[HarleyD]

You do realize that to speak of "pleasing" God is an anthormorphic and metaphorical way of speaking of God? To hear one speak so "authoritatively" of what pleases or doesn't please God does make me uneasy --

Rom 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Non-Christians cannot please God. They are in the flesh. The Bible does tend to be "authoritative" from time to time. If this makes you uneasy then you should ask yourself why.

[maryz]

Rom 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

There are probably whole books (or at least whole chapters) written on precisely what St. Paul meant by "in the flesh." I have no way of knowing what your precise understanding is unless I'm told. And you sound as if you can identify with precision just who is and is not in the flesh. I'm unpersuaded.