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'God' Apparently Responds to Lawsuit [by NE St Senator Ernie Chambers]
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 9/20/07 | Nate Jenkins

Posted on 09/20/2007 5:47:06 PM PDT by TFFKAMM

(09-20) 17:30 PDT Lincoln, Neb. (AP) --

A legislator who filed a lawsuit against God has gotten something he might not have expected: a response. One of two court filings from "God" came Wednesday under otherworldly circumstances, according to John Friend, clerk of the Douglas County District Court in Omaha.

"This one miraculously appeared on the counter. It just all of a sudden was here — poof!" Friend said.

State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha sued God last week, seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty for making terroristic threats, inspiring fear and causing "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."

Chambers, a self-proclaimed agnostic who often criticizes Christians, said his filing was triggered by a federal lawsuit he considers frivolous. He said he's trying to makes the point that anybody can sue anybody.

Not so, says "God." His response argues that the defendant is immune from some earthly laws and the court lacks jurisdiction.

It adds that blaming God for human oppression and suffering misses an important point.

"I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you," according to the response, as read by Friend....

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; US: Nebraska
KEYWORDS: god; godtalk; lawsuit; nebraska; religion
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1 posted on 09/20/2007 5:47:10 PM PDT by TFFKAMM
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To: TFFKAMM
I see George Burns is still collecting royalties.

The best live forever.

Best regards,

2 posted on 09/20/2007 5:54:29 PM PDT by Copernicus (Mary Carpenter Speaks About Gun Control http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7CCB40F421ED4819)
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To: al baby; Allegra; Auntbee; BJClinton; Dashing Dasher; dfwddr; exile; feinswinesuksass; ...
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket TaЯd ping!

"Tard" refers to the ping list members and not to the subject of the thread.

3 posted on 09/20/2007 5:54:47 PM PDT by EveningStar
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To: TFFKAMM

4 posted on 09/20/2007 5:55:13 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: TFFKAMM

No freakin screechin replies from the Sam FrnkDickso peenut gallery to this story? I *am* surprised. Figuring how many of them have freely chosen the ways of the Devil.


5 posted on 09/20/2007 5:55:30 PM PDT by DGHoodini
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To: DGHoodini

Did you mean on the original source, or here on FR? (Hint: if you click the story link, you’ll see responses to the former.)


6 posted on 09/20/2007 5:56:51 PM PDT by TFFKAMM
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To: martin_fierro; SevenofNine; PJ-Comix

ping


7 posted on 09/20/2007 5:58:38 PM PDT by EveningStar
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To: TFFKAMM; HarleyD; TommyDale; Gamecock; Alex Murphy; shaggy eel; My2Cents; jumpdrive; ...
"...free will is my greatest gift to you."

Um... I think John Calvin and Martin Luther would have a thing or two to say about that. It appears the response from God is a forgery. I see nothing about free will in the original Word from God.

8 posted on 09/20/2007 6:01:09 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: TFFKAMM
There was no contact information on the filing, although St. Michael the Archangel is listed as a witness, Friend said.

If the author was actually trying to fool someone, he got a little too cute.

9 posted on 09/20/2007 6:01:58 PM PDT by Irish Rose (Will work for chocolate.)
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To: Terriergal

So, Salvation freely given from God is shoved down one’s throat? Not so...we have the free will to accept or reject God through Jesus Christ who died for our sins. Hence, salvation is freely given and freely accepted. That defines free will. The choice is yours.


10 posted on 09/20/2007 6:04:07 PM PDT by BlackjackPershing ("The great object is that every man be armed." Patrick Henry)
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To: Terriergal

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

My Bible has that little typo about choosing who you serve. That can’t be right. That would be free will.


11 posted on 09/20/2007 6:05:38 PM PDT by Sir Gawain
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To: Terriergal
Um... I think John Calvin and Martin Luther would have a thing or two to say about that. It appears the response from God is a forgery. I see nothing about free will in the original Word from God.

It's right there in Genesis. God says not to eat from this one certain tree and they do which proves they had free will. If they don't have free will they would be unable to disobey. And commands would be pointless.

12 posted on 09/20/2007 6:06:44 PM PDT by Duke Nukum (He burns at the center of time and he sees the turn of the Universe.)
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To: TFFKAMM; EveningStar

Said God: “If you want it tough guy, come and get it.”


13 posted on 09/20/2007 6:07:32 PM PDT by Enterprise (Those who "betray us" also "Betray U.S." They're called DEMOCRATS!)
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To: Alouette

ping


14 posted on 09/20/2007 6:10:16 PM PDT by EveningStar
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To: Duke Nukum

No no He just tricked them with reverse psychology. Do over!


15 posted on 09/20/2007 6:12:42 PM PDT by Sir Gawain
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To: Terriergal

Remember, you only understand the doctrines of Grace because God has willed for you to. It won’t be so with much of your audience!


