doojable

An priest, a pastor and a rabbi were discussing how they decide what percent of the offerings they got to keep. The priest said, "I keep ten percent just like it says in the Old Testament." The pastor said, "I keep 12% - one percent for each of the twelve apostles." The rabbi said, "Do something a little differently. I take the offering outside and pray, asking Jehovah to bless it. Then I take the whole offering and I toss it up in the air. I figure that whatever He wants, He'll keep."

I wasn't going there.

Is he a Tiger or a Dwarf? Wow! This poster really can morph! Africa or France? Is there even a chance He's in Ohio eating gorp?

He never made any reference to "scriptural truth" at all. He said the State has no jurisdiction over religious beliefs, but they do over actions stemming from those beliefs. He also never said that conduct doesn't change beliefs. Do we need to start adding "Reading with a Purpose" questions to posts?

The courts are bound by the Constitution to maintain Freedom of Religion, however they have determined the need to limit the actions that stem from those beliefs. A group may believe in animal and/or human sacrifice - but they are not allowed to act on that belief here in the US. Similarly, the actions of sexual misconduct stemmed from a belief. The judge merely separated the belief from the act. He never condoned those beliefs - he merely stated that the court could not review them. The state only had jurisdiction over the act. If a man beats his dog it indicates his belief that it's OKAY to beat dogs. He teaches that belief to his children - by example and possibly by his words ("Dogs are just property. I'm doing with my property as I see fit.") Now suppose he's so convinced a group of people that he's right about this dog-beating thing and they not only cover for him but actively go out and find dogs for him. They are acting in concert on a belief! That's a conspiracy. The reason that TWI's beliefs even had to be addressed and separated from the acts of LCM, RFR and RB is because a religious belief, a belief protected by the US Constitution, was at the core. Religious beliefs of this nature are more insidious IMO. They pretend that there is a higher power that sanctions the acts that we as mere mortals are smart enough to have deemed wrong. But as George Carlin pointed out, there's that, "You have to wanna" aspect to sin. If a person really wants something badly enough they will find a way to make it seem OKAY - they will build a belief system - and if you can get Holy Sanction! - WOW you've hit paydirt. So, Bubba goes out and buys himself a Doctorate of Divinity. Now he's Dr. Bubba. He starts teaching a class. In this class he starts to add the seeds of what it would take for him to beat his dog in peace. He gets others to believe that they are more spiritual that all the other mortal mooks on this earth who are unenlightened in the ways of dog-beating. He teaches a "select few" of them to beat their dogs with reckless abandon. Now he has an inner circle of "spiritually elite dog-beaters" who have learned to keep these beliefs in a lock-box because "the world would never understand and Satan would try to stop the truth about dog-beating." (Most important of all... Dr Bubba has a group that will rally 'round and protect his right to beat his dog- even at their own expense. He's protected. He's safe.... that's really all that matters. ) These dog-beating believers have a mission - a holy sanctified mission! - protect the truth at all costs! Gawd is counting on YOU! He has no hands but your hands with which to beat dogs. If you let this great truth out the world would never understand. (They never get it!) The Devil will win and the Anti-Christ will be ushered in. OMG! - don't let that happen! Keep your trap shut! Loose lips sink ships! Arghhhhhhhhhh! When it comes to "truth" taught by VP - it's fruit of the poisonous tree IMO. The whole thing was interlaced with the underlying belief that would lead to sanctioning some evil acts. It's no different than the Devil quoting scripture to Jesus in order to trick him into doing something that the Devil wanted him to do. "Hey Jesus! Jump off this high place - the angels will catch you! It is written... really...come on... you believe don't you?... Forget it, maybe you just can't handle it spiritually. Maybe you're not the Messiah after all. If you had real leadership ability you'd be able to act on the Word..." Sound familar?

VP was quite deplorable Stories? - Phantasmagorical! He'd drink Drambuie Had a doctrine - quite screwy Many thought he was horrible.

Do we need a cyber-exorcism?

I'm going to paraphrase some scripture again. That section where it says that "with their lips they do worship me but their heart is far from me..." If that doesn't describe RFR and her ilk - what does? They use the words - but they are used to deceive.

How cool for you and your family jeast! Many congratulations and well wishes for this next phase of your life.

Ya know George, I kinda expected you'd like to see it. But we had the piece locked in a safe until I framed it and I had to get it out of the shop ASAP. The most I could have done is taken a photo with my cell phone- and that wouldn't have turned out too well. That's by Andrew Wyeth, isn't it? "Christina's World." His grandfather, NC Wyeth and his son, Jamie Wyeth were/are also great. I'll post some of their works soon.

Sorry... I've been busy with party preparations - don't ask and I won't tell ;) I'm also looking for my next quote...

Cornfield impostor told many lies In fact he is known to have plagiarized. His class was it was stolen Filled with stuff from his colon (;)) Now six feet under he lies

BTW George, Today I got to handle an original drawing by Diego Rivera. I'm considered the Master framer - so it was entrusted to me. It was real neat to have a little bit of history in my white gloved hands. His drawing style is reminiscent of Picasso's. This drawing was of a man amusing a baby with a rattle. It was a very sweet drawing - even in it's abstractness.

Baptism with water? No way! That's what vp used to say Now he's under a mountain Of water - (the fountain) Still unclean with a price to pay.

;) Under the fountain lies an a$$ One eye eaten and one eye glass Corn to corn, dust to dust All his deeds turned to rust I hear he even killed the grass.

NP George - It's kinda interesting to hear what someone doesn't like about a painting. Didn't mean to creep you out with a post.

Canadian Bacon and cheese Then you add fruit to it? Geeez! Add sauce and some bread Are you out of your head? It's like what I get when I sneeze. It's really a fake, dontcha' know? To the "originals" you really must go VP didn't do it But we never knew it Then we bought "gaspumps with snow." (Nods back to dmiller - and trying to tie pizza in with railing on vp and twi..;))

Pineapple on pizza? Absurd! Didn't vp eat that when he taught "the verd?" Loy was known to say, "Fruit pizza is gay!" "I hear that it tastes just like merde." ;) (game on dmiller!)

One hundred dollars was all it cost They told me "There was no Holocaust!" "The Jews aren't Jews Stop paying them dues" And many of my friends I lost.

Hickory dockery dic VP tried to teach with his d(ck He got drunk on Drambuie Law of Believing? Phooey! Man that guy was sick!

They show their true colors - NOT white! They seem to think they are right But they worship a drunk A real cornfield punk And for VP they will always fight.

Come one, come all, gather 'round Hear the apologists make their sound, "VP was a hero! VP was a saint! VP saw snow where snow ain't! Too bad VP is in the ground."

I don't know Eyes. I think it's about 11" x 14" but it may be bigger. I haven't seen it in person, the photo was sent to me.

Here is a painting by an unknown artist: