Cubicleguy, Press the smilie face: 
Posted on 09/30/2002 9:19:01 AM PDT by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain
And do take care of my Harley. :)
BigMack
Cubicleguy, Press the smilie face:
That verse seems to be more problematic for the Calvinists since, as Xzins has pointed out, it shows a unbeliever with 'integrity of heart' and also that God is communicating with a spiritually dead man (corpse like)and the man is speaking with God!
A couple of observations. That Abimelech had 'integrity of the heart' in this one instance does not imply that he was totally guiltless before God. The text shows that that 'integrity of the heart' was the direct result of God's restraint. Radical depravity does not mean that man is as bad as he could be but that sin has affected all areas of God's life. God can appear to whomsoever he chooses. I would point oiut that Abram was a pagan when God first revealed Himself to him. The point of the passage is that God controls/restrains the sinful desires and will of men when it suits His purpose. Who are you or am I to tell Him he can't!!!
I'm headed to Utah to scrounge around in the desert, canyons and rocks.
No, Joseph was required to turn the plates back over to Moroni when his task was complete.This was convenient because there is no way to verify the translation. However the Book of Abraham is not quite so convenient.
Dr. Hugh Nibley demonstrated that the single papyrus fragment in question was from a pagan funerary text known as the "Book of Breathings" -- a work which evolved from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. The name "Book of Breathings" actually appears clearly on the fourth line of the text. When Professor Richard A. Parker, Chairman of the Department of Egyptology at Brown University, translated the papyrus, this is what he came up with:...this great pool of Khonsu [Osiris Hor, justified], born of Taykhebyt, a man likewise. After (his) two arms are [fast]ened to his breast, one wraps the Book of Breathings, which is with writing both inside and outside of it, with royal linen, it being placed (at) his left arm near his heart, this having been done at his wrapping and outside it. If this book be recited for him, then he will breathe like the soul[s of the gods] for ever and ever.From here.
So why should anyone trust the JST when there are tons on manuscript evidence that shows it to be an inferior translation????
Unless, of course, you value ink on paper more than a living oracle of God.
The point is ... a living oracle of God would have to have some pretty impressive credentials.
Think about it. What is there about Joseph (i.e. who he was, what he did, what he said, etc.) that modern-day christians should believe that he is an oracle from God.
Why Joseph and not Rev. Sung Yung Moon?
Why Joseph and not David Koresh?
Why Joseph and not Jim Jones?
Why should we believe Joseph?
Unless, of course, you value ink on paper more than a living oracle of God.
The point is ... a living oracle of God would have to have some pretty impressive credentials.
Think about it. What is there about Joseph (i.e. who he was, what he did, what he said, etc.) that modern-day christians should believe that he is an oracle from God.
Why Joseph and not Rev. Sung Yung Moon?
Why Joseph and not David Koresh?
Why Joseph and not Jim Jones?
Why should we believe Joseph?
...Assuming, of course, that the gospel accounts are true.
Gosh, just because I happen to believe the Lord when He says that His kingdom is not of this world, doesn't mean that I have spiritualized prophecy.
Let me see. You believe he is Lord based on a spiritualized interpretation of prophecy, and then because you believe he is Lord, you accept the spiritualized interpretation which "supports" it. Sounds circular to me.
The prophets said that the messiah would bring world peace. World peace has been noticably lacking the past 2000 years. How do you account for this? And while you're at it, perhaps you can point out the precise passage of the Hebrew scriptures where it prophecies a second coming of the messiah.
My point is that you cannot see the kingdom of God because you are spiritually dead.
I know that your faith depends on your believing this. Otherwise you might have to consider the possibility that Jesus was really not the messiah.
I don't think that you are an idolator, and I have explained my reasoning to you. If you, however, choose to label yourself as such, that's up to you.
If He is, then you are in over your head and utterly at His mercy.
He isn't. And I have no fear that I am wrong. My trust is entirely in 
, who alone is Father, Lord, Savior and Redeemer.
Incomplete though I will finish...When Gods grace washes over him :>)
AMEN!!!
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.