h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Having just returned from a Christian friend's funeral I was struck by how nice it was, as all Christian funerals are. No one was devastated, as the women who died was soundly born again, and all there who were saved knew where she was, and that all was well.

To contrast that we have all had to attend non-Christian funerals, where the person had been fighting God all their lives, and would not repent even when looking death in the teeth. Yet, a moment after they died they had to accept, by dint of the forcibleness of their situation. That is horrific tragedy.

Perhaps we could think of well known personalities, whom we could not name publicly, who died suddenly, with no hope of repentence. That is a tragedy too. All Christians know where they are.

Even those wicked and evil men who flew plane loads of people into the World Trade Centre, who thought that they would enter into a sexual paradise, as believed by Muslims, only to find out that it was not true! I even feel for them, and all they took with them. The handful of Christians who were in the towers, on the planes, at the time are OK though. One can only feel sorry for the way they had to go.

But today, two men, the sons of the woman who was buried, had comfort. They are both Christians, and they KNOW where there mother is, and that strength has kept them. They miss her, and grieve, naturally, but if they cannot have her, how much better for her to be with the Person who made her.

To quote John Wesley; 'Our people die well.'

"Perhaps we could think of well known personalities, whom we could not name publicly, who died suddenly, with no hope of repentence. That is a tragedy too. All Christians know where they are."

Why can't you name them publicly--if they are well known personalities surely everyone knows that they died suddenly and couldn't have made a deathbed repentance. All you would be claiming is that they hadn't known God before they died, something that you have no trouble claiming about so many other people.

The only explanation is that true Christians know something about their death that noone else does, and you are afraid to admit it. Why? Did you (as a group, not you personally) kill them or something?

Hi Justin ,

"To quote John Wesley; 'Our people die well.'"

And so do ours. As a druid my understanding is that we do not end with this brief life, but go on, and on. "The road goes ever on from the door where it began". Death is but a gate to a new life, new experiences, new loves and new learning. It is a shining time.

Perhaps you should attend a pagan passing. It is not a sombre affair, with everyone decked out in black and weeping. It is a celebration of a person's life. There is music and laughter, songs and dancing, stories and toasts.

Then, at the following Samhain, when the veil thins at the end and beginning of the year, we are able once again to greet our departed friends and spend a time in their company, drawing upon their wisdom and sharing our love.

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

RDO,

It is not polite or politic, friend.

Deathbed repentences are extremely rare. Repentence is the gift of God, and as God needs time to work on a person over their life (salvation is an event AND a process), normally a person gets saved some time before they die.

I have no trouble saying that about 'many people' as it is true! How many people do you know personally who actually KNOW Almighty God?! (Leaving aside the deluded fools who can say such things, when they know it is not true). The Lord's people are now only about 0.5% of the British people.

Hmm, people who "KNOW Almight God?!" Well certainly not you for a start Justin.

Franklly, I am always going to be very sad when someone I know and love dies. Because my heart will feel broken and I will miss them terribly, every waking moment. And no amount of ceremony or philosophy or religion can ever make that pain better. Only the passing of time, when the pain becomes absorbed and accepted.

Yes, I know, that is probably seen as a very selfish way to look at someone else's death, by how it affects me. Thing is, even if I believed I would see them in heaven or in some future life, I don't think that would take away the pain of missing them in the moment.

az

Bouncy,

Please don't be a fool. Jesus Christ gave His life on a Cross that all men, that God calls to repentence, might KNOW GOD. That is the gospel! Where on earth have you been?!

Men are cut off from God by SIN, Christ gave His life to save them from sin, and death, and bring them into ACTUAL relationship with God. That is it in a nutshell. This is not a mere wretched religion, for goodness sake!

Azahar,

If you did not feel sad at missing them there is something very wrong. Your reaction is quite normal in human beings.

"This is not a mere wretched religion, for goodness sake!"

You still haven't said anything to show that it isn't. After all, while you claim to be in personal contact with Jehovah, you have neither said nor done anything that suggests this to be true, other that declaring it a fact.

How do we know that you aren't being contacted by a deamon that wants us to believe that the Bible is true and Christianity is the truth, but it is really just a religion and Islam or Hinduism or Budhism or some other "religion" is really the truth?

