God is NOT as concerned with Individuals as people want to think

[LilyM]

And another thing…I thought we were always in the presence of God…this concept is very new to me.
I must admit…I always wounderd why the bible says “when two or more are gatherd in my name,there I am in there midst”.
???

Yes, but what you need to understand is that there are different kinds of ‘presence’, different kinds of ‘being there’.

My mother, for example, is ‘there’ to me whenever we write to each other. That’s a different kind of presence to the way that she is there when we talk on the phone, and a different kind of ‘being there’ again from when I see her face to face. Of course she is ‘there’ in all those situations, but wouldn’t you say seeing her face to face is a special way of ‘being there’ that I don’t get in any of the other ways?

 

[excaliber]

Yes, but what you need to understand is that there are different kinds of ‘presence’, different kinds of ‘being there’.

My mother, for example, is ‘there’ to me whenever we write to each other. That’s a different kind of presence to the way that she is there when we talk on the phone, and a different kind of ‘being there’ again from when I see her face to face. Of course she is ‘there’ in all those situations, but wouldn’t you say seeing her face to face is a special way of ‘being there’ that I don’t get in any of the other ways?

I agree with you about your mother. I like talking to my mom in person also.

 

[cheeto1]

Its not so easy for a convert…I have no idea when to go for that…remember the last time the church was locked.

Its extremely hard for a convert before rica…Im gona call a church tommorow.
You guys have noooo idea…every time I call something gets screwd up LOL

Do you go to Sunday mass? If so, pick up a church paper on
your way out. If your church offers adoration, it will usually be
printed there. So many of us have experienced the emotion of
being individually loved by Jesus while there, that’s why I hope
you will go. Even if you had no faith, it’s a quiet place to figure things out in a focused way with a minimum of disctractions.
p.s. - most people stay for an hour,
like Jesus asked His apostles to do
in the hour before His arrest…

 

[dranzal]

Nothing to add, really. Just wanted to say “good to see ya”.

 

[excaliber]

Do you go to Sunday mass? If so, pick up a church paper on
your way out. If your church offers adoration, it will usually be
printed there. So many of us have experienced the emotion of
being individually loved by Jesus while there, that’s why I hope
you will go. Even if you had no faith, it’s a quiet place to figure things out in a focused way with a minimum of disctractions.
p.s. - most people stay for an hour,
like Jesus asked His apostles to do
in the hour before His arrest…

I have grabed those bulletins like everytime. Everytime I look, its rare that I see something to get involved in…Probably because I don’t know what Im looking for.
If I had been through rcia…mabey I would know what to look for, its posible I have seen it but did not know what adoration ment, the Eucharist itself is a little bit of a new Idea.

Anyway If it makes you feel that God is one on one with you. Ill try it.

When in rome do what the romans do.

 

[beckycmarie]

Hi excaliber,

You could try visiting MassTimes.org. In addition to Mass times at pretty much every Catholic parish in the world, they post adoration times as well.

 

[excaliber]

Hi excaliber,

You could try visiting MassTimes.org. In addition to Mass times at pretty much every Catholic parish in the world, they post adoration times as well.

I keep getting runtime errors.
I didn’t try the one with the Phone numbers though.

 

[beckycmarie]

I keep getting runtime errors.
I didn’t try the one with the Phone numbers though.

It works for me when I do lookup by zipcode. Try that and see if you still get the error.

 

[excaliber]

It works for me when I do lookup by zipcode. Try that and see if you still get the error.

Im using one of those cell phones that’s made for the internet…mabey that’s why its not working.

 

[Rolltide]

Excaliber,
I got all of your information about you parish from the private message you sent, but I forgot to ask what CITY you live in! lol That’s why you haven’t heard from me. Private message me and I should be able to help you out. (I can check to see if there seem to be any other better, more active churches near you too…)

 

[excaliber]

Excaliber,
I got all of your information about you parish from the private message you sent, but I forgot to ask what CITY you live in! lol That’s why you haven’t heard from me. Private message me and I should be able to help you out. (I can check to see if there seem to be any other better, more active churches near you too…)

You should have everything short of my social security number now…LOL

yea !! mabey if you tell them in Catholic language, they will get it.

Like askem if there is at least one Catholic in there whole church that I can be introduced to because, trying to convert to a church that is THE MOST OPPOSITE of everything you were raised to believe.While at the same time not
knowing a single Catholic anywhere near my age in the WHOLE STATE…ummm that’s a little bit IMPOSSIBLE !! LOL

Especially since I come from a smaller close nit church. Being introduced to some one under 50 is always a plus, so I don’t always have to say sir all the time LOL.

If I knew people earlier, do you know how much easier things would have been??? I could have said hey such and such, what time is adoration? they would have said…oh its at such a time. see how easy that was LOL.

I admit the fact that my religion was the most destructive thing in my life, doing unreversable damage to me…leaving it and struggling with the coldest conversion I could have ever imagined. Played a PART in my logical conclusion,that its impossible to love an INDIVIDUAL as if there was knowone else on earth…and yet be completely uninvolved with that person as an individual. Who would not look at one and one and come up with two, just logic.

If it seemed that the only one DOING any work on your spirituality…was you.

How on earth do you come from that thinking that God is ACTIVELY interested in YOUR INDIVIDUAL salvation??? It would only be logical to conclude that God is interested in the salvation of humanity…or to save the human race…not you as an individual.

Unfortunately that’s my reality right now. But ofcourse I would LOVE to believe like you all do.
But its easy for God to look down at me and say…yes he cares for me, he has only spent his whole life searching for me.
I can’t look up and see what God is doing.

 

[peary]

Another Idea is that Almighty God is Concerned with individuals. Sounds Good but is not true.

And the Idea that God is equaly concerned with every individual.Has caused athiests…and also people to act as if they have some protection from God…when in truth they do not. Then when things happen to them they are confused.

For example the teaching on gardian angels comes partly from scripture…that part is true…but then man adds all this stuff about talking to them and that they care about you and just all this extra stuff that was never there.

The fact is that God is concerned with HIS will being acomplished, and he is concerned with his people as a group…NOT EVERY INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

This can be proven from scripture.
And by everyday life,and the use of our God given reason.

I hear athiests at my job say…if there was a God why did he let this or that happen…why dosent he do something about this or that evil. And I always hear athiests say that if God gave them a sign then they will believe.

My thinking is that God does not stop all the evil unless it directly effects Gods will or unless its in the way of something he wants done. He won’t stop it on acount of the individuals effected…simply because he is not concerned with them.

God is also perfectly able to give the athiest a sign to believe…but probably will chose not to…because even I can’t see how this person is of any importance to GOD…so to put it bluntly…Almighty God could probably care less about that one individual.

If we look at scripture we can see that God favored people that he wanted to favor. It would normaly however be a leader…david…joshua…moses… apostle…prophet…not every individual isrealite…not every individual christian.

If people want to believe things that make them feel good, I guess that’s what they will do.

But its not true…why do people ask The Holy Virgin Mary to pray for them…she is closer to God…she is Important to God, and so If she makes a request he probably will grant it.
But if the individual asks without Mary helping God may not grant the request. Now if God Loved every individual soooo much, He would grant a request without a saint also asking him, simply because he cared for that individual.

The truth hurts, But God is concerned with his will being acomplished. Why would he care about you or me as individuals?

**Your perception is neither biblical nor part of how the Church believes. Consider this verse and compare it to your view:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feed them. Aren’t you much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:25-27

This verse shows emphatically that God cares about us individually, not just collectively.

And don’t forget, free will plays a very important role in our relationship to God. And Faith is a gift from God to be nurtured. One can’t ‘get’ Faith or ‘do’ Faith.

John 4:48 “Then said Jesus unto him, Except you see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” He worked signs and wonders throughout His life; yet, many saw and still did not believe.
Jn 12:37 “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.”

And what is Christ’s greatest commandment that He left for us to put into practice?

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35**

 

[beckycmarie]

I admit the fact that my religion was the most destructive thing in my life, doing unreversable damage to me…leaving it and struggling with the coldest conversion I could have ever imagined. Played a PART in my logical conclusion,that its impossible to love an INDIVIDUAL as if there was knowone else on earth…and yet be completely uninvolved with that person as an individual. Who would not look at one and one and come up with two, just logic.

If it seemed that the only one DOING any work on your spirituality…was you.

How on earth do you come from that thinking that God is ACTIVELY interested in YOUR INDIVIDUAL salvation??? It would only be logical to conclude that God is interested in the salvation of humanity…or to save the human race…not you as an individual.

