Have anyone read "Conversations With God"?
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Yes, its a great book and opens up all new ideas about life and religion.  It really makes you think. It was written by Neale Donald Walsh. One of my favourite things written in it was, 'No one will judge you ever, for why, and how, could God judge God's own creation and call it bad?'
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Very Insightful. Seriously I loved the series. Check out his book "God and the Evolving Universe" another great one. I forget who co-wrote it with him. I try to live with what I learn from reading different concepts and other peoples truths. This set of books has given me so many good lessons. The main thing I took away from it was a totally new way to interact with my children. I see them more as equals now than before. They have taught me many things that have made my life better. I think if people can use what they read in these books then it would be a really good thing for the world. \nLove & Light\nOne Planet = One People
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:}\nMany people do read it.  I reread it at least one time per year, \nThere are new and easy to read modern English versions available.  Let me recommend the New Living or the Holman Christian Standard, even the message or a little more difficult but still about a 9th grade level the New American standard (a very accurate word for word translation)\n\nIt is not read and understood because it takes spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear. Spiritual things are discerned spiritually.
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This was close enough ton a miracle for me.\n\nSeveral years ago I had an unusual experience concerning an uncle, a distant relative who lived over a thousand miles away. \n\nWhile driving my car I suddenly felt the unmistakable presence of this relative that I hardly even knew. He was more like someone I had heard about than someone I knew. It was very strange; it felt as though I was momentarily lifted right out of my physical body. I seemed to be suspended somehow beyond space and time, bathed in a love so intense It felt like I could have just disappear into it at any moment if It would have let me. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it seemed to last forever at the same time. I realize how crazy this must sound. The experience was so strong that at first I was afraid I was loosing my grip on reality. I finally managed to chalk it up to an over active imagination.\n\nThree days later I got a call from my aunt telling me that this uncle we are talking about had gone into a coma and died the day I had the experience. It felt like ice water had been poured down my back when she told me this. I had lost any real ideas of God or faith and had become somewhat of an atheist. Needless to say this experience caused me to rethink some of the conclusions I had come to. \n\nI feel blessed to now understand that even in our darkest confusion something loves us so much that it went out of its way to assist me and bring me back to a state of absolute certainty about Gods love for us.\nDuring the experience it seemed like there was a vast amount of information that I was somehow allowed access to. One thing that I came away from this experience understanding beyond any shadow of a doubt was that any Idea that God is unhappy with us or would judge or allow us to be punished for any reason is simply impossible. \n\nI can’t explain the love I felt with words. They simply don’t make words big enough or complete enough to do this. The only way I can begin to convey this love to you is to say that there was simply nothing else there. Nothing but love. No hint of judgment, no displeasure of any sort. It is as though God sees us as being as perfect as we were the day we were created. It is only in our confused idea of ourselves that we seem to have changed.\n\n I hope this is of some help to you. Good luck. Love and blessings. \n\nYour brother don
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This book is a must for every aspiring Truth seeker irrespective of his religion.\n\nThis book has given insight milllions of people around the globe.  Yogananda has so bearutifully explained the complex Yoga system through his biography.\n\nI liked the chapter "Law of Miracles" and "Resurrection of guru.."  it has given awsome account of astral planes and an insight into what happens after death
