Comments on No Telling: This Rant's Been Coming for a While

I'd love to have every last one of you come ha...

2010-07-03T22:34:47.428-05:00

I'd love to have every last one of you come hang out at the coffee shop with me. I mean that. If any of you are ever in Arkansas, bring your knitting. We could hold a Peace Conference that might actually BE one.

So you're an anti-transcendentalist, then? ;) ...

2010-07-02T16:38:29.905-05:00

So you're an anti-transcendentalist, then? ;)

One can either believe that things tie up all nice and tidy in the end, or that there is no reason for or meaning in anything, and there will be no end to senseless tragedy nor a stop to approaching, inevitable doom. It's common to teeter back and forth.

However, I have personally found that it's much better to not let anyone represent God but God.

I feel for those going through such tragic times. ...

2010-06-15T14:05:36.278-05:00

I feel for those going through such tragic times. History shows that these things happen all around the world, all the time, and will continue to do so until the end of the earth. It certainly is NOT because of something any one person or a group of people did. It is simply the circle of life. I fear for those who follow the teachings of a TV evangelist who spews more evil than truth--they will never find peace with these teachings.

I grew up learning to trust in the Lord when times are tough (and they have been),to be thankful for the blessings bestowed on myself and my family (too many to number), and rejoice in His greatest gifts--forgiveness and everlasting life. This is what keeps me going through all the painful times, and I pray that it will do the same for you.

Remember, amongst the bad times, there are the good things: babies being born, new inventions and technology, advances in the medical field, people that we have never met willing to lend a hand, food and shelter provided, new friends, flowers blooming, people willing to risk their lives to save another, and the list goes on. Please remember to count your blessings too.

Years ago, long before cell phones and internet - ...

2010-06-15T10:46:46.054-05:00

Years ago, long before cell phones and internet - in fact, my family shared a "party line" in Albuquerque - I attended a week long camp up in the Jemez mountains (I was seven). In the middle of a long anticipated "overnight" under the stars, a camp counselor yanked me, and a half dozen other sleeping girls, out of warm sleeping bags, and hurried us through the mud and rain back to the main camp in the valley. We were confused but obedient - she didn't have time to explain, but she saved our lives. New Mexico is famous for its flash floods, and to this day, I don't know how she was alerted - I lost one shoe in the mud, but not my life.

In the timeline of earth's history, these events are barely a blip, so if there's a god (or gods) running the show, I doubt these were deliberate acts. So much is luck, both good and bad...I hope I'm gifted with good luck this hurricane season.

Monda, I've been waiting for that televangelis...

2010-06-14T22:30:13.519-05:00

Monda, I've been waiting for that televangelist to "let us all know" what "God" told him the reason for the flash flood was....it's been on my mind, too. Or maybe Glenn Beck will tell us (he has God telling him stuff directly, he says.) It makes me furious when I think about it too. And all of the horrible things that have been happening down your way make me very sad.

Meanwhile, I specialize in not trying to put words in God's mouth or make up reasons I can comprehend for disasters, I just try to be of help anywhere I can. And, I pray that God will bless you and give you peace.

I used to do volunteer work for a 90 year old woma...

2010-06-14T11:59:05.699-05:00

I used to do volunteer work for a 90 year old woman. She believed that God created man and earth, and then sat back and let man do what he wants and will answer to HIM when he dies. This thinking helps when you wonder why God would "let" a young child die of cancer, or in the case of the flooding, "let" so many families die. If natural disasters happen "just because", and NOT because GOD WANTED THEM TO HAPPEN, I can understand that. I was raised Catholic, and I pray a lot. It is hard to understand many, many things in this world. I don't believe that bad things happen to people because they are "bad" or "homosexual", etc.
I believe a true Christian loves all people, all religions, all walks of life.

Okay, I'll get off my soap box now.

'God's plan' indeed. I'm with you ...

2010-06-14T01:37:01.757-05:00

'God's plan' indeed. I'm with you on not having any truck with a god who loves us and answers prayers and at the same time does this sort of thing. Just makes no sense. The religious people must have it wrong.
My heart goes out to all the people and animals affected by the flooding. And by the oil. Good people are doing their best to make things better.

I don't know, gals. My church-going friends al...

2010-06-13T15:28:35.702-05:00

I don't know, gals. My church-going friends all seem to have more peace than I do, so they win on that front. I just walk around with my fist clenched.

That televangelist is another matter, though. I remember enough from Sunday School to know that the root of faith is love.

My heart goes out to you! Here in Portland, OR we ...

2010-06-13T13:39:46.175-05:00

My heart goes out to you! Here in Portland, OR we simply don't have the influence of that type of evangelism around here and so it is all a bit foreign to me. However, you have all been hit so hard and I do find myself thinking about it often. I wish there were simple answers - but there aren't, and that is the most difficult part. And - I agree about that televangelist - he is a sorry excuse of a human. There is no humanity in that man.

Monda, I agree. This is why I can't call myse...

2010-06-12T21:43:08.708-05:00

Monda, I agree. This is why I can't call myself a Christian any longer. "God" has indeed been used once too often in my life as an excuse, as a reason, and as the judge, jury, and executioner. Bull crap!

I don't have answers for all that is happening, but know that you have like-minded souls who surround you with light and love.

We have absolutely been bombarded with tragedy of ...

2010-06-12T15:20:55.857-05:00

We have absolutely been bombarded with tragedy of late. I agree. It's all so pointless and sad. We need some good news here in the south.