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Why study the Bible? What can we learn?

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  Why study the Bible? What can we learn? "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-01 14:56 -0800
    Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-02 08:23 -0800
    Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? andre <ahr@blabla.be> - 2017-02-03 10:30 +0100
      Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2017-02-03 09:34 +0000
        Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? Sjouke Burry <burrynulnulfour@ppllaanneett.nnll> - 2017-02-03 10:53 +0100
          Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2017-02-03 10:06 +0000
            Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 02:49 -0800
              Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? Reinhardt Behm <rbehm@hushmail.com> - 2017-02-03 20:42 +0800
                Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 05:00 -0800
    Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 20:15 +0800
      Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 04:56 -0800
        [OT] Just walk away.... "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 21:01 +0800
          Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 05:06 -0800
            Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 21:38 +0800
              Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 05:45 -0800
                Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 22:03 +0800
                  Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 07:15 -0800
                    Re: [OT] Waway... don't chase me! :) "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 23:20 +0800
                    Re: [OT] Just walk away.... Ken Brody <kenbrody@spamcop.net> - 2017-02-03 12:02 -0500
                      Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 09:40 -0800
                        Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 09:58 -0800
                          Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 10:27 -0800
                        Re: [OT] Just walk away.... Ken Brody <kenbrody@spamcop.net> - 2017-02-06 10:05 -0500
                          Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-06 07:18 -0800
                          Re: [OT] Just walk away.... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2017-02-06 15:54 +0000
                          Re: [OT] Just walk away.... Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2017-02-10 01:36 -0800
                            Re: [OT] Just walk away.... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2017-02-10 10:22 +0000
                            Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-10 03:57 -0800
            Re: [OT] Just walk away.... Ken Brody <kenbrody@spamcop.net> - 2017-02-03 11:50 -0500
              Re: [OT] Just walk away.... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2017-02-03 17:21 +0000
                Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 09:46 -0800
                Re: [OT] Just walk away.... Gareth Owen <gwowen@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 20:00 +0000
                Re: [OT] Just walk away.... fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 16:32 -0800
                  Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 17:53 -0800
              Re: [OT] Just walk away.... "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 09:37 -0800
    Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? Ken Brody <kenbrody@spamcop.net> - 2017-02-03 11:36 -0500
      Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-03 08:45 -0800
        Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2017-02-04 01:18 +0800
        Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? Ken Brody <kenbrody@spamcop.net> - 2017-02-05 22:02 -0500
          Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2017-02-05 19:27 -0800
          Re: Why study the Bible? What can we learn? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2017-02-06 12:20 +0800

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#103057 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 12:40:53 PM UTC-5, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 12:02:28 PM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
> > On 2/3/2017 10:15 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> > [...]
> > > I am not "Your Holiness".  I am Rick, a prayerful servant of God, as by
> > [...]
> > 
> > Ah, but *which* god?
> 
> There is teaching by the enemy of God that there are multiple gods which
> are the one true God.  It is true there are multiple gods (plural, lower-
> case "g").  But there is only one God Almighty.
> 
> God Almighty is the one I serve.  You learn that He is that one true God
> by reading the Bible and comparing what He teaches us there with what is
> really happening in our lives, and in this world.
> 
> You'll find an all-powerful being, He who is God.  He is God the Father,
> God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in one (just as we are soul, body,
> spirit).
> 
> His power and authority are over all things, both physical things, and
> spiritual things.

To give another witness on this, listen to what Napoleon concluded
about Jesus Christ and the Christian religion:

    http://www.stempublishing.com/magazines/bt/BT17/1889_319_Napoleons_Testimony.html
    http://biblehub.com/library/schaff/the_person_of_christ/napoleon_bonaparte.htm

    "I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial
     minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and
     the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is
     between Christianity and every other religion the distance of infinity.

    "We can say to the authors of every other religion, You are neither gods
     nor the agents of Deity. You are but missionaries of falsehood, moulded
     from the same clay with the rest of mortals. You are made with all the
     passions and vices inseparable from them. Your temples and your priests
     proclaim your origin. Such will be the judgment, the cry of conscience,
     of whoever examines the gods and the temples of paganism."

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin

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#103059 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 12:58:45 PM UTC-5, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 12:40:53 PM UTC-5, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> > On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 12:02:28 PM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
> > > On 2/3/2017 10:15 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> > > [...]
> > > > I am not "Your Holiness".  I am Rick, a prayerful servant of God, as by
> > > [...]
> > > 
> > > Ah, but *which* god?
> > 
> > There is teaching by the enemy of God that there are multiple gods which
> > are the one true God.  It is true there are multiple gods (plural, lower-
> > case "g").  But there is only one God Almighty.
> > 
> > God Almighty is the one I serve.  You learn that He is that one true God
> > by reading the Bible and comparing what He teaches us there with what is
> > really happening in our lives, and in this world.
> > 
> > You'll find an all-powerful being, He who is God.  He is God the Father,
> > God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in one (just as we are soul, body,
> > spirit).
> > 
> > His power and authority are over all things, both physical things, and
> > spiritual things.
> 
> To give another witness on this, listen to what Napoleon concluded
> about Jesus Christ and the Christian religion:
> 
>     http://www.stempublishing.com/magazines/bt/BT17/1889_319_Napoleons_Testimony.html
>     http://biblehub.com/library/schaff/the_person_of_christ/napoleon_bonaparte.htm
> 
>     "I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial
>      minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and
>      the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is
>      between Christianity and every other religion the distance of infinity.
> 
>     "We can say to the authors of every other religion, You are neither gods
>      nor the agents of Deity. You are but missionaries of falsehood, moulded
>      from the same clay with the rest of mortals. You are made with all the
>      passions and vices inseparable from them. Your temples and your priests
>      proclaim your origin. Such will be the judgment, the cry of conscience,
>      of whoever examines the gods and the temples of paganism."

