I am starting a prayer brigade for non-stop approval of NOA2s especially for those who have long been waiting and for all other approvals you

[BPM-MVS 0]

I fully respect all who have posted their prayers here, and I genuinely hope they work, but I hope you don't mind if I ask you guys a question. If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is reponsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals? I just don't understand when people thank God for the good stuff that happens to them, yet fail to admonish him/her for the bad stuff.

I'm just reminded of people who miraculously escape a plane crash and claim that "Jesus saved me", surely the flip side of the argument is that he killed everyone else, or at least failed to save them? As the late Bill Hicks once asked, why was John Lennon killed, and yet George Michael lives on?

I hope this question does not cause offence. More power to all of you for expressing your faith - as a devout agnostic I've just always been intrigued as to how this works.

For the record: I'm crossing my fingers for swift approvals. I guess that pretty much adds up to the same thing.

Good will to all people of this earth.

Sami

With all do respect, I will tell you what I believe.

I believe that God's word is final.

I believe that all things in life are written before our existance and only God knows our path.

I believe that total faith in God's plan for me keeps me comforted.

I believe if God has me wait for my Fiance, then it must be for a reason. Again, all things happen in God's time and not mine.

I believe I am the luckiest Man in the world to have found his soul mate for me on the other side of this world.

I believe crossing your fingers while a loved one is dying in front of your eyes does nothing.

I believe praying for all my loved ones in times of destress or continued happiness brings results but you have to truley believe in something greater than yourself, otherwise your just crossing your fingers.

I believe I was created and not slowly made from a vate of boiling mud of single cells that miraculously split and instead of forming a plant became a Man inteligent enough to know he was never a plant, a fish, or a monkey.

I BELIEVE AND I ALWAYS WILL.

God bless, in Jesus name I pray.

[bornot2b 0]

I fully respect all who have posted their prayers here, and I genuinely hope they work, but I hope you don't mind if I ask you guys a question. If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is reponsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals? I just don't understand when people thank God for the good stuff that happens to them, yet fail to admonish him/her for the bad stuff.

I'm just reminded of people who miraculously escape a plane crash and claim that "Jesus saved me", surely the flip side of the argument is that he killed everyone else, or at least failed to save them? As the late Bill Hicks once asked, why was John Lennon killed, and yet George Michael lives on?

I hope this question does not cause offence. More power to all of you for expressing your faith - as a devout agnostic I've just always been intrigued as to how this works.

For the record: I'm crossing my fingers for swift approvals. I guess that pretty much adds up to the same thing.

Good will to all people of this earth.

Sami

With all do respect, I will tell you what I believe.

I believe that God's word is final.

I believe that all things in life are written before our existance and only God knows our path.

I believe that total faith in God's plan for me keeps me comforted.

I believe if God has me wait for my Fiance, then it must be for a reason. Again, all things happen in God's time and not mine.

I believe I am the luckiest Man in the world to have found his soul mate for me on the other side of this world.

I believe crossing your fingers while a loved one is dying in front of your eyes does nothing.

I believe praying for all my loved ones in times of destress or continued happiness brings results but you have to truley believe in something greater than yourself, otherwise your just crossing your fingers.

I believe I was created and not slowly made from a vate of boiling mud of single cells that miraculously split and instead of forming a plant became a Man inteligent enough to know he was never a plant, a fish, or a monkey.

I BELIEVE AND I ALWAYS WILL.

God bless, in Jesus name I pray.

Amen

Thanks for every blessing encountered through this process.

[MrLonely 0]

I fully respect all who have posted their prayers here, and I genuinely hope they work, but I hope you don't mind if I ask you guys a question. If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is reponsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals? I just don't understand when people thank God for the good stuff that happens to them, yet fail to admonish him/her for the bad stuff.

I'm just reminded of people who miraculously escape a plane crash and claim that "Jesus saved me", surely the flip side of the argument is that he killed everyone else, or at least failed to save them? As the late Bill Hicks once asked, why was John Lennon killed, and yet George Michael lives on?

I hope this question does not cause offence. More power to all of you for expressing your faith - as a devout agnostic I've just always been intrigued as to how this works.

For the record: I'm crossing my fingers for swift approvals. I guess that pretty much adds up to the same thing.

Good will to all people of this earth.

Sami

Sami…….I’ll take a crack at your question…….. “If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is responsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals?”

First of all, there is only one true God. Period. It is my belief (as a life-long Catholic) that there are today 6 billion answers to your question. God does what he does because he is God and it does not matter what we think or judge or to complain. God is holy and almighty. He created all the universe so he calls the shots. You ask are we also accepting that God has been delaying approvals so far….well, the answer can be “yes” for some but not all. If God has plans for member “x”, and the plans of member “x” do not coincide with God’s plans then the answer can be yes, he is delaying member”x” ‘s approval.

God also gave us free will to choose our own paths as well. Just as you have chosen the path to not accept God totally and to be an agnostic, and I have chosen the path to accept the truth that he gives to us. I cannot judge you and you cannot judge me. In the end, I believe, when we leave this temporary world and we are both standing in line at the great judgement seat of God, I believe that I will have nothing to worry about and that I shall be in heaven with God for eternity. How can I be so sure of this? Jesus. When Jesus died for us on the cross, he washed away all our sins and secured a place for us in heaven. You have a place and I have a place if we CHOOSE to accept it. I accept what Jesus did for me so this is my ticket into heaven.

