This year had luxury of spending Vacation in Roatan Honduras good place to dive and snorkel. Same observation and comments from last Spring Break.

1) Beauty of Ocean- diversity of life shows us- Intuitively there is Intelligent Design (not the how it came to be but the why). So much more than a simple puddle in the parking lot. So many millions of lifeforms in the ocean, all the little life forms that go unnoticed and that are sustained. I have difficult time feeding my family of (5) and yet God feeds billions of creatures.

2) God Creation shows us God loves us- he created a paradise (Universe, Earth, places like Roatan) for us. It is a playground. People of all races socializing, music, drinking, the so many colors of the sky, ocean, land and life under ocean. Eating from the bounty of the ocean- fish, crabs, lobster conch shells. Shows us slight glimpse of Garden of Eden

Baby Steps to understanding what we are called to do in our life:

Step 1- Realize there is a God- Thomas Aquinas- (5) ways- logically makes case for God. Beauty of world shows us intuitively God cares (point I made above). It is not dumb luck that you are hear. You have a purpose in your life.

Step 2- God calls us to Love- Golden Rule- written on everyone's heart. Purpose in Life- "Make it to Heaven and Take as many people with you as possible"

Step 3- Loving others in a difficult and complex ever changing world. This gets into the realm of what religion has the fullness of truth? How we should live our lives? Note: This is the step where all the problems occur. . As Christian, would say that everyone agrees with Jesus. We agree in how Jesus lived his life and how Jesus calls us to live our lives- by being selfless servant and loving and caring for others.

Other steps: Question- what are your gifts, how can you use these to serve and help others?
Now Go do it! Pray, Pray, be active in your faith and go Love!

Funny- I knew would see that response.

Yes even in paradise of world and Roatan there is still pain, suffering and death. There is the wages of sin. I did not mention all the (7) deadly sins I see around me: Gluttony, Sloth, Envy, Greed, Lust, Pride, Wrath.

Even with Sin in the World. Does not negate the beauty of the world.

Also need to to take into account that Love conquerors sin.

schmendeler said:

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but it's easy to ignore the ugly places

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Friend, I don't think it's coincidental that so many of the non-believers on this board live in and around Houston.