Traveler

The only help that can be useful is the help that is allowed. It does not matter how much G-d or man helps if that help is not accepted. The Traveler

I believe this is a most interesting question - that is how does G-d view all of the demonations. I am quite sure that the creation of many demonations is not the work of G-d. I do not think he is pleased that believers divide themselves. This leads us to one of two possible conclusions. First. That there is no true demonation authorized by G-d as the holder of his truth. Second. That there is a true demonation created and authorized by G-d and that all the other demonations are creations of man and have some truth and some error. If G-d has a true religion it would seem to me that he would also have a true demonation as well. Logic tells me that if there is no authorized demonation that it cannot be argued that there is a true authorized religion. The Traveler

Do you know the meaning of the 3rd Richt (World War II)? What and when were the other two Richts? I have also asked a question that I know many do not even want to consider. When was the first law passed in a Christian society (which used the symbol of the cross) to prevent the plunder of innocent life and property of non-Christian worshipers? The Traveler

Baptism will not wash away any sin that we desire to keep in eternity. It will wash away only those sins that that we do not want to keep. The Traveler

Of course there are selfish people everywhere - including the scientific community. Although I have not dealt with our Australian friends I have dealt with the New Zealand government’s scientific community back in my days working with the US military. The point I was trying to make is that in considering new ideas and moving forward with the use of innovative concepts – that scientific community has been quite flexible whereas the religious community seem to hate anything that can better mankind outside of their sphere of influence. As odd as this may seem – I think that in this respect the scientific community is more Christian than the traditional devout Christian community. Would it not be wounderful if the religious Christian community would lead the way in the use of innovative concepts that better mankind rather than teach their children to distrust scientist for fear that their religious comcepts would be lost. The Traveler

Interesting - Is this because your concerns and desires are much more important than others and their concerns, to your brand of Christianity? Please do not be angry at my post - I understand that some things must be done despite what others think - I just want to make sure that the cross to you is one of them. If so - do you rely on scripture for this commandment or some other source - Whatever your source - would you please provide the source? The Traveler

I would agree with you about your efforts to remember the sacrifice of Christ. However, that is not how he asked his disciples to remember him. I do not believe this would be so much a problem if the more important issues and commandments were given equal or more respect. I am not so concerned with your individual case of respect and devotion as I am with the traditional Christians that have carried the cross into war to justify many of histories worse abuses against mankind. Without question the symbol of the cross has come to be an “evil” symbol of great abuse throughout the world as much as it is a symbol of peace through the sacrifice of Christ. It is also just as much a symbol of “self serving” and rejection (damning) of others as it is a symbol of love, care and service of others (especially to non-Christians). So I ask a question – if the cross in the hands of a Christian is a symbol of destruction and abuses in a specific society – would you gladly wear a cross knowing the fear and distrust that it generates? The Traveler

What defines you are anyone else as a Christian must come from within. When the love of Christ is in one's heart there is no need for an external symbol. If a symbol is a means of communicating what is a Christian in your mind - you do not know The Christ in your mind or heart. The Traveler

I am sorry but I could not help laughing at the idea that other religions suck. Please - do not try to take offense with my bad taste in humor. The Traveler

We know from scriptures that at one time an image of a snake was used as a symbol as commanded by G-d. By this we can know that that imagery has place within the community of believers. But when the snake became more than a reminder of covenants and became connected with worship G-d commanded that the image be destroyed. It is my personal belief that during the early history of Christianity, Pagan influences not only influenced the traditions but infiltrated and became a part of worship to the point that such symbols became defining symbols of what was a Christian. I am most pleased to learn that many Protestants have backed away from the imagery of the cross in worship choosing instead to use the image as a reminder of something sacred and not as a sacred or defining object. There is no question in my mind that Jesus never intended, implied or is pleased that the symbol of the cross be thought of as a defining image as to what constitutes a Christian or a Christian place of worship. Much more than the symbol of the cross Jesus commanded that his disciples be identified by their love and compassion for others and in this I agree with the Jehovah Witnesses – the cross, through traditions and motions of time, has become more a false image of mistaken and misunderstood Christianity. I have posted in the past that if someone uses anything before or other than love and compassion for others, as something to define what a Christian is - I believe whatever they substitute will not please G-d. The Traveler

I would agree with a slightly different wording: God created the world, and our understanding of it is evolving both spiritually and scientifically. I would add that from my view of history that the spiritual evolution is slower than the scientific evolution and looks to be sometime before it will catch up. I think it is most unfortunate that many in the religious community claim to understand spiritual truths that are far more difficult to address than scientific truths – and yet they have great difficulty accepting scientific truths. I would point out that there is much less bickering and un-Christian like treatment of opposing opinions in the scientific community. The Traveler

I think we can turn to the proclamation - those that have common ground with that - I believe there is common ground. The Traveler