Could my petition be denied, yes. Could it be approved – yes. Could it take another week, yes, could it take a year – yes. No matter what happens, I ask God for patience and guidance to deal with my suffering. I turn all over to him for help. Jesus told us that to worry about the future is futile. We cannot control what happens to us if we wanted to. Look at all the retired folks from Enron who thought they were set for the rest of their lives. I do not think that many of them thought that they would be applying for “door-greater” jobs at Wal Mart at the tender age of 65.

Does ####### like this happen to us on this earth – yes. Why? Is it God that does this to us. – No. It is the sin of man that creates all the pain and suffering on the earth. That plane crash you spoke about, why did it happen? Maybe someone tried to save some bucks and didn’t put in a couple of bolts into the engine – maybe the pilot was drunk, maybe it just happened because it hit a bird, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe and on and on and on. The truth of the matter is, we will never know all the answers to all our questions. Only the One True God Knows All the Answers. When we get to heaven, you and me, we can both ask him – O.K.???

I looked up the definition of Agnostic. I found this; “Agnostic theism is the philosophy that encompasses both theism and agnosticism. An agnostic theist is one who disavows knowledge of God's existence but chooses to believe in God in spite of this.”

I thought that this was an interesting definition for agnostic. My question to you is – does this definition define Sami?

What I find interesting is that you were the first one out of all the members on vj to question this prayer thread in many weeks that it has existed. Also what I find interesting, is that I was one of the first to get involved and to try to give some sort of an answer to your question. I did not wake up this morning and think to myself, “ I think I will answer a question for an agnostic today”!!!!!! Do I think that I will be rewarded for defending my beliefs? To tell you the truth…..I do not know……maybe this was my test of faith in my life today. If it was…I want to thank you for being involved in my test!!!!!!

Mr. Lonely ( Mike )

[Barry2005 0]

Lord,

Thank you for being with us and helping us to have the patience to get to this point. We thank you for the love we have all found within our lives with your blessing. We ask that you please bring us the approvals so that we can be with the ones we love soon. We ask you please help those who are involved in processing our requests be understanding with our situations and approve these applications in an expediant manner. Please don't let the love new processes leave someone behind. Please let each of us that found love building a strong foundation with each other as we go forward through the following steps of this process. We again thank you for the happiness we have and just pray that you help us bring our fiancees home to us soon.

Amen

[Nagishkaw 510]

I fully respect all who have posted their prayers here, and I genuinely hope they work, but I hope you don't mind if I ask you guys a question. If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is reponsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals? I just don't understand when people thank God for the good stuff that happens to them, yet fail to admonish him/her for the bad stuff.

I'm just reminded of people who miraculously escape a plane crash and claim that "Jesus saved me", surely the flip side of the argument is that he killed everyone else, or at least failed to save them? As the late Bill Hicks once asked, why was John Lennon killed, and yet George Michael lives on?

I hope this question does not cause offence. More power to all of you for expressing your faith - as a devout agnostic I've just always been intrigued as to how this works.

For the record: I'm crossing my fingers for swift approvals. I guess that pretty much adds up to the same thing.

Good will to all people of this earth.

Sami

Sami…….I’ll take a crack at your question…….. “If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is responsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals?”

First of all, there is only one true God. Period. It is my belief (as a life-long Catholic) that there are today 6 billion answers to your question. God does what he does because he is God and it does not matter what we think or judge or to complain. God is holy and almighty. He created all the universe so he calls the shots. You ask are we also accepting that God has been delaying approvals so far….well, the answer can be “yes” for some but not all. If God has plans for member “x”, and the plans of member “x” do not coincide with God’s plans then the answer can be yes, he is delaying member”x” ‘s approval.

God also gave us free will to choose our own paths as well. Just as you have chosen the path to not accept God totally and to be an agnostic, and I have chosen the path to accept the truth that he gives to us. I cannot judge you and you cannot judge me. In the end, I believe, when we leave this temporary world and we are both standing in line at the great judgement seat of God, I believe that I will have nothing to worry about and that I shall be in heaven with God for eternity. How can I be so sure of this? Jesus. When Jesus died for us on the cross, he washed away all our sins and secured a place for us in heaven. You have a place and I have a place if we CHOOSE to accept it. I accept what Jesus did for me so this is my ticket into heaven.

Could my petition be denied, yes. Could it be approved – yes. Could it take another week, yes, could it take a year – yes. No matter what happens, I ask God for patience and guidance to deal with my suffering. I turn all over to him for help. Jesus told us that to worry about the future is futile. We cannot control what happens to us if we wanted to. Look at all the retired folks from Enron who thought they were set for the rest of their lives. I do not think that many of them thought that they would be applying for “door-greater” jobs at Wal Mart at the tender age of 65.

Does ####### like this happen to us on this earth – yes. Why? Is it God that does this to us. – No. It is the sin of man that creates all the pain and suffering on the earth. That plane crash you spoke about, why did it happen? Maybe someone tried to save some bucks and didn’t put in a couple of bolts into the engine – maybe the pilot was drunk, maybe it just happened because it hit a bird, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe and on and on and on. The truth of the matter is, we will never know all the answers to all our questions. Only the One True God Knows All the Answers. When we get to heaven, you and me, we can both ask him – O.K.???

I looked up the definition of Agnostic. I found this; “Agnostic theism is the philosophy that encompasses both theism and agnosticism. An agnostic theist is one who disavows knowledge of God's existence but chooses to believe in God in spite of this.”

