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My answer to your questions and other ramblings

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wcd:
Ray left a body of work behind,the more we study it,the more we realise that we have so little understanding.You are not alone in that thinking, God surely wants us that way to humble us,really get fixed in our minds that we are nothing.Our struggles show us more and more how small we are in Gods sight.The very Creator said he was nothing without the Father in him,thats a huge statement coming from His Son,puts into perspective our position in this life.Thank you for writing that,we do have a great sense of loss [my wife and I] at Ray's passing,God willing we shall soldier on.

Gina:
You know I can only speak for myself, but maybe I speak for a "few" others out there.  I don't know.  However, I love this site.  I don't really read all of Ray's writings consistently on a daily basis.  I know others are just like me.  I know that Ray set an example of searching the scriptures and he asked God questions and when he was given the answers (whether you are of the belief that they are the "answers" or just Ray's ramblings -- I don't know) he passed them on to those who were interested.  God gave to Ray a love of the scriptures...

"Dear Dr. Kennedy:

My name is Ray Smith and I love the Scriptures. But I marvel how God's Word is being misrepresented today in such an organized worldwide effort.."

I don't see Ray finding fault with anyone for coming here and asking questions and seeking comfort in this forum.  Hey, man, it keeps some of us out of the "bars and pool halls" if you know what I mean!

So we don't have all the answers and won't in this lifetime.  "Overly inflated egos" ?  Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I know I have problems with my own ego, but I also thank God I have people to remind me of that. :)

I come here for comfort because I can get very lonely and this is a "safe haven" for me in this dark world.  (I was almost raped about four weeks ago by someone I thought was my friend who called me asking for a lift because their car broke down.)  And some of us (me!) are bored with life to the point that this forum and you people and your questions are A LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD.  I'm drawn to this forum like a magnet.  I can try to leave but I can't. 

So some have left and gone away, but maybe it's just that they're struggling and that's okay.  I understand.  I've noticed that too, but we can't fault them; we don't always know what they're going through; and we certainly don't always know what people are thinking or their true motives behind their actions, but certainly God is directing their steps.  Do we draw them back in by accusing them of having left because they're not satisfied with what we have here already on Ray's site?  Will that make believers out of them?  Maybe.  I don't know.  I'd rather do it the way Paul did it -- make 'em jealous. :-D

I could easily go without sex for the rest of my life all because this forum (and bacon) exists -- because sex could ever replace what I get from the true love that is exhibited by many, right here, on this forum.

I ask questions because I love the interaction with people.  I don't expect you all to have the "answers."  I just like being around you -- here on this forum, that's why I continue to come here.

This world is dark and getting darker but Christ has taken us out of the world.  So how can we light up the world having been taken out of it?  The world is evil and wants nothing to do with the light; because their deeds are evil and the world loves the darkness more than the light.  Thank God we have each other here who are coming to love the light more than the world.  We're not all there yet but look where we are!  Wow!  Ya know?  We're here because Ray was used by God (through Dennis' prodding) to publish his letters to Hagee and Kennedy, et al.  Thank you Dennis!

Everyone wants to be a teacher.   That's what Ray says.  Well yeah, because we love you Ray and we respect you we want to be just like you.  But in order to be a good teacher, you have to first be a good student.  That's the requirement for being a teacher:  being a good student.  [I don't know about you, Craig, but I think we have some excellent students here, not the least of which are the mods, who by deed and action, show that they love God and their brothers, and have been a light to me on how to be a better student -- not that I'm a good student or teacher by any means, but hey; practice makes perfect as the saying goes.   

I believe that we want to be here to have a purpose because so many of us feel as though we have no purpose in life (and some get carried away by their egos, but let's pray that we will be kept safe from those kinds of egos).  I believe we want to give to others in a way that makes them love and trust God, not worship us.  I like how Ray understood that God's word is powerful and people were flocking to him -- to God, rather, but he wasn't looking for acclamation for himself!  He wasnt bothered by what other people thought of him " Oh, well, what can I say... failed again."    That's how I want to be.  Just like that.)

Rhys 🕊:

--- Quote from: space.ace.jase on December 14, 2012, 06:03:53 AM ---I crash-landed into the BT site a few years ago but I almost feel that I have unlearnt what little basics that I used to have a small understanding of. I just can't deal with all the misery of this life and feel myself breaking apart and falling to pieces. I used to have joy reading Ray's articles and his teaching but I can't even open a bible to read a verse, I just get so frustrated/disheartened.

Do what you want God I don't care any more and I don't understand any of it.

--- End quote ---

Space

We all go through different circumstances in our journey with the Lord but it is indeed all of Him. Here is a little bit about myself which I will be sharing in a lot longer form shortly. I used to be in a place where I loved God with all my heart - praying, seeking, reading the word, serving and everything else. Well due to various circumstances I went from this wonderful place of loving God where I really loved God and I didn't care if anyone else loved me because I had this special relationship with the Lord. That love I had and which I enjoyed myself gradually turned into hatred towards God. Where I use to love other believers I now disliked them and I stopped caring about there needs and became only focused on my own. Not only that I would attack God calling Him all sorts of things which He is not and using language against Him that I couldn't possibly mention here. I truly went from a place of great light and now great darkness. I couldn't believe what I had become and thought that I had disqualified myself from any possible relationship with Him that I use to have. But now praise God He is brought me into a more wonderful place than I use to have by using Ray's teaching. I don't want anyone to be in the place that I was but seems a necessary thing for God to do.

I guess I'm saying that I am thankful to God to where I am now but going through the fire was terrible and today for me it is still difficult and I still have plenty of tears and I still struggle with the way I treated God. I didn't hurt Him but I did hurt myself.

The following verse came to mind when I was thinking about you.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Are we more than conquerors only when we are doing all the right spiritual things and we feel we are a great man of God now? I think you know the answer to this Space.

God bless you Space and I too share your pain.

Rhys

acomplishedartis:

--- Quote from: Dave UK on December 14, 2012, 08:41:13 AM ---

--- Quote ---"Tell ya what, you pray for me and I'll pray for you and we'll get through this thing called life."
--- End quote ---

Sums it up beautifully. Thanks for the reminder Craig. I think there is more than a lifetime of learning on this site to get through, and more importantly to live out daily in our own lives. But I won't deny it's a struggle for me a lot of the time.
Dave

--- End quote ---
I agree Dave.

I can see Ray saying that when confronted with the others tough life realities. I miss him. What I perceived from him is that he was on his own on his walk with God, advancing at his own phase, while helping and encouraging the ones more weak ones (Like myself).

One thing that I believe can change our life perspective in a lot of things is the fact that we are going to be judged in according to our works, to what we know and what we have experienced. People have different resistance to pain and evil, what seems so hard for some of us could be not so hard for others... Our spiritual journey is individual, and thanks to this forum it's easier for us to find people who tent to walk on a similar rate.

I think titles should not be taken in account when listening what others have to say, only the content and the attitude of the one talking...   In many ways we are all teachers and students walking with and learning from the Jesus life at our personal phase.

onelovedread:
And so with all the replies, postings and sharings, we've come right back to Craig's beautiful post. (Some of us even tried to hijack the thread) but we're right back to square one. Thank you again Craig, and thank you Spirit of God for your direction.
This is a great thread.

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