geisha779

Info I didn't have...yes, a very good thing! Interesting too... :) I also love that song...and she is so darn cute too.

Church can be a great place for accountability. Most of the Christian men I know from local churches have accountability partners or groups....they get together to pray a few times a week....they fellowship and they help each other stay on track. Without that accountability...... well....we know what can happen. and.......anyone can look at their own reflection in the water. Out of curiosity...if you don't even go to a church.....how do you know there is a watered down gospel being preached in many churches?

Here's one for you Jeff....Minnesota! <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

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I think he takes the little bus...you know...the "special" bus.

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The more things change...the more they stay the same. :) This is not much different than what Paul was confronted by in the 1st century....(dare I say it?) CHURCH. It did some serious damage to his relationships with the people of Corinth and it is also apparent in Galatians...these guys were trouble. Putting people again in bondage. Extremes? On one end we have those who would subject people to laws and rules that don't apply.....and on the opposite end we have people like VP who lived as if sin didn't exist and grace was a license to live in a debauched and base manner. Christians find freedom in Christ...both extremes are just a dressed up rejection of Christ...IMO. A way to adopt religion.

What I thought was particularly poignant was this group.... Nazarene Fraud Victims http://groups.yahoo...._fraud_victims/ in some ways it reminded me of our little group here at GSC. A collection of individuals speaking out against religious abuse. I was struck by the similarity of tactics used on people, in particular manipulative language. Take for example... the use of Lashon HaRa as a means of censoring. Perusing these pages was reminiscent of TWI, with its negative confession, possession, shunning and using the "word"as a means of control. If you follow some of the links from that group it brings you to this page http://www.mashiyach...estrimmcrap.htm where you find the term Lashon HaRa suggested...Doesn't it seem to usually start off with a suggestion and subtle persuasion to a mindset...the lure of some kind of brotherhood and exclusivity? However, it can quickly turn to bold face confrontation and some kind of shunning if people do not obey the "Word" the "Torah" or whatever holy writ the leader has decided to interpret for the world. Notice it is hardly ever "obey God" with these guys...but usually the promotion of an unhealthy allegiance to some book that can be manipulated? Always so far out of the mainstream? I do understand that I may be somewhat overly sensitive to certain language.....but, I believe being aware of manipulative tactics is a invaluable skill which we all have paid dearly to possess.

Wow...what do you win Composer? A blue ribbon...a gold star? Not worth getting worked up over cman....it is really kind of sad IMO.

You said it sister!

I think I did too....I spilled coffee on my laptop and I just never know what is going to come out...there is my excuse for ALL my posts...and I am sticking to it!!

Huh? Jesus told one guy to sell all his goods...but, in his discourse with Nicodemus He doesn't mention wealth or posessions.....or to the woman at the well.....or to the man born blind....and what was the argument was used AGAINST Jesus when His feet were anointed with costly oil? Sell all your possessions was directed to that rich young ruler, at that time, according to what was in that man's heart.. It is not a litmus test of a true Christian nor is it a commandment..... Jesus is a personal Savior.

There is more to life than doctrinal arguments. TWI left a pretty large wake of hurt ex-followers....why there is even a forum.....and when they start a forum to tell the other side of the story...chances are.... there IS another side to the story.....(What was that 'victims of fraud' link Roy posted?) In TWI...when we said anything negative about "leadership" ...out came the manipulative language...."disappointment"..."sin"..."lockbox". I never heard them use Lashon HaRa, but it is probably only a matter of time. So glad I am no longer swayed by THAT tact! Besides, ex-way always have Michael Rood .....that is.... if they are in need of a self-proclaimed Messianic Prophet! Sometimes it is good to keep it in-house.

Lagy Gaga does an acoustic version of Poker Face and it is really nice....my kid played this version from "Glee" for me ... I liked it. <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zq4o-FlKbo&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zq4o-FlKbo&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zq4o-FlKbo&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

GSC is one of those sites that tells the other side of the story...I would hope that people would at least read here and consider before buying into ANY TWI theology. I don't think there is anything wrong with looking at what others have to say when someone claims to be a teacher of the scriptures or a scholar....hey, wish I had listened about VP. If you google James Trimm and the word "false" you get a whole different crop of sites warning about him. Doesn't hurt to take a look....just like it doesn't hurt to look at this site. Just saying.....I would direct someone to GSC to consider the testimony here.... ------------------------------------------- Soul Searcher, Yeah, I saw that too and got caught up in reading about them!!

Just Google James Trimm with the word "cult" ....and it will come to you...

