betsy

The reality check will start on the morning we wake up to an NDP-led government, finding it was not just a bad dream. [email protected] http://www.financialpost.com/news/features/surge+leaves+Street+leery/4680264/story.html It's up to the undecided voters right now (and to the Liberal supporters who've yet to vote) where the country would go on Tuesday morning. You guys hold our future in your hands - good or bad. Will you give the Conservatives - grudgingly and reluctantly - the majority to give the Party a chance to prove itself (keeping in mind that should you find Harper did not live up to his promise, there is always an election in 4 years to replace him with your own Party).... or.... Will you throw the dice and hand the power to the NDP (whther it be a minority government or a coalition), even though everyone knows their costing is questionable - even your own Party says so! Will you let us continue with our baby-steps to recoverey (at least we are recovering and did not suffer greatly as other nations)....or will you gamble and let the NDP dismantle what little recovery we've gotten to so far and take us to God-knows-where! We're already one of the highest tax-paying people in the world. Do we really want more tax-hikes?

Layton Massage Parlour incident is not the same as the Chretien Paralysis attack. The first one is based on behaviour - or ethics, - while the latter is about the result of illness (or maybe physical defect), which is beyond a person's control. The way the ads made fun of Chretien's facial "defect" is what made the Tories lose.....for indeed not only were the ads in poor taste, but you have to question the seeming lack of compassion those ads suggest, which truly reflected badly on the Tories.

I think I'd rather believe what my Bible Study says.

If I remember it right, it was you who touted Dawkins' meme. Well we all know what Ruse said about Dawkins' meme, "I don't buy his meme bulls**t!"

Vestigial organs - like tonsils, appendix etc.., - were considered non-functional. Now science understood their purpose, and are concluded to be functional. Not understanding something does not mean it's not true. Claiming it for a fact is misleading (to say the least). What you stated was your personal opinion - irresponsibly imho.

I'm hoping that at the last moment, people will listen to common sense and better judgement will prevail. Jack is charismatic and personable. He is a very likeable person....and I do like him....but his ideology is not the right one for Canada. Charisma is not what we need. People who'll vote for Jack Layton think only of all the social programs they'll get when he gets to govern. Layton will raise taxes. However, they fail to realise that investors will not come to Canada, and businesses will get affected, if not suffer greatly. Companies will be forced to downsize, or move elsewhere....which means more people will lose their jobs. Jack will have to raise more taxes....to make up for the lost of taxes from those lost jobs! Economists are saying NDP will be catastrophic for our economy! Political analysts are saying this surge is a protest to the Liberals, Conservatives and Bloc. I hope they don't take their protests all the way to the polling stations on Monday.....and hopefully they heed the saying: "Don't bite your nose to spite your face". Otherwise, 6 months or a year from now, no one will be laughing!

Dear BC Chick, (and all of you who still remain undecided), all I'm asking of you is to take a pause and think this through. You all know that I've been a staunch Harper supporter, but I speak to you as a citizen who's so much concerned about the outcome for our country. If it had been a choice between the Liberals and the NDP (if situations were reversed between the Liberals and the Tories)....I am telling you that I'd vote Liberal....just so to prevent an NDP government. We are still recovering from the economy. At least, even though personality-wise Harper is not appealing to you....nor you find him too controlling....at least we had seen him do his job for 5 years he's in office. The way he did it may not be so palatable, but you see that we didn't suffer so economy-wise, and we've been touted favorably, if not admirably for the way our economy is going compared to the rest of the world. Will you let your personal distaste for Harper cloud your better judgement? Will you let it be the deciding factor.....opting for an NDP government who's yet been untested, knowingly it borders on socialism (if not downright socialist), with NDP MPs mostly inexperienced. Remember what happened to Ontario during NDP reign. We need someone who can at least see us through the difficult times ahead. We'll end up with huge taxes on our shoulders, with scared investors running off to other friendly countries....if the NDP ever wins. All I ask is to reflect on this. You have the power in your hands to steer us through the right direction. Cnnsider and vote COnservatives.

Mark Kelly, last night, fielded people in Vancouver market. Only 1 said she'll welcome an NDP-Liberal coalition. The rest were all saying they want Majority Conservatives. One guy who said he's not really into partisanship said he doesn't believe that Harper has any agenda....that it's all just politics.

That 35% for Harper...that's his base. They will vote Tories, no matter what. There's another factor to consider. The Liberal Party is openly being dismissed now by all media. One commentator actually quipped yesterday to a journalist travelling with the Liberals, "How's the mood with the Liberals? Are they in shock? Or are they still in denial?" Ignatieff's leadership rate is way lower than that achieved by Dion. Morale among the Liberal supporters is at a very low. Perhaps even lower than how they felt with Dion in 2008. Depressed supporters may not be so keen to go out to vote. So the question remains: Will a Liberal supporter vote Liberal (or not vote at all).....or wil he go with the NDP (to stop Harper majority)...or go with the Tories (to prevent waking up with an NDP government).

