Cheryl Lynn Asks Regarding Faith

Dear Cheryl Lynn,

A young fish once asked an old wise fish how he might make a pilgrimage to the mighty ocean he had heard about. The wise old fish laughed and said, "the ocean is all around you!"

At the end of this comment I will post Paul's famous words about faith.

If you look at what Paul said, faith is more about having confidence, and persistence... simply to keep on trying.

Now, you will notice that all the Biblical characters that Paul mentions had some kind of challenge, or predicament or problem. It makes no sense to talk about faith, if everything is fine and dandy.

So, Cheryl Lynn, the way I see it, you already have a lot of faith, because you have a big problem that many of us do not have, and you keep on trying. You don't give up.

Mother Theresa made it through life by being a Roman Catholic nun. She accomplished some amazing things. Tich Naht Hahn made it through life by being a Buddhist monk. Rosa Parks did her thing in a bus. Bertrand Russel and Albert Einstein did their things as an atheist and an agnostic, using math and physics. Anne Frank did her thing with a diary, and a persecution.

You must have heard that old story about someone who complains about the cross they have to bear, so God lets them shop around for a different cross. They tried on so many different crosses, of different sizes and weights and shapes. Finally when they find one that suits them, God laughs and says, "Why that's the cross I originally gave you.

So, Cheryl Lynn, who would you like to trade places with, and trade crosses with?

I say, it is no picnic to be Cheryl Lynn, me, or Heath Ledger, or Elvis Presley, or any number of other people one can think of

I don't say that everyone has it equally hard.

I have tried on many different religions and denominations. At this stage of the game, I don't expect to find a solution to my problems with a particular creed, or guru,

Here is the quote about Faith from St. Paul:

XI.--Now, faith is the confidence of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. By this the ancients obtained reputation. By faith, we understand that the worlds were formed by the word of God; so that the things which are seen, were not made of things which do appear.

4.--By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, on account of which he was commended as righteousness; God testifying in favor of his oblations: and so by it, though dead, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was translated, that he might not see death, and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation, it was testified that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he who comes to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him. By faith Noah, when he received a revelation concerning things not yet seen, being seized with religious fear, prepared an ark for the salvation of his family; by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go out into a place, which he should after-wards receive as an inheritance, obeyed, and went out, not knowing wither he was going. By faith, he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint heirs of the same promise: for he expected the city having foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith also Sarah herself received strength for the conception of seed, and brought forth when past the time of life; because she judged him faithful who had promised. And therefore there sprang from one, who was dead in this respect, a race, as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is on the sea-shore, innumerable. All these died in faith, not having received the promises. For seeing the things promised afar off, and embracing them, they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims in the land. Now they who speak such tings, plainly declare that they earnestly seek a country. For truly, if they had remembered that from which they came out, they might have had an opportunity to return to it. But, indeed, they strongly desired a better country; that is, a heavenly. Therefore God is not ashamed of them,--to be called their God; because he has prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac; he who had received the promises, offered up his only begotten, concerning whom it was said, that "In Isaac shall they seed be called;" reasoning that God was able to raise him, even from the dead; from whence indeed, he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, with respect to things to come. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, bowing on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when dying, made mention concerning the departing of the children of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith, Moes, when born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer evil with the people of God, than to have the temporary fruition of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked forward to the retribution. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the wrath of the king. For he courageously persevered, as perceiving the invisible God. By faith he appointed the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood; that he who destroyed the first-born, might not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land, which the Egyptians attempting to do, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, having been encompassed seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot was not destroyed with the unbelievers, having received the spies in peace. And what shall I say more? for the time would fail me to speak of Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jepthah, and David also, and Samuel, and the prophets,--who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,--quenched the strength of fire, escaped the edges of the sword, grew strong from sickness, became valiant in battle, overturned the camps of the aliens. Women received their dead by a resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of mockings and scourgings; and moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they died by the slaughter of the sword, they went about in sheep skins, and in goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, maltreated; of these the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and mountains, and in caves and holes of the earth. Now all these, though commended on account of faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.