I thought that this was an interesting definition for agnostic. My question to you is – does this definition define Sami?

What I find interesting is that you were the first one out of all the members on vj to question this prayer thread in many weeks that it has existed. Also what I find interesting, is that I was one of the first to get involved and to try to give some sort of an answer to your question. I did not wake up this morning and think to myself, “ I think I will answer a question for an agnostic today”!!!!!! Do I think that I will be rewarded for defending my beliefs? To tell you the truth…..I do not know……maybe this was my test of faith in my life today. If it was…I want to thank you for being involved in my test!!!!!!

Mr. Lonely ( Mike )

The Spirit of God is upon you, Mike. I know the Holy Spirit has given you the words to minister to Sami.

Surely, you will be blessed.

[Caroline and Phil 14]

I want to say Thank God for all steps (success) of our process.

Thank God for many approvals!

and please Lord, help people that is still waiting so long for their approval.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

[MrLonely 0]

I fully respect all who have posted their prayers here, and I genuinely hope they work, but I hope you don't mind if I ask you guys a question. If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is reponsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals? I just don't understand when people thank God for the good stuff that happens to them, yet fail to admonish him/her for the bad stuff.

I'm just reminded of people who miraculously escape a plane crash and claim that "Jesus saved me", surely the flip side of the argument is that he killed everyone else, or at least failed to save them? As the late Bill Hicks once asked, why was John Lennon killed, and yet George Michael lives on?

I hope this question does not cause offence. More power to all of you for expressing your faith - as a devout agnostic I've just always been intrigued as to how this works.

For the record: I'm crossing my fingers for swift approvals. I guess that pretty much adds up to the same thing.

Good will to all people of this earth.

Sami

Sami…….I’ll take a crack at your question…….. “If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is responsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals?”

First of all, there is only one true God. Period. It is my belief (as a life-long Catholic) that there are today 6 billion answers to your question. God does what he does because he is God and it does not matter what we think or judge or to complain. God is holy and almighty. He created all the universe so he calls the shots. You ask are we also accepting that God has been delaying approvals so far….well, the answer can be “yes” for some but not all. If God has plans for member “x”, and the plans of member “x” do not coincide with God’s plans then the answer can be yes, he is delaying member”x” ‘s approval.

God also gave us free will to choose our own paths as well. Just as you have chosen the path to not accept God totally and to be an agnostic, and I have chosen the path to accept the truth that he gives to us. I cannot judge you and you cannot judge me. In the end, I believe, when we leave this temporary world and we are both standing in line at the great judgement seat of God, I believe that I will have nothing to worry about and that I shall be in heaven with God for eternity. How can I be so sure of this? Jesus. When Jesus died for us on the cross, he washed away all our sins and secured a place for us in heaven. You have a place and I have a place if we CHOOSE to accept it. I accept what Jesus did for me so this is my ticket into heaven.

Could my petition be denied, yes. Could it be approved – yes. Could it take another week, yes, could it take a year – yes. No matter what happens, I ask God for patience and guidance to deal with my suffering. I turn all over to him for help. Jesus told us that to worry about the future is futile. We cannot control what happens to us if we wanted to. Look at all the retired folks from Enron who thought they were set for the rest of their lives. I do not think that many of them thought that they would be applying for “door-greater” jobs at Wal Mart at the tender age of 65.

Does ####### like this happen to us on this earth – yes. Why? Is it God that does this to us. – No. It is the sin of man that creates all the pain and suffering on the earth. That plane crash you spoke about, why did it happen? Maybe someone tried to save some bucks and didn’t put in a couple of bolts into the engine – maybe the pilot was drunk, maybe it just happened because it hit a bird, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe and on and on and on. The truth of the matter is, we will never know all the answers to all our questions. Only the One True God Knows All the Answers. When we get to heaven, you and me, we can both ask him – O.K.???

I looked up the definition of Agnostic. I found this; “Agnostic theism is the philosophy that encompasses both theism and agnosticism. An agnostic theist is one who disavows knowledge of God's existence but chooses to believe in God in spite of this.”

I thought that this was an interesting definition for agnostic. My question to you is – does this definition define Sami?

What I find interesting is that you were the first one out of all the members on vj to question this prayer thread in many weeks that it has existed. Also what I find interesting, is that I was one of the first to get involved and to try to give some sort of an answer to your question. I did not wake up this morning and think to myself, “ I think I will answer a question for an agnostic today”!!!!!! Do I think that I will be rewarded for defending my beliefs? To tell you the truth…..I do not know……maybe this was my test of faith in my life today. If it was…I want to thank you for being involved in my test!!!!!!

Mr. Lonely ( Mike )

The Spirit of God is upon you, Mike. I know the Holy Spirit has given you the words to minister to Sami.

Surely, you will be blessed.

Thank you jabree.......but if it's alright with the Holy Spirit........I would like to pass that blessing along to my wife in Russia.......she desperately needs it more today than I do......."please hang in there my wife......God will bring you home soon".........

[Nagishkaw 510]

I fully respect all who have posted their prayers here, and I genuinely hope they work, but I hope you don't mind if I ask you guys a question. If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is reponsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals? I just don't understand when people thank God for the good stuff that happens to them, yet fail to admonish him/her for the bad stuff.