Here is the full version of that text quoted:

-----[ Begin ]-----
One day, Napoleon was speaking of the Divinity of Christ; when General Bertrand
said: --

"I can not conceive, sire, how a great man like you can believe that the
Supreme Being ever exhibited himself to men under a human form, with a body,
a face, mouth, and eyes. Let Jesus be whatever you please, -- the highest
intelligence, the purest heart, themost profound legislator, and, in all
respects, the most singular being who has ever existed: I grant it. Still, he
was simply a man, who taught his disciples, and deluded credulous people, as
did Orpheus, Confucius, Brahma. Jesus caused himself to be adored, because his
predecessors, Isis and Osiris, Jupiter and Juno, had proudly made themselves
objects of worship. The ascendency of Jesus over his time was like the
ascendency of the gods and the heroes of fable. If Jesus has impassioned and
attached to his chariot the multitude, if he has revolutionized the world, I
see in that only the power of genius, and the action of a commanding spirit,
which vanquishes the world, as so many conquerors have done -- Alexander,
Cæsar, you, sire, and Mohammed -- with a sword."

Napoleon replied: --

"I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial minds
see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires, and the gods of
other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity
and whatever other religions the distance of infinity.

"We can say to the authors of every other religion, You are neither gods, nor
the agents of the Deity. You are but missionaries of falsehood, moulded from
the same clay with the rest of mortals. You are made with all the passions and
vices inseparable from them. Your temples and your priests proclaim your
origin.' Such will be the judgment, the cry of conscience, of whoever examines
the gods and the temples of paganism.

"Paganism was never accepted as truth by the wise men of Greece; neither by
Socrates, Pythagoras, Plato, Anaxagoras, or Pericles. On the other side, the
loftiest intellects, since the advent of Christianity, have had faith, a living
faith, a practical faith, in the mysteries and the doctrines of the gospel; not
only Bossuet and Fenelon, who were preachers, but Descartes and Newton,
Leibnitz and Pascal, Corneille and Racine, Charlemagne and Louis XIV.

"Paganism is the work of man. One can here read but our imbecility. What do
these gods, so boastful, know more than other mortals; these legislators, Greek
or Roman; this Numa; this Lycurgus; these priests of India or of Memphis; this
Confucius; this Mohammed? -absolutely nothing. They have made a perfect chaos
of mortals. There is not one among them all who has said any thing new in
reference to our future destiny, to the soul, to the essence of God, to the
creation. Enter the sanctuaries of paganism: you there find perfect chaos, a
thousand contradictions, war between the gods, the immobility of sculpture, the
division and the rending of unity, the parceling out of the divine attributes
mutilated or denied in their essence, the sophisms of ignorance and
presumption, polluted fêtes, impurity and abomination adored, all sorts of
corruption festering in the thick shades, with the rotten wood, the idol, and
the priest. Does this honor God, or does it dishonor him? Are these religions
and these gods to be compared with Christianity?

"As for me, I say, No. I summon entire Olympus to my tribunal. I judge the
gods, but am far from prostrating myself before their vain images. The gods,
the legislators of India and of China, of Rome and of Athens, have nothing
which can overawe me. Not that I am unjust to them. No: I appreciate them,
because I know their value. Undeniably, princes, whose existence is fixed in
the memory as an image of order and of power, as the ideal of force and beauty:
such princes were no ordinary men.

"I see, in Lycurgus, Numa, and Mohammed, only legislators, who have the first
rank in the State; have sought the best solution of the social problem: but I
see nothing there which reveals Divinity. They themselves have never raised
their pretensions so high. As for me, I recognize the gods, and these great
men, as beings like myself. They have performed a lofty part in their times, as
I have done. Nothing announces them divine. On the contrary, there are numerous
resemblances between them and myself, -- foibles and errors which ally them to
me and to humanity.

"It is not so with Christ. Every thing in him astonishes me. His spirit
overawes me, and his will confounds me. Between him and whoever else in the
world there is no possible term of comparison. He is truly a being by himself.
His ideas and his sentiments, the truths which he announces, his manner of
convincing, are not explained either by human organization or by the nature of
things.

