The PTL Debate Thread

[the_Baron]

Praise the Lord Thread
For all the caring Christians on our forum, please take this opportunity to post and share your thoughts of praise and thankfullness for all our God has done for us, and continues to do each new day.

Lets keep this thread alive, with daily postings and updates.

A NOTE FROM THE MOD SQUAD: THIS WAS THE FIRST POST IN WHAT TURNED INTO MORE DEBATE THAN SHARING. THIS NEW THREAD IS WHAT CAME OF THAT DEBATE. FEEL FREE TO CONTINUE DEBATE HERE. BUT, PLEASE DO SO WITH RESPECT. THE ORIGINAL THREAD (http://www.ticklingforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44541&perpage=20&pagenumber=1) WILL BE LIMITTED TO IT'S INTENDED TOPIC. THANK-YOU.

[venray]

May today there be peace within.
May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be....
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you....
May you be content knowing you are a child of God....
Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you....

[Swimmingbird]

Well, I'm a Shintoist, and I know there are obvious differences, but I think my beliefs and your God are somewhat similar, so I have no problem, what so ever, praising him.

Thank you Lord for delivering my family to a safer city, for making me easily amused, and for starting that date last night by making that delicious little red head saying her name on her cell phone, you got me out of a jam. Oh yeah, thank you for that crimson haired beauty, and for delivering me to this community.

[shylittleme]

Originally posted by Swimmingbird
Well, I'm a Shintoist, and I know there are obvious differences, but I think my beliefs and your God are somewhat similar, so I have no problem, what so ever, praising him.

Thank you Lord for delivering my family to a safer city, for making me easily amused, and for starting that date last night by making that delicious little red head saying her name on her cell phone, you got me out of a jam. Oh yeah, thank you for that crimson haired beauty, and for delivering me to this community.

if you mean Shinto faith meaning this

Shintô (Japanese: 神道) is the native religion of Japan. It involves the worship of kami, which is alternately translated as gods, nature spirits, or just spiritual presences. Some kami are very local and can be regarded as the spirit or genius of a particular place, but others represent major natural objects and processes, for example, Amaterasu, the Sun goddess. Shinto is a combination of two Chinese words (神道, shen tao) for "gods" and "road." Thus, Shinto means literally, "the way of the kami."


then i hate to sound judgemental here but from what i read thier about Shinto. Your not praising the God of the BIBLE.

[Swimmingbird]

I am talking about that Shinto and I am not. Kind of hard to explain, but I'll try. I learned Jeet Kune Do from a Japanese uncle who applied Jeet Kune Do to everything in his life, including religion. He was a Shintoist, but I was thought because of his flowing mind, that his beliefs were not nearly as strict as Shintoism is supposed to be. I know that it is a terribly hard religion to translate, because the Kami or "Gods" were not all powerful beings, they were elevated creatures. My uncle helped me to translate further by telling me that Kami is relation. I see the sun rise over a tree filled vale. It fills me with wonder and determination to better become my ideals, that is the Kami of the vale. I'm sure my beliefs and many Shinto priests differ, but that is definitely okay. Many Shintoists are also Buddhists and Christians, which leads me to believe the religion has changed very much since the days of fuedal Japan.

As far as my praising, I tried my best to praise the Lord of the Bible. I view the world with a distinct goodness towards life, I think that to me the Kami of the world and the Lord of the Bible share many traits. I'm not Christian, but many of my friends are and I've felt their goodwill towards life many times, we've had conversations about God's bidding. I think our beliefs are different, but that our goals are very similar. I suppose subconsiously, my giving praise to God may have been my giving praise to the good will of Christians. I'm sorry if I offended anyone, everyone who devotes themself to something greater than themself, weither religion, belief, or code of conduct has my respect.

[areenactor]

.. all the rotten, evil people you saw fit to inflict on us non-evil do'ers.

thank you god for juvinal cancer/luekemia.

thank you god for providing a nice job, new car, to that asshole that was blasting his music while dropping off his slut girl friend at school this morning.

oh yeah, my heart is full of something for your god!

steve

[Oddjob0226]

God, via a species of creatures that he created weak and flawed, aborted his own son on earth for his own self-glory. And he got his kid back, ultimately, not that big a sacrafice when God's a powerful magician who can do ANYTHING. Someone near me goes, no matter how good they were, they are GONE. Try as I might, I haven't been able to create new people becuase I was "lonely". I guess, then, my exsistance shows one can believe without praising......


Steve, as soon as I can pull the $75 together for testing, I'm getting on the national marrow donor list. Although I am an evil doer, too.

