₦airaland Forum

Shepherd00:
Anyways, take your homosexuality out od my thread.

Was it not you who brought it into your thread Shepherd, or have you forgotten already?

Shepherd00:
I don't care anymore. It is his Life to do as he pleases.

I think you care Shepherd. And I wonder why. If your yea were not nay you'd have taken this attitude all along instead of concerning yourself with another's belief and where they stick their own priqs then behaving like the jackass they were sticking it in is you.

MuttleyLaff:
I wonder why animal activists arent called animals based on their activism. Animals don't hate, and we're supposed to be better than them. Pfft. The more you interact or read comments here on the Religion forum, the more you begin to understand why and how during the flood, Noah managed to save more animals than humans.

Quite frankly, that is a witch hunt, but hey, it is easier going for a vicious witch-hunt aimed at crushing the voice of dissent. That is the essence of a witch-hunt, that any questioning of the status quo, lending voice or standing up for the sexual minority, in itself to him Shepherd00 and the likes of, TV01, elated177, jesusjnr, Baddiezz, Agrogbeide etcetera, constitutes proof of complicity, so therefore you being a same sex relationship (i.e. SSR) activist, must be, has or have been a homosexual.

Going by their logic, one better not be an activist against killing people or one "must be, has or have been" dead!

I swear to God if anyone figures how to manufacture brains and sell it to some people hola me please I'd like to invest!

Shepherd00:
Buda, I know you are firmly in support of Homosexuality, that is your choice. Even if you were a homosexual yourself',

Shepherd where did you read that "you are firmly in support of Homosexuality", "you were a homosexual yourself"?

You know I like proof so please post evidence or get behind me with your concerns Shepherd!

Shepherd00:
I'm not surprised Buda. You've already said you don't believe in the Bible as the people who wrote it are propagandists.

And yet, here I am living that Bible you merely believe in. You'll get it someday Shepherd. You will.

Shepherd00:
So, all the noise you've been making here as an atheists about reading the Bible was when you a pre-teen? Tell me Buda sincerely, was your mind in what you were reading or you were counting letters while thinking of something else?

Even after I tell you sincerely, you will come up with some other argument Shepherd. But for the sake if it, and as I've said, "some chapters three times". What was unfortunate really was not understanding that the little I did understand was far more than those around me who hadn't even read it said it meant. Like you, they claimed it was to be believed while I was learning amazing things. And no, I did not stop reading it after my teens. I've always read it. I read it because of my own fascination and desire to understand. I read it to understand those who read and referenced it around me. I do after all have family and friends who are heavily influenced by it. I read the Quran too, also for better understanding. I find that if I read the religious texts of people I would understand them better, be less likely to offend them and be more able to love them because I would be less ignorant about them. But just by reading it, the powerful miraculous wonders the text does is done to one, hence here I am Shepherd. I hope I don't need to state my qualifications regarding my reading abilities. If you can imagine that in my writings you've been reading every word carefully chosen, perhaps you'd get an idea someday.

No, I didn't tv. After moving to hotter climes from more advanced bbc, I travelled back in time to Nigeria NTV which compared was not worth my time. Besides, we didn't get one until Festac 77 when I put my foot down and insisted my parents either take me to Festac to learn about African culture or get a telly and we got one. And there was NEPA with their constant power cuts. My entertainment was lots of reading on the balcony where I could hide away from everyone, and the world services on the radio. We were 3 floors up so our Blaupunkt radio got the world over!

Further reading

Hermeneutics

Shepherd00:
And you have. So anyone who reads you sounding like a Christian henceforth, shd know you are not.

I think I'm going to have to trust that you will be following my posts crying, "This is the buda of whom I spake" while I will pray the Lord strengthen you.

Just beware that some don't just focus on the Word. They observe the fruits too.

Shepherd00:
Ur focus is too much on what others are doing.

What is the title of this thread again? Who started it? Who is focusing on what others are doing?

I don't focus on what others are doing Shepherd. In a funny odd way, I am selfish and way too busy focusing on whether I am receiving the gifts from God for myself that the speck in the eyes of others least concerns me until they start poking my eyes like you have on here. And even then, I'm glad for the opportunity to have a conversation, for I know my conversation is not with you alone, but also with thousands who will follow who would read this thread. I mean, look at what the Spirit of the Lord helped you drag out of me, and without interference! Or have you not noticed the sideliners watching on?

They will comment Shepherd. O they will, those whom it may concern. Meanwhile, I strongly suggest you get a mirror!

