Thoughts from class #1 (Trinitarianism)

• God is, to some degree, predictable, not in that He is without cleverness, or that He is simple.  But that He is perfectly consistent.  EDIT:  This understanding of God's nature is in stark contrast with the chaotic nature of much of some pagan pantheons (Norse, Greek, etc...).  Not that such predictability is a "proof" of God's validity and value, but that the nature of God emphasized through His predictability is what makes God singularly unique amongst all other gods.
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• In regards to Atheism vs. Christianity, the atheist risks everything to, at best, obtain nothing, while the Christian risks nothing to gain everything.  This is not a reasonable argument for one to believe in and accept the salvation of Jesus.  But it is, perhaps, a reasonable argument for one to consider the possible validity of Christianity.  This is based on Pascal's Wager, an interesting concept.  Everyone makes the wager.  Not choosing, is choosing.
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• Just because the rights and wrongs of two different cultures seem or are opposite, the concept of something being either "right" or "wrong" is an undeniable similarity.
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• Interesting, how there are Atheists in Atheist governments who admit to the presence of and desire the positive social impact of orthodox Christianity, regardless of whether or not they themselves actually believe in Christianity.
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• It is not good enough to try, as an individual attempting to obtain the "good" outcome after death, to be "good enough."  It doesn't work.  The "good" outcome, an eternity with God, is "good" in that it is based on a relationship (of many wonderful and absolutely necessary facets)
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• Sometimes it is better to simply share the Gospel with someone who does not believe, without preamble.  It is dangerous, at times, to engage in what might best be called "pre-evangelism" when sharing the Gospel with someone.  Sometimes we soften the Gospel, making it more palatable with appetizers of our own that leave the non-believer quite full and satisfied and distracted by the time we are ready to share the Gospel.  We need to ask ourselves why were are saying what we are saying in regards to what we are saying to those who do not believe (an easy answer if you say only the Gospel), for purpose of playing a part in them believing (God blessing us in gifting us such a part in evangelism).
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• It is ironic when a man or woman suggests that the presence of evil in the world proves that a good, just, and loving God cannot exist.  Evil exists because of the actions of humankind, not because of God's actions.  And God is not inactive in response to the problem of evil.  With perfect understanding, God is simply acting perfectly, quite beyond our ability to comprehend...except when God reveals His actions/emotional response to evil to us.  Whether we listen or not is up to us.