| Jul 7, 2006 @ 1:55 PM |
Tale of Two Twins
|
|
sail_dancer
Posts: 8,146
|
Please hold any comments until I'm finished posting.
Once upon a time in the 19th story of a high-rise apartment complex there lived two golden-haired lads. They were age eleven, and they were also identical twins. Josh and Jeff did look nearly identical. However, Josh was the more intelligent, handsome, and robust of the two. From earliest childhood these boys had never known anything except abuse in its cruelest and most bizarre forms. Their natural father, Foster, age forty, exhibited a split personality that was most remarkable. That is probably why the boys' natural mother, Karen, had disappeared within a few months after her sons were born.
Foster loved little boys. He also loved "Jeeezus" (as His name is commonly pronounced among very religious people). However, Foster's greatest loves were intimidation, sex of every description, as well as torture -- and guzzling booze "to help his back pain."
Beating and terrifying his wives and concubines into submission was one of the pastimes that "born-again" Foster relished most. (However, most of these unfortunate women, oddly enough, came into his life one by one.) And he especially enjoyed playing with his little boys and punishing them at the same time. That is simply because he felt that asserting his authority "firmly, lovingly and decisively" was the best way of "providing them security."
So by the time they were toddling and beginning to talk, Foster made sure his sons knew they were secure in his love. For the smallest infractions he would beat them and beat them, and their tender skin often bore the bruises and welt marks from their father's loving correction for days afterwards. Many were the nights that he sent them to bed without supper.
But often as he tucked them in, their deeply affectionate dad then would "reconcile with them" and "console them." Born again Foster went about this by caressing his cherished sons -- but in ways that are best not put into writing.
These children never knew any other kind of love or discipline. So by the time they were nearing puberty all of the maltreatment, though painful, had become "normal" to them. But their father did not always employ such tactics as I have already described for his purposes of nurture and discipline. At other times when Josh or Jeff got in his way, Foster became very creative.
For example, if the boys did not appear to like something that had been served at the table, he would force them to eat live bugs, spiders and toads. When he was in a kindlier mood, their father would only force them to eat huge amounts of substances they didn't like, such as peanut butter mixed with hot sauce-or sometimes, lard or mud. In Foster's more austere moods, however, he burned Josh and Jeff with matches and cigarettes. He did this while he lowered his voice calmly and explained what "Jeeezuz" one day plans to do with bad boys like them...
As the lads grew older, their father began to show favoritism toward Josh, the fairer and more overtly masculine of the two. Jeff being the more slight, weak-eyed, and gentle of the twins began to catch the larger portion of Foster's fury. Josh received the loving caresses more frequently, while Jeff was more often reminded of what hell would be like.
But Josh loved his weaker brother, so he did all in his power to keep the score even and to divert his dad's attention away from Jeff. Josh's efforts often succeeded well enough so that he at least got forty percent of the lashes that were dealt out. Had he not done so, Jeff probably would not have lived to reach the age of eleven. Many were the times when Jeff sobbed and pled for his life as he heard his father thunder, "You little squint-eyed fag! I know what you like, but ___ d___, this is what you're getting!!!"
By the time the boys had reached school age, Foster, on occasions, also liked to slip into his young sons' bedroom in the wee hours and "surprise" them with "party time!" This happened especially after he was drunk, and Foster and his current woman needed something different to satisfy them. (Most of the time Foster came and partied on his own. However, there were times when he somehow was able to bring one of his adult female friends into the action.)
As you can imagine, Josh and Jeff became strong allies, and they managed to find ways to hide out in the stair wells and various nooks and crannies of their towering, skyscraper home. Also, they became increasingly clever at diverting their dad's attention when they found themselves in his presence. And when they did contrive ways to find blessed solitude, like normal boys that are deeply bonded friends, they played together and daydreamed aloud about their futures.
To be continued.
|
|
  |
|
| Jul 7, 2006 @ 1:57 PM |
Tale of Two Twins |
|
sail_dancer
Posts: 8,146
|
Then it happened. It happened close to midnight. Josh and Jeff were quietly playing with a nerf football in their bedroom. The loud music and grotesque lovemaking going on in their dad's room had become such a common occurrence that they no longer even heard it.
"Hey Josh!" Jeff piped up with mischief in his eyes as he unscrewed the fastener that held a lamp shade in place.
"Let's pretend that this lamp shade is Jeeezus and see who can knock it off the stand first with the football. I hate his guts, don't you?"