Unfortunately that’s my reality right now. But ofcourse I would LOVE to believe like you all do.
But its easy for God to look down at me and say…yes he cares for me, he has only spent his whole life searching for me.
I can’t look up and see what God is doing.

Hi Excaliber,

It’s not unreversable damage. God is in the process of reversing it by guiding you through His grace into the Catholic Church.

Hang in there. He sends those He wants to raise to the heights the greatest crosses. I know it’s hard to understand the suffering and difficulty you’re having now, but one day you will come to appreciate it.

By continuing to go forward in conversion despite all the obstacles, you are proving your love for God in a big way.

 

[excaliber]

**Your perception is neither biblical nor part of how the Church believes. Consider this verse and compare it to your view:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feed them. Aren’t you much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:25-27

This verse shows emphatically that God cares about us individually, not just collectively.

And don’t forget, free will plays a very important role in our relationship to God. And Faith is a gift from God to be nurtured. One can’t ‘get’ Faith or ‘do’ Faith.

John 4:48 “Then said Jesus unto him, Except you see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” He worked signs and wonders throughout His life; yet, many saw and still did not believe.
Jn 12:37 “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.”

And what is Christ’s greatest commandment that He left for us to put into practice?

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35**

Hi
Love has a vast number of meanings, and the scriptures can be viewed in about 40,000 different ways…and that’s just denominations.

Would you care to add some explanation with those verses?

Mabey some real life examples of there meaning, acording to the Catholic church.

I have read the bible several times as a Jehovahs witness. So these scriptures are not new to me, but the Catholic interpretation is new.

But interpretation takes explanation of a scripture.

 

[distracted]

Its extremely hard for a convert before rica…Im gona call a church tommorow.
You guys have noooo idea…every time I call something gets screwd up LOL

oh gee… i wonder what (who ) that could be… :hypno:

 

[dranzal]

oh gee… i wonder what (who ) that could be… :hypno:

Yeah. He’s always up to no good. It’s his M.O. after all.

Excaliber, if the smelly guy with the pointy headgear and matching tail is trying so hard to trip you up, you must be on the right track!!!

Grab your sword and shield and join the Church Militant. :knight2:

 

[distracted]

And another thing…I thought we were always in the presence of God…this concept is very new to me.
I

Well, we are, but when we are in Christ’s presence, He works with us (on “things” we need to work on, to get ready for Heaven)… When we are out in nature, alone with God, we are not working on things with Jesus, we are just … enjoying creation and the One who created things… and i have been in the presence of two or more who (supposedly agree) & yet have often been more lonely there, feeling separated from God, than when i am totally alone…

Anyway, God bless…

 

[excaliber]

Yeah. He’s always up to no good. It’s his M.O. after all.

Excaliber, if the smelly guy with the pointy headgear and matching tail is trying so hard to trip you up, you must be on the right track!!!

Grab your sword and shield and join the Church Militant. :knight2:

Why on earth would God let anyone with a tail and pointy hat with bad B.O., anywhere near me while Im trying to convert. Can I at least get in the church first?

Or can I at least talk to a priest that’s not caring for 3 churches first??

 

[beckycmarie]

Why on earth would God let anyone with a tail and pointy hat with bad B.O., anywhere near me while Im trying to convert. Can I at least get in the church first?

Or can I at least talk to a priest that’s not caring for 3 churches first??

Perhaps the lesson God wants you to learn right now is resignation to His will. Instead of wanting conversion on your terms, be patient and wait for God to bring this about His way.

One other thing, yesterday at Mass I thought of you and this thread during the Responsorial Psalm, which was Psalm 139:

O LORD, you have searched me
   and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
   you know it completely, O LORD.

You hem me in—behind and before;
   you have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
   and the light become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark to you;
   the night will shine like the day,
   for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place.
   When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.
   All the days ordained for me
   were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
   How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand.
   When I awake,
   I am still with you.

If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
   Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

They speak of you with evil intent;
   your adversaries misuse your name.

Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
   and abhor those who rise up against you?

I have nothing but hatred for them;
   I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

[cheeto1]

Why on earth would God let anyone with a tail and pointy hat with bad B.O., anywhere near me while Im trying to convert. Can I at least get in the church first?

Umm… don’t want to scare you away but … just wait till you
convert! This fight is never over friend, join us!:knight1:

The few, the proud, the Christians!!