Friday
Feb092007
HEAVEN
A lonely place heaven will be
With only sanctioned Christians there.
I've tried but can not make them see
That it's restrictive; they don't care.
We must believe what they believe
Or we can't open heaven's gate;
And with this view, on earth they leave
Another reason we can hate.
It's sinful to divide us so;
Of that there is no room for doubt.
It leaves most with no place to go;
And with gates closed, is God shut out?
Friday, February 9, 2007 at 10:28PM
Reader Comments (30)
Heaven is not a restrictive place it is open to all who confuse Jesus as Lord and Savior.
God loves you just as he loves me. It is up to YOU to accept his love. It is your decision no one else can decide for you.
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You have placed a condition on the concept. You have just made it restrictive.....again. Doug.E.Barr
Enlightenment doesn't come easy. If Jesus was alive today he would only want of us to love one another regardless of religious beliefs. If he saw the terrors and brutality that were committed in his name, he would weep. To follow too closely the rules and practices of any religion opens us up to even the teachings of terrorism and class division, and oppression. To become spiritual means to love and accept all mankind as God's creation. That is the difference between spirituality and religion.
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Your thoughts are the beginning of a good conversation. I suggest enlightenment doesn't have to come. We are surrounded by it. We don't see it though because we are terrified of opening our eyes. My impression of Jesus is that he would not want us to have any religious/philosophical beliefs. "To follow...the rules and practices of any religion opens us up to even the teachings of terrorism and class division, and oppression." Although "spirit" is an element in the common human nature that I see, I never use the word "spirituality" or any derivatives. In my mind "spirituality" is just religion lite. Doug.E.Barr
i like the poem
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I like your comment. Doug.E.Barr
"To follow too closely the rules and practices of any religion opens us up to even the teachings of terrorism and class division, and oppression." Thanks for highlighting it Doug. Most rules and practices are designed to teach us how to treat each other, it's wo/man that have corrupted many of them. Even tho commandments like,"honour thy mother and thy father" can be misinterpreted to cause harm, that is not thier intent. Even great works of art that have little to do with religion opens us up to violent acts. I think the poem challanges us to think: God loves you and accepts you even if you cant accept him/her, through the exclusionary practices of organized religion.
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You have generated two questions. If "To follow too closely the rules and practices of any religion opens us up to even the teachings of terrorism and class division, and oppression.", why follow them at all? Then if "God loves you and accepts you even if you cant accept him/her, through the exclusionary practices of organized religion." why complicate God's love with religion? Doug.E.Barr
God is love.
We Christians are told that the door to heaven is opened through Jesus Christ. He said in the Bible that He is the only way.
I did not create the door to Heaven - God did. If we believe in Him we will go to His special place.
I do not want to take a chance and try a different door. It can be a bad eternal decision. This is forever!
God allows us to have a free will and make choices. He will not force you to go to heaven and He will not force you to go to hell. We cannot see Love but we can feel it and we know it is there. We cannot see hate but we can feel it and we know it is there.
God is Love. I know Jesus is the way - I cannot speak for the others that say they are God - I hope the others all make it to heaven
- I hope all deserving people make it but then please remember that I am not the one who
makes rules.
God Bless You!
John Michael
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Like the adherents of all religions "(You) Christians are told ..." all the answers before you are able to ask any of the questions. You are wrong to think God created "the door to Heaven." If you Google "Fathers of Christianity" and begin to read you will find one of them not only created the "door to Heaven" but the entire structure as well. My guess is it was Augustine. He was the most prolific of the almost 70 'fathers' to pass his Christian memes to succeeding generations.
It seems by nature we are supposed to have the freedom to "reach out the limits of our capacities, to others and to God" but we are restricted by our unnatural reactions to the void. Among the religious/philosophical reactions we can choose is Christianity but once we make that choice our mind is locked up except for the freedom to choose for example, what to have for breakfast. You Christians reach out to others with your Bible in hand only to show them "the way"; and you don't have to reach out to God because you have God locked up with you in the structure of heaven.