"Yeah, I hate him too. Dad says he lives inside of his screwed up heart, and I don't ever want that crazy dude in mine!" Josh chuckled with a tinge of cynicism.
The football sailed silently across the room and -- zap!
"HEY Jeff! That's awesome, dude! You knocked Jeezus off his throne with the first shot. WOW!!"
The boys hugged each other and hooted uproariously. But their brief moment of playful levity was to be short lived... For at that instant the door burst open, and Foster appeared, grinning and fondling his favorite object.
"Hey! It's time to party, guys!" he announced. "Tomorrow is your birthday so what do you say we start celebrating?"
Then, at the same moment, the clock struck 12:00, and not only was it Josh's twelfth birthday -- but in a twinkling of an eye -- he also reached the "age of accountability." Jeff, however, had been born a couple of hours later than Josh, so he had at least 120 minutes more before he reached that dreadful moment -- if not a few more months, since he was the less astute of the twin boys.
Jeff stood mute as usual, staring in stark terror before his naked abuser.
"Oh crap! Here's dad and his JEEEZus again!" Josh muttered under his breath.
Foster glared down at him. "What did you say, boy? Are you calling our Lord's name in vain again?"
"Please, dad!" Josh began sobbing. "Please don't do this! Please... We're your sons, dad. Can't we just be your sons?"
"Why you miserable little creep!" Foster roared. "Who do you think you are, sermonizing to me! You will NOT curse the Lord in my house, you filthy mouthed little blasphemer!"
Then the crazed man snatched up a baseball bat and made a lunge toward his oldest child. But Josh nimbly leapt sideways, and then forward, and thus managed to trip his dad and send him sprawling.
But the boys watched in terror as he quickly regained his footing and staggered toward them bellowing, "And I'll show you how to respect your father too!"
"Whooosh!" The bat missed Jeff's head by a mere fraction.
Horror-stricken, both boys rushed to the corner of the room and cringed beside an open window.
Josh screamed, "Stand behind me, Jeff -- now!"
The violent bat swung perilously close again.
"Oh, daddy, PLEASE don't!" the twins screamed tearfully, almost in unison.
On the next swing, the bat impacted with Josh's pitifully upraised hands. The poor lad whimpered, gasped, and let out a stifled scream. "Ohhhh please daddy!"
Utterly mindless with fear, with only their reflexes in motion, the boys leapt out of the open window -- and plunged nineteen stories to their instant death.
SCENE CHANGE...
We stare into a vast, dismal realm of swirling smoke and blazing fires, fires of the intensity of 10,000,000 suns. Yet somehow... amidst countless screams of human agony piercing our ears... we can discern a familiar, if weak and hollow voice. Can you hear it? Shhh! Listen!
Little Josh is calling: "Oh God! G-o-d, where am I? I'm burning alive! Please help me! Get me out of here! Please! Oh G-O-D, please help me! Oh dear God, where is Jeff? Please help me find him and get him out of here! Where AM I God? "
"You are in hell, Josh." sweetly intones a resonance from above. "Jeff is with Me now, and he is safe. But I do love you, Josh. I hope you know that, although I regret to tell you that you will spend eternity in these flames."
"But WHY God? What did I do to deserve this?" The baffled boy sobs uncontrollably in his anguish.
"Josh, you reached the age of accountability never having acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. And even worse, just before you died, you expressed hatred for Him! You blasphemed, Josh! I heard you. And you did this, despite the fact that your born again (ahem! albeit imperfect) earthly father told you to honor and submit to Him repeatedly. You don't remember him telling you of -- Jeeezus? All you had to do was trust and love Jesus. Why didn't you?"
"But? but... I couldn't trust Jesus!" wails the burning boy. "He lived in my dad's heart and he did terrible things to Jeff."
"I deeply regret that, son. That was most unfortunate. But be that as it may, you are still without excuse! You should have consulted your conscience! You should have looked more closely at the birds, rocks, trees and sky, and observed nature in general. You would have CLEARLY seen Him there! Besides, you committed suicide after blaspheming! And that, after talking back disrespectfully to your own father! So even if you had confessed Him as Lord, killing yourself would have been proof that you had never truly done it from your heart sincerely."
