Can it also be said, "With great freedom comes great responsibility!"???

 People are always demanding freedoms ...but, often it involves shirking responsibility.

It is of my opinion that people too easily degrade themselves; therefore how much easier is it to degrade another??

Most people like to have the freedom to make their own choices.

My parents were teasing me one time.  I was in college ...as it was expected that I would go to college.  I had a financial aid package put together with small scholarship amounts, supplemented by my eager earnings, savings, and a Work Study program. It would work, and everything was set to work as I was accepted to go to Michigan State University.

I had avoided activities in High School.  In my mind, relationships were important, and I didn't want my emotions to get ahead of a very difficult schedule ...with college approximately 425 miles from my home.

I also sort of thought of college in much the same way, as how difficult it would be to consider a relationship while I was incurring a small debt with a college loan, which I'd have to pay back with the money I'd make from a job I didn't even have yet.  And I didn't know where I'd have to go to get that job either.

I thought of how Hollywood actors and actresses often had a difficult time keeping relationships solid with all that travel and extended time apart.  And musicians may even have it worse.  How was I going to have it any better??  At least they had an income (yet, I know many of them struggled with having nothing at the start), and I didn't have a clue where I was going to be.

I couldn't get a job in my major, as the economy was not doing well ...but, it was during the time where government felt they had adequate money to spend, even if most people weren't doing that well.  So, I got a job with the State of Michigan.

Now, I was soon able to pay my small loan off ...and move out of my one room rental, and into an apartment.  I saved up for a car ...buying my supervisor's Grandma's car, advertised by my supervisor as one of those Grandmas who drove the car only to church every Sunday, and to the hairdresser once a month.

It was a good car, and I kind of believed that in this case the Grandma story might have been true. 

I had saved up, so I was now debt free ...and I thought I might be able to afford to go on a date now.

But, dating was a stress for me.  I was brought up to be responsible, and these young single women were at times fun to be around, they just didn't seem like the kind of person I thought I was, or wanted to be. 

I tried to get together with some hometown girls who were now in college, but the timing wasn't right.  And though I know there are good city girls, I guess the timing wasn't right there either ...because I was connecting with a few of the ones who didn't appear to me to be too responsible.

I knew that a lot of people from my work were 'sleeping around' ...but, I didn't know how many, or which ones.  Some of them gave hints, and one called me a 'Jesus freak' ...and I hadn't even mentioned Him, but that's the way it is with expectations and relationships.  You often don't readily know what others want out of a relationship.

How can a person trust someone with such loose values? 

The abortion debate was making its rounds, like it was a political volleyball to be hit back-and-forth.  I knew that when most women who got pregnant, it was not because they had been with someone who had abused them, or who they didn't like.  They liked the man they were with, and would have loved to have a child with him, but the relationship didn't last ...and then, out of feeling so much intense hurt, they angrily demanded their rights, mostly because he had abdicated on his responsibilities.  And they didn't want a child that reminded them of that hurt.  

You may say I am way off (and what do I know), but I'm open to what you have to say about why you'd involve yourself with someone in a seemingly intimate way, and then go have a violent operation to have that very life ripped or crushed to death ..the very life you two began together during your intimate encounter.  I can't believe a woman would say there was no intimacy ...it was just enjoying the moment, so she could later have a doctor get even more invasive in a very cruel and violent impersonal fashion.

I don't know what one's mind set is, but I also couldn't imagine a girl would give herself to a guy for the soul purpose of his lack of intimacy ...that would potentially end up having her face committing a violent act, a very big step in searing the conscience and destroying that wonderful union that should have been, if it had been approached properly (hopefully through marriage).

Bottom line ...I wasn't going to allow myself anywhere near having to deal with such a sad outcome.  As strange and outdated as it seemed, I kind of felt courtship perhaps should be the way to go.

I went to visit my parents as I accrued two weeks vacation ...and I wanted to clear my head.  Dad said he was taking me and Mom for a ride, so I got in the car with them. Dad likes to tease, but I didn't know always when he was teasing.  He said he was taking me to the home of a friend who had a daughter around my age.  And I panicked ...sweat sending off warnings out of every pore, before I realized he was kidding.

