Posted on 05/07/2012 2:17:18 PM PDT by Mr. K
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has spent much of his career praising the socialist ideas of famed atheists such as Karl Marx and Fidel Castro. Now in the thick of a prolonged battle against cancer, however, the leftist leader is drawing inspiration from a spiritual leader: Jesus Christ.
Chavez has been praying for divine intervention during increasingly infrequent appearances on television, holding up a crucifix while vowing to overcome his illness. He says living with cancer has made him "more Christian," talk that has spurred speculation that cancer might cut short his bid for re-election in October.
Chavez's voice cracked with emotion as he bade farewell to aides and supporters in Caracas on April 30 before leaving for what he said would be his final round of cancer treatment in Cuba.
"I'm sure our Christ will do it again, continuing making the miracle," Chavez said as he raised his cross to his lips and kissed it, prompting applause from an audience of aides.
If Chavez survives cancer, political analysts say his increasing religiosity could pay election-year dividends in a country where Catholicism remains influential.
"Given that he cannot hide the illness, but he can hide its characteristics and danger, he's decided to take as much advantage of it as he can, and one advantage is the symbolic and religious issue," said Luis Vicente Leon, a Venezuelan pollster and analyst. "He'll present himself as the chosen one, the man who has been cured and healed by the Lord to continue governing the country."
The president has alternated between emotional fragility and optimism in public, mentioning God and Jesus nearly every time he shows up on TV.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Psalm 139
1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand —
when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Knowing something will happen is different than causing it to happen.
POS Thinks he can con Jesus Christ. Wish we all could see this one when it happens, watch as God banishes him to the flames of Hell! Despicable.
He says living with cancer has made him “more Christian,”
...........................................................
Dying with it will introduce him to Christ, who will judge him.
On the other hand, to borrow a catch-phrase from the 70’s - God doesn’t want to get involved.
Hugo. You are on your own. Enjoy “the trip on the express elevator to Hell” (H/T Bill Paxton in “Aliens”)
His lips may draw nigh to God....but his heart will be far from him.
Chavez obviously believes he can deceive the Lord.
Imagine that.
People yes, but even for God? Can God be wrong about something He knows will happen?
-—Communism derives its support from Catholics——
Are you talking about Catholic people, or the Church?
I assume you mean the former. Yes, many people in South America who identify themselves as Catholic, are communists. This shouldn’t be surprising, since 80-90% of South Americans are Catholic.
But communism is essentially atheistic, so a true Catholic can’t be a communist. Just ask the Catholics of China or Eastern Europe.
Guys, let's not second-guess what is between Chavez and God. That's up to God.
I’m saying that God’s knowledge of future events isn’t their cause.
Yah,I guess you're right.However,it seems to me that if some *genuine* spiritual awakening/reawakening,some *genuine* expression to God of contrition,had taken place in him it would be evident in a change in his actions.I've heard no evidence of such a change.As I said earlier,God *does* accept *genuine* expressions of contrition...even at the last minute...but part of that acceptance requires a vow to sin no more.IMO,*that's* the problem I have with Chavez's claim.
The bottom line is Chavez isn’t asking God to save him, so that Chavez can serve Him....he wants God to save him because he believes what he is doing in Venezuela is right, and he wants more time to further carry out his evil plans.
And I think it does...if what many believe about God is true and He truly has a plan for each of us. Thanx
Many here seem to know for sure what and why God does what He does.
Oh, God knows what He does. It’s not our position to judge someone if they repent. It’s between them and God
I agree. I find it amusing that some actually claim to know these things.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