Although you didn't make the rules you make sure they are upheld and thus you help ensure those you arrest continue to whither and die in the confines of heaven with all the other "deserving people". Doug.E.Barr
We divide ourselves when we either choose or deny His existance, love, and amazing gift of life. The problem is not the rules one must be restricted by but the sin that I (and you) murdered Jesus with. His life is something He gave freely and with more love than I can ever imagine. I will pray that you discover that love someday because until that moment you will not write with happiness.
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You say,"We divide ourselves when we either choose or deny His existance, love, and amazing gift of life." Precisely, so I ask you why create the situation where we have to "either choose or deny" and thus "divide ourselves". It doesn't make sense. Your second sentence is complete nonsense and your third sentence is evangelical hyperbole. Finally, to assume I cannot be happy outside your belief system is typically extreme Christian arrogance. Save you prayers for yourself and pray for the understanding that brings with it freedom and happiness you can only now imagine. Doug.E.Barr
Thank you John Michael I liked what you had to say. And to every one else their is no door to heaven. Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life no one goes to the father except by me." Truth is truth weather you believe it or not. And Jesus Loves you weather or not you love Him.
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Your words are stones that maintain a wall that divides humanity. They are vacuous theories reverberating in an empty mind. Doug.E.Barr
READ YOUR BIBLE ! It sounds to me, that you do not believe. I feel sorry for you if you are really as arrogant as you sound in your other remarks to people. JESUS is LORD ! And it is not about religion. Jesus said that he would come back for his CHURCH, which consists of all people who believe in HIM ! Not just a particular group or clan that call themselves religious. CHRISTIANS ARE CHRISTIANS regardless of their denominations. The sooner we all learn that the only way we can make it to HEAVEN is by following the BIBLE the better off we will all be. Our day is coming sooner that we may think.
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I read life. It's simple. The Bible complicates life unnecessarily. I love your email address but "talksalotwithoutthinking" would be more appropriate. Doug.E.Barr
this is a very sweet song and that we shouldnt be afraid to leave this world to be with our family and loved ones just like me i want to see my brother he was killed on an oil rig
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I am sorry to hear your brother was killed on an oil rig but you shouldn't be getting any more confidence from what I have written. Doug.E.Barr
HOW DARE YOU?! Gods' love is free to everyone and Jesus died for our sins obviously you know I HATE THIS POEM.
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Your hatred is obvious. Doug.E.Barr
GOD LOVES U AND HE LOVES EVERYONE IN THE WORLD!! THE PERSON WHO WROTE THIS POEM NEEDS TO GET STRAIT WITH GOD HE IS THE ONLY WAY U WILL GET INTO HEAVENS GATES!!! I WANT TO LET THE PEOPLE WHO LIKE THIS POEM KNOW I AM PRAYING FOR U CAUSE I DO NOT SEE HOW ONE COULD NOT BELIEVE IN GOD!! I MEAN LOOK AT THE TREES THE FLOWERS LOOK AT EVERYTHING, NOW TELL ME THAT U DONT BELIEVE IN GOD!! HE IS NUMBER ONE IN MY LIFE AND ALWAYS WILL BE!! THINK ABOUT IT AND READ YOUR BIBLE CAUSE GOD IS AWSOME!! I HOPE TO SEE U IN HEAVEN WITH ME AND GOD AND ALL OTHER CHRISTIANS ONE DAY TOO!! I AM PRAYING FOR U AND GOD BLESS U!!!!!!
