'I'm Not Praying for God to Save Me' (interview with Elizabeth Edwards)

[EveningStar]

Damn it! This sure is pissing people off! (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17889146/site/newsweek/)

[DoctorDoom]

You've kept God out of the public discussion of your situation. Why?

I had to think about a God who would not save my son. Wade was—and I have lots of evidence; it's not just his mother saying it—a gentle and good boy. He reached out to people who were misfits and outcasts all the time. He could not stand for people to say nasty things about other people; he just didn't want it. For a 16-year-old boy, he was really extraordinary in this regard. I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't. You'd think that if God was going to protect somebody, he'd protect that boy. But not only did he not protect him, the wind blew him from the road. The hand of God blew him from the road. So I had to think, "What kind of God do I have that doesn't intervene—in fact, may even participate—in the death of this good boy?" I talk about it in the book, that I had to accept that my God was a God who promised enlightenment and salvation. And that's all. Didn't promise us protection. I've had to come to grips with a God that fits my own experience, which is, my God could not be offering protection and not have protected my boy.Her ignorance of God is profound. In fact, she is rationalizing her disbelief, as do all unbelievers.

Edwards and Liz are a good match. They're both obsessed with power and will sacrifice everything that is good and worthwhile to achieve it. In her limited time left on Earth, she should pay more heed to her family and her children than to going on the road trolling for sympathy votes for her ambulance-chasing, fetus-channeling husband.

She impresses me less every time she opens her mouth. And she will impress God even less when her time comes.

[The_Elucidator]

What do you say to the Rush Limbaughs of the world who have the nerve to judge how you should cope with your disease?


I'm sorry, did I miss something? Is there more than 1 Rush Limbaugh out there? Rush Limbaugh doesn't speak for conservatives; he just happens to be a conservative who has his own radio show!

I have never liked the Edward's and the more I, "get to know them," the more I dislike them.

[Incident_command]

God will enlighten me?


EDWARDS
"So I had to think, "What kind of God do I have that doesn't intervene—in fact, may even participate—in the death of this good boy?"

The same God who didn't intervene and let his own son die for us two thousand years ago.

[DeclinetoState]

If John's the nominee--but he won't be, so who cares what she thinks?

[Lazarus]

If John's the nominee--but he won't be, so who cares what she thinks?Precisely my thoughts... I wonder why this thread landed in this forum... I have absolutely no interest in what Edwards is saying on political issues - how much less could I possibly care about what his wife, his maid, or his dog thinks about anything...

[praizer]

Love your reply senior member(incident command)...right on:)

[DesertFox]

"What kind of God do I have that doesn't intervene—in fact, may even participate—in the death of this good boy?"The kind of God who means what He says. Free will is just that, and it comes with a price.

[noncom]

"...He reached out to people who were misfits and outcasts all the time. He could not stand for people to say nasty things about other people; he just didn't want it. For a 16-year-old boy, he was really extraordinary in this regard. I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't. For a 16-year-old boy, he was really extraordinary in this regard. I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't. You'd think that if God was going to protect somebody, he'd protect that boy. But not only did he not protect him, the wind blew him from the road. The hand of God blew him from the road."
Wait a minute... was the mother's favorite "extraordinarily good and gentle boy" who refused to listen to all the bad things people kept telling him about the "misfits and outcasts" he hung out with driving with THEM when the not-so-good Lord "blew him from the road?"

Whatever. I'm sure the reporter never bothered to look up any Democrat's police report in his life, so why should I take anything the article says seriously - even if it weren't some athiest's interpretation of Christian theology in the first place?

Sure, Hillary isn't about to nominate Edwards over herself, but that doesn't change the fact that the media have been fawning over these "tragic" figures for weeks now. If a Republican candidate had bragged that his wife expected to become unable to care for herself, so he planned to bravely ignore all of her problems and proceed with his campaign, would he have been treated as a modern day Saint?

Of course the purpose of the article - and the hundreds like it out this week - isn't to get Edwards nominated. It's to help pave the way for a First Family of bitter, dysfunctional anti-Christians. Because, as far as the liberal media are concerned, there aren't nearly enough Americans who are convinced that's what this country needs right now.

[Keb]

Her ignorance of God is profound. In fact, she is rationalizing her disbelief, as do all unbelievers.

Edwards and Liz are a good match. They're both obsessed with power and will sacrifice everything that is good and worthwhile to achieve it. In her limited time left on Earth, she should pay more heed to her family and her children than to going on the road trolling for sympathy votes for her ambulance-chasing, fetus-channeling husband.I really know anything about her except that she and the hubby pretend to be "regular folks" and eat at Wendy's on their anniversay every year. I'm also not impressed by her, Doc, from what she's said in this article but I do understand now why they made the decision about his running for president. You're right - obsession with power seems to be what she has grabbed a hold of for strength. Sad.

[DesertFox]

I'm Not Praying for God to Save Me

Dare I say it? "Neither is anybody else."

[DoctorDoom]

I'm Not Praying for God to Save Me

Dare I say it? "Neither is anybody else."Exactly. God will save anyone who asks Him. One doesn't have to beseech Him in prayer for it.

[DesertFox]

She has an embarrassingly simplistic grasp of God. Typical of liberals, who don't get that God has His own plan for us and there's a point at which we must just accept that we don't run things.

[Incident_command]

She has an embarrassingly simplistic grasp of God. Typical of liberals, who don't get that God has His own plan for us and there's a point at which we must just accept that we don't run things.


Thats it.
Libs must be in control. There has to be a way they can overcome everything.

[DeclinetoState]

What I interrupted myself saying above was that she just blew any support she and her husband might have been able to get from the "Bible Belt"--the rather loosely defined part or parts of the country where a sizable chunk of the population is or at least professes to be devoutly Christian. One of the reasons Southern Democrats have been able to get elected president has been their ability to convince evangelical and/or fundamentalist that they are "one of them" (though I don't know how Billy Jeff pulled that off). The Edwardses have lost any hope of getting that vote that they may have ever entertained.

[Wyatt_Junker]

What's interesting is the converse side of her point. That God is only validated through success, which is also why the Jews rejected Christ since He wasn't the conquering messiah they were looking for.

The same goes true for today. If Christ is not conveniently microwaveable, if He is not our supernatural Butler, then He is not for today's consumerist mindset. To many, prayer is nothing more than an exercise in how to be a diva. And if God doesn't step-n-fetch-it, then the next logical step is that He should be rejected, or, at least His relevance in this world.

I guess for some, Christ should have put on the Riddell football helmet and crashed into the Chief Priests and kicked Pontius Pilot's ass. He should have also intervened when Stephen, the first martyr was stoned to death. He should have stopped John from being exiled to the isle of Patmos. He should have caused the soldiers arms to turn leprous the moment they tried to murder Paul. He also should have given Jesus a free pass. I mean, He was His Son and all. C'mon.

But as far as the Suffering Servant goes, that's asking way too much. Life isn't about suffering. Its about getting your massage on. And if Christ doesn't come running like a bellhop when you press the 'customer service' ringer, then He'll get a poor rating on His next mystery shop paperwork.

Half the job of the Holy Spirit is to help people to learn how to grieve, not to be winners every second of our lives. Does that mean He doesn't answer our prayers. Hardly. It just means that we can't predict His response 100% of the time and anyone who tries suffers from the same arrogance that has plagued the theologous since day one.

[Keb]

I've had to come to grips with a God that fits my own experience, which is, my God could not be offering protection and not have protected my boy.She tried to force God to do her will and when it didn't work, she made her own "god" to fit her definition.

