Looking for brothers and sisters in Jesus

coastalwalker9 said:There are so many complexities surrounding whose God it is, which version is correct, and why people have "divided" God into so many different iterations or interpreted Him in such specific ways—I can't quite explain it, but listening to everyone claim their own unique story only serves to invite more doubt and questioning.
Personally, I believe there is one God; He doesn't belong to us, we belong to Him, and He looks at the state of the soul rather than which specific believer we happen to worship. The fact that humanity has spent history splintering into various factions based on different faiths and versions of God doesn't sound like anything God would have planned.
That is why, when someone says, it matters what kind of person you are, to me, that sounds the most divine—or at least closest to it.

Because at the end of the day, what is the point of honoring someone or something if you aren't a decent human being or if you possess a heart of stone? Honoring God feels like a mere drop in the ocean; I deeply doubt it is the deciding factor for everything.

Communities, churches, branches, books—all of that is fine. It is good that they exist because they provide answers and guidance, helping people find shape and stay whole when they navigate difficult times, temptations, or certain life stages.

So, when someone who is genuinely good and pure of heart says they honor Jesus, I am perfectly fine with that, because I see it as just another act of love within the series of loving actions that person already performs.

But when someone does it out of fear of what comes after death, or because it feels like a mandatory obligation or a way to gain some sort of social credit, then in my eyes, that person has missed the entire point.
Though, perhaps that is still a better option if it keeps a person away from crime, the temptation to fall into evil, or the impulse to harm others. From that perspective, I understand why churches strive to emphasize the importance of belonging to a community and gathering together.
Even ancient tribes had their shamans and interpreters who passed down wisdom and served as wells of knowledge; modern man isn't much different. The only difference is that the modern man has priests, psychologists, schools, and everything else that shapes and directs him. More knowledge leads to more questions, which leads to more answers, which ultimately leads to more complications and struggles for the human mind and soul.

I honestly love hearing people talk about God. It doesn't matter what they say—even if they’re venting or arguing against Him, it never makes me doubt anything. If anything, the more I listen to these stories, the more I just feel God stirring something inside my own heart.
What kind of man are you? Life is basically one long lesson. You’re constantly learning how to navigate things. First off, you have to figure out how to actually be a decent human being, which is harder than it sounds. That's why I think where you get your guidance from matters so much. It really sets the tone for everything else.
I’ve been thinking lately about how our souls aren't some separate thing floating around inside us. They’re tied directly to our humanity. It’s through being human—really living, you know?—that the soul actually shows itself. Basically, whatever your human side chooses to believe in, your soul hitches a ride on that. It identifies with it. That’s why I think it’s such a big deal who we choose to follow, what we put our faith in, and what we celebrate in our daily lives. To me, true celebration means choosing to follow and honor peace, kindness, love, and God's word. At the end of the day, celebrating isn't just some ceremony; it means actually living out God's word.
Faith is really just about looking inward. It’s that gut feeling that leads us toward what’s good, peaceful, and fair—that quiet sense of righteousness we all carry inside. Honestly, if you look at any teaching about God, that's pretty much the core of it.
I first felt God's word stirring right in my own heart, and then I went looking for it in the Bible. It turns out, everything I was feeling inside was exactly what the Bible confirmed.
I personally feel like I have this direct connection with God, and honestly, the feeling is mutual.

If every single religion, church, and community out there just decided to actually love one another for once, man, things would be so different. There wouldn't be any reason for all this pain we see. We'd finally have some real peace across the whole world.
Sometimes, you can celebrate just by staying quiet.

Ethan Hill said:I honestly love hearing people talk about God. It doesn't matter what they say—even if they’re venting or arguing against Him, it never makes me doubt anything. If anything, the more I listen to these stories, the more I just feel God stirring something inside my own heart.
What kind of man are you? Life is basically one long lesson. You’re constantly learning how to navigate things. First off, you have to figure out how to actually be a decent human being, which is harder than it sounds. That's why I think where you get your guidance from matters so much. It really sets the tone for everything else.
I’ve been thinking lately about how our souls aren't some separate thing floating around inside us. They’re tied directly to our humanity. It’s through being human—really living, you know?—that the soul actually shows itself. Basically, whatever your human side chooses to believe in, your soul hitches a ride on that. It identifies with it. That’s why I think it’s such a big deal who we choose to follow, what we put our faith in, and what we celebrate in our daily lives. To me, true celebration means choosing to follow and honor peace, kindness, love, and God's word. At the end of the day, celebrating isn't just some ceremony; it means actually living out God's word.
Faith is really just about looking inward. It’s that gut feeling that leads us toward what’s good, peaceful, and fair—that quiet sense of righteousness we all carry inside. Honestly, if you look at any teaching about God, that's pretty much the core of it.
I first felt God's word stirring right in my own heart, and then I went looking for it in the Bible. It turns out, everything I was feeling inside was exactly what the Bible confirmed.
I personally feel like I have this direct connection with God, and honestly, the feeling is mutual.

