Justin

Lol, Chris...how can we tell her what and what not to say before she even posts? In response to DeathBug: I doubt that would be the case very seriously, lol. Firstly, because I've seen the Bible fulfilled [i]first hand[/i]. Secondly, to let the human race walk around with the wrong information would be practically damning them right then and there. And God is not in the business of damnation. What was that? That's right. God doesn't damn people, people damn themselves. Let me explain: [b]No one can live a sin-fee life.[/b] Not me, not you, not my pastor, not your pastor, not even if you were the most anointed human on the face of this earth. No one is a Christian because they pursue a life of purity. Instead, people pursue a life of purity [i]because they are Christian[/i]. Christianity is about God's grace, mercy, and love in sending Jesus to live, die, and live again for our sake. And only though accepting Him, and His divine sacrifice and [i]pursuing[/i] a pure life can one be a true Christian. [b][i]That[/i][/b] is the Gospel! -Justin

Chris, with all due respect, chill. You can see she is a child, most likely, why don't you lay off? As for the Bible's infallibility: If you believe God can bring the Word to men, can you not also believe that He can protect it from those same, weak, men? Secondly, evolution does not contradict the Bible, if properly presented. If it's presented as something God initiated for the purpose of creation, it is a viable theory. In fact, Genesis says that God [i]allowed[/i] the earth to grow up during creation. Therefore implying that he started it, and then allowed it to take it's designed course. Now, this says nothing for what I personally think. As I said, I do not care. It takes a backseat to the Gospel. And whoever said we only use 10% of our brains--I'm sorry, you've been decieved. That erroneous old wives tale has long been disproved. I feel sorry for the one who only uses such a small portion of his brain. Evolution DOES exist. At the very least on a small scale. Micro-evolution cannot be disputed. As for macro-evolution, I have no real proof, beyond a viable theory, so I do not take a position. For God, I have proof of His existance more than anything in this world. Soon enough, I'll be able to share it in the same way it's been shared with me. -Justin

I'm sorry, but if you want someone to say they do or do not believe in something, for the sake of conversation, you have to let them state why they believe what they do. Now, on to my opinion. I believe in micro-evolution, yes. You can't dispute it's existance. Proof of it is easy to see: ie. I am adjuted to hot, humid weather, because I am from the American South. However, my good friend, Jenna, is from the American North, and she, no doubt is more suited to cold climates. I do not believe in evolution outside intellignt design. Why? Because I've been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, frankly. Beyond that, intelligent design is more logical than the spontaneous formation of the universe. Once more, you cannot discuss whether someone believes in something like this or not without letting them say why. Otherwise, there is no discussion--only the boring statements of 'yes' or 'no'. -Justin

Like I said, I really want a 5.0. I figured if I scratch the GT, and go with an LX, I might get away with some extra change on my insurance price. With that extra change, I figure I can get a tyte paint job, slap on some GT ground effects, put on some chrome Bullit rims, and get a Saleen spoiler. -Justin

Honestly, I don't much trust all the trash people dig up on politicians. You never know if it's true, and even if it is, what the situation was when it happened. Personally, Hill creeps me out, in a literal sense. I don't like her policies, and I think she's sly(even among politicians). I'd much rather see Powell as President. -Justin

There is already a thread on street racing farther down the page. I'm going to merge this one with that one. This will be my last act as a Moderator. *The song that played when Yoda died in Star Wars begins to play, mysteriously* :) -Justin

You don't lie when you say 'the mods would take a gun to their temple'. We would. lol. The Newbie Lounge was something feirce in the way of spam. That was one forum I did not miss when I became a normal moderator. -Justin

Actually, Harry is correct. I know this abot Mississippi, and the same is true of the state in which I live-- Alabama. Many people here are [i]openly[/i], [i]loudly[/i], and [i]obnoxiously[/i] racist. They are not afrid to call blacks "niggers" nor are many blacks afraid to call whites "crackers". It is an issue from all sides. Now, Harry is guilty of personally attacking someone, but he is not entirely wrong. -Justin

I'm thinking about selling the Probe pretty soon. Probably as soon as I get a job. I want to get a Mustang GT fox body, preferably post-1986. I just don't know how deadly the insurance would be. I'd also like to buy an old G-body Monte Carlo SS to race on the strip. I'd probably take out the 305 and drop in a 350, though, if it did not already have a 350. -Justin