Shepherd00:
Buda, he that is called of God, speaks the Word of God.

You don't tell people not to believe and Worship God. That is not the Gospel of Christ.

You know what, I would not exactly take your word on what is the Gospel of Christ to be honest. Hopefully in time, other's will come share it with you,

I did not tell anybody not to believe Shepherd. I said, believe if you have not yet asked. But if you "Ask it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you and then will you know. God wants powerful people see. Not just sheep to be shepherded!

And I never told anyone not to worship God! To worship God is do my will, to love your neighbour and to do unto others as you will have them do unto you, to forgive them their trespasses so that your trespasses can be forgiven, to feed the poor and to be “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the face of the earth.” I specifically said that anyone who understands this will even beg God to permit them to worship God!

Shepherd00:
My intentions weren't opposed to Buda, but intended on getting something clear out.

Now I know that Buda is not a Christian but an Seeker who seeks to nitpick on worlds religion with the hope that maybe he can become the present day Abdrushin of the grail message.

Good luck.

I thought you wanted to point it out to whom it may concern. I'm helping you Shepherd.

Shepherd00:
Buda, if you care to listen, everyone has a story. A journey. I have mind. I believe mine set a precedence that occasioned my firm belief in Jesus. At 10, I saw a dead Child raised back to life, she is still alive today. That got stuck in my mind. I have seen raw manifestation of God's power that boggles the mind, these kept me asking questions and from the Word, I see that it is Jesus and that He is still alive in people, even Me.

Buda, I am sorry am going to say this, pls don't take it wrongly. But you were raised in a family where Religion was a mere ceremony. It's not your fault you were a Child. Church going was something that must be done on Sunday. No expectations, No longing for an experience in those who looked up to.

In our formative ages, what we observe in our immediate families, environments and even the kind of churches we attend, stakes our foundations. If you grew up in a family that merely talked about God but did not take Him seriously, did not teach you to involve Him in your personal Life, hence, never saw any real manifestation of the power of God that kept you wondering, you'd grow up looking at God like Santa Claus who comes to you once every year.

I have read through your journey I never saw any personal soul encounter with Jesus Himself. I read you talking about people. You tried to See Jesus from other people's eyes Buda, and that is idol worship.

If you spend enough time reading the Bible when you came of age with the intention of seeking the Mind of God concerning what was bothering you at the time, you would've laughed at Rashidi.

You'd have prayed for the Misguided greed-laden politicians who seek to control other human beings against Gods original mandate for Man, hence force the weak to fight and kill each other in other for them to keep the territory for themselves.

If you'd read the Bible opening up your Spiritual ears to hear the voice of the Word of God, The Holy Spirit wld ve spoken to you and you'd ve understood why things on earth are now Topsy-Turvy.
But alas, you rationalized the scriptures and what you were left with was mere letters of the Word which killed you eventually.

God is not responsible for the evil and chaos in the world Buda, Man is, Greed, jealousy, clamour for control is.
There are two kinds of people on earth, those who say "Father, thy Will be done, and those to whom God says 'Okay then, have it your way'". And this world has rebelled so much so that, it seems God has said to it 'Okay then, have it your way', because he doesn't strife with any man. Choose Ye this day...

The danger is in apportioning blame to God for the misdeeds of others, and that is what so many atheists are doing now. Most are offended at God because He does not interfere, funnily they are at present still steep in disobedience, yet expects God to wipe away hunger when there's so much in the hands of the leaders who shd give out.

They expect God to remove sicknesses like HIV or Cancer from their lives, while men are still have sex with men and people with animals.
They celebrate sin and unrighteousness, they fight anyone who points them out. Some even go to the point of falsifying Scriptures to backup their evils,

They are still taking in toxic substances that causes Cancer, they do all manner of things that works against Nature, yet shake their punny fists at God. Pity, as though they can fight the weakest Angel in Heaven.

I agree that I was a product of my environment Shepherd, that's why I'm bothering to tell you about my wwwwwh education so that perhaps you might understand and have compassion, but you refuse to look through the love glasses that the Lord God gave you.

I did not blame God for the misfortunes in the world. I was an atheist. There was no God to blame! But even then I believed that if they read the Bible they merely claimed to believe in, and understood it, and lived it, the world, Nigeria at the time, would have like a miracle turned to heaven! But here we are, so many decades later and it burns more that it ever did.

The difference now is that I am reading it again with the Jesusglasses the Lord God gave me. You should rejoice! Aleluya amen.

