Verbose

DON’T. DO IT.
You’re my only source of rationality (mod-wise at least), and I NEED some solid footing otherwise I’ll fall into chaos.
Go away, Brian.

Of course I’m not really a cookie. I’m a cookie of lies. Silly Caro.

Now that that’s established…

Eventually I was going for an Archivist title, but doesn’t Conversationalist override the Archivist title?

My only problem is that I missed the fun while it was unfolding. haha

Don’t feel bad about wanting in, it’s perfectly fine. What I do is post one Bible verse on Caro’s wall every Sunday, and then her and I discuss it together. However, since you now bring our Bible Study to a grand total of three members, I thought I could just post the verse on my wall every Sunday, and we could all discuss it on my wall, that way there isn’t any confusing wall-hopping going on. Sound good?

I just went to the Pony General thread for the first time in a while, and I see all this discussion on polls, butthurt, recounts, and thread names.

I’m thoroughly confused.

It always fills my heart with joy to see lesser ponies learn their place.

Well, I prefer Tekken over Street Fighter, but there are practically zero MLP/Tekken crossover pics. So I guess I’ll have to settle for Zangief. (who’s the best street fighter character anyway)

So I heard you want in on me and Caro’s Bible study?

Well then you already know my response.

The way I was goin’ in March, I coulda sworn I would have hit it by April or so, but ah well.
Blame that on my total kick of apathy and long sleeping spells every day!

Dire consequences.

Back. Catching up on PM’s, wall posts (from probably a week ago now,) and other stuff for KYM. But I’m working on it/them/all the things!

Won’t be around much this weekend, huh?

Hmm..
Sounds like the perfect time to cover your wall in silly posts and pictures.

I’m right with ya on the not getting motion sickness thing … though I wouldn’t mind going to Six Flags with my friends. So long as they were with me when I get sick. :P

As for WaHo, is there ever a time when someone ISN’T down for going there? Especially in the middle of the night … I know I spent many a good late night with friends at the WaHo off South Milledge near the loop.

Now I have no one here to go get a slice of chocolate pie at midnight with. D:

Ooh… well I think I know what it means now.

Yeah…between taxes and a bit of running around this weekend, I don’t expect to be able to respond to any in-depth correspondence in the next few days. Hopefully, I don’t forget that I owe you a response, but don’t be shy about asking for one if you do think I’ve forgotten.

Yeah, my day did technically end on a somewhat positive note, but really that ‘positive’ was more of an ’it’s not quite as bad as you thought it was going to be’ so it doesn’t count for too much.

I’m not sure what you mean by ‘self-serving,’ but I still find those kinds of jokes funny so long as they are light-hearted.
I’m not someone who feels the need to ‘defend’ a character against jokes at their expense.
The only stuff I actively dislike is direct abuse and violence of which Scootaloo has more than her fair share, but it really applies to any character.

That kind of art is definitely right up my alley so no need to apologize.
Actually, I never posted this on the forum, but I have THIS on the shelf right above my computer.

I do remember that thing about not wanting to be Scootaloo, actually.
Man, that feels like it was a long time ago now.
It was in response to this:

I’m pretty sure I made the point that I like Scootaloo because I want to be her friend, hang out with her, and go on crazy adventures and stuff, but I didn’t want to actually become her.
Her personality is pretty much the polar opposite of mine so maybe I feel that my becoming her would only end up ruining what makes her her in the first place.

This has turned into a weird, late night ramble about the perils of bodysnatching…
I need to go to bed…

I’m sorry if this doesn’t help very much. I guess I didn’t speak to your specific concerns that often. I’m sorry I’m not more knowledgeable and that I can’t help that well. If anything, though, I can tell you that you can take comfort in Christ. I know you’re a Christian, and I know that God does not leave His own alone. Getting through the whole Bible is probably a good step, and I don’t think you need me to tell me that. But I’d encourage you to do so. I believe in the perseverance of the Saints: basically, that salvation is not something lost once given. Straying is not finality. God isn’t done with any of His own. And a lot of questions we’re probably not going to have answers to. That’s not a satisfactory answer, but it’s all I’ve got right now, and not just for you. I have a lot of the same questions, but ultimately, neither of us trust Jesus enough. I know that you also want to seek God, and that gives me hope. Encouragement is a refreshing thing. Again, I’m sorry I can’t offer you more than this. I apologize if I’m way off base. But hopefully it’ll help, even if just a little.

Think of this as well: there’s all sorts of unpleasant stuff in the Bible. I don’t think I have to list off how difficult it is that God personally ordered people stoned and civilizations destroyed, or how He calls us into a life of persecution, animosity, and thankless work. If someone was editing the Bible to make it more palatable, I think it would be a more warm and fuzzy book to read. Yes, people could have justified these things and left out what they personally thought was objectionable or inconvenient, but again, we have to trust God put the Scriptures together for a purpose- administering His Will on Earth. Bashing the Church is trendy within Christianity today, but I actually had my campus pastor remind me today of the Church’s role: we are ambassadors for Christ, and the highest authority on Earth. And I don’t say that in a bragging way. We get it wrong a LOT. The Church is not infallible, but it is also not alone.

Faith is not an easy thing to grow. I mean, it’s a gift from God. The disciples knew this; they asked Jesus “increase our faith.” It can be a hard pill to swallow. I know it is for me. I want to be in control, and I want step-by-step instructions to be a better Christian. But it’s not that easy, because I’m not in control- and here’s the kicker- I shouldn’t be. I have to bend myself to God’s definitions as one set apart from the world. Not out of pride or even out of some misguided sense to self-improve, but out of obedience and love.

As for the councils who put together the Canon, keep in mind that those councils were formed to respond to heresies. They weren’t necessarily trying to not step on any toes, they were trying to formally organize this new thing called Christianity. And they did not take their task lightly.

That still leaves room for human error though, doesn’t it? Well, sure. Which is where the unsatisfactory answers begin. It sounds like a cop-out, but we have to accept that God did what He intended. God is sovereign over all events on Earth, formation of the Scriptures included.They are how they are because God, for one reason or another, wanted them to be that way. If it’s any comfort, it’s good to be reminded that God is sovereign, omniscient, and active. Something as important as the early Councils would not be inconsequential to Him.

Really though, I accept that my unbelief about the Bible is wrong. I know this is a touchy thing to say in a society that values individuality and the self as a moral center, but the Bible is the Word of God. How I feel about it is inconsequential, to put it bluntly. We have to find the truth about it. Yes, some issues are a matter of interpretation, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t one meaning to the whole thing. As long as your interpretation does not invalidate the Gospel, it’s not a heaven or hell, salvation breaking thing, and there’s some leeway in terms of how important what you differ on is (Paul discourages bickering about these sorts of things) but there’s still only one truth.

I guess what I’m saying is that God isn’t interpreted by man. I can’t really pick and choose what I want to hear from him, ya know? I know this isn’t exactly what you were talking about, but it’s nice to vent a little. I digress.