"His birth, and the history of his life; the profundity of his doctrine, which
grapples the mightiest difficulties, and which is of those difficulties the
most admirable solution; his gospel, his apparition, his empire, his march
across the ages and the realms, -- every thing is for me a prodigy, a mystery
insoluble, which plunges me into reveries which I can not escape; a mystery
which is there before my eyes; a mystery which I can neither deny nor explain.
Here I see nothing human.

"The nearer I approach, the more carefully I examine, every thing is above me;
every thing remains grand, -- of a grandeur which overpowers. His religion is
a revelation from an intelligence which certainly is not that of man. There is
here a profound originality which has created a series of words and of maxims
before unknown. Jesus borrowed nothing from our science. One can absolutely
find nowhere, but in him alone, the imitation or the example of his life. He is
not a philosopher, since he advances by miracles; and, from the commencement,
his disciples worshiped him. He persuaded them far more by an appeal to the
heart than by any display of method and of logic. Neither did he impose upon
them any preliminary studies, or any knowledge of letters. All his religion
consists in believing.

"In fact, the sciences and philosophy avail nothing for salvation; and Jesus
came into the world to reveal the mysteries of heaven and the laws of the
spirit. Also he has nothing to do but with the soul; and to that alone he
brings his gospel. The soul is sufficient for him, as he is sufficient for the
soul. Before him, the soul was nothing. Matter and time were the masters of the
world. At his voice, every thing returns to order. Science and philosophy
become secondary. The soul has reconquered its sovereignty. All the scholastic
scaffolding falls, as an edifice ruined, before one single word, -- faith.

"What a master, and what a word, which can effect such a revolution! With what
authority does he teach men to pray! He imposes his belief; and no one, thus
far, has been able to contradict him: first, because the gospel contains the
purest morality; and also because the doctrine which it contains of obscurity
is only the proclamation and the truth of that which exists where no eye can
see, and no reason can penetrate. Who is the insensate who will say No' to the
intrepid voyager who recounts the marvels of the icy peaks which he alone has
had the boldness to visit? Christ is that bold voyager. One can, doubtless,
remain incredulous; but no one can venture to say, It is not so.'

"Moreover, consult the philosophers upon those mysterious questions which
relate to the essence of man and the essence of religion. What is their
response? Where is the man of good sense who has never learned any thing from
the system of metaphysics; ancient or modern, which is not truly a vain and
pompous ideology, without any connection with our domestic life, with our
passions? Unquestionably, with skill in thinking, one can seize the key of the
philosophy of Socrates and Plato. But, to do this, it is necessary to be a
metaphysician; and moreover, with years of study, one must possess special
aptitude. But good sense alone, the heart, an honest spirit, are sufficient
to comprehend Christianity. The Christian religion is neither ideology nor
metaphysics, but a practical rule which directs the actions of man, corrects
him, counsels him, and assists him in all his conduct. The Bible contains a
complete series of facts and of historical men, to explain time and eternity,
such as no other religion has to offer. If it is not the true religion, one is
very excusable in being deceived; for every thing in it is grand, and worthy of
God. I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ, or any
thing which can approach the gospel. Neither history, nor humanity, nor the
ages, nor nature, offer me any thing with which I am able to compare it or to
explain it. Here every thing is extraordinary. The more I consider the gospel,
the more I am assured that there is nothing there which is not beyond the march
of events, and above the human mind. Even the impious themselves have never
dared to deny the sublimity of the gospel, which inspires them with a sort of
compulsory veneration. What happiness that book procures for those who believe
it I What marvels those admire there who reflect upon it!

"All the words there are embedded, and joined one upon another, like the stones
of an edifice. The spirit which binds these words together is a divine cement,
which now reveals the sense, and again vails it from the mind. Each phrase has
a sense complete, which traces the perfection of unity, and the profundity of
the whole. Book unique! where the mind finds a moral beauty before unknown; and
an idea of the Supreme, superior even to that which creation suggests. Who but
God could produce that type, that idea of perfection, equally exclusive and
original?

"Christ, having but a few weak disciples, was condemned to death. He died the
object of the wrath of the Jewish priests, and of the contempt of the nation,
and abandoned and denied by his own disciples.

"They are about to take me, and to crucify me,' said he. I shall be abandoned
of all the world. My chief disciples will deny me at the commencement of my
punishment. I shall be left to the wicked. But then, divine justice being
satisfied, original sin being expiated by my sufferings, the bond of man to God
will be renewed, and my death will be the life of my disciples. Then they will
be more strong without me than with me; for they shall see me rise again. I
shall ascend to the skies, and I shall send to them from heaven a Spirit who
will instruct them. The Spirit of the Cross will enable them to understand my
gospel. In fine, they will believe it; they will preach it; and they will
convert the world.'

"And this strange promise, so aptly called by Paul 'the foolishness of the
cross,' this prediction of one miserably crucified, is literally accomplished;
and the mode of the accomplishment is perhaps more prodigious than the promise.