I'm just reminded of people who miraculously escape a plane crash and claim that "Jesus saved me", surely the flip side of the argument is that he killed everyone else, or at least failed to save them? As the late Bill Hicks once asked, why was John Lennon killed, and yet George Michael lives on?

I hope this question does not cause offence. More power to all of you for expressing your faith - as a devout agnostic I've just always been intrigued as to how this works.

For the record: I'm crossing my fingers for swift approvals. I guess that pretty much adds up to the same thing.

Good will to all people of this earth.

Sami

Sami…….I’ll take a crack at your question…….. “If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is responsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals?”

First of all, there is only one true God. Period. It is my belief (as a life-long Catholic) that there are today 6 billion answers to your question. God does what he does because he is God and it does not matter what we think or judge or to complain. God is holy and almighty. He created all the universe so he calls the shots. You ask are we also accepting that God has been delaying approvals so far….well, the answer can be “yes” for some but not all. If God has plans for member “x”, and the plans of member “x” do not coincide with God’s plans then the answer can be yes, he is delaying member”x” ‘s approval.

God also gave us free will to choose our own paths as well. Just as you have chosen the path to not accept God totally and to be an agnostic, and I have chosen the path to accept the truth that he gives to us. I cannot judge you and you cannot judge me. In the end, I believe, when we leave this temporary world and we are both standing in line at the great judgement seat of God, I believe that I will have nothing to worry about and that I shall be in heaven with God for eternity. How can I be so sure of this? Jesus. When Jesus died for us on the cross, he washed away all our sins and secured a place for us in heaven. You have a place and I have a place if we CHOOSE to accept it. I accept what Jesus did for me so this is my ticket into heaven.

Could my petition be denied, yes. Could it be approved – yes. Could it take another week, yes, could it take a year – yes. No matter what happens, I ask God for patience and guidance to deal with my suffering. I turn all over to him for help. Jesus told us that to worry about the future is futile. We cannot control what happens to us if we wanted to. Look at all the retired folks from Enron who thought they were set for the rest of their lives. I do not think that many of them thought that they would be applying for “door-greater” jobs at Wal Mart at the tender age of 65.

Does ####### like this happen to us on this earth – yes. Why? Is it God that does this to us. – No. It is the sin of man that creates all the pain and suffering on the earth. That plane crash you spoke about, why did it happen? Maybe someone tried to save some bucks and didn’t put in a couple of bolts into the engine – maybe the pilot was drunk, maybe it just happened because it hit a bird, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe and on and on and on. The truth of the matter is, we will never know all the answers to all our questions. Only the One True God Knows All the Answers. When we get to heaven, you and me, we can both ask him – O.K.???

I looked up the definition of Agnostic. I found this; “Agnostic theism is the philosophy that encompasses both theism and agnosticism. An agnostic theist is one who disavows knowledge of God's existence but chooses to believe in God in spite of this.”

I thought that this was an interesting definition for agnostic. My question to you is – does this definition define Sami?

What I find interesting is that you were the first one out of all the members on vj to question this prayer thread in many weeks that it has existed. Also what I find interesting, is that I was one of the first to get involved and to try to give some sort of an answer to your question. I did not wake up this morning and think to myself, “ I think I will answer a question for an agnostic today”!!!!!! Do I think that I will be rewarded for defending my beliefs? To tell you the truth…..I do not know……maybe this was my test of faith in my life today. If it was…I want to thank you for being involved in my test!!!!!!

Mr. Lonely ( Mike )

The Spirit of God is upon you, Mike. I know the Holy Spirit has given you the words to minister to Sami.

Surely, you will be blessed.

Thank you jabree.......but if it's alright with the Holy Spirit........I would like to pass that blessing along to my wife in Russia.......she desperately needs it more today than I do......."please hang in there my wife......God will bring you home soon".........

In the name above all other names, Jesus, we declare it DONE! Amen and Ameen . ( Thank you Lord for what you are about to do , we give you praise and glory ).

[jo&john 1]

VJ's candles

Just to remind you in case you want to light a candle too.

Mike, we will light a candle for you and your wife in Russia...May the Holy Spirit be with you always and may the Lord give you all the blessings, all the graces and all the opportunities that you deserve.

Lord, continue to be our strength as we go through our journey and bless all the VJ members who patiently wait for the right moment...as You want it to happen... Your Moment....Your Time.

[Paulily 0]

Heavenly Father I come to you in the name of your son Jesus Christ, standing on YOUR WORDS

Matthew 18:18 -What ever we bind on earth , will bind in Heaven, what ever we loose on earth will loose in heaven. Also stand on YOUR WORDS

Luke 10:19 For Behold, I give you the AUTHORITY to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of he enemy and nothing by any means will hurt you! Father we know when we stand on your words BELIEVING WHEN WE PRAY!!, that it will be done for us here on earth as well as in heaven. Father i come to you in FAITH BELIEVING and in AGREEMENT with all of us waiting for our approvals of our loved ones, For we know that when 2 or more come together in AGREEMENT AS TOUCHING ANY ONE THING IN FAITH BELIEVEING THAT IT WILL BE DONE FOR THEM. Father we all ask that you bind all and every evil spirit that may try to come against our approvals of our loved ones that would cause a delay of our loved ones coming home. Father we ask that you send the warring angels to the USCIS and various EMBASSIES to confirm father that our words are carried out, Father we ask that the HOLY SPIRIT flow through freely throughout the USCIS and various EMBASSIES and touch all of their hearts with the compassion and the wisdom to approve our NOA's, AOS's POE's and all else that we have to endure as you bring opur loved ones home. Father , we know that we can not do these things ourselves , but through JESUS CHRIST ....ALL THINGS ARE MADE POSSIBLE. Father we call it done, we give you thanks and praise for us and our loved ones in advance, we worship you father, and ask this in your heaven Holy Name, In JESUS NAME .......Amen .......and ... AMEN!!!

