The Great Contest

[Dave]

Authoritative Teaching
From:
The Nag Hammadi Library
(XXX) = missing text

And before anything came into being, it was the Father alone who existed, before the worlds that are in the heavens appeared, or the world that is on the earth, or principality, or authority, or the powers. (XXX) appear (XXX) and (XXX) And nothing came into being without his wish.

He, then, the Father, wishing to reveal his wealth and his glory, brought about this great contest in this world, wishing to make the contestants appear, and make all those who contend leave behind the things that had come into being, and despise them with a lofty, incomprehensible knowledge, and flee to the one who exists.

And (as for) those who contend with us, being adversaries who contend against us, we are to be victorious over their ignorance through our knowledge, since we have already known the Inscrutable One from whom we have come forth.

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“Feel Good” Christianity teaches that God made everything perfectly nice, but then, some Angels exercised their free will and became arrogant and uppity in heaven. Who then spread their false message of lies to Eve and the whole thing became corrupt, and out of God’s control, or at least, against God’s wishes. Then to make matters worse these “FALLEN” angels came to earth and fathered ½ breed hybrid children. Christendom goes on to teach that these FALLEN angels got their name by falling from grace.

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Jesus taught us to pray :

Mat 6:10 (KJV) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Mat 6:13 (KJV) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

Question: If God’s will is done in heaven, then how could the angels in heaven decide to do something against God’s will – and – Just who are we asking to not lead us into temptation?

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The difference between Christendom and Gnostic beliefs

Gnostics recognize that the Great Contest is the meaning of life. Can we rise above ourselves? Cane we climb out of the quagmire of organic lust and greed to attain spiritual awareness, become born again, become enlightened?

Evil is not a secondary accident of creation: Who is it that gave Job over to Satan?

Isaiah 45:5 I am Jehovah, and there is none else; besides me there is no God. I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me; 6 that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me: I am Jehovah, and there is none else. 7 I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things.

Job 2:3 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job?

The New advent Catholic Encyclopedia will tell you that a Gnostic believes in salvation through knowledge not faith. This is a lie! The knowledge a Gnostic seeks is the knowledge of the Great Contest. Of course we seek salvation by faith, but how can we hope to excel in the Great Contest if we do not understand our enemy.

Satan is a verb not a noun, which simply means an adversary.

Matthew 16:23 But (Jesus) turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan:

The apostle Peter is not the Devil, who is Lucifer, also know as the Dragon, which are nouns.

The 'Sons of God' that "FELL" to earth in Genesis 6 did not FALL from grace, but fell to the earth with the exact same Hebrew vocabulary as a leaf falls to the earth from a tree in autumn. Besides, Christendom already has told us that God's will is done in heaven, so it was God that sent these angels to earth resulting in the Nephilim; the Watchers of Enoch, also known as the Gnostic Archon.

So, here we are mortal humans, trapped in a biological animal ruled by carnal instincts for lust and greed, tested by an adversarial Satan sent by God, as well as, the Chief Archcn and his army, who still is not Lucifer, the Dragon and Devil. Knowledge is power and with such an up hill struggle as the Great Contest we can use all the power we can get.

[steve]

There were many different schools of gnostics represented in the first few centuries of Christianity. It is difficult to make an emphatic statement about what gnostics believed. It is similar to trying to pigeon-hole christian beliefs; it really depends who you ask!

Christian gnostics had there beginning with Simon Magus. The schools established were run by Simon Magus' disciples after he died. There was: Menander, Basilides, Cerinthus, Saturninus, Theodotus, Marcus, Merinthus... there were also Bardesanes, Cainites, Carpocratians, Encratites, Marcionites, Montanism, Phibionites, Sabellianism and Valentinians (just to name a few). Each of these teachers and schools taught something slightly different to each other. Some of them believed in the Trinity, some did not. Some believed in communion, some did not. Some of them believed in Jesus, some did not.

It is not easy to sort your way through the myriad of opinions that exist. It presents a great challenge for us in these times. We can only do our best.

God Bless
Steve

[Dave]

Being a 21st Century Gnostic Christian vrs Gnosticism

A couple of points here, claiming a gnostic identity today is not an embracement of any previously established dogma or doctrine. Rather it is an anti-dogma, or anti-doctrinal, approach to Christianity. The Gnostic title is a statement of anti-allegiance to organized earthly group, but rather, a declaration of desire for the Church Body of Christ.