If every single religion, church, and community out there just decided to actually love one another for once, man, things would be so different. There wouldn't be any reason for all this pain we see. We'd finally have some real peace across the whole world.
Sometimes, you can celebrate just by staying quiet.

I honestly envy anyone who feels they have nothing left to discover—if you've found absolute truth and have no more questions, I can only say, blessed are you. 👍🙂

Regarding that last point, I had hoped to find exactly that here on this spirituality forum. Perhaps not in such a literal sense, but I expected to find a certain level of peace, mutual respect, and genuine consideration for one another.🤦
But yes, that is how the world ought to look. Of course, it seems an impossible ideal, given how much alignment would be required to reach such a state.

We can’t just go around reshaping the world or tailoring it to fit our own little whims. Honestly, the best thing we can actually do is just be the living example of change ourselves. It feels pretty futile to spend all our precious time trying to fix every single injustice out there. Yeah, watching everything go wrong in the world is heavy, but since we can't force it to be different, we get to make a choice: we can sit around being miserable and negative, or we can choose to follow the good stuff—spending our energy on things that are kind, human, and actually positive.

All the answers you'll ever need are already tucked away inside you. From the moment you were born, your inner conscience has been pointing toward the absolute truth. Sure, sometimes you take the right path, and sometimes you trip up and go against your own grain, but deep down, you always know where you stand. You feel it in your soul, no doubt about it. You know exactly when you messed up, when you stood up for what was right, and you can sense the consequences coming your way because of it.
That call from your conscience? That comes from having true freedom of consciousness.
And that freedom really just wants to live. If we suffocate it with immoral or bad choices, our whole being starts to suffer. We end up tossing our days and our very atoms into a void of negativity, losing that natural harmony and that beautiful feeling of being at peace. There's this incredible force within us—something much bigger than ourselves, something beyond our control—that pulls us back when we get stuck in the mud, and it’s the very thing that catches up to us sooner or later.
If you're sleeping soundly and peacefully, just know it's a sign that your being is healthy, your conscience is clear, and your soul is at rest.
🙂

Ethan Hill said:We can’t just go around reshaping the world or tailoring it to fit our own little whims. Honestly, the best thing we can actually do is just be the living example of change ourselves. It feels pretty futile to spend all our precious time trying to fix every single injustice out there. Yeah, watching everything go wrong in the world is heavy, but since we can't force it to be different, we get to make a choice: we can sit around being miserable and negative, or we can choose to follow the good stuff—spending our energy on things that are kind, human, and actually positive.

All the answers you'll ever need are already tucked away inside you. From the moment you were born, your inner conscience has been pointing toward the absolute truth. Sure, sometimes you take the right path, and sometimes you trip up and go against your own grain, but deep down, you always know where you stand. You feel it in your soul, no doubt about it. You know exactly when you messed up, when you stood up for what was right, and you can sense the consequences coming your way because of it.
That call from your conscience? That comes from having true freedom of consciousness.
And that freedom really just wants to live. If we suffocate it with immoral or bad choices, our whole being starts to suffer. We end up tossing our days and our very atoms into a void of negativity, losing that natural harmony and that beautiful feeling of being at peace. There's this incredible force within us—something much bigger than ourselves, something beyond our control—that pulls us back when we get stuck in the mud, and it’s the very thing that catches up to us sooner or later.
If you're sleeping soundly and peacefully, just know it's a sign that your being is healthy, your conscience is clear, and your soul is at rest.
🙂

Of course, everything sounds wonderful in theory—including the idea that we always have the luxury of choosing between good and evil. For the most part, yes, our choices define us. However, life has a way of throwing curveballs where those choices essentially vanish. They technically exist, but they aren't realistically viable.
Or perhaps it's a split second that ends up shaping the entire trajectory of your life.
There is a reason for the old saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

What matters is maintaining accountability to oneself and one's community by making decisions with a level head. When you possess internal peace and can truly stand behind your actions, you view situations more clearly, making it harder for sudden crises to catch you off guard. Even if they do, you find it easier to reconcile with both your successes and your failures, and there's a lower probability of causing harm to yourself or others.