To be continued.
|
| |
|
| Jul 7, 2006 @ 1:58 PM |
Tale of Two Twins
|
|
sail_dancer
Posts: 8,146
|
"Ohhhhh... but G-O-D..." Little Josh writhes in the merciless flames and sobs pitifully. "I know! I know you are right, and that is what dad taught me, but... but... can't you PLEASE forgive me and get me out of this place? I miss Jeff! Are you sure he's okay? Yes! Yes! Yes, dear heavenly Father! I confess Jesus as my Lord! Yes, God! JESUS is my Lord, and I invite Him into my heart right now! So God, PLEASE help me... Ohhhhh... G-O-D... Can't you please HELP me!?"
With utmost beauty responds the Higher Voice again: "Ah, My cherished one, don't you realize it is too late? Yes, it really is too late, Josh. You had your chance! Did you not? I see to it that everybody has at least one chance! Didn't your Father teach you that also? I do love you with all of my heart and I will always love you, but there's absolutely nothing I can ever do to help you now. Nothing at all! That's just the way the old mop flops sometimes, I suppose... But if it is of any comfort to you, in the resurrection you will have one more opportunity to confess Him. For it is then that every knee shall bow and every tongue will -- and must -- give thanks for His Lordship."
"Oh please, please, PLEASE, God, will you save me then? I'm hurting so much dearest Father, and I don't know how I can wait, but I can have something to hope for if I can know you will save me then!"
"Oh My poor, poor Josh. My heart so goes out to you. But alas, I must tell you no, for then it will still be too late to do you any good. But you will have a few moments to cool off a bit and to enter into some songs of worship with all of the damned and redeemed, before you are cast into the lake of fire for eternity. Isn't that at least a little consolation, my young and tender one?"
The scene before us rapidly fades. But as we depart, we are haunted with unspeakable moans of anguish that again erupt from the mouth of young Josh -- mingling with billions of other cries of agony that have echoed throughout hell's vaults for eons...
And now? An angelic anthem that once sounded 20 centuries ago to herald the birth of the Savior of the world also haunts us with bitter irony...
"Peace on earth and good will toward men."
EPILOGUE...
Overcome with fear and remorse (and especially fear!) Foster "rededicates" his life to the Lord. He has been faithfully attending a local Independent Charismatic Evangelical Baptist church for the last five years. And everyone speaks so well of him too! In fact, Foster is now teaching the junior boys Sunday school class. Isn't that marvelous? That is because this deeply repentant man feels that God has given him a "special burden" for boys that are the age of his sons when they departed this life. Foster is happy to explain his cover-up of all the grizzly details of his gruesome background on the basis that in Christ, "old things are passed away, and behold all things have become new."
He has also convinced the woman he was living with at the time of his sons' "tragic accident" to become "born again", for as much as he knew of things he could tell the authorities about her -- if she thought it necessary to "drag up the past." She thought his was a good plan of action, and so she married Foster. This very practical Christian woman now heads up the ladies missionary society in her local fellowship.
So... Foster and Samantha are now on their way to heaven, since they are both once saved always saved. Moreover, they happily testify that God has cast their sins away from them as far as the east is from the west, never to be remembered again!
Poor foolish Josh, of course, is still agonizing in hell wishing (as he had always wished since he could remember) that he had never been born.
And Jeff is in heaven now. And would you believe with absolutely no recall of his brother who had gone to great risks to protect him during their brief sojourn on earth? This amazing memory loss that heaven mercifully has granted Jeff has rendered him a zombie of sorts, since so much of his earthly personality had evolved on the basis of his many shared experiences remembered with his twin brother.
But is he happy? No doubt he is. I have a pet rabbit that I think is just about as happy as Jeff.
To be continued.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 7, 2006 @ 2:01 PM |
Tale of Two Twins |
|
sail_dancer
Posts: 8,146
|
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS...
So what exactly have you just read? Brace yourself! You have just read the "glad tidings" of Jesus Christ that many Christians say they "believe" and are spreading around the world -- and have been believing and spreading for at least fifteen centuries: Never-Failing Love Himself, values all who perform correctly in this lifetime and bestows upon them the "gift of their heavenly reward" -- but, He trashes and burns forever those who do not. (And this includes young children, perhaps far younger than Jeff. For in most quarters, popular religiosity reckons that "the age of accountability" begins -- simply when -- a child knows the difference between right and wrong.)
No, I have not in all details, shared a true story. I have just used a combination of three true ones that I'm aware of as a working basis for my narrative. However, this little tale of two twins is surely representative of multiplied millions of other similar stories buried in the history of human misery. Undoubtedly, most Christians would find themselves in a violent struggle to retain their sanity if they knew of the atrocities that occur (even in "Christian" homes) within 100 square miles of them.