Half the job of the Holy Spirit is to help people to learn how to grieve, not to be winners every second of our lives. Does that mean He doesn't answer our prayers. Hardly. It just means that we can't predict His response 100% of the time and anyone who tries suffers from the same arrogance that has plagued the theologous since day one.Well stated.

[PaulRevere]

At least she's not blaming Bush for her son's death.

[DeclinetoState]

Don't give her (or the libs) any ideas.

[Riverboat]

What's interesting is the converse side of her point. That God is only validated through success, which is also why the Jews rejected Christ since He wasn't the conquering messiah they were looking for. . . I'm saving this entire post in my archive of great posts.

Lotta deep thinking going on here lately. Must be the season.

[Venus de Smilo]

God will enlighten me?


EDWARDS
"So I had to think, "What kind of God do I have that doesn't intervene—in fact, may even participate—in the death of this good boy?"

The same God who didn't intervene and let his own son die for us two thousand years ago.

That's got to be one of the best posts I've ever read, Incident.

[Incident_command]

Thanks

[The_Elucidator]

That's got to be one of the best posts I've ever read, Incident.

I thought the same thing when I read it, and since you made mention, I have to ditto that! Nice Job!

[Suzie]

Sounds like she needs to learn what it means to be a Christian. The problem is there aren't many examples out in this world today for everyone to see. Plenty of nastiness though. Hopefully someone will help her reach out and she will find it before it's too late.

[The_Elucidator]

Hopefully someone will help her reach out and she will find it before it's too late.

Hopefully! It sure won't come from her husband. Although we don't know why God blesses us with obstacles, he may be using this to reach both of them.

[Suzie]

Hopefully! It sure won't come from her husband. Although we don't know why God blesses us with obstacles, he may be using this to reach both of them.

And their children, sometimes kids can look back at those who showed their kindness and that will teach them more than what they see from parents. Lets hope someone with GOD in their life will show this whole family what that means. Otherwise all they are going to see is how to harden your heart.

[Bluemoon_Rising]

What's interesting is the converse side of her point. That God is only validated through success, which is also why the Jews rejected Christ since He wasn't the conquering messiah they were looking for.

The same goes true for today. If Christ is not conveniently microwaveable, if He is not our supernatural Butler, then He is not for today's consumerist mindset. To many, prayer is nothing more than an exercise in how to be a diva. And if God doesn't step-n-fetch-it, then the next logical step is that He should be rejected, or, at least His relevance in this world.

I guess for some, Christ should have put on the Riddell football helmet and crashed into the Chief Priests and kicked Pontius Pilot's ass. He should have also intervened when Stephen, the first martyr was stoned to death. He should have stopped John from being exiled to the isle of Patmos. He should have caused the soldiers arms to turn leprous the moment they tried to murder Paul. He also should have given Jesus a free pass. I mean, He was His Son and all. C'mon.

But as far as the Suffering Servant goes, that's asking way too much. Life isn't about suffering. Its about getting your massage on. And if Christ doesn't come running like a bellhop when you press the 'customer service' ringer, then He'll get a poor rating on His next mystery shop paperwork.

Half the job of the Holy Spirit is to help people to learn how to grieve, not to be winners every second of our lives. Does that mean He doesn't answer our prayers. Hardly. It just means that we can't predict His response 100% of the time and anyone who tries suffers from the same arrogance that has plagued the theologous since day one.


Hall of fame.

Edwards' son sounds like he was a good kid, a decent fellow, the sort I'd be proud to call my son.

Up to the age of about 14, while I, the eldest of a large family, respected my parents and happily worked hard in my family's business after school and football practice, was a bully, mean, cruel. There was a kid who grew up in our neighborhood, for example, whom I used to pick on, along with most everyone else. I was most especially cruel to him. For a year I made his life a living hell.

He committed suicide at the age of 15. He hung himself from the clothesline post in his backyard one day.