I find nothing in the scriptures that indicates that a cross has anything to do with being a part of the Kingdom of heaven. The cross as a symbol is worthless in the eyes of G-d. It is not a deal maker or breaker. It has nothing to do with being a Christian. If a cross is important to you - that is okay - However, to think it is important in eternity without any scripture reference - is an indication that either a person really does not follow scriptures (traditions of the world are more important). Or they believe G-d has spoken outside the scriptures. This would mean that there is no scripture cannon. If someone believes in a scripture cannon - they need to explaine to me how such an important symbol is not a part of the cannon. The Traveler

There is a lot of interesting post concerning the cross. Please allow me to be clear. There are a few symbols from ancient scriptures that have reference to covenants with G-d. But reference to symbolism is not in-and-of-itself a principle of faith in G-d. The Kingdom of G-d is not understood well in our time nor is the association of symbols with covenants. Therefore, the cross has become a counterfeit symbol in our day. I would not associate myself with a cross - not because of its intended popular meaning in the world but because it is a counterfeit symbol created by man and not by G-d or his appointed servants. There are ancient symbols of sacred covenants - many are not publically displayed but are between an individual and G-d. I would also submit that in our day, so few are aware of the sacred covenants as G-d offers them within the structure of his kingdom, that counterfeits are more acceptable than that which is genuine – even among those trying to believe. Because covenants of the kingdom have been lost so has the understanding of their symbols. Those that judge others - especially based on their association with counterfeit symbols, publically display a most unfortunate miss-understanding of faith in G-d and the principles of the gospel Christ taught. Wearing a cross no more means someone is a Christian or associated with Christ than sleeping in a garage means someone is a Chevy. The Traveler

There are a number of current studies concerning deep ocean volcanoes at the North Polar Region. More than manmade climate changes this could account more logically for the melting of polar ice. Also – Remember when I highlighted the volcano at the South Pole? The melting of the polar ice in the north will not change the ocean levels but melting the southern polar ice will. Bit by bit all the excitement over global climate change as human cause is coming out to be more politics than science but if you are Chicken Little it is more exciting to to be parodied and blame America and the economy of freedom. The Traveler

The way to understand if someone understands a concept is in the manner that they use it. If someone says they understand math and have trouble with simple addition they are incorrect in their understanding. One will have to conclude that they are either silly (stupid) or insane. Every Math book I have ever seen is chuck full of errors - but that does not mean that one cannot learn math. It just means that you have to do the math yourself. Likewise scripture. There are errors and the literal believers can miss the basic concepts. If one focuses on the errors or literal content of scripture they will have all the excuse they desire for their poor behavior. But for those willing to "do the math" the richness of enligntnment and knowedge is theirs. The Traveler

For all the BYU fans - my wife will hate me for this - we met at BYU - Does anyone know the difference between a BYU coed and a garbage can? Hint there is more than one. :) The Traveler

Where are your tickets - ours are on the West side 7 rows above the concource North 20 yard line. The Traveler

I have season tickets to BYU football. When I can I like to also take in a couple of road games. Since we use to live in Washington we were going to go to that game but ran into a schedule conflict. We will be traveling to the Air Force Game and thought we would come down to the TCU game. Can we get still get good tickets? just for your information - I was stationed just outside FW/Dallas while in the military and almost moved back during the 80's. The Traveler

There are two methods I very much enjoy studying scripture. 1. I love to do a word search and then review all scriptures that reference a specific word (like sword or servant). From time to time I like to search words that seem to want to be discovered. 2. I love to read scriptures with a concept in mind. For example I like to read various books of scripture (chapter and verse) for insight to a specific topic like covenants. I ask my self - what does this tell me about covenants? Sometimes it may express what happens when someone does not make a covenant or if a covenant is broken or a covenant kept. I used covenant in #2 because I am on my 12th time reading scriptures specific to understanding covenants. Every time I learn something more about covenants. The Traveler

Are there any BYU (football) fans? Any in the Fort Worth, Texas area? The Traveler

There is a difference in the covenant of the Old Testament (Law of Moses) and the covenant of the New Testament (the covenant of peace and mercy). To better understand how covenants play - one leading to Christ and the other the covenant of the mediator Christ - I suggest one read the Book of Mormon which explains the covenants quite well. The Traveler

I would ask the question: What is the difference between knowing any truth and thinking you know a truth? What in reality is the difference between faith in a thing or believing a thing or knowing the truth? The Traveler

Very good thought - most today do not know the difference between the so called pagans and traditional Christians. The Traveler

According to the ancients (for example the father of John the Baptist) the calendar was important to G-d. It is also interesting to note that Jesus used a solar calendar for Passover - contrary to most Jews of the time - the Orthodox Christian calendar and the calendars of our modern era. The Traveler