If courtship was going to be my path, it was going to be of my choosing ...and I was not at all going to allow it to be arranged for me.

Courtship had to be something (though I really had no experience and didn't really know anything about it) that I felt was going to be known. The next step wasn't my doing, but her Mom didn't take long at all to ask of my intentions.  This was shortly after I explained my faith, and went to church with them a couple times.  It seemed like the entire extended family liked me, and I didn't think this was a bad thing, but I didn't realize at the time that it may not necessarily be a good thing.  I had then heard that her parents had just very recently gotten a divorce, and I didn't realize the toll it could take on a daughter ...and more specifically, the one I was interested in. 

I felt the courtship, if that was in fact what it was, was going okay ...and like I said, I felt the family liked me. Though I began to question really how much the one I wanted to like me, actually liked me.  Though I thought that if a courtship was in some way more of a commitment than other relationship beginnings, it was not good if the pressure of expectations be a burden to either of us ....especially if she perhaps didn't feel it was any more than a friendship, and one that was possibly more friendly to her family than to her.

Yet, I felt that commitments, however they may seem to be, shouldn't be abandoned quickly without giving a chance for things to develop (perhaps in God's timing, not mine), and I didn't want to think of an end to something that God was perhaps developing.  I know not everyone's emotions progress the same, or at the same rate.  I felt she was worth it, to give it more time. 

And I gave it about ten years.

There were times when I felt really discouraged, but then she would reach out to me again.  And just like Hollywood, it was difficult because she was in Florida, one of the Carolinas, and in Arizona during various times. But, I felt God had built some sort of friendship, and it should not be taken lightly.

After a time, I realized that the kind of relationship we had was a friendship that appeared rather odd, but friendships are important.  I kind of felt it was the kind of friendship I'd have in Heaven.  But, of course, we were not in Heaven ...and life here on earth is filled with goals and expectations. My youngest brother's friend would always say he'd get the death knell signal of 'Just friends'.  And we can't say that isn't important, as there will be no such things as 'just friends' in Heaven ...because all friendships will so blessed.  But, like I said, this isn't Heaven ...this is still earth.

And if one thinks they would enjoy having a family ...well, that doesn't work with 'just friends'.   And I feel God had those ten years set aside to have me grow in my faith, and prepare me to meet the one I did marry and have children with.

My wife-to-be had a young girl that she had conceived during an intimate relationship she had with a guy ...yet, he didn't prove to be too responsible, nor loyal to the one he was bringing a child into the world with.  Yet, there was no bitter consequences, and that child would not be denied the love we all deserve ...as it should be with every Mom, to cling onto that love, whether the man does, or not.

We married, then had four more children.

And something is to be said for having children that we both agree upon.  We did all we could to meet our children's needs.  And of course, we differentiated between needs and desires as they got older, but as a baby ...hunger, tiredness, and any sort of discomfort or confusion could be easily remedied.  Mom was the best.

There were friends who promoted books that appeared to focus on not letting your children control you, but we thought that was absurd ...how could a tiny child (mostly helpless) control us.  They look to us for their every need.  Don't we aspire to looking to God to meet our needs??  Does God think we are controlling Him?? 

I think that is absurd ...and I don't really think our idea was different than God's plan.  God created a very adequate way ...and breastfeeding solves so many of the stresses, providing intimacy and nourishment, as well as a stronger immune system for the baby.  (For Mom, it promotes faster weigh loss after birth, less postpartum bleeding, fewer infections, and lower the risk of cancer ...to name a few.) 

My parents used to have cloth diapers, with safety pins.  A safety pin could be sticking into the baby, and some parent would say it was a fussy baby.  I guess we are fussy babies too ...as we have the dentist numb the area before he sticks us.

Comparison can be considered a bad thing, if we are comparing individuals and their value as a person. Human beings were created by God from 'the beginning', and they were created with the ability to reproduce through a male/and female relationship designed through marriage. And every single child born is equally loved in God's eyes, and should be valued equally by each of us. Placing value on people by comparison standards can be a very bad thing, and even an evil thing. But, are all comparisons bad, or harmful?? What about the comparisons which don't affect, nor assign a value to a person ...what about those comparisons???