"It is not a day, nor a battle, which has decided it. Is it the lifetime of a
man? No: it is a war, a long combat, of three hundred years, commenced by the
apostles, and continued by their successors and by succeeding generations of
Christians. In this conflict, all the kings and all the forces of the earth
were arrayed on one side. Upon the other, I see no army but a mysterious
energy, individuals scattered here and there, in all parts of the globe, having
no other rallying sign than a common faith in the mysteries of the cross.

"What a mysterious symbol, the instrument of the punishment of the Man-God! His
disciples were armed with it. The Christ,' they said, God, has died for the
salvation of men.' What a strife, what a tempest, these simple words have
raised around the humble standard of the punishment of the Man-God! On the one
side, we see rage and all the furies of hatred and violence; on the other,
there are gentleness, moral courage, infinite resignation. For three hundred
years, spirit struggled against the brutality of sense, conscience against
despotism, the soul against the body, virtue against all the vices. The blood
of Christians flowed in torrents. They died kissing the hand which slew them.
The soul alone protested, while the body surrendered itself to all tortures.
Everywhere Christians fell, and everywhere they triumphed.

"You speak of Cæsar, of Alexander, of their conquests, and of the enthusiasm
which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a
dead man making conquests, with an army faithful, and entirely devoted to his
memory. My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army
forgot Hannibal. Such is our power! A single battle lost crushes us, and
adversity scatters our friends.

"Can you conceive of Cæsar as the eternal emperor of the Roman senate, and,
from the depth of his mausoleum, governing the empire, watching over the
destinies of Rome? Such is the history of the invasion and conquest of the
world by Christianity; such is the power of the God of the Christians; and such
is the perpetual miracle of the progress of the faith, and of the government of
his Church. Nations pass away, thrones crumble; but the Church remains. What
is, then, the power which has protected this Church, thus assailed by the
furious billows of rage and the hostility of ages? Whose is the arm, which, for
eighteen hundred years, has protected the Church from so many storms which have
threatened to ingulf it?

"Alexander, Cæsar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires. But on what did we
rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ alone founded his
empire upon love; and, at this hour, millions of men would die for him.

"In every other existence but that of Christ, how many imperfections! Where is
the character which has not yielded, vanquished by obstacles? Where is the
individual who has never been governed by circumstances or places; who has
never succumbed to the influences of the times; who has never compounded with
any customs or passions? From the first day to the last, he is the same, always
the same; majestic and simple; infinitely firm, and infinitely gentle.

"Truth should embrace the universe. Such is Christianity, -- the only religion
which destroys sectional prejudices; the only one which proclaims the unity and the absolute brotherhood of the whole human family; the only one which is
purely spiritual; in fine, the only one which assigns to all, without
distinction, for a true country, the bosom of the Creator, God. Christ proved
that he was the Son of the Eternal by his disregard of time. All his doctrines
signify one only and the same thing, -- eternity.

"It is true that Christ proposes to our faith a series of mysteries. He
commands with authority, that we should believe them, -- giving no other reason
than those tremendous words, I am God.' He declares it. What an abyss he
creates by that declaration between himself' and all the fabricators of
religion! What audacity, what sacrilege, what blasphemy, if it were not true! I
say more: The universal triumph of an affirmation of that kind, if the triumph
were not really that of God himself, would be a plausible excuse, and the proof
of atheism.

"Moreover, in propounding mysteries, Christ is harmonious with Nature, which is
profoundly mysterious. From whence do I come? whither do I go? who am I? Human
life is a mystery in its origin, its organization, and its end. In man and out
of man, in Nature, every thing is mysterious. And can one wish that religion
should not be mysterious? The creation and the destiny of the world are an
unfathomable abyss, as also are the creation and destiny of each individual.
Christianity at least does not evade these great questions; it meets them
boldly: and our doctrines are a solution of them for every one who believes.

"The gospel possesses a secret virtue, a mysterious efficacy, a warmth which
penetrates and soothes the heart. One finds, in meditating upon it, that which
one experiences in contemplating the heavens. The gospel is not a book: it is a
living being, with an action, a power, which invades every thing that opposes
its extension. Behold! it is upon this table: this book, surpassing all others
[here the emperor deferentially placed his hand upon it], I never omit to read
it, and every day with the same pleasure.

"Nowhere is to be found such a series of beautiful ideas; admirable moral
maxims, which pass before us like the battalions of a celestial army, and which
produce in our soul the same emotions which one experiences in contemplating
the infinite expanse of the skies, resplendent in a summer's night with all the
brilliance of the stars. Not only is our mind absorbed; it is controlled: and
the soul can never go astray with this book for its guide. Once master of our
spirit, the faithful gospel loves us. God even is our friend, our father, and
truly our God. The mother has no greater care for the infant whom she nurses.

"What a proof of the Divinity of Christ! With an empire so absolute, he has but
one single end, -- the spiritual melioration of individuals, the purity of the
conscience, the union to that which is true, the holiness of the soul.