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Building Your Relationship With God\nI was born and raised a Christian; from the ages of 10-17 I went on a mission trip each year. My last mission trip when I was 17 was a Mission trip arranged by Marantha in conjunction with Peace of the Pie Ministries, called “The Ultimate Workout”. Every mission trip I have ever went on, including this one, was all for the wrong reasons. I did not go to glorify God, or to draw others to Christ; my main reasons were girls, fun, and girls, purely selfish reasons. However what set this trip apart from the rest was not the mission trip itself building churches and seeing people’s lives changed by God, it was the last 30 minutes at the airport as I waited for my plane there in Costa Rica’s airport. \n While sitting there at the airport, I got to talking to a guy that was also waiting for the plane. I told him I was there on a mission trip and we were building churches and stuff. Then he started to ask me what I believed, and I told him what I believed, or at least what I had been taught to believe. I had always taken God for granted since I was surrounded by Christians everyday for the last 17 years of my life. Nevertheless he was not satisfied by my answers; he wanted to know why I believe what I Believe not just what I believe. It was all I could do to scrape up a few verses to try and keep from sinking in this conversation; finally the boarding call for the plane came I was “saved by the bell.”\n I realized that I know of God, but I did not have a personal relationship with Him. I had never truly given my heart to God. All that was part of taking Him for granted. Even then I did not think about it to much, but that seed was planted in my mind. \n When you give your life to God, you need to nurture the relationship, to truly learn and understand who He is. The only way you are going to nurture the relationship is by talking to him, and listening to his word; the Bible. Christ says, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23. Just carrying the name Christian does not denote, nor signify a personal relationship with Christ.\n The Bible compares our relationship with God as a groom and his bride. Now, if you get married and you never talk to your spouse again, or if you do all he talking and do not listen, how long do you think that relationship will last. I’ve been married now for 6 months 23 days, and I talk to my wife every day to strengthen our relationship. The Bible says “Do not deprive one another…, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinence.” 1 Corinthians 7:5. Incontinence means to withhold yourself from something. So to keep the relationship of marriage from failing husbands and wives are not to depriving one another of the use of their bodies, nor any other of the comforts of the conjugal state, appointed of God for keeping the vessel in sanctification and honor, and preventing the lusts of uncleanness. God, through Jesus Christ, has already given us his body; we as Christians are not to withhold our body from him, so that we may have an intimate relationship with God.  \nIn the same way Satan can tempts us by our incontinence away from God. Satan is quite tricky; he can do it without you even knowing about it. Jeremiah 9:5-6 says, “And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.” Satan has many people deceived, they do not know God because they do not study the Bible, they think that just listening their pastors, and ministers will do the job. Yes it is good to listen to the council of your spiritual leaders; how
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It is a work of fiction.  As with most fiction, it is based upon some fact, some myth, and some imagination.  It presents some interesting ideas and certainly has generated worldwide discussion and controversy, which is great for the author - certainly boosts sales. \n\nThe book itself was a disappointment considering all the hype - just a good read, not awesome.  Though I will go see the movie, or rent it later, I'm not expecting it to be spectacular - the book wasn't, so the movie wouldn't usually be better than the book. \n\nAs to the ideas presented, I take no particular stand on those.  The Catholic Church certainly can be prone to secrets, and in Jesus' day it would have been very unusual, even somewhat unacceptable, for a man of his age to be unmarried.
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I have.\nIt is wonderful. \nAny prayer prompted by God is a prayer God wants to answer.( repeated from a radio ministry)\n\nSome people regard speaking in tongues EVIDENCE of having the Holy Spirit. \n\nYahoo! Answerers \n\n\n\nBe careful of what fisherman is fishing from you. Or which fisherman is fishing for you.
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Hi Don,\nI met the SaltyFry once, a few weekends ago. I was walking to the corner market for a loaf of bread when I had to pass by a neighborhood church. I was somewhat acquainted with the structure as it was always mentioned in the newspaper's community section. Known as "The loft," folks would gather there on Thursday evenings for poetry readings.\nHowever, this day happened to be a Saturday afternoon and a pair of gentlemen greeted me as I walked by. They invited me inside to sample an hour of their presentation. Ok, I went inside and found myself to be a prospective new recruit for their brand of religion.\n\nMost of the pews were filled with hooded monks chanting a haunting rhythm. There were others who like me, were wearing their regular denims. The service began like most others that church-goers would be familiar with. A grand master of ceremonies led the group through some songs and gave a sermon. Near the end of the hour it was time for their ritual of "laying on of the hands." Some of the parishioners would come forward and ask for prayers for their ailments or for a sick grand mum who fell down in the tub. All the hooded dudes whose faces could not readily be seen would all place a hand on the person and their combined energies were presumed to have a strength and expedite a solution to the problem.\n\nOK now, there was another new guy in the pews who was watching eagerly. I recognized SaltyFry from a wanted poster viewed earlier at the post office. When he saw a chance, he approached the ring of conspirators and described how he was always moving around and never able to settle down. The hooded goons closed in upon him, all to make a physical connection. The master of ceremonies began a prayer, a dogmatic mix of logic and pure hocus-pocus. I immediately saw the effects of the procedure as the tension went out of SaltyFry's body. When the beseeching was near an end, the master asked, "Are the brothers ready?"\n\nA suspenseful few moments passed until he almost shouted, "NOW!"\n\nOn that cue, the brothers began to pummel their hapless victim. Continually delivering blows over head and to the solar plexus until SaltyFry was down on the floor getting stomped. After another minute, the grand Pooh-Bah decided the treatment administered was sufficient to induce a relaxing calm that would assuage the nervousness of SaltyFry for a long, long time.\n\nI can't say for certain if SaltyFry got the comeuppance he deserved as I had a loaf of bread to buy and some other errands to do that day. I hope for you Don, that you do find a sense of closure to this difficult episode of life.\n\n-Zealnik
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It is very sad. Anyone who does a good amount of reading on ethics will know better. Christians tend to not read good books. They just accept the beliefs they were raised with and stick to them out of loyalty, fear, and familiarity. A lot of people don't like to think that what their parents taught them was wrong. A lot of people also have a very hard time dealing with mortality without a belief in a Heaven and benevolent god waiting for them. The truth is, we really just do not know what happens. There could be a deeper purpose to our being here. There could of been an intelligence behind what is. I would never say there definitely is or is not. On the same token though I can see the works or man from a mile away. The Bible wreaks of man, and all his fears. It's far too obvious that a god had nothing to do with what's in that book. I can can spot it just like I can spot the hand writing of a three year old. It's a shame others have such a hard time seeing this. I think this goes beyond their intelligence or lack thereof. It comes from a much deeper emotional issue. To lose faith in God would be akin to losing meaning to everything and that would leave them horribly broken and lost. It's too bad they can't see the other alternatives. One can lead a very spiritual life without placing belief in ridiculous claims.
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I have waited to answer this question to see what others would say. It is interesting. Unless you have a personal relationship with me, you really do not know me, just "about me", which is the same thing with Jesus. \nI genuinely thank those who spoke such kind and gracious words, I am humbled and grateful. \nOK, to answer, we will start at the beginning. I have always assumed there was a God. I was raised initially in the Catholic church, but I did not like the repetitive rituals or the standing when the priest walks in. My mother did not force me to continue the Catechism classes, and I continued my search for God into my teens. \nOn Thanksgiving evening, 1970, I was cruising in my friend Steve's 1955 T-bird around the towns surrounding Eglin AFB, Florida. We walked around an old cemetary and we got to talking about the spirit world. It sort of gave me the shivers. Steve asked me if I had ever been "saved". What is that? It is asking Jesus Christ into your heart. Something inside me said, "Isn't that what you have been looking for all your life?" That night, I asked Jesus into my heart and to be my Lord and Savior.\n\nMy approach to the Bible changed over the years. Before I met Jesus, it was a confusing array of religious writings and myths. \nAfter I met Jesus, it became a curious array of religious writings that may be true. \nAfter receiving the Holy Spirit a year later, it became personal love letters to me. \nDuring my high school years, it became a book of do's and don'ts that I could not quite live up to. \nDuring my college years, I came upon my mentor Chuck Smith, of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, who guided me through the Bible, verse by verse. The Bible became my life and foundation for living.\nDuring my single working years, I graduated to my next mentor Chuck Missler, who showed me the importance of types, how the old relates to the new, how the Bible is an intrigate message by One author. The Bible WAS and proved to be the Word of God! \nFive years under him and other great teachers, and I married Julie (Juliart). I was have been blessed to pass on all I have learned her and to my children and also to people stuck in cults, those confused by manipulative religions, and see the freedom the Word of God brings. \nThirty five years since that night in Florida, I have decided to pass all I have learned on to you. But in all things, be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11. Receive everything I have to give with joy, but check the scriptures daily to see if these things are true. I consider what I impart here as "Handfuls Dropped on Purpose" (see study below).\n\nSo to answer this question once and for all. I am just like my other fellow Christians who just love the Bible and have a personal walk with its Author. An old Jesus Freak from the 70s who's life's motto is...\n\n"Have Bible, Will Babble."\n\npregowtwins-Julie cracked up at your post. I could hear her across the house!\nmikeiam20-Your post reminded me of a line in Close Encounters. "Einstein was probably one of them." (looking at the alien mothership) ;)
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I've read it like twice (I am a convert of 1.5 years)  But my favorite always happens to be D&C!  That I have read a million times.  I love section 132!  Everytime I read it I remember truely how much our heavenly Father loves us!  \n\nJust got married in the Manti Temple 2 weeks ago!
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He ought to try reading Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul  by John Eldredge.\n\nFrom the review:\nIf Christian men are going to change from a pitiful, wimpy bunch of "really nice guys" to men who are made in the image of God, they must reexamine their preconceptions about who God is and recover their true "wild" hearts, writes bestselling author John Eldredge in Wild at Heart: Discovering a Life of Passion, Freedom, and Adventure. Eldredge throws down the gauntlet--men are bored; they fear risk, they refuse to pay attention to their deepest desires. He challenges Christian men to return to authentic masculinity without resorting to a "macho man" mentality. Men often seek validation in venues such as work, or in the conquest of women, Eldredge observes. He urges men to take time out and come to grips with the "secret longings" of their hearts. Although the book succeeds best in its slant toward a male audience, it also strives to help women understand the implications of authentic masculinity in their relationships with men. Eldredge frames the book around his outdoor experiences and appealing anecdotes about his family, sprinkling the text with touches of humor and overlying everything with heartfelt passion.
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Yes, he speaks to us! He speaks to us through each other, through his word, audible, and to our hearts. It is awesome when He speaks to you audibly!\n\nMy youth leader once told me, God is always talking, its just a matter of whether or not your listening.
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They must have been inspired, these translators!\n\n\nI read in ANOTHER famous book once about people who pray to god:  Why? (pray) Who are YOU to Teach, and He to Learn?\n\nGood thoughts, these
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Why don't you Pray and meditate on that question and see if the Lord will reveal the truth to you.  The Book was written and categorized as Fiction.  The first line in the book says, "This is a book of Fiction"\n\nI am overjoyed for the fact that this book/movie has sparked such a great interest in my savior.  Can you imagine how many have picked up a Bible to read more about the Christ, that would have never touched it otherwise? Until this Movie came out, only about 10% of the population knew who Mary Magdalene was? I saw a blip on CNN News the other day that People are taking Bibles right and left out of hotel rooms since the release of the Movie.  I truly think that the Authors intention when writing this book was to promote Christianity.
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I read that book, and I also read the 2 that followed it...\n\nI found the book to be very good, although disturbing. I was at work when I read it. I started at 9 am, and didn't put it down until I finished it. \n\nWhat I liked about it:\n\nI didn't like the fact that a child had to endure that abuse, but what I did like about it was the fact that I know without a shadow of a doubt that my children are not abused. I am happy about the fact that my children know they will have a full stomach, they can eat when they are hungry, and that they know they have a mother that loves them and would never harm them. I also like that "David" could grow to have a son of his own and know that he would never put his son through what his own mother put him through. Glad that he could grow to have a normal, happy life.