Rome is the author of the labeling of others (other than Roman Catholic) as something heretically pagan or gnostic.

From Wikipedia:
Gnosticism is the belief that the material world created by the demiurge should be shunned and the spiritual world should be embraced (God's world). Gnostic ideas influenced many ancient religions which teach that gnosis (variously interpreted as knowledge, enlightenment, salvation, emancipation or 'oneness with God') may be reached by practicing philanthropy to the point of personal poverty, sexual abstinence (as far as possible for hearers, total for initiates) and diligently searching for wisdom by helping others.

Two sentences here, one of truth and one mixed with deception.

Gnosticism is the belief that the material world … should be shunned and the spiritual world should be embraced (God's world). ---- Without the vocabulary of the demiurge, which is another conversation but means simply the craftsman, the artisan, he builder, is this not a 100% Christian teaching?

If the second sentence read --- Gnostic ideas influenced many ancient religions which teach that gnosis (variously interpreted as knowledge, enlightenment, salvation, emancipation or 'oneness with God') may be reached - through Christ --- this would also be a 100% Christian teaching.

“influenced many ancient religions” – does not mean the same as adoption of ancient religious doctrines. Christendom is greatly influenced by other (Gnostic) writings. Just where does Rome come up with all its information about the hierarchy of angels and demos it is so expert about. It certainly is not strictly from their ‘one book, canon.

Every Christian Nativity Scene includes the three Magi, who are ministers of the pagan monotheistic religion from Iran that preached about a ‘one true God’ called Zoroasterism. Oops!

“practicing philanthropy to the point of personal poverty” – The Roman Catholic, St Thomas Aquinas comes to mind!

“sexual abstinence (as far as possible for hearers, total for initiates)” – again the Roman Catholic priesthood come to mind.

"and diligently searching for wisdom by helping others." – It is better to give than to receive. That which you give to the least of us you give to me. – again mainstream Christian teachings

Valentinus, who began his career as a prominent and well-respected member of the Catholic community in Rome, who hoped to attain the office of bishop, and broke from the Catholic Church after he was passed over for the position – did he ever once claim to be a Gnostic; or was he branded so by Rome?

Or how about my favorite guy, Origin who always claimed the Christian faith, but has since been also branded as a Gnostic.

In the section about Gnosticism Wikipedia refers to the Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians. So, are we to believe that the entire Eastern Orthodox Church, which includes Greek Orthodox as well, as also fitting into the realm of Gnosticism?

The Holy Spirit teaches:

It is this Roman thought police mentality I strive to free myself from by claiming to be a Gnostic Christian. I want to read and digest it all. I am not depending on Origin to tech me, or Valentinus, or Rome! The only teacher I seek is that of the Holy Spirit as encouraged by Christ:

Luke 12:12 (YLT) … for the Holy Spirit shall teach you …

John 16:13 (YLT) … and when He may come--the Spirit of truth--He will guide you to all the truth, …

John 14:26 (YLT) … and the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and remind you of all things that I said to you. …

If we believe in the scripture and take it at its word, then why would anyone desire to limit themselves only to a Baptist, Presbyterian, or Catholic doctrine; but desire to embrace the totality of information around us, whether it comes from nature, science, Einstein, or perhaps the forbidden texts written by the Apostles Paul, James, and John.

[Dave]

Steve,

In another post, you referred to the Nag Hammadi Library and you make a comment about Enoch. All of these writings are banned, forbidden, and deemed heretical by Rome.

I also assume that you are an intelligent fellow and recognize that although these texts contain some truth, you also recognize that it is the truth that supports the Bible we seek.

In my opinion, as I refer to the Roman Thought Police, I believe Rome of being guilty of two crimes (for a lack of a better description) against the faith.

Crime #1 – the marriage of Church with State, beginning at Nicaea.

Crime #2 – over zealous editing of the official ‘one book’ Roman canon. I am not distracting with the desire to only include inspired, God breathed, writings. I hold my Bible very dear. But, I do have a problem with the notion that if a text didn’t pass canon, then it is entirely heretical and must be forbidden, hidden, even burnt and destroyed.