"Christ speaks, and at once generations become his by stricter, closer ties
than those of blood, -- by the most sacred, the most indissoluble, of unions.
He lights up the flames of a love which prevails over every other love. The
founders of other religions never conceived of this mystical love, which is the
essence of Christianity, and is beautifully called charity. In every attempt to
affect this thing, viz. to make himself beloved, man deeply feels his own
impotence. So that Christ's greatest miracle undoubtedly is the reign of
charity.

"I have so inspired multitudes, that they would die for me. God forbid that I
should form any comparison between the enthusiasm of the soldier and Christian
charity, which are as unlike as their cause!

"But, after all, my presence was necessary: the lightning of my eye, my voice,
a word from me, then the sacred fire was kindled in their hearts. I do, indeed,
possess the secret of this magical power which lifts the soul; but I could
never impart it to any one. None of my generals ever learned it from me. Nor
have I the means of perpetuating my name and love for me in the hearts of men,
and to effect these things without physical means.

"Now that I am at St. Helena, now that I am alone, chained upon this rock, who
fights and wins empires for me? who are the courtiers of my misfortune? who
thinks of me? who makes effort for me in Europe? Where are my friends? Yes: two
or three, whom your fidelity immortalizes, you share, you console, my exile."

Here the emperor's voice trembled with emotion, and for a moment he was silent.
He then continued: --

"Yes: our life once shone with all the brilliance of the diadem and the throne;
and yours, Bertrand, reflected that splendor, as the dome of the Invalides,
gilt by us, reflects the rays of the sun. But disaster came: the gold gradually
became dim. The rain of misfortune and outrage, with which I am daily deluged,
has effaced all the brightness. We are mere lead now, General Bertrand; and
soon I shall be in my grave.

"Such is the fate of great men! So it was with Cæsar and Alexander. And I, too,
am forgotten; and the name of a conqueror and an emperor is a college theme!
Our exploits are tasks given to pupils by their tutors, who sit in judgment
upon us, awarding censure or praise. And mark what is soon to become of me:
assassinated by the English oligarchy, I die before my time; and my dead body,
too, must return to the earth, to become food for worms. Behold the destiny,
near at hand, of him whom the world called the great Napoleon! What an abyss
between my deep misery and the eternal reign of Christ, which is proclaimed,
loved, adored, and which is extending over all the earth! Is this to die? is
it not rather to live? The death of Christ -- it is the death of God!"

For a moment the emperor was silent. As General Bertrand made no reply, he
solemnly added, "If you do not perceive that Jesus Christ is God, very well:
then I did wrong to make you a general."
-----[ End ]-----

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin

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#103307 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

On 2/3/2017 12:40 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 12:02:28 PM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
>> On 2/3/2017 10:15 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
>> [...]
>>> I am not "Your Holiness".  I am Rick, a prayerful servant of God, as by
>> [...]
>>
>> Ah, but *which* god?
>
> There is teaching by the enemy of God that there are multiple gods which
> are the one true God.  It is true there are multiple gods (plural, lower-
> case "g").  But there is only one God Almighty.
[...]

But *every* monotheistic religion says that *their* god is "the one true 
G-d".  What makes your religion "right", and every other religion on the 
planet "wrong"?

-- 
Kenneth Brody

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#103313 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

On Monday, February 6, 2017 at 10:05:30 AM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
> On 2/3/2017 12:40 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> > On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 12:02:28 PM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
> >> On 2/3/2017 10:15 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> >> [...]
> >>> I am not "Your Holiness".  I am Rick, a prayerful servant of God, as by
> >> [...]
> >>
> >> Ah, but *which* god?
> >
> > There is teaching by the enemy of God that there are multiple gods which
> > are the one true God.  It is true there are multiple gods (plural, lower-
> > case "g").  But there is only one God Almighty.
> [...]
> 
> But *every* monotheistic religion says that *their* god is "the one true 
> G-d".  What makes your religion "right", and every other religion on the 
> planet "wrong"?

You seek the truth and study the Bible.  As I've said, when you seek
the truth looking to know the real answer, then God knows you are
doing this.  He then supernaturally reaches into invisible parts of
your inner man (your spirit) and makes it possible or you to come to
know this information.

Nobody can come to God unless He first draws them (John 6:44).  It's
why there is such a division amongst the saved and unsaved (born again
and those still operating only in the natural / flesh).

If you set your sights on just simply knowing the truth, and really
to know it and not dance around it, but of the form, "God, if you're
real I want to know it," then He will know this is your heart's
intent, and He alone makes it possible for you to come to know the
truth.

And, after the change, you'll know from the new spirit nature.  It's
not possible to describe how you'll know because you have no frame
of reference.  It took me completely off guard.  I was not prepared
for the transformation which took place within me.  And even to this
day almost 13 years later, it still blows me away when I think about
it.

It's why the song Amazing Grace has these lyrics:

    I once was lost, but now am found.
    Was blind, but now I see.

Nobody can "see" God until they are born again, and nobody can even
approach Jesus Christ until they are seeking the truth.  Only when
they seek the truth does God make the necessary inner changes for a
person to be able to then come to the real and true knowledge.