[url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A7-9&version=NIV]Luke 9:7-9[/url]

Now Shepherd heard of buda and was perplexed, because it was said by some that buda had risen from the dead, and by some that buda had appeared, and by others that buda had risen again. Shepherd said, “but who is buda of whom I hear such things?”

So Shepherd00 sought to reveal buda.

Shepherd00:
He decides the medium to speak to His vessels.

Then I wonder what your argument is! Is it that buda is not God's "vessels", or that God hasn't decided?

Shepherd00:
But you went to Church on Sundays with Children who will use their tithes to buy sweets.

Come on man! Weekend was long. Friday evening, all day Saturday - cleaning, our one religion - then Sunday in-doors all day with my squabbling siblings! Waiting for Monday and school!

Those tithe to buy sweet children went to this one church. Besides, I stopped going to that church because I was not prepared to roll on the floor crying to God not to burn my parents in hell just so I can spend my tithe money on sweets because, first, I did not believe my parents were so bad that God would burn them in hell; second, I did not believe paying tithes much less pulling a scam of rolling on the floor and not paying the tithe was proper behaviour - I had not been brought up to behave that way; and third, I had better things to spend my money on!

We're talking 7 to 9 years old. I went to church alone. I went to many churches in the neighbourhood. It was the only way I could get out the house on Sundays, and the going out widened my horizon so I could see further. Then I started coming home from school by myself, not getting the bus so I could spend my money on books. You'd be amazed the treasure you'd find on Lagos streets. I began reading the Bible at 9. The first few books were easy all the way up to Chronicles but it still probably took about a year as I interspersed my reading with books too. The rest took longer as I found I had to wait for my ability to understand what I read to develop before I read it again. Some chapters I read 3 times so I didn't finish till very close to my 13th birthday. And on the day I finished, I knew I did not believe a single word of it! It was all a myth. Not even history. But it was true that I must love my neighbour though, and not steal or covet my neighbours goods, and so on. Yet there were "believers" pulling a tithe scam by rolling on the floor. Nigeria seemed to be so full of "believers" to my teenage eyes. Everywhere one looked, believers believed with hardly one single doer of the will in sight. Then I began finding doers as I got older and was taught the art of not letting your left hand see what the right hand does. And now I have evolved to putting that lamp in the window and calling out so that it is seen.

You say I lead, Shepherd. I guess you seen followings.

Shepherd00:
How does He communicate to you? I asked this before, but you dodged it.

I'm not dodging Shepherd, just refusing to tell you. If you want God to communicate with you, ask God!

Shepherd00:
But you were raised in a family where Religion was a mere ceremony.

It's rather obvious I'm wasting my time here. If you bothered reading with your eyes open you'd have read it said religion was non-existent in my family while I was growing up Shepherd.

Na US get moon? Who did they buy it from?
I want to see their CofO!

Shepherd00:
You have an agenda. You want something from Jesus, but don't want him.

You are a funny individual if you think a person can study Jesus and not have something from him whether one wants him or not! Is it up to one whether Jesus enters one's life or not? Did Saul have a choice in the matter? Is it not true that studying Jesus is like finding treasure in a field? Would one study him if one didn't want something from him? Did God self not say "Ask for whatever you want me to give you"? Or don't you even believe this not to talk of know it to be true?

Shepherd00:
Wow. Man, I haven't come across your kind before. You want to experiment with Jesus?

Experience, would be a more accurate description Shepherd, "experience Jesus". I did not put Jesus in a test-tube!

LoJ:
@budaatum

Where are the other parts?

There's no other parts LoJ. What's been posted is sufficient for the thread to work on those it works on and those who want more have the tools to seek for themselves. It's not that things are hidden, just that some will seek. If you can add to it though please do, I will learn. I too if I come across additions.

Shepherd00:
Buda, will it be safe to say you are a Seeker, not a Christian?

As a Seeker, you study Christ the Christian God, Buddhism and their various Buddhas. Shinto, Taoism, Islam Paganism. You are a scholar right? because, scholars don't believe in Jesus but study Him just like they do other religions.

If your answer is yes, then I rest my case.

Yes Shepherd, and some. As in every "word that proceeds from God's mouth" that I can get my hands on because if I live by bread alone I will be malnourished is what Jesus taught me and as is confirmed many other religions.

And not only as a scholar, but also as a participant in the mystery of Christ's death upon a cross.