However, through no fault of their own, they simply are unaware of the agony that many children in their own communities experience. Yet in their blissful ignorance, many Christians apparently find it easy to glibly perpetuate unbiblical traditions that dishonor and desecrate the character of the God they sincerely serve.
The very worst of these unbiblical traditions is one of an endless hell that supposedly awaits (and now supposedly contains!) myriad populations of people, both young and old, who reached the mythical "age of accountability" and died without having been converted. This tradition asserts that not merely those who have heard only a perverted message of Christ and rejected it will burn in "hell" forever, but the same fate will befall billions of people who have never heard of Him at all.
If the gospel of Jesus Christ involves even -- a trace -- of the horrors that many of my fellow Christians currently proclaim as "good news", I'll have to say it is the most heartbreaking news ever conceived or announced in the cosmos. The universe we inhabit is a nightmare that defies the power of human words to describe. Would to God that none of us had been born!
Yours sincerely, And prayerfully, For Light Himself to come IN POWER to the body of Christ,
Charles Slagle
POSTSCRIPT
For the readers who believe that Josh and billions of other lost souls will be forced to bow and confess the Lordship of Jesus before they are cast into hell, I have a question: Will Josh and billions of other youngsters like him also be forced to sing praises to the Lord as they agonize in torment? If your answer is yes, then I sadly have to say that Hitler is as the tooth fairy compared with the "God" that you are proclaiming to a hurting world.
Are you sure that your "glad tidings" of a never-ending hell are true? If so, I would ask that you please explain your view of this verse found in Revelation 5:13 --
"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and all that is in them, singing,
'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!'" (NIV)
Did you notice? "Every creature" is -- singing! I do not believe that this verse describes billions of souls being forced to sing praises to Jesus. It is a portrayal of all creation celebrating Him who has brought us all, each and every one, into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Rom. 8: 19-22, Eph. 1:9-11, Col. 1:15-20) Our Lord came to our world as a Servant, and therefore He came, not to be served, but to serve. And it is because of His servant mentality that God has highly exalted Him, and for THIS reason every tongue will -- joyfully and willingly -- acclaim His Lordship. (Phil.2: 6-11)
Struggling reader, do you yearn to please the Lord, but despite all efforts, feel as if you foul up more than you succeed? Have you experienced heartache and despair from all of the christianeze double-talk, "God loves you -- but...!" so that you feel that there is no way that you can avoid "hell"?
There is no hell! Certainly not one of the description that many religious churches advertise! The only hell that exists is the painful consequences we inflict on ourselves (and spawn inside of ourselves) when we depart from the path of love. God is not an eternal torturer. He is Holy Unfailing Love Personified.
Yes, He is also a God of judgment, but of sound and merciful judgment! He is not a God of vindictive rage or of uncaring cruelty. No, all of our Heavenly Father's judgments are corrective and redemptive and are rooted in His infinite love. That is why Jesus could promise us, "If I be lifted up (on the cross) I will draw all people to Myself!" (John 12:32) In other words, all people will eventually be saved -- even the worst of screw-ups! Yep. Even screw-ups -- like yours truly -- for instance. And that is because salvation is not a reward for our good behavior, it is a GIFT that God gives us In Jesus Christ, simply because He loves us.
To be continued.
|
| |
|
| Jul 7, 2006 @ 2:02 PM |
Tale of Two Twins
|
|
sail_dancer
Posts: 8,146
|
Hard to believe? I understand where you're coming from, my friend, but this is what the Bible actually teaches. Most Christians believed in and proclaimed the good news of universal salvation for the first 500 years, believe it or not. But I will provide you some resources so you can check this out for yourself.
Do you yearn for a love that will never fail, no matter how miserably you may fall short? Do you long for far, far more hope in Jesus Christ than today's hard core religiosity can offer you? If so, visit: http://www.sigler.org/slagle
God bless you, searching reader! He loves you far more than you think! And when that realization comes home to your exhausted heart -- I can assure you, it will be the happiest day of your life!
FINAL NOTE
Some well-meaning and wonderful people (UR believers included) have suggested that I should not publish this short story, especially in such graphic form as it now appears. This is because, in their view, this story could be overly shocking and therefore counter-productive to accomplishing its intended mission: to jolt the readers into a fresh recognition of the real world we live in and urge them to re-examine the horrific injustices that common religiosity continuously attributes to our Good Father.
