My message to my fellow conservatives

[Luke Skywalker]

Just a little something I wrote to lift up those whom may be feeling a little down in the dumps nowadays. I've taken a little from my personal experience, as well as stuff from books I've read. Hope you enjoy reading my story below:



I'm the happiest man on this planet and I say that without pausing to even wonder why I make that claim. I shouldn't be where I am today - at the age of 19, I was diagnosed with a severe form of schizophrenia and told that I was doomed; that I may as well take a job washing tables the rest of my life. All the doctors told me that I'd never make it through school. Since (at the time) I believed them, I wrote off school and work - I joined the military instead. I volunteered as a radioman (Seal source rating) and began training to be a Navy Seal. I never graduated as a fully trained Seal, but I learned a lot in the process and applied to my approach to life. Everything the Navy taught me, I would have never learned in school or any job situation - they taught me hard work and discipline can overcome any sort of adversity, that nothing is 100% in life except for the fact that one day I will die, forget the past and remember that the only easy day is yesterday. Those tenets, while they may seem simple, carried me a long way: I went on to find myself working for a national private security company at the age of 27, as a security specialist. It was another type of military post which furthered my training and knowledge and began the process of molding me into what I am today. My confidence to do just about anything I wanted came back, so I went to tech school to train as an HVAC (heating and air conditioning) technician.... After being successful there and emerging fully certified as a universal EPA technician, I went back to college at the age of 32. Several years later, I graduated first in my class (out of a class of about 5,000 in a school of 20,000 students) with a degree in Business Administration. I also took a few awards with me along the way, notably Student of the Semester in a couple departments two different years (math and computer science) - I also made two honor societies (Alpha Beta Gamma and Phi Theta Kappa, which accepts only the top 1% of college attendees).... More important than any of my academic achievements, I discovered God - it wasn't so much about who or what God is, but WHERE He is. So, I immersed myself in church and dutifully attended every Sunday. I volunteered as a musician and usher - and part time office assistant. I tithed every week and helped the suffering. I got up one day and looked in the mirror - I was no way the same person I had been at 19, when I was rebelling against everyone, everything and even God Himself. Then I realized the truth - this Christianity thing really works and is not just lip service paid by "ignorant people" whom gather at the church every Sunday. Christianity, when coupled with positive action, can work miracles to the point where nothing is impossible. Science hadn't healed me and no doctor had the answers, but God had done both. He had healed me and answered my questions - all those "whys" I asked of God in my younger days, I now realized that the only "why" I'm responsible for is why I chose to sin in the first place! Oh, I was always a Christian, from the time I was born. Many of my ancestors were pastors themselves. However, I had to be born again - being a good Christian is not about what we know. It is not about what we do. It is about both what we know and what we do. Before I was born again, see, I had all the knowledge, but did nothing. Nowadays, at the age of 41, I am focusing not on what I want, but what God wants. Mind you, I may/may not attend church every week - but I attend to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit every day through silent prayer, meditation and living a positive and healthy lifestyle. Most if not all of my vices (notably tobacco and excess eating) have been eliminated. And my mental state? Never better and getting better and betterer! Up to two years ago, I was on 4 or 5 different meds (one a powerful antipsychotic). Now, I am only on two baby doses of antidepressants, which my doctors are using only as maintenance..... All of my doctors have confessed that not only have I fully recovered, but that I'm a living miracle. I've even had a couple of them ask "Who - or rather what - is this guy?" Basically, I shouldn't be where I am today - happy, joyous and free. A wise man once told me that anxiety never solves any problem - it just creates more problems than you know. Anxiety, see, is fear based. Anyway, that man was right on - and when one lets God in, fear of people and places and things will vanish. I don't have anxiety anymore. I know there's nothing to fear, because Jesus has already won the war. I merely need to let Jesus drive that bus - take the cotton out of my ears, stick it in my mouth and listen, if you will....


