God causes pain? Do you really think that's true? Is that what they teach you in semenary? Hm, I'm not sure that's how I would explain pain, but I guess that's why I'm not in the religion really. hm
This is an interesting post, I think...
Anyway, it's good that you're not defining your goals or basing your future off of Mike, I think. I know it was comforting and maybe even easy to take his presence for granted, but now you get to really show that going to seminary is something you yourself wanted, not soemthing you're doing jsut to be near Mike. Not that that's what it was, but now it's even more obvious.
I don't know. haha, does that sound harsh? I don't mean it to be harsh.
Does God cause pain? In a sense, yes. God is the ultimate cause of all reality and nothing exists without him willing it someone. Since pain it part of the created world, it could only have been made by Him. But, just because pain exists does not mean that he actively wills that people experience pain. But, that he just left it as a consequence of our actions. God permits certain things to exist, such as pain, so that we can have free will.
As for basing my future on Mike: No, you're not too harsh. I just hope that over time I can prove that notion wrong.
At least he has a very good reason to leave: he just wants to pursue an intellectual vocation...That's a lot better than those guys who just leave because they found a girl...How is one calling away from the church more valid than another? If a man feels that his place in life is elsewhere, no matter what that place is, wouldn't it be worse if he became a priest when the passion is not there? It probably takes a lot of thinking before these guys decide to leave seminary. Not everyone is willing to make the committment to be a priest, just like not everyone is willing to commit to being married, or having children. Its more responsible to realize you lack that committment then to potentially hurt others in the long-run by trying to fake it. I guess I'm just saying that its worth it to respect Mike for making his choice, because we all know that he didn't make it lightly, and also to respect the others who have come and gone for their choice
( ... )
This comic Testament that I read did a retelling of the Book of Job. It was entitled "Shit Happens." So about God causing pain. . .it's searching for a name or a place or an organization to which one can ascribe blame. It's somewhat similar to people blaming violent movies and video games for school shootings, when bad parenting, availability of guns, lax security, and poor treatment by peers were more likely responsible. So when, as the song says, your wife leaves you, your car gets wrecked, and your dog gets run over, it's much easier "Godamn you, God!" than it is to say "Hey, I'm an asshole and my life's a mess!" My two cents. Do you have change?
Actually, I do not think so. I think that most people who think that God causes evil things to happen (I am not one of them!) think so becuase they think He is attempting to bring about a greater good from that evil (usually in the form of spiritual growth). I do not think they blame Him for all the random bad things that happen in their lives or the world. I suppose some people also believe pain is a punishment, whether on individuals or on societies. I could not disagree more with that thought
( ... )
Good eye, Rita. The title Runaway had a double meaning because just this week, Mike let me borrow his 5 volume set of Runaway graphic novels, which made it more ironic that he left sem. So, I decided just to use the same title to refer to both. (Since I can never quite think of good titles for these posts anyway.)
As for what Mike's doing, you better just ask him.
Anyways, please keep us both in your prayers and I'll see you when I see you. --Todd
I want to thank Todd for those kind words. I, too, am deeply hurt by having to leave friends at seminary, and most especially that I will be leaving my best friend there. How shall I explain my sentiments? Have you ever seen one of those movies when two generals, great men of the earth, are about to go into battle, or have to part? These men, who usually show so little emotion, even in the face of death, are torn with grief. There is something increibly noble about two men pursuing a great ideal together for so many years. I do not think anything can bring people closer. So I want to thank Todd for all those great years, and I want to thank Jesus Christ for bringing us together to share a common mission within the life of the Church through college and early seminary, one that continues to bear more and more fruit. And I also want to say that there is not a person on the face of this earth that I respect more than Todd.
Re: Many thanks,gazingattheseaOctober 24 2006, 18:34:36 UTC
My apologies. I know that I am lax sometimes in getting the word out about things, but I can only say that I usually just let news spread as it will. I was hoping that being attached to the live journals of a few friends would spread my live journal around to nearly everyone I know that had one, since it seemed that a number of my friends were networked through LiveJournal, which is pretty much why I joined in the first place. Well, in any case, I did not mean any offense, and I hope none was taken. And...oh yeah...stop pretending to be angry T_T LOLOLOLOL. Unless of course you are, in which case I apologize again...but somehow I doubt it. I bet that you are laughing right now, while perhaps trying not to...LOL.
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This is an interesting post, I think...
Anyway, it's good that you're not defining your goals or basing your future off of Mike, I think. I know it was comforting and maybe even easy to take his presence for granted, but now you get to really show that going to seminary is something you yourself wanted, not soemthing you're doing jsut to be near Mike. Not that that's what it was, but now it's even more obvious.
I don't know. haha, does that sound harsh? I don't mean it to be harsh.
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As for basing my future on Mike: No, you're not too harsh. I just hope that over time I can prove that notion wrong.
Hope that helps!
--Todd
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who just leave because they found a girl...How is one calling away from the church more valid than another? If a man feels that his place in life is elsewhere, no matter what that place is, wouldn't it be worse if he became a priest when the passion is not there? It probably takes a lot of thinking before these guys decide to leave seminary. Not everyone is willing to make the committment to be a priest, just like not everyone is willing to commit to being married, or having children. Its more responsible to realize you lack that committment then to potentially hurt others in the long-run by trying to fake it. I guess I'm just saying that its worth it to respect Mike for making his choice, because we all know that he didn't make it lightly, and also to respect the others who have come and gone for their choice ( ... )
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T__T I need to bother him now. Is he going back to being a professor or something?
And why is your subject heading "Runaways"? Mike running away? :O Or the comic?
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As for what Mike's doing, you better just ask him.
Anyways, please keep us both in your prayers and I'll see you when I see you.
--Todd
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And...oh yeah...stop pretending to be angry T_T LOLOLOLOL. Unless of course you are, in which case I apologize again...but somehow I doubt it. I bet that you are laughing right now, while perhaps trying not to...LOL.
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