Re: A couple of queries for Friends and Interested persons

jeb wrote:
Timothy Travis <qspirit@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:C5418ACF.60C7%qspirit@xxxxxxxxxxx:




On 11/3/08 4:10 AM, in article
Xns9B4B3ECD4A508do@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, "jeb" <enon@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Timothy Travis <qspirit@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:C5337AD3.5D93%qspirit@xxxxxxxxxxx:
At Patrick's recommendation, I've just finished reading A
Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly. It's a fine
inspirational book, but it does not address a key point
that I've heard from many honest seekers after Truth.
Thomas could evidently discern the voice. He apparently
had an aptitude for that that many do not. I've seen many
fumbling badly throughout their life straining to "hear"
and only hearing the sounds of silence -- no reliable
direction -- no leading that provides any basis for
concluding one is hearing the voice of God rather than the
rumblings of one's own mind. That is problematic. And it
seems to be an individual thing. The Quaker form of
beneficial listening may not be a universal method, but a
specialized one that is useful to some people.

I wonder about that, too. I hear people say they have been
searching for God and long to "hear"--yet all my life God
hasn't left me alone. I cannot help but hear--especially
when I am most out to lunch. I get away with it for a
while but in the end...

Part of the difficulty is probably terminology about what
"hearing" is and what people want it to be. Some want
scientific certainty of logic and reasoning. Some expect a
burning bush to speak to them, and they set them afire with
regularity hoping the next one will utter words. Some
believe it to be an intution or a hunch. A few I've run
across have altered the course of their life based on a dream
they had which they believed was an Old Testament version of
God dictating his will. Many seem to want a feeling that will
guide them. Many wait for God to speak to them on their
terms in a way they wish to be spoken to.

Perhaps one of hte first steps to 'hearing' is to start listening out for
God's voice at all times :-)

A dear friend once the story of the time she was having a spiritual crisis,
was feeling absolutely down in the dumps and suicidal. She had no where to
live and was just sleeping on the lounge of various friends until her
welcome ran out, and she moved onto the next friend. The day was raining,
cold and miserable, and with no where else to go and nothing to do with
herself until the friend she was currently staying with got home from work,
she decided to a cinema and waste time there. She didn't care what movie it
was, but cinemas are warm and dark and a good place to catch some sleep
without looking like a homeless person. She paid the 'student rate' for the
next movie starting, walked in, and prepared to get some sleep, whilst the
movie "Brother Bear" started. She swears that she was lead there by God, as
Brother Bear is absolutely not the sort of movie she would otherwise pay to
go and see, but she says that the entirety of that movie felt like it was
written for her in mind, that God was talking to her via an animated bear.

It truly was a turning point in her life, and I was priveledged enough to
watch her pull her life back together, finish Uni, find a full and vibrant
relationship with both God and a loving church, get a job she loves, buy a
house, fall in love and get married. She is now very happy and content.

Perhaps God would have found another way to speak to her, as she was
definately listening intently for a message - any message - but I am quite
sure he spoke to her via the movie Brother Bear .

Was the movie written with her in mind? I doubt it very much - but it
doens't matter. She heard God in it, and thats what matters.

Yowie
--
"because its more fun to be evil" - Jarppi, _The Dudesons_


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: "Can a Machine Think?" Judges Needed for Loebner Prize 2005
    ... >>>Did you know that Sagan was a believer in time travel? ... >extremely disgusted with the hollywood movie starring Jodie ... >characters says "98% of people in the world beleive in a God... ... >MODERN chinese civilization never had a god in their religion. ...
    (comp.ai.philosophy)
  • Re: With God on Our Sides relevance
    ... Thanks for bringing this up (the movie, ... of the NFL are interested in hiring her, possibly as team President? ... startling of all, for me, was to hear the original With God on Our Side ... play over the credits at the end of the movie. ...
    (rec.music.dylan)
  • Re: With God on Our Sides relevance
    ... scenes of recent American history come alive, ... Thanks for bringing this up (the movie, ... startling of all, for me, was to hear the original With God on Our Side ... who was the man descending in the "American poison ivy ...
    (rec.music.dylan)
  • Re: POTM Nomnation - Re: Invitation
    ... talking in relativity because police officers detect relativity because ... criminals can't hide relativity and god is a criminal. ... you to figure the movie and think like a police officer everybody is ...
    (talk.origins)
  • The Danger in Being a Friend of the World, Pt. 1
    ... Unleashing God's Truth One Verse at a Time ... The Danger in Being a Friend of the World, ... Word to James chapter 4...James chapter 4. ... God would have us study together. ...
    (sci.logic)