[areenactor]

oddjob, i am already on the bone marrow donor list.
you don't have to pay anything! call life source and tell them you are willing to sign on as a marrow donor. simple.

steve

[Lazarus]

I'm not Christian, as I believe what is in my heart, as opposed to what someone tells me to believe in....

So, I guess I shouldn't post here, and I'm going to Hell?

I happen to have seen firsthand, that most organized religions are flawed and hypocritical....

But I suppose I'm goin' to Hell for not following the lemmings,

so...


I'll bring the beer, someone bring the brats!

BBQ!

But no Lay's Stax chips....

Then it would be Hell....

yuck.

Venison and Carribu burgers would be good too....

WHEAT buns.

Mustard....gotsta have mustard...

[Celtic_Emperor]

With all due respect, I think you and a great many people assume too much of christianity's stance on faith.

Why can't those that don't believe, don't like religion or whatever is up with you stay out of this thread? You are disrupting the peace and unity we are trying to create here. If you want to bitch and complain and brood do it in your own thread. This thread is for the thankful, the prayerful, the reverant, and the devout. All of this contradicting talk is casting YOUR doubt and YOUR uncertaintly among us, and no one needs that HERE. I'm sure thats quite clear by our responses. You accomplish nothing by taking cheap shots. Whats your excuse? You have none.

[Lazarus]

Now, somehow I'm not a believer....

That was never mantioned;

What WAS mentioned, is that I DO believe, but not because someone tells me to, or tells me what to believe....

I don't need to go to church to know what's in my heart....

Do I believe that Jesus died for all humanity?

Yup.

Do I believe in one true God?

Yup.

I am not intending to flame here; just trying to prove a point about how hypocritical religion can be, with the "gay-bashing" and whatnot....

I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread....

[Celtic_Emperor]

I know what you meant, but I don't appriciate it. There was no need to prove a point. This thread isn't about church at all. Any legitimate person knows that faith and religion are two seperate things, but are married to eachother. Religion, or church is a place where like-minded people go to praise and worship together. We aren't zombies, brainwashed and we sure as hell aren't lemmings.

How are we so different? Why do you want division? If we believe in the same things what does it matter to you? Sorry, but if you can't come in here to say what this thread asks you to do, and you only meant to stir the pot, then you have no one to blame but yourself. You're obviously a brooder, lying in wait like so many people.

No one needs HERE needs a peptalk from you or anyone. And even then, theres nothing peppy about it. Anger, resentment, and ridicule don't belong here.

This thread is for giving praise, and you sure as hell didn't come here to do that. And no, you DO NOT bring us back to our regularly sheduled thread, because you sure as HELL didn't ever commandeer it! We've been avoiding you and the others with snide comments up until now. But I've had enough. You can't just let people be happy and content, can you? And don't you DARE even tell me I'm overeacting. I'm sick of people like you going on some damn crusade to rock the boat. No one gives a shit.

"I am filled with Christ's love!" (from the movie "Saved") LOL

[TicklishSinner]

ok im not very religous..well in all actuality I have my own beliefs just never been educated on the different religions...ANYWAYS..i still thank god for the beautiful baby girl that is growing in my stomach

[Lazarus]

I am grateful for:

My kids

My health

My heart attack, as it opened my eyes to what Faith in God truly is

Him leading me to Mimi

The TMF, for helping me find a place to call home with my love for tickling....

I intended to not start a flame, but a discussion; I went about it the wrong way, and apologize for that.

I have started another thread, to discuss these things, and if you'd like, please feel free to participate.

Don't misunderstand where I come from, tho....

I have a faith in God that runs deeper than I think I even realize sometimes.

I am not making light of that, nor trying to "rock the boat", and apologize for being interpreted that way....

[shylittleme]

Originally posted by Celtic_Emperor
I know what you meant, but I don't appriciate it. There was no need to prove a point. This thread isn't about church at all. Any legitimate person knows that faith and religion are two seperate things, but are married to eachother. Religion, or church is a place where like-minded people go to praise and worship together. We aren't zombies, brainwashed and we sure as hell aren't lemmings.

How are we so different? Why do you want division? If we believe in the same things what does it matter to you? Sorry, but if you can't come in here to say what this thread asks you to do, and you only meant to stir the pot, then you have no one to blame but yourself. You're obviously a brooder, lying in wait like so many people.

No one needs HERE needs a peptalk from you or anyone. And even then, theres nothing peppy about it. Anger, resentment, and ridicule don't belong here.

This thread is for giving praise, and you sure as hell didn't come here to do that. And no, you DO NOT bring us back to our regularly sheduled thread, because you sure as HELL didn't ever commandeer it! We've been avoiding you and the others with snide comments up until now. But I've had enough. You can't just let people be happy and content, can you? And don't you DARE even tell me I'm overeacting. I'm sick of people like you going on some damn crusade to rock the boat. No one gives a shit.

