>Lastly, God was pleased on the sixth day with his creation and rested.&nbsp; Maybe he should have worked on the seventh day rethinking his creation of sin/evil.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59466 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59466 <p>Allred</p> <p>Would you please point to the area of the Universe where god resides?&nbsp; The Hubble hasn't picked up on him yet.</p> <p>&nbsp;If you can give me a second reference (no bible chapter/verses please) that proves any of your&nbsp;statements I will read it.&nbsp; Otherwise, all this is old, old hat.&nbsp; I am interested, however, &nbsp;in hearing what you think a &quot;loss of innocence&quot; constitutes.&nbsp;&nbsp; Also, who is in bondage?&nbsp; You're the person&nbsp;who's &nbsp;compelled to live by the dictates of a book written by cave dwellers.</p> <p>Lastly, God was pleased on the sixth day with his creation and rested.&nbsp; Maybe he should have worked on the seventh day rethinking his creation of sin/evil.</p> Thank God he appointed Satan and his demons to rule over Earth. That was an inspired choice... http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59505 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59505 Thank God he appointed Satan and his demons to rule over Earth. That was an inspired choice... God didn't create the Universe in six days, Audrey.&nbsp; He futzed around for five days and then pulled an all-nighter.&nbsp; It shows. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59511 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59511 God didn't create the Universe in six days, Audrey.&nbsp; He futzed around for five days and then pulled an all-nighter.&nbsp; It shows. <font color="#ff0000">Audrey the Word says God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must do so in spirit and Truth, Hubble is a man made devise, God can only be seen in the Spirit not by natural eyes. I only reply back to you, for those out that are seeking God, as I wrote above Satan controls most of you and I mean, most of the worlds peoples. Your body is natural, was born natural and will stay natural till you die. But Christians see the sin in this world and satan and dont want to be part of this world, WE ARE BORN AGAIN. That takes away the sin of Adam and allows us to be justified in the eyes of God though Jesus His Son. Again this is not for the world but those that seek the truth. &nbsp;</font> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59540 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59540 <font color="#ff0000">Audrey the Word says God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must do so in spirit and Truth, Hubble is a man made devise, God can only be seen in the Spirit not by natural eyes. I only reply back to you, for those out that are seeking God, as I wrote above Satan controls most of you and I mean, most of the worlds peoples. Your body is natural, was born natural and will stay natural till you die. But Christians see the sin in this world and satan and dont want to be part of this world, WE ARE BORN AGAIN. That takes away the sin of Adam and allows us to be justified in the eyes of God though Jesus His Son. Again this is not for the world but those that seek the truth. &nbsp;</font> <p>Red</p> <p>It's not my intention to undermine anyone's faith because I believe some people need&nbsp; faith to get through life's day to day trials.</p> <p>However, I will defend myself when my intentions are called to question.&nbsp;&nbsp; Don't assume that you understand the motives of the &quot;people' who blog here.&nbsp;&nbsp;They're only searching for the truth, just like you.&nbsp; </p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59545 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59545 <p>Red</p> <p>It's not my intention to undermine anyone's faith because I believe some people need&nbsp; faith to get through life's day to day trials.</p> <p>However, I will defend myself when my intentions are called to question.&nbsp;&nbsp; Don't assume that you understand the motives of the &quot;people' who blog here.&nbsp;&nbsp;They're only searching for the truth, just like you.&nbsp; </p> <font color="#ff0000">I will get off MSgherzi blog and will post my own. </font> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59549 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59549 <font color="#ff0000">I will get off MSgherzi blog and will post my own. </font> First off I think you guys need to stop arguing and threatening to call eachother names. :P<br /> <br /> However, I do pose a question here to those that do not believe in Christ or have no faith or do not believe in his 'cave dwelling' book as you so nicely put it. Let's say hyptothetically, all things aside, if you were to die today and stand before God and he were to say to you &quot;Why should I let you into my Heaven?&quot; what would you say? And I mean all things aside.<br /> <br /> Anyway allred, thank you for your kind comments. I do believe that people who do not believe or have faith in Christ do not have eternal life. However, I don't believe they are filled with demons. I do however believe that Satan is causing people to stumble with &quot;science, knowledge, cults, etc.&quot;. But I do not believe people are filled with demons. I have obviously seen people who have had demons in them, but thats another topic altogether. But all is good, I won't oppose my faith on other people, but I don't know if I can say the same for the rest of people who have posted on here. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59556 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59556 First off I think you guys need to stop arguing and threatening to call eachother names. :P<br /> <br /> However, I do pose a question here to those that do not believe in Christ or have no faith or do not believe in his 'cave dwelling' book as you so nicely put it. Let's say hyptothetically, all things aside, if you were to die today and stand before God and he were to say to you &quot;Why should I let you into my Heaven?&quot; what would you say? And I mean all things aside.<br /> <br /> Anyway allred, thank you for your kind comments. I do believe that people who do not believe or have faith in Christ do not have eternal life. However, I don't believe they are filled with demons. I do however believe that Satan is causing people to stumble with &quot;science, knowledge, cults, etc.&quot;. But I do not believe people are filled with demons. I have obviously seen people who have had demons in them, but thats another topic altogether. But all is good, I won't oppose my faith on other people, but I don't know if I can say the same for the rest of people who have posted on here. <p>I'd have to answer his question with &quot;Why not?&quot; Or, &quot;Why&nbsp;would you bring me here if you're not going to let me in?&quot;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sounds like you have an interesting concept of Heaven, though. Would you care to expand on it? I'm always interested in people's&nbsp;vision of Heaven, but the only response I've ever received was from an old poster named Dallas. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59566 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59566 <p>I'd have to answer his question with &quot;Why not?&quot; Or, &quot;Why&nbsp;would you bring me here if you're not going to let me in?&quot;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sounds like you have an interesting concept of Heaven, though. Would you care to expand on it? I'm always interested in people's&nbsp;vision of Heaven, but the only response I've ever received was from an old poster named Dallas. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><font color="#ff0000">MSgherzi: I agree not all are demon filled and I didnt say they were, but all are controlled by outside forces. Either good or evil in one way or the other they are controlled. Christians are controlled by Christ not a forcefull control, but the world is. Your either with Christ or controlled by evil.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000">But I'm leaving here to post my own and i'm sorry if I started something in here you didnt like.</font></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59569 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59569 <p><font color="#ff0000">MSgherzi: I agree not all are demon filled and I didnt say they were, but all are controlled by outside forces. Either good or evil in one way or the other they are controlled. Christians are controlled by Christ not a forcefull control, but the world is. Your either with Christ or controlled by evil.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000">But I'm leaving here to post my own and i'm sorry if I started something in here you didnt like.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000">&quot;Your either with Christ or controlled by evil.&quot;</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Christianity ought to drop that big &quot;faith in evil&quot; requirement. Who knows, they might attract some followers...&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59574 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59574 <p><font color="#ff0000">&quot;Your either with Christ or controlled by evil.&quot;</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Christianity ought to drop that big &quot;faith in evil&quot; requirement. Who knows, they might attract some followers...&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></p> <p>Msgherzi</p> <p>Does&nbsp;god stand at the entrance&nbsp;to the pearly gates all day&nbsp;and tease people with dumb questions when he knows all along he's going to blast them to hell?&nbsp;&nbsp; Doesn't he have more important things to do, like curing innocent children of terminal illnesses.&nbsp; Gosh, if he could just find&nbsp;a couple of minutes to wipe out hunger,&nbsp;I'd be satisfied.&nbsp; Ending war would be nice too.</p> <p>But, I guess he like playing mind games with his lowly creations.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59673 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59673 <p>Msgherzi</p> <p>Does&nbsp;god stand at the entrance&nbsp;to the pearly gates all day&nbsp;and tease people with dumb questions when he knows all along he's going to blast them to hell?&nbsp;&nbsp; Doesn't he have more important things to do, like curing innocent children of terminal illnesses.&nbsp; Gosh, if he could just find&nbsp;a couple of minutes to wipe out hunger,&nbsp;I'd be satisfied.&nbsp; Ending war would be nice too.</p> <p>But, I guess he like playing mind games with his lowly creations.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Well, Spouse #2 figured out early we're primarily here for God's amusement.</p> <p>.</p> <p>Why should a hypothetical God let me into his hypothetical heaven?&nbsp; How about &quot;because I tried, in all my human endeavors, to make the world a better place for those around me.