Inspired By God @ MindSay

Hey, here I am again.  I noticed that both Mario and Hoz have been putting in more than their usual amount of posts lately and I want to complete the trifecta (or shamelessly try to include myself in something without being invited. potato, potahto).  To catch you up on the last few months it's 2007, Mario has a baby, someone else is now expecting (secret?), and I am inspired to jump on that bus.  What.?  At this rate by the time I get married and have a kid these other two will be in their 7th year of college, so I asked Katie if she would mother my child.  She agreed and with that one fell swoop I will both give my mother the grandchild she won't shut the hell up about and ensure my kid will have a few friends around to describe to him what far away objects look like (see, I'm a good father already).

To continue Tanner and I took a small tour of southern New England and surrounding state this past weekend.  Not only was it fun but I got to wear my wristbands and now I feel inspired to go somewhere else.  Yup, I wrote that.  If there's a free place to stay why not?  I'd put up any of my friends from out of town (or persuade my parents too, rather) so I figure it's time to impose on you, even if you haven't yet on me (ahem, my parents).  Next stop . . . who knows but I'm sure I won't have a problem finding someone to come along.  And I'll probably use your soap. Sorry, but that's the last thing I ever, or ever will, think to pack.

Inspiration.  That is my theme this evening.  And it was all inspired by an away message I wrote, "Do I need to be more proactive?"  At first it was just something I wrote, few of my away messages have any inherent meaning and this one is (or was, depending on when you read this post) no exception.  I've tried it a few times in the past, being proactive, but usually only when I felt very strongly about something.  The little things were pretty hit or miss.  I'd usually rather be not cleaning my room or at the bar.  But then, while showering, "Do I need to be more proactive?" got me thinking.  I'm not usually one to take initiative and do new things, right?  So what if I were?   . . . That's it.  Did you expect something more profound?

And with that I'm feeling inspired to sleep.

Leave a comment.

I find that much of the time when i come to update, there will be so much on my mind, but so often nothing really comes out.  I guess sometimes i'm just not inspired... i don't know.  Kind of funny because i used to love to write, and i still do, it's just harder to force things out.  I went on an awesome camping trip to wildwood, which is nathan's family's camp.  It was soo much fun, bonding with other Christians, both more "mature" and "growing".  I spent so much time with God, and it was really a blessing.  I definitely learned alot, about God, others, and myself.  The only down side is that the week flew by way too fast.  It seemed like it was over before it began.  I cannot wait for next year.  I think they should have it more than once, to tide us over :) Anyway, good, good times.. and i'm happy about life with evey inch of my body.

I'm sure i'll expand more on this in the days to come.

How wonderful

How radiant

How excellent is Your name

How beautiful

How incredible

How excellent is Your name

There is none like You in the heavens

There is none like on the earth

Your Love inspired the birth of mankind

And it still flows freely to me.

How wonderful

How radiant

How excellent is Your name

How beautiful

How incredible

How excellent is Your name

I am a person who is strongly against abortion. I think it is wrong, not only because it is murdering a human being but also because God had a plan for that human. It could have been someone very important someday. Then not to long ago one of my close friends told me about a website that was pro-life where you could get wristbands that are red and say life on them. So I went to the website, www.bound4life.com, and I ordered a wristband so that I could suppot the cause against abortion. Ever since I got my wristband I have had it on almost every day. If you are like me and you are against abortion then I highly recommend going to the website my friend told me about and look through the pictures and read some of the articles, and hopefully you would be willing to make a $2 donation to recieve a wristband that way you too could support the efforts against abortion. The wristbands purpose is to remind you to pray a 22 word pray that is provided that prays for abortion to end and to sow that you are pro-life.

