God's ultimate goal is....

Yes MakDomMom, thanksgiving is one great way that make us understand how God loves us so =)

Thanks for this one! :) you are a sweetheart!

No problemo, MakDomMom, you're a sweetheart yourself...=)

Hi sidneysoap, yes you got away off the topic a bit, but that is okay. Thanks for responding in the first place. I noted there are two independent questions. I'm not here to be successfully answer your questions, but I'll share what I know =). God does not come from anything. In fact the words "comes from" is not necessarily correct in this context. God is the first and only one Creator. Because He created things that is why there are words like "creator, creation, made of", etc. But God is not created nor does He came from something. If He comes from something then He has no right to claim Himself as a Creator, as the Beginning. As humans we were introduced to those words so that we can know who we are and who God is. There is no easy answer for suffering and the Mighty God who does not seem to stop it from happening. But we need to start from here. That there is none righteous, there is none who does good, ever since the Fall of Adam and Eve (Romans 3:10-12). Thus, all of us are actually sinners in God's eyes, although we always think that we are good enough according to "human" standard. We are like a 1-year-old kid who think we already know so much about the world of our parents (even this analogy is still far from relations between human-God). If all our tendency as a sinner is to do sinful things, no wonder we suffer. Even the holiest person ever lived remains a sinful person in God's eyes. We suffer because of our own doings. But can God stop the sufferings? Yes, He can. Otherwise He is not God because He is not Almighty. This is where we have to start. If He is Almighty, knows all and can do all, then His ways and thoughts must be beyond our understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). We might see sufferings as negative, yet He can use it into good and glory (Roman 8:28). In the simple analogy, when do you think you learn more, during the hardtimes or when things are going so smoothly. Strange enough, it is during the hardtimes that we grow more, where our character is sharpen more. And that is only one function of suffering that God can use. As a closing, let me share this article. There is so much we can do to discuss your questions at a place like myLot =) http://www.reformationtheology.com/2005/10/light_at_the_end_of_the_tunnel_1.php#more

Dear prasadr, thank you for responding to this topic, I appreciate it. But if you look at the subject above, we are not discussing about Jesus Christ, His virgin-birth, incarnation or salvation. We are focusing on God's ultimate goal. That's still okay though if you want to share your view and stand for your belief, it is everybody's rights. I understand your uneasiness in dealing with Christianity and its beliefs. You might have had some bad experiences for I all I can imagine. So, if you want to know more of it, we can of course do it. But we cannot do it if what you want is merely justifying/forcing your opinion to others. It does not work that way. So, it's up to you, prasadr, but once again thank you for your response and sharing.