&nbsp; I tried in my imperfect way&nbsp;to feed the hungry, treat the sick, comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.&quot;</p> <p>I read someplace where a guy recommended doing things like that.&nbsp; They killed him for it, but he still had a good message until that guy Saul got ahold of it.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59674 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59674 <p>Well, Spouse #2 figured out early we're primarily here for God's amusement.</p> <p>.</p> <p>Why should a hypothetical God let me into his hypothetical heaven?&nbsp; How about &quot;because I tried, in all my human endeavors, to make the world a better place for those around me.&nbsp; I tried in my imperfect way&nbsp;to feed the hungry, treat the sick, comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.&quot;</p> <p>I read someplace where a guy recommended doing things like that.&nbsp; They killed him for it, but he still had a good message until that guy Saul got ahold of it.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We pray for people to do what we want them to do, to get more, more more. The things us humans want is bigger, better, faster, more. More money, more friends, better job, bigger house.. etc etc. But in the end; what does it matter? Can any of these things come with us when we die? </p> <p>Life isn't about getting what we want--because I know in my experience, what I want for myself is completely shallow and irrelivant to an actual life. I grew up with dreams of &quot;being skinny&quot; and &quot;getting a job&quot;. We doubt God because He doesn't give us what we want.. but what happens when we get what we want? (I got skinny, then I got an eating disorder. Hmmm.)&nbsp; Maybe God knows what He is doing.. and maybe He just wants us to have peaceful lives.</p> <p>I believe true life to be a simple life, being content with what we have and loving people. That's all.. but its so hard. One of the biggest human flaws (and trust me, IM NOT EXCLUDING MYSELF HERE) is that we have paradise in front of us but we don't see it. We're so focused on what we DON'T have or what we used to have that what is staring us in the face is invisible.</p> <p>All we have in the end of our lives is the stories that other people will carry with them for their lives.. and possibly their childrens life. All we have is the impact we make on other people. Sure people will remember what I did and what I accomplish, but thats also not what life is truly about.</p> <p>I can say I walk in faith today not because God gives me everything I want.. quite the opposite. I've lived a life of doubt clouded for a hundred different reasons, and now that I believe life isn't perfect, but its a lot smoother.</p> <p>Free will is a tremendous gift and I wouldn't want for a moment to shove my opinions down anyones throat.. I am just speaking as someone who has struggled for a lot of different reasons and I just know there is a better way to live.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59678 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59678 <p>We pray for people to do what we want them to do, to get more, more more. The things us humans want is bigger, better, faster, more. More money, more friends, better job, bigger house.. etc etc. But in the end; what does it matter? Can any of these things come with us when we die? </p> <p>Life isn't about getting what we want--because I know in my experience, what I want for myself is completely shallow and irrelivant to an actual life. I grew up with dreams of &quot;being skinny&quot; and &quot;getting a job&quot;. We doubt God because He doesn't give us what we want.. but what happens when we get what we want? (I got skinny, then I got an eating disorder. Hmmm.)&nbsp; Maybe God knows what He is doing.. and maybe He just wants us to have peaceful lives.</p> <p>I believe true life to be a simple life, being content with what we have and loving people. That's all.. but its so hard. One of the biggest human flaws (and trust me, IM NOT EXCLUDING MYSELF HERE) is that we have paradise in front of us but we don't see it. We're so focused on what we DON'T have or what we used to have that what is staring us in the face is invisible.</p> <p>All we have in the end of our lives is the stories that other people will carry with them for their lives.. and possibly their childrens life. All we have is the impact we make on other people. Sure people will remember what I did and what I accomplish, but thats also not what life is truly about.</p> <p>I can say I walk in faith today not because God gives me everything I want.. quite the opposite. I've lived a life of doubt clouded for a hundred different reasons, and now that I believe life isn't perfect, but its a lot smoother.</p> <p>Free will is a tremendous gift and I wouldn't want for a moment to shove my opinions down anyones throat.. I am just speaking as someone who has struggled for a lot of different reasons and I just know there is a better way to live.</p> <p>Maybe&nbsp;the pearly gates are like the entrance to an exclusive New York nightclub. Saint Peter stands at the velvet ropes shaking his head at Mother Teresa, all the popes and Ghandi. Meanwhile, the crowd parts like the Red Sea as Ron approaches. Saint Peter, who by the way, bears a strong resemblence to Al Pacino, looks back at a smoked glass window where a glowing halo nods slightly. Saint Peter winks at Ron before letting him pass through.