16 posted on 09/20/2007 6:29:40 PM PDT by crghill (Christianity...setting women free since 0 a.d.)
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To: Terriergal; Elsie
Deut. 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,...

Can't have choice without free will.

17 posted on 09/20/2007 6:45:14 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: TFFKAMM

There ween’t any replies at SFG when I piosted that. :o)


18 posted on 09/20/2007 6:59:43 PM PDT by DGHoodini
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To: TFFKAMM
"I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you," according to the response, as read by Friend....

So, God isn't a Calvinist?

19 posted on 09/20/2007 7:18:00 PM PDT by Larry Lucido (Hunter 2008)
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To: TFFKAMM

Atheist Holiday

Something interesting to consider...this is just one of those funny little things but it makes a good point! I have no idea if this is a true story or not...but I certainly hope it is.

In Florida, an atheist became incensed over the preparation of Easter and Passover holidays. He decided to contact his lawyer about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while atheists had no holiday to celebrate. The case was brought before a wise
judge.

After listening to the long passionate presentation by the lawyer, the Judge banged his gavel and declared “Case Dismissed.”

The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, “Your Honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah......yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays.”

The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said “Obviously your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate, his own atheists holiday!”

The lawyer pompously said, “Your Honor, we are unaware of any such holiday for atheists. Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?”

The judge said, “Well it comes every year on exactly the same date.....April 1st! Since our calendar sets April 1st as April Fools’ Day, consider that Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53 states, The fool says in his heart, there is no God. Thus, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then by scripture he is a fool, thus April 1st is his holiday!”

Pray that someday our courts will be full of these kinds of judges.....maybe then, we can put God back where He belongs.........in everything we do.....

Way to go, Judge!


20 posted on 09/20/2007 7:24:39 PM PDT by DarthVader (Conservatives aren't always right , but Liberals are almost always wrong.)
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To: metmom

Wayne Grudem puts it right: Man has “apparent free will”. Certainly limited free will. Absolute free will is not taught nor represented in Scripture. The absolute sovereignty of Almighty God IS clearly taught in the Bible.

While we see man has some freedom to choose, it is limited by what so ever God decides.

One example (2 Chronicles 20:5-7): “And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?”


21 posted on 09/20/2007 7:39:55 PM PDT by Manfred the Wonder Dawg (Test ALL things, hold to that which is True.)
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To: TFFKAMM
I just love FreeRepublic! At what other site can you have such great discourse on any subject under the sun? A vast wealth of knowledge with FReepers always willing to share theirs...with great civility [for the most part]!
22 posted on 09/20/2007 8:09:24 PM PDT by Rosamond
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To: Manfred the Wonder Dawg; Duke Nukum
Duke Nukum is right. Without free will, God's commands are meaningless. We'd have no choice but to obey them. Then we'd just be robots and since we're made in the image and likeness of God, that either means that God is a robot like being with no free will, or we have free will.

That isn't to say that God doesn't have ANY say in our lives. Sure He controls some situations, but within that framework, we still have choices to make.

Acts 17:26- 30 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Yes, He does exercise some control, as in placing us when and where we live, but He leaves that decision up to us.

If man had no free will, then when God commands all men everywhere to repent, they would have to. Clearly they don't. They couldn't refuse if they had no free will.

23 posted on 09/20/2007 8:18:07 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: BlackjackPershing
Salvation freely given from God is shoved down one’s throat?

No, your will is transformed to conform to the will of God.

Show me in scripture where "free will" is taught.

24 posted on 09/20/2007 8:42:02 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: TFFKAMM
This certainly was the greatest story I have read all year, made me laugh and cry and restored my faith in my fellow man, that someone wanted to create hope and stand up for God's role in our lives.

That some here are busy debating the theological bona fides of "God's" response just brings me back to earth and reminds me that man truly is unworthy of God.

25 posted on 09/20/2007 8:42:04 PM PDT by Williams
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To: Sir Gawain

No that’s just a command. It doesn’t imply the ability to obey. Is anyone able to obey all the commandments? Yet Jesus commands us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.


26 posted on 09/20/2007 8:42:53 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: Duke Nukum

OK I would grant that possibly before the fall they did.


27 posted on 09/20/2007 8:43:31 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: metmom

Will we be free in heaven?


28 posted on 09/20/2007 8:43:48 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: crghill

I know. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t supposed to preach them.


29 posted on 09/20/2007 8:44:15 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: Larry Lucido

Apparently not according to the author!


30 posted on 09/20/2007 8:44:52 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: Manfred the Wonder Dawg
We are free to choose according to our will, yes. Good post. Our wills are in bondage. We are slaves to sin -- then we are slaves to righteousness Romans 6:17-18. Bob DeWaay's article on
Recovering Reformation Theology Rejecting Synergism and Returning to Monergism
Is EXCELLENT in explaining the basics of the issue. Either Salvation all of God, or God is impotent and Scripture is misleading. There is no in-between. We are naturally dead in tresspasses and sin. We can make no 'choice' for God if we are dead.
31 posted on 09/20/2007 8:52:04 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: TFFKAMM; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...
"...and stop shouting My name when you're having sex, ya perverts!"


