FLRW

"I AM"

FLRW · a year ago

Jesus, in response to the Pharisees’ question “Who do you think you are?” said, “‘Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’ ‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ the Jews said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds” (John 8:56–59). The violent response of the Jews to Jesus’ “I AM” statement indicates they clearly understood what He was declaring—that He was the eternal God incarnate. Jesus was equating Himself with the "I AM" title God gave Himself in Exodus 3:14.

FLRW

C'mon man! Martin Luther, one of the most influential figures in church history, experienced severe episodes of depression. He called them his "anfechtungen" (spiritual assaults) and described feelings of utter despair. Yet he clung to the promises of God’s grace.

Whenever I hear a religious person talk, or see religious memes or posts on social media, I feel an immense sense of relief and gratitude for the fact that I escaped religion. I feel like I've escaped a mental prison. I don't have to live by someone else's bronze age, barbaric rules. I don't have to pretend and pray and never hear anything in return. I don't have to deal with the cutting judgements of a toxic community.

I'm as old as Trump, I don't wear glasses or take any medication. And yes, I believe in Borgnine's key to longevity.