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Just one possibility...</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59682 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59682 <p>Maybe&nbsp;the pearly gates are like the entrance to an exclusive New York nightclub. Saint Peter stands at the velvet ropes shaking his head at Mother Teresa, all the popes and Ghandi. Meanwhile, the crowd parts like the Red Sea as Ron approaches. Saint Peter, who by the way, bears a strong resemblence to Al Pacino, looks back at a smoked glass window where a glowing halo nods slightly. Saint Peter winks at Ron before letting him pass through.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Just one possibility...</p> Ahhhhh&nbsp;&nbsp; I needed a good laugh. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59690 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59690 Ahhhhh&nbsp;&nbsp; I needed a good laugh. <p style="background-color: rgb(0, 204, 255);"><font size="3" face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff">I will pray for us all  !!!!<br /> </font></p> <p style="background-color: rgb(0, 204, 255);"><font size="3" face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff">Luke 12:8 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before Men, the Son of Man, will also acknowledge him before the Angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the Angels of God!" ...<br /> Luke 12:40 "You must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him!"</font></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59723 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_59723 <p style="background-color: rgb(0, 204, 255);"><font size="3" face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff">I will pray for us all  !!!!<br /> </font></p> <p style="background-color: rgb(0, 204, 255);"><font size="3" face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff">Luke 12:8 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before Men, the Son of Man, will also acknowledge him before the Angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the Angels of God!" ...<br /> Luke 12:40 "You must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him!"</font></p> random, so you would answer God by saying that He should let you into His Heaven because of your good works? If I understand your answer clearly.<br /> <br /> Audrey, Satan unfortunately controls this world. What you have to understand is that God is loving and merciful, therefore doesn't want to punish us. However, God is also holy and just therefore he must punish sinners. In the coming days, when Christ does return, many will say on that day, &lsquo;Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?&rsquo;&nbsp; And then I will declare to them, &lsquo;I never knew you; depart from Me, you evildoers! This is shown in Matthew 7:21-23.<br /> <br /> I don't wan't to be judgemental, but heres a good conclusion in my opinion that I agreed with. Down deep people know if they accept Christ as Savior, they no longer belong to themselves. They belong to the Lord. And they don't like the thought of not being their own boss. They want control. They want final say. But one thing they don't understand: giving control to Jesus frees people to be much more than they could ever be on their own. Many times people know they are Sinners and don't want to acknowledge that they Sin and are not perfect. People like to believe they can make it on their own.<font class="normal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span target="_blank" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><em><font face="Arial" /></em><span style=""></span></span></font></font></span></font></font></span></font> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60101 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60101 random, so you would answer God by saying that He should let you into His Heaven because of your good works? If I understand your answer clearly.<br /> <br /> Audrey, Satan unfortunately controls this world. What you have to understand is that God is loving and merciful, therefore doesn't want to punish us. However, God is also holy and just therefore he must punish sinners. In the coming days, when Christ does return, many will say on that day, &lsquo;Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?&rsquo;&nbsp; And then I will declare to them, &lsquo;I never knew you; depart from Me, you evildoers! This is shown in Matthew 7:21-23.<br /> <br /> I don't wan't to be judgemental, but heres a good conclusion in my opinion that I agreed with. Down deep people know if they accept Christ as Savior, they no longer belong to themselves. They belong to the Lord. And they don't like the thought of not being their own boss. They want control. They want final say. But one thing they don't understand: giving control to Jesus frees people to be much more than they could ever be on their own. Many times people know they are Sinners and don't want to acknowledge that they Sin and are not perfect. People like to believe they can make it on their own.<font class="normal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span target="_blank" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><em><font face="Arial" /></em><span style=""></span></span></font></font></span></font></font></span></font> <p>MSgherzi</p> <p>If god had made a better product to begin with, he wouldn't have to punish it.