Recently read a post which questioned why God would feel a need to create. Love is something that most all of us relate to in some form or another, but which none of us fully understand. 

If we are hurt or have suffered, we may understand more or we may understand less ....depending on the nature of the hurt, the depth of it, and how long we've had to endure.   But it has mostly to do with our relationship with the One who knows all about our hurt.  

For those who believe in God, most would equate God to love. The confusion begins through our understanding of that. True love cannot contain itself ...as it does not exist without the sharing of it.  It must spread and grow to even continue to exist.  To say that 'any' are not in need of love, does not really address love.  It is not whether it is needed, welcomed, or accepted. I think that the beginning is just acknowledgment.   

And of course, love doesn't exist without freedom of choice.  To say we love ice cream ...it has no potential to love us back, even if it melts in our arms. So love also has a reciprocal nature.  

So, in creating the opportunity, it has to be inclusive of the opportunity of choice. I believe that God's package includes two inseparables ...love and choice.  

I prefer to believe that God did not create evil. Evil is the fruition of valuing self, while disregarding others ...of turning from God, ignoring His wisdom and guidance. It comes in many forms, but it is turning and moving away from God.  If something is hot, it is not cold; and if something is in the light, it is not in the dark ...unless, of course, you are to close your eyes.                                   (I will have to get back to this, as I don't want to push my brain too hard ...and perhaps it would be more wise to relax and allow quiet reflecting, so His wisdom is not shut out of my brain by my own random thoughts on the subject.)

There is so much I don't understand ...and when one thought enters my head, I lose it when another thought enters ...many of which are merely too deep to comprehend.  So I write them down, as not to lose the first, but which bogs down (or blogs down) the next by writing down the first, preventing the second thoughts from registering.  All the while, I'm trying not to have second thoughts about posting any of these random thoughts.  (Though a blog does offer editing, without the potential regrets associated with things more difficult to correct.)

I am home alone, and I began by getting myself a snack, then doing some snow shoveling ...but there wasn't much snow (and I never hope to snow anyone) so, as if that was insufficient exercise, I did some push-ups.   Then I got on this computer, and used this venue to attempt to encourage someone ...but more honestly, to attempt to connect with someone through my own desire to do so.

Back to what I understand, but not really ...I do know that God is three Persons, all in One ...the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.   They are the same, yet different, while being equal.

I know there is no departure through/in character, but there have been mentioned distinctions which I don't really comprehend. I do know we were asked by the Son, to pray to the Father. And another moment, while speaking of the "last days", the Son, Jesus, said that the day and the hour, not even He knows, only the Father knows.  God knows everything, yet that one thing Jesus said He didn't know. So that brings me to thoughts of what the three Persons' relationship with each other was ...and is.  

The "was" aspect of it, brings me back to imagine before creation as we know it. It's in the area of what we don't know ...about the creation of the angels. There was a relationship of the three Persons of God; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   Being all fully God, how can there be anything added to what is fully complete? I don't really know!

"I don't really know!" is an acceptable answer, but I'm not really satisfied with it, if I'm passionate about talking with someone about something that is important to me.   The things I often know are the things God has me experience in this life, the things He has set up ...relationship-wise.  The specifics I often don't know, but that involves growth with trusting what we do know, and building on that. 

I am a dad.  And I have a defined relationship ...defined by and arranged by God.   And I know God is having me experience things ...for a reason.

I know if my son came to me and said he wanted to bring another living thing into our home, I'd have to think about it.  And I'd probably insist that if I approved of it, he'd have to take full responsibility (now if my daughter said she wanted to bring another living thing into our home, well, I think I know my daughters and that this circumstance wouldn't happen, but just suppose it did ....I would not hesitate, of course, I would agree to this with open arms), but looking at the likelihood of my sons wanting to extend love and companionship, I'd hope that is what it would be ...and I'd prefer a spaniel to a pit bull.  

I know the purpose and magnitude is nothing to compare with, but Jesus did take full responsibility for what He brought forth, and died for us.

Let's go back to being home alone.  I'm not being as challenged as the character in the movie "Home Alone".  I'm thinking what it would be like for God ....I know, a silly thing for me to do, with my miniscule brain, but I'm doing it anyway. 

I mentioned that I merely got myself a snack ...seeing no lesson there, as I very well agree that God doesn't need a snack, yet I guess I don't either.  I then shoveled the driveway, and did some exercising to keep in shape ....any lesson there escapes me, as God is all-powerful and wouldn't spend needless moments with that.  I guess what I've learned here, is that I'm very much not like God, and what occupies my time is so trivial ...yet, God wants to occupy time in my life, and that is not trivial.

The last thing I did, I'm doing now ...yet just trying to do more thoroughly.  I got on the computer to share something.  The computer was not whom I wanted to spend time with ...I wanted to reach out to another person.

So, I'm thinking, before the creation ...the creation we read about in the first chapter of Genesis, in the Bible, that there were three Persons, all One. Somehow I'm thinking the simple phrase, "The more, the merrier" is significantly inadequate, but there were some very powerful "beings" created, that joined the celebration of creation ...by singing.   Looking at the creation of angels, in comparison to our creation, it appears that the concept of having "less" brings a significant contrast to the appreciation of many of those having much more.   Yet, in understanding that, so much more is understood in the way of love ...which is measured unlike anything else is measured.

