Apologies for the long message...
I have been watching a few of your videos lately and I felt like I should write you a message. I am not the kind of person looking to have a totally mindless conversation on religion as I am sure you have gotten before posting videos like this. However, if you wouldn't mind taking a little bit of time to discuss your beliefs/statements that would be greatly appreciated. I will do my best to be an "Intelligent Christian".
First of all, with regard to your arguments presented on your videos, I have found a few holes in your arguments and I will try to back them up with Scripture to the best of my ability. Off the top of my head these errors could be fixed by reading some of the verses in context, or by reading other parts of the Bible in cross-reference. Also, when you are reading, take into account the audience to which the speaker is speaking to, many times that will give you an increased understanding at the point that is trying to be made.
For example, with your statement on how Jesus does not return to us in person: Mark 16:19 says, "After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God." You can see this again in Luke 24:51, and Acts 1:1-11.
When Christians say that they "are experiencing Jesus", they are referring to the Holy Spirit, which brings me to the belief in the Trinity, or God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I do not know how familiar you are with this but descriptions of it all over the New Testament especially.
With your reference to Matthew 18:19-20, on Jesus answering all of your prayers, with friends, whatever that may be, that is Jesus is telling them that God is a giving God. This does not mean if you pray to win the lottery its going to happen, because your motives are wrong "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures'' (James 4:3 NIV). The Bible is full of examples where "ask, and you shall receive," are said, yet this has puzzled many people, like yourself, when prayers seem to go unanswered.
My other explanation for this I am sure would go under your list of "excuses, " but the more I pursue the Lord and try and learn as much about God, the Bible, and everything related to it, the more I am humbled to know that I am facing an impossible task of learning everything. We serve a God that is too great to be confined by human knowledge and we can only scratch the surface of his wisdom. I do not know all the answers, nor will I ever know them, nor will anyone else. I do not understand why God chooses to do some of the things that he does, however I take comfort in the fact that regardless of what happens, God will provide and take care of his children (see Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11).
Frankly, I would much rather put my life in the hands of my creator, who is good, rather than take my chances on my own (which I have tried to do, trust me).
I can sense your frustration with Christianity/the Bible/Jesus and really just Christians in general. I understand that these beliefs do not always seem to be logical, but that does not make them to not be true!
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing your response.
[name]