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60161 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60161 <p>MSgherzi</p> <p>If god had made a better product to begin with, he wouldn't have to punish it.</p> The concept of God seems to contradict Satan being in control of the world, eh? &nbsp; http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60172 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60172 The concept of God seems to contradict Satan being in control of the world, eh? &nbsp; But then we'd be robots if God made a perfect product, Audrey. It'd be infinitely more meaningful to him if we'd freely chose to obey him. As for Satan being the prince of this world, Robb, you got that right. Therefore the reason we're not made for this world ... unless you choose to be with all its warts. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60219 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60219 But then we'd be robots if God made a perfect product, Audrey. It'd be infinitely more meaningful to him if we'd freely chose to obey him. As for Satan being the prince of this world, Robb, you got that right. Therefore the reason we're not made for this world ... unless you choose to be with all its warts. <p>Gee, I had no idea how Satanical your religion was. Thanks for the enlightenment.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60222 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60222 <p>Gee, I had no idea how Satanical your religion was. Thanks for the enlightenment.</p> <div>Why should we &quot;give control to Jesus&quot;, <strong>MSgherzi</strong>? Why must this always be about <em>control</em> to Christians? It's precisely this mindless, sheep-like herd mentality that has created such problems throughout history. What's wrong with treating Jesus' teachings like those of a secular humanist's? Take out all of the mysticism and magic tricks and you have a human that was very concerned about his fellow human's (earthly) condition. Why would (your) god <em>punish</em> people for being nice? If it's about belief and not about being nice or doing good deeds, then some of the most wickedly evil people who have walked the Earth would be admitted to (capital &quot;H&quot;) heaven, and many well-deserving but unbelieving (or perhaps as <font color="#ff0000">Ron</font> feels, believing in the <em>wrong</em> thing) would be turned away. If that's your concept of &quot;Heaven&quot;, you're welcome to it. Many of us will be happy in inhabit Hell (or at least Purgatory, or perhaps Limbo) if Heaven is run by such an exclusive (excluding) anal-retentive supreme being.</div> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60225 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60225 <div>Why should we &quot;give control to Jesus&quot;, <strong>MSgherzi</strong>? Why must this always be about <em>control</em> to Christians? It's precisely this mindless, sheep-like herd mentality that has created such problems throughout history. What's wrong with treating Jesus' teachings like those of a secular humanist's? Take out all of the mysticism and magic tricks and you have a human that was very concerned about his fellow human's (earthly) condition. Why would (your) god <em>punish</em> people for being nice? If it's about belief and not about being nice or doing good deeds, then some of the most wickedly evil people who have walked the Earth would be admitted to (capital &quot;H&quot;) heaven, and many well-deserving but unbelieving (or perhaps as <font color="#ff0000">Ron</font> feels, believing in the <em>wrong</em> thing) would be turned away. If that's your concept of &quot;Heaven&quot;, you're welcome to it. Many of us will be happy in inhabit Hell (or at least Purgatory, or perhaps Limbo) if Heaven is run by such an exclusive (excluding) anal-retentive supreme being.</div> Why does god need for us to choose him.  Is he insecure? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60257 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60257 Why does god need for us to choose him.  Is he insecure? <p>Matthew, you are a brave soul for posting something that is so foreign to many who post comments here.&nbsp; May God richly bless you for it.</p> <p>The fact is, we cannot understand the things of God in our own mortal&nbsp;flesh.&nbsp; To understand the things of God, our spirits must have communion with the spirit of the living God.&nbsp; It is a spirit of love, and joy and freedom, not one of bondage to good works, not one of self-righteousness and certainly not one of&nbsp;judgmental attitudes towards others.&nbsp; </p> <p>All of us will be lying on our deathbeds one day facing the ineluctable end that will be our death and our nemesis----- unless, of course,&nbsp;we are killed suddenly.&nbsp; The doctors may be pumping us with the latest medication and may be applying what has been drawn from the wonders of science.&nbsp; But in the end, most people end up turning to God, not medicine or the marvels of science, to come to terms with their own death.&nbsp; </p> <p>It is better to turn to God while we are still relatively young and healthy, because though anything could happen, we likely have more of life ahead of us to live. &nbsp;Jesus in not just the answer to death.&nbsp; Jesus&nbsp;helps us to live our lives more abundantly.&nbsp; </p> <p>I'm not going to tell any of you how to walk (though I've offered a friendly suggestion on the best way to do that, from my own perspective).