Perhaps my sincere critics are right -- at least in the case of the angry emotional response of some readers that may crop up. However, this is the most "explicit" bit of writing I have ever done, and I have no intention of producing any further writing of this nature for the public forum. I even wonder myself whether or not it may be more of a catharsis (upchucking) on my part and of little value to many other people.
However, on the flip side of the coin, I also realize that many hurting readers will applaud my (seeming!) boldness to lay bare the pain of those who have endured every variety of abuse, and not least of all, spiritual abuse. And they will rejoice that -- someone -- will dare to expose the evil God-caricature that much of the church is promoting before the eyes of a desperate and hurting world. Then again, I believe it is quite possible that some readers at last will "see" the grim contradictions that many unthinking, albeit sincere, Christians perpetuate that destroy hope rather than foster it.
The fact is, it is with these thoughts in mind that I finally have published this little story with "fear and trembling" and with much prayer. Let us all pray that the body of Christ quickly will become more sensitized to the suffering in our world and enlightened by God's Spirit as to its true mission to impart healing hope to suffering humanity. (Luke 4: 18,19, John 20, 21)
What are your thoughts on this story and the author's comments.
Peace
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 7, 2006 @ 2:40 PM |
Tale of Two Twins |
|
uncrazy
Posts: 1,469
|
I will remain as sick as my secrets. I will trust God, clean my own house, and try to help others.
|
| |
|
| Jul 7, 2006 @ 3:21 PM |
Tale of Two Twins
|
|
sail_dancer
Posts: 8,146
|
About 20 people viewed this and only one replied.
Thanks uncrazy!
This may be a story, but it is something that could occur.
Is everyone in this forum so caught up in their religious beliefs that they can't even comment on this?
Peace
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 7, 2006 @ 3:31 PM |
Tale of Two Twins |
|
8Knots
Posts: 2,710
|
Wassa a buddhaaaaaaa!
Self explanatory. Thanks Sail 
|
| |
|
| Jul 7, 2006 @ 8:51 PM |
Tale of Two Twins
|
|
uab_5
Posts: 2,371
|
I've always thought that a God that would damn His creations to eternal hell is one that I cannot justifiably believe in.
As a teen, I've try to court girls that told me I was "going to hail if I don't have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ".
As an adult, I've fallen into the pits of Hell. I've seen no way out...the sides too steep, and its walls too slick.
I've admited there was a God and that He could restore me to sanity.
I believe He will forgive my sins if I'm willing and ready to make amends for them and to go forth and not repeat them.
I believe Jesus is the helmsman of my sloop,and I just merely man the sheets.
My God is a personal evolving one who's true nature I'm not destine to understand. Others' faith is nor never was my business.
In the end, we meet our maker with only what we carry in our hearts.
David
PS Long Island Sound is beautiful in the fall. Block Island and Martha's Vineyard are very pretty from sea side.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 11:30 AM |
Tale of Two Twins |
|
sail_dancer
Posts: 8,146
|
uab,
I've always thought that a God that would damn His creations to eternal hell is one that I cannot justifiably believe in.
Follow your heart and the words of Jesus not the words about Jesus. There is a big difference between the two approaches.
You seem content with where you are in your beliefs which is a good first step in the right direction.
I also appreciate your presenting your views as a seaman. If you continue to keep Jesus as your skipper and to man the sheets for Him, your life will be a good one.
I hear the sailing in the hereafter is awesome!
I am a sailor myself and marvel God's creation.
Peace
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 12:02 PM |
Tale of Two Twins
|
|
8Knots
Posts: 2,710
|
One of the greatest aspects of being on the right path is to be "Open". Question the validity of what is told and seek wisdom within oneself. If you practice and see the words of the wise then you are on your way.
Follow a course that is true. Follow the seas that are calm and compassionate, allow the winds of the wise to take you.
No matter a religion, no matter the words of man.... follow your own navigator, be your own helmsman, your heart.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 2:05 PM |
Tale of Two Twins |
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,101
|
Sail, you forget most of the scripture with your story. The Lord my God is a merciful God.
Children, abused children, know the Lord Jesus, he envelops them with his love. They know the real Jesus, and know that their parent doesn't have the real Jesus within Him. These parents make the mistake of taking their children to church, and the children learn of the real Lord Jesus. Jesus has a special place in his heart for children. "Suffer the little children to come unto me, for such is the kingdom of heaven."
