"I long for you" I think this is what Scripture means when it describes David as a "man after God's own heart." As we know, David was no saint. It's pretty hard to admire David for his moral rectitude. No, what made David unique among Israel's kings was his passion for God, his longing for God. In Psalm 42 that longing is described as a thirst:
So can relate. My own glimpses, connections are indescribable really. I use my own acronymn, TANW. There Are No Words. A bit of a disrespectful "play" on the Tetragrammaton YHWH.
I'm so pleased to read that you have experienced "moments where . . . [you] . . . have glimpsed God", where the encounter was "more direct and perceptual. A beholding. A seeing".
This is what I have been wanting, needing, and mentioning (to fellow Christians) for some time (years, if not decades) now. Some tangible, somehow 'tactile', or other experiential manifestation or indication of God's presence, involvement and/or interest in one's life.
Even a 'still, small voice' would help.
When I have voiced such feelings, I guess I may have been displaying or revealing some lack of faith. I readily admit to being weak when it comes to faith. Like the man said in Mark 9: 24 . . . "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (NKJV).
I believe in God - probably mostly because of the rational intellectual scientific evidence that matter cannot be created nor destroyed; as well as scientist's proof that the universe didn't always exist (unlike what was previously believed according to the 'steady-state' thesis).
There are other reasons to believe of course, such as bible prophecies - especially from the Old Testament.
On the other hand, many difficult questions come to mind that affect my perception and appreciation of God's love and nature. Such topics as Theodicy, genocide texts in Old Testament, the cause of evil.
I have, and continue to explore, study and work on my own eclectic "systematic theology" regarding these, and other topics, but it would be encouraging and helpful if God somehow indicated in a 'tangible', experiential manner, His presence, knowledge, and possibly support and guidance for the better direction and understanding (eg. theological, doctrinal, philosophical) to embrace.
Basically, I've come to believe that a form of Universalism is the theology that best accounts for God's character of love, compassion, righteousness, justice, logic, lovingkindness, grace and mercy.
I guess my question is: can I, or anyone, ever expect to receive any such tangible, experiential manifestation from God in response to my appeals for such?
Thank you for reading my comments. Thank you for your editorials.
So can relate. My own glimpses, connections are indescribable really. I use my own acronymn, TANW. There Are No Words. A bit of a disrespectful "play" on the Tetragrammaton YHWH.
Dear Mr Richard Beck,
I'm so pleased to read that you have experienced "moments where . . . [you] . . . have glimpsed God", where the encounter was "more direct and perceptual. A beholding. A seeing".
This is what I have been wanting, needing, and mentioning (to fellow Christians) for some time (years, if not decades) now. Some tangible, somehow 'tactile', or other experiential manifestation or indication of God's presence, involvement and/or interest in one's life.
Even a 'still, small voice' would help.
When I have voiced such feelings, I guess I may have been displaying or revealing some lack of faith. I readily admit to being weak when it comes to faith. Like the man said in Mark 9: 24 . . . "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (NKJV).
I believe in God - probably mostly because of the rational intellectual scientific evidence that matter cannot be created nor destroyed; as well as scientist's proof that the universe didn't always exist (unlike what was previously believed according to the 'steady-state' thesis).
There are other reasons to believe of course, such as bible prophecies - especially from the Old Testament.
On the other hand, many difficult questions come to mind that affect my perception and appreciation of God's love and nature. Such topics as Theodicy, genocide texts in Old Testament, the cause of evil.
I have, and continue to explore, study and work on my own eclectic "systematic theology" regarding these, and other topics, but it would be encouraging and helpful if God somehow indicated in a 'tangible', experiential manner, His presence, knowledge, and possibly support and guidance for the better direction and understanding (eg. theological, doctrinal, philosophical) to embrace.
Basically, I've come to believe that a form of Universalism is the theology that best accounts for God's character of love, compassion, righteousness, justice, logic, lovingkindness, grace and mercy.
I guess my question is: can I, or anyone, ever expect to receive any such tangible, experiential manifestation from God in response to my appeals for such?
Thank you for reading my comments. Thank you for your editorials.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Grach
Beautiful!