The friend who told me about the website that is against abortion has had some amazing things happen to him, and he is one of the people I might call my hero. He is amazingly close to christ and it shows the second you meet him. He is a speaker to the younger generation (teens mainly) and is awesome at it. The first time I heard hime speak at a retreat he inspired me to get baptized and to start a bible study in the school. Ever since that retreat he has inspired me to do many other things also. He is a singer in a christian band that is just now starting to make their first CD. I have their demo CD and I think i have listened to it almost everyday because the words in the songs him and the rest of the band wrote are very incouraging. One thing that really showed God was working through prayer that happened to him was at the end of February he found out he had cancer. He had a tumor removed. Everyone in his town and in my town and in Kansas city and all over michicgan were praying for him. Then in the middle of march when he went back to the doctor to start Kemo theropy, after having his blood tested again, the doctor said he didn't want to have my friend start kemo because his numbers went from 111 to 4 (which is normal) and 58 to 19.6 (6 is normal). The doctors had no idea what was going on with my friend, but my friend and a lot of other people knew that he was healed by the power of prayer and the touch of God's healing hands. Then when he went back a couple of weeks later and his numbers were back to normal and the doctors were amazed by how he healed completely without any treatment. If it weren't for my friend I wouldn't have beeen baptized and I wouldn'thave planted all the seeds that i did through the bible study. He has helped me through more then I could have asked for but that is only because he allowed for God to use him in any way he needed to, which is a good thing because without his support and help I don't think I would have been this close in relationship with God and my friend put me back on track with God. 

Ok before I even start talking about Paul I want to make a few things clear:

1. I personally don't believe Paul was "Inspired by God", so everyone knows my position now. The details of why I don't will be examined in this post

2. I'm not here to simply attack Paul to no end. This is a discussion of Paul. I will show things which I feel are "Against Paul" so to speak, but I'll also take the time to bring forth arguments "For Paul" (Obviously not my mine arguments, but arguments of others that believe in Paul's authenticity as an "Inspired man"). I'm also open to other arguments, because I'm sure I won't get to every single argument on either side.

3. Please, I repeat please, do not simply come in here and shout random baseless claims. Although I'll gladly listen to your baseless claims, more than likely I'll either ignore them or ask for proof of your claim. This post isn't meant for people to come in and voice their OPINIONS; I want people to voice their POSITIONS. And just in case someone is unclear on what I mean by the term position, position is defined as: An opinion backed up with proof. That is a simple definition of what I mean by position. For example if I said "Paul is an alien!" this would be a mere opinion, no proof of this claim has been supplied. But if I supplied proof of the claim (But since this is for illustrations sake I'm not going to supply any specific proof to this claim) then it would be a position.

4. I'm not here trying to anger anyone. Chances are several people will not agree or like what is stated below. "Retard" your anger level (Quote from the movie Anger Management ) and give a sensible response. Rebuttal the comments, don't just simply get ticked off and shout out nonsense. After this post I'll be creating a post on Muhammad which will be very similar. In that post I'm giving everyone the opportunity to criticize Muhammad with arguments against him. I of course will be presenting arguments mainly For Muhammad.

Hope everything is clear so we might begin:

First off it is important to state which writings in the Bible are accredited to Paul. Since there is controversy as to all the Books suggested I'm going to list several groups.

Books that are accredited to Paul without MUCH controversy:

1. Romans

2. Corinthians 1 & 2

3. Galatians

4. Philippians

5. Thessalonians 1

6. Philemon

Books accredited to Paul, but that have significant controversy:

1. Ephesians

2. Colossians

3. Thessalonians 2

4. Timothy 1 & 2

5. Titus

6. Hebrews

Books Accredited to Paul from apocryphal works:

1. Corinthians 3

2. Epistle to the Laodiceans

(All this information was gathered from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_of_Tarsus#Writings )

Now for the actual analysis of Paul:

Arguments put forth "Against Paul":

Of the many arguments put in opposition of Paul the most serious is the claim that Paul contradicts Jesus. Many people have cited verses suggesting contradictions. Let’s examine the verses (For the sake of space I'm going to just quote the KJV of the Bible. If we get into word disputes other translations can be sought after for clarification:

Jesus states in Luke 21:8

And he (Jesus) said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Also if you read the context you quickly find out that the "time" that Jesus is referring to is the last day. Furthermore it is important to note that Jesus states that on this day "redemption draweth nigh."(Luke 21:28).

With all this stated lets look at some of the alleged claims against Paul:

Paul states in Romans the following:

Romans 13:11-2

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light.

