Comments on: An Open Letter to Crosswalk.com’s Atheist Hacker http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/ Trying God's patience since 1958 Tue, 22 May 2012 10:25:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Mike http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/comment-page-2/#comment-6510 Mike Sat, 17 May 2008 04:42:38 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/#comment-6510 Perhaps something better for you, that may enable you to communicate to a lending ear of atheists... I named this, "A Prayer to Myself" A Prayer to Myself There is no God. I am my own God. I am God. And no one or anything can make my soul feel different. I have tried over and over again to make my own soul think otherwise, and subject myself to what people think God is. And although I know there really is a God, God cannot and will not control my fate. God has no earthly command over me. I will accept God on my own terms, and I will take my own life and choose rather or not to make God my enemy or my friend. For most people, God is something taught and conjured up in their own minds, limited to only what they can only understand - a comfort for themselves in times of despair. I prefer to accept that in times of despair, God is not around for me. I believe it is me, and only me that must bleed. And although I believe that God does exist, and although I believe I am my own God, I know there are children dying of starvation every day on the same planet that I swallow the fate of my actions and reactions…God has the power to take my life from me, but as long as I awake in the morning, God cannot and will not control my life. I will. I will control my brain and my body. I will force myself to think before I act. I will remind myself that the pleasures of life are not cheap and free, and that the pleasures of life must be earned. I will push the limitations of what I think is the potential of myself. And if I do not bleed from myself pushing the limitations of my mortality then I might as well be dead, or never born. Soon after I die, I hope I will have the opportunity to thank God for the life that was granted to me. But I think no one will ever have the opportunity to meet God. Because I think God cannot be understood and is a blade of grass or a moth, or just behind the rolling clouds above you, with deep blue skies with the darkness of space and grandeur behind what we cannot see or understand… and inside the granules of dirt under your feet… Perhaps something better for you, that may enable you to communicate to a lending ear of atheists… I named this, “A Prayer to Myself”

A Prayer to Myself

There is no God. I am my own God. I am God. And no one or anything can make my soul feel different. I have tried over and over again to make my own soul think otherwise, and subject myself to what people think God is. And although I know there really is a God, God cannot and will not control my fate. God has no earthly command over me. I will accept God on my own terms, and I will take my own life and choose rather or not to make God my enemy or my friend. For most people, God is something taught and conjured up in their own minds, limited to only what they can only understand – a comfort for themselves in times of despair. I prefer to accept that in times of despair, God is not around for me. I believe it is me, and only me that must bleed. And although I believe that God does exist, and although I believe I am my own God, I know there are children dying of starvation every day on the same planet that I swallow the fate of my actions and reactions…God has the power to take my life from me, but as long as I awake in the morning, God cannot and will not control my life. I will.

I will control my brain and my body. I will force myself to think before I act. I will remind myself that the pleasures of life are not cheap and free, and that the pleasures of life must be earned. I will push the limitations of what I think is the potential of myself. And if I do not bleed from myself pushing the limitations of my mortality then I might as well be dead, or never born.

Soon after I die, I hope I will have the opportunity to thank God for the life that was granted to me. But I think no one will ever have the opportunity to meet God. Because I think God cannot be understood and is a blade of grass or a moth, or just behind the rolling clouds above you, with deep blue skies with the darkness of space and grandeur behind what we cannot see or understand… and inside the granules of dirt under your feet…

]]> By: Tim http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/comment-page-2/#comment-3876 Tim Sun, 03 Feb 2008 09:48:09 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/#comment-3876 John, Finland is a truly fascinating place. I live here, although I'm American. I teach English to guys who could have easily been the one who hacked Crosswalk. Finland is full of techonerds. It is the most connected country in the world, the home of Nokia. I listened to one of them this week, in a conversation on technical and current issues, discuss how fundamentalism has caused much of the world's woes. I missed the actual hack, though, and the picture. Perhaps I would have recognized the guy! John, Finland is a truly fascinating place. I live here, although I’m American. I teach English to guys who could have easily been the one who hacked Crosswalk. Finland is full of techonerds. It is the most connected country in the world, the home of Nokia.

I listened to one of them this week, in a conversation on technical and current issues, discuss how fundamentalism has caused much of the world’s woes. I missed the actual hack, though, and the picture. Perhaps I would have recognized the guy!

