My pack has thinned, I am alone now in many ways
I sniff the trail and it is an old one
They who were youngling males are out on their own
They gather new packs, and new futures

Even as I stand here now
Their hunting grounds grow rich, I hope
And perhaps will fatten them for the coming winter
I stand on my own, and worry if the hunt will be good

For all that is left is this old wolf
A lair made safe long ago
Until I can defend it no longer
This is truly the way of the wilds....

 

See what happens when stray religious threads get found by people searching then register to respond

 

I don't see it that way, i just spoke for me.

 

Wow, not locked yet.

Im still confused as to what believe. For 18 years i went to church every sunday and sometimes wednesdays. I went to a private christian school from k5 to 8th grade. Needless to say ive heard a lot about the bible.

When i turned 18 my dad didnt force me to go to church anymore so i stopped going. I honestly stopped going because i was lazy and i didnt want to wake up on sundays. A few years down the line i went to church cause i havent gone in a while and found it a bit strange. I was able to look at it in a different light, cause i hadnt been in so long and i was older and a bit smarter.

That was the first day that i really questioned my religious beliefs. Before when i was younger i wouldnt question it for 1 because i wasnt very smart, and 2, for fear of damnation. One of the first things that bothered me was most people took the story of noahs ark literally (I find it odd that people still do believe that story happened). After that, more and more questions started coming up that nobody could come close to answering. When i continue to ask questions, people always either b.s. an answer that makes no sense, or they get angry and give the ol "more room in heaven for me" answer.

At the same time though, i hardly consider myself an athiest. I do pray to god/jesus still though cause i grew up praying and it got me where i am today. That, and little instances throughout life that ive seen keep me open to the possibility of SOME of the stories in the bible may have happened.

Like Plato said, "If i know anything, it is that i know nothing." All of us should keep this in mind when we talk so passionatly about religion. I believe it to be a fact that nobody knows for sure whats going on. A lot of people say otherwise but i find that hard to believe

 

If I died right now...

No more pain, no more sorrows, get to see Mom again and my niece Erika. Heaven is a place I can't wait to be! I will be there when I die because it is what I know by my faith to be true. I believe the Bible from cover to cover. Can I explain all of it? Nope because I am not real smart. It is so deep, it is so intense, and when God opens your eyes to it you will be amazed at what you will see.

I am not a religious person. I do not subscribe to any particular "church theology" or whatever you want to call it. We attend a non-denominational church. My wife grew up Catholic and I grew up Lutheran. For the longest time during our marriage it was a huge struggle. I certainly didn't care for some of the Catholic beliefs and she didn't want to hear about it!

But God (not our church) pulled it together for His good. Yup, many churches condemn and reign down damnation on people and that is sad. I've heard of people being turned away from other churches because of tattoos or even wearing t-shirts to church. That's not what it's about.

It's not about religeon, it's not about Catholic vs Protestant theology. It's about a relationship with Jesus. I am certainly not perfect. I got issues, I get extremely angry at certain things and people, and yup, cuss words do slip on occasion. In fact I know I have put allowable cuss words in some of my posts. I even wrote an e-mail to one of my pastors about a family issue that included some pretty hot language. He didn't condemn me or yell at me or anything. He knows about what is going on and we talked about it.

I attend church because I love to hear more of His word and I love to sing and worship Him. Good thing the Bible says "make a joyful noise," noise being the operative word. I love going to church. I am surrounded by fellow beleivers and hopefully non-beleivers as well who have come in searching for answers.

The Bible is plum full of encouragement, stories of faith, re-assurance, and truth. I am not a Biblical scholar by any stretch of the imagination. But because of what I know to be true, I can say to any trial or situation, that God is always with us. He speaks to us.

We have a niece who I love dearly as if she was my own daughter. She has been through more garbage in her life than you can imagine. Bigtime struggles and issues between us and whatever. Tons of prayers all the time for her. Submitting everything to God, He told me, "I got it". Honest Abe, those are the words He spoke to me. When she used to attend church with us, I asked for, and I know there were angels there inbetween me and my niece watching out for her.