I wrote this letter to TEA Partiers and/or Christians whom may be discouraged these days. After all, the church (God's holy house) is under attack from evil forces and sometimes, it may look bleak. I know that feeling - about a year ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. Why me? After all the progress I've made, God!!! I've beaten mental illness, finished college, became born again and was just starting to be happy for once - why now, God??? I know the answer - when it seems like it's time to throw in the towel, that is when one must adopt the attitude - "I have not yet begun to fight!" I've really had to dig in and change my lifestyle even more the last year. I walk up to 10 miles a day and am constantly on the move, even during my down time. God was trying to send me yet another message - get off my behind and move! Nowadays, my diabetic numbers are all normal and they are telling me that I can cut my diabetic meds in half as well. In fact, I may just be able to get off the meds in the future, if I stay vigilant and in control... Awesome news for someone whom was "doomed to a life of stabbing my fingertips" to check my blood sugar a year ago, isn't it? We must be like Patton and Alexander the Great. Alexander's army once became discouraged and wanted to quit. So Alexander called the army together for a meeting. Alexander proceeded to, without hesitation, strip naked. On the front of his bare body were all these scars. He declared, "If ONE man among you can show me he has more scars on his body than me, we will all turn back and give up this fight." Not one man came forward. Soon, the crowd began to cheer and chant. They pressed onward, fully invigorated with fresh energy and never asked to turn back again.



Let Jesus drive the bus, and He will perform wonders for you, just like he did for me. After all, He has more scars than any of us....


And remember, not only is it darkest before the dawn, but darkness is God's way of telling us to rest. After all, one can't focus during the day if one is tired from a lack of rest, so take care of yourselves and get plenty of rest! I heard once that the enemy comes in the dark, when its foe is asleep. Great news there as well, because Jesus never sleeps - he watches us and protects us as we rest, so nothing can hurt us. We just need to trust in Him, and he WILL catapult us into an existence beyond our wildest dreams! Pretty cool, if you ask me.


Written with love by a born again Christian, for those whom suffer in any way....

 

[Jetboogieman]

 

[falcata]

I'd like to point out the misinformation provided in the fable about Alexander. Alexander's army did in fact rebel against him in order to go home, and actually they did go back after that. This occurred when Alexander's army was attempting to conquer Northern India. Alexander worshiped the classical Greek Gods, so I'm fairly unsure why he is given such an important role in your letter.

 

[vesper]

I'd like to point out the misinformation provided in the fable about Alexander. Alexander's army did in fact rebel against him in order to go home, and actually they did go back after that. This occurred when Alexander's army was attempting to conquer Northern India. Alexander worshiped the classical Greek Gods, so I'm fairly unsure why he is given such an important role in your letter.

Alexander played a big role in history that directly affected the Jewish people. According to the historian Josephus, Alexander was shown the Book of Daniel's prophecy, (chapter 8) which described a mighty Greek king who would conquer the Persian Empire. He spared Jerusalem and pushed south into Egypt. I find it rather interesting that the city of Alexandria, Egypt was named after Alexander the Great and that is where the Septuagint, a Greek version of the Tanakh, was produced. It became the leading Hellenistic center of learning (Library of Alexandria), with the three largest ethnicities being Greek, Jewish, and Egyptian.

 

[falcata]

Alexander played a big role in history that directly affected the Jewish people. According to the historian Josephus, Alexander was shown the Book of Daniel's prophecy, (chapter 8) which described a mighty Greek king who would conquer the Persian Empire. He spared Jerusalem and pushed south into Egypt. I find it rather interesting that the city of Alexandria, Egypt was named after Alexander the Great and that is where the Septuagint, a Greek version of the Tanakh, was produced. It became the leading Hellenistic center of learning (Library of Alexandria), with the three largest ethnicities being Greek, Jewish, and Egyptian.

Like you said yourself Alexandria was the center of learning for the Hellenistic world (although that was truly under the Ptolemies rather than Alexander). So is it really that peculiar
that the Tanakh was translated into Greek?