"It is not polite or politic, friend."

Since when do you care?

If it is impolite to tell someone that a person they never knew personally when to hell, it is surely impolite to tell someone that their close relatives went to hell and that they almost certainly will to, but you have basicly told us this. Also, you have told us that specific persons of note are now in hell (Isaac Asimov, for example). If it is impolite to tell us who these people are, than you clearly don't care about being polite here.

As for politic, you certainly don't care. You've told us that your country is run be enemies of God, that almost everyone in it, and just about everyone in the government, is going to hell. How can that be more politic than nameing these "persons of note" who are going to hell.=?

"Deathbed repentences are extremely rare. Repentence is the gift of God, and as God needs time to work on a person over their life (salvation is an event AND a process), normally a person gets saved some time before they die."

That makes sence, not that it matters if it does.

"How many people do you know personally who actually KNOW Almighty God?! (Leaving aside the deluded fools who can say such things, when they know it is not true)."

How do I know that you're not a "deluded fool" who can "say such things" when you know it isn't true? What sets you apart from them? After all, someone who really wanted to could study the Bible and have as great knowledge of it as you do. Anything you say that does not come from the Bible, but dirrectly from Jehovah, can't be verified and could be made up. Either it fits with the Bible and could be derived from it, or it doesn't. If it doesn't, it can't be verified by comparing it to the Bible.

I have to agree with azahar

we wouldnt be human if loosing a loved one didnt hurt.

I lost both parents not to long ago within 14 months of each other.
i broke my heart and i still feel the pain now for the both of them, the way they died the way they suffered. no one should have to suffer the way they did.

I dont think im being selfish for feeling this way either.
I loved my parents and why should i not grieve for there loss.
cos i surelly miss them with all my heart.

Midnight Angel,

You have my love and sympathy. I know what you are going through, having been there myself, in different circumstances.

My point to Azahar was not directly about that though.

Take a cyber kiss from me.

RDO,

You are not listening to what you are being told. The things of God are not by debate/dispute/theology/intellect etc. If you continue to call into question everything I tell you then there is no point you asking me any questions as you are only applying wretched intellect to things which cannot be accessed by intellect. If you have decided that you are not going to accept what you are told, then you must go and find a thread which better reflects your understanding of things.

Judge the truth of what Justin says, and whether he lies.

F92252?thread=344296

Justin
+++++

Thankyou for the kind words and the
It was apreciated.

Although it is hard all year round its extremally hard birthdays xmas etc as it was always a family time.

"The things of God are not by debate/dispute/theology/intellect etc."

Is there any way to understand/access them other than being contacted by God himself? If so, what is it? If not, why do you bother talking to us, since we can't possible understand or access your ideas unless God chooses to intervene and surely, if he chooes to do so, he does not need your help to do so.

"If you continue to call into question everything I tell you then there is no point you asking me any questions as you are only applying wretched intellect to things which cannot be accessed by intellect."

If there is some way that I can access them that doesn't require God to intercede first, please tell me what it is. I would like to try to access them, but intelect is all I know. If there is a better way that I can use, please explain it to me.

"If you have decided that you are not going to accept what you are told, then you must go and find a thread which better reflects your understanding of things."

I have not decided that. However, as the only tool I have totry to acess your ideas is wretched intellect, I cannot really accept things that go against it. If there is some other meathod I can use to access them, please tell me what it is so that I can use it.

I'd like to try to access and understand the things you tell me, but I can't do so unless I have a way to do so. If wretched intellect is not a way to do so, then I need a new way. I would be much obliged if you would help me find a way to access them.

Hi Justin .

RDO has just asked you a question that I asked you some months ago. If:

"The things of God are not by debate/dispute/theology/intellect etc."

Why bring them to a debating forum?

I expect that he will receive the same answer I received - silence.

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

Midnight,

Yes,I can imagine. I know about it firsthand, but probably not quite the same way. Grieving seems to take two years to get over the main part,but you never forget completely.

Justin

RDO,

If you want to know you have to go and find a church where the Word of God is preached (not those who engage in tedious worldly religious chit-chat). That church would be quite obviously in something you know nothing about, and you would be able to feel God amongst them. It is by the preaching of the Word of God that He works.