God works in funny ways. I had a rough night and morning, cold coming on, dentist appointment, hubby in the Caribbean (most assuredly surrounded by beautiful nubile bikini-clad bodies bathing in the sun), etc, etc. Anyway, I was sitting in the dentist's waiting room, watching people passing by the doorway (the office is in a mall). It was actually funny how many guys passed that door who looked like my brother Gary...I mean, really looked a lot like him, from whatever side was facing me as they passed by. Finally after about the 15th look-alike walked by, I just laughed and asked God what He was up to, and He answered, "We just want you to remember that you're never alone, that We are all with you, watching over you." A tender consolation indeed.

Then my dental hygienist (whom I've known for about 13 years) noticed my heavy heart right away and asked what was going on, so I told her about Basil (my friend bedridden with ALS) and hubby down south without me. She gave me a big hug, and then made me vocalize all the GOOD things about having the house to myself...we ended up laughing as the list kept growing.

I came out of there feeling so much lighter and positive. God really does bring the right people into our lives at the right time, if only we have eyes to see and the faith to believe it's Him at work, or in this case, at play!

Amen - we have to have our eyes open, and I believe that when we are tuned into God's station, we are forever surprised by the many ways he speaks to us each day. The trick is tuning in.

Glad to hear your eyes and ears were open today.

I like that, Dotsie -- tuned into God's station! Clever! And I agree, God does speak to us each day. It's astounding to try to grasp that. I've enjoyed all the above comments. Bless you all!
Linda Thomas

And bless you too.

Just back from Berkshire. The result of the debate on "Atheism is the New Fundamentalism" was roughly (they were still trying to tally when we set out to depart for London):

4% For
95% Against
1% Undecided

Parting words for tonight from a colleague was from a quotation about atheism:

"The belief that there was nothing, and nothing happened to nothing. And then, nothing magically exploded for no reason creating everything. And then, a bunch of everything magically rearranged itself for no reason whatsoever into self-replicating bits...which then turned into dinosaurs. Makes perfect sense."

Boy, do I have a headache!

Thank you Lola, I am going to save the quote and the stats. Wow, it pretty much sums all explanation in a nutshell!

Cheers,
Cathi

Lola, that's too funny!

And, a summation of the argument for the existence of God::

1. He is first motion. Everything that is moving is moved by a mover. An infinite regress of movers is impossible. Therefore, there is an unmoved mover from whom all motions proceeds. This is God.

2. He is first cause. Everything that is caused is caused by something else. An infinite regress of causation is impossible. Therefore, there must be an uncaused cause of all that is caused. This is God.

3. He is first being. Everything of this universe has a transitory nature in which they exist and then fail to exist. Since it is impossible for these things always to exist, then it indicates a time when they did not exist. If there are things which are transitory then, at one time, there could have been nothing in existence. If there was a time that there was nothing, then that nothing could not have brought anything to existence. As shown by first cause, everything is contingent on a creator because there must be a necessary being whose existence is not dependent on anything. This is God.

4. He is the standard of perfection. Everything has a varying degree of perfection. Each assumes towards an existing ultimate standard of perfection by the creator. Therefore, perfection has a summit. This is God.

5. He is first design. Everything natural in the world acts towards a purpose and an end where an intelligent being guides all natural bodies towards that purpose and end. This is God.

- St Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica -

I posted this before for laughs but it seems appropriate here as well:


God is sitting in Heaven when a scientist says to Him.

"God, we don't need you anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing. In other words, we can now do what You did in the beginning."

"Oh, is that soooooo? Tell Me...", replies God.

"Well," says the scientist, "we can take dirt and form it into the likeness of You and breath life into it, thus creating man."

"Well, that's very interesting...show Me.", said God.

So, the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil into the shape of a man.

"No, no, no..." interrupts God, "Make your own dirt".

Funny but while reading this DIRT was the first thing that entered my mind...very funny.