If we are working on a fine-tuned instrument, or vehicle ...we need the specs to be right.  They need to be precise.

If we are working for a company that needs to meet certain quality measures and specifications, it would be critical that we have something to compare, something that would show us the specifications of what the contract is looking for.

In those cases, we may need a standard, or a template.  But, if we are not performing our work ...and it is our free time, we can just be individuals, and we don't need to be bogged down with comparisons.

During those times, if we are happy and want to sing, others may feel we can't sing well ...but, we should sing anyway!!

Maybe we can never imagine singing publicly, but don't let that quench our precious spirit ...let the joy of our soul sing out!!

And that goes for other things too.  Another example is cooking. I could never impress anyone with my cooking ...and for many years as a single guy, I never felt I had to.  I did compliment others ...and they cooked for me at times, and I impressed them with my eating abilities.  And I think that stood as a happy comparison for both of us.  People often starve for compliments, and I wasn't about to starve for lack of being able to give one. If you can't do something well ...you can always make someone else feel good by complimenting them for doing well.

Perhaps what you do best is simpler than you think ...you can be one of the best at thankfulness.  And thankfulness is often more recognized in those who have no inclination to elevate themselves, but are simply thankful.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Anyone who has gone to the public school has had teachers they've liked more than others.  It's not necessary that you talk about teacher whom you may not like ...and it's not kind. It's also an unhealthy habit to form ...and gossip can hurt.

If a teacher is doing something criminally wrong, of course they should be reported like anyone else.

Yet, teachers have a very important role in life. Teachers are an extended arm of parenting ...and just like parents, they can create an unhealthy environment by comparing.

Let's look at a test.  Everyone has the same test, but not everyone is going to do the same on the test.  That can be perceived as a comparison in itself, but the answers on the test should not be considered equal answers ...compromising truth so that everyone gets the same grade.

Of course, with subjective tests, such as those involving essays, for example, 'How you spent your summer vacation' ...yes, that's different. 

I still have a poetry booklet compiled by my grade school teacher.  Everyone's poem entered the booklet ...and no grade was given.  If you turned in a poem, then it was in the booklet.  I sort of think some of the parents may have helped ...so much so, that in seemed more like a parent's poem.  Other poems ...well, I laugh when I read them, no doubt they had no help with their poems. I feel I can laugh because they cannot hear me, and I am not laughing where they can hear me ...and I'm not recopying their poem here.  And if they could hear me laughing, they'd know I'm also laughing at my own poem.

Chuck Swindoll wrote a book entitled, 'Killing Giants, Pulling Thorns' ...and under 'Thorns' (you know how if feels to get a thorn under ...the skin), he lists: 'Expectations & Disappointments' together, and the previous Chapter is 'Comparisons'.   And I sadly agree that they often do go together, causing much harm.

But, looked at in another way, all three could be motivators for good.  If one had lived under the rule of a cruel dictator, they would likely welcome an opportunity to leave that country. And in comparison, they wouldn't want to go to another country like the one they'd just left.

At the store, we may compare fruit, purchasing fresh fruit ...instead of spoiled or rotting fruit.

Yet, to be realistic, many countries may not have fresh fruit ...unless they are located in a tropical environment.  And if it's not a tropical area, those living in a dictatorship have to eat whatever they can get.  

How about jobs??  Can we compare job opportunities? Even in a democracy, we often take what we can get. And the available jobs may not be very desirable.  What if we don't like the way a company is run?  How do we respond in that situation??

You may not be too fond of certain co-workers, but what if you don't like the corporate heads?  Do you just tolerate the less than favorable conditions ...because you are thankful for a job and a paycheck??

Or do you complain about management??

Even when it seems management is good ...people still complain.  Some people seem to be continually dissatisfied, and they are quite experienced complainers.  And some of those people are also quite effective with stirring up others.  Yes, peer groups and the work environment can be added to the group of 'influencers' ...or teachers.

Who else can be added to the list of influencers??

How about news outlets, and social media??