Until then, all we have is our flesh / natural senses and reasoning.
And it is fallen in sin and cannot know the things of God.  And if
you want proof that our flesh is in sin ... look only to cancer in
babies, and other such forms.

This creation God made was never intended to be like this.  It is
sin which has brought forth all manner of death and destruction.
And it is Jesus Christ which restores us in eternity, so that we
yet remain here for a time, but our hereafter is secured, and we
receive the down payment of that future payoff by the born again
nature, and the presence of His Holy Spirit in our lives.

-----
It is a comprehensive change that takes place.  But, God leads you
through all of it.  Some of it is automatic and just suddenly makes
sense to you.  Other parts are like children needing to learn from
a source, but once they learn it then it also makes sense.  It's
part of the necessary community God created in us, so that we all
work together as a "body of Christ" to help one another, just as
the various members of our body all work together to help us do
those things we need to do individually, so the body of Christ
works together to do those things we need to do for Christ.

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin

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#103319 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

On 06/02/17 15:05, Ken Brody wrote:
> On 2/3/2017 12:40 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
>> On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 12:02:28 PM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
>>> On 2/3/2017 10:15 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
>>> [...]
>>>> I am not "Your Holiness".  I am Rick, a prayerful servant of God, as by
>>> [...]
>>>
>>> Ah, but *which* god?
>>
>> There is teaching by the enemy of God that there are multiple gods which
>> are the one true God.  It is true there are multiple gods (plural, lower-
>> case "g").  But there is only one God Almighty.
> [...]
>
> But *every* monotheistic religion says that *their* god is "the one true
> G-d".  What makes your religion "right", and every other religion on the
> planet "wrong"?

Ken, if you really want to know that, I can tell you - but you'll need 
to ask in the right place. Somewhere like alt.religion.christianity or 
alt.christnet.christianlife. The comp.lang.c newsgroup is for discussing 
C programming, not religions.

-- 
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within

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#103597 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

My comments here are meant to be generally directed rather than
at or on a specific discussion.

There are a few frequent posters in comp.lang.c who habitually
ignore or flout topicality norms or civil behaviors generally.  I
don't mean occasional infringments but ongoing excesses in the
face of repeated requests not to act in these unsociable ways.

Sadly the situation is not getting better and even seems like it
might be getting worse.  Because of that I have a request, or
perhaps I might say I am offering a plea, to refrain from
engaging these habitual offenders, at all times.  Being ignored
completely may not be enough to get them to change their ways
but at least it will cut down on the volume.

My current policy is not to engage those who habitually disregard
newsgroup norms, and also to steer clear of other participants
who frequently engage them.  I hate to sound trite, but if
you're not part of the solution, ...

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#103599 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

On 10/02/17 09:36, Tim Rentsch wrote:
> My comments here are meant to be generally directed rather than
> at or on a specific discussion.
>
> There are a few frequent posters in comp.lang.c who habitually
> ignore or flout topicality norms or civil behaviors generally.  I
> don't mean occasional infringments but ongoing excesses in the
> face of repeated requests not to act in these unsociable ways.
>
> Sadly the situation is not getting better and even seems like it
> might be getting worse.  Because of that I have a request, or
> perhaps I might say I am offering a plea, to refrain from
> engaging these habitual offenders, at all times.

Agreed. This is already my policy.

-- 
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within

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#103602 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

Tim Rentsch wrote:
> [plea for C discussions only]

In this world we are bombarded with Satan's misleading lies and
distractions at every turn.  You can't drive down the street without
seeing inappropriate billboards, pass a populated are without seeing
people dressed immodestly, sit in a public restaurant without hearing
a stream of profanity, turn on the TV or visit the movies without seeing
and hearing all manner of Satan's false guidance on how to live.  It's
all so hurtful, and it keeps us trapped in those places of falseness
because they appeal to our flesh, and they excite us.

What I want you to know is that we are created for more than that.
God created us to be and pursue far greater things than a pursuit of
the flesh.  He created us to have fellowship with Him, even creating us
to be in all ways like Him.

You are all my peers in programming.  My fellows.  You are part of my
life, those who are around me.  And I want you to experience that
which God is offering to all of us:  forgiveness of our sin, and real
fellowship with Him, even here on this Earth, but also in eternity.

We don't have to remain focused on the things of this world.  God
is calling us to be here in this world, but to place a primary focus upon
Him, such that we do the things that we're interested in for Him
so that we have that fellowship with Him, but also so that others can
come to know Him and have that future too.

I love you, Tim.  I want you to come to know Him and His love so
that you can be with Him in Heaven shining like the stars, being the
beautiful and amazing creation you are with Him.

He calls us to love and fellowship.  He offers us everything.

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin

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#103046 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

On 2/3/2017 8:06 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 8:01:57 AM UTC-5, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>> Everyone:
>>
>> Just walk away from strangers! You don't have to listen to preaching. :)
>
> It's not the preaching you need to listen to, it's the message.
[...]

Is the message "my religious beliefs out-Trump the netiquette of the groups 
I post in"?