The Nag Hammadi Library for example, contains writings by the apostles peter, Paul, James, John, Philip, and Thomas. Of course one can argue authorship. Were these texts actually written by Peter, Paul, John, etc. Scholars still debate the authorship of the Books of Moses, the Gospel of Mark, and several epistles of the NT, especially Hebrews.

While the religious right argue authorship and authenticity of Enoch and the Gnostic texts, commentaries, that no one suggest are inspired and God breathed, by Calvin, Wesly, and Miller form the foundations for many different Protestant denominations. Additionally, commentaries and letters by St. Jerome, St. Basal, and many more actually frame the organization of Catholicism.

In my opinion the apostles Paul, Peter, and John, who walk beside Jesus Christ all through his ministry, who spoke with Christ personally and privately, who interacted with Christ physically after the Resurrection, probably knew and understood the teachings of Jesus Christ better than you and I ever will.

Here is the interesting point for me – all of these hidden and forbidden texts all contain a similar theme and vocabulary. On the first order of magnitude, It might even be seen as Rome tried to quash every reference to the Watcher of Enoch, or the Archons of the Gnostics; then to a lesser degree the idea of something feminine in heaven and the demiurge.

Rome didn't try to ban the Mythology of Greece, or the legends of Egypt. They just called them myths and legends and let it go at that. So, it makes me Ponder, why such a zealous attack upon this information?

[steve]

Aug 8, 2013 13:29:53 GMT -5 Dave said:

Steve,

In another post, you referred to the Nag Hammadi Library and you make a comment about Enoch. All of these writings are banned, forbidden, and deemed heretical by Rome.

Hi Dave,

I understand what you are saying. It is a difficult area. As I said in a previous post: I believe that the Roman Catholic institution represents the age of the anti-christ. We have been living in a time, since Nicaea, where the Waters of Life have become muddied. If the popes claim is true; then we all should be Catholics. If the popes claim is false, then we have been tricked by a usurper... and a false christ has been ruling and influencing the church for over 1500 years.

I do not personally believe that the rule of popes was established by Christ; so therefore I see the authority of the popes as a usurper Christ (which is actually what anti-christ means: a second [vice] christ).

Everyone today has been influenced by the popes; whether you are christian or not. The popes have steered the world and our understanding of God into the great rapids. They have engineered or influenced the doctrines and dogmas, the bible, the traditions, the expectations, the festivities, the social and domestic conditions, and our vision of the world, society and governments. This is all great if they are truly established by God; but if they are not, then they have another agenda.

Owing that I believe we are living under the influence of the anti-christ, I also believe practically every one of us have been deceived in some manner. If we are not Catholic, then we are trying to unwind the lies and contamination and find God afresh. I believe that the Protestants tried to do this, but they were too influenced by the Catholics, and they really just became another franchise under a different name. JW's SDA, Mormons, Pentecostals, Baptists and Gnostic's have all tried to find God afresh, but all have been similarly tainted and influenced by 1500 years of anti-christ contamination. We are all responding to the rights and wrongs of Catholicism.

My answer to this is this: We have today the writings of the Early Church Fathers (ECF) prior to Nicaea, and they are our best option to understand the church and the gospel in the way that Jesus delivered. Most of the questions we have can be answered by drawing on their collective wisdom. This is what I try to do for myself, but I know the process is difficult, arduous and time consuming.

Since we are not all going to arrive at the knowledge of the grass-roots gospel, then I try to be as patient and charitable as I can with others, knowing that others are struggling with the same difficulties that I also have been. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, and I don't expect to agree with everyone else. My reconciliation comes from knowing that God had foretold that we would go through such times, and that all of this is within God's foresight and wisdom. God is able to test us all under different levels of truth and perception. Our judgment is concerning things related to love, and following commands, so if we are a little deceived, it won't matter so much as long as we maintain our love for God and our diligence in serving each other.

The gnostic texts you spoke of were written prior to Nicaea, so many of them were discussed by the ECF's. There is no doubt (in my mind) that the early followers of Simon Magus attempted to disrupt and contaminate the teachings of the early church by writing forgeries that contained falsehoods. I suspect that these early Gnostic's infiltrated the church and became the institution known as Roman Catholicism. The fact that they forbid writings, even writings that they may have even produced, was a means of establishing their own authority over the entire church. They achieved this.