]]> By: Dave http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/comment-page-2/#comment-3234 Dave Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:42:39 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/#comment-3234 Reference #7 The Bible says a LOT of things. Paramount among them, though, to me, is Christ telling me to love my enemies. "Paramount" is Christ's command to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. I think this would include spreading, sharing, living the GOSPEL. Surprisingly, your letter neglected to say anything about the cross, and why Christians are able to love & forgive enemies. Reference #7

The Bible says a LOT of things. Paramount among them, though, to me, is Christ telling me to love my enemies.

"Paramount" is Christ's command to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. I think this would include spreading, sharing, living the GOSPEL. Surprisingly, your letter neglected to say anything about the cross, and why Christians are able to love & forgive enemies.

]]> By: Pati http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/comment-page-2/#comment-3090 Pati Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:00:44 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/#comment-3090 Seems like the enemy knows where to go and found it. Cudo's Crosswalk. You ARE doing the Lord's work. Apparently it is offending some. As for all the negative comments, well, let's just say that Jesus came not to condemn the world. If anything is from God it will encourage and lift up (according to His Word). Thanks for all you do. Seems like the enemy knows where to go and found it. Cudo's Crosswalk. You ARE doing the Lord's work. Apparently it is offending some. As for all the negative comments, well, let's just say that Jesus came not to condemn the world. If anything is from God it will encourage and lift up (according to His Word). Thanks for all you do.

]]> By: New Year’s Resolution #1: Take Over World « Suddenly Christian http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/comment-page-2/#comment-3035 New Year’s Resolution #1: Take Over World « Suddenly Christian Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:07:48 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/#comment-3035 [...] of industry, petty officers of industry, nurses, drug dealers, cops, teachers, Taiwanese mechanics, Finnish computer hackers: everyone in the world gets paid 200K a year. End of [...] [...] of industry, petty officers of industry, nurses, drug dealers, cops, teachers, Taiwanese mechanics, Finnish computer hackers: everyone in the world gets paid 200K a year. End of [...]

]]> By: MLE http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/comment-page-2/#comment-3031 MLE Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:41:04 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/#comment-3031 Thank you for your gracious and kind post to this young man. BTW, I have been praying for him. Religion can brew over a lot of emotions. I am a Christian - and sometimes I get so bubbled over with annoyance at certain cultural aspects that are derivatives from westernized Christianity - I feel like shouting to the rooftops at Christians! God bless you and have a happy new year. Thank you for your gracious and kind post to this young man. BTW, I have been praying for him. Religion can brew over a lot of emotions. I am a Christian – and sometimes I get so bubbled over with annoyance at certain cultural aspects that are derivatives from westernized Christianity – I feel like shouting to the rooftops at Christians!

God bless you and have a happy new year.

]]> By: Missy http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/comment-page-2/#comment-3030 Missy Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:25:20 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/#comment-3030 I think it is a good message to send to others that we are not out "to get them". If the Amish folks who's children were shot could forgive the killer, who are we to not forgive the hacker? Heck, if Jesus is willing to forgive us, who are we to hold a grudge? I think it is a good message to send to others that we are not out "to get them". If the Amish folks who's children were shot could forgive the killer, who are we to not forgive the hacker? Heck, if Jesus is willing to forgive us, who are we to hold a grudge?