[amwo 0]

“If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is responsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals?”

Due to seperation of church and state, I am not asking any god to grant approvals. I am asking USCIS.

[michellek1976 0]

I share your questions and curiousity Sami. I believe there is a higher power but I don't have faith. To my understanding, 'faith' is to believe without question. I have millions of questions. Our dramas shared on this forum are nothing when you consider the plight of the world - the poor, the starving, the suffering, the injustice.

I thank god, in case he's listening, for letting me meet such a wonderful man, and I ask him for patience to survive this process.

I don't go to church, but if there is a god, and he's listening, he can hear me wherever I am. I have love and compassion for my fellow human beings, and if god exists, I hope he's satisfied I'm a good person!

Due to seperation of church and state, I am not asking any god to grant approvals. I am asking USCIS.

Heehee I like your style.

What would be interesting is to do a poll - those approved and religious, vs those approved and not religious. Maybe I will go to hell for questioning His work.

[MrLonely 0]

I share your questions and curiousity Sami. I believe there is a higher power but I don't have faith. To my understanding, 'faith' is to believe without question. I have millions of questions. Our dramas shared on this forum are nothing when you consider the plight of the world - the poor, the starving, the suffering, the injustice.

I thank god, in case he's listening, for letting me meet such a wonderful man, and I ask him for patience to survive this process.

I don't go to church, but if there is a god, and he's listening, he can hear me wherever I am. I have love and compassion for my fellow human beings, and if god exists, I hope he's satisfied I'm a good person!

Due to seperation of church and state, I am not asking any god to grant approvals. I am asking USCIS.

Heehee I like your style.

What would be interesting is to do a poll - those approved and religious, vs those approved and not religious. Maybe I will go to hell for questioning His work.

Michelle – I read your post and I felt compelled to reply. I want to share with you some things if you are willing to listen. First of all you are absolutely correct – there is a higher being. It is God – with a capital “G”. This belief you have is many times better than the belief that we evolved from slim.

You say you don’t have faith. It is literally impossible for us to have this faith on our own. It is against our nature to possess it. It is the Holy Spirit that allows us to have this faith. Faith is to believe – you are correct, but you are not correct to assume that it is without questions. I have great faith. I have been close to God all my life. But, that doesn’t mean that I have never questioned my faith or failed God. Trust me, I have sinned many times in the past. And, I will sin again in the future, It is inevitable. And yes, I am locked in an on-going battle within my spirit. The nature of being human every day questions my faith. I have spoken to priests and Christian Pastors that also admit that they too have this battle from time to time and question their faith. Then, what I do when I am aware of what is going on, I simply let it go and give it up to God. Then I feel the battle subside within me and it goes away for a little while. You say you have millions of questions – well every member who has posted a prayer on this thread has millions of questions as well. As long as we bleed, and remain on this temporary earth, the questions will remain. So don’t feel so left out. We are with you in the questions department.

Again, you are correct. The dramas that are shared on this website are nothing compared to the great sufferings and sins in the world. But you must know this. God is pure love. When God allows a man and a woman to fall in love, he is basically expanding his love in the world. When a man and a woman become one union in love, they are literally spreading God out among this troubled world. And as you and I know, this world needs all the love it can find to push back the terrible sufferings that occur in every corner of the globe.

You are good to thank God. Because he is always listening to you. He loves you very much even with your doubts about him. I will give you the secret to finally find out if there is a God. With your heart, you must want to know. Not with your mouth or with your mind, with your heart. If you remove all the walls within your heart, and sincerely seek to know God, then it shall happen. But you are the only one that will know that you lowered the tall walls within your heart.

How do you do this? You simply go to a secluded, quite place with no distractions. You close your eyes and clear all thoughts in your being. You look into the blackness of your spirit and once you finally achieve total silence, you ask God. Do not be surprised when you “feel” yes I said feel the answer upon your heart. It will be very subtle and most softest voice you have ever heard when God speaks to you. Then, after you feel (hear) this, you will be given the choice to believe what you just experienced. God always gives us the choice to accept him or not. No one else will hear what you hear. No one else will be around to influence you one way or another. You will be totally on your own at this occasion in your life.

You say you don’t go to church. Well, let me tell you, I go to a Catholic church every Sunday without fail. But, the church I enjoy the most is when I am alone with God, late at night in my secluded room and I begin to have an open conversation with him. You do not need a man-made building to speak with God. You don’t need an appointment or an invitation. All you need is the choice and the willingness to do this. You can fool others, but you cannot fool yourself with your will and desire. You will know if you actually desire to speak with your Holy Father.

You mention that you hope that God knows that you are a good person. Of course you are Michelle, God does not make junk. You were made beautiful and perfect in God’s eyes. All he is waiting for now is for you to finally use your will to want to know him.

My opinion, if it means anything to you, you are half way there. If you continue to take those steps to him, eventually you will arrive at your destination and when you do, you will be amazed at what you find when you chose to be with Him.