Should we walk into your church (assuming you have one), and start preaching 
"The Gospel according to K&R"?

Perhaps a few "thou shalt not use the value of a void expression", or "thou 
shalt not modify an object more than once between sequence points"?

-- 
Kenneth Brody

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#103051 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

On 03/02/17 16:50, Ken Brody wrote:
> On 2/3/2017 8:06 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
>> On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 8:01:57 AM UTC-5, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
>>> Everyone:
>>>
>>> Just walk away from strangers! You don't have to listen to preaching. :)
>>
>> It's not the preaching you need to listen to, it's the message.
> [...]
>
> Is the message "my religious beliefs out-Trump the netiquette of the
> groups I post in"?
>
> Should we walk into your church (assuming you have one), and start
> preaching "The Gospel according to K&R"?
>
> Perhaps a few "thou shalt not use the value of a void expression", or
> "thou shalt not modify an object more than once between sequence points"?

This argument has been tried on Mr Hodgin before. He is safe in the 
knowledge that, even if we knew where he went to church, none of us 
would be so damned rude as to treat his church the way he treats this 
newsgroup. He may or may not have heard of the Golden Rule, but he 
clearly wants nothing to do with it.

-- 
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within

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#103056 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 12:21:44 PM UTC-5, Richard Heathfield wrote:
> On 03/02/17 16:50, Ken Brody wrote:
> > On 2/3/2017 8:06 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> >> On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 8:01:57 AM UTC-5, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
> >>> Everyone:
> >>>
> >>> Just walk away from strangers! You don't have to listen to preaching. :)
> >>
> >> It's not the preaching you need to listen to, it's the message.
> > [...]
> >
> > Is the message "my religious beliefs out-Trump the netiquette of the
> > groups I post in"?
> >
> > Should we walk into your church (assuming you have one), and start
> > preaching "The Gospel according to K&R"?
> >
> > Perhaps a few "thou shalt not use the value of a void expression", or
> > "thou shalt not modify an object more than once between sequence points"?
> 
> This argument has been tried on Mr Hodgin before. He is safe in the 
> knowledge that, even if we knew where he went to church, none of us 
> would be so damned rude as to treat his church the way he treats this 
> newsgroup. He may or may not have heard of the Golden Rule, but he 
> clearly wants nothing to do with it.

Daniel Webster was once asked, with all his learning and great intellect,
what was the greatest thought that ever went through his mind?  He replied,
"My accountability to God."

Richard, you are continually attempting to silence the word of God going
forth, rather than augmenting it, adding a witness to it, adding a verse
to reinforce or strengthen the witness.

Remember Daniel Webster's greatest thought.

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin

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#103070 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> writes:

> This argument has been tried on Mr Hodgin before. He is safe in the
> knowledge that, even if we knew where he went to church, none of us
> would be so damned rude as to treat his church the way he treats this
> newsgroup. He may or may not have heard of the Golden Rule, but he
> clearly wants nothing to do with it.

... despite it being clearly and unambiguously stated by Jesus in the
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:!2) [It's also in the Talmud, The Islamic
Hadith and the Baha'i Book of Certitude]

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#103100 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

W dniu piątek, 3 lutego 2017 18:21:44 UTC+1 użytkownik Richard Heathfield napisał:
> On 03/02/17 16:50, Ken Brody wrote:
> > On 2/3/2017 8:06 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> >> On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 8:01:57 AM UTC-5, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
> >>> Everyone:
> >>>
> >>> Just walk away from strangers! You don't have to listen to preaching. :)
> >>
> >> It's not the preaching you need to listen to, it's the message.
> > [...]
> >
> > Is the message "my religious beliefs out-Trump the netiquette of the
> > groups I post in"?
> >
> > Should we walk into your church (assuming you have one), and start
> > preaching "The Gospel according to K&R"?
> >
> > Perhaps a few "thou shalt not use the value of a void expression", or
> > "thou shalt not modify an object more than once between sequence points"?
> 
> This argument has been tried on Mr Hodgin before. He is safe in the 
> knowledge that, even if we knew where he went to church, none of us 
> would be so damned rude as to treat his church the way he treats this 
> newsgroup. He may or may not have heard of the Golden Rule, but he 
> clearly wants nothing to do with it.
> 

this is good idea

shows how absurd it all is and how poor hodgin head is
capable to host/contain such terrible absurds/ thats why i treat him as a stright poor idiot .. unpolite but not as 
much as abusing rick is unpolite to make people dumb.. 
(yawn, m goin sleep )

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#103113 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

fir wrote:
> shows how absurd it all is and how poor hodgin head is capable to
> host/contain such terrible absurds/ thats why i treat him as a
> stright poor idiot .. unpolite but not as much as abusing rick is
> unpolite to make people dumb..

I love you, fir.  Jesus loves you more.  He will forgive your sin
and give you eternal life.  Without Him, your latter days will be
forever worse than any pains you have today.

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin

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#103054 — Re: [OT] Just walk away....