And you say that the Civil War is a part of Southern hstory that is not to be celebrated? That is opinion, my friend, not fact. I say that it should. Even being the erroneous failure that it was, any man who wll fight for what he believes is worthy of honor. What you seem to be asking is that we forget about the Civil War. And I'm saying that you're asking something that will not be granted. I won't forget it. Neither should anyone else. Just because you have no pride for your ancestors doesn't mean that others don't; and you don't have the right to ask us not to. No, I do not agree with slavery. Yes, it is contradictory to ask for freedom for yourselves, but not grant it to others. But you have to remember these people were raised far differently that we all were. Yes, a confederation was a backwards step--but the USA tried that too, and look--we're still here. Who's to say it wouldn't have been the same for the CSA? Yes, the South lost. But it had much to be celebrated and remembered. If you have a problem with tht flag, guess what. It's your problem. One you may choose to solve, or one you may let cause you unnecessary worry, and therefore shorten your life. It's still going to fly, and that's that. -Justin

Eh, I won't do an street racing at all, at this pont. I may(after I sell my current car) do some racing on the drag strip, depending upon what I buy. Right now I'm driving a '94 Ford Probe GT. I'm not sure how much HP it puts out, but it's got a 24 valve 2.5 six-cylinder under the hood. I've just gotten it recently, so no performance parts have been added. But, as I said, if I do race, it'll be on the drag strip, and therefore, the quarter mile would be my choice. -Justin

The original thirteen colonies were traitors also, and the average colonist male was better off than the average British male. The South had just reasons for their break, and slavery was not one of the core issues until after the war was already underway. The South [i]was[/i] opressed by the North, and in the Declaration of Independence, it says that governments derive their power from the people, to ensure the people's happiness...and it also says when the government becomes destructive of those ends, it's the right of the people to change or abolish that government. You can pick any flag is this world, and equate it with something horrible. If slavery and failure to accomplish a task they thought to be just are the only faults you can lay on the South, you need to start complaining about some of the failures and horrible things done under the Stars and Stripes themselves. Not that I'm anti-American. I'm very thankful for this country. But you cannot condemn the Confederate South without looking at the United States of the time. Now, I do not agree with some things that certain individuals bear the Confederate flag in the name of. Such as, white supremacy. That has nothing to do with the flag itself. As I said, slavery was a political issue, used by Lincoln to gain support from the West--who initially supported the South. Slavery itself would've been gone after a few years anyway. I think that people who bear the flag for anything other than pride in their heritage are stupid. You lose respect for someone because they're proud of their heritage? I'm so sorry, but you'll get over it some day. -Justin

Eh...sorry it hasn't come more quickly. I've been busy all week... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Master Skywalker, all is not well with your husband." A Twi Lek senator named Ojdan Buula said. "Why do you say that" Mara Jade Skywalker asked roughly. "He's left the Council, you know. There's talk of insanity." "And it' people like you that spread it." Mara said, not facing him. "You know I've always only had the best in mind for you and your family, Jedi Skywalker." The Twi' Lek recoiled. He was a politician, and did the typical politician things. But he meant no great harm to the Skywalkers. In fact, he was fond of them, at times. But he was a politician, and had to go the way of the majority. "My son is here. Don't bother him with these things." She turned a venomous gaze to him. "Mom!" Ben shouted before he even turned the corner, "Mom, what's going on?" He asked desperately. "Your father is retiring. That's all." She said coldly. "Why wasn't I told?" "Because it was not my business to tell." She said with the same cold air. "You know that the President will start pulling strings to get [i]Master[/i] Hyan in the Council seat, now, don't you?" He said, almost pleading. "Yes, Ben. I know." She said, turning a maternal gaze on her son. "Well, what if he gets in?" "Something is about to happen. Your father senses it too, and he wouldn't just leave like that unless he knew he was not needed. Don't be afraid." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [i]In a smaller, independent portion outside of the control of President Shirsham Jaal's Great Republic. In the Tingel Arm[/i] "Jedi Luke Skywalker has left the Jedi Council. The new belief system rising is too much for his old eyes to bear. I cannot say that I am pleased in this matter, either. Soon it will spread to the Krashan Republic, and [i]we'll[/i] have to deal with it." Greyed Tripoli, Chancellor of the KP, said to the Premier. "We could invite the Solos and Skywalkers to come here. They could set up a base for themselves in our borders. That could be good." Premier Hussen said, nervously. "No. They are too engrained with Coruscant, Corellia, and all the other familarities of the republics of the past. We couldn't convince them to come here--they probably still think of us as rebellious." He said sagely. "But we could try--" "You see, Premier, that's your problem. You have to worry so much about your political career. You should've run fo chancellor, where you're in for life. The Great Republic would see that as more of an act of war, than an act of faith. They're already cushioning their barriers on the coreside boundary. We don't need to strike any matches." -Justin