You may not accept what I am saying to you today, you don’t even have to respond to me. But after reading these words I have just planted within your spirit, you cannot escape them. It will be too late. The seeds will have already been planted within your soul!!!!! Good luck on your journey.

Mike

P.S. Michelle - to calm your fears, you cannot go to hell for questioning God - you can only spend eternity in hell when you reject him.......!!!!!!! Hope this helps...

[jo&john 1]

I share your questions and curiousity Sami. I believe there is a higher power but I don't have faith. To my understanding, 'faith' is to believe without question. I have millions of questions. Our dramas shared on this forum are nothing when you consider the plight of the world - the poor, the starving, the suffering, the injustice.

I thank god, in case he's listening, for letting me meet such a wonderful man, and I ask him for patience to survive this process.

I don't go to church, but if there is a god, and he's listening, he can hear me wherever I am. I have love and compassion for my fellow human beings, and if god exists, I hope he's satisfied I'm a good person!

Due to seperation of church and state, I am not asking any god to grant approvals. I am asking USCIS.

Heehee I like your style.

What would be interesting is to do a poll - those approved and religious, vs those approved and not religious. Maybe I will go to hell for questioning His work.

Michelle – I read your post and I felt compelled to reply. I want to share with you some things if you are willing to listen. First of all you are absolutely correct – there is a higher being. It is God – with a capital “G”. This belief you have is many times better than the belief that we evolved from slim.

You say you don’t have faith. It is literally impossible for us to have this faith on our own. It is against our nature to possess it. It is the Holy Spirit that allows us to have this faith. Faith is to believe – you are correct, but you are not correct to assume that it is without questions. I have great faith. I have been close to God all my life. But, that doesn’t mean that I have never questioned my faith or failed God. Trust me, I have sinned many times in the past. And, I will sin again in the future, It is inevitable. And yes, I am locked in an on-going battle within my spirit. The nature of being human every day questions my faith. I have spoken to priests and Christian Pastors that also admit that they too have this battle from time to time and question their faith. Then, what I do when I am aware of what is going on, I simply let it go and give it up to God. Then I feel the battle subside within me and it goes away for a little while. You say you have millions of questions – well every member who has posted a prayer on this thread has millions of questions as well. As long as we bleed, and remain on this temporary earth, the questions will remain. So don’t feel so left out. We are with you in the questions department.

Again, you are correct. The dramas that are shared on this website are nothing compared to the great sufferings and sins in the world. But you must know this. God is pure love. When God allows a man and a woman to fall in love, he is basically expanding his love in the world. When a man and a woman become one union in love, they are literally spreading God out among this troubled world. And as you and I know, this world needs all the love it can find to push back the terrible sufferings that occur in every corner of the globe.

You are good to thank God. Because he is always listening to you. He loves you very much even with your doubts about him. I will give you the secret to finally find out if there is a God. With your heart, you must want to know. Not with your mouth or with your mind, with your heart. If you remove all the walls within your heart, and sincerely seek to know God, then it shall happen. But you are the only one that will know that you lowered the tall walls within your heart.

How do you do this? You simply go to a secluded, quite place with no distractions. You close your eyes and clear all thoughts in your being. You look into the blackness of your spirit and once you finally achieve total silence, you ask God. Do not be surprised when you “feel” yes I said feel the answer upon your heart. It will be very subtle and most softest voice you have ever heard when God speaks to you. Then, after you feel (hear) this, you will be given the choice to believe what you just experienced. God always gives us the choice to accept him or not. No one else will hear what you hear. No one else will be around to influence you one way or another. You will be totally on your own at this occasion in your life.

You say you don’t go to church. Well, let me tell you, I go to a Catholic church every Sunday without fail. But, the church I enjoy the most is when I am alone with God, late at night in my secluded room and I begin to have an open conversation with him. You do not need a man-made building to speak with God. You don’t need an appointment or an invitation. All you need is the choice and the willingness to do this. You can fool others, but you cannot fool yourself with your will and desire. You will know if you actually desire to speak with your Holy Father.

You mention that you hope that God knows that you are a good person. Of course you are Michelle, God does not make junk. You were made beautiful and perfect in God’s eyes. All he is waiting for now is for you to finally use your will to want to know him.

My opinion, if it means anything to you, you are half way there. If you continue to take those steps to him, eventually you will arrive at your destination and when you do, you will be amazed at what you find when you chose to be with Him.

You may not accept what I am saying to you today, you don’t even have to respond to me. But after reading these words I have just planted within your spirit, you cannot escape them. It will be too late. The seeds will have already been planted within your soul!!!!! Good luck on your journey.

Mike

P.S. Michelle - to calm your fears, you cannot go to hell for questioning God - you can only spend eternity in hell when you reject him.......!!!!!!! Hope this helps...

Thanks everyone for all the thoughts... and if I may add ...i got this from a friend and I find it nice sharing to all:

Let me share this you…I find it truly wonderful and encouraging:

NOW THAT'S GOD

It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through.

Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we

Didn’t see some rain soon...we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my

Six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort ... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour: walking carefully to the woods, running back to the house.

Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen...as he was obviously doing important work and didn't need his Mommy checking up on him). He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them ... maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face, but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site.

Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him...he didn't even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn lying on the ground; obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand. When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree.

