DS I'm not familiar with what RLK said about monotheism so I can't say I'd extend any thoughts in the same way or not. I have a lot of ideas some of which are very situational that I like to think are Spirit inspired but I think the Spirit works a little differently in each person.

Oswald Chambers in his essay "Clouds and Darkness" says:

"A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that "clouds and darkness surround Him...". When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet - getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God - it is questionable whether we have ever stood in his presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable "darkness" of realizing who He is.

Jesus said, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us - "clouds and darkness" - then suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way - words."-end quote


Yes thank you so much for your book. I feel very grateful and humble to receive it from you since you're one of the Patriarchs of the game and a master of its unseen elements.

To show my appreciativeness I want to send you a copy of a book of Christian "secrets" since you seem to have a sincere interest in religion and in how some of the more prominent Christian theists think about it. Is it safe for me to have a copy of the book sent to you at the return address on the package I received? Once you read it you may even be able to analyze and spot many of the problems that Christians themselves are working through themselves on a trial by error basis.

Sorry but I have no interest in religion whatsoever. I sent you the book because you were willing to change your mind about a position you held based upon someone else's argumentation. I argue religion for the same reason I learn how to checkmate a king with only a knight and a bishop.

I actually might change due to scriptural interpretation which I don't think is quite the same as an argument but a more precise understanding of certain passages. Just to clarify.

theoretically convert and confess/repent on your deathbed and the first 99.999999% of the life sample size is instafolded

How can the subtle difference of meanings of words in the bible have any relevance when the damn thing was by written different people at different times in different languages?

I believe that's the checkmate on this argument.

Old Testament prophets had very rigorous standards.

Quote "The authority attached to the prophetic office was so great, and thus the effect on the people resulting from the emergence of a false prophet was so disastrous, that the penalty for false prophecy was death (Deuteronomy 18:20, 13:5) (Note per Grudem: the OT commanded the death penalty for false prophecies only if they also included encouragement to serve other gods.)

Quote from Wayne A. Grudem's "The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today".

A disobedient and a lying prophet compared:
http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/1113.htm

Peter had this to say in 1 Peter:

Suffering as a Christian
12Beloved, do not be surprised at(AA) the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice(AB) insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad(AC) when his glory is revealed. 14(AD) If you are insulted(AE) for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory[b] and of God rests upon you. 15But(AF) let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or(AG) as a meddler. 16Yet(AH) if anyone suffers as a(AI) Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God(AJ) in that name. 17For it is time for judgment(AK) to begin at the household of God; and(AL) if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who(AM) do not obey the gospel of God? 18And

(AN) "If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"[c]
19Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will(AO) entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." end quote


Praise the Lord! May he prompt you to study his word more diligently before engaging in arguments so you can avoid the snares of this world.

God Bless!

You may have some knowledge of the word, but clearly you do not understand poker.

I doubt any of the great poker players have the qualities you describe, as poker in fact they tent to have the exact opposite of those qualities.

Great poker players tend to be honest, trustworthy, generous, dilagent and selfcontrolled. Chip and dole have both said many times the most of import quality of a top player is charater and i agree they are right.

You find it challenging? Tedious, but winnable?

DS, for the record, what's your position exactly? Are you an atheist, agnostic, or a deist? You argue against religion, but from your posts seem indifferent towards God.

Lets ask those that have gone to heaven if there is such a thing .. oh wait .. Really the whole is there life beyond life question is only decided by you and you alone. For those, like Pletho, who believe the bible to be true, word for word, letter for letter quite undboutingly think, that heaven and hell do exist and (IMHO) that those who are disbelievers are going to burn for all eternity and are scum (Might be putting that word into your mouth here, sorry). Fair enough, it's their right to do so, not to force down your throats it like organized religion has though(Different topic perhaps?).

For most others, who are atheist do not believe in such, but then they have to ask themselves are they truly atheist or are they confusing their atheism with actually being agnostic (There's a HUGE difference between the two btw).

I agree that they have to be disciplined and should have integrity (because many of them don't) if they screw up too much with their professinal image they get no more sponsers, but the other things I am talking about are in the mix.

I have been in the field of gambling, meaning deeply around it for a long time and gambling has the lowest of the low involved. Sure The top notch players have great discipline, they wouldn't be top notch if they didn't. I am not saying that they dont operate good principles. As a unbeliever you still have to operate Godly principles to succed in this life at anything.

That does not mean that they do not have greed, or covetousness, meaning they are never satisfied with what they have and always want more and more.

I think you get the point, you are right and I am right, I am just throwing in a little knowledge of the spiritual realm behind poker and what motivates people and keeps them playing and getting better and better.

You may say competition and the love of it, I know that is part of it but it is also the love of money and getting it easily compared to digging a ditch.

Pletho

stop david