Here is a prime example and one of my favorite poems:
TOMMY'S PRAYER
(author unknown)
1800’s English poems
In a dark and dismal alley where the sunshine never came,
Dwelt a little lad name Tommy, sickly, delicate and lame,
He had never yet been healthy, but had lain since he was born,
Dragging out his weak existence well nigh hopeless and forlorn.
He was six, was Tommy, t’was just five years ago
Since his drunken mother dropped him, and the babe was crippled so,
He had never known the comfort of a mother’s loving care,
But her cruel blows and curses made his pain still worse to bear.
There he lay within the cellar from the morning till the night,
Starved neglected, cursed, ill-treated, nought to make his dull life bright,
Not a single friend to love him, not a single thing to love,
For he knew not of a Saviour, or a heaven up above.
T’was a quiet summer evening, and the alley too was still;
Tommy’s little heart was sinking and he felt so lonely till
Floating up the quiet alley, wafted up inward from the street,
Came the sound of someone singing, sounding oh so clear and sweet.
Eagerly did Tommy listen as the singing nearer came –
Oh, that he could see the singer, how he wished he wasn’t lame.
Then he called and shouted loudly, till the singer heard the sound,
And on noting whence it issued, soon the little cripple found.
T’was a maiden rough and rugged, hair unkempt, and naked feet,
All her garments torn and ragged, her appearance far from neat,
“So yer called,” said the maiden, “wonder what yer want’s o’ me,
Most folks call me ‘Singing Jessie,’ wot may yer name chance to be?”
“My name’s Tommy, I’m a cripple, and I want to hear you sing,
For it makes me feel so happy – sing me something, anything.”
Jessie laughed, and answered smiling, “I can’t stay here very long,
But I’ll sing a hymn to please yer, wot I calls the Glory Song.”
Then she sang to him of heaven, pearly gates, and streets of gold,
Where the happy angel children are not starved or nipped with cold;
But where happiness and gladness never can decrease or end,
And where kind and loving Jesus is their Saviour and their friend.
Oh! How Tommy’s eyes did glisten as he drank in every word
As it fell from singing Jessie – was it true what he had heard?
And so anxiously he asked her: is there really such a place?
And a tear began to trickle down his pallid little face.
“Tommy, yer a little heathen: why it’s up beyond the sky,
And if yer will love the Saviour, yer shall go there when yer die,”
Then said Tommy, “Tell me Jessie, how can I the Saviour, love,
When I’m down here in this ‘ere cellar, and He’s up in heaven above?
So the ragged little maiden, who had heard at Sunday school
All about the way to heaven, and the Christian’s golden rule,
Taught the little cripple Tommy, how to love, and how to pray:
Then she sang a song of Jesus, kissed his cheek and went away.
Tommy lay within the cellar which had grown so dark and cold,
Thinking all about the children in the streets of shining gold,
And he heeded not the darkness of that damp and chilly room
For the joy in Tommy’s bosom could disperse the deepest gloom.
Oh! If I could only see it, thought the cripple as he lay;
Jessie said that Jesus listens and I think I’ll try to pray.
So he put his hands together and he closed his little eyes,
And in accents weak, yet earnest, sent this message to the skies.
Gentle Jesus, please forgive me, as I didn’t know afore
That yer cared for little cripples who is weak and very poor
And I never heard of heaven till that Jesse came today
And she told me all about it so I wants to try and pray.
You can see me can’t yer Jesus? Jessie told me that yer could
And I somehow must believe it, for it seems so prime and good;
And she told me if I loved yer, I should see yer when I die,
In the bright and happy heaven that is up beyond the sky.
Lord I’m just a cripple and I’m no use here below.
For I heard my mother whisper she’d be happy if I’d go;
And I’m cold and hungry sometimes, and I feels so lonely too,
Can’t you take me gentle Jesus, up to heaven along with you?
Oh I’d be so good and patient, and I’d never cry or fret,
And your kindness to me Jesus I would surely not forget,
i would love you all I know of, and would never make a noise
Can’t you find just a corner where I’ll watch the other boys?
Oh I think yer’ll do it, Jesus, something seems to tell me so;
For I feels so glad and happy, and I do so want to go
How I long to see you Jesus, and the children all so bright,
Come and fetch me, won’t yer Jesus? Come and fetch me home tonight.