I agree that the answers lie within us, though I personally find myself still harboring many questions; it seems every new answer merely serves to open another door to a fresh inquiry.

I mean... Stifler's mom. Honestly, I don't even know where to start with that one—it's just such a classic, right? It’s one of those things that sticks with you. kaže:
Who is this MM guy that's supposedly so close to being saved?

I wouldn't really put it that way, I guess.
So, who do you think it is? I mean, MM—my husband's little forum nickname, I guess.

coastalwalker9 said:There are so many complexities surrounding whose God it is, which version is correct, and why people have "divided" God into so many different iterations or interpreted Him in such specific ways—I can't quite explain it, but listening to everyone claim their own unique story only serves to invite more doubt and questioning.
Personally, I believe there is one God; He doesn't belong to us, we belong to Him, and He looks at the state of the soul rather than which specific believer we happen to worship. The fact that humanity has spent history splintering into various factions based on different faiths and versions of God doesn't sound like anything God would have planned.
That is why, when someone says, it matters what kind of person you are, to me, that sounds the most divine—or at least closest to it.

Because at the end of the day, what is the point of honoring someone or something if you aren't a decent human being or if you possess a heart of stone? Honoring God feels like a mere drop in the ocean; I deeply doubt it is the deciding factor for everything.

Communities, churches, branches, books—all of that is fine. It is good that they exist because they provide answers and guidance, helping people find shape and stay whole when they navigate difficult times, temptations, or certain life stages.

So, when someone who is genuinely good and pure of heart says they honor Jesus, I am perfectly fine with that, because I see it as just another act of love within the series of loving actions that person already performs.

But when someone does it out of fear of what comes after death, or because it feels like a mandatory obligation or a way to gain some sort of social credit, then in my eyes, that person has missed the entire point.
Though, perhaps that is still a better option if it keeps a person away from crime, the temptation to fall into evil, or the impulse to harm others. From that perspective, I understand why churches strive to emphasize the importance of belonging to a community and gathering together.
Even ancient tribes had their shamans and interpreters who passed down wisdom and served as wells of knowledge; modern man isn't much different. The only difference is that the modern man has priests, psychologists, schools, and everything else that shapes and directs him. More knowledge leads to more questions, which leads to more answers, which ultimately leads to more complications and struggles for the human mind and soul.

I don't know, man—I'm honestly not even sure if people like that actually exist... I mean, I guess you could say faith is supposed to be built on love, right? It shouldn't really be about living in fear.
Then again, there are those moments where I actually manage to get a grip on myself—where I stop and think, "Look, if I react to this, it’s honestly just going to be bad for everyone involved," you know? Like, from a big-picture perspective, it’s just not worth it. But unfortunately... I usually end up reacting anyway. I mean, I honestly don't think I could live two whole lifetimes and still have enough time to finally get my act together, learn some restraint, and truly open my soul up to God's mercy.

Nicholas Barnes74 said:

I mean... Stifler's mom. Honestly, I don't even know where to start with that one—it's just such a classic, right? It’s one of those things that sticks with you. kaže:
Who is this MM guy that's supposedly so close to being saved?

I wouldn't really put it that way, I guess.
So, who do you think it is? I mean, MM—my husband's little forum nickname, I guess.

I don't know, man—I'm honestly not even sure if people like that actually exist... I mean, I guess you could say faith is supposed to be built on love, right? It shouldn't really be about living in fear.
Then again, there are those moments where I actually manage to get a grip on myself—where I stop and think, "Look, if I react to this, it’s honestly just going to be bad for everyone involved," you know? Like, from a big-picture perspective, it’s just not worth it. But unfortunately... I usually end up reacting anyway. I mean, I honestly don't think I could live two whole lifetimes and still have enough time to finally get my act together, learn some restraint, and truly open my soul up to God's mercy.