My own understanding of the gospel is simple. I believe that the bible, as we have today, is an adequate instruction to lead us to God and a life of faith. This was determined by God, not the Catholic church. Other books, like Enoch, Hermas, Apostolic Constitutions, Jubilees, Baruch, Tobit, Judith, Didache, etc, may also be read to assist our pursuit of a greater knowledge, but they are not necessary. Some of these books have been contaminated, and they need to be read with caution. Some books, such as the books known as pseudepigrapha, need to be read with even greater caution.

These are just my opinions. I hope I am not upsetting any of your own views with opinions I have developed. I like sticking with the traditional gospel in the most part, for that is the gospel God has ordained. But it is also the milk, and we must press on to solid food and maturity of thinking - being careful not to contradict the simple gospel.

God Bless
Steve

[Dave]

Steve said, - I hope I am not upsetting any of your own views with opinions I have developed.

I say, -Impossible! - A discussion where everyone is in agreement is simply boring and unrewarding! I ask people to present a different perspective. Limited to only the confines of our own perspective, how could we ever hear or read that evidence that causes us to change our own perspectives.

“It is truly hard to be intelligent as a species, when the power of our attitudes and belief systems are allowed to strangle our ability to be open minded and objective.

Therefore, I separate my belief system into two parts. First, there are those very few, but very important, things that I personally accept on faith alone and define who I am. These things are personal to each of us and are not open to debate. Everything else is Cosmology and commentary on reality, which I love to Ponder and is the intent of this exercise, which may, or may not, impact those things I take on faith alone.” (http://ponderingconfusion.com/papers.php?id=psychology)

Or to quote yourself - Most of the questions we have can be answered by drawing on their collective wisdom. This is what I try to do for myself, but I know the process is difficult, arduous and time consuming.

This is the exact purpose of this Fellowship and discussion forum!

Welcome to the club.

[steve]

The Great Contest is an interesting term. The gnostics, mentioned in the OP, see the great contest somewhat differently to me, but I think there is merit in the term. God has designed this world, and religion, to be somewhat of a contest. People are separated into contest teams: good and bad, sheep and goats, etc., and we live in a world (arena) in which we struggle against each other for combat and survival. Our weapons are philosophy, religion, science, war, money, families, races, etc., and each will use the weapon of choice to subdue his opponent (and survive).

It is astounding (to me) that God would use such a contest to bring out of us our strengths and weaknesses. I believe that God's overall objective is to choose worthy contestants from earth to co-rule the universe with His Son; Jesus. These ones are to comprise the ruling elite of the Kingdom of Heavens. Everyone else will be sorted according to their merits and worthiness to be represented in a resurrection body in a new heavens and new earth. JW's believe something similar (the 144,000), and the Mormons do too (assigned to different planets). The Great Contest is the game we all play to determine our future glory based on merit. This merit is "scored" on factors relating to our handicap and circumstances. The rich and privileged in this world have so many points taken off them, and the poor and under-privileged get so many points given to them. This creates an equal playing field in that everyone is given an equal starting point (by way of handicap). The contest is how God determines our future "reward or punishment". The terms: salvation, forgiveness, reward, mercy, love, etc., are the philosophical terms which draw us onto a side - the white side or the dark side. That's where it gets tricky though... the white side is not always white, and the dark side is not always dark.

"Not everyone who keeps saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom from heaven."

This is reflecting the contest. Not everyone on the white side is white, and not everyone on the dark side is dark. Justin Martyr, in the 2nd century AD, pointed out that Pythagoras and Socrates were actually on "the white side", although they would traditionally be thought of as being "dark".

This Great Contest is amazing. There is more to life than what meets the eye.

God Bless
Steve

[Dave]

This is one of the questions I used to ask over and over. If God created EVERYTHING, then he also created the evil. NO! I was told, the darkness is just the absence of the light. OH, the evil created itself. No again! Only God creates.

Instead some angels became arrogant and fell from grace. OK, but the Lord’s Prayer specifically states that God’s will was done in heaven; so it was God’s will that these angels fell from grace – right? No again, I am told, I just don’t understand! Shut up and “Take It On Faith!” God is Good! God is Great!