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I wrote this poem. You are an embarrassment to God and one of the reasons heaven will be a lonely place. Doug.E.Barr
YOU ARE A CORRUPTED. WILL YOU ANSWER THIS ONE QUESTION? HOW DO YOU THINK YOU EVEN CAME TO BE OF THIS WORLD? DO YOU THINK THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FROM NOW AND ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME, JUST APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE? BECAUSE THAT SIR,I'M GLAD TO LET YOU KNOW, DIDN'T HAPPEN. IT WAS THE GOOD LORD THAT CREATED YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE AROUND YOU. YOUR FAMILY DID NOT JUST HAPPEN TO APPEAR HERE .I'M SORRY TO BURST YOUR LITTLE BUBBLE.BUT THAT SIR, IS JUST THE FACTS. I CAN TELL THAT YOUR LIFE IS MISERABLE. THAT YOU LIVE A SAD LIFE. AND THAT MAYBE YOU BLAME THE LORD FOR THE BAD IN YOUR LIFE, BUT THE BAD IN YOUR LIFE CAME FROM MAYBE BAD DECISIONS OR BAD GENES. REGARDLESS HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT HTE LORD. HE WILL ALWAYS TRY TO DO SOMTHING TO OPEN YOUR EYES TO SEE HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU AND HOW REAL HE IS. I WISH YOU DID KNOW HIM LIKE SOME OF US DO. HE IS AWSOME. AND YES, REGARDLESS WHAT YOU SAY I WILL PRAY FOR YOU AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU. HOPEFULLY YOU AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU WILL ONE DAY BELIEVE BEFORE IT'S TO LATE.
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This is one of 16 comments Crystal left. If you are interested in my general response to all of them you can read it here. Doug.E.Barr
To all Christian Brothers and sisters who had the courage to take a stand for Jesus. It is obvious this man does not have a clue about what he is messing with. The grace of God. It is by God's grace that he was even able to finish writing his poem. Maybe he / they will call my words hatred, God knows my heart. There is no hatred at all. I just want Doug to understand that God is not mocked. If one day, by grace he got saved, he will tremble and will be grateful to God that He didn't let His hands of Justice correct that man. Then, he will understand God's love because of His mercy.
Ps 139 tells us that before the word even come to our thoughts God knew about it. The good attitude to have about that is to pray for him. We Christians should be praying for Doug. E. Barr and not arguing with him. He doesn't know that some day he certainly will be showing up before The God that he wrote about. It will be then too late, not only for him but for all non believers along with those who agree with him.
They obviously confuse the LOVE of GOD which is pure with what they call love. We christians are better off at the Lord's feet interceding for them. It is the JOB OF THE HOLY SPIRIT to convince them. I will pray for you Doug. E. Barr, so that the Spirit of God enlighten you.
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Initially I thought I should delete this holy crap but decided to leave it so that anyone else who reads it will understand why the numbers of Christians is quickly approaching zero. It is too late to pray for my enlightenment. I have already been enlightened. That is indeed fortunate for you because you can use the prayers you were going to say for me to pray that God will turn your light on. You need them. These words of yours came from a totally dark place. Doug.E.Barr
Ok... first of all I really like this poem...but it seems to sad....
and of course every one gets a second chance so ....! yeah
i love it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
u need to shut the hell up cuz ima christian ok??
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lol Just stop reading again and you won't be bothered by what anyone writes. Doug.E.Barr
WOW! its like eight in the morning. & i was searching poems to give me some hope on an a relationship problem. . . i come across this poem & Im amazed at childish comments you are getting Honestly im only 16 & i didnt grow in a religious family I actuallyfoung god in a detention center ( Jail ) & i was browsing through these comments being left on your page & the people taking time out of their life to try to make you belive the way they belive is crazy because the way i see it is plain and simple if you accept jesus into your heart speak and act on the thing he does for you insted of worrying about people who dont belive the same way you do just a lil advice for those people leaving rude comments take it or leave it like i said im 16 & i dont know much i would say for you to spend more time in th word & less time on the computer. . . other than that i like your poems : ) have a nice day Jessica R. Currier
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Had you left out "i would say for you to spend more time in th word and less time on the computer..." I would have judged your comment acceptable, especially, "other than that i like your poems :)." The sentence you should have omitted displays a growing, annoying, unacceptable Christian self-rightness. Doug.E.Barr
I can't decide which I like more: the poem or your retorts to the hateful comments.
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They are like children. You shouldn't be choosing which you like best. I appreciate your comment. Doug.E.Barr.