Could I tell you exactly why Alexander spared Jerusalem? No, but I can make an assumption. Looking at the geography of the area the only real way to move into Egypt was through the region of Palestine. This was still early in Alexander's campaign and could have easily resulted in him being routed especially from the narrow points of Sinai Peninsula. Alexander often paid tribute to local gods in area's he visited, but more often conquered.

 

[MaggieD]

Just a little something I wrote to lift up those whom may be feeling a little down in the dumps nowadays. I've taken a little from my personal experience, as well as stuff from books I've read. Hope you enjoy reading my story below:



I'm the happiest man on this planet and I say that without pausing to even wonder why I make that claim. I shouldn't be where I am today - at the age of 19, I was diagnosed with a severe form of schizophrenia and told that I was doomed; that I may as well take a job washing tables the rest of my life. All the doctors told me that I'd never make it through school. Since (at the time) I believed them, I wrote off school and work - I joined the military instead. I volunteered as a radioman (Seal source rating) and began training to be a Navy Seal. I never graduated as a fully trained Seal, but I learned a lot in the process and applied to my approach to life. Everything the Navy taught me, I would have never learned in school or any job situation - they taught me hard work and discipline can overcome any sort of adversity, that nothing is 100% in life except for the fact that one day I will die, forget the past and remember that the only easy day is yesterday. Those tenets, while they may seem simple, carried me a long way: I went on to find myself working for a national private security company at the age of 27, as a security specialist. It was another type of military post which furthered my training and knowledge and began the process of molding me into what I am today. My confidence to do just about anything I wanted came back, so I went to tech school to train as an HVAC (heating and air conditioning) technician.... After being successful there and emerging fully certified as a universal EPA technician, I went back to college at the age of 32. Several years later, I graduated first in my class (out of a class of about 5,000 in a school of 20,000 students) with a degree in Business Administration. I also took a few awards with me along the way, notably Student of the Semester in a couple departments two different years (math and computer science) - I also made two honor societies (Alpha Beta Gamma and Phi Theta Kappa, which accepts only the top 1% of college attendees).... More important than any of my academic achievements, I discovered God - it wasn't so much about who or what God is, but WHERE He is. So, I immersed myself in church and dutifully attended every Sunday. I volunteered as a musician and usher - and part time office assistant. I tithed every week and helped the suffering. I got up one day and looked in the mirror - I was no way the same person I had been at 19, when I was rebelling against everyone, everything and even God Himself. Then I realized the truth - this Christianity thing really works and is not just lip service paid by "ignorant people" whom gather at the church every Sunday. Christianity, when coupled with positive action, can work miracles to the point where nothing is impossible. Science hadn't healed me and no doctor had the answers, but God had done both. He had healed me and answered my questions - all those "whys" I asked of God in my younger days, I now realized that the only "why" I'm responsible for is why I chose to sin in the first place! Oh, I was always a Christian, from the time I was born. Many of my ancestors were pastors themselves. However, I had to be born again - being a good Christian is not about what we know. It is not about what we do. It is about both what we know and what we do. Before I was born again, see, I had all the knowledge, but did nothing. Nowadays, at the age of 41, I am focusing not on what I want, but what God wants. Mind you, I may/may not attend church every week - but I attend to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit every day through silent prayer, meditation and living a positive and healthy lifestyle. Most if not all of my vices (notably tobacco and excess eating) have been eliminated. And my mental state? Never better and getting better and betterer! Up to two years ago, I was on 4 or 5 different meds (one a powerful antipsychotic). Now, I am only on two baby doses of antidepressants, which my doctors are using only as maintenance..... All of my doctors have confessed that not only have I fully recovered, but that I'm a living miracle. I've even had a couple of them ask "Who - or rather what - is this guy?" Basically, I shouldn't be where I am today - happy, joyous and free. A wise man once told me that anxiety never solves any problem - it just creates more problems than you know. Anxiety, see, is fear based. Anyway, that man was right on - and when one lets God in, fear of people and places and things will vanish. I don't have anxiety anymore. I know there's nothing to fear, because Jesus has already won the war. I merely need to let Jesus drive that bus - take the cotton out of my ears, stick it in my mouth and listen, if you will....


