Thx Al. Ive been teaching for 13 yrs now. Just about burned out to be honest with you.
I love coaching and working with kids. But coaching and teaching are far different animals these days. Teaching you are dealing with kids who dont want to be there, but have the right. Coaching, you are dealing with kids who DO want to be there, and they know its a privilege.
Try teaching in a public classroom these days for a week. Its no picnic. Inmates run the asylum. Admin wont punish kids unless they bring a gun to school. Getting rid of kids cost the school money, so they keep kids around that are constantly disrespectful and disruptive. Kids have caught on and now how to manipulate and work the system. And the parents? Dont even get me started there.... Thats the main problem.
Our country is F'd. There is no digging out of this hole....
Thats quite a catch 22 that you describe there. How do you think it gets fixed?
Same problem occured at my undergrad school -- Grambling. Alot of people who weren't taking school seriously and dragging the academic standard down. But at the same time, the university has to reach a quota so the professors playcate them
Let me bring my belt to school and use it as I see fit...
But in all seriousness, Im not sure there is a realistic fix. It takes people with integrity at the top making tough choices for the betterment of our youth and their education. Unfortunately in my experiences, these type of people are few and far between. Principals and admin are all about not rocking the boat and keeping status quo. There job is a lot easier if they dont have to deal with parental complaints when Joey's mom calls and is pissed because her son got a detention for something she didnt think was fair. Far easier to have lower standards and let things slide, then to deal with things the correct way.
I respect you a lot. Didn't know much about you, but agree with most everything you have said in this thread. Actually, I could have written many of your posts myself, they are so exactly like what I would have posted. I've got a friend in Phoenix, and next time I visit, we'll have to meet up for dinner or a beer or something.
But regarding this issue, the Bible is clear. He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son does not have life and is dead in sin, damned to hell, and an enemy to God. Romans 9 speaks to this well, and you might be pissed for a long time after reading it. I have a ton of questions about the Bible, even though I believe. But like you said before, we weren't meant to understand much on this earth. We walk by faith, not by sight. We see dimly, and it's just a glimpse of God.
One thing that gives me peace is to know that God defines justice and morality. It isn't that justice and morality exist on their own as properties, and God happens to line up and be just and righteous. So we can trust that the author of morality with the job of being a just judge. I don't understand the concept of eternal torment. I don't believe it's fire, like an earthly flame that burns. God is not a torturer. But the Bible is clear that anyone apart from Christ will spend eternity in a Christless place of conscious regret. Something about that concept doesn't quite jive all the time, but who can I trust? Myself and my sense of fairness and justice? Or the God of the universe? Who is the better judge?
Some things we just have to let God be God. Nobody can oppose God and win, even if they think that their rebellion is right and God is wrong. One of my brothers feels exactly this way, and I really doubt he is gonna repent, even though he knows that he's gonna lose in the end. He is adamant about this own righteousness and God is in the wrong to him.
Not to say in any way that that is your heart. Just saying that the only revelation we have is the Bible, and it's crystal clear. There are no innocent people. Every man is guilty and will be found guilty of their sin when they die. Those with Christ get a pardon. Our sin is burned up and replaced with the righteousness of Christ, freely given to believers by faith alone.
In general, gambling promotes a love of money and produces all kinds of evil. It's mostly bad, I agree. But it's not black and white that gambling is wrong for everyone. For some, it's just speculation. I'm learning to trade currencies and hope to make a career out of it in the not too distant future. Is that wrong? On what grounds?
If someone is a Christ follower and happens to make their living by betting sports and playing poker, I don't think that anyone can say authoritatively that they are in the wrong. Is a Christian professional athlete wrong for competing and making lots of money on the basketball court or football field?
Thanks for the kind words Illini. If you are ever down this way, look me up.
And I dont necessarily disagree with any of your post. But like I said, I really struggle with the hell topic. I just have to believe there is much more to this than what meets the eye. Jesus spoke in parables all the time to make his point. His stories were not always literal, but they had a point. Do we take every topic "literally" in the Bible? Should we? Is the hell that is described "literal"?
I wont believe that my loving and just God will torture people for all eternity just because of the hand they were dealt. Kids that are born in muslim households that are great kids, but die before they have a chance to hear the Gospel. I will NEVER believe that.
God is love. God will be just. Im 100% sure of that.
In general going to work everyday causes a love of money.
If you had no love of money we would all be amish.
The Bible also does not speak strongly against drinking. In fact you can almost make the case that it allows it.
There is no question Religion is a much different thing then the Bible in a lot of area's.
I find it almost imposible these days to go to Church.
And this has nothing to do with believing or no believing.
The Church has distorted the Word, the people who go to Church(most of them) do not even read the Word.
So they allow themselves to be slaves of there own ignorance.
There are many scenarios that are unanswered by reading the Bible. The mentally handicapped people may very well all belong to God, even though many cannot make a profession of faith or even have the slightest idea of what it all means. Jesus seemed to gravitate to children, and said that the kingdom of God belongs to them.
The main thing to me is that the invitation goes out to all. Jesus embodied compassion for the world, and he said that he will in no way turn away anyone that comes to him. Mercy abounds to a world of sinners.
My stance on this issue is that the only people who go to hell are the people who make a conscience decision to reject God.
People that know of God, but reject him.
I went to a church one time that taught that all aborted babies go to hell because until a child reaches the age of accountability HE/She's salvation is based on there parents. So if the parent aborts the baby, that means the parent is not a Christian therefore the aborted baby had unsaved parents, therefore the aborted baby goes to hell by default.
Any human being who is sick enough to believe such crap should be ashamed.
Illini, you seem to subscribe to the must confess to avoid hell teachings.
Although I cant deny what you say is Biblical, I just cant get myself to believe that someone in a 3rd World country who has never heard the word Jesus would be sent to hell.
And if this is true would you really want to worship someone like that?
Regarding the part of the world that has supposedly never heard the Gospel......wouldn't taking a mission trip sharing the good news with them actually be the worst news that they have ever heard? I mean, if not knowing is an automatic free pass to heaven, wouldn't telling them about Christ and making them now accountable be the worst possible thing for most of them? That's the problem I have with the ignorance is bliss theology. Also, Romans 1 addresses this. The creation is God screaming "I'm real." All men are without excuse.
I believe that God reveals himself to all people that are mentally capable. Ravi Zacharias is the most solid Biblical teacher and philosopher I know of. He has had many encounters with Muslims that later came to Christ. One guy said he dreamed of Jesus every night for 7 years, and then finally understood what the dreams meant. Just as those of us raised in Christian homes who later doubt if anything is real, those raised in Muslim and Buddhist homes also reach an age where they have to ask themselves what is the real truth. If God was a beer drinking partier sitting on the clouds that let everyone in that wasn't a murderer, would that be a god you would worship? God is Holy and perfect, and worthy of worship. Who am I to question who he gives mercy to and who he gives justice to? I know that I am guilty, and if went before the holiness of God, I would be even more convicted of my own wickedness.
AND DEAC.
I still dont understand your motivation for starting these threads.
Are you starting these threads so you can have someone challenge your belief system in hopes that one day someone will say something in a post that will one day click with you and you can be converted into a believer?
My feelings about you from reading all these post from you over the years is that you want to be proven wrong. And you are hoping against hope that one day you can and will be proven wrong.
I sense that you want to believe deep down and you are hoping that one day someone can post something that will make the light go off in your head.
The only other reason I can come up with that you start these threads is because maybe you want to convert as many believers into non believers as you can because you feel that believers hinder your way of life.
If thats the reason I agree with that statement but you have your message in the wrong place.
There are 2 kinds of believers
1)Believers that mind there own business and dont judge others when they dont believe.
2) Jerry Farwell, Pat Robinson, Christian Coalition believers that feel it is there duty to tell every single person on Earth how to live there life. These people try to legislate the laws of the land to fit there lifestyle and force there way of living onto you.
This is very unbiblical BTW.
Most believers fit into category #1.
I would say 100% of believers that read this forum(or at least 99.9999%) fit into category #1.
Category #1 believers should not be a threat to you DEAC.
I am a Cat#1 believer. FZ and WC coach, and I think even Illini are Cat#1 believers.
I promise you DEAC if we ever meet we can go out drink beer, cuss, look at women, gamble, etc....
You will not feel threatened in the least.
So I suggest to you to direct your anger at #2, and not #1.
Cat#2 is only about 10% of the believer population and sadly I will admit they ARE the vocal minority.
Every group in this world has Cat#2 believers.
Do you think every muslim in the world would fly planes into the WTC?
But you are not going to find that kind of believers you hate at a gambling forum.
If you really want to direct your message to the people that need to hear your beliefs I would suggest signing up at the Christian Coalition forum or a place like that.
But I will warn you they are very closed minded.
I still dont understand your motivation for starting these threads.
Are you starting these threads so you can have someone challenge your belief system in hopes that one day someone will say something in a post that will one day click with you and you can be converted into a believer?
My feelings about you from reading all these post from you over the years is that you want to be proven wrong. And you are hoping against hope that one day you can and will be proven wrong.
I sense that you want to believe deep down and you are hoping that one day someone can post something that will make the light go off in your head.
The only other reason I can come up with that you start these threads is because maybe you want to convert as many believers into non believers as you can because you feel that believers hinder your way of life.
If thats the reason I agree with that statement but you have your message in the wrong place.
There are 2 kinds of believers
1)Believers that mind there own business and dont judge others when they dont believe.
2) Jerry Farwell, Pat Robinson, Christian Coalition believers that feel it is there duty to tell every single person on Earth how to live there life. These people try to legislate the laws of the land to fit there lifestyle and force there way of living onto you.
This is very unbiblical BTW.
Most believers fit into category #1.
I would say 100% of believers that read this forum(or at least 99.9999%) fit into category #1.
Category #1 believers should not be a threat to you DEAC.
I am a Cat#1 believer. FZ and WC coach, and I think even Illini are Cat#1 believers.
I promise you DEAC if we ever meet we can go out drink beer, cuss, look at women, gamble, etc....
You will not feel threatened in the least.
So I suggest to you to direct your anger at #2, and not #1.
Cat#2 is only about 10% of the believer population and sadly I will admit they ARE the vocal minority.
Every group in this world has Cat#2 believers.
Do you think every muslim in the world would fly planes into the WTC?
But you are not going to find that kind of believers you hate at a gambling forum.
If you really want to direct your message to the people that need to hear your beliefs I would suggest signing up at the Christian Coalition forum or a place like that.
But I will warn you they are very closed minded.
