oenophile

I am sure the guy went off half cocked.

I am definitely an expressive. Although, I have some amiable characteristics also. I can't stand the pushy drivers or the aloof analyticals. The four main characters of Star Trek were patterned from these personality types. Kirk: Driver Spock: Analytical Bones: Expressive Scotty: Amiable

Satori, I don't think I have ever read such a clear description of dualism. I am looking forward to hearing more from you not only on dualism but also on dependent origination which is the consequences of dualistic thinking.

Rascal, The LC and the BC will feel the heaviness of God's Hand for their coercion of you when you were in such a vulnerable position. They acted from their corrupt and controlling mindset. You are covered by God's grace and mercy. You acted from a pure heart.

It is pretty easy to spot Paul's pharisaic background in his boastings and in his critical mindset often found in his writings. Paul pretty much was like the rest of us. He had his human frailties but tried to follow Jesus' example and often came up short just like us. He exquisitely spoke to us of God's grace, love and forgiveness as well as His eternal purpose. He also wrote that "the letter kills but the spirit gives life." It is a pity that teachers and writers down through the centuries have parsed his letters in order to construct their version of the logos of God.

WB, After four years of Bush_it, dog poop might be a refreshing change of taste. I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. Can't wait til after Tuesday when we can all go back to just being people. Happy Birthday!

dog poop? Why not? A 100 billion flies can't all be wrong, can they?

they who walk their dogs on city malls roll their **** in little balls they who might find this strange a bit eat those little balls of ****

That would be a pinnacle experience to be the guest of honor at a nude baccanale being embraced by a rubenesque maiden revealing her rather well endowed breast, keeping my wine cup full while a cherub ....es in the foreground.

Blowing the first ever 3-0 lead in a baseball post season playoff series couldn't have happened to a better cast of characters, especially the obnoxious owner. Notwithstanding Joe Torre who is a decent guy.

Awww, you guys made my day. It is comforting and uplifting to know that there are people who care.

Fans of Penthouse may have noticed the photography credits of a George Georgiou. If this is a the same guy George Georgiou that I remember from my ECU twi days, he is a PFAL grad and I remember taking "Dealing with the Adversary" with him when Walter Cummins came to ECU to teach it live in the fall of 1972.

Since I have never been a "follow the crowd" kind of guy, what was happening in the Limb (Texas, at the time) had no bearing on me leaving. Almost from the very beginning, I never enjoyed being involved in twi. I simply endured it because I allowed them to define for me what my core values were without holding up their teachings and practices up to scrutiny. I will never again allow anyone or anything convince me to check my critical thinking at the door. As soon as Toto tore down the curtain and revealed the Wizard of Oz for who he was, I was out of twi. I agree with Gandhi who said that "there is no god higher than truth." I am just beginning to come to the place that I fear no truth and I accept truth as truth wherever I happen to find it. Wordwolf, I am not sure that I have answered all your questions directly but the opinions of others were never a deciding factor in me leaving.

I experienced twi2 as twi1 on steroids, more of the same just more intense.

dmiller, You hypothetical situation about the drunk, his Ford, the liquor store and Budweiser offers an opportunity to explore the subject of individual and corporate responsibility. In this case responsibility for the accident depends on the circumstances. Even though I am not a Ford guy, I don't think Ford would be culpable unless it could be proven that the Ford had a mechanical defect that contributed to the accident. If mechanical defectiveness was shown to be present, Ford should only be liable for contributing negiligence. The drunk would clearly be liable for damages because he made the decision to drive impaired. He was unquestionably the most responsible players in this situation. Anheuser Busch should not be found culpable provided that they had followed federal, state and local regulation for the manufacture, promotion and distribution of it's beer. The liquor case should only be found liable if the driver in question was not legally old enough to purchase beer or showed up already drunk at the store. I agree with you that the consumer bears responsibility for the safe use of a manufacturer's product. I heard once that a man sued when he lost his arm while using his lawnmower as a hedge trimmer. Stoo-pid claim. In Senator Kerry's voting to not allow the gun industry to skirt their responsibilities if they fail to produce a safe product when used in lawfully and sell if to people who are not excluded from buying it by law for reasons of public safety are reasonable positions in my view.

CC, I love reading your posts. They are filled with disarming wit.