It fills every part of the believer. Especially when spiritual maturity sets in. So, I suppose it's more of a state of being, than a state of mind--though, I have to say, I'm not sure what you were asking with that queston, lol. Jesus went through all that He did for us. And if only one were to ever accept Him in all of time, He'd have done it anyway. That is why Christianity is as much, if not more, about each individual as it is about the masses. When Jesus ascended, He promised a Comforter for His disciples. Shortly thereafter, the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost to the disciples in the upper room. This was prophecied by the Old Testament prophet Joel. The apostles then began spreading the Gospel like wild fire--they were forever changed; different people entirely. That is what happens to people who stay in the Spirit...they stay in a perpetual state of change. We Christians are to pursue a likeness to Christ, and if we are to be like Christ, either we or Christ is going to have to change. I can guarantee one thing: It won't be Christ, lol. Now, I say that when you become saturated with the Spirit, and when you start getting drunk on the New Wine(I'm not kidding, in a good service, y'all would probably think that I was drunk...or high..or something. It's just great, because you don't get sick.), you become in no small degree directed by the Spirit in all matters. If there are Christians here who disagree with my views on the Holy Spirit, I direct you all to the Book of Acts. You'll find it between the Gospel of John and the Epistle to the Romans. Also, look throughout the New Testament. Haha, and even the Old, for that matter. Anyway, to be honest, Jenna, I don't know how to answer your question. Maybe you can rephrase it or something. I actually don't know where those four paragraphs above came from, lol. OK, yeah, I do. Haha, God is good. I'm so trippin' right now. -Justin

I share the same distaste that you do, Jenna. Always have, lol. As I may or may not have stated, religious people make me sick. Having said that, it can only be the work of a higher Diety that I came to the position I am in today. You see, even though western culture makes Christianity out to be a droning, boring religion, in other parts of the world(and indeed, when Jesus taught it) it is quite revolutionary. I blame people throwing God's name in every other sentence, either to bless or to bring about damnation(which is the choice of the person, as God tugs on the hearts of everyone equally), for the West's current over-saturation with the idea of some boring, dead, inactive god. One that does not exist. The God of the Bible is a powerful, omni-everything, [i]active[/i] God. His Spirit moves in, amongst, and through His people...in a [i]tangible[/i], [i]percievable[/i] way. The [i]religion[/i] of Christianity is a system, developed over years and years of regurgitated wisdom--which is now starting to lose its roots. You can see that by the emergence of false doctrines, and the lack of Americans in the church. The [i]relationship[/i] of Christianity is exactly what it was in the beginning. Still miracles are being performed, still the Holy Spirit moves, and still His people praise. Just last night, at a revival, a woman came to the front and told the evanglist she needed a healing of her knee. She had recently had surgery and it was faulty. The evangelist said it best when he respoded with "I thought you were going to ask for something hard." The woman got her healing. I am an eyewitness of that, and an eyewitness to the tangibility of the Lord's precense. I believe every single word of the Bible--save the few minor descrepencies that do exist; none of which are doctrinally significant. Mostly names of places and such. Even then, you can go back to the original Hebrew to find what was and what wasn't. So, as I've said, by society's perception, true Christianity is no run-of-the-mill religion. Religious folks can have their religion, I'll have my Spirit and my Word. We'll see who enjoys life the most. -Justin