I know, I know. An official nut case but no. An official friend of Jesus.

This went kind of long but just wanted to share those things with y'all. Lot's more I could share. One last thing. BIBLE is also an acronym. It stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

Rich

 

At this point I follow what the navy taught me-

NEVER QUIT

I can stand by that

 

This is good stuff, here.

 

I would get to spend some long awaited time with my son.

 

I can forsee several events:
1)Bank forecloses on house
2)What has negligently been left behind by the family goes into a dumpster.
3)Bank comes after estranged wife for the balance of the loan
4)Creditors go after the wife for a change, as the last one responsible
5)Developers acquire the house, and upgrade it.
8)Neighbors discuss it for years afterward.
9)Dog possibly adopted by a neighbor, or goes to pound
10)FTE wonders why they have not heard from me, over time.
11) A very bright light, and sadness, for I have not done everything I wanted to do. Nonetheless it will be time to go home, stay a while, and perhaps one day return

 

Good one, Wolf, I cant rep anymore today but here is a


My boss would probaly wonder why I didnt show up for work

My wife could stop worrying about me wasting money on a old truck

The dogs would pee on the carpet cause I am the only one here to let them out

My wife would have to find a rent a mourner store

People that I have peed off would be happy

My wife would get to stop cooking meals

I would get my chance to render some payback to those left behind that, screwed me over when I was alive

My wife could stop wondering what it was like to be single

After the proper grieving period passed, a different hairleg would be peeing on the toilet seat in my bathroom

 

If I died right now,

I'd finally get caught up on sleep.

I'd become worm food.

And my life force would be freed to rejoing the collective and merge with those that have gone before me.

 

Bluntly -LIFE WOULD GO ON.

It may suck, but it would gitty up and go.


DO NOT ANY ONE OF YOU CRY IF I DIE!

It is a natural process, and happens to everyone sooner or later.

Remember me as I am and be thankful that I was like that.

Throw a party for me, as the irish do, if you insist on missing me.

I have left more than enough legacies of my own, my thoughts and way of thinking. If they help you, then keep them. If they don't dump them in the trash, I am only me - and one day we know I WILL JUST GO AWAY

Don't worry about me. Worry about you.

If I have helped any one of you, I ALSO HELPED MYSELF

It is what we are here for.

 

If I died right now, one thing is for certain; I wouldn't be paying anymore taxes.

 

Life continues to suck regardless of any individual living or dying. It's a universal constant.

 

Dang! it is sorta heart breaking to read some of these replies. I would have to say Amen to Gorilla1's post, well said.

As for me, I know that I would be in the arms of my Lord and Savior in His glory.

One of the biggest reasons I love, serve, and worship Him is that He gives me hope. Some of the replies here have absolutely no hope involved, and to me, that is heart breaking. My life has not been the easiest, but it has been full of hope. My family and me are who we are because of the hope and the friend we have in the Lord, I could not ask for a better place to be.

As far as the question "why would a loving god let someone go to a place like hell?", if He did not draw a line and set boundaries, He would not be a just God, right? We set boundaries and make rules for our own kids, and they suffer the consequences if they disobey, regardless of how they feel about it or how harsh the rules may seem to them, why would we not allow God to do the same? I know that some of you do not believe the bible, but check out what Exodus 34:6-7 says; ...The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving kindness and truth; who keeps loving kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished..."

Until one has given time to allow God to show them His riches and the blessings that He lavishly gives to us, they wont understand, nor will they be able to accept the things He allows to happen. And looking at the state of this world, could easily lead to discouragement, lack of any hope, and the question; "What if I died right now?".

Bottom line, dont look to other people, religeons, or opinions, look to the Lord, you will be supprised at what and who you find. And you just might have your question answerd. After all, He did create the universe.

Hope this thread stays intact,

Cheers, and blessings,
Rick