First, I don't have anything approaching a 100% acceptance rate. The vast majority of my submissions are rejected, but you'd have to take the time to look at my profile to know what I've submitted. Second, I submit stories from lots of different news sites. Because I edit for Computerworld (and I'm open about my association what that 40-year-old pub -- it's my homepage) doesn't make me some sort of evil shill. I'm proud of my magazine and the reporters here. Why shouldn't I post what I consider the best and most appropriate stories around the web to be read? Who cares where a story comes from if it's good? I have to say, Slashdot is the most democratic news site around. Acceptance is totally based on whether the story is voted up by Slashdot readers through Firehose, unlike a site like Digg.com, which is based on how large a social network you create in order to garner votes.
You can always find someone who, factually or not -- hundreds of years after the fact, or not -- will contradict the historical truth. I'm not concerned with that. That's expected. It was even happening in the time right after Christ's crucifiction. The apostle Paul wrote about it. I don't base my belief in God on my critical thinking. The bible warns against that. "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1 Corinthians 1:20).
I base my belief in God on faith, and faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). God has shown me time and again that He is there for me. That doesn't mean that I won't experience trouble. I have gone through some very difficult times, things you would likely describe as tragedies, but God's Holy Spirit has been there to strengthen, comfort and guide me. Jesus made it clear that we would have troubles. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Jesus was explaining that we need to be eternally minded, not temporally minded. I could offer you scripture after scripture of Jesus illustrating how we are to respond to trouble -- remember the disciples in the boat during the storm? Even the disciples had to learn about faith -- it's not always easy, you know:)
I also don't take responsibility for what other Christians do. If God leads me to, I'll correct another Christian. As for me, the Bible is clear. I am to spread the gospel, the good news of Christ's salvation for the world. That's it. If someone doesn't accept that, then I pray for them, but it's the Holy Spirit's job to soften their hearts, not mine. The Pharisees once asked Jesus for miracles as proof that he was the Messiah. He told them the only sign they would receive is the sign on Jonah -- that he would be buried for three days and then rise again. When Christ was on the cross, the chief priests and teachers of the law mocked Jesus and told him to save himself as proof that he was God. He didn't. His purpose wasn't to impress the local religious leaders. Thomas asked Jesus for permission to touch His hands as proof he was the Christ. Jesus said then said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29).
You say you once had a relationship with Jesus, but walked away from it based on a lack of tangible evidence. The only miracle you needed or need is Christ's salvation. In Christ's time, even with miracles being performed, most refused to believe. I expect nothing less than that today. If you once believed, you're still called. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (John 15:16). Talk to your Father; he's waiting to hear from you:)
It's noteworthy that you compare mythological characters with someone who actually lived and performed thousands of miracles that were witnessed by as many people. In fact, Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian, was not a Christian but documented early Christianity and Jesus' miracles quite extensively.
This "existential" life that you speak of, what is that exactly -- especially considering the term "existential" finds its roots in self-absorbed practices, such as psychotherapy, and deeply disturbed people like Nietzsche. I'm guessing you mean to discover life's pleasures on your own, or something like that.
God does not want us to look inwardly for answers, but to look to him. He requires us to serve others and bless them, not serve our own selfish desires. You'll never find happiness in that -- not matter how much money or fame you gain.
It's not complicated. It's as simple as this, John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The bible tells us that darkness will not understand Christ. John 1:3-5: "In him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."
The Bible also reminds us that unbelievers will consider belief in Christ foolish: 1 Corinthians 1:18: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Just because you've never experienced God's touch in your life, doesn't mean He doesn't exist. It just means that you've not really sought Him out. His promise to you is that if you seek Him, you will find him.
To people who've experienced Jesus in their lives, your attempts to discredit Him through intellectualism remain meaningless. But the door is always open for you to step through -- to find true fulfillment through your maker. All you have to do is ask with a sincere heart.
Unfortunately, you missed the meaning of the entire book as many people do because you never understood it from the beginning or asked for God to reveal it to you. Your eyes were shut and you were looking at it from an intellectual perspective and not spiritual. To understand the context of the killing that the Bible contains, you have to understand God's purpose for the Jews -- the people God chose to reveal himself to the world. Their captivity in Egypt was purposeful. It was the most powerful nation on earth and the Jews were the weakest people, yet they bested Egypt through God's help. Any other nation seeing that would know it wasn't the Jews own strength that won them freedom, but God. The Canaanites were a wicked people who were attempting to destroy Israel and had been offered the same chance at redemption as the Jews, but rejected it. Read the book of Jonah. Revelation is not convoluted at all, though it is mysterious, and it speaks mainly to the churches. But read it understanding God's purpose and you'll more fully understand it's meaning. Take another look at the book and give God a chance to open your eyes.
