Posts by Tyler Baker6

Susan Price30 said:To forget would be the final act of letting that evil cling to us. Of course, most of what Jesus taught was directed toward believers and His Church, so as brothers in Christ, we should be ready to offer forgiveness seven or seventy-seven times a day—and they will accept it. We can always give it freely because we are empowered by the Spirit to do so.

They also understand that following crucifixion should lead (through the Spirit) to transformation (repentance). For everything to make sense, by loving and forgiving others without judgment, it becomes much easier to reach that state of transformation. They do it, and we do too—because whatever we extend to others, we ultimately grant to ourselves.

John 13:35 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Anthony Perez9 said:Some long-haired guy in the video claims one single breath of this Yoga wipes out an entire year's worth of karma. 😲 🙏

vividtinker17 said:Yeah, that’s a really good question, but honestly, how am I even supposed to know if I’ve truly forgiven myself? Like, can I just say it out loud and call it a day? I tell myself "I forgive you," but did I actually mean it deep down? Maybe it isn't even about forgiveness at all, maybe it's just that I miss her so much, or I just desperately need to sit down and talk to her about everything that went down between us... Just thinking about it right now has brought it all back and I'm already tearing up again, and I'm just so exhausted from crying over her constantly. Like, if I run into her in downtown Chicago and she won't even look my way... I'll spend the entire rest of the day sobbing and wondering if I really deserved this after 28 years... It's just awful, and I feel like I'm totally lost when it comes to my own emotions?!

btw, her birthday is tomorrow and I've already written this letter that I'm going to send her. I already know I won't get a response, but hey, that's just who I am... I guess I'll just keep humbling myself like this for the rest of my life...

vividtinker17 said:I really messed up with a close friend of mine, and we haven't spoken in two years now. Over those two years, I’ve tried everything to reach out and ask for her forgiveness... I mean, I sent three different letters, recorded videos for her, sent bouquets of flowers, and even some holiday cards... but after two whole years, there hasn't been a single response, which just proves she's NOT forgiving me.
I honestly don't get why... She's a super proud person, sure, but she's also a Christian who definitely knows more about the concept of forgiveness than I ever will. I just don't know what else to do anymore, because this guilt and regret are literally eating me alive to the point where I cry almost every single day... I feel absolutely terrible and I can't even move on with my life peacefully. I would give anything in the world just to have her forgive me.
Do you guys think I should keep begging for her forgiveness? What kind of person refuses to let things go like this? We're talking about a friendship and a lifelong bond that lasted 28 years...
Am I doing something wrong here? I keep obsessing over the idea that I didn't say exactly what she needed to hear in those letters, but I have no clue what that actually is.
People keep posting all these quotes about how forgiveness sets you free... but how am I supposed to find any freedom when I'm the one asking for mercy and getting nothing back?

Jerry King11 said:Cleaned this up a bit; I used to be able to recite that part of the Shakespearean Storm from memory 🙂, but that was a long time ago...

My computer is acting up tonight; I can't seem to get through to Alice... or the rabbit...

Jerry King11 said:It’s all just a fabrication. Wake up. You’re nothing more than a cog in the machine... 🙂

coastalcrane55 said:Hey there. I’m curious to see what you guys think about this.
When I was 13, I was staying at a friend's place for summer vacation. We met some guys and hung out with them, even though I wasn't really interested in boys or romance back then. One of them definitely showed interest in me, but I just wasn't feeling it. He kept pushing for things like holding hands and trying to make some kind of connection, and eventually, my friend talked me into becoming his girlfriend because she already had boyfriends and thought it would be cool, you know? 🙄
That’s how my first kiss happened, and honestly, I didn't want anything beyond that.
We ended up being alone together a few times, and every single time he would touch me and try to get me to touch him, too. I didn't really know how to react since that kind of stuff wasn't even on my radar yet. One time he actually tried to have sex with me, but I started fighting him off, so he stopped.

One evening, my friend and I were hanging out alone on her patio, found some beer and wine, and decided to drink. (Again, I'll mention that she was the popular one, and I was just this pathetic, easily influenced kid who didn't know how to say no)
It was the very first time I'd ever tasted alcohol, and it didn't take much for me to get drunk.
I remember that guy just sort of appeared out of nowhere, we laughed, and then we went over to a bench nearby in the dark. Anyway, we had sex. My memory of it is pretty blurry, and I only really figured out what happened from what people told me the next day.
The guy was 15 at the time.

I once mentioned this to someone, and they just told me, "Well, it's your own fault." Am I really to blame? Was that abuse?

I struggle with anxiety and depression, and I won't lie, I've been pretty promiscuous. I'm 18 now and I've slept with more than ten people. I've also dealt with bulimia and anorexia.
Could these things be consequences of what happened?

I hope someone can find the time to read this and give me some kind of answer. Thanks. 🙂

Kimberly Johnson4 said:Alright... so I guess I have to ask: how do you even define a problem? I can't really point to one specific moment, or some life-altering event, or anything like that... It’s more like someone just wiped out all the actual memories, but left these heavy, bad feelings lingering behind where they used to be.... I don't know how else to put it...

Rebecca Scott3 said:...I honestly think this whole letter thing is a solid move.......I’m going to sit down and write to her.......now I just need to figure out the best way to approach it...
...because every single time I've tried to actually talk things through with her, she just gets incredibly defensive....it's like, "no, that's not how it happened" or some other excuse...
...but look, she's clearly hooked, like totally head over heels at first sight....so why not? She's got the great paycheck and all those fancy titles too...
....
...complexes...yeah, they're a huge issue.....it's probably not going to be easy to get her to change much.....but...I'll give it a shot.....

dustyraven26 said:

Susan Price30 As stated by:
Self-confidence is essentially an internal conviction, and a healthy sense of self-belief shouldn't inherently preclude someone from placing their trust in external forces or higher powers. 😁
A certain type of self-focus often manifests as nothing more than an ego trip, which bears very little resemblance to actual self-confidence.

