₦airaland Forum

Pastor AIO:
@BobbyAf

Why did God tell moses to build a pole with a brazen serpent on it?

@Pastor AIO

- Pastor AIO

Why?

Simple. The brazen serpent among other significances was a step short of an idol . . .

^{BobbyAf's already trying to do a good job highlighting the significances} 

Notice that it was looked up to (i.e. beheld) and not bowed down to (i.e. it was not worshipped)

The distinction can be noticed when reading Exodus chapter 20 verses 4-5

There is a whole world wide difference between a graven image and an idol

Moreover the brazen serpent wasn't a subject of worship . . .

The brazen serpent was a graven image and not an idol

Pictures or paintings of ancestors or effigies of any other human beings for that matter cant assist in worshipping the true God.

Neither are and/or were such effigies (i.e. these Virgin Mary figurines) commanded to be made by Him anyway

Remember when the Israelites burnt incense and made drink offerings to the “queen of heaven,”

God was angry with them because they were serving other gods

Read Jeremiah chapter 44 verses 14-30 for the exact details

Pastor AIO:
You'd think that they'd show us a picture of the tree.

Pastor AIO:
I really don't know what you're trying to catch out. 

Instead of trying to decipher what I write and looking for meanings that are not there, it is better to just take it for what it is.  Criticize it, yes. 

If I am wrong on any point I am happy to concede.  I've done so many times on Nairlaland. 

My agenda, or my Manifesto is blatantly obvious.  I have stated it many times on Nairaland and beyond . . .

This is where and how the goal post stand.  I don't think that they have ever moved.

If you have been hoping to 'catch me out' by making me say something other than these things

then it becomes clear why your futile hopes have ended in frustration.

I don't get the comparison with Huxley.  Perhaps you could explain that a bit more.

Noetic2 to Pastor AIO:
Whats the meaning of all this u wrote above?

You were not comfortable in a club cos ur friends were denied entry,

as such you wont feel comfortable in heaven knowing that ur friends are in hell.

Since there are also millions of people living in poverty and without food in nigeria,

What have u done to ur portion of 3 square meals?

Is that too hard to answer?

Pastor AIO response to Noetic2:
I don't eat 3 square meals.  It is not part of my eating pattern. 

The part about clubs is an allegory. 

What you should get out of it

is that if you have any feelings for someone then you can't be enjoying yourself when those people are suffering. 

It's quite simple really. 

If you are not getting anything from what I wrote then just ignore it. 

I don't fancy talking round and round in circles this afternoon.

- Noetic2

You won't catch Pastor AIO out easily like that

He's as slippery as an eel . . .

He'll slip through your hands when you'd thought you've caught him . . . 

Mind you the goal post will likely be moved during the course . . .

Dont underestimate him - do at your peril

Bide your time when tackling him . . . ^{or Huxley2}  

Choose your battles (i.e. He who runs away, lives to fight another day)

and consider multiple moves ahead (i.e. his & yours) before launching a step . . . 

Pastor AIO:
Will Heaven be populated by heartless people? 

I've wondered since I was a child that when I get through the pearly gates how comfortable would I be? 

How comfortable would I be knowing that somewhere else there are multitudes of people burning and suffering in extreme torment. 

Could I enjoy heaven knowing that that was going on somewhere . . . 

Huxley2:
Jesus is recorded as quoting from the Scriptures, but what he quotes appears nowhere in the Scriptures.

Take for example John 7: 38:

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water".

Nowhere does phrase "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water"  found in the scriptures. 

So what is Jesus talking about?

More analysis here .

Horus:
When you’re sitting around the table on Christmas day feasting on the flesh of swine or holiday ham,

Remember: Yashua (Jesus), ate fish, he did not eat pork!!!

You Christians know it says right in your Bible not to eat of the animals with the clovefoot (Deut. 14:7)

and even during Yashuas (Jesus) time he cast demons into swine (Matthew 8:29-32).

No where will you find mention of Yashua eating pork.

The pig and its variants are grafted creatures from three animals (dog, cat, and rat),

by fusing the nucleus of these cells, created to clean up the cadavers that were claimed by the curse of leprosy during the time of Abraham.

Source: http://www.muhammadspeaks.com/Hogingredients.html

- Horus

Preach "Preacher" ! . . . 

Mactao:
OMG - javalove, . . .