I don't know what went through the minds of the others. Though my treatment of this fellow wouldn’t have been defined as criminal and most thought there was nothing unusual about it while he was alive -- he was after all just that dork who wanted to be liked too much -- I know that that tragedy changed my life forever and awakened my heart to the gospel that my parents had always taught and lived. (Still, several years passed before, in a dark moment in my life, I called on Christ who revealed Himself to me.) As a matter of everyday life, I don't dwell on those days, but there are moments, more at events that have passed before my eyes ever since, that remind of those days, shameful acts, memories that cause me to wince, to flinch and once again thank God for His mercy. Sometimes, my reactions are more than just spiritual or emotional, but visibly visceral. Though they be rare, my wife, my best friend after Christ, has come to recognize these moments and will come to me and place a reassuring hand.

Apart from God, humanity is coarse and ugly, and some of us are born more coarse and ugly than others.

Guilt, shame, grief are the stuff of redemption and transformation.

[EveningStar]

Last edited by Longhorn_Platinum : 04-02-2007 at 04:05 PM. Reason: We don't need to be using God's Name in vain.I don't know what you're talking about. :biggrin:

[DoctorDoom]

The use of "G** damn" is not tolerated here.

[Suzie]

Hall of fame.

Edwards son sounds like he was a good kid, a decent fellow, the sort I'd be proud to call my son.

Up to the age of about 14, while I, the eldest of a large family, respected my parents and happily worked hard in my family's business after school and football practice, was a bully, mean, cruel. There was a kid who grew up in our neighborhood, for example, whom I used to pick on, along with most everyone else. I was most especially cruel to him. For a year I made his life a living hell.

He committed suicide at the age of 15. He hung himself from the clothesline post in his backyard one day.

I don't know what went through the minds of the others. Though my treatment of this fellow wouldn’t have been defined as criminal and most thought there was nothing unusual about it while he was alive -- he was after all just that dork who wanted to be liked too much -- I know that that tragedy changed my life forever and awakened my heart to the gospel that my parents had always taught and lived. (Still, several years passed before, in a dark moment in my life, I called on Christ who revealed Himself to me.) As a matter of everyday life, I don't dwell on those days, but there are moments, more at events that have passed before my eyes ever since, that remind of those days, shameful acts, memories that cause me to wince, to flinch and once again thank God for His mercy. Sometimes, my reactions are more than just spiritual or emotional, but visibly visceral. Though they be rare, my wife, my best friend after Christ, has come to recognize these moments and will come to me and place a reassuring hand.

Apart from God, humanity is coarse and ugly, and some of us are born more coarse and ugly than others.

Guilt, shame, grief are the stuff of redemption and transformation.

That's quite a story Blue, it really does matter how we treat others. Christians especially need to live their lives understanding that if we accuse others of being without GOD they should be able to look at us and see what it means to have his guidance. Some of us can see that from our parents, others need to find it by looking at the conduct of others. No one is perfect, but if we ourselves try to live as an example it might make a difference to someone. I am sure you have made a difference since those days, kids do a lot of things without thinking what the impact really could be, but maturity can help GOD guide us down better paths by teaching us on the ones we have already walked. At least some of us learn, others will mock the effort to do better once you have learned those lessons. I guess until they learn for themselves, and we just have to pray that happens.

[Bluemoon_Rising]

That's quite a story Blue, it really does matter how we treat others. Christians especially need to live their lives understanding that if we accuse others of being without GOD they should be able to look at us and see what it means to have his guidance. Some of us can see that from our parents, others need to find it by looking at the conduct of others. No one is perfect, but if we ourselves try to live as an example it might make a difference to someone. I am sure you have made a difference since those days, kids do a lot of things without thinking what the impact really could be, but maturity can help GOD guide us down better paths by teaching us on the ones we have already walked. At least some of us learn, others will mock the effort to do better once you have learned those lessons. I guess until they learn for themselves, and we just have to pray that happens.