I followed him back to the house to a spigot to which we had shut off the water. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle began to creep out. He knelt there, letting the drip, drip slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back. And it came clear to me: The trouble he had gotten into for playing with the hose the week before. The lecture he had received about the importance of not wasting water. The reason he didn't ask me to help him. It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him.

His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him...with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away. It was his job. I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save another life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, other drops...and more drops...and more suddenly joined them. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride.

Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence. Those miracles don't really exist. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that... I'm not going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm...just like the actions of one little boy saved another.

I don't know if anyone will read this...but I had to send it out. To honor the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon... But not before showing me the true face of God, in a little, sunburned body.

*~THAT'S GOD ~*

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for?

THAT'S GOD! He speaks to you through the Holy Spirit

Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to

Talk to?

THAT'S GOD! He wants you to speak to Him.

Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them?

THAT'S GOD! There's no such thing as coincidence.

Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you wanted, but couldn't afford.

THAT'S GOD. . He knows the desires of your heart. .

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it is going to get better, but now you look back on it?

THAT'S GOD! He passes us through tribulation to see a brighter day.

DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ACCIDENTALLY READ THIS?

NOPE!

Let us all share the Power of God.

In all that we do, we need to totally give HIM Thanks and our blessings will continue to multiply.

NOW THAT'S GOD!!!!!!!!

Don't tell GOD how Big your storm is.

Tell the storm how Big your GOD is!

We will all survive this VisaJourney because God is with us.

Thanks everyone for all the thoughts... and if I may add ...i got this from a friend and I find it nice sharing to all:

Let me share this you…I find it truly wonderful and encouraging:

NOW THAT'S GOD

It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through.

Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we

Didn’t see some rain soon...we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my

Six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort ... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour: walking carefully to the woods, running back to the house.

Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen...as he was obviously doing important work and didn't need his Mommy checking up on him). He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them ... maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face, but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site.

Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him...he didn't even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn lying on the ground; obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand. When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree.

I followed him back to the house to a spigot to which we had shut off the water. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle began to creep out. He knelt there, letting the drip, drip slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back. And it came clear to me: The trouble he had gotten into for playing with the hose the week before. The lecture he had received about the importance of not wasting water. The reason he didn't ask me to help him. It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him.

His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him...with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away. It was his job. I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save another life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, other drops...and more drops...and more suddenly joined them. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride.

Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence. Those miracles don't really exist. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that... I'm not going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm...just like the actions of one little boy saved another.

I don't know if anyone will read this...but I had to send it out. To honor the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon... But not before showing me the true face of God, in a little, sunburned body.

*~THAT'S GOD ~*

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for?

THAT'S GOD! He speaks to you through the Holy Spirit

Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to

Talk to?

THAT'S GOD! He wants you to speak to Him.

Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them?

THAT'S GOD! There's no such thing as coincidence.

Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you wanted, but couldn't afford.

THAT'S GOD. . He knows the desires of your heart. .

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it is going to get better, but now you look back on it?

THAT'S GOD! He passes us through tribulation to see a brighter day.

DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ACCIDENTALLY READ THIS?

NOPE!

Let us all share the Power of God.

In all that we do, we need to totally give HIM Thanks and our blessings will continue to multiply.

NOW THAT'S GOD!!!!!!!!

Don't tell GOD how Big your storm is.

Tell the storm how Big your GOD is!

We will all survive this VisaJourney because God is with us.

Thanks everyone for all the thoughts... and if I may add ...i got this from a friend and I find it nice sharing to all:

Let me share this you…I find it truly wonderful and encouraging:

NOW THAT'S GOD

It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through.

Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we

Didn’t see some rain soon...we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my

Six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort ... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour: walking carefully to the woods, running back to the house.

Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen...as he was obviously doing important work and didn't need his Mommy checking up on him). He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them ... maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face, but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site.

Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him...he didn't even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn lying on the ground; obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand. When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree.

I followed him back to the house to a spigot to which we had shut off the water. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle began to creep out. He knelt there, letting the drip, drip slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back. And it came clear to me: The trouble he had gotten into for playing with the hose the week before. The lecture he had received about the importance of not wasting water. The reason he didn't ask me to help him. It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him.

His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him...with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away. It was his job. I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save another life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, other drops...and more drops...and more suddenly joined them. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride.

Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence. Those miracles don't really exist. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that... I'm not going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm...just like the actions of one little boy saved another.

I don't know if anyone will read this...but I had to send it out. To honor the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon... But not before showing me the true face of God, in a little, sunburned body.

*~THAT'S GOD ~*

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for?

THAT'S GOD! He speaks to you through the Holy Spirit

Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to

Talk to?

THAT'S GOD! He wants you to speak to Him.

Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them?

THAT'S GOD! There's no such thing as coincidence.

Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you wanted, but couldn't afford.

THAT'S GOD. . He knows the desires of your heart. .

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it is going to get better, but now you look back on it?

THAT'S GOD! He passes us through tribulation to see a brighter day.

DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ACCIDENTALLY READ THIS?

NOPE!

Let us all share the Power of God.

In all that we do, we need to totally give HIM Thanks and our blessings will continue to multiply.

NOW THAT'S GOD!!!!!!!!

Don't tell GOD how Big your storm is.

Tell the storm how Big your GOD is!

We will all survive this VisaJourney because God is with us.

I want to apologize for messing up with my post...sorry for the triple post...sorry...sorry...sorry...