First of all, Jenna, you that I love you. [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by BabyGirl [/i] [B][color=deeppink]To me there's a distinct difference between being an atheist and being agnostic. Choosing to be an atheist is a consious decision to believe that there is no God, no afterlife, and no one holy presense watching over us all. To be agnostic, however, is more a state of mind where you're not convinced that God is real, but you don't have reason to deny it either. These two things shouldn't be mixed up.[/color][/quote] This is very true. [quote][color=deeppink] Anyway, we all know that we're going to die someday, and none of us actually KNOW what it is like after death. That's cool if you have your belief that God will provide for you and you'll be forever living in the clouds of heaven, and I respect that, but how certain [i]are[/i] you that the Bible's predictions are true? There's no proof...but maybe that's why so many people hold onto the hope of an afterlife and of one omnipresent God...because it's something to look forward to?[/color][/quote] I'll admit, I do not know what Heaven will be like. Though, the Bible gives descriptions, accurate ones, to be sure, it does so with many things. Many things I've already experienced. The Bible did not lie, but at the same time, I cannot say I understood them before they happened. Now, how certain am I? Very. The proof I have comes by way of the Holy Spirit, or the only proof I truly need anyway. But predictions in the Bible [i]have[/i] come true already, and they come true now. The God of the Bible is a living One, which is what many religious folk do not understand. He works now as I write, and as all of you read. You see, I don't blame other faiths for anything that comes against Christianity--and the fact that things do is fulfillment of a prophecy itself--I blame religion. Folks try to turn a relationship into a religion, and you have what many church people are today. Dead, and having long forgotten the power of the Lord. The Fire of Heaven. The Anointing. Don't misunderstand me, church is great--necessary to growth, even. But anything non-Biblical is to be discarded. It must also be said that the prophecies in the Bible are not the only prophecies to hold to. God still speaks through prophets today. Now, there exists room for fakes and phonies in this, but for them, God created another gift--called discernment. And told His people to use it to determine if a prophet were real. Now, if people can't discern spiritually, then we have the passage of time. If a 'prophets' words do not come to pass, he was false. But those prophecies will never be anything non-Scriptural. [quote]But why concentrate on what's going to happen AFTER you die when you can be doing great things while you're living, even if you don't believe in God? Why should you ever think about dying when there is so much life to live in the first place? In this world, death is final. When my time comes to pass on, then I want it to be my finale. I'm not going to spend time contemplating the wonders of what happens after I die, or even preparing for it, because I love living life, and I love that I LIVE to love. [/quote] Christianity isn't about death, though many people only concern themselves with God when it comes to death and salvation. It's about life. Both here, and later on. God speaks to me much more..much, much more about things I'm going to do here, than He does about anything to do with Heaven, Hell, or death. Christianity is about a relationship with God, and sharing that with others. [quote]Just because someone doesn't ask Jesus into their hearts...eh...I'm going to go out onto a limb, so I find it's better to stop myself here. I don't want to criticize anyone's belief, I just want to make it clear that I don't agree. I definitely don't disrespect your decision to believe in God, I just don't see eye to eye with that ^_~ ::stops rambling::[/QUOTE] I hope it's not me you're concerned about offending, lol. You'll find it's pretty difficult to do. I encourage you to directly question my faith, even if it isn't here, I'd like to hear your opinion, because I honestly don't know it beyond the fact that you just disagree. -Justin

For the most part, I don't think much on dreams. I never usually remember mine anyway. Now, I do believe that some Christians may be subject to inspired dreams, which then become vision, but those are entirely different, in my opinion. Those can be vividly remembered, even if you don't necessarily understand them at the time. Understanding grows from patience. Your thoughts on both people with faith and people without it are very good, I must say. Though, I've known Christians who believe simply because they've found the Christian God to be logical, I think it is a sad state of existance. Logic is so boring and easy. I'd much rather have faith, because 'blessed are those who do not see, and believe anyway'. And I'm a witness to the truth of that. As for the no-religion-thing: It makes the most sense I've heard from another person all morning, I think. I'd never looked at it that way, and as Jenna said, I doubt many actually look at themselves that way; but for the sake of just tearing it all apart, it makes sense. -Justin

Eh, I used to think about things like that after watching an [i]I am Weisel![/i] cartoon where he spit in a thingie and made little-hims. But then, I grew out of it. -Justin

This heezy has special forums for topics like this. -Justin

*Awaits Piro's inevitable appearance* I've recently started getting into them. They're pretty good, I'd say. I really love "Girls Not Grey" and "Bleed Black". -Justin

You just made this topic like 3 weeks ago, did you not? If it wasn't you, it was someone. Let's keep such specific topics spaced a little more. -Justin