&nbsp; As for me, I'm going to walk by faith.&nbsp; I'm going to humble myself, and&nbsp;take Matthew's great advice.&nbsp; I may think I know how to &quot;walk,&quot; but when I focus only upon that which I can see, with my own mortal vision, I invariably end up stumbling and falling flat on my face.&nbsp; </p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60304 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60304 <p>Matthew, you are a brave soul for posting something that is so foreign to many who post comments here.&nbsp; May God richly bless you for it.</p> <p>The fact is, we cannot understand the things of God in our own mortal&nbsp;flesh.&nbsp; To understand the things of God, our spirits must have communion with the spirit of the living God.&nbsp; It is a spirit of love, and joy and freedom, not one of bondage to good works, not one of self-righteousness and certainly not one of&nbsp;judgmental attitudes towards others.&nbsp; </p> <p>All of us will be lying on our deathbeds one day facing the ineluctable end that will be our death and our nemesis----- unless, of course,&nbsp;we are killed suddenly.&nbsp; The doctors may be pumping us with the latest medication and may be applying what has been drawn from the wonders of science.&nbsp; But in the end, most people end up turning to God, not medicine or the marvels of science, to come to terms with their own death.&nbsp; </p> <p>It is better to turn to God while we are still relatively young and healthy, because though anything could happen, we likely have more of life ahead of us to live. &nbsp;Jesus in not just the answer to death.&nbsp; Jesus&nbsp;helps us to live our lives more abundantly.&nbsp; </p> <p>I'm not going to tell any of you how to walk (though I've offered a friendly suggestion on the best way to do that, from my own perspective).&nbsp; As for me, I'm going to walk by faith.&nbsp; I'm going to humble myself, and&nbsp;take Matthew's great advice.&nbsp; I may think I know how to &quot;walk,&quot; but when I focus only upon that which I can see, with my own mortal vision, I invariably end up stumbling and falling flat on my face.&nbsp; </p> blognroll, thank you for your kind comments.<br /> <br /> All I can end this with, is the fact that many of you have hard hearts. And you continue to turn away from the Lord, and because of that there really is no hope for you. Though I can easily say with the utmost confidence that, when God returns, as according to scripture: &quot;<span id="en-NIV-29386" class="sup"></span>that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.&quot; Philippians 2:10,11.<br /> <br /> But thanks again blognroll, I think we can put this blog to rest now. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60709 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_60709 blognroll, thank you for your kind comments.<br /> <br /> All I can end this with, is the fact that many of you have hard hearts. And you continue to turn away from the Lord, and because of that there really is no hope for you. Though I can easily say with the utmost confidence that, when God returns, as according to scripture: &quot;<span id="en-NIV-29386" class="sup"></span>that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.&quot; Philippians 2:10,11.<br /> <br /> But thanks again blognroll, I think we can put this blog to rest now. Another Jesus lover here...I appreciate all of you others who also claim Jesus and might I say...(although I'm not sure of the verse...maybe in the Matt, Luke,Mark or John) the Bible tells us not to argue with Pharisees because we do have to believe something that we have not yet seen and we won't win the argument. (I have tasted that the Lord is good and when I wasn't a walking with the Lord I never saw him. Now I can look back and see that it was Him all along.) Until they accept Christ they will not see his work either and therefore won't believe.<br /> <br /> I guess the best thing for us is that we already know that Jesus holds the victory for us. Even though we live in a broken world full of sin that is in a spiritual battle...we will win. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_135172 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_135172 Another Jesus lover here...I appreciate all of you others who also claim Jesus and might I say...(although I'm not sure of the verse...maybe in the Matt, Luke,Mark or John) the Bible tells us not to argue with Pharisees because we do have to believe something that we have not yet seen and we won't win the argument. (I have tasted that the Lord is good and when I wasn't a walking with the Lord I never saw him. Now I can look back and see that it was Him all along.) Until they accept Christ they will not see his work either and therefore won't believe.<br /> <br /> I guess the best thing for us is that we already know that Jesus holds the victory for us. Even though we live in a broken world full of sin that is in a spiritual battle...we will win. For a holy roller, this guy sure dresses down in a carnal, worldly guise. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_135179 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_135179 For a holy roller, this guy sure dresses down in a carnal, worldly guise. What would the victory look like after your spiritual battle is won? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_135183 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/MSgherzi/5884/#c_135183 What would the victory look like after your spiritual battle is won?