Ham

and what was the *greatest* ancient language development.. the little IBM selectric typeball with Aramaic characters on it.. kinda archaic now, isn't it? big stinking deal.. it's far less than a footnote to a footnote in the greater scheme of things.. kinda like having some guy reciting aramaic text, recorded on a betamax tape..

and if I may add.. having two or three folks on staff, tutored by Dr. Voobus himself.. didn't make his "research" "ministry" an unquestionable source on the merits of ancient biblical languages, either..

I think this brings us to the crux of the matter.. vp was NOT a "scholar". he didn't "research" like a scholar.. he didn't document sources like a scholar.. his sexual and alcoholic proclivities precluded any kind of legitimate claim to "scholarship".. could he read, and understand at least part of what he read? Yes. Does, or did that make him a scholar? No. Most of us have left the cornfield huckster light years behind us..

Dot, I say this sincerely.. if you should come across a soul who actually loves and cares for who you are.. opens the door for you.. maybe even acts kinda flaky.. I hope you don't reject the guy just because he's NICE. There are actually SOME of us in existence here who don't try to use "niceness" to control people..

I tend to think more that he gave it a Boris Badenov kind of resuscitation- "out with the good, in with the bad, out with the good, in with the bad.." filtered allright.. filtered out "evil" doctrines, like those forbidding adultery and fornication, drunkenness..

so much of the last part of that book was just a cut and paste from Bullinger.. the four crucified, day Jesus Christ died.. the three days and three nights.. not a single footnote referencing Bullinger.. the only thing "original" was "the cry of triumph".. oh.. I forgot.. that was Lamsa's work..

other gems of "research" included the supposed difference between throughly and thoroughly..

Well.. he's the best woodsmith I know of.. with that old fashioned hammer, I'd imagine he could reduce said window to it's appropriate parts in no time at all..

"we have our BEST PEOPLE (wood)working on it.."

So the big question: what happened to the window? Was it sold at auction to "grace" somone's otherwise drab kitchen? Sent to the landfill? Or.. held hostage at a secure storage facility deep in way world?

and further, why no reference to what and where these "manuscripts" he refers to? very very little "detail" for a "research" publication.. I remember him talking about the *great* significance of the "research" of da way in Aramaic and all.. why no or little details regarding these "fantastic" discoveries in foreign languages? What do they think they actually FOUND that no one else in the world found, or had access to? I guess it looked scholarly.. walked scholarly, but at the end of the day, it just ended up being a pitiful second-rate cult..

I'd say it must be something in the water.. but the whole town hardly turned out like this..

*screams from behind the woodshed* "but PA.. honest, there were no busses out of New Knoxville.." fast forward about fifty years.. gramps holding young vicster, bouncing him on the knee.. "Ma.. this boy has a far away stare in his eyes.." "looks like he's starting to see snowstorms pa.."

I wonder if it was the same excuse he gave his pa for skipping school in September. "honest pa.. there was a freak blizzard.. besides, *they* told me school was cancelled.."

the only thing I see at the end of this.. he had either a few friends, or family who felt his life was worth a little more than the statement that pool full of blood under a chinese tank would make..

antagonistic.. you really don't have a clue.. here is a fine chinese gentleman "witnessing" to the approaching Chinese army.. may I add.. many of his "comrades" didn't have the luxury of a "prevailing" authoritarian doctrine the previous day.. the same this character was "witnessing" at the moment.. nobody knows who this guy really is.. or was..

I've "learned".. in the great scheme of things.. I know (or knew) practically NOTHING.. and it's actually OK. but I'm getting better..

I'll say this in the nicest way I can.. you think playing mental gymnastics with a bunch of ex-culties to be some kind of "antagonistic environment" to save the "honor" of your "truth" against.. it's kinda.. what's the word.. pitiful.. try "witnessing" in downtown Beijing..

to this point you have not even seen an "antagonistic" environment.. disappointed, fed up.. perhaps. But antagonistic.. no. Don't take this wrong.. you have no clue what an antagonistic environment is.. you MIGHT see it in your lifetime, maybe not..

I dunno.. but look at the adds at the bottom of the page here.. google adds for body armor..

Nor I the works of Aleister Crowley..

but he's like the pope! Or at least Santa Claus.. The R.C.'s still regard the "distillation" of "truth" from their leader's lips above and beyond question, do they not? I read where they went as far as to say that they were sent "wicked popes" when they were "off the ball.." the people musta been BAD people ya know.. and they held that the pope's "authority" was still god-given, and MUST be obeyed.. he could trace his lineage to peter and all.. same for the english and french royalty.. I've seen where some of them try to trace their lineage back to abraham and david.. http://www.ccg.org/english/s/P067.html now we have the modern, however FAR LESS well known wienerwillian version. Son of a farmer.. descendent of Hugenauts.. "destined" to be da KING, ahem, I mean mog.. he couldn't trace his lineage to David, however, or Solomon.. though some here have TRIED, by comparison.. so the next best thing? We need a miraculous sign to confirm the "divine" appointment.. it's really the same religion.. we have a class which "rules".. edicts and doctrines cannot be questioned or challenged.

maybe they marked and avoided the bagpipes..

actually I think I do understand you.. areas of focus, repetition and magnification.. in other words, its doing the same thing, over, and over, and over.. constantly "renewing the mind".. continuously speaking in tongues.. "witnessing".. reading the books.. constantly reminding God of his supposed areas of responsibility in the relationship.. (praying for "what's available" and all) maybe I'm wrong.. but it looks like a "high maintenance" relationship. so high maintenance.. that in YOUR words: I think one day.. maybe not today, but one day you'll come to the realization "I just can't do this any more.." EVERYTHING about the way was "high maintenance".. "friendships", if you'd call them that.. "eligibility" to hear the supposed newest and bestest teachings.. *any two believers who can renew their minds and all* marriages.. and last but not least, our "relationship" with the Almighty.. it was such a FRAGILE thing, it required constant renewing of the mind, speaking in tongues.. "doing" da word.. in short, constant NAGGING.. I just don't see much trust in a relationship like that anymore..