I wrote this letter to TEA Partiers and/or Christians whom may be discouraged these days. After all, the church (God's holy house) is under attack from evil forces and sometimes, it may look bleak. I know that feeling - about a year ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. Why me? After all the progress I've made, God!!! I've beaten mental illness, finished college, became born again and was just starting to be happy for once - why now, God??? I know the answer - when it seems like it's time to throw in the towel, that is when one must adopt the attitude - "I have not yet begun to fight!" I've really had to dig in and change my lifestyle even more the last year. I walk up to 10 miles a day and am constantly on the move, even during my down time. God was trying to send me yet another message - get off my behind and move! Nowadays, my diabetic numbers are all normal and they are telling me that I can cut my diabetic meds in half as well. In fact, I may just be able to get off the meds in the future, if I stay vigilant and in control... Awesome news for someone whom was "doomed to a life of stabbing my fingertips" to check my blood sugar a year ago, isn't it? We must be like Patton and Alexander the Great. Alexander's army once became discouraged and wanted to quit. So Alexander called the army together for a meeting. Alexander proceeded to, without hesitation, strip naked. On the front of his bare body were all these scars. He declared, "If ONE man among you can show me he has more scars on his body than me, we will all turn back and give up this fight." Not one man came forward. Soon, the crowd began to cheer and chant. They pressed onward, fully invigorated with fresh energy and never asked to turn back again.



Let Jesus drive the bus, and He will perform wonders for you, just like he did for me. After all, He has more scars than any of us....


And remember, not only is it darkest before the dawn, but darkness is God's way of telling us to rest. After all, one can't focus during the day if one is tired from a lack of rest, so take care of yourselves and get plenty of rest! I heard once that the enemy comes in the dark, when its foe is asleep. Great news there as well, because Jesus never sleeps - he watches us and protects us as we rest, so nothing can hurt us. We just need to trust in Him, and he WILL catapult us into an existence beyond our wildest dreams! Pretty cool, if you ask me.


Written with love by a born again Christian, for those whom suffer in any way....

Wonderful story. God bless you. (Wait, I think he already has.)

 

[Jerry]

just a little something i wrote to lift up those whom may be feeling a little down in the dumps nowadays. I've taken a little from my personal experience, as well as stuff from books i've read. Hope you enjoy reading my story below:



i'm the happiest man on this planet and i say that without pausing to even wonder why i make that claim. I shouldn't be where i am today - at the age of 19, i was diagnosed with a severe form of schizophrenia and told that i was doomed; that i may as well take a job washing tables the rest of my life. All the doctors told me that i'd never make it through school. Since (at the time) i believed them, i wrote off school and work - i joined the military instead. I volunteered as a radioman (seal source rating) and began training to be a navy seal. I never graduated as a fully trained seal, but i learned a lot in the process and applied to my approach to life. Everything the navy taught me, i would have never learned in school or any job situation - they taught me hard work and discipline can overcome any sort of adversity, that nothing is 100% in life except for the fact that one day i will die, forget the past and remember that the only easy day is yesterday. Those tenets, while they may seem simple, carried me a long way: I went on to find myself working for a national private security company at the age of 27, as a security specialist. It was another type of military post which furthered my training and knowledge and began the process of molding me into what i am today. My confidence to do just about anything i wanted came back, so i went to tech school to train as an hvac (heating and air conditioning) technician.... After being successful there and emerging fully certified as a universal epa technician, i went back to college at the age of 32. Several years later, i graduated first in my class (out of a class of about 5,000 in a school of 20,000 students) with a degree in business administration. I also took a few awards with me along the way, notably student of the semester in a couple departments two different years (math and computer science) - i also made two honor societies (alpha beta gamma and phi theta kappa, which accepts only the top 1% of college attendees).... More important than any of my academic achievements, i discovered god - it wasn't so much about who or what god is, but where he is. So, i immersed myself in church and dutifully attended every sunday. I volunteered as a musician and usher - and part time office assistant. I tithed every week and helped the suffering. I got up one day and looked in the mirror - i was no way the same person i had been at 19, when i was rebelling against everyone, everything and even god himself. Then i realized the truth - this christianity thing really works and is not just lip service paid by "ignorant people" whom gather at the church every sunday. Christianity, when coupled with positive action, can work miracles to the point where nothing is impossible. Science hadn't healed me and no doctor had the answers, but god had done both. He had healed me and answered my questions - all those "whys" i asked of god in my younger days, i now realized that the only "why" i'm responsible for is why i chose to sin in the first place! Oh, i was always a christian, from the time i was born. Many of my ancestors were pastors themselves. However, i had to be born again - being a good christian is not about what we know. It is not about what we do. It is about both what we know and what we do. Before i was born again, see, i had all the knowledge, but did nothing. Nowadays, at the age of 41, i am focusing not on what i want, but what god wants. Mind you, i may/may not attend church every week - but i attend to god, jesus and the holy spirit every day through silent prayer, meditation and living a positive and healthy lifestyle. Most if not all of my vices (notably tobacco and excess eating) have been eliminated. And my mental state? Never better and getting better and betterer! Up to two years ago, i was on 4 or 5 different meds (one a powerful antipsychotic). Now, i am only on two baby doses of antidepressants, which my doctors are using only as maintenance..... All of my doctors have confessed that not only have i fully recovered, but that i'm a living miracle. I've even had a couple of them ask "who - or rather what - is this guy?" basically, i shouldn't be where i am today - happy, joyous and free. A wise man once told me that anxiety never solves any problem - it just creates more problems than you know. Anxiety, see, is fear based. Anyway, that man was right on - and when one lets god in, fear of people and places and things will vanish. I don't have anxiety anymore. I know there's nothing to fear, because jesus has already won the war. I merely need to let jesus drive that bus - take the cotton out of my ears, stick it in my mouth and listen, if you will....


i wrote this letter to tea partiers and/or christians whom may be discouraged these days. After all, the church (god's holy house) is under attack from evil forces and sometimes, it may look bleak. I know that feeling - about a year ago, i was diagnosed with diabetes. Why me? After all the progress i've made, god!!! I've beaten mental illness, finished college, became born again and was just starting to be happy for once - why now, god??? I know the answer - when it seems like it's time to throw in the towel, that is when one must adopt the attitude - "i have not yet begun to fight!" i've really had to dig in and change my lifestyle even more the last year. I walk up to 10 miles a day and am constantly on the move, even during my down time. God was trying to send me yet another message - get off my behind and move! Nowadays, my diabetic numbers are all normal and they are telling me that i can cut my diabetic meds in half as well. In fact, i may just be able to get off the meds in the future, if i stay vigilant and in control... Awesome news for someone whom was "doomed to a life of stabbing my fingertips" to check my blood sugar a year ago, isn't it? We must be like patton and alexander the great. Alexander's army once became discouraged and wanted to quit. So alexander called the army together for a meeting. Alexander proceeded to, without hesitation, strip naked. On the front of his bare body were all these scars. He declared, "if one man among you can show me he has more scars on his body than me, we will all turn back and give up this fight." not one man came forward. Soon, the crowd began to cheer and chant. They pressed onward, fully invigorated with fresh energy and never asked to turn back again.



let jesus drive the bus, and he will perform wonders for you, just like he did for me. After all, he has more scars than any of us....


and remember, not only is it darkest before the dawn, but darkness is god's way of telling us to rest. After all, one can't focus during the day if one is tired from a lack of rest, so take care of yourselves and get plenty of rest! I heard once that the enemy comes in the dark, when its foe is asleep. Great news there as well, because jesus never sleeps - he watches us and protects us as we rest, so nothing can hurt us. We just need to trust in him, and he will catapult us into an existence beyond our wildest dreams! pretty cool, if you ask me.


written with love by a born again christian, for those whom suffer in any way....

tl; dr

 

[X Factor]

Nice OP. Friday was about as bad a day as possible and I've been reliving it in my mind pretty much all weekend (the joys of OCD). Sometimes we need a reminder that God won't give us more than we can handle.

