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From: dan@scgvaxd.UUCP (Dan Boskovich)
Newsgroups: net.origins,net.religion,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: The Bible -- a reliable source of information about God
Message-ID: <396@scgvaxd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Aug-85 19:19:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: scgvaxd.396
Posted: Wed Aug 28 19:19:04 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 2-Sep-85 03:30:52 EDT
References: <8508172148.AA02946@sdcc6.ARPA> <308@pyuxn.UUCP> <2195@sdcc6.UUCP>
Reply-To: dan@scgvaxd.UUCP (PUT YOUR NAME HERE)
Organization: Hughes Aircraft Co., El Segundo, CA
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Xref: watmath net.origins:2268 net.religion:7516 net.religion.christian:1191
Summary: 

>  As to why they (Paul Dubois
>or Don Boskovich) haven't stepped forward, I can offer one possible


  Well, I see that my silence concerning Mr. Zimmerman's Evil-Damager-god
  theory has him in wonder. When I first read your article, Mr. Z, I
  felt it was pointless to respond. However, I did think that Rick Frey's
  response was quite good and said just about everything I would have
  wanted to say. But, I have changed my mind now and have decided to
  respond after all.

  What I am really interested in is what happened to you to bring you
  to this conclusion. It would appear that at one time you probably
  considered yourself a Christian, but was hurt by something or someone.
  More likely you were hurt several times.

  I know that you can not possibly really believe your theory without
  being some sort of monster. To believe that an evil God is in control
  of the universe, you would no doubt be an evil madman yourself.

  More likely you have been hurt and are trying to hurt back. You are
  trying to hurt God for letting such things happen to you when, after
  all, you were only trying to serve Him. Or, maybe someone very close
  to you was hurt! Something has hurt you and has caused you to be bitter
  towards God! And now it is your turn to do some hurting!

  Well, you have succeeded! You have surely hurt God by your description
  of Him. You have also hurt the rest of God's people. In first Corinthians
  chapter 12 it says how the body of Christ is like a human body. It has
  many members and when one member suffers the whole body suffers. If you
  are suffering, we are suffering with you.

  Please consider these words:

  We all suffer disapointments. We all suffer pain and loss in our lives.
  We all question God's wisdom and love at times. I have been so angry
  at God for "letting" certain things happen to me that I have questoned
  Him. I have yelled and screamed at Him. I have shaken my fist at Him.
  But when it was all over and I felt worse for my trouble, He was still
  there waiting for me to calm down and seek His wisdom and comfort.

  The Apostle Paul considered it an honor to suffer for Him. Paul said
  it brought him closer to Christ when he suffered. Peter said much the
  same thing. Millions have suffered and died for Him. Why? Because they
  had truly experienced His love, joy, and peace. These things are worth
  giving up world possessions and even life. That is why James can say,
  "Consider it all joy when you go through various trials!" These trials
  and suffering can cause us to seek Gods love and comfort in such a way
  that we never would have had our life been a bed of roses! I believe
  David said, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted!"  Why? For
  the reasons I just said. Paul said, "...that I might know the FELLOWSHIP
  of His suffering."

  Have you suffered as much as God has, MR. Z? To leave His place in glory
  and become human flesh only to be tortured, ridiculed, and killed by
  His own children, can hardly be compared to the suffering most of us
  have gone through. Yet there is another difference. We deserve it! He
  didn't!

  If you don't see Gods love being offered to you, I truly feel sorry for
  you and will remember you in my prayers. It is there waiting for you.
  Don't let your suffering and pain keep you from the only lasting cure
  for it. An evil-damager-god would have zapped you and me out a long time
  ago. A loving, gracious, and merciful God waits patiently for us to
  look up!

  I bought my wife a little plaque about a year ago! I couldn't resist it
  because it said these words which immediately struck my heart:

  "I asked Jesus (God) how much He loved me; He said, 'This much!' Then He
  streched out His hands and died!"


					     Sincerely,

						  Dan