They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.

coastalwalker9 said:

They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.
They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.
When I said "react," I mostly meant it in a negative way.
There are all kinds of people in church, obviously. And if I looked at it that way, I’d never step foot in one (actually, it took me years to start going again, in my "own" way).
And yeah, I’m kind of like that too—a lot of them really get under my skin, even though I know I shouldn't think that way. But I realized I go for myself, not because of them.
The whole stealing coffee thing... well, you have to confess that later. That's the catch. Personally, I used to love those little shoplifting moments, sometimes with friends and sometimes solo—making a decent haul and "rewarding" myself with something small by bypassing the register without a guilty conscience. Like, big chains already factor that into their costs anyway, and they basically rob us with their prices. It felt kind of satisfying. But years ago, once I started going to confession more regularly, I stopped that "habit." Still, stealing is a sin, and it would look ridiculous if I had to confess it every single time, like I hadn't learned anything. Though, some minor stuff that doesn't really hurt anyone—like picking a piece of fruit from an abandoned farm where the owner passed away and nobody's harvesting it—I don't really count that as a sin or something I need to confess.

coastalwalker9 said:

They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.
They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.
Honestly? I’d probably just learn how to swim first. 😬

.. I have this feeling that the first person—the one who acts without even praying about it—might actually find more grace from God than the guy who spends all his time praying for both himself and you.

At the end of the day, we're all equal in God's embrace.
🙂

Hey there! I’m not entirely sure if this is the right place for this kind of thing, but I’ve been wondering... how many actual sayings from Jesus, or passages specifically dedicated to His direct teachings, can we actually find in the Bible? Is there some kind of definitive list or a specific count? I'm looking for something focused on His particular doctrines and instructions—you know, more like the core texts you'd find in Buddhism or Zoroastrianism. I don't mean all the various interpretations from different spiritual scholars or philosophers over the centuries; I'm talking about the raw, direct words straight from Jesus Himself.

Nicole White said:Hey there! I’m not entirely sure if this is the right place for this kind of thing, but I’ve been wondering... how many actual sayings from Jesus, or passages specifically dedicated to His direct teachings, can we actually find in the Bible? Is there some kind of definitive list or a specific count? I'm looking for something focused on His particular doctrines and instructions—you know, more like the core texts you'd find in Buddhism or Zoroastrianism. I don't mean all the various interpretations from different spiritual scholars or philosophers over the centuries; I'm talking about the raw, direct words straight from Jesus Himself.

Not many at all, maybe a few pages tops. And most of that is just recycled stuff from the Old Testament: "It was written..." or "He said..."

Which leads me to think there wasn't actually such a guy walking around back then in Israel. The magic tricks and the whole miraculous birth without a man—that's clearly just myth, along with all the sorcery like walking on waves or those loaves and fishes that magically appeared out of nowhere to feed thousands of Jews. It’s the same fairy tale found in the Old Testament, just copied over.

I don't think it's some massive lie, it's more like some Greek writer who made up the name Mark just composed an instructional spiritual parable about the Messiah appearing.

And people, being people, love magic and literalism. They love following God and divine heroes as ultimate authorities so they don't have to think for themselves, so that story turned into a belief that it actually happened. But it didn't, obviously.

What specific teachings or instructions are we talking about?

There aren't any. It's all just cheap peasant parables like: "see clouds coming, a storm is near," or "cut off your hand if it leads you to sin"...

You know, like in Buddhist or Zoroastrian texts—not interpretations by various spiritual scholars or philosophers, but direct words from Jesus himself.

The fairy tale says Jesus rose from the dead and finally "explained everything" to His clueless disciples over 40 days. It would've been great if someone had actually recorded what this post-resurrection Jesus was saying during "Jesus's teaching" once they finally saw the supernatural apparition. But nobody wrote down a single word about it. All we get is the heart-wrenching story about the "evil" Jews who plotted to kill Jesus and actually "succeeded."

Basically, a religious fairy tale. A myth... ☕

Anthony Perez9 said:Not many at all, maybe a few pages tops. And most of that is just recycled stuff from the Old Testament: "It was written..." or "He said..."

Which leads me to think there wasn't actually such a guy walking around back then in Israel. The magic tricks and the whole miraculous birth without a man—that's clearly just myth, along with all the sorcery like walking on waves or those loaves and fishes that magically appeared out of nowhere to feed thousands of Jews. It’s the same fairy tale found in the Old Testament, just copied over.