There are two things Jesus noted to be aware of:

1. A "deceiver" aka liar will come in his name

2. They will claim the "time is near" (And this time is linked to redemption)

As the arguments follows (As you can imagine from the phrases I've highlighted), Paul claimed that his message was from Jesus. From the first moment Paul started preaching it was because he heard a voice claiming to be Jesus in the desert of Damascus. By this it seems Paul satisfies the first condition Jesus warned of. The soundest objection I've seen to date is that Jesus was stating that someone will falsely claim to be the Messiah. Although I see the point, I don't feel that people who make this interpretation have any evidence that limits the context to such, as they never provide any. Therefore the interpretation that seems most acceptable is that Jesus was stating that deceivers could be doing one of the following:

1. Claiming to be Jesus

2. Claiming everything they state is from Jesus

The main thing between these two possible sub-conditions is that both revolve around someone accrediting a message's authorship to Jesus.

Secondly we have Paul quoted saying "The day is at hand". The second condition seems to have been satisfied. Although again people come with opposition to this interpretation. They claim the day Paul is speaking of isn't the last day Jesus was speaking of. Yet my most serious objection to this theory is that both the day Jesus spoke of and the day Paul spoke of involve Salvation/Redemption. This critical piece of context certainly points a finger in opposition to Paul's authenticity. Therefore if everything stated here is correct, Paul is a deceiver by the standards set forth by Jesus in the Gospel according to Luke. Yet I'm sure after reading this many people will have a gut rejection, those who have strong convictions that Paul is an inspired man of God. I honestly look forward to specific discussion on this issue in particular. By this alone Paul can be proven as a liar. So I look forward to any rebuttals to any statements made above, any comments, any questions, or anything else.

Now you might be thinking: "If Paul is a deceiver then where in Paul's message is the deception?"

In order to address this question we can examine further instances where Paul is noted to allegedly by contradicting Jesus’ message. Consider the following cases:

Jesus is quoted saying

Luke 20:38

For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

Paul on the other states:

Romans 14:9

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Again I've heard contextual arguments, ironically enough they never point out where in the context that there interpretation is supported exclusively or at all. I look forward to a good rebuttal of this alleged contradiction between Jesus and Paul. It may very well exist; just no one has presented it yet.

Here is another alleged contradiction:

Jesus says:

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and all prophets.

Paul states:

Romans 13:9-10

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Love is fulfilling of the law according to Jesus as well, except Paul completely left out LOVING GOD! I've yet to see anything constructive been said on this verse. Again I'm eager to see a response for this.

I'll stop right here in the opposing arguments and begin showing arguments for Paul.

Arguments put forth "For Paul":

First lets quote Peter 2 3:15-16

And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you. As also in all his epistles speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction

It is claimed that everything claimed against Paul using his writings are merely misunderstandings of what he meant (Which is the very thing that is being challenged above; I'm looking for explanations as to how what is stated above are merely misunderstandings).

Honestly this is the best claim I've seen "For Paul". I've searched through sites, encyclopedias, and the Bible itself for proof that Paul is an honest apostle.

Of the sites I've seen for Paul, often times the way they organize their information it gets gather hard for me to duplicate their argument here. I am, however, looking forward to further arguments for Paul or against if someone wishes to offer them.

With regard to the problems listed above I have heard the following answers:

The deceiver theory (i.e. Paul is a deceiver)

1. Paul never claimed to be the Messiah and it clearly says they will claim to be Christ.

2. The day Paul is referring to is contextually different from the day Jesus spoke of, even though they both refer to salvation/redemption (No explanation of contextual proof)

God of the living? Or living and dead?

(What Jesus said)

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Jesus answered their objections by noting that Abraham, in spirit, was alive in the presence of God, even though his body was in a state of death in the grave.

(What Paul said)

Here Paul is referring to a different subject to a different audience i.e.: the position or reason for being of Jesus.

One great commandment or two?

OK so here Jesus was asked a specific question, which he answered. Paul was talking to the Romans in a general way. The Pharisees were trying to trick Jesus and Paul was trying to show what Jesus was about. Completely different situation.

These are actual responses I received by people.

Hopefully the tags will help comments come abit quicker.

Thanks for reading =] Hope to hear some interesting comments soon.