Exodus 20:7 Contemporary English Version (CEV):

Do not misuse my name. I am the LORD your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name.

Exodus 20:7 Amplified Bible (AMP):

You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain

[that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely];

for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Imagine me without any genuine cause/reason calling out your name at the slightest whim and/or exasperation

"Oh My Mactao!" "Oh My Mactao!!" . . .

Bet you will love a pointless and indiscriminate call out of your name and the unnecessary distraction that follows it

Need I go on or say more . . . 

Bet you catch the drift

Mantraa:
@recognise

Good for you for having the common sense to not take it literally.

@Mantraa

- Mantraa

- Yeah like "Born with a silver spoon in the mouth" means that literally

Trust you to sneakingly touch-up and doctor your snake posting with the Balaam addition

---

---

@Pastor AIO

- Pastor AIO

I recognised you've been busy on the milk rounds

Of course not, the Artist wouldnt determine . . .

not unless the Artist wanted androids for an audience

Mantraa:
I think that the whole talking snake episode in Genisis is hilariously funny. Snakes cant talk. 

http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesis/garden_of_eden/gn03_01.html

Genesis 3:1

Now the snake was the shrewdest of any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made.

He said to the woman, 'Has God really said, "You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?"'

The incredible talking snake. 

@ Mantraa

- Mantraa

The joke is on you mate . . . 

Sorry no one is laughing with you but rather others are laughing at you

You must be green or naive to think the Bible is entirely literal

For the record, among other things, ^{Pastor AIO can attest to this} 

the Bible is the ultimate book work of art

Do not mistake, it's part literal, part figurative

The talking snake is a picture representation of an event that occurred in the garden ^{If you didnt know, why didnt you ask somebody huh?}

Pastor AIO:
Apparently not, judging from the myriad number of religions and denominations of religions in the world. 

Apparently not!

Pastor AIO:
In many ways, a work of art is not complete until it being looked at by an audience. 

The Artist knows that the audience will each of them interpret (complete) the work in their own head. 

It is impossible for an artist to determine exactly how the audience will see the work.

@OP

- Pastor AIO

Yeah, that's true for a mortal artist but not this particular Artist

This Artist unequivocally & exactly knows how the audience will see the work . . . 

Pastor AIO:
I didn't think I was coming dirty in the first place.  I showered and washed my mouth before I came. 

That should be clean enough for you, shouldn't it. 

I said certain passages, but really it could be applied to any passages. 

For example the "Don't muzzle an Ox when it is threshing" passage.  More than one meaning has been extracted out of that by exegesis. 

The issue really is : how much room for interpretation do we have when reading scripture and perhaps it is intended that more than one meaning be extracted from a text depending on it's context. 

For example, I write poetry.  Not very good poetry, but I try to the best of my ability. 

I know that I can write a line intentionally leaving it open to interpretation.  What did I mean by the line, The reader might wonder. 

Well my intention might not be specific but rather general and open to interpretation. 

So different people will get different things out of it and know one will be right or wrong.

In other words if I am capable of intentionally making creative use of vaguity then couldn't God also do the same. 

@OP

- Pastor AIO

You're a slippery sly so-and-so . . . 

I recognised the way you slightly ammended the rules and moved the goal post 

Yup! am with ya totally . . .

I mean both the enigma and the "It for me to know and for you to find out" angle

Its what creative people do (i.e. artists etc) . . .

Leonardo Da Vinci did and/or does the same with his paintings

Bet you can recall, one of the classics "I'll tear the temple down and build it in three days . . ." 

This got some furious, befuddled, and huffing & puffing

Proverbs 25:2 (King James Version):
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing:

but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

Pastor AIO:
Could God say something that was a dublay on-ton-dray (double entendre)?

This could help in our bid to understand the meaning of certain passages in the bible. 

Or any other sacred text for that matter.

@OP

- Pastor AIO

If one really does know the Bible, examples and/or instances of double entendre are splattered across its pages . . .

Why don't you come clean with the exact "certain passages in the bible grappling to understand" 

Pastor AIO:
This purpose of this question is a joke. 

It's supposed to be a parody of some threads that we've had before that asked similar questions and were participated in vigorously. 

I felt they kinda typified NL in a way.  That is why I said it was in the spirit and tradition of NL.   