The news media seems to thrive on stoking the flames of negative comparisons, unfulfilled expectations, and continual disappointments ...and that also crosses over into social media where we get to add our own personal opinions, which are usually based on the negative information we are fed.

Yes, on social media we communicate with friends, making connections ...while inciting more emotion.

But, back to our place of employment ...how would we respond if we were called in by management, confronting us about our attitude, saying they know we've been talking negative about management?  Would we run to the union, or co-workers ...and talk more about management?  Or would we admit we are wrong, apologize to them, and take a hard inward look at ourselves?

I think a large number of us would develop more angst if confronted ...and feel even more negative towards those who confronted us.

Most countries which have very little freedom of choice, and virtually no freedom of speech or expression ...these common people are left with their own free (rather insignificant) thoughts ...and as long as those thoughts are not publicly expressed, they are essentially not known, and not a known threat to the dictatorship. 

Other countries with little valuable resources, living in poverty, and plagued by diseases ...sadly often do not get the attention, and few organizations are available to send food and medical supplies.  These people face a low life expectancy.  And with few expectations among these downtrodden, there are also few disappointments ...and general hopelessness is nearly inescapable.  They cry out in a voice that no one outside their village hears, and they feel no one wants to hear. 

What do they think of their condition??

Yes, what do they think ...and what do you think???

Certainly, I know a parent can love a child, and emotionally commit to feeling that everything they have is also their son's. And within this relationship, there is total freedom, and nothing is withheld.

The son gets a few broken bones at a very young age because of doing things he wasn't told not to do, but the parent has the best medical insurance and his doctor freely prescribes pain medication (which the son later becomes addicted to).

Okay, I made the child a son ...how about we give him a name now.  Let's call him ...Rich.

As Rich goes out into the world, he assumes the world is just one big 'giving' place.  And because he is a bit impulsive and forgetful, Rich doesn't bring any money with him. He reasons that because there are hundreds of shoes in the store, it would not matter if he takes his favorite kind of tennis shoes ...so he does.  His other tennis shoes were getting a bit dirty ...because he's been wearing them for a couple weeks now.

It so happens that one of his friends is with him when he steals the shoes, and the friend is surprised how slick Rich is and how he gets away with it.

Rich's friend tells the story, and the story gets around ...though it doesn't get around to any of the parents. Rich's friends are not rich (and some are rather poor), but the poor friends are easily convinced by Rich that the man who owns the store is also rich, so it doesn't matter.

The following week, thirty kids (all Rich's age, in their late teens) participate in a flash mob-style mass looting of the shoe store ...each getting away with as many pairs of shoes as they can carry, and going in different directions after departing the store. The police don't get there nearly in time to catch anyone.

The only two kids caught are caught by their alert parents, as the parents know they couldn't afford the shoes.  Those sons have to return the shoes, and they face pending consequences from the justice system.

So much for guilt, or lack of it.

But, let's just reason it out.  What is better ...having everything freely, or having limitations??

Well, let's ask Rich's parents.

This time Rich's dad is the one who provides insight:

"My own dad was born with money, and we were by far the richest family in school, but many of my classmates had more, and nicer things than I had.  It was well-known that we were filthy rich ...and it would bother me when my classmates would ask me why my parents didn't buy me nicer things. But, what really hurt was when they would boldly ask, as if they already knew the answer, whether my parents actually loved me.  And at that point, I knew that if I ever had a family, my wife and children would know I loved them."

What do we think about this??  Certainly people in some of the poorest areas of the world know they are loved.  So, a person can feel blessed in many areas other than monetary wealth. And a person can be unappreciative of what they do have. I imagine that God and the angels could provide much insight and would have something to say on this subject.

 

Didn't watch the 1966 movie, but the title could fit the definition of 'guilt' ...as there's 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly'. And it will follow a 'man with no name', as it names itself, 'Guilt'.

Guilt works differently with different people.  And it definitely depends upon the magnitude of the offense, or the perception of it ...if one even exists.  