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,…

In my writings, whenever I refer to the ‘Feel Good Christians,’ – these are the guys. However, I think they overlook that it works for God's good not our personal good; and God’s plan for the earth is tribulation and Armageddon. Oops!

Isaiah 45:6 … there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

In the Gospel of Philip it says, “The Holy Spirit shepherds everyone and rules all the powers, the "tame" ones and the "wild" ones, as well as those which are unique.”

In the Hypostasis of the Archon it says, “But it was by the will of the father of the entirety that they all came into being - after the pattern of all the things above - so that the sum of chaos might be attained.”

Both of these verses are from outside of the traditional Roman ‘one book’ canon, but I find no fault with them. I used to make the analogy that: - In the beginning God stacked a very tall stack of bricks, then he reached down and pulled out the bottom brick. It doesn’t require divine prophetic ability to predict that the stack will all fall down. Does God have to interact with each and every brick to ensure that the stack falls – NO! Can he interact with an individual brick if He chooses – of course? Since, it has become obvious that there are forces provided to torment the bricks on the way down.

It really is about the journey. It really is about the character of our struggle. As we fall from birth toward death, it is all about who we turn to for guidance and help Half of the battle is realizing that there is a struggle or possession of our spirits, the other half of the battle is fighting the fight toward salvation.

[Stella]

This is certainly not what we are taught and i am sure our Elders would take extreme issue with the idea of God also being the bad guy.

I liked it better when you spoke of us the animal being the corruption. It is the carnal world we live in that is the evil force we need to rise above.

[Dave]

Dear Stella,

Long time no hear. Glad to see you well.

Let me clarify. All conversations are allowed here. This forum is designed to discuss those exact same conversations that you’re Elders or my local Pastor would just abstain from. Either they are not knowledgeable enough to engage in the conversation and are afraid of saying something un-Christian, or they are afraid we may draw conclusions not in keeping with their teachings and also draw us from their flock.

No one here is suggesting that God is also the devil in disguise!

I see it more like this – as soon as God created another being with the ability to express their free will, there immediately raised the possibility of a difference of opinion I think it is only a logical conclusion of having free will. God could have stopped it right there and retracted the gift of free will and had an entire universe of sheeple – instead – He ALLOWED it to express itself.

I agree with you that it is the sole purpose of spirituality to rise above the animal. To seek immortality from within the confines of mortality. However, we also have to recognize that there is at least one other layer to this quest; and that is the layer of spiritual forces waging a war against us to keep us from developing our maximum potential spiritually.

It was my conversations with my Muslim friends that got me to see the error of my local church. People check in. Say the words. Attend the meetings. But never experience a change of heart. One of my Muslim fiends summed up Christianity like this:

We wake up in the morning. Rape, pillage, and plunder all day long. Say a quick prayer before we go to sleep and then rest with a clean conscious. Only to wake up tomorrow to do it again. Is not the Catholic Rite of Absolution a perfect example of this attitude? Live a life of sin, but accept the Lord on your death bed and be safe.

I want more for myself! How about you? Speaking just for myself now, as I strive to remove myself from the trap of Christendom; I am not afraid to explore those concepts that I may have been taught in error all those years of Churchianity. Take those teaching apart and explore them from as many different perspectives as possible to see if those teaching remain true.

That is why I love your perspective and therefore you should post more often.

[Larry]

The idea of a Great Contest is not a new idea at all. It is similar to many American Indian theologies.

I agree that the Lord is not also the bad guy, but He did allow the Devil to come into existence for this very purpose.

This world, our animal desires, our physical fears, and our doubts are all products of being physical and therefore of this world. The struggle to rise above this plane is the Contest, of which you speak.

We are spiritual beings that are having a physical experience. It is that physical existence that holds us down, holds us back, keeps us from maturing back into that spiritual realm.

I believe this.

[Dave]

Welcome Larry,

I also find comfort in the idea of the Great Contest. I write a lot about "Feel Good Christianity" (my terminology). Everything will be good. Just believe and all will be well with your life. I have seen people come to church looking for relief from the worlds stranglehold on their lives. Unemployment, Cancer, divorce, grandma is dying, or life is just to damn hard sometimes. These people come to church hoping to make their lives better or to find some peace. They are taught the Feel Good approach and yet life and the world didn't change. Grandma died or the divorce happened anyway! These same people fall away from the church realizing that they were given a false message. If that message was empty, then perhaps so does the rest of Christianity's message.