External factors exert the most significant influence on an individual's self-confidence; if a person possesses genuine competence—derived from sufficient knowledge or practical experience in similar circumstances—they can rightfully claim confidence within that specific domain or field of expertise.
One might choose to adopt the persona of an exceptionally self-assured gardener, someone possessing a world-class expertise in floral varieties and evergreen trees.🍿 You certainly can't afford to be the last one left standing when it comes to the art of charm and the subtle dance of small talk with a woman you actually find interesting.

Self-esteem carries more weight than mere self-confidence; in terms of true psychological well-being, a sense of inherent self-worth is far more critical to the human experience. Values.Mastering that level of proficiency is a far more grueling endeavor than simply cultivating self-confidence, or even the mere illusion of it.

Similarly, I find myself wondering where you, or anyone else for that matter, derived the notion that a belief in God is merely a byproduct of some perceived deficiency or a lack of faith in something else. It appears the message provided was insufficient to perform a rewrite. Please provide the full text you wish for me to transform.Is it a matter of fate, or are we merely puppets dancing on the strings of some Big Bad Wolf—a version of God that people imagine is just waiting for the right moment to punish us?

I would argue quite the opposite; an individual who possesses genuine self-trust will find it significantly easier to extend that same trust toward God or their fellow man. It is worth remembering that God operates through our connection with one another—a connection that, at its most fundamental level, relies entirely on the reciprocal exchange of trust and love between the Divine and humanity.

The text leaves me torn as to whether this is actually...
A comprehensive examination of the subject. Either.
The conviction that religious dogma or a misplaced sense of hope holds more intrinsic value than the actual lives lost to those very convictions is a delusion that will inevitably lead to catastrophe.One might argue that the tragedy on the islands could have been averted entirely had there not been such a pervasive, misguided belief that everything was under control.
I am seeking some assistance in resolving a particular dilemma I find myself facing.

On a related note, there is considerable evidence—or at least enough research to suggest the connection—that individuals struggling with authority figures or harboring fractured relationships with their earthly fathers often find themselves unable to perceive God the Father accurately. They tend to develop a distorted view of the Divine that fails to align with what was actually revealed in the Bible regarding His true nature and His intentions for us.

A misdiagnosis is almost always rooted in a flawed perception, though I never once attempted to deny God.
I am taking this opportunity to point out yet another negative consequence of religion.
When considering the matter from a broader, more human perspective, it becomes clear that... Religion has only served to carve fresh fractures into the foundation of human connection.Furthermore, these deep-seated divisions have served as the catalyst for numerous conflicts, resulting in staggering loss of life.
I have no desire to continue listing the negative impacts of religion; rather, I would prefer if someone could point me toward at least one significant positive effect they might produce. 🤷

Anthony Perez9 said:Look, as an atheist, I don't believe in God and I'm not expecting a single thing from Him. Honestly, the whole concept is totally foreign to me. I’m perfectly fine with using the term to describe something beyond our limited human comprehension—like the sheer scale of reality, the awe of an infinite universe, or even that > "God" concept.

So, atheism isn't really believing that God doesn't exist.

A theist actually believes God is going to step in, help them out, grant wishes, or grant immortality.
It’s basically the difference between worshippers and everyone else—those who don't pray to or believe in a deity, whatever that may be. ☕

Belief is usually boxed in by rigid dogma. Every phrase and word has been strictly mapped out by theologians long ago. There's no room for actual curiosity, exploration, or keeping your eyes open; it's just repeating mental scripts handed down from the past. That’s a death sentence for any kind of genuine spirituality.

slymaker9 said:Surroundings

I am searching for the right environment,
to dive into the depths?
To soar to new heights?
Or just stay centered in the middle?

If I dive too deep,
I might fall into a void
where neither mountains nor valleys are in sight.

If I take flight toward the sky,
I could crash or burn out;
it’s better to keep my feet on the ground.

Staying in the center feels comfortable,
yet somehow remains empty.

Once I build a little cabin, somewhere between heaven and earth,
that is where I will settle down and invite all my friends
to come and build a community around me.

Now, I know this isn't exactly creative; if I were graded on four main criteria, I'd probably get a 5 out of 100. 😂

And hey, feel free to ignore these verses; they aren't exactly "The One," but they kept me entertained. 🙂

wearyowl29 said:Well... I mean, there’s plenty of stuff we don't understand, but still...🤷

Besides the whole miracle thing, I feel like we've all just lost our sense of wonder. We don't really make room for awe anymore—not for the great outdoors, not for nature, not even for incredible things people actually achieve...
Our modern culture has basically killed off the ability to be amazed...

When was the last time you saw something that truly moved you? Something that left you standing there, totally speechless, just whispering, "Wow!"?

silverowl8;21782151 said:

Yeah, that’s just one part of the whole mess—and honestly, it might be the biggest issue right now. It's a massive call to make, especially since I've already knocked out my freshman year at university, and I really don't want to be a burden to my family... man, I don't even know anymore...

[/QUO

👍 Look, you finished your first year! Seriously, congrats. How about instead of all this, you try being actually proud of yourself for once and give yourself some damn credit?