Sadly, some people are taught to feel guilt, while others use it to deflect guilt from another person onto themselves. Still others will in no way face guilt, and will readily direct it towards others.  These forms of guilt go way beyond the simple fact that we are all guilty of something.  But, these types of guilt seldom find a pathway towards healing.  And that can be 'ugly'.


Guilt can fester, or it can be relegated to the ranks of mostly being forgotten.

If guilt is not associated with a criminal offense, then why must one carry it with them throughout a life plagued with struggles?? That can be very 'bad'.

Discussing, or acknowledging what has happened can allow for an exchange of love and forgiveness ...and this type of love can also exist in the absence of full admission of the offense.

If a criminal offense takes place, and it is not dealt with, what happens??  Well, too often the person can continue to go in the direction of the offense, and may even get worse.  The person's conscience can become seared if they refuse to deal with what they truly know is wrong.  Most cases are more severe than jaywalking, and they almost always involve other people. So, the recipients of the offense should have some confidence that what is being addressed will be dealt with and there will be some correction and possible healing.

If there is no correction, then healing is difficult ...and the person who got away with doing something wrong without any consequences, may find it more difficult to change if they are labeled as a 'bad' person.  And the legal system has done no one any benefit in this case.

Of course, the severity of the offense should have much to do with the course of action following the act.

How and when to meter out consequences is often not a clear decision.  If a child takes an extra cookie out of the cookie jar, it is usually not a big thing. But, if the child is explicitly told they are not allowed to take any cookies from the jar, then how can it be ignored if they do.  Certainly, the family is supposed to serve some function of learning.  A child should never get the impression, or be taught that rules are meant to be broken.

But, as is often said, "The punishment must fit the crime."

Your child should not be kicked out of the family for any degree of offense, whether it be one cookie, or ten. (That's not just how the cookie crumbles.  And it is critical to the survival of the family and preservation of values in general.)

And if your son gets of a certain age where he is stealing cars instead of cookies, he will likely have to face criminal proceedings, and also will probably have to serve some specified length of time outside the home.  But, though your son may be physically taken from you ...he should never be taken from your heart.   You should make it clear that he is always a part of your family.  (Girls can get into trouble too, but I am already too wordy, and I am saying 'boys' and 'sons' to shorten this by at least a few letters.) 

But, most occasions do not reach this level.  Most of the hurt usually is because of unkind words, or misunderstood words. At some or another, all of us are guilty of this ...and often frequently guilty of this.  Saying we are 'sorry', thoughtfully and calmly discussing it, and forgiving one another ...this is a way to not allow guilt or anxiety to fester.  And the guilt leading to healing and forgiveness is a 'good' guilt.

Well, there we have it ---nothing like the movie, I'm sure, and in reverse order ---but, saving the best for last, the ugly, the bad, and the good.  And the good does have a Name, as we address each other ...and do it out of love, in the Name of Jesus.

Some people ask why we weren't all created with a happy and content mindset.

 Would we want to be a happy robot ...after all, couldn't we be programmed to not have the thoughts that drag us down??

Couldn't we be programmed not to look at ourselves as being inferior, nor looking at others as inferiors??  We could be programmed not to compare, not to have expectations, and therefore not to be disappointed.  We would have no desires, we would never get sick or go hungry, and we would feel no pain.  We could actually be trained to do tasks, and in a way we could be servants or slaves to who created us. 

Could that actually be called true happiness???

I think not.

Could a robot be our best friend??  The impersonal part of having a robot to serve me ...well, it does not really serve my needs.  I desire real friendship.

Doesn't God desire the same?? 

God is in need of nothing, so why does He desire a friendship with us??

It's called ...love. 

As we pretend to reach new intellectual levels, we are giving up some of that love.  We are often looking for reasons, when He gave reason enough ...by His crucifixion.

Jesus didn't just give us hope, He gave us direction ...and He provided eternity for us.  And I look forward to the place God has prepared, as I know it will be managed, not intellectually, but by the heart.  

Again, I contend that an actual inferior 'Being' may desire a robot ...yet, a superior 'Being' could create everything to function on its own without needing a robot to do it.  Or to phrase it differently, the superior 'Being' would be in need of nothing.