"I am filled with Christ's love!" (from the movie "Saved") LOL


i agree with Celtic_Emperor. This thread was clearly simple started to Praise God meaning the God of the BIBLE his holy and for ever lasting Word. This thread was not started to praise Gods or Goddess of other religions or other Faiths. this thread was started to praise and give thanks to Jesus Christ and to give praise to him and him alone.

[venray]

Originally posted by shylittleme
i agree with Celtic_Emperor. This thread was clearly simple started to Praise God meaning the God of the BIBLE his holy and for ever lasting Word. This thread was not started to praise Gods or Goddess of other religions or other Faiths. this thread was started to praise and give thanks to Jesus Christ and to give praise to him and him alone.

And Jesus would have let ALL in to post as they wish were he the thread starter. Let us all practice our beliefs with tolerance of others as He would have done.

[Celtic_Emperor]

@ TicklishSinner-

No one said you have to be religious to believe in God or have faith. I'm sure that you and your praise would be more than welcome here. They are by me, at any rate.

And, if you don't mind, I'd like to say a prayer later for this beautiful baby that will come into world. Do you have a name for this God-send?

@ Lazarus-

I'm sorry too. My apologies. Lets put that behind us, where it belongs. I'm glad that you are now explaining yourself and your experiences however. Thats a good way for us to recover from this.

@ shylittleme-

Thank you for the support. I appriciate it. But I'm not going to excuse myself from the harshness of my words. For that I'll pray over later.

@ all christians that have posted and will come to post-

Lets not let this thread die. I've seen many a time such threads drop down the list, then the second page, and then off our minds.

If no one else is going to have a vested interest in this thread, then I will. I'll do my best to keep it alive and updated. I would hope anyone serious and not ashamed of singing the praises the Lord would do the same.

God should be everywhere, even here.

[Celtic_Emperor]

Originally posted by venray1
And Jesus would have let ALL in to post as they wish were he the thread starter. Let us all practice our beliefs with tolerance of others as He would have done.

While thats a good concept, and I considered you a friend, wouldn't you say thats just a wee bit using Jesus to a moderator's advantage?

I don't think thats totally appropriate to assume what Jesus would do in this instance. Simply finding the most kind or peaceful solution doesn't make it so. While we could expect nothing less from Jesus, I COULD expect less from you or anyone.

I understand you are trying to patch things up, but it will have happened on its own. And it has, as you can see.

While theres nothing wrong with what you said, I think it is a little presumptious, just a little, only because of the way in which and for the reason which you are using him as an example here. Yes, Jesus would let people with different opinions speak, but even he's proven he will only tolerate so much. Like when the moneychangers where in the temple area. Jesus became angry and turned the place upside down. That was rightious anger. Wouldn't you say that what happened here was sort of like people "moneychanging" in the "temple area"?

[venray]

To keep peace as a moderator, I would have merely deleted out all of the non topic crap that didnt pertain to the Baron's original post.

That is still an option at this point, but 90 % of the thread would be gone,so I hesitate to do so.

What isnt appropriate is to argue points of religion in a thread designed to praise the Lord for things we are thankful for. These are two very separate concepts in my view.

Nor am I attempting to patch things up. Those that claim to believe in Him yet show no tolerance for others have no idea what he was trying to teach his followers. They have the smallest of minds and the narrowist point of view. I pray for them.

Based on what I BELIEVE of Jesus and his teachings it is safe to assume that he would INDEED have acted as I have said. If you have any knowledge of Him at all you would know this to be true.

Do not presume to analyze my actions or words as you have NO idea what I believe in. I do not use His teachings to moderate. Though it probably wouldnt be a bad idea....:D

I praise God for family and friends that help us through the trials of life.

Ray

[areenactor]

Originally posted by shylittleme
i agree with Celtic_Emperor. This thread was clearly simple started to Praise God meaning the God of the BIBLE his holy and for ever lasting Word. This thread was not started to praise Gods or Goddess of other religions or other Faiths. this thread was started to praise and give thanks to Jesus Christ and to give praise to him and him alone.

sorry but i disagree. the title of this thread is "praise the lord thread". so are you now saying that you bible thumping rabid reborn again types own god?!?! we jew believed in the one true god for over 3 thousand years before you johnny come latelys decided to start a religion based on a jewish boy!

my first post to this thread was being a smart ass, but i DO NOT appologise for it! you "faithfull" need to open your eyes a wee bit wider, and look at all of what god has done to us!

steve

[TklDuo-Ann]

OK, my turn to enter in here. I happen to be a Christian (Roman Catholic to be specific)...by exploration and choice. I searched for what I truly believe and went with the religion that was nearest to it in order to be able to share it with others. The God in whom I believe is one of love and unity...not of intollerance. For those who believe that Jesus would look down on someone who believes differently, please consider that He himself was looked down upon for associating with those that the "religious majority" didn't like. In fact, He was killed for it...among other non-establishment behaviors. And, YES, I have read the Scripture where He refers to Himself as a sign of contradiction and division. This narrow minded slop we throw at one another is NOT what He was refering to and it's high time we stop abusing His words.