I actually didn't even know of the boy's suicide for a week after it happened. It was during the summer months, and so it wasn't like he didn't show up at school the next day.

When I heard of it, I did something I hadn’t done since the age of 10 or so -- the day I dropped some clods from a bridge on the vehicles of passing motorists. Boy, was I devil in those days! LOL! I ran and hid in a patch of undeveloped land behind our neighborhood bordering on a cannel. I spent the whole day there. I cried. From that day on, I never tolerated any kind of bullying or cruelty that I witnessed at school . . . and I was big enough and fierce enough to enforce it with a word.

[Suzie]

At least you outgrew it, some never do. :)

[DesertFox]

Now how did Wolfie buy into this so cheap? :D

[d'urville]

Sounds like she needs to learn what it means to be a Christian. The problem is there aren't many examples out in this world today for everyone to see. Plenty of nastiness though. Hopefully someone will help her reach out and she will find it before it's too late.

If it only weren't for her"rabid rabid Republican" neighbor she's scared of:


Elizabeth Edwards: scared of "rabid, rabid Republican" neighbor

MIKE BAKER

Associated Press

<!-- begin body-content -->RALEIGH, N.C. - Elizabeth Edwards says she is scared of the "rabid, rabid Republican" who owns property across the street from her Orange County home - and she doesn't want her kids going near the gun-toting neighbor.
Edwards, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, particularly recalls the time neighbor Monty Johnson brought out a gun while chasing workers investigating a right of way off his property. The Edwards family has yet to meet Johnson in person

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/17048128.htm

They've never met but this neighbor REFUSES to clean up his "slummy" property his family has owned for years and actually has a "Go Guiliani 2008" sign in his yard the Edwards have to look at from their new mansion.

[Suzie]

That's really sad. She might not be praying. Hopefully someone is praying for her. People can change, even from the darkest place. That should be a prayer for many, not just Elizabeth Edwards.

[Trevelyan]

I do not blame God for any of the misfortunes in my own life or in the lives of those around me, however, when circumstances are positive, I do not declare "God did it."

I don't know. Perhaps I have not encountered the type of "profound experience" in my life that could have potentially altered my deism regarding this issue.

[DesertFox]

Lizzie talks about "her God" the way some libs talk about "my truth." Lizzie's God is HERS, by gumbo, and if He don't jump when she calls, she'll fire His ass. Even more, she'll show Him: She won't ax Him to save her.

You headed a wrong direction, girly, and time runnin' out.

[Suzie]

Yep, not a good place to be when your clock starts ticking louder.

[DesertFox]

She can take comfort for eternity in knowing her lib friends agreed with her. I'm sure that'll make it all worthwhile.

[BEST45CAL]

She's just another old hippie dressed up as a soccer mom.

[DesertFox]

...with cancer.

[Wyatt_Junker]

... hippie cancer.

[Trevelyan]

Well, it is in her hip bone.

[Kathy30]

God isn't in the business of proving his existence every day to everyone. If there is a God, no one would ever die, everyone would have everthing they want and no one would ever be disappointed.

It's like a ball game where everyone says "If my team wins, that means God exists". Someone is going to lose, but to the secularists, that means there is no God, because someone lost.

Elizabeth Edwards and her pointy headed husband John prove every day why they should not sit in the White House.

[omegatrump]

America's god has become a mixture of many god's. The confusion surrounding the concept of God in the unbelieving community of America is astronomical.

Ms Edwards demonstrates that she is in the swirl of confusion by her remarks. Her and her husband have no place in leadership, where America is concerned. The new age gods of America will not save anybody anyhow.

[Kathy30]

I'll bet it never occurred to her to thank God for a 28 million dollar mansion.

[Suzie]

I'll bet it never occurred to her to thank God for a 28 million dollar mansion.

Perhaps she made a deal with the devil? :question:

[DoctorDoom]

Nah, even the devil has too much self-respect to deal with RATs.