I don't think it's some massive lie, it's more like some Greek writer who made up the name Mark just composed an instructional spiritual parable about the Messiah appearing.

And people, being people, love magic and literalism. They love following God and divine heroes as ultimate authorities so they don't have to think for themselves, so that story turned into a belief that it actually happened. But it didn't, obviously.

What specific teachings or instructions are we talking about?

There aren't any. It's all just cheap peasant parables like: "see clouds coming, a storm is near," or "cut off your hand if it leads you to sin"...

You know, like in Buddhist or Zoroastrian texts—not interpretations by various spiritual scholars or philosophers, but direct words from Jesus himself.

The fairy tale says Jesus rose from the dead and finally "explained everything" to His clueless disciples over 40 days. It would've been great if someone had actually recorded what this post-resurrection Jesus was saying during "Jesus's teaching" once they finally saw the supernatural apparition. But nobody wrote down a single word about it. All we get is the heart-wrenching story about the "evil" Jews who plotted to kill Jesus and actually "succeeded."

Basically, a religious fairy tale. A myth... ☕

I mean, all that stuff seems like small miracles compared to what we see today.
Through Saint Faustina, these incredible sun miracles are still happening...



.

Every single empire and all that massive wealth? It’s always built, stacked, and constructed on the backs of broken and suffering people.
A shepherd and teacher was born, someone whose whole philosophy was about bringing everyone together into one equal class. He wanted to set the servants and slaves free; he wanted to put an end to the agony, the torture, and the killing. But the emperors and the slave owners? They weren't having any of it. They tortured and crucified Jesus, and honestly, they went after anyone else who dared to follow His word too. The emperor knew perfectly well that without slaves and servants, his lifestyle wouldn't exist, so he did what he had to do—he tried to crush every word Jesus spoke about freedom. And look, this pattern has been repeating since the beginning of time, from the earliest humans right up to modern history—take Lincoln's era, for example (Abraham Lincoln, the US president. Back when he was working as a raft builder on the Mississippi and saw Black people being chained up at slave markets, he swore he'd stand up against slavery).
And just like that, Jesus's word keeps living through history.
Every era has its own Jesus.
In every age defined by slavery, torture, and chains, the word of Jesus meant freedom. His words offered relief to the mistreated servants and rest for the souls of exhausted slaves. His message beat like a heart in millions of suffering people scattered across the entire empire.
And that's how a legend is born.

Even today, no empire has ever been able to destroy, silence, or break the freedom over life itself.
Jesus's word is written in every spoken word that breaks the chains of torture, and in every single word that speaks of love, equality, liberty, and peace.

Arthur Flores2 said:I mean, all that stuff seems like small miracles compared to what we see today.
Through Saint Faustina, these incredible sun miracles are still happening...

.

Miracles are all around us and inside us, we just don't notice them.😉
(which explains why we go pay to watch magicians.)

Happy equinox, everyone! 😁

Nicole White said:Hey there! I’m not entirely sure if this is the right place for this kind of thing, but I’ve been wondering... how many actual sayings from Jesus, or passages specifically dedicated to His direct teachings, can we actually find in the Bible? Is there some kind of definitive list or a specific count? I'm looking for something focused on His particular doctrines and instructions—you know, more like the core texts you'd find in Buddhism or Zoroastrianism. I don't mean all the various interpretations from different spiritual scholars or philosophers over the centuries; I'm talking about the raw, direct words straight from Jesus Himself.

Well, honestly, the whole New Testament is centered on Jesus—it's all about Him, His teachings, His parables...

Anthony Perez9 said:Miracles are all around us and inside us, we just don't notice them.😉
(which explains why we go pay to watch magicians.)

Happy equinox, everyone! 😁

🎉

https://i.postimg.cc/jjDNtVbF/Screen...606-095524.jpg

Anthony Perez9 said:Not many at all, maybe a few pages tops. And most of that is just recycled stuff from the Old Testament: "It was written..." or "He said..."

Which leads me to think there wasn't actually such a guy walking around back then in Israel. The magic tricks and the whole miraculous birth without a man—that's clearly just myth, along with all the sorcery like walking on waves or those loaves and fishes that magically appeared out of nowhere to feed thousands of Jews. It’s the same fairy tale found in the Old Testament, just copied over.

