Habakkuk

I'm obviously a man, but some of my female friends are extraordinarily good looking. I mean, I could never imagine to have 'more' with them (there is one exception ;) ), but I am not blind. Anyway, through them I got to hear a lot of things about how women are often treated, and sometimes I even witness this kind of behaviour so that I am forced to intervene on their behalf. These women are super sweet, kind, intelligent and have so much more to offer than their looks, but for many her looks seems to be all that counts. But it is not just women who suffer from this. I don't want to go into too much detail, but fact is that us men are also more and more judged by how we look. All this combined is more and more poisoning all human relations. It is as if more and more women (and MEN!) suspect that everything that a man (who is single) says and does is only for the purpose of picking up women. It is not. This does not change the fact that I would not mind finding a new girlfriend, but I prefer to get to know a woman first, before I am going to go for 'more'.

Crazy thing is, people like Amon Goeth, the commander from Schindler's List, were exceptions. Most leading Nazis did their job out of a sense of duty, and many of them even disliked the things they did. They still did what they did though, because they were genuinely convinced that they had to endure their 'stressful' jobs for the greater good of Germany. SS officers who loved their job were even frowned upon by other Nazis and were usually assigned to different positions. Personally, I believe this teaches a lot about the nature of evil. 'Evil' is not necessarily born out of a lust to do evil things, but rather out of the idea that certain 'evil things' serve a greater good.

I can understand your pastor’s doubts. Christians have been expecting the end times for almost 2000 years now, and the world is still going on. Also, many believers hope for the end/new beginning, because they know that this would end their worldly worries and fears almost immediately. It is like an easy way out. At the same time I can also understand your thoughts though. I, for instance, wonder whether the first seal has already been opened and whether the second and third seal might be open sooner than many seem to think. Basically, if there should be a major war in the Middle East involving Israel that ends up to affect the entire world, and if this war should be followed or later joined by a major recession starting in countries roughly North of Israel (Europe?), then I would be sure that the end has begun. Still, I also know that life is tough, and that the end, or rather the new beginning is exactly what I am hoping for in order to escape the cold reality of life here in this world. I can imagine that your pastor has seen similarly motivated Christians preaching about the end times before, and that he is simply worried that your motivation is similar. This is also why I recommend you to do two things. Continue to be on your guard and continue to tell people that Jesus could surprise them if they do not watch out for the signs themselves. Anyway, I hope that I did not put a serious damper on you. This was not my intention. I do, however, believe that we should question everything, because the truth does not have to fear questions.

I do take baby steps. My nickname, or rather the way how I deal with it is one of these steps. I never really thought about Habakkuk, but when I had to pick a nickname for another Christian forum I picked him, and all of a sudden I keep on stumbling over all sorts of references to Habbakuk! It is amazing, and I am beginning to wonder whether my choice to pick his name as a nickname was less of a coincidence than one should think.

Habakkuk again. I find it interesting how I have been constantly stumbling over him time and time again lately. Also, I find it interesting how *your* dream might be message to me as well.

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." This is what John 10:27 says, but I cannot shake the suspicion that my own ego, or sub conscience might be tricking me into mistaking my own voice for his voice. I mean, I do believe in God and I do not question his power, but I do question my own ability to discern whether it is really his voice I am listening to, or not. I need clarity there. Please, pray for me that God will either confirm to me that it is indeed him to whom I am listening, or that he will correct me gently.

Hi! First of all, I am obviously new here, but this here is not just an introductory thread. I would also like to post about my nickname. I picked it for another Christian forum a couple of months ago. Back then, I only wanted a biblical nickname. I browsed through the list of prophets, saw Habakkuk, and realised that the story of a prophet who got an elaborate reply and explanation from God after he had questioned God's wisdom has quite some appeal to me. Lately, however, I feel like I am constantly stumbling about Habakkuk. He is "just" a minor prophet, but I have been reading his name in so many various contexts lately, that I am beginning to wonder whether me picking his name as a nickname was not really a coincidence. Seriously, could it be that there is more to my nickname, or am I thinking too much about it?