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To: xzins
You have not answered my question from two days ago...

1) Do you think God knows when you will die and how?

...nor yesterday's question...

2) Are your sermons, Pastor, inspired by God?

I answered your question. But I'll oblige you one more time if I wasn't clear enough, (being a "two-parter," and all) and continue to hope you answer mine.

Just like God made black people and white people and the Green Party and the Lavender Mob and the Yellow Jacket and fir trees and scorpions and sunny afternoons and earthquakes and ice storms and pimples and butter and Charles Manson and Mother Teresa and John Calvin and John Wesley and Bill Clinton, HE MADE EVERYTHING to carry out His divine will.

He ordained John to write "inspired" Scripture and He ordained me to struggle along with my three-year-old Toshiba laptop and write for money to pay the mortgage and feed our children.

A rose is not a thorn, but both are made by God and both do just as He wills.

So while you would hope that I would answer "my paltry musings are as significant as were the holy writ of John," I cannot do that. A rose is not a thorn. But both exist to glorify God.

The Calvinist secret is that because I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE, I try to write everyday as if God were my collaborator. Because He is.

And He doesn't even ask for a split of the residuals.

Such a deal.

Now your answers?

446 posted on 12/26/2003 12:17:11 PM PST by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg; P-Marlowe; Starwind
1) Do you think God knows when you will die and how? ...nor yesterday's question... 2) Are your sermons, Pastor, inspired by God?

Quickly, because I owe you.

1. God's sovereignty, God's foreknowledge, and the realness of my decisions all interact according to some design of God. My tendency is to say, "of course." But I have a tiny reservation when I say it. (You weren't expecting honesty, were you?) Somehow a real decision of an individual fits into the framework. The issue of time that P-Marlowe proposes might provide the answer that allows for real decisions on the part of humans.

2. If you mean in the sense of scripture, then no, they are not inspired. If you mean do I think God assists me in unseen ways as I prepare and deliver, then the answer is "yes," and sometimes despite myself.

You did not answer my question. I asked you: how the control God exercised over holy scripture is different from the control he exercises over your writings?

It's not a gotcha. I'm curious how you see it since you think God wrote everything into His plan...to include the words that you write.

456 posted on 12/26/2003 12:37:02 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army and Proud of It!)
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