What has God done in your life? on the Peoria.com Forums - Page 2

Thanks, Tyler.

Crod: we've had the discussion before about how easy it is to blame God for everything when, in reality, evil exists (and is allowed to exist) all around us but gets none of the blame. So I won't get into answering that one yet again.

I'll just say I live by faith. I don't need to see or touch God to know He's there. I just know what He's done in my life these last few years to know that I could never have made these changes on my own. I also know other people who have made changes so drastic in their own lives that they couldn't have done by themselves or even with the help of other humans. There are no explanations.

I don't begrudge you your belief in humanity but I find that to be a hollow belief for me--I tried it once. Humanity kept letting me down.

Tape: I don't believe in religion either. I believe in God. Big difference.

Tape: I don't believe in religion either. I believe in God. Big difference.

Same here. I actually despise religion. It's about the relationship folks. ( my church of 4000 + members despises religion too :O))

This is one of the reasons that although I disagree with just about everything Tyler says, I still respect him.

do you use the name Jesus in your prayers? Because if you do, then you most certainly DO believe in religion.

He has been there when i needed Him the most.

I don't get how you make the jump from Jesus to religion? Explain please.

Just to reiterate.

There are millions of Americans that are religious. They are called Catholics, many Presbyterians, Methodists, some Baptists, etc. Those are religions.
Religion is a very hard word to define.
People that don't not have a personal relationship with Jesus have a hard time understanding.
I am not part of an organized religion. I am a Christian that goes and is heavily involved in a non-denominational church.
After being with Peoria Christian School for 12 years, being there on staff with representatives from 84 churches in the area, believe me when I say I am NOT religious. I dealt with the ones that ARE on a daily basis, and it was not fun lol. I could literally write a book about it.

I'm sorry, is that my fault? Do you think I'm so close-minded and stubborn to NOT want a relationship with Jesus? I'm right here, waiting to be touched, and until then I guess I'm just supposed to take your word for it that you're somehow more in tune with morals and life than I am... That you were "chosen" and I'm still on the waiting list. You must think I'm a real sucker to fall for that one.

Nope! The decision is yours and yours alone man.

Yeah, well God isn't answering.

I don't think that's what he meant to say at all. In order to have a personal relationship with Jesus you have to give up control of your life. Completely. It most definitely is not an easy thing to do--I still struggle with this on a daily basis--but the rewards are plentiful.

You may be right there waiting to be touched but are you reaching out or just waiting for things to happen on their own? If you're just waiting, I'll let you know now that I'm here reaching out to you for Jesus...trying to get you moving on your next step in your quest. Now you just have to do your part.

BTW, nobody's "chosen" for this. You volunteer yourself...but you can't volunteer yourself without giving up control.

Actually Tape, I think he IS answering you but I don't think you're listening. Every encounter you have with someone who reaches out to you is God trying to shake you up.

Looking back at my life now I can see the stepping stones that got me to this place right here right now--the people that God put in my life to propel me to this point. I was filled with lots of the same questions you've been asking on this board all along and was never satisfied with the answers people gave me. Maybe I wasn't ready to hear them at that point in my life but eventually something just clicked. (Actually it was more a series of events that did it for me.)

If you ever want to sit over coffee with me and talk, I'd be very happy to meet you somewhere. I most certainly won't have all the answers you seek but I might be able to answer a few of your questions.

I am in agreement with Froggy. Tape. My number is 453-4412

I am personally inviting you to my church with me this Sunday morning at 9am. You can see first hand what it's all about man. I'll be in the front row at stage left/house right at Riverside. Come and get rocked man. We have the best bands in Peoria. :O)

You two are just like everyone else. Tell me I'm not listening. Come out to x church. Lets get a coffee. You don't get it.

I AM listening, I've prayed countless prayers since I was 8 years old. Still, after all this time I still don't believe a single word of the bible and I can honestly say I've never had a prayer answered, even the non-selfish ones.

What I have witnessed is people helping others and similar such acts of kindness, but that isn't God. People may claim God was the motivation behind their actions, but that doesn't make it Gods work, just the source of inspiration.

And this control you speak of, give up control of my life? I never had any control to begin with. I'm a minimalist living paycheck to paycheck, some weeks unsure if I'll be able to put food on the table or have enough gas to get to work the following week. I get by, just barely, it's extremely stressful at times but I rarely complain about it. That's life. I'd really like to know what you want me to give up or let go of.

Well, if your approach to a better job is the same as your approach to Christ, it's not a wonder you're living check to check. Are you just standing there, "waiting to be touched" by a better job? Maybe some people have offered to interview you over coffee or lunch, but you weren't interested because it wasn't the CEO himself that was asking?