On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 11:50:21 AM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
> On 2/3/2017 8:06 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> > On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 8:01:57 AM UTC-5, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:
> >> Everyone:
> >>
> >> Just walk away from strangers! You don't have to listen to preaching. :)
> >
> > It's not the preaching you need to listen to, it's the message.
> [...]
> 
> Is the message "my religious beliefs out-Trump the netiquette of the groups 
> I post in"?
> 
> Should we walk into your church (assuming you have one), and start preaching 
> "The Gospel according to K&R"?
> 
> Perhaps a few "thou shalt not use the value of a void expression", or "thou 
> shalt not modify an object more than once between sequence points"?

It's a good question.

The answer comes from something Jesus told His disciples.  In Matthew
28:18+, He says that all power had been given Him in Earth and Heaven.
He said to therefore go forth and teach all nations about Him, and to
baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Now, that's an interesting claim.  Is it true?  Is Jesus the one with
all power?

That's where reading the rest of the Bible gives you the answer.  And,
it is as this person indicates:

    Open mind, truth-seeking (begins at 29:36):
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pupPSlzZmkw&t=29m36s

If you seek the truth, you will find it.  If you come to the Bible
with a lot of preconceived ideas, being already certain in your own
correctness, expecting to read things which contradict your own
existing beliefs, such that when you encounter them you can then say,
"Well, the Bible is clearly wrong because this other thing I already
believe is clearly right," then you'll never find it.

But if you come to the Bible as a child, searching for the truth,
looking to understand what it says, God will open up your understanding
to it.

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin

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#103043

On 2/1/2017 5:56 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> What is a Christian teaching like?  It's all summed up from the
> realization:
[...]

kenb>  man Christ
man: Christ not found

kenb>

-- 
Kenneth Brody

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#103045

On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 11:36:22 AM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
> On 2/1/2017 5:56 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> > What is a Christian teaching like?  It's all summed up from the
> > realization:
> [...]
> 
> kenb>  man Christ
> man: Christ not found
> 
> kenb>

No problem.  I'm not Stack Overflow, but I can help you with this one.
Use this:

kenb> sudo apt-get install xiphos

Run the app and install KJV Bible ... and there you will find Him.
The Old Testament points to Him.  The New Testament introduces Him as
our Lord and Savior.  The last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation,
introduces Him as the returning conquerer.  He will meet all people as
either a lion or a lamb.  For those who were saved, a lamb.  For those
who were not saved, a lion, and He will utterly destroy even their
bones.

It's the truth that's being sought after, Ken, in Jesus Christ.  It's
not a church.  It's not religion.  It is THE truth.

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin

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#103050

On 2/4/2017 12:45 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> No problem.  I'm not Stack Overflow, but I can help you with this one.
> Use this:
>
> kenb> sudo apt-get install xiphos
>
> Run the app and install KJV Bible ... and there you will find Him.

Cross-post this part to alt.os.linux.ubuntu! Just this part! :)

-- 
   @~@   Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch! Live long and prosper!!
  / v \  Simplicity is Beauty!
/( _ )\ May the Force and farces be with you!
   ^ ^   (x86_64 Ubuntu 9.10)  Linux 2.6.39.3
不借貸! 不詐騙! 不援交! 不打交! 不打劫! 不自殺! 請考慮綜援 (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa

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#103273

On 2/3/2017 11:45 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 11:36:22 AM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
>> On 2/1/2017 5:56 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
>>> What is a Christian teaching like?  It's all summed up from the
>>> realization:
>> [...]
>>
>> kenb>  man Christ
>> man: Christ not found
>>
>> kenb>
>
> No problem.  I'm not Stack Overflow, but I can help you with this one.
> Use this:
>
> kenb> sudo apt-get install xiphos
[...]

Sorry, but I'm not on Linux.

=====
kenb>  type sudo apt-get
sudo: not found
apt-get: not found

kenb>
=====

-- 
Kenneth Brody

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#103274

On Sunday, February 5, 2017 at 10:02:31 PM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
> On 2/3/2017 11:45 AM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> > On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 11:36:22 AM UTC-5, Ken Brody wrote:
> >> On 2/1/2017 5:56 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> >>> What is a Christian teaching like?  It's all summed up from the
> >>> realization:
> >> [...]
> >>
> >> kenb>  man Christ
> >> man: Christ not found
> >>
> >> kenb>
> >
> > No problem.  I'm not Stack Overflow, but I can help you with this one.
> > Use this:
> >
> > kenb> sudo apt-get install xiphos
> [...]
> 
> Sorry, but I'm not on Linux.
> 
> =====
> kenb>  type sudo apt-get
> sudo: not found
> apt-get: not found
> 
> kenb>
> =====

No problem.  Download here:

    http://xiphos.org

To build from sources:

    git clone https://github.com/crosswire/xiphos.git

If you can't get it to build, install a virtual machine and a basic
flavor of Ubuntu Linux and use the commands given you before.

-----
He's there, Ken.  You must put forth the effort as He only stands at
the door and knocks.  You must get up and let Him in, which requires
some work on your behalf.

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin

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