The Bible isn't a slasher novel, it's a love story. It's about these kids who run away from home seeking independence and what they perceive as life's true fulfillment, and a father who desperately tries to get them to return. The father pleads with them for years to come home and enjoy the shelter and comfort of his house, but they continue to ignore him until finally the father makes a tremendous sacrifice in order to open the door for them to return. Some of the children realize the father's sacrifice and unconditional love he has for them, and come home. The others continue to wander aimlessly. The subtle, but real, plot of the story is that the father knew all along what it was going to take to be reunited with his children, but he also knew he had to let his children suffer in order for them to realize what they'd given up and the importance of the sacrifice it was going to take to save them. You should read the whole book sometime. It's amazing!
"We don't know one millionth of one percent about anything" -- Thomas Edison.
Think about it. Light travels roughly 5.8 trillion miles in a year. Our galaxy is about 120,000 light years across, give or take 40,000 light years, and it contains an estimated 100 billion stars (scientists are only guessing; they can't see them all).
This newly reported area of "dark matter" (translation: uh, we don't know what it is), is a billion light years across -- a billion light years.
Any attempt to place definitive explanations on the origins of the universe, its size, how it is expanding (or not), and what fills it, is an exercise in lunacy. We're like blind people feeling away in the dark and trying to describe what we can't even touch. We don't even know what a black hole is; we're only guessing based on what happens at the event horizon. Science is a great discipline -- I fell in love with it even before college -- but the scientific community needs an enormous dose of humility; and that's not something I see a lot of these days. Every news story that I see about scientific discovery is more often than not missing huge qualifiers, such as scientists theorize that...
Think about it. The laws of physics that apply to us here and in the space that immediately surrounds our infinitesimally small portion of our galaxy may not apply in other regions of the universe -- of that I'm convinced based on what we can't explain. It's an amazing universe. Personally, I can't wait to see what we stumble on next.
Because of birch tar's long lasting flavor, the average caveman never had to buy another pack. Not so coincidentally, companies began building products with predictable defects. Hence, the birth of a disposable goods society began soon after.
Great verse, wrong direction. That verse is about God hearing the cries of his people who waited patiently for Him to answer. God took them out of slavery (captivity, or today, sin), gave them a foundation on which to stand that wouldn't be moved by storms or trials and set before them a future filled with promise and purpose -- all available to you also.
Feeding trolls can be a dangerous business as they will eat most anything, from garbage to fine cuisine. And, once they get a taste from your hand, they'll come back for more. It's best to keep them starved, cold and shivering underneath their bridges.
After successfully treating the mice for fear, the scientists found a number of the left for experiments dropped drastically as the rodents fell to their deaths from shelves during espace attempts and as well as unsuccessfully facing down the lab cat.
Maybe I should offer it another way: "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." (Romans 12:3) Everyone is given a measure of faith. Some choose to use it, others don't. It's not my job or any Christian's job to convince you that God exists. The only task the Bible gives us with regard to that is to spread the good news. God already knows whether or not you'll accept that message. I don't.
Answer: Cain and Able weren't Adam and Eve's only children, just their first.
Then there's this: "Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute. Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah." God said to "be fruitful and multiply."
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Everyone has a measure of faith. Without faith, where would you be? You have faith in people and objects around you. If you distrusted everyone and everything, what kind of life would you lead? You don't understand the science behind all your modern conveniences, yet you have faith that they'll work because you're told they will and your experiences show you they will -- not so different from religion. And what about hope? Hope buoys us each and every day. I think what you're trying to say in your comment is that your faith doesn't lie with God, but in man and science. You're a like the apostle Thomas in the Bible. You want proof. But, Christians believe you're more blessed to believe without seeing.
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of Mars
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of Mars
There's a log, there's a log
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of Mars.
There's a branch on the log in the hole in the bottom of Mars
There's a branch on the log in the hole in the bottom of Mars
There's a branch, there's a branch
There's a branch on the log in the hole in the bottom of Mars.
Slashdot Mirror
Yes. I was joking. But sadly, no one seemed to get that.
Bush is dead meat.
