Invictus

[libby]

Sometimes there are no words, like now, when I'm tired and sleepy. And besides, Abby, you said it so well.  .

[Henry Hawk]

In your opinion, why didn't God answer MY prayers? Because he has favorites?  --  or I did something wrong? I was only 16 and I believed.

Libby, since YOU are asking for MY opinion, I will share.  I believe, ONCE you have "Faith" in God in the fashion that He is wanting, you can accept the final outcome by knowing that God (such as in your case with your father) that He has called your father to his ultimate home.  You did nothing wrong and He doesn't have favorites.  Life on this earth is temporary.  Our after life is eternal.  THAT is what "I" believe.  Why God allows some to live horrible lives and some to have wonderful lives, I don't fully understand, but I have a "FAITH" that knowing He has a better place for us, on His timing.  That is what sustains me.

I too, have struggled the very same way you have with your father.  I lost my mother years ago to cancer.  I lost an extremely close friend to a horrible disease, who was a great Godly man. It selfishly bothered me that God took these people away. But, ultimately, I know that they are HOME!  I don't know God's logic, but I accept that He is God. GOD. The creator of Life. 

I probably am not making any sense to you, but that is the best I can do with putting my thoughts to text.  I'm not a church going person.  I don't preach or push my religious views on anyone.  If somebody asks me, I will share.

[Henry Hawk]

Henry, I don't understand your statement " I believe I choose my fate and future with the precept that I am letting God control things..." that seems like a conflicting thought.  (I'm not being argumentative, I've been there, and being out of it, I see the inaneness of the sentence.)  In reality, YOU are the one who makes the decisions and steers your life.

Abby,  I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul, because I have made the free-will decision to accept Christ as my Savior, and I live my life the best I can, knowing that my fate and my soul are secured, by the promises of God.  "I" made the decision.  It's that simple to me.  Am I wrong?  I don't believe I am. 

[Henry Hawk]

In reality, YOU are the one who makes the decisions and steers your life.  I have Christian friends who say, "I prayed for an answer and didn't get one.  So I'm going to use my judgement and make a decision."  It isn't god who is answering and making those decisions, it's you.  You may feel it's god because you prayed and felt like you got direction, but in reality you have made the decision using your own thought process on how to proceed

I agree, that "I" am the one who makes "MY" decisions.  Yes, I do indeed pray.  I don't always get an "answer" like I wish....but, I have learned to "try" to follow my heart when making a decision. I don't always, sometimes I use my brain (LOL) and that is when I usually go down the wrong path.  Hey, again, this is what works for me, and this is what I believe.  Yes, you are right that WE make our own decisions based upon our own thought process.  I know that God gives us all the ability to know right and wrong....the closer you get to God, the easier it is to distinguish these thoughts....and you paths can become much clearer in the direction He want's you to go.

Again, there is a great chance you are not following me, but this is the best I can do putting it to words.

[Henry Hawk]

To piggyback off of Libby,  "... why didn't God answer MY prayers?...." Where was god when I cried out for help as an abused child? (I grew up in a "christian" home so praying and believing was something I knew and did.) What about as an abused wife? I have problems believing a god who would turn his back on a child being abused, or, according to the Bible, only allowing divorce if there is adultery.  It wasn't until I took matters in my own hands and stopped praying did things change.  Like the poem says, I am the master of my fate. 

I don't think I can possibly answer this for you....all I know, is this.  We live in a sinful world.  I believe, and this is me, but God allowed this sin to happen on earth so we will know and appreciate His ultimate goal for us.  Can we know LOVE without experiencing HATE?  Can we know Joy without experiencing Sorrow?  Can we know comfort without experiencing Pain? He has promised us life after death on earth....a place called paradise. All He want in return is for us to have FAITH in Him and accept He has put forth a plan to achieve it.

I want to stress right now, I'm not a preacher or some "holly roller"...I'm a guy, who has been fortunate enough to build a relationship with God.  It works for me and so far it is working for my family.

As far as the divorce thing, I don't think it maters (IN MY OPINION) when you have a personal relationship with God.  He knows your heart.  That's the best I can answer.

[Henry Hawk]

What happens when two football teams pray to win?  God must have a favorite then!    Again, Henry, I'm not trying to pick a fight or be an ass about this.  How do you answer these questions?

My opinion is that God doesn't give a crap about who wins a football game.  I think He loves for his people to pray to Him though....I think God has an ego, and digs it when people choose to rely on Him.

Abby, I don't look at it as you trying to pick a fight nor are you being an ass......these are all great questions and I don't know if I did a lick of good answering them, but I did answer them the best I could.

[AbbyTC]

Thank you Henry for your answers.  I don't agree with you; probably because of all I've been through.  I can't put aside logic and critical thinking skills for belief.  I tried some time ago and realized it doesn't work.