That having been said, I praise the Lord that He is more tollerant and merciful to us than we are to one another....no matter HOW we see Him.

Ann

[venray]

Amen....

[shylittleme]

Originally posted by areenactor
sorry but i disagree. the title of this thread is "praise the lord thread". so are you now saying that you bible thumping rabid reborn again types own god?!?! we jew believed in the one true god for over 3 thousand years before you johnny come latelys decided to start a religion based on a jewish boy!

my first post to this thread was being a smart ass, but i DO NOT appologise for it! you "faithfull" need to open your eyes a wee bit wider, and look at all of what god has done to us!

steve

ok well all think differently and we all have our own different opinions. That is what makes us all special in our own little way. But like wise though i wouldn't think would God would want a person of another Religion praising Him. Because simply when i read the title thread ''praise the lord thread'' right away i think of God Jesus Christ. i Do Not think of Allah or any other faith but Christianty. if you have faith in Christ then thats all good and fine then feel free to post in this Thread. but i just feel if you have a different faith Besides Christianty then you should not even be Posting in this Thread at all. that may sound harsh or wrong or rude of Me but that is the way i feel about it.

and as i stated before and i'll state again please do not assume that ALL Christians are bible thumbers. because that is Not the case at all

[Celtic_Emperor]

Yeah, I'm not being intolerant nor am I a bible thumper. I'm simply saying Jesus is capable of anger, justifiable and rightious anger. I used that example because its true. But he wasn't angry to try and hold someone down or to make some sort of threat. He was upset that this was happening in his father's house.

Now, this thread is about praising the Lord. I never said it wasn't, and up until now I've been contributing just like everyone else, even more so. So no one can accuse me of not doing that. Everything was fine and dandy until an apparent athiest and a couple non-christians came in here just to make some snide remarks about how we're lemmings under control and such. I'm sorry, but thats just an overblown assumption/exageration and effort to justify resentiment of the church, any church. Nowadays the lay people run the church by way of them continuing to be accomidated to make them more comfortable. The people of a church are just as much responsible for a church as the resident pastor.

If people seem like lemmings or whatever, maybe you are looking at it the wrong way. Maybe its that our faith is so strong and cannot be shaken that you're mistakeing firm resolve and faith as solid as a rock for ignorance and gulibility toward the establishment of the church. I believe what I believe because I believe it. It didn't take anyone to teach me, though I was. I alone decided, as everyone does at some point whether to believe all of this or not. This massed conspiracy, if real, surely doesn't reach everyone, and most religious zealots would be elderly or middle aged. Things are changing and more and more people are coming into churches. They aren't being lured in, they aren't be coaxed. They aren't being offered salvation in a bottle.

They are being offered "the gift of a loving God, who desires that you and I desire the best which He's prepared for us", to quote Rev. Stanley again.

I don't like how all of a sudden this has been turned on me and made to look as though I wouldn't tolerate anyone. But this thread is for christians, particularly faithful christians, who by their own merits seems to pray regularily. So for anything thats not of that to be a part of it just isn't right with the acception of people that wish to praise God anyway. Theres no way you can excuse the comments that were made. This thread isn't an open forum for discussion of church or whatever, it was meant to be an experience in which we post, one at a time a daily prayer, give some sort of thanksgiving, or something positive.

Those individuals came in here to rock the boat, and even one of them admitted they did it to be a smartass. I don't see how allowing that kind of banter helps this thread. And if you think about it, and here the upper cut, I wouldn't have said any of this and the thread would have gone on undisrupted. We wouldn't be talking right now, we'd be offeriing up prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving. The entire course of this thread has been debased by those individuals. They know their power. Not so much power, but they knew that what they said would not only get someone's attention but it would achieve the results they wanted, which were obviously to stir things up.

If they had good will toward this thread, they will have done what everyone else was doing and would have kept the ill thoughts out. I'm assuming this thread was meant to be a sanctuary, not to be a place where people can waltz in unimpeded, say whatever they want and then stick around to argue about it. Or to mock prayer, etc.