Shepherd00:
Buda, I'm not in the least interested in the fruit of your labour. Why shd I be? You've got nothing that I need or cannot have.
You made a claim, and say back it up, but here you are scream fruits. WTH?

You haven't given any answers Buda. All you"ve been doing is play game of words, which you fail woefully, because you are not dealing with a kid.

How do you follow Jesus without believing in Him and His Words, you talk about testing him. How do you even know he exists without believing what the Bible says about him. And how do you test a Spirit? You said reading the Bible but not believing it. What kind of absurdity is that?


You are the one who need to understand that you need help. but pride won't let you see it. Budaatum, Jesus Himself, the One you claim you know and have tested to be true (even when you don't believe in Him and His Words), says that No one can walk or follow Him except they first believe that He is, and that He a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

Jesus of Nazareth is a Spirit as far as this plane is concern for now. so to walk with him, you believe that what He says abt Himself in His Word is true. It is in following and obeying Him that He reveals Himself to you then you know Him. You can not know Him without Believing in Him.

Maybe the Jesus you talk about is the one Loj is talking about, the mystical Jesus.


Maybe I shd flood this thread with scriptures and let you disproof them.

Wait!!!!! you don't believe in them.

You appear to have a fundamental misunderstanding of my position Shepherd, let me try to assist you. I spent years wondering about God when I came in contact with Christians. How people believed what they did fascinated me. It's why I first read the Bible, rationally I might add, having by then received years of rational education both at home and at school where everything was Who What When Where Why How, developing a critical mind in us with no religion whatsoever except "God Save the Queen"! Then climate change. 6years 5 months plunk in the middle of a couple of years post Biafra Nigeria which I'd had the misfortune of living through on bbc who showed us everyday in all our glory. Everyone believed in God. Everyone believed in spirits. Everyone prayed. I still remember Rashidi in his egun outfit claiming he was a spirit from the gods I should give him all my money or he would whip me. Rashidi who did not know you got 2½ kobo change if you bought half a loaf of bread is claiming to be a god! The 'Rashidi' I had seen dying in their millions on bbc! I didn't mind their believing, most were just absurd to me and weren't what I could believe myself not with my WWWWWH and especially where my resources were concerned. I'd rather spend my money on a book than give it to Rashidi in his egun outfit even if he was a god. But curious I still was. Besides, the only way to get out the house on a Sunday was to go to church or you'd be cooped up indoors! So church it was. And was it fascinating!

I remember a Church I went to. They'd send vans to pick up kids 2-300 in the neighbourhoods so I went. Prayer was "pray for your mother, pray for your father", and all these children will be rolling on the floor balling their eyes out praying their mother and father don't go to hell. There was this group of six of us all going home one Sunday when they stopped at a sweet sellers. They had rolled on the floor and kept their tithes for sweets while I had dropped mine in the bowl. I still laugh at their cunning. The bowl woman had not moved along and stared at me until I put my hands in my pocket and put my money in the bowl. It fascinated me. That woman got my money with a stare that Rashidi couldn't get with a whip.

Years of study followed Shepherd, of books, life, experiences of myself and of other people, everything I could get my hands on and find the time for which helped me develop a critical mind as in, gave me the ability to discern the wheat from the chaff and allow me to amass the time to further my seeking.

Have you considered that there might be some work I might have done that you have not done, is my point. Or perhaps your work is different to mine or your path is different to mine? I mean, if God's mansion can have many rooms, might there not be more than one path? Personally. I just can't but wonder why beliefs are more important to you than you loving another. It's not a belief I can share!

Shepherd00:
What did you quote? I didn't see any scripture.

Open your eyes and follow links. I am not feeding you!

Shepherd00:
It's obvious you didn't understand my 'Why' question. My question is 'Why are you acting on a command you don't believe in?

Because I'm curious about it. I want to know if it produces the result they say it does. That's what learning is about! Don't you do it? Don't you learn by questioning? Do you just believe?

Shepherd00:
I believe you don't believe that Moses parted the Red Sea with his staff? Pls how did you test that it indeed happened for you to be convinced it did?

The Bible is a very big book so you cannot expect me to have tested everything in the Bible. Besides, some things are of a greater relevance than some others, one must surely prioritise. Read hear about separating wheat. A priority I know.

Shepherd00:
Buda answer my questions and stop meandering, it makes you dishonest.

Why? Why should I go and seek, find and share it with you? Why do you think you deserve a portion of the fruits of my labours Shepherd? Do you understand any of the answers you have received? Have you done anything to enable you to understand? Why do you think what you think matters to me?