I don't think it's some massive lie, it's more like some Greek writer who made up the name Mark just composed an instructional spiritual parable about the Messiah appearing.

And people, being people, love magic and literalism. They love following God and divine heroes as ultimate authorities so they don't have to think for themselves, so that story turned into a belief that it actually happened. But it didn't, obviously.

What specific teachings or instructions are we talking about?

There aren't any. It's all just cheap peasant parables like: "see clouds coming, a storm is near," or "cut off your hand if it leads you to sin"...

You know, like in Buddhist or Zoroastrian texts—not interpretations by various spiritual scholars or philosophers, but direct words from Jesus himself.

The fairy tale says Jesus rose from the dead and finally "explained everything" to His clueless disciples over 40 days. It would've been great if someone had actually recorded what this post-resurrection Jesus was saying during "Jesus's teaching" once they finally saw the supernatural apparition. But nobody wrote down a single word about it. All we get is the heart-wrenching story about the "evil" Jews who plotted to kill Jesus and actually "succeeded."

Basically, a religious fairy tale. A myth... ☕

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Christ-Teaching

https://www.jesusfilm.org/blog/parables-of-jesus/

Sure, those lists exist, but let's be real—there are endless versions out there, and who knows how many are even accurate? 🤷
It feels like later Christian scholars just went overboard, inventing all these deep philosophical layers by pulling meanings out of thin air, totally ignoring the actual context.

Luke tells us that people were astonished at Jesus’s teaching because He taught like someone with authority. This is particularly impressive when you consider the fact that Jesus’s teachings and stories were so simple. WE often have The mistaken View that The more intelligent and complex an idea sounds, the more impressive it is. Jesus didn’t see it that way.

The parables of Jesus made The wisdom of god accessible. His teaching wasn’t pretentious or unnecessarily complicated. And because of that, Jesus made the kingdom of god attainable for everyone.

That's all well and good, but it almost sounds like an excuse to me. 🤷
In my opinion, we really ought to draw a line between what's actually found in the Bible and the stuff theologians come up with.
It doesn't take away from Christianity—there is plenty of beautiful stuff in Christian philosophy and faith—but I just wish there was more substance to dig into! Maybe that's why there's such a massive fascination with the Bible and Christianity in the first place; there's just so little to work with!

Nicholas Barnes74 said:They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.

When I said "react," I mostly meant it in a negative way.
There are all kinds of people in church, obviously. And if I looked at it that way, I’d never step foot in one (actually, it took me years to start going again, in my "own" way).
And yeah, I’m kind of like that too—a lot of them really get under my skin, even though I know I shouldn't think that way. But I realized I go for myself, not because of them.
The whole stealing coffee thing... well, you have to confess that later. That's the catch. Personally, I used to love those little shoplifting moments, sometimes with friends and sometimes solo—making a decent haul and "rewarding" myself with something small by bypassing the register without a guilty conscience. Like, big chains already factor that into their costs anyway, and they basically rob us with their prices. It felt kind of satisfying. But years ago, once I started going to confession more regularly, I stopped that "habit." Still, stealing is a sin, and it would look ridiculous if I had to confess it every single time, like I hadn't learned anything. Though, some minor stuff that doesn't really hurt anyone—like picking a piece of fruit from an abandoned farm where the owner passed away and nobody's harvesting it—I don't really count that as a sin or something I need to confess.
Everything stolen eventually falls on someone else's shoulders. Usually, it's the low-level employee whose paycheck gets docked to cover the shortage.
Sure, massive retail chains might fleece customers with high prices, but that's never been a motivation for me to steal, nor would it ever be.🤷
To be honest, I find it to be a rather unsightly character flaw. I am almost certain that people prone to that kind of behavior are capable of committing other questionable acts, justifying them through various rationalizations. 👎

I agree regarding the fruit.

Ethan Hill said:They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.

Honestly? I’d probably just learn how to swim first. 😬

.. I have this feeling that the first person—the one who acts without even praying about it—might actually find more grace from God than the guy who spends all his time praying for both himself and you.

At the end of the day, we're all equal in God's embrace.
🙂
Well, even swimming comes with a million different variables.😁
What if you're reaching the end of your rope? Or perhaps you know how to swim, but your heels are acting up? Or what if swimming isn't the solution, and you simply need to find another way to ask for help when life hits hard?