First, I don't have anything approaching a 100% acceptance rate. The vast majority of my submissions are rejected, but you'd have to take the time to look at my profile to know what I've submitted. Second, I submit stories from lots of different news sites. Because I edit for Computerworld (and I'm open about my association what that 40-year-old pub -- it's my homepage) doesn't make me some sort of evil shill. I'm proud of my magazine and the reporters here. Why shouldn't I post what I consider the best and most appropriate stories around the web to be read? Who cares where a story comes from if it's good? I have to say, Slashdot is the most democratic news site around. Acceptance is totally based on whether the story is voted up by Slashdot readers through Firehose, unlike a site like Digg.com, which is based on how large a social network you create in order to garner votes.
Then you'd be wrong.
They came as little artificial pellets, but once you put them in water -- look out -- LIFE!
You can always find someone who, factually or not -- hundreds of years after the fact, or not -- will contradict the historical truth. I'm not concerned with that. That's expected. It was even happening in the time right after Christ's crucifiction. The apostle Paul wrote about it. I don't base my belief in God on my critical thinking. The bible warns against that. "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1 Corinthians 1:20). I base my belief in God on faith, and faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). God has shown me time and again that He is there for me. That doesn't mean that I won't experience trouble. I have gone through some very difficult times, things you would likely describe as tragedies, but God's Holy Spirit has been there to strengthen, comfort and guide me. Jesus made it clear that we would have troubles. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Jesus was explaining that we need to be eternally minded, not temporally minded. I could offer you scripture after scripture of Jesus illustrating how we are to respond to trouble -- remember the disciples in the boat during the storm? Even the disciples had to learn about faith -- it's not always easy, you know :)
I also don't take responsibility for what other Christians do. If God leads me to, I'll correct another Christian. As for me, the Bible is clear. I am to spread the gospel, the good news of Christ's salvation for the world. That's it. If someone doesn't accept that, then I pray for them, but it's the Holy Spirit's job to soften their hearts, not mine. The Pharisees once asked Jesus for miracles as proof that he was the Messiah. He told them the only sign they would receive is the sign on Jonah -- that he would be buried for three days and then rise again. When Christ was on the cross, the chief priests and teachers of the law mocked Jesus and told him to save himself as proof that he was God. He didn't. His purpose wasn't to impress the local religious leaders. Thomas asked Jesus for permission to touch His hands as proof he was the Christ. Jesus said then said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29).
You say you once had a relationship with Jesus, but walked away from it based on a lack of tangible evidence. The only miracle you needed or need is Christ's salvation. In Christ's time, even with miracles being performed, most refused to believe. I expect nothing less than that today. If you once believed, you're still called. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (John 15:16). Talk to your Father; he's waiting to hear from you :)
It's noteworthy that you compare mythological characters with someone who actually lived and performed thousands of miracles that were witnessed by as many people. In fact, Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian, was not a Christian but documented early Christianity and Jesus' miracles quite extensively. This "existential" life that you speak of, what is that exactly -- especially considering the term "existential" finds its roots in self-absorbed practices, such as psychotherapy, and deeply disturbed people like Nietzsche. I'm guessing you mean to discover life's pleasures on your own, or something like that. God does not want us to look inwardly for answers, but to look to him. He requires us to serve others and bless them, not serve our own selfish desires. You'll never find happiness in that -- not matter how much money or fame you gain. It's not complicated. It's as simple as this, John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The bible tells us that darkness will not understand Christ. John 1:3-5: "In him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." The Bible also reminds us that unbelievers will consider belief in Christ foolish: 1 Corinthians 1:18: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Just because you've never experienced God's touch in your life, doesn't mean He doesn't exist. It just means that you've not really sought Him out. His promise to you is that if you seek Him, you will find him. To people who've experienced Jesus in their lives, your attempts to discredit Him through intellectualism remain meaningless. But the door is always open for you to step through -- to find true fulfillment through your maker. All you have to do is ask with a sincere heart.
Unfortunately, you missed the meaning of the entire book as many people do because you never understood it from the beginning or asked for God to reveal it to you. Your eyes were shut and you were looking at it from an intellectual perspective and not spiritual. To understand the context of the killing that the Bible contains, you have to understand God's purpose for the Jews -- the people God chose to reveal himself to the world. Their captivity in Egypt was purposeful. It was the most powerful nation on earth and the Jews were the weakest people, yet they bested Egypt through God's help. Any other nation seeing that would know it wasn't the Jews own strength that won them freedom, but God. The Canaanites were a wicked people who were attempting to destroy Israel and had been offered the same chance at redemption as the Jews, but rejected it. Read the book of Jonah. Revelation is not convoluted at all, though it is mysterious, and it speaks mainly to the churches. But read it understanding God's purpose and you'll more fully understand it's meaning. Take another look at the book and give God a chance to open your eyes.