Pastor AIO:
Did Jade Goody go to heaven.  Find out here.
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-251378.0.html

Will your fat friend go to heaven? Find out here:
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-284850.0.html

Will Mad people get to heaven?  Read all about it here:
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-263470.96.html

What about a non-christian?  We've got it covered here:
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-3885.0.html

Jade GOODY: Mr Clifford said Goody's children had known their mother was seriously ill.

"She sat down and explained that Mummy was going to hea[/b]ven

and[b] that heaven is where people who are ill go to get better," he said. <<<<   

"She said when they look in the sky and see a star, that's Mummy looking down." <<<<  

I definitely couldnt possibly comment on whether MJ will go to heaven

but this much I know is a guarantee . . .

There will be three surprises on that day for whoever that goes to heaven . . .

The first surprise:
One will be surprised to see that the people one expects to be in Heaven are not there.

The second surprise:
One will be surprised to see that the people one never expects to be in Heaven are there.

The third surprise: ^{If one makes it}

One will be surprised to see that one is in Heaven

. . . Concerning whether MJ will go to heaven or who'll be a guest there . . .

Surprises and time will tell

Pastor AIO:
We know that in the bible God can get Angry,

we know that he can have regrets and we know about all sorts of other traits that are quite human that God exhibits in the bible.

Does anyone think that God would exhibit a sense of humour too? 

Afterall humans  have a sense of humour.  Why can't God?  What do ye Nairalanders think?

Pastor AIO:
Religious people in 9ja are sooo sooo serious about their religions that it makes you wonder if their God could ever have a laugh.

@OP

- Pastor AIO, let's get this straight first . . .

There is nothing impossible for God to do

Even sinning? I sense you ask . . .

Yep, even something audacious as sinning, he can sin (e.g. lie . . . etc) if He wants to

But of course He wouldnt 

because unlike us, He is Holy ^{Wholly - He's got it all together & all that, besides it'll be tantamount to self-abuse if He does}

. . . Does anyone think that God would exhibit a sense of humour too? you asked

As a matter of fact God does have a sense of humor, He would and/or does exhibit it

The best indication that God does have a sense of humor is that He created us in His image

An image is an imitation, representation, or similitude of any person, thing, or act, sculptured, drawn, painted, or otherwise made perceptible to the sight; a visible presentation; a copy; a likeness; an effigy; a picture; a semblance.

From the above definition, we can safely deduct that if we have a sense of humour so then must God's image and by default would God too

Let me share a story (i.e. an example) of God exhibiting a sense humour with you

I know Pastor AIO is familiar with Dagon - the national fish god of the Philistines so I'll share that story

Back in the days the Israelites used the Ark of the Covenant like a good-luck charm when going to battle . . .

On this day, in one their battles, one of their arch enemies, the Philistines ended up capturing the Ark of the Covenant

Upon capturing the ark, the Philistines subsequently placed it in their temple before their idol Dagon.

Now the following day, when the Philistines came into the temple, they found Dagon flat on it's face before the ark, so they set it back up.

The next morning, bam! there it was again, face down and flat on the ground

and as if that wasnt bad enough, this time, it had it's hands and head cut off for good measure ^{1 Samuel 5:1-5}

Well, here is God’s putting Dagon down in a jokey position of submission to His ark

and finally displaying with a comical picture, a symbol of it's powerlessness before His ark

Funny as the comedy may seem now, I bet the Philistines didnt find it humorous and were head-scratching and befuddled at that time

". . . it makes you wonder if their God could ever have a laugh." you wondered as well

Oftentimes when God is serious over a matter, we think its ludicrous and he is having a laugh

A couple of examples that spring to mind are:

1) Sarah in stitches when she overheard that she'll have a child at old age

2) The Isralities told to march round the walls of Jericho seven times and that they'll conquer the city without lifting a finger

3) The servants told to draw out some water and take it as wine to the master of the wedding banquet  ^{one of my favs . . .}

Psalm 2:4 (King James Version):
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh:

the LORD shall have them in derision.

Psalm 59:8 (King James Version):
But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them;

thou shalt have all the heathen in derision,

Without a doubt God does have a sense of humour

Between you and me the greatest laugh God is having is over those that dont believe

They think its a laugh; all a joke . . .

LagerWhenInDoubt:
But let us face the truth as we always love to avoid it when we know it is true.