We are all equal in God's embrace.
🙂

I concur. 👍

coastalwalker9 said:Everything stolen eventually falls on someone else's shoulders. Usually, it's the low-level employee whose paycheck gets docked to cover the shortage.
Sure, massive retail chains might fleece customers with high prices, but that's never been a motivation for me to steal, nor would it ever be.🤷
To be honest, I find it to be a rather unsightly character flaw. I am almost certain that people prone to that kind of behavior are capable of committing other questionable acts, justifying them through various rationalizations. 👎

I agree regarding the fruit.

Well, even swimming comes with a million different variables.😁
What if you're reaching the end of your rope? Or perhaps you know how to swim, but your heels are acting up? Or what if swimming isn't the solution, and you simply need to find another way to ask for help when life hits hard?

We are all equal in God's embrace.
🙂

I concur. 👍

They basically bake it all into the cost—
"Slotting fees for shelf placement, general stocking fees, shrinkage allowances for theft, and fees for expired goods—these are just a few of the costs American manufacturers have to pay retailers, mostly those massive big-box stores, which significantly drives up the price. According to manufacturers, anywhere from 30% to as much as 80% of the shelf price is actually just built-in rebates/discounts."

As for the rest of what you're assuming... well, no big deal, that's just your take, your business...

coastalwalker9 said:Everything stolen eventually falls on someone else's shoulders. Usually, it's the low-level employee whose paycheck gets docked to cover the shortage.
Sure, massive retail chains might fleece customers with high prices, but that's never been a motivation for me to steal, nor would it ever be.🤷
To be honest, I find it to be a rather unsightly character flaw. I am almost certain that people prone to that kind of behavior are capable of committing other questionable acts, justifying them through various rationalizations. 👎

I agree regarding the fruit.

Well, even swimming comes with a million different variables.😁
What if you're reaching the end of your rope? Or perhaps you know how to swim, but your heels are acting up? Or what if swimming isn't the solution, and you simply need to find another way to ask for help when life hits hard?

We are all equal in God's embrace.
🙂

I concur. 👍

If you want to steer clear of the negativity in life—you know, those perpetual victims who always need endless hand-holding and the overly emotional energy vampires—well, most of us aren't walking psychiatrists. I honestly think people need help most when they're sick, helpless, or just little kids.
I learned the hard way back when I needed support the most that I couldn't just lean on everyone. And hey, I don't hold it against them; I'm sure everyone has enough of their own stuff to deal with.
People help the best way they know how, and I've always been grateful for whatever comes my way.
Just trust yourself and your own grit.
At the end of the day, you're your own best advocate. And when things get really heavy and there’s nobody around to pull you up, that's when you pray for the strength to just endure. I don't expect anyone to dive into the deep end to save me; I'd much rather stay away from the deep end and pray for calm waters.

🙂

frozengull2 said:Hmm....
Look, the Apostles (the guys who actually hung out with him) basically chose death—and not a pretty way to go, either—when they were pressured to deny Him... once they started building Christ's Church!?
I don't know about you, but that fact alone is enough proof for me of Jesus' greatness, holiness, and status.

Plus, this tiny group of people—who back then were rejected, marginalized, poor, and persecuted, all led by Jesus' words—literally changed the world!!
Isn't that absolutely mind-blowing!?

I mean, plenty of teachers have come and gone, but only someone truly special can kickstart something like this...

Right?

Btw; the work of the Holy Spirit is so obvious in people who truly convert that there's no "earthly" explanation for it. People change from the ground up (OVERNIGHT!!)...
Some of Jesus' biggest, most terrifying, most relentless persecutors became His greatest supporters after being touched by the Holy Spirit... willing to face death for Him!!?
Just saying...
Same goes for... just look at the lives and testimonies of hundreds of Christian saints over the last 2,000 years!

What more do you need, man!?

Nobody had to figure out they were Christians if they just stayed under the radar and didn't go looking for trouble back then. That's how you get targeted. Read an actual history book; you still see religious provocations causing chaos today, even though we know the legal consequences for stuff like that in this country. The people sitting at home keeping their mouths shut? Nobody bothers them. Take a look at Ecclesiastes 7:16-18: "Don't be overrighteous, and don't be too wicked; why destroy yourself? Don't be overly wicked, and don't be a fool; why die before your time? It's better to hold onto one side and let the other go; for whoever fears God will escape all this."