The Bible isn't a slasher novel, it's a love story. It's about these kids who run away from home seeking independence and what they perceive as life's true fulfillment, and a father who desperately tries to get them to return. The father pleads with them for years to come home and enjoy the shelter and comfort of his house, but they continue to ignore him until finally the father makes a tremendous sacrifice in order to open the door for them to return. Some of the children realize the father's sacrifice and unconditional love he has for them, and come home. The others continue to wander aimlessly. The subtle, but real, plot of the story is that the father knew all along what it was going to take to be reunited with his children, but he also knew he had to let his children suffer in order for them to realize what they'd given up and the importance of the sacrifice it was going to take to save them. You should read the whole book sometime. It's amazing!
"We don't know one millionth of one percent about anything" -- Thomas Edison. Think about it. Light travels roughly 5.8 trillion miles in a year. Our galaxy is about 120,000 light years across, give or take 40,000 light years, and it contains an estimated 100 billion stars (scientists are only guessing; they can't see them all). This newly reported area of "dark matter" (translation: uh, we don't know what it is), is a billion light years across -- a billion light years. Any attempt to place definitive explanations on the origins of the universe, its size, how it is expanding (or not), and what fills it, is an exercise in lunacy. We're like blind people feeling away in the dark and trying to describe what we can't even touch. We don't even know what a black hole is; we're only guessing based on what happens at the event horizon. Science is a great discipline -- I fell in love with it even before college -- but the scientific community needs an enormous dose of humility; and that's not something I see a lot of these days. Every news story that I see about scientific discovery is more often than not missing huge qualifiers, such as scientists theorize that... Think about it. The laws of physics that apply to us here and in the space that immediately surrounds our infinitesimally small portion of our galaxy may not apply in other regions of the universe -- of that I'm convinced based on what we can't explain. It's an amazing universe. Personally, I can't wait to see what we stumble on next.
about anything -- Thomas Edison.
Because of birch tar's long lasting flavor, the average caveman never had to buy another pack. Not so coincidentally, companies began building products with predictable defects. Hence, the birth of a disposable goods society began soon after.
Great verse, wrong direction. That verse is about God hearing the cries of his people who waited patiently for Him to answer. God took them out of slavery (captivity, or today, sin), gave them a foundation on which to stand that wouldn't be moved by storms or trials and set before them a future filled with promise and purpose -- all available to you also.
Feeding trolls can be a dangerous business as they will eat most anything, from garbage to fine cuisine. And, once they get a taste from your hand, they'll come back for more. It's best to keep them starved, cold and shivering underneath their bridges.
Everybody wants to rule the world...
I've been developing an algorithm to solve that game for years, and so far all I've come up with is: start with the middle square.
After successfully treating the mice for fear, the scientists found a number of the left for experiments dropped drastically as the rodents fell to their deaths from shelves during espace attempts and as well as unsuccessfully facing down the lab cat.
Amen
Dude. I took a closer look at that image and IT IS a Super-XiaJin -- complete with secret seltzer tablet-power technology.
So is it true that they have screen doors?
Maybe I should offer it another way: "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." (Romans 12:3) Everyone is given a measure of faith. Some choose to use it, others don't. It's not my job or any Christian's job to convince you that God exists. The only task the Bible gives us with regard to that is to spread the good news. God already knows whether or not you'll accept that message. I don't.
Answer: Cain and Able weren't Adam and Eve's only children, just their first. Then there's this: "Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute. Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah." God said to "be fruitful and multiply."
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Everyone has a measure of faith. Without faith, where would you be? You have faith in people and objects around you. If you distrusted everyone and everything, what kind of life would you lead? You don't understand the science behind all your modern conveniences, yet you have faith that they'll work because you're told they will and your experiences show you they will -- not so different from religion. And what about hope? Hope buoys us each and every day. I think what you're trying to say in your comment is that your faith doesn't lie with God, but in man and science. You're a like the apostle Thomas in the Bible. You want proof. But, Christians believe you're more blessed to believe without seeing.
Put a button in its ear. Then it will be a collector's item.
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of Mars There's a log in the hole in the bottom of Mars There's a log, there's a log There's a log in the hole in the bottom of Mars. There's a branch on the log in the hole in the bottom of Mars There's a branch on the log in the hole in the bottom of Mars There's a branch, there's a branch There's a branch on the log in the hole in the bottom of Mars.