This feel good attitude has done more to harm the faith than it ever did to help it. Most people are aware of that feel good message enough that it only leaves the Western Tradition asking:

If there is a God who is loving and compassionate, then why is there so much evil in the world.

If God is standing by and allowing all the evil to harm and kill, then perhaps He isn't so loving - perhaps He isn't even there.

Therefore, they conclude that if there is no "Feel Good" God out there, then there must not be any God out there.

Even this is all a part of that Great Contest that those of us who understand must struggle against!

[ponderingpinay]

Hello Dave,

Gnostic Christianity is completely a new vocabulary to me and I thank you. It is nice to know that particular terminology in your perspective. I am pretty sure, there are many who can relate as to what you are trying to drive out.

I thank you for the chance of having to have at least read your discussion which I appreciated much for being a healthy exchange of ideas. This venue is excellent in learning, relearning and transforming one's belief or philosophy in life.

I personally believe that this life is really a journey. A journey to a higher purpose, meaning to rise above our mundane nature. Although we are in this world but purposely we are not for this world. Hence, if I may quote "Great contest is the name of the game that we all play to determine our future..". Thereby, in taking our journey it is of necessity to know where are we going? I believe that God is the God of wisdom.

In giving freewill to us, His creation, He is not playing double standard as to favor some good as well to favor some which are not that good as God cannot be both good and evil. The freedom that He basically gave us is purposely a test whether or not as His creation we do have faith in Him as our creator. Ergo, in our walk through life, our respond to its unfolding should be characterize by faith knowing that there is God,- the Supreme Being who created all things. Our struggle in this wide arena of the universe should be likened to that of Job. In this Great Contest of life, we as creation of God have to use our freedom of choice whether to choose good of evil, to do good or bad, after all it is a struggle between the demand of the spirit over flesh.

God Bless everyone!
ponderingpinay

[Dave]

Sept 14, 2014 7:21:09 GMT -5 ponderingpinay said:

#1 - This venue is excellent in learning, relearning and transforming one's belief or philosophy in life.

#2 - I personally believe that this life is really a journey. A journey to a higher purpose, meaning to rise above our mundane nature.

It is good to hear from you and I love your comments.

#1 - This site and myself are not here to teach or instruct. After all, who among us really knows God's heart. The passages in scripture about FALSE PROPHETS and FALSE TEACHERS speaks very loudly to me. No one should ever take my opinion as the final word in anything. Yet, personal mentor-ship, or discipleship,  is so lacking in American. People walk into church and hold down a pew, try their best to stay awake, and then leave.

While GOD and CHRIST and our eventual afterlife has to be the absolute most important conversation of our lives - but it doesn't happen around the water cooler, or the city park, or at work. In fact the conversation in public is frowned upon in public. Prevented by law inside a community building or a school.

This site is here to have just that conversation!

I don't know the answers, there are a few things I take on faith and everything else is up for discussion - lets explore our relationship to the Lord-lets explore the Confusing legacy of organised religion.

Neither King David nor John the Baptist needed an organised religion to attend or belong to - they just walked alone in the wilderness with their Creator

It is this idea that we need to - are required to - support a 501C3 tax exempt corporate organization that I rebel against. By claiming to be a Gnostic means nothing actually - but deliberately separates myself from being a formal Depressant or Catholic. Scripture tells us over and over that many are called but few are chosen. Knowing this, why would anyone be happy just being one of the many.

The local church serves an excellent function - people have to have a place to start. But attendance, or even participation, in a club is not the same as walking hand in hand with your creator. Many people come to church. Many people fall away from the church. But just how many grow up and out of their churches? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

As you know, I am a father these days. It has done more for my faith than anything of my past. Alone and single, if I drag myself to hell - who would care? But, as a father, scripture says I am responsible for my house. The thought of dragging them along with me forces a new level of theological sincerity upon me that I actually didn't expect.

#2 - I couldn't agree with you more about the journey - we all grow and age - the issue is whether we grow toward God, or away.

Hope all is well in the Philippines!