Of course, all this would make no sense if we don't also include free choice and righteousness ...both of which are, in many areas, often being skewed, and not represented for what they are.   But that is a whole other subject.   As for the other, it sounds like a riddle:  How can you have more, by having less?

But you can!!   In the end, we have so much more!!!


Okay, last night my wife and I were talking about some of this stuff, and the "free choice" and "righteousness" aspect was at center stage.  Most people like free choice, but perhaps aren't so fond of the righteousness thing ...and there is some problem with self-righteousness, though it is highly overstated and often misstated as a favorite comeback purposed to put a closer on the subject.  The righteousness aspect is so often misunderstood.  Let's begin with the greater misunderstanding:

An evolutionist does not believe in the account of Creation.   As I look up to the skies, in awe of God's creation, an evolutionist would look at it as a nursery of stars being born ...and somehow imagining that in our vast universe evolution has already brought about life somewhere else, and will continue to bring about life throughout the universe.

I also look at the universe like a nursery ...but in a much different way.  Sure, it is ever changing, but I look to what doesn't change too.  I see it as God having prepared our room, for the birth of man and woman, that six-day Creation account in the Book of Genesis.  

I went to college and I studied evolution, and I enjoyed it ...and believed in it.  I also believed in God ...but I didn't think of both at the same time, so no initial conflict.  I wasn't looking for the Bible to disprove evolution ...I got so interested in evolution that I delved into it, until it disproved itself. There are many scientists, much more knowledgeable than myself who have done this same thing, and now believe in a Creator.

When my wife and I had children, it was not just a thing that happened.  We both thought about it and dreamed about it before she conceived.  And in those thoughts we could see an extensive picture, conceptualizing through conception to a wonderful baby, and loving that child as the child grew. Of course we knew of the independent nature and free spirit. Our hope was that after giving the child all we could, that our child would freely choose to love us in return.

As the child grows up and becomes more like us, the freedom of choice gets greater ...and our voiced expectations become less, though in our hearts we don't want them to love us less, we just want them to have the opportunity to have the love that we have, and be free to love us too.

Now, imagine if those first steps of development were skipped, like they are with some other creatures ...like, let's say, the turtles.  Turtles are created to be born rather independent, like a much smaller version of the adult. The baby has relatively all that it needs, with no real knowledge of what relative is, or who its relatives are.  They don't know how they came about, and when they are born, they are expected to find their way ...and are fully equipped to do so.

Okay, why am I suddenly seemingly obsessed with this reptilian wonder?  I'm not!  I was merely trying to make a point, by contrast, and probably failed on almost all points ...though you'd probably have to admit to my originality, which in this case may be difficult to own up to ...comparing angels to turtles.

Let's start over, by saying that most creatures know who their parents are. I've heard that turtles do not.   Point made!!

The greater distinction should be drawn between those who are created, who have extensive knowledge of their Creator, that knowledge increasing with a developing relationship that was initiated by their Creator ...our Creator.

The angels were created by God with recognition of who He is, and with the opportunity to be fully in His presence. But some of them imagined what it would be like to be like Him ...and in entertaining those thoughts, they only became more unlike Him.

It's important that we strive to be who we are supposed to be, not who someone else is ...and in the case of their Creator, some angels joined the attempt to take His role.

It must be clear that God does not have a role, as we see roles.  He is who He is. Whenever we understand a certain aspect of Him, we learn "of" Him, of His character; but as we are to have aspirations, it is in learning ...and with the most benefit to learn to understand our purpose, while not fully understanding the particulars.   The main vision should be clear.

When the angels who departed from their purpose tried to take on a role that wasn't good for the whole ...it created a toll.

I'm not comparing you to a turtle either, but try not to pull your head back into a shell; try to hear me out.  And don't have such a grizzly attitude toward what I say; just bear with me. It is said that we are not to despise correction ...and it is especially detrimental to distort that which is correct. It is incorrect to say there is only good in everyone.  I'd say there is some good in everyone ...but however we classify it, it is not mere comfort to attempt to define it, qualify it, or quantify it.  We should perhaps ask why the good is there?  Life is mostly a direction.  And it's who we follow. Certain things lead to other things, which all add to direction.

When I was young, my dad would take me hunting. At times I ended up getting lost in a thick swamp. My dad would come looking for me. I often didn't like the direction he was leading me, but I knew he knew the way out. I could have blamed him for getting lost in the swamp, since he was the one who took me out there in the first place. But at the end of the day, I'd get home, get some clean clothes, and be able to live in comfort and peace.

So the direction may help us, but the most important choice is in who we follow.  If we merely trust who we are to follow, we will see that the price of our journey has been taken care of ...because none of us could afford the high cost of the best place to go.  Who wouldn't want the best place?  And we wouldn't be exploring options if we understood that there is only one good place.  Don't invest your life in something that doesn't exist.  

Of course, that is the same argument that is given by the con artist. Sort of leaves you in a quandary, doesn't it?  It really shouldn't!  It should be quite clear, and you should feel peace about it. Let your emotions go in the right direction.