The responses of Dawkins' flock to the letter and the appearance of Pastor Robertson on the Dawkins' website forum eventually led to the conversion of atheist Richard Morgan to Christianity. (refer to post #154 for details) © Evangelicals Now - May 2007

Joel belavance from La Presse said that messages were passed among Bloc supporters. They want Jack Layton to win and urged the Bloc supporters to vote NDP. The guy from the Atlantic says that he could see signs of an NDP surge in that area. It's been discussed on Power Play (with panelists Joel Belavance, Jane Taber and a guy from Atlantic) that Ignatieff is done. They say that's the reality now. Belavance went on to say that there is no "bottom" for the Liberals. They expect the polls to go down further to the "teens." (right now Liberals are at 21%) My question is: Are you still voting Liberal....or are you going to vote NDP ....or Conservatives. Why?

There is judgement, and then there is being judgemental. Besides, you guys keep hammering on God because of humans who err. Christians fall from grace....we all sin...who's perfect? It is not you or me to decide what work is deemed passable in the eyes of God. That is for God to decide. He is the only one who can judge. But don't make sinning humans be your excuse for forsaking God.

Saying it doesn't make what you say is true. You may try to convince yourself - and succeed in doing so since it's what you want to believe. But you can't fool others. I know the answer to that already. But of course you guys, understandably, do not want to accept it being the way you are - atheist/agnostic. You want empirical evidences - and some of you are putting a limit as to how , and/or what type of evidences you want to be presented with - by science. You've put up parameters. You don't want to step out of the box. You insist on wanting natural explanations - shutting your mind to the fact that if there is no natural explanation, then the only other option is supernatural. You also refuse the science of Philosophy. A moronic idiot pseudo-scientist (Of course, who else - Dawkins), went as far as to conclude, "PHilosophy is Dead!" Then he went on to philosophise... Well....if you'd been more than happy to wait for a century - and still counting - for science to come up with the evidence of origin, why wouldn't you give the same amout of time (and overwhelming patience) for science to come up with the perceived fundamental flaw of the argument? Why let complexity be a damp towel now....when all through all these years science had struggled - and still is struggling - with the complexity of origin? How many vestigial organs have science concluded that were not functional? Time proved they are functional - they have a purpose. Science just simply did not understand at the time. Well, for the complexity of ID/Creator argument.....science is at that time, when they do not understand. Give it time. That's what I was saying in my response to Bloodymined. Just be open to the big possibility that the answer may not come during your lifetime. You consider "not understanding" an evidence. A century from now, scientists will probably find that evidence, just like they did with vestigial organs. But of course, you'll be dead and kaput by then. So it's all meaningless anyway.

That's what I suspect....that Tory ads are most likely concentrated on prime shows that guarantees millions of viewers. Political junkies like us who consume CTV and CBC and CPAC political shows are mostly staunched supporters of parties...nothing can sway unless it's a scandal of seismic proportion. Pundits are speculating that campaigning during weekend will be difficult because of the Royal Wedding. They're saying that right now royal watchers are giddy about this pomp and pageantry that politics will hardly register. It is after the wedding....that's when they'll be thinking of the election, it will also be a time for "reflections and contemplations" depending what the polls showed. Do you really want an NDP Prime Minister Layton? Do you want to gamble on an NDP-led Coalition? I'm betting the blitz of Tory ads will be on the coverage of the wedding....and I'm betting the price for air-time will be quite expensive that more likely there will hardly be any Liberal and NDP ads. I hope the Tory ads voice out the fear of Bay Street, our dollar that went down when the polls showed the Orange surge, the fighting words of Layton aimed at the WEALTHY - which are also the investors!

Actually, I am baffled by this. You want empirical evidence to explain our existence. And yet you say there are no spirits and souls - accepting that as fact without any empirical evidences to support that belief. To some of us, our religion makes perfect sense to us. We find contentment....solace...rest....inner peace. But you don't make that clear in your numerous posts. Actually, most of your posts reeked of anger, hatred, condemnation, contempt for all religion....and most especially the Christian religion. Please understand that I'm not in a quarrel with you. This is not personal. But I am arguing with you....I am defending my faith. And since some of you are hellbent on wanting to prove that my belief is based on nothing....of course I'll be more doubly hellbent in proving you wrong....that in fact, it is your belief that is actually based on nothing. We all want the same thing for the future generation....except we don't agree on who's right and who's wrong. Perhaps you should worry about your own children....and let us worry about ours. In your books, we Christians are delusional because we believe in something that has no empirical evidence. Well WIP, you've admitted that you're no different than us since you accepted your truth that's not backed by empirical evidence. You fit in same category of being delusional. Believe what you want. No one is stopping you. Not even my God. That's what free-will is all about.

betsy: So, you've already found the evidence and proof. You've reached that conclusion. How can you answer "absolutely not," when you clearly claimed that it is the "truth!" You said: "The truth is that there are no such things as souls and spirits in the first place" How can we even take what you say into consideration when you contradict yourself?

