re Twinone and SF Kid Emails

(This was reposted from an email and comment so it is more accessible)

Hi everyone;

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who can get a little long winded on here. I had created another long research letter in response to the post concerning "Bible inconsistency", but I clicked the wrong button at the wrong time, and it vaporized. I don't plan to re-write it at this point (everyone can now breathe a sigh of relief) because Mary has covered most of the points very well. I completely agree with her, her understanding of a relationship with a true and living God, and her belief that there are no "inconsistencies" in the Bible...only misunderstandings by the readers, and in some cases, a distortion of what it says with a purpose of trying to tear it down.

One thing that I had tried to point out in my now "lost in cyberspace" post is this...before you take a stance on a particular issue, you really should get all of the facts, and do at least some research with an open mind. This would be true of religions as well as in politics.

Here's an example: One of the "questions" that was raised in Michael's post was an alleged conflict between Gen 1 & Gen 2 regarding the creation. The original article author read these passages and decided that one (Gen 1) listed earth first, and then man was created. Then he points out that in Gen 2 it is the other way around, therefore - Conflict - therefore, it can't be true. Obviously, he didn't do enough research to study what was actually being said, and what the context was trying to point out before he came to his conclusion.

Michael had a link to this article, and there were other links as well. If the other links and articles had been read, it would be very clear why there appears to be conflict in the two chapters, when there really is none. These other links were either not read, or, the author already had his mind made up, and he wasn't about to get confused by the facts.

Politically, I see a lot of the same thing happening. Example: The troop surge in Iraq. We are to believe (as told by the media, the congress, move on, and the "left" side of politics, etc.) that Iraq is a failed policy, we are losing, and the troop surge is foolish and won't work. Despite that fact that there are (and have been) countless good things happening over there, they remain steadfast in this belief, and would not even consider that this might be the right thing to be doing, and that it could work. Well...(shock & amazement!) even some of the democratic leadership in Washington are starting to have to admit that it IS working, and even with all of their efforts to try to make it fail (because that is what they wanted to have happen to try to disgrace this administration), it's not going to. The facts are getting too obvious now to be able to ignore them or cover them up.

I too lost my faith during my college years. I also questioned the Bible, the church, our years with Dad & Mom at home, etc. I've had the opportunity to see life from many different angles (some very dark - some "fun" - some apathetically - some optimistically - etc.). At family gatherings, we all laugh about me being the "black sheep" of the family, but it's funny now because it's true. I've been there, done that, and came back! Those of you who know me, know that I am not easily convinced to do anything until I decide that I want to do it, and it's good for me. My faith (and my choice to become a Christian - as Mary has described it) was certainly no exception to this process that I tend to follow before taking a firm stance on anything - I checked it out pretty good!

Politically speaking, I'm the same way. 30 years ago I was a "rootin tootin" democrat after my fathers' heart. I don't believe that I have changed that much. I didn't leave the democratic party and the philosophy of old, but they left me! Kennedy was my kind of guy (politically, not morally), but he would have to be a republican today.

So what's my point? I HAVE listened to both sides, and I have made (what I believe to be an educated choice) a decision to reject the socialist policies, immoral practices, anti-God teachings, and self destructive attitudes of the current democratic party. Do the republicans have it all correct? Of course not, but they are talking about possible solutions to our country's problems that are a lot more in line with what I believe than the dems. Where is the next Regan when you need him? Ironically, I didn't vote for him the first time.

"Let's discuss politics & religion" - I guess I got them both into this thread. Most families would cringe at the thought of doing this, but I think it is refreshing, and would agree that we might as well "get it out there".

Thanks to both of you for some thought inspiring posts. I hope that those who are out there reading these posts will throw their "two cents" in as well.

I'm not going to chance another "poof" by doing a spell check - deal with the typos - this is going directly to publishing.

Love to ALL -