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 2:12 PM |
Tale of Two Twins
|
|
sail_dancer
Posts: 8,146
|
Bev,
You missed the whole point of the story. The older twin attained the age of reason and was punished as an adult, the younger twin was not at the age of reason so was treated as your post says.
And what about the way God handled the twin's father.
You still didn't answer my question. Is this God how you picture God the Father and His Son?
Peace
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 2:16 PM |
Tale of Two Twins |
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,101
|
Now tell me how you know how God handled any of this, sail?
I have told you more than once, God made helll for satan and his angels, he didn't intend for men to go to hell. YOU are the only one who can send YOURSELF to hell, it is YOUR choice.
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 2:20 PM |
Tale of Two Twins
|
|
8Knots
Posts: 2,710
|
Does anyone wish to comment on my Posts or are they quite clear, understandable and the truth? jus sayin....
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 2:20 PM |
Tale of Two Twins |
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,101
|
That is why Jesus died for you to GIVE YOU that choice. He said, choose life, and who was life? Jesus. and blessings, or death, and satan is death, and cursings. That is very clear sail. It is YOUR choice.
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 2:26 PM |
Tale of Two Twins
|
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,101
|
Eight, will try to answer your post, I don't know if you will understand what I am saying. The wisdom of man is but foolishness to God. We are born into a corrupted, corruptible body, with fleshly desires and weaknesses. We can try to be wise, and seek wisdom, for the Bible says to seek wisdom, but wisdom, true wisdom can only come from God. I once thought I was very wise, but when I began to seek God for His wisdom, I saw how foolish I had been, He opened my eyes.
So worldly wise, is that what you want and what you want to follow? If so, that is your choice, and I cannot and will not change you. That lies within yourself and the course you choose.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 2:32 PM |
Tale of Two Twins |
|
8Knots
Posts: 2,710
|
Eight, will try to answer your post, I don't know if you will understand what I am saying.
hrmmmmmm Ok.....
The wisdom of man is but foolishness to God.
A God that is all omniprescent and we as mere mortals could not possibly be so arrogant as to understand such a being. Let alone his wisdom. This is wisdom in itself. All true wisdom is good wisdom and that of god.
We are born into a corrupted, corruptible body, with fleshly desires and weaknesses. We can try to be wise, and seek wisdom, for the Bible says to seek wisdom, but wisdom, true wisdom can only come from God. I once thought I was very wise, but when I began to seek God for His wisdom, I saw how foolish I had been, He opened my eyes.
So worldly wise, is that what you want and what you want to follow? If so, that is your choice, and I cannot and will not change you. That lies within yourself and the course you choose.
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 2:41 PM |
Tale of Two Twins
|
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,101
|
BBE: Have you seen a man who seems to himself to be wise? There is more hope for the foolish than for him.
This is scripture and was given by the unction of the Holy Spirit. It is not what I would have told you, but I have to follow his leading. It is much stronger than I would have spoken.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 9, 2006 @ 2:44 PM |
Tale of Two Twins |
|
8Knots
Posts: 2,710
|
Sorry, pressed wrong button... continued....
We are born into a corrupted, corruptible body, with fleshly desires and weaknesses.
Yes, all things are "corrupted" in the sense that is 'fault', impermanant. They world is a world of desire hence we suffer. And yes there are weaknesses. This should allmake us very unhappy.
We can try to be wise, and seek wisdom, for the Bible says to seek wisdom, but wisdom, true wisdom can only come from God.
Yes, we should seek wisdom. And yes we should seek the wisdom of God. That comes from within us.
I once thought I was very wise, but when I began to seek God for His wisdom, I saw how foolish I had been, He opened my eyes.
Seeking wisdom comes from seeking from within yourself. Being in touch with your inner wisdom as Jesus did and many other great religeous peoples. For example why do the best of our leaders seek salvation in monastries and nunneries, in mountains and wandering through the desert lands...... to be in touch with their God, their innerself where God speaks.
So worldly wise, is that what you want and what you want to follow? If so, that is your choice, and I cannot and will not change you. That lies within yourself and the course you choose.
What is "worldly wise"? Is that materialism, reading books without understanding, or giving up beliefs because of pressure from fanatics?
Personally, my own wisdom comes from inside. I dont need to quote to make points or to rely on others. However sometimes out of completeness on a point i do add by quote from a source. But try not to. Often the inner soul is enough.
Hope this is ok?
|
| |
|
|
|
|