I've been tuning to CTV Newsnet and CBC....I haven't seen a single Tory ad for several days now. Only Liberal and NDP ads. Have you guys seen any Tory ads?

And I had the feeling that you really welcome that news. You rely on your own intelligence WIP. You question the doctrine. You don't agree with it. You want to mould it to suit your own needs and wants.... I guess you think you know more than God. So, you've already found the evidence and proof. You've reached that conclusion. I spread the good news about Christianity because that's a duty of a Christian. It comes with the "title." What I'd like you to explain is that.....why is it so important to you that people believe what you say? One would think that since you've arrived at the conclusion that Christians are all delusional fools and nutbars...you'd just shake your head and move on with your life - enjoy every minute you can wring out of it since in your conclusion, it's the only life you've got. Why are you wasting your time wallowing in your anger about the religion and the nutbars that are its members....instead of enjoying the time you've got left?

There is also a reason why secularists are targetting Christianity....to bust it, lump it along with the others and make it irrelevant. Obviously, they're threatened by it more than any other religions. We have the power.

Christians, there is only one true God. Don't be decieved. Don't get swayed into that line of thinking that everyone (Muslims, Buddha, Vooddoo, Nature) is referring to the same God. That's just plain ridiculous. That flies smackly against what God had clearly written, when He gave the Commandments to Moses. Remember what Christ said when He was asked which of the Commandments of God is the most important. Don't be afraid to be ridiculed or mocked when you accept that Satan is real. That he walks among us doing his darndest - using every tool and wiles - to steer you away from God.

What is there for me to say WIP? I started to read and try to understand the Bible for a very important reason: If I am to love and please my Lord, I should therefore know what He truly want me to do. And as He had warned us about false prophets, and those who'd use His name....and warned us on the wiles and deceits of Satan.....I should therefore heed those warnings. I think you had said yourself somewhere in this forum that if only Christians follow the teachings of Christ, the world would be a better place. Therefore you know that a lot of "Christians" are Christians in name only. I don't want to be in that category. I've been there before.

And you should know? I think I''ll just rely on my own instinct that tells me I'm trying by best to follow His teachings. Accept Him wholeheartedly in my heart. And place my trust in Him that He guide, lead and direct me. You do not believe in Christ (His death and Ressurrection). What other conclusion is there to make? In other words you're just running on empty! You don't even know the basic meaning of "Christian." Help? I only asked you to clarify what you mean....since I didn't want to make a hasty conclusion about what you're trying to say. I didn't want to outright dismiss your statements as drivel rantings.... And that's just what they are. As you clearly explained. Whatever.

Anyway, best way is to prepare for adaptation to climate change.

His sentence was death. I'm sure the soldiers would've ensured that he's dead! After all that's their goal. His death. That's why a spear was thrusted to His side. How much training does one need to have to know whether someone is dead or not. No coroner was available. I'm sure they must have their way of knowing in those days. You're not a Christian, so it's understandable you do not accept the fact that we Christians do. What exactly do you mean by this? I don't need any proof. That's what having faith is all about. Besides, the Resurrection symbolizes triumph over death....in the sense that for those who have faith, there is life after death. Are you expecting anyone who dies right now will rise up before your eyes? My faith may seem "delusional" to you....but of course, you're not a Christian. Why would you have any faith? I don't know if you're really reading and trying to understand the Bible.....if so I would suggest getting a Bible Study King James version. Good ones really explain, including the customs of the time.

The article/survey should serve as a caution and warning to all Christians to adhere to The Bible, that they may not be deceived into the "new-age" way of thinking....and become the present day equivalent of Old Testament Israel....idolizing other gods. The message in the Bible must not be changed in any way, what more to conform to today's world....for it's been clearly forbidden. Furthermore, changing doctrines only underlines the moral relativism that permeates in our society today....that everything is like putty that can be moulded to how we want it. Nothing is solid. Nothing is absolute. "Truth" is what you want it to be. Are we so full of pride that we think it should be God who should bow down to our wishes...and not the other way around? Dear Christians, we ought to be reminded when Christ said, "Many are called, but few are chosen." Being a Christian means following the teachings of Christ....otherwise, we are only professed-"Christians". Accepting Christ as our Saviour entails repentance...that act of humility acknowledging our sins. Repenting means we will try not to go back to our old ways of sinning. It is a narrow and difficult road to travel. Even Christ warns us of that. But if we ask Christ to come to our hearts...and ask for His guidance....it becomes easier. True freedom is when you hand your life to God and say: Here, You do as You please with it for You know what is good for me. Trust in God. I believe it is important to develop a personal relationship with God. You dedicate your jobs, your troubles, your sufferings, your joys....all for God, and you'll see the changes happening in you. There are a lot of deceptions out there aimed to confuse us. If you're a Christian you believe in the reality of Satan. And we know that he is the master deceiver. He can work his ways through others. To deceive you. To confuse you. To steer you away from God. Read your Bible. Even if only a few passages a day....it becomes your compass. We pray that Christians will remain strong in faith amid temptations, and we pray for the lost sheep that they may find their way back to God.