]]> By: Robert W. Orians http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/comment-page-2/#comment-3024 Robert W. Orians Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:21:10 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/#comment-3024 Excellent blog Bro. John ! I was not surprised to see the page the self-proclaimed witch and atheist put up on my Crosswalk though . One thing that puzzles me , why do thay hate someone they proclaim doesn't exist , so much ? If God is not real , how can they hate Him so much ? I don't believe that the Easter bunny ever existed ! I can't find in my being any hatred for the critter either . If I did , would that not justify his credibility somewhat ? And to the hacker , when I couldn't find my normal morning devotionals , I just took that time to pray for you that you will see the beauty in the Crucified Lamb of God hanging on that tree for you and for me ! I , who am the most miserable of all God's creatures . I hated Him and He died for me , while I was yet a sinner ! Look at His Beauty ! That wonderful cross ! That precious blood shed for us ! I pray you will be changed like I was . Just say that name one time and you will never be the same . Come on ! Just one time say JESUS ! Excellent blog Bro. John ! I was not surprised to see the page the self-proclaimed witch and atheist put up on my Crosswalk though . One thing that puzzles me , why do thay hate someone they proclaim doesn’t exist , so much ? If God is not real , how can they hate Him so much ? I don’t believe that the Easter bunny ever existed ! I can’t find in my being any hatred for the critter either . If I did , would that not justify his credibility somewhat ? And to the hacker , when I couldn’t find my normal morning devotionals , I just took that time to pray for you that you will see the beauty in the Crucified Lamb of God hanging on that tree for you and for me ! I , who am the most miserable of all God’s creatures . I hated Him and He died for me , while I was yet a sinner ! Look at His Beauty ! That wonderful cross ! That precious blood shed for us ! I pray you will be changed like I was . Just say that name one time and you will never be the same . Come on ! Just one time say JESUS !

]]> By: callith http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/comment-page-2/#comment-3029 callith Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:06:55 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/#comment-3029 An Atheist's response: Hi everyone. I found this blog, and this blog posting through the WordPress.com website. First off, hats of to John, who wrote such a very beautiful (even to an atheist's ears!) letter. No grammatical errors, no spelling errors, beautiful. Merci. Secondly, I need to apologise profusely on behalf of most rational atheists out there.The hacker guy is atypical of the vast majority of atheists. Yes, we make fun of Christians, yes, we sneer at Christians in private (some even sneer publicly), but none of us (I would like to think) would go as far and do something as silly as this guy. I would like to think he is very young. Let's imagine him to be 16, bored in front of his pc, no girlfriend, no friends. Fat, too. And he's got pimples. I'm a militant atheist, but this is outright childish. So, forgive (if you can) this oke, and forget this incident. There are many, many, many good atheists (I don't think I'm good - I'm decidely evil...lol) out there, and they (myself included) would never do something like that. Have a great evening, and I hope this comment would be allowed! An Atheist's response:

Hi everyone. I found this blog, and this blog posting through the WordPress.com website.

First off, hats of to John, who wrote such a very beautiful (even to an atheist's ears!) letter. No grammatical errors, no spelling errors, beautiful. Merci.

Secondly, I need to apologise profusely on behalf of most rational atheists out there.The hacker guy is atypical of the vast majority of atheists. Yes, we make fun of Christians, yes, we sneer at Christians in private (some even sneer publicly), but none of us (I would like to think) would go as far and do something as silly as this guy.

I would like to think he is very young. Let's imagine him to be 16, bored in front of his pc, no girlfriend, no friends. Fat, too. And he's got pimples.

I'm a militant atheist, but this is outright childish.

So, forgive (if you can) this oke, and forget this incident. There are many, many, many good atheists (I don't think I'm good – I'm decidely evil…lol) out there, and they (myself included) would never do something like that.

Have a great evening, and I hope this comment would be allowed!

]]> By: wineymomma http://johnshore.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/comment-page-2/#comment-3028 wineymomma Tue, 01 Jan 2008 09:41:50 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/an-open-letter-to-crosswalkcoms-atheist-hacker/#comment-3028 This was an amazing post and the comments were equally as amazing. This is my first time on your blog and I will continue reading regularly. I have entered into some wonderful, eye opening blog conversations with some atheists recently. I find that most of them are open to agree to disagree with me. I continue the dialog with them because I want to be an example of Christ's love in their lives. I hope that showing them what my faith in Him has done for me will allow me to plant a seed of the Good News in their hearts. I also appreciate the fact that the non-believer challenges my faith because it does for me what the wind does for an oak tree: it makes my faith that much stronger! This was an amazing post and the comments were equally as amazing. This is my first time on your blog and I will continue reading regularly. I have entered into some wonderful, eye opening blog conversations with some atheists recently. I find that most of them are open to agree to disagree with me. I continue the dialog with them because I want to be an example of Christ's love in their lives. I hope that showing them what my faith in Him has done for me will allow me to plant a seed of the Good News in their hearts.

I also appreciate the fact that the non-believer challenges my faith because it does for me what the wind does for an oak tree: it makes my faith that much stronger!

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