dmiller, Thank you for keeping the discussion alive on the examination of Senator Kerry's voting record and doing so in a civilized manner. You asserted that Senator Kerry has consistently voted for abortion and against gun rights. Let's take a look at his votes and positions. Senator Kerry has been consistent in his support of a woman's right to choose to terminate her pregnancy. This is an area personal beliefs. I must say that on this issue I may differ from Senator Kerry because I think the time for choice is before she gets pregnant. However, in the case of pregnancy resulting from rape or when the life of the mother is in jeopardy, abortion clearly should be available. In regards to gun rights, when one looks at his voting record. He has been consistent opponent of the NRA whose constituency is really gun manufacturer's and retailers and not gunowners. If you are thinking of challenging this assertion, let's look at the evidence. In 2004 he voted against legislation that would have prevented anyone (like someone who had a loved one killed by a firearm sold and used by a felon, or mentally ill person) from suing the negligence of a gunseller who sells a gun to someone who he shouldn't have a gun in the first place. Who was the beneficiary of this legislation? The private gunowner? Clearly, this legislation was intended to protect the NRA's real constituency, gun retailers. Senator Kerry also voted against banning lawsuits that resulted from the violations of state and federal law referring to the sale and marketing of firearms where the violation itself was found to be a probable cause in causing harm. Again, who was this legislation designed to help? Wasn't it the firearms industry and not an individuals right to bear arms. Senator Kerry voted to protect gunowners when he voted to once again to protect their right to sue the gun industry for defects in workmanship in a firearm or ammunition (such as when an explosion from a firearm wipes off your face) and for breach of contracts. Are you starting to see a pattern. Every other industry is responsible for the safety of the products that they market, why shouldn't the gun industry. Now let's consider some other significant areas that the Senator has taken a stand. He voted in favor of legislation that calls for the President to take measures to implement measures to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Hmmm, what has Bush done in regard with this authorization? Let's see connections with the oil industry, Cheney, Haliburton, the Saudi Royals, Iraq intervention, Oil prices exceeding $50 a barrel for the first time. Makes one wonder who are Bush's real constituency, doesn't it? Kerry also voted for the development of energy efficient hydrogen fuel cell cars. Apparently, Senator Kerry is smart enough to realize our addiction to foreign oil will continue to be supported by the blood of our children. It hardly seems that Senator Kerry has just been sitting around sitting on his hands these past twenty years does it?

Linda, I think Eagle is just sore because her boy got whipped. dmiller, Help us to understand your logic and substantiate your claims regarding Kerry. You put Kerry in the same category as men who were drafted as having risked his life. I would readily agree that many drafted service people were put in harm's way as was Kerry although Kerry volunteered to serve in the war which does not exactly place him in the same category as draftees. You then go on to cast doubt about his heroism in Vietnam although he was awarded medals and cited for his heroism. Kerry and Bush both came from families of privilege. Kerry chose to face combat rather than use his family's influence to keep himself out of harm's way. Let's discount that Bush took advantage of his family's influence to avoid service in Vietnam as well as to get into Yale and Harvard Business School for the moment. Ahem. The fact remains that Kerry and choseto fight on the front lines while Bush chose to be warm and cozy back home in the National Guard in a unit in which no one remembers serving with him. It puzzles me why you therefore call into question Kerry's patriotism. Was it because he protested what he saw firsthand in Vietnam which violated what we stand for in America? Hasn't history proven him right? Isn't patriotism more about standing up for founding principles of this country than wrapping yourself up in the flag? I find that your assertion that Kerry has done an excellent job in robbing the country of what it stands for is without merit and falls flat on it's face.

Hi Rascal, thanks for asking about me. unfortunately for me, i will be unable to attend this year's festivities in light of my current job situation. all the best to all who will be attending...i'm hoping to rejoin the fun next year. r.

yawn -->

Sorry, Def but I cannot buy into the "we are made for God's pleasure argument" that serves as the basis for Warren's book. I find it fatally flawed. It is like another one of those a priori assumptions that seem innocent and reasonable at first but once accepted you must follow it all the way through to it's logical conclusions that in the end are devastating. Remember from the twi days the assumption among others that we were asked to swallow without engaging our critical thinking went something like this...twi is the only place that teaches the rightly divided Word of God...therefore, you must only fellowship with twi and count others as "unbelievers"...therefore, this includes your family if they choose not to take the class and "stand"...therefore, only fellow twi'ers are worthy of your love...therefore, everyone else must be tricked and is either worshipping the Devil directly or indirectly...therefore, ad nauseum. I agree God is Holy and as such is deserving of our highest praise but the metaphors He uses to describe the relationship He desires to have with us are the relationship of a loving Father with His children and marriage. What do these metaphors have as their common basis? Isn't it a relationship based on love, intimacy and a full sharing rather than God made us for his pleasure. What kind of family results from the notion that children are for the parents pleasure? Sounds, pretty dysfunctional doesn't it? What kind of marriage results from the basis that the woman is for the man's pleasure? Doesn't sound very nurturing does it? What makes God holy after all if it's not the unfathomable riches of His love? Love Wins. And I love you! :)-->

We were made for God's pleasure? Our purpose is to offer worship? Does God need His ego constantly stroked by us, his children? That sounds like the beginnings of a co-dependent relationship with the Divine. Perhaps, we were made for Him to pour His love into and having experienced His love and we can offer it back to Him and our fellow humans. That sounds like the basis of a healthier relationship with God and our fellow man. Like the bumper stickers my church gives out "Love Wins."

I would like to challenge the "pretenders" to the title of King of Silly to a "joke off" I think I can joke off with the best of them.

i would like to order the embracing rosie-donna exploding figures. also give me the lcm sparks spewing through the mouth and eyes...which whistles "vpee and meee..we are the mystoreeee!" also the twi motorcoach bomb..which rocks for awhile before burtsting into flames!

Considering the disappointing performance of the USA basketball "Dream Team" which was selected from the creme de la creme of the NBA, can the NBA Champions be rightly called "World Champions?" How about baseball? Wouldn't be interesting to see a real World Series between the MLB champion and the Cuban national team? My money would be on the Cubans. What do you think?