Jo

P.S. God bless us all on our journey

[jenni and sami 0]

I fully respect all who have posted their prayers here, and I genuinely hope they work, but I hope you don't mind if I ask you guys a question. If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is reponsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals? I just don't understand when people thank God for the good stuff that happens to them, yet fail to admonish him/her for the bad stuff.

I'm just reminded of people who miraculously escape a plane crash and claim that "Jesus saved me", surely the flip side of the argument is that he killed everyone else, or at least failed to save them? As the late Bill Hicks once asked, why was John Lennon killed, and yet George Michael lives on?

I hope this question does not cause offence. More power to all of you for expressing your faith - as a devout agnostic I've just always been intrigued as to how this works.

For the record: I'm crossing my fingers for swift approvals. I guess that pretty much adds up to the same thing.

Good will to all people of this earth.

Sami

Sami…….I’ll take a crack at your question…….. “If we are asking God, or Allah, or whoever to grant our approvals, are we also accepting that he/she/it has been delaying approvals so far, i.e. that he/she/it is responsible for the delay, as well as the eventual approvals?”

First of all, there is only one true God. Period. It is my belief (as a life-long Catholic) that there are today 6 billion answers to your question. God does what he does because he is God and it does not matter what we think or judge or to complain. God is holy and almighty. He created all the universe so he calls the shots. You ask are we also accepting that God has been delaying approvals so far….well, the answer can be “yes” for some but not all. If God has plans for member “x”, and the plans of member “x” do not coincide with God’s plans then the answer can be yes, he is delaying member”x” ‘s approval.

God also gave us free will to choose our own paths as well. Just as you have chosen the path to not accept God totally and to be an agnostic, and I have chosen the path to accept the truth that he gives to us. I cannot judge you and you cannot judge me. In the end, I believe, when we leave this temporary world and we are both standing in line at the great judgement seat of God, I believe that I will have nothing to worry about and that I shall be in heaven with God for eternity. How can I be so sure of this? Jesus. When Jesus died for us on the cross, he washed away all our sins and secured a place for us in heaven. You have a place and I have a place if we CHOOSE to accept it. I accept what Jesus did for me so this is my ticket into heaven.

Could my petition be denied, yes. Could it be approved – yes. Could it take another week, yes, could it take a year – yes. No matter what happens, I ask God for patience and guidance to deal with my suffering. I turn all over to him for help. Jesus told us that to worry about the future is futile. We cannot control what happens to us if we wanted to. Look at all the retired folks from Enron who thought they were set for the rest of their lives. I do not think that many of them thought that they would be applying for “door-greater” jobs at Wal Mart at the tender age of 65.

Does ####### like this happen to us on this earth – yes. Why? Is it God that does this to us. – No. It is the sin of man that creates all the pain and suffering on the earth. That plane crash you spoke about, why did it happen? Maybe someone tried to save some bucks and didn’t put in a couple of bolts into the engine – maybe the pilot was drunk, maybe it just happened because it hit a bird, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe and on and on and on. The truth of the matter is, we will never know all the answers to all our questions. Only the One True God Knows All the Answers. When we get to heaven, you and me, we can both ask him – O.K.???

I looked up the definition of Agnostic. I found this; “Agnostic theism is the philosophy that encompasses both theism and agnosticism. An agnostic theist is one who disavows knowledge of God's existence but chooses to believe in God in spite of this.”

I thought that this was an interesting definition for agnostic. My question to you is – does this definition define Sami?

What I find interesting is that you were the first one out of all the members on vj to question this prayer thread in many weeks that it has existed. Also what I find interesting, is that I was one of the first to get involved and to try to give some sort of an answer to your question. I did not wake up this morning and think to myself, “ I think I will answer a question for an agnostic today”!!!!!! Do I think that I will be rewarded for defending my beliefs? To tell you the truth…..I do not know……maybe this was my test of faith in my life today. If it was…I want to thank you for being involved in my test!!!!!!

Mr. Lonely ( Mike )

Hei Mr. Lonely,

Thanks for your explanation. I must admit I am still at a loss. I guess I don't understand that if, as you say "Jesus told us that to worry about the future is futile. We cannot control what happens to us if we wanted to", where does it leave all this praying? Seems we are trying to control our future, albeit through petitioning a higher power. I also wander whether, if we can influence God's behaviour, would we not be better off asking him to turn his attention to climate change, famine, genocide, than to speeding up the process at the USCIS? Yes, I realise that these huge problems in the world could be argued as being man-made and part of the paths we have chosen to lead, but then so could the terrible delays at USCIS.

As you can probably tell from my apparently incorrect use of the term agnostic, I am no theologian. To answer your question, my understanding of the term was that it meant "undecided" (a gross simplification, but close enough to where I'm coming from). I am unsure if there is a higher power, and if there is I am undecided of what/who that God (by whatever name) is and which version of God's teachings I should choose to believe. Seems to me that religions are all humankind's attempts to understand the unfathomable and therefore all holy writings and teachings are tainted by humankind's prejudices and weaknesses, as well as humankind's incredible strengths and virtues. I guess I just try to be a good person to all living beings and hope that if there is a God, they don't mind if I don't call them by their correct name. I suspect that in many people's eyes that leaves me damned, which makes me sad.

Once again, many thanks for your clarification. I understand and respect that y'all have a strong faith and trust that questions from those who think differently will do nothing to dent that.

I wish you a speedy approval so you can be with your loved one soon.

Best wishes,

Sami