Hi guys :)

welllll.. I see none of you have lost your 'edge' at making ad hominems....

Thank you all for the poetic and grammatical corrections and exhortations.. as they say 'Engineers are better by design/Technicians( me) are just well adjusted'... yes.. shock horror.. I do make the odd gaff in my writing.
duh :)

I'm encouraged that "English" Pericles at least knows the Aussie "The man from snowy river" :) this is a major breakthrough.

No Pericles... McGrath was not primarily there to promote his book per se,..but I totally accept that he was there to promote an apologetic for some scandalous riducule (illegal in Victoria by the way) of Dawkins suggesting that those who hold religious beliefs are 'sick'...

When such flagrant attacks are made by intelligent and influential men on the pretty ordinary Christian population..someone..has to speak about it.. just as Augustine.. Athanasius and even Paul in the beginning (1Cor 15)did.

While you blokes "claim" to know that science cannot disprove God... (well at least we are on the same page there) we are left with the abundance of evidence to the contrary.. that God HAS revealed Himself to mankind.

No Pericles.. I am not promoting 'my' version of Christian truth.. I am promoting Christian truth. If you want to find a reference point for 'my' views.. the Nicene Creed would be a good place to begin. Hardly 'my' view alone.

I do take exception to some aspects of the earlier Westminster confession, particularly in regard to the 'Sabbath'.. where it stated (in the text I read) that the civil magistrate could be called on the enforce it.. I've not found this in later versions.

Still its a very interesting piece of our history and shows the struggles that characterize our history of Church and State.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Confession_of_Faith

Bugsy . of COURSE he was preaching to the Choir... and people rejoiced in the affirmation of what they already believed, but this should not cloud the 'believability' from an evidentiary viewpoint, the Gospel.

David Bozzie
There was movement in the station?
Listen Bozie you need a punch on the nose for that.
Thats insulting. We all know who the real man was who wrote that.
Movement indeed.
Now you have gone and made you old pale buddies upset also.
I would like to see some movement alright Boaz.
What about asking your hero Steve Feilding of Family first to move himself to at least reply to a fellow Minister and a RSPCA CEO and our President who travelled great distances to give our time explaining its "every Christians" and "every persons" reasponsibilty to protect Gods creatures.
There will be movement at the Station all right if I ever go back there.
He wont be the Colt that got away! either. Not like the poor ones at the Rodeos "he approved of" for people entertainment]
But there might be a bit of regret.
Please take that comment off Bozie or I wont sleep.
How can you by the way look up to such a poor excuse of a human being - along with his advisor as that?"
Have you met the guy? We have.
Please dont put our Banjo in the same boat as that wishy washy grant happy fund raising lot thanks very much.

I found God to be pin-downable Pericles last Friday night. I went to a small Christian revival meeting in a small hall in Rockdale, Sydney and had some very annointed Christian folk lay hands on me and wow, down came the power of The Holy Spirit. What a night of God confirming His Existance. People on the floor, people getting set free, joy and happiness all over the hall. I havent needed confirmation of Gods Existance for over 24 years. He walks with me every second of the day.

Thanks Gibo. A statement indicating the strength of your faith must make you feel great. Can you tell me why anyone else would be interested?

What I find curious is that some believers seem to think that all they need do is make a statement, just as you have, and all doubt over the existence of god should be removed. But it does nothing of the sort. So you believe! So what? Your faith is a crutch to you and you're happy with that. That's ok, it's a free country. But if you want to add to the debate, statements as you have mad contribute nothing.

You missed it Ditch.
It was a personal testimony of what had occured at that small christian revival meeting. The touching of the people by God that night was as real as it is all over the world when He touches people. They get healed and they get changed. Many get born again (John 3:3) and spend the rest of their lives with Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Its not a fantasy like the "Dawkings scribblings". God is really there and we give testimony about it because it is real. The humanists sure miss out on life and life abundantly. The years ahead will change that of course as things begin to fall apart right before our eyes. Lets be ready to take on what the Bible says is the truth as being the truth. If we are equipped for that, the shock will be less. What God says in the Bible is the way it has always been on planet earth. No evolution, no man ponderings, no ohming the belly button, no made up rubbish by witchdoctors... just the Bibles truth.

Dear Ditch...

you have a good point there.. why SHOULD others be interested?
Well..I'm always interested in the Christian experience of brothers like Gibo.. we might not share all the same views on some things, but that does not negate the fundamental truth of God..in Christ.

Can I suggest that behind Gibo's experience of the Holy Spirit.. however you yourself might interpret it.. there is the Gospel of Salvation.

What Gibo described is something I have also.. a bit similiar..but I've mentioned this in the past and don't like to always revisit..but I was healed.. dramatically. But the 'signs' are not meant to do anything other than they were intended during Jesus time, and during the period of the Apostles.. and that is..

"that you might believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you might have life in His name" John 20:31

So.. that is what is behind our references to Christ or His Spirit at work in lives today.

I encourage you to turn your own life around.. to return to the rich tapestry of our cultural background and history.. which is founded on the Gospel.. the creeds.. the struggles.. yep.. all of that.. by returning to.. or coming to.. Christ..in faith.. for forgiveness and renewal.
Saying thus does not set either myself or Gibo or any other Christian up on any pedastal.. or holier than thou-ism.. it is simply repentant sinners.. calling to sinners..to be found by the Good Shepherd