Heaven and Hell

Recently I have been reading and studying about Heaven, Hell, and eternity. Since becoming a believer in Christ I have believed you must "confess with your mouth and believe in your heart" that Christ is the Son of God and died as a sacrifice for the sins of all man kind. And, if you died not believing that you would spend eternity in Hell. I believe the above, so I am assured of spending eternity in Heaven.

What bothers me is what happens to the approximatly 70 or 80 percent of humanity that dies never hearing about Christ.
Would God not give them a chance to spend eternity with him?
Would God actually create a Hell that is as terrible as modern Christianity says it is?
Didn't He say everything He created was good?
When Christ died on the cross wasn't it his gift for all?
If it was actually a free gift, do we really need to do any thing to earn it?
If there are over 30,000 Christian denominations that all have different interpretations of the Bible, is it possible that ours could be wrong?

These are just a few thoughts I have had on this topic I have come to realize that men have translated the Bible and they are not perfect, and I must be open to hearing from God to help me find the truth.
Don't just accept what others have found, but "Seek first the kingdom of God" and ask Him to reveal the truth to you.

Katrina damage

Just returned from a one week trip to St. Bernard Perish, Louisiana, to help repair homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina. It is hard to believe that there is still so much to do when it happened over two years ago.

Most relief agencies have pulled out and FEMA has closed their temporary housing. Many are still living in FEMA trailers on their own property. Hopefully the work we did on 5 or 6 homes will make a difference in their lives. I know it made a difference in our lives. Sixteen of us traveled from Oregon to do what we could to help. There was also a group from Maryland that was doing the same.

Continue to pray for the people there and help if you can through your church or other organizations.

IRAQ THE MODEL

IRAQ THE MODEL We won't know for years if it was the right decision or not. From the history of how Saddam treated his people I would have to say it was right. He is comparable to Pol Pot who massacured half of the population of his own country, of Cambodia. Civil war in Iraq may go on for years, which we may have no control over, but we have to believe that the country is better off than it was three years ago.
If we are there only for selfish reasons, that will come to light and we will have to pay the consequences. I pray that is not the case.

Surprised

I didn't realize there was such a problem with smenita until last night. I have been cruising along on my merry way without a clue. Now that I know, I will be on the watch for a possible solution, if one is really necessary. It may be the start we need to eliminate unnecessary communication, if there really is such a thing.
Am looking forward to my first experience with it so I can know what it is like.
How does it affect you?