Re: Michael Jackson bust

"Mike Painter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> "Jos Flachs" <'wcruise'@ksc15.th.com> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > On 26 Nov 2003 04:41:07 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Bob
> > Crowley) wrote:
> >
> > >The difference between Michael Jackson and any other alleged
> > >paedophile, or a past American President and any other alleged
> > >adulterer, or a former (now deceased) cricketer and any other gambling
> > >"fixer", or a movie star with weight problems and any other overweight
> > >person, is that they are public figures.  For every public figure
> > >arrested or criticised on such counts, there are probably hundreds of
> > >private individuals who are not publicly berated.
> > Nevertheless, since they are public figures they have to bear the
> > responsibility of their actions. They want to be in the spot lights,
> > and have all the benefits? Then they pay the price.
> 
> They may not be publically berated but ask a few of your friends to let
> their children sleep with you for a few nights and see what happens to you
> in private.
> They'd handcuff you and toss you in the back of a squad car rather than lete
> you surrender with your attorney.
> 
> > >It is a moot point whether the public figure should be so treated,
> > >although I suppose if they gain the benefit of sympathetic media and
> > >marketing in more favourable times, then they are at the risk of the
> > >opposite happening in due course.
>  
> > >IN the case of the church, I believe God (I'm a Christian obviously)
> > >wants His church back in one piece.
> > Pretty weak god you worship. They (obviously you forgot to mention you
> > worship at least 3 deities) created the universe, didn't they? A minor
> > miracle would suffice...
> >
> > >Between the thousands of
> > >differing Protestant sects who cannot agree despite having the same
> > >Bible by the same Holy Spirit, poltical chicanery by the Orthodox
> > >churches in Russia and the Balkans, the alleged infallibility of the
> > >Magisterium, the banning of the pill by the Catholic Church (I believe
> > >in fact it was God's gift), and now the coverups of paedophilia by
> > >Catholic church officials, there is not much hope.
> > There is, but very little. That one day people will merely laught at
> > all these shamans.
> >
> > >No wonder He is allowing the Moslems to challenge the West.  I think
> > >He's had enough and is going to jettison the current status quo and
> > Aids is a divine curse, right?
> 
> You'd think if he is allowing Islam to challenge the West he would allow a
> few charismatic people to get christianity back under one roof.
> 
> But it's nice to see that you don't believe in free will.

I believe in Free Will, although I also believe in Predestination. 
How the two work together I don't know.

I also believe that there is a devil, or spiritual being of sheer
malevolence.  God may allow a few charismatic people to try to reunify
the church, but you can bet your bottom dollar they would have a very
difficult time of it.  The devil would be utterly opposed to the
reunification of the church, and many well intentioned Christians
would be his best allies.  Atheists would not be overly perturbed,
since they don't believe in God anyway, but Christians who hold with
certain doctrinal statements would be very much against church unity.

For this reason I believe God is going to impose external rule upon
the church, and towards this end is getting ready to jettison the
status quo of the religious establishment.  Take a look at what is
happening to the Anglican church for example.

In short if we won't voluntarily reunify in obedience to Christ's
command that we be "one as I and the Father are one", He is going to
force us to do so.

In the meantime He may give a few charismatic people a chance to try
doing so.  But if He does, you will see with your own eyes the intense
opposition they face, not just from the world, but from Christians
more dedicated to their own doctrinal stances than to Christ's call
for unity.  In allowing them to oppose so virulently, they will
demonstrate God's commitment to their free will, despite the fact it
militates against His desires.

Bob Crowley.