Why would happiness even have to be a concept??  Everything could just be boredom sprinkled with random and meaningless blips, only serving as nonpurposeful acts. 

But, does the fact that we have feelings and emotions prove that feelings and emotions exist??  After all, feelings and emotions aren't knee jerk reactions.  And just because we often search in the wrong areas and in the wrong ways for happiness ...does not mean that happiness doesn't exist.

Yes, we also very often really mess up the definition of love too ...but, that doesn't mean that love doesn't exist.

How do we define love???

The dictionary defines love in many ways, but a common one is 'deep affection'.

One definition of affection is a gentle feeling of fondness or liking.  Too bad we move too far from the concept of fondness and liking when we say deep affection.

With deep affection, we often say we are deeply affected ...perhaps unable to sleep much, restless, and driven more & more with desires expressed through words like: "From the moment I first set eyes upon you, I felt I loved you. When you spoke those kind words to me, I was certain we were meant for each other. And the first time our lips touched, I knew I couldn't live without you." 

Perhaps that person feels they can't contain their feelings of love, but I contend that is not love in its truest form.

Certainly, love cannot contain itself ...but, that which I am thinking of, well, it's not just the passion that is expressed from the lips of a romantic sweet talker. Yes, those words are powerful ...as you listen to her kind and gentle voice.  And as she is speaking those kind words, perhaps your cheeks touch ...your lips touch, and then she caresses your wallet from you.

No, I don't believe 'love at first sight' is love. And if a person says they love everybody, that does not mean they wish to spend a romantic evening with one person, then with another person the following night. Well, they could mean that ...but, they shouldn't.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I was not planning for what thoughts were going to come into my head, but as they did, I felt I should write them down, opposed to losing them ...then later deciding if they were relevant, and how I might use them, or perhaps preferably lose them.  This is called 'discretion' ...as all thoughts are not good thoughts.  

What my mind understands, or where it goes which may be difficult to understand, is even more difficult to express.  But, all that jumping around with the previous points was really meant to go along with what I am trying to organize now.  But, though it will not be easy ...this next part is supposed to be what all this was leading to. 

I think a lot about God ...and this came to me this way, which is not entirely new, though it seemed to fit together better.  My hope is that I can communicate it slightly better than I have in previous times.

I don't know if I should call them parallels ...because I don't know if they are.  They just seem that way as they came into my head, and I will try to communicate it the best I can, for whatever it's worth.  But, I believe that any beauty seen in God's Creation is well worth the heartfelt feeling of His awesomeness.  I may not view everything accurately, but I do view His altogether awesomeness, even if I get details wrong.  I don't get His awesomeness wrong.

I spoke of freedom.  We have the freedom to think. Yet, as thinking humans, we will choose what we believe from a diverse assortment of presentations of truth.  Whether we call it a privilege to choose (because some nations don't offer such an assortment), or whether we consider it a responsibility to make wise personal decisions based upon what we feel is best among those presented options.

When I spoke of comparisons, I thought about Cain ...and how God knew where his attitude would lead.  It may seem that God used a comparison that Cain was not too fond of.  Yet, only God knows where Cain was heading.

When I worked in the prison, I carpooled with Bill, who said he worked with a guy who said he wanted to be more like Bill ...more easy going, more polite, and not cursing at people who made life more difficult.  Why did he feel that way?? Bill was not the kind of friend who would point out character flaws, or confront someone about their behavior ...so, why did he say that to Bill??  Is it possible that God was touching his heart, and showing him the example of Bill??  I don't know, but I do know the Bible says God pointed out the example of Abel.

Is it wrong to have role models??  Should we dislike those who are setting good examples??  Or are good examples helpful, as we can see someone doing good, and realize we can do good too??  I really depends upon the character of the person who perceives those setting an example ...doesn't it??

**************************

Let me do a reset ...and let's focus on this:   God's righteousness.

We speak of God as being omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent ...and only God has those traits, but let me focus on two parts of God's awesome character.  Let's look at God's love & His righteousness. 

I've already mentioned a bit about love, but now it's about righteousness ...which is really inseparable from love, with God. We humans separate it at times, but not so with God.

