posted October 13, 2007 09:28 PM         

"Jesus" is a hidden name, "Christ" is a revealed name. For this reason "Jesus" is not particular to any language; rather he is always called by the name "Jesus". While as for "Christ", in Syriac it is "Messiah", in Greek it is "Christ". Certainly all the others have it according to their own language. "The Nazarene" is he who reveals what is hidden. Christ has everything in himself, whether man, or angel, or mystery, and the Father.

------------------
~
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world is immortal"~

posted October 13, 2007 11:20 PM         

I know mine hasn't been and I never met anyone that did have an easy life. I have met a lot of people who didn't have it as bad as some others but never met a soul that didn't have something bad happen in their life.

Faith in something outside of ourselves does help us through the hard times in life. I have an indominable faith that God always brings good out of bad. That faith came over time and seeing God do precisely that in my own life so very many times, also looking around the world seeing the good that comes out of the worst tragedies.

Even forest fires and volcano eruptions - although they bring destruction for a time -the soil is replenished and new growth of trees, grass and flowers start anew within only a year or so after these tragedies of nature.

There is no loss in God. Death itself is not even a loss. Everything has a purpose and the crucifixon of Jesus had a major purpose. Jesus' didn't lose his life on the cross, he gave it. To all humankind.

That's my belief and my faith anyway. It's my story and I'm sticking to it. Mainly because it has served me so well in life.

If your belief system and your spirituality does not make you happy then it is probably not right for you. If it does then hang onto it. It's a rare pearl that you have found.

posted October 13, 2007 11:39 PM         

I have no faith, I guess that's part of the problem. I do have emptiness though.

posted October 14, 2007 01:01 PM         

When you are completely empty God can fill you up with his presence and Grace. Sanctifying Grace. A Grace that changes us inwardly.

Faith is hard to explain and it's hard to know why it seems that some people except things easier on faith than others do. I tend to think that it boils down to being more open and accepting of the gift of Grace that leads us to faith.

It may also be as Jesus described, having a more child like mind in that openness to the unseen and unknown. Most likely that is the case.

We all take a lot of things on faith in our everyday lives. We have faith that the sun will rise and set everyday. We have faith that when we go out the door we won't be run over by a bus on any given day. We have faith in our partners and friends. We have faith in many things. It just takes a bigger leap to have faith in the unseen and unknowable.

posted October 14, 2007 01:44 PM         

quote:

---

We don't have faith based on any teachings or dogmas or just on what we read. Faith comes from the soul and it is based more on our personal experiences with God in our lives than anything else. At least that has been the case with me throughout my life.

---

In the particular culture that I was born into, and believe in, we have no problem in accepting the teachings of any Master - the final destination is the focus!

For the same reason, I have absolutely no worries in accepting the spiritually uplifting teachings whatsoever.