The Black Race has a very peculiar gene that forces a majority to wallow in poverty, sin and backwardness. Look at leadership in Africa over the past 2 decades, look at the crisis that has ravage the Blackman from time immemorial,  I am want to believe (sometimes) that we are actually stock from Monkeys. Look at Black America today, durign the Clinton Administration, there was Affirmative Action for Minorities (Mind you only the Blacks don' t mind the tag minority) Hundreds of Blacks were encouraged to get an Education with monetary incentives,  what did they do? they refused to graduate and filled out admission forms for multiple colleges to they could collect college money.

The height of respect and dignity does not come from being a successful businessman rather one who has paid his dues to gangs, done drugs, gone to prison or is doing life in prison. wear singlets and sagging jeans and play loud music in public places and speak in truncated vocabulary, beat up girl-friends and wives and think it is hip to visit strip joints and slip hard-earned money into their panties.

Majority of Black Men do not deserve Black women and I mean worldwide,  we blackmen have not done enough to deserve the women we get.

What did you expect. multiple tennis champion earning good money,marrying a bastard of a black man, cheating husband and self-pitying fool.

Jagunlabi:
Harsh but true.

@ Both ^

- LagerWhenInDoubt, Jagunlabi

What a load of hogwash . . .

Bet it was the bottle that stirred and stimulated this kind of submission ^Joke

It was a Blackman that had the sense and vision to set Serena on her path to glory in the first place

The most powerful man in the world is blackman

Hasnt Barack done enough to deserve Michelle? . . .

Please drop the oversimplified opinion and image of the blackman

Tudór:
Wouldn't it be nice if God does this all the time?

If it really happens like that we wouldn't be on NL arguing about the existence of God, and Abuzola would have repented long ago.

Does God not love us enough? Does he not want us to be saved? 

@Tudór

- Tudór "Wouldn't it be nice if God does this all the time?" you asked

Well if God opens your eyes then it'll be certain that God's been doing so all the while and all the time . . .

Let Abuzola be - speak for yourself . . .

and oh yeah, God does love us enough and wants us to be saved . . .


Check this out . . .

A story of Elisha and angels that were not visible to the naked eyes - Source is from the Bible

Elisha was a prophet of God who lived in Israel.

When Syrian armies invaded Israel, Elisha saved the life of Israel’s king more than once, by warning him of the Syrian army’s plans to ambush him.

The Syrian king got suspicious that he has a mole (i.e. an insider) informing the Israelities of his every moves and plans.

He even called in his officers and asked which of them was the traitor for Israel.

But his military men pointed out that Elisha, a prophet of God, was the one who was providing intelligence to Israel’s armies.

One of his officers told the king:

“Elisha, the prophet in Israel,
tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!” ^{2 Kings 6:12}.

When the Syrian king learned where Elisha was staying, he decided to deal with Elisha by taking him out.

The king marched his army during the night, and surrounded the town Elisha was in . . .

The Bible says,

“Early in the morning a servant of the Holy Man got up and went out.
Surprise! Horses and chariots surrounding the city!
The young man exclaimed, "Oh, master! What shall we do?" he asked” ^{2 Kings 6:15}.

Elisha told him not to be afraid. "There are more on our side than on theirs," Elisha told him. ^{2 Kings 6:16}

Elisha apparently could see something his servant could not see.

Then Elisha prayed that God would open his servant’s eyes. “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” ^{2 Kings 6:17}

God did, He allowed Elisha's servant to see the otherwise invisible angel armies all around them . . .

Tudór, my friend, if your eyes too could be opened, you would see God’s angel(s) all about and around you 

Huxley2:
Matthew 18: 9 was a great help in help me to overcome this very vile act. I hope it helps you too.

Pastor AIO:
I really should apologise. To be honest I don't really care what Serena Williams thinks,

neither do I dwell on whether or not she'll go to hell,

but I thought it would be interesting to see how people reacted to the interview.

Now I know that it is a hoax I feel bad because I've already forwarded it to some friends

and it is in precisely this way that bad rumours get spread about innocent people.

So I hereby apologize to everyone who read this and to Serena Williams

(if she ever checks out this site or even gives a hoot to what I think or say about her)

It takes a real man to hands up and own up to their mistake(s) . . .

I admire your honesty and humbleness to publicly admit the err, take it a step further . . .

Retract the OP by deleting it

Buda atum:
You are a God blessed person!