I've heard so many people say that things they've read about in the Bible are not fair or just ...and since I believe in the Bible, they say my belief is based upon things that are not good.

Let me go over this again, for us to have love, there has to be freedom of choice. But, with freedom of choice ...we see things that are very good, and we see things that are very bad. So, for those who feel God is not fair or just ...I'd like to ask, "Would it be fair to let the very bad go on & on & on & on???"

So, then it is asked, "Why doesn't God stop it?"

Well, if God took away all the bad, since we all have occasion to be not always that good ...then in God's righteousness, we'd all have to be excluded from His grace. 

But, within His love, there had to be a fair and righteous way to extend His grace without changing our condition of free-acting human beings, and at the same time not expect all of us have to continue for eternity bombarded with evil influences ...which is a condition we would want to be spared, or saved from.  This hope of being saved from this unwelcome and undesirable bombardment is what many of us call 'salvation'.

How is this fair and righteous 'way' to extend grace made available to us in such a discretionary manner??  That Way is Jesus.

I've heard some people ask why the angels can't have opportunity to repent, and change their mind ...why do we have so many opportunities to turn to God, but the angels are already determined for eternity.

Yes, we all are eternal 'beings' ...just not in this state that we're now in.  And I would say it was not just a one chance decision that a third of the angels turned against God.  There had to be much convincing and coercion ...a very deep commitment to go all in for the plan to oppose God.

And sadly, today many people seem also 'all in' for opposing God.  In John 20:29, Jesus said, " ...blessed are they who have not seen, and yet do believe."   And yet, we have an entire record of God's purpose for us beginning with Adam & Eve, and even a future goal that Jesus gave to His disciples, to go into the whole world and spread the Gospel.

We can see God's fairness of treatment.  The angels with God, a third kicked out for going against God ...and Adam & Eve sent from the paradise provided for them because they went against God. 

Adam & Eve were tricked ...the serpent lying about God and His motives ...and it seems humans had not developed a full relationship with God, understanding and knowing Him (that was yet to come, in increments ---similar to how a child learns ---and it can come to each of us by reading the Bible, though we should never feel we are unable to improve on our relationship with Him). 

The angels had full knowledge and clear relationship with God, is my guess.  And it must have taken more than a passing notion to commit to abandoning that relationship.

Those of you who feel you don't have a relationship with God, my recommendation is that you read the Bible to find out the kind of relationship others had ...and decide whether you want that relationship too.  

But, in reading the Bible, you are not doing yourself any favors by cherry-picking ...or focusing on negative comments others have made to fog your understanding.

Remember ...there was one who wanted to fog Eve's understanding, by telling her not only that something she was told was not true, but also by telling her that the reason she wasn't told the truth was because she was being deceived for the reason of intentionally withholding something from her ...something she was led to believe she could rightly have.

Providing a statement coupled with the implications of an ulterior motive, packaged doubt in a very clever and deceptive form ...hinting towards a reason to question not only the previous truth, but also making a mockery of a love that was believed as true and now being revealed as laughable.

Being put in a position of being laughed at for what one holds dear, especially when the object of affection appears to be part of the deception ---and that object of affection is not an object, but a person ---well, that doesn't bode well for the person.

And this was known ...so, it was no small thing to lie, to bring about this breach of emotions.  The result was a sad experience of having to learn who to trust, and who not to.

I can very confidently say, we have an advantage ...as we can read all about this, and learn.  We can know more who to trust. And I trust the Bible as the Word of God to us, providing a very adequate understanding of who He is ...and contend we all let ourselves be vulnerable, to ultimately trust the One who allowed Himself to be vulnerable in loving us to the extent of suffering a horrific crucifixion for that cause of love.

If you want to tell a friend or family member that you love them ...don't wait.  Tell them now.  It may be misunderstood if you tell a stranger that you love them ...or someone you feel may be 'crushing' on you, but you can tell them Jesus loves them (and you can be kind to them).

If you want to be with God for eternity ...also, "Don't wait!"

Accept Him now ...yes, if you want to be with Him for eternity, why wouldn't you also want to be with Him now???