 

[vesper]

Like you said yourself Alexandria was the center of learning for the Hellenistic world (although that was truly under the Ptolemies rather than Alexander). So is it really that peculiar
that the Tanakh was translated into Greek?

Could I tell you exactly why Alexander spared Jerusalem? No, but I can make an assumption. Looking at the geography of the area the only real way to move into Egypt was through the region of Palestine. This was still early in Alexander's campaign and could have easily resulted in him being routed especially from the narrow points of Sinai Peninsula. Alexander often paid tribute to local gods in area's he visited, but more often conquered.

The story is that the Egyptian king Ptolemy II subsidized the translation.
I think your point about Jerusalem's location is a good one for it was the bridge that connected the East with the West. Personally I don't think that was any accident.
If you are interested in reading the account of Josephus you will find it at the link below.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT - JewishEncyclopedia.com

 

[falcata]

The story is that the Egyptian king Ptolemy II subsidized the translation.
I think your point about Jerusalem's location is a good one for it was the bridge that connected the East with the West. Personally I don't think that was any accident.
If you are interested in reading the account of Josephus you will find it at the link below.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT - JewishEncyclopedia.com

Where did I say something went by accident?

 

[vesper]

Nice OP. Friday was about as bad a day as possible and I've been reliving it in my mind pretty much all weekend (the joys of OCD). Sometimes we need a reminder that God won't give us more than we can handle.

Yes it was a very nice testimony. Hope next week gets better for you.

 

[vesper]

Where did I say something went by accident?

Falcata I didn't say you did, I was merely giving my own opinion.

 

[falcata]

Falcata I didn't say you did, I was merely giving my own opinion.

Well I'm just confused as to why you made that comment then. Strategically it makes perfect sense. It prevented the Persians based in Egypt from routing the Macedonian forces while they went after Darius III.

 

[vesper]

Well I'm just confused as to why you made that comment then. Strategically it makes perfect sense. It prevented the Persians based in Egypt from routing the Macedonian forces while they went after Darius III.

My point about it not being an accident that Jerusalem was the bridge that connected the East with the West and became the home of the Hebrew people was by Divine design. Sorry for not making that more clear.

 

[falcata]

My point about it not being an accident that Jerusalem was the bridge that connected the East with the West and became the home of the Hebrew people was by Divine design. Sorry for not making that more clear.

Ah, I see. Thank you very much for clarifying. Though that is not really a bridge from East to West either though. It's a bridge from the East to Northern Africa which only really had one major power in close proximity to the Middle East at the time. The Bosphorus which was owned by the Macedonians at the time would geographically be much better considered the bridge from the east to the west and vice versa.

 

[vesper]

Ah, I see. Thank you very much for clarifying. Though that is not really a bridge from East to West either though. It's a bridge from the East to Northern Africa which only really had one major power in close proximity to the Middle East at the time. The Bosphorus which was owned by the Macedonians at the time would geographically be much better considered the bridge from the east to the west and vice versa.

Technically yes, but it is also a bridge between the cultures of the East and West.

 

[falcata]

Technically yes, but it is also a bridge between the cultures of the East and West.

I would again have to disagree. A bridge between the cultures would be much better found on Anatolia. Civilizations such as Pontus combined many aspects of Hellenistic and Eastern/Persian cultures. Jerusalem did not have much if any mixing of western culture especially when compared to those countries located on Asia Minor.