You really are very funny! Lol!

Shepherd00:
And I have asked you so many times to show me the evidence you saw that gave you the confidence that proofed to you that Jesus is God and is right now in Heaven.

You yourself do not seek but you want buda who seeks to seek for you? You are asking buda to show you the evidence that God used to convince buda?

Na wa for you o! Now you want to know. Don't you want to just believe anymore? I'm certain that if you too seek by yourself and ask in God's name God will show you too the things of God's Kingdom Shepherd.

Shepherd00:
Why?

Because you might want to check for yourself if it is true or not.

Shepherd00:
This is a very poor example to use to drive home this point. How do you test Jesus by being slapped?

You could be testing if what Jesus says about being slapped is true.

Shepherd00:
Let use giving. The Holy Spirit says here that; There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Proverbs 11:24.
And, Give and it shall be given to you...
How do you know that what Jesus says is true? You know quite well that to have more, you save and accumulate, but Jesus is saying spread out. give out, and you shall increase, how can you test Him without believing that it will happen if you do it?

To have more what, Shepherd, earthly possessions or wealth that moths cannot eat?

Once you have that which Jesus said "spread out, give out and you will increase", you may chose to test by not withholding and by scattering to see if you increase. If you increase then you know its true.

Shepherd00:
So you call yourself smart by reading a book written how many thousand years ago by people long dead, you don't believe what they wrote in that book to be true, but you checked and tested their claims then you knew their claims are true. Wait!!! I am the one being stupid here or you?

Never said I was smart because I read a book Shepherd, but I did "read a book written how many thousand years ago by people long dead" and, "don't believe what they wrote in that book to be true" not all of it, at least, and not literally true, but "checked and tested their claims", then "knew their claims are true", barring the things that are propaganda, of course, or that are not 'true'.

Shepherd00:
Give me an example of an account you read in the Bible that you didn't believe, but tested and saw with your eyes to be true.

My favorite. I don't believe it and I haven't figured out the mystery of it yet either. It's one I'm still constantly asking God about. And it is 'true'.

Shepherd00:
Why did you quote this scripture which Jesus talks about us believing without seeing?

I quoted it because it states what I'm saying clearly.

Shepherd00:
No sir, it's not a semantic issue but context.

If one must seek proof before believing in Jesus and what He teaches, then how can one proof Jesus' claims that He came from Heaven?


The Bible says Jehovah is God, and He is in heaven. what proof can one can before believing that Jehovah is indeed in heaven?

There's nothing like blind faith sir. Look around you and tell me if God is not speaking to you through nature.

I've said this so many times but it seems to just go over your head, I wonder why! You do not need to seek proof before you believe. In fact, the fact that you have not sought proof is the reason that you can believe or not, if you knew you would know and not just believe. There is afterall a level of confidence you'd have if you were certain a thing is true because you had checked for yourself and its likely more than what you'd have if you never bothered. Just that some choose to believe and some don't believe. But if you are the sort that needs evidence before you can accept a thing is true then you will “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be [url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A7-11&version=NKJV]opened[/url]", even the mystery of "Jehovah is God, and He is in heaven" if that is what you need to know.

Do note that is not to say everybody must seek or not believe. Some people can't seek or just don't seek and are blessed, says the word, just that not using your talents and abilities, if God gave you any, is like worshipping God with a tithe in my opinion, and not giving it all to the poor and following Christ.

JMAN05:
I think what the guy is saying in essence is, seek proof before you believe in Jesus and his sayings. There should be basis for your beliefs, not blind faith. But of course, one should have basis for his beliefs.

I think the issue is about semantics which I don't want to go into.

Thank you. I'm also saying those who believe because they don't yet have proof are more blessed too according to scripture, at least more than those who refuse to contemplate it.

I've also said some beliefs are not worth having so one must learn to separate the wheat from the chaff.

tensazangetsu20:
True but some countries don't even have a stock market here in Africa. The smaller countries that do have five companies maximum Listed. A lot of Nigerians used to be involved in the stock market in the mid 2000s until it was destroyed by lies and falsehood.

When sai bubu say he is fighting corruption dem go say im no do. No be corruption spoil stock market so?

Heathen777:
I happily left mine, and saved my (future) family from forced religious bullshit shoved down their throats.

As they say, "give up old time religion and evolve".

I think I'm fortunate no one forced religion on me, I chose it for myself.