Note: This is an original story. It's set [i]after[/i] the eventual fall of the Vong and, because I've not read the last two or three NJO books, it may or may not line up with them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke walked the dark corridors of the new capital building on Corellia. It was hard to believe the destruction his eyes had seen in his lifetime. He remembered the days of the Empire, and then compared them to the days of the Vong. He couldn't help but think that somehow, maybe by the will of the Force, the first had prepared him for the second. He stood now, on the other side of both, a completely different person than when he had begun. He felt like a relic of a time long passed now. Many of the existing Jedi had converted to the belief that taught that the Force was not an entity worthy of reverence, but a tool worthy of respect. They followed the beliefs of his late nephew, Anakin Solo. Erroneous beliefs--the beliefs of a brash, hot-blooded, youngster. Luke was now well on in years, and he had retired from the council seat. Leaving it to the council to choose a new leader, he wanted no more part of what he foresaw for the Order. It would be no Order, it would become a Disorder. The Light Side would reckon with those who abandoned it, which so many so-called 'Jedi' were doing by adopting this new doctine. Luke found that he was no longer a teacher, or a master. He was no longer a defender of the peace. He was a backwards-thinking old man, and a joke. Only young Jacen continued to teach the true Way, and he had few followers. Yoda had Dagoba. Ben had Tatooine. Luke chose Yavin. Yavin, which had served this galaxy a thousand times as a key planet, had now been abandoned. He would make a home of it. Mara and he would live the rest of their lives out there, and they would leave young Ben Skywalker in the stewardship of Jacen. "[i]Master Skywalker.[/i]"A sly, raspy voice spit the name out like a candy-coated rotten egg, and Luke turned to look on Saf Kijin, a Rodian and an avid believer in Anism(the title of the new belief). "What do you want?" Luke felt as though his voice thundered across the Corellian sky, and perhaps if the Rodian were as attuned to the Force as he thought, it would've thundered in his mind, but all he heard was the venomous whisper of an angry old human. "Just to say that I'm sorry to see you're leaving at such a ripe, good age. I wonder...who'll be chosen as your replacement, and then who'll be chosen as theirs?" the selfish creature asked. "It won't be you, in either case. I left the decision up to the council, and you aren't in their favor..or mine. Good day, Saf." Luke turned to head again towards his cruiser. "Be careful, old man. Do not underestimate the unity of Anists. We are the true way, and we're going to eliminate the ancient thinking you and yours incorrectly teach." Saf's tone grew threatening. Luke turned his head back to the Rodian, "A vergence is occuring in the Force. The Dark Side is growing stronger. The Dark Side is the side that you serve." Luke said. "There are no 'sides'. The Force is a tool. A great tool, but nothing more." Luke turned away again, and walked to his cruiser. Turning again to Saf, he said, "The truth will be known." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jaina Solo looked over at her brother, Jacen. Jacen, so firm is his faith that the Force was not a mere tool. So strong in that. He was a definite asset to his cause. Most Anists were snivelling, selfish pigs. Jaina wished that she could be so strong. Jacen would not become the council seat, and she knew it. The rest of the council would see to it that such a zealot did not rise again. Afterall, they'd just rid themselves of Luke. Too much politics were involved. "[i]It's a shame. He's the most qualified one here.[/i]" She thought. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ben's new ZH-Outsider fighter howled as it streaked across Coruscant's atmosphere. He looked down at the reconstruction process, wondering what all those workers were finding down in the depths, or, what used to be the depths of the city. He was headed to only running facility on the planet. The future Senate Hall. The capital had been temporarily moved to Corellia, but they were working on restoring Coruscant to its former state. None of this mattered, he just wanted to see his mother. -Justin

Their intentions are good, and you should submit to them. However, I will not be this way with my children, and neither are my parents with me in any great degree. I may occasionally ask them who they're talking to, but not because I suspect that person of being a 45-year-old rapist. Your parents love you very much, and you should hold onto that while it's there for you you to hold onto. Decide whether they're wrong or right later on. -Justin

If I [i]do[/i] have any likeness to any animal, it's probably a pig. I eat too much; I'm sometimes obnoxiously loud; I can be quite abrasive; and I'm stubborn. So, I'm either a pig or a donkey. -Justin

Well, let's see here. I act like a--human? We're all unique individuals as humans, but I don't think we have much in common with animals. At least, not any single animals over any other. For instance, the Norse Beserker: They were extremely aggressive, yes. But the bear is not by nature extremely aggressive. They, like any normal animal, take their own health into consideration as well. Next, I may say I have, oh, I don't know. I'll be cliche, the heart of a lion, because I'm brave or something. There again, lions do not have an abnormal amount of bravery in comparison to other animals. They can't--bravery is a state of mind that requires defying natural fear, and lions go by instinct. They'll only be exceptionally brave when it is necessary, just like any other animal. Therefore, no one has a spirit really likened to any particular animal. They only have the traits that they associate with an animal that appeals to them. -Justin