32 posted on 09/20/2007 9:00:29 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Be deranged in a consistent manner. Manson was nuts, but at least he was always on message." --dead)
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To: TFFKAMM
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
33 posted on 09/20/2007 9:06:45 PM PDT by VxH (One if by Land, Two if by Sea, and Three if by Wire Transfer)
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To: Terriergal
[where “free will” is taught.]

It’s explicit in the doctrine of original sin.

Mankind sinned and separated itself from its creator by exercising free will.

Individuals can use that free will to reject Christ’s sacrificial gift which restores the relationship between God and individual humans.

34 posted on 09/20/2007 9:14:33 PM PDT by VxH (One if by Land, Two if by Sea, and Three if by Wire Transfer)
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To: Terriergal

[Will we be free in heaven?]

Lucifer was.


35 posted on 09/20/2007 9:16:42 PM PDT by VxH (One if by Land, Two if by Sea, and Three if by Wire Transfer)
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To: Sir Gawain

Also:

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Once again, choice. We are all gifted from God with this free will thing, individual volition.... I believe the Bible is pretty clear that God’s desire is for ALL to be saved, ALL to choose Him. But He has allowed US to make, or not make, the choice. To believe or not to believe....

cheers

pattyjo


36 posted on 09/20/2007 9:19:22 PM PDT by pj_627
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To: VxH

So then how was Christ slain from the foundation of the world?


37 posted on 09/20/2007 9:20:27 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: VxH

So will you be free to choose to sin in heaven?


38 posted on 09/20/2007 9:20:47 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: VxH

And I wasn’t asking about angels, I am asking about us. You see what the result of his ‘choice’ was. Would it be heaven if you had the possibility of losing it?


39 posted on 09/20/2007 9:21:45 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: Terriergal

[So will you be free to choose to sin in heaven?]

I believe so.


40 posted on 09/20/2007 9:21:47 PM PDT by VxH (One if by Land, Two if by Sea, and Three if by Wire Transfer)
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To: VxH

Another question you might ponder — is God free? Can he choose to sin?


41 posted on 09/20/2007 9:22:08 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: Terriergal

[Would it be heaven if you had the possibility of losing it?]

Yes. I think so.


42 posted on 09/20/2007 9:23:19 PM PDT by VxH (One if by Land, Two if by Sea, and Three if by Wire Transfer)
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To: Terriergal

[So then how was Christ slain from the foundation of the world?]

God knows all possible outcomes.


43 posted on 09/20/2007 9:25:55 PM PDT by VxH (One if by Land, Two if by Sea, and Three if by Wire Transfer)
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To: VxH
Here's a good book (and on his site some great audio) discussing this subject:

The Potter's Freedom

Romans 9:18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?"
20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?
21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?
22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,
24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.
Seems pretty clear to me.
44 posted on 09/20/2007 9:26:09 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: VxH

How can he know something that isn’t going to happen? Are you saying he doesn’t know what is going to happen?


45 posted on 09/20/2007 9:27:36 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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To: Terriergal
[Can he choose to sin?]

Sin is the condition of being separated from God.

Answer you own question.

46 posted on 09/20/2007 9:28:43 PM PDT by VxH (One if by Land, Two if by Sea, and Three if by Wire Transfer)
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To: metmom

when I was a kid we had “choose your own adventure” books. you made your choices throughout the book and th storyline went according to what you chose. I always thought God works that way. we have free will. we make choices and what happns i a consequence o our decisions.


47 posted on 09/20/2007 9:29:43 PM PDT by HungarianGypsy
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To: Terriergal

Sometimes, the question is not “Can God?,” the question is “Will God?”.


48 posted on 09/20/2007 9:34:51 PM PDT by pcottraux (Fred Thompson pronounces it "P. Coe-troe"...in 2008.)
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To: Terriergal
[Are you saying he doesn’t know what is going to happen?]

Randomness exists in our universe because God put it there.

God transcends infinity. I think He could know the outcome but chooses not to. He knows all infinite possible outcomes, but allows us to choose the path.  Maybe its more interesting for Him this way. Whatever His motivation, the end result is that we are responsible for the state of the human condition - and that condition requires reconcilation if we are to know our creator.

So, given the path chosen by our ancestors, He manipulated events insofar as was required to implement His plan for reconciliation, which was culminated with the birth and sacrifice of Christ - which you can choose to reject.


49 posted on 09/20/2007 9:56:01 PM PDT by VxH (One if by Land, Two if by Sea, and Three if by Wire Transfer)
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To: Williams
This case should have been taken up either/and a pastor, priest or rabbi that know law and Scripture blindfolded, upside down; representing God in a brief.

This State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha is an idiot. So let him have the time in court to prove it. If the judge doesn't throw the case out. Even that would be news.

50 posted on 09/20/2007 10:09:44 PM PDT by BobS
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