Clearly then Ray, yes, you did have a choice. And I think you should have deleted the posts. It would have stopped all of this and if anyone was persistant on being an irritant, someone could simply report the post and you would again look into it. Its really as simple as that.

And for your information Steve, christians believe in the old testament too. Its not like we just picked up our beliefs at one point and started from there. We believe everything you believe and a great deal of our practices are based on what jews did. We just have the benefit of believing Jesus is the Christ. Jesus in no way replaces God the father. In essence, he is God the father. Theres no need to stress that any more, sense its obvious to christians and non-christians alike.

In closing, I'm not being intolerate, I'm just aggrivated by the events as they simply had no place here being what they were. If you aren't a christian, but want to thank God anyways, I'm all for that, I never implied that I wasn't. But clearly what they did was contradicting the point of this thread and because of their comments its like this. They knew throwing a wrench in the works would accomplish this result sooner or later. They wanted their presence to be felt in this way. If that wasn't true they would have come in here and acted as everyone else is. If they see that as 'conforming' rather than a bunch of like-minded people giving praise because they just so happen to believe the same thing more or less, than thats their problem and they obviously shouldn't be here if it upsets them so.

And I stress 'sooner or later'. Because obviously people like us annoy them and they become restless. This thread is an eyesore for the non-believers among us, just as their attempts to debunk God and His people are an eyesore to us. It was to my understanding that we could co-exist without meddling in eachother affairs. Was I wrong about that?

And no, I'm not calling the persons in question faithless, but you certainly aren't part of the solution either. Not with that attitude and frame of mind. And if you want to point the finger and say I'm no prize pig either, well, I have the advantage of saying that I wouldn't even be talking right now if it wasn't for you. I'd be praying and giving thanks. So there.

[the_Baron]

....how magnificent are your ways, oh Lord"

....you are my rock and my Redeemer"

...the world will hate you because of Me. but you are not of this world"


FOR GOD GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL NOT DIE, BUT SHALL HAVE LIFE EVERLASTING


PRAISE YOU GOD, AUTHOR OF MY SALVATION, AND COMFORTER AND FRIEND. THANK YOU JESUS FOR LOVING ME, A SINNER, AND HELPING TO MAKE ME CONFORM MORE TO YOUR IMAGE.

[Celtic_Emperor]

Oh Lord, give me the patience to tolerate insult. For you oh Lord were insulted to the highest degree possible. A crown of thorns pierced your flesh, whips tore at your backside, spit and bile were you bath, and laughing insults and evil intentions were your food. They mocked you oh lord, "if you are the son of God, come down from there! hahaha!", but no Lord, you stayed. You stayed up there on that cross and you died, you died for me, you died for everyone, even those that don't even believe you exist as Lord and God of the universe.

You overcame sin. Sin you knew well, though you did not ever dabble in it. Yours ways were straight and narrow. Dispised you were, hated to the fullest degree. Many a curse was put upon you, and your disciples were hunted down.

Let the Judas's and doubting Thomas's of this world come to know you better. May they be filled not with questions and riddles, rebuke and reproach, but may they be ingulfed by the power of your love and may eyes be opened.

Oh Lord, I lift up my burdens to you, knowing all too well how you alieviate me of them and restore me a new.

Thank you Lord, amen.

[TklDuo-Ann]

A NOTE FROM THE MOD SQUAD: THIS IS "THE PTL DEBATE THREAD". THE COMMENTS TO THIS POINT ARE FROM THE ORIGINAL PRAISE THE LORD (http://www.ticklingforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44541&perpage=20&pagenumber=1) THREAD. tHEY HAVE BEEN MOVED HERE TO RESOTRE THE ORIGINAL THREAD TO ITS INTENDED TOPIC WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR FREE DEBATE. GOD EXISTS AS MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE. WE DO HONOR TO HIM BY BEING TOLLERANT OF THOSE WHO SEEK HIM AND SIMPLY SEE HIM IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WE DO. LET US PRAISE HIM NOT ONLY IN OUR WORDS BUT IN OUR ACTIONS...HOWEVER WE MAY VIEW HIM.

ALL FURTHER OFF TOPIC COMMENT/DEBATE AND ANY FLAMING WILL SIMPLY BE DELETED. SO, IF YOU WISH YOUR POSTS TO REMAIN, KEEP THEM CIVIL AND ON TOPIC/IN THE APPROPRIATE THREAD.

THANK-YOU!

Ann

[gekoman]

I'm thankful for many things, Family, freedom, choice, and a lot of other great things. I'm thankful for America who helps amplify my thankfulness...