Or Soulfest.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulfest that is pretty amazing too. It would be so great if these kids got out and worshiped with others their own age and participated in some of these awesome events. Maybe some do...I don't know, but it does seem they are still isolated and controlled. The Christian 20 somethings we know always have some event or fundraiser going on for some project or cause. Some missions trip or World Vision campaign. Huge(really fun) car washes, benefit concerts, can drives....they do so much good and it would be nice to see those in TWI integrated into some of these ministries and churches.

I didn't know Robert Downey Jr wrote music and sang....but I heard this song at the end of the movie Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and really liked it so I looked it up and it was him. This is the only video I could find with the whole song.... <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

We use the word in our vernacular....I don't really think it is much different than how we would use it in description today....the essence of something not tangible, but nevertheless....real.... :) I gave it a shot anyway.

Yeah...what she said!

I have been to your site before! I looked at it once or twice from a link somewhere here...maybe your profile. I have to say that there are days I want to believe you are right....many days....and I actually was attracted to universalism at one time. God is a big God...and I surely don't know it all...but, at this point in time...I find it hard to reconcile universalism with my understanding of scripture. I hold a high view of God....which means that I believe God is holy, perfectly moral, just, and right....scary to my sense of what is right...at times. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. I try to adjust my understanding to His ways....truly I often miss the mark....but, looking at universalism(I want it to be true) it just doesn't jive with what I see. :( Who knows....God is pretty able.

Oh for goodness sake....Acts also say this: ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2018When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. 22"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. 25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.[a] Be shepherds of the church of God,which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. --------------------------------------------------------- I would be taking a closer look at that passage in relation to TWI instead of comparing their conduct to that of the Apostles when praying for boldness....TWI was a cult not a nice little Church....and there are enough warnings in scripture to be without excuse. IMHO

I am reading a really great little book by DA Carson entitled Exegetical Fallacies. The first chapter deals with some of traps we can fall into when doing word studies....it is not as simple as locating the word, its root, and how it has been used before.....and trying to put how we understand the word into the context. Even if we try reading it in context it can be a trap to assert meaning. With Jesus....well, there were many Rabbi's saying things...true things...and speeches full of biblical words...but, it was the authority He had that was given to Him....that set Him apart. That is the difference with the Apostles as well...their authority with the words they spoke. It is fun to trace words through the bible.....but, we have to be cognizant of many other variables to really glean an understanding. In English....we can board a plane...or be on the board of directors....or we can be bored....or bore a hole(whole). Sometimes with words like, Phileo, Agape, Pletho, and Pleroo the differences in meaning are so insignificant that their different uses don't alter the meaning of scripture. We can read meaning into their uses though. Because of our background we can be tempted to fall into the trap of bibliolatry....and embrace yet another heresy because of what we think we understand with words. Remember, people use the same words...found in scripture...to praise the Lord and also to blaspheme Him. Biblical words. Our attitude and how we approach scripture is the key to biblical interpretation IMO, but even more key is our attitude when approaching the Lord. Some of the epistles refer to Jesus predominantly as Lord, some as the Christ, and it is FUN to learn the differences and why....but, it is important to remember that they are pointing to one distinct person for a reason and not to lose sight of that as we study words. In the book, Carson speaks of the different word study fallacies and one of them is "Root Fallacies" thinking that all words have meaning bound up by its shape or components.....sometimes it is true and he uses the example of our "goodbye" and "God be with you" but, also uses our word "Nice" which comes from the Latin word for ignorant...nescius... this makes the point the root is not always the answer. They look alike and we can trace them out, but sometimes they don't match up. We can fall into the trap of looking for hidden or literal meaning that just isn't there. The point is ....etymology is not always correspondent to meaning. How do you understand words that only appear once? If there is nothing else available then we have to attach meaning to them! We have no choice. He mentions ....Romans 1:16 when Paul uses the word power...people are fond of saying that dunamis is where we get our word dynamite.....so this power of God blows everything up and makes all else obsolete? Well, there was no dynamite to blow things up when Paul wrote this...so it may not have been what he had in mind...or 2 Corinthians 9:7 God loves a cheerful (Hilarious) giver....is this a commandment to play a laugh track as we give? No....could be Paul meant it in a different manner than we understand hilarious.... "Semantics is more than the meaning of words it involves phrases, sentences, discourse, genre, style; it demands a feel for not only syntagmatic word studies(those that relate words to other words) but also paradigmatic word studies(those that ponder why this word is used instead of that word). " DA Carson They didn't argue with Jesus over semantics...they called His authority into question! To top it off...He also claimed He could give authority to others.....there is so much MORE in scripture than words....their meaning...and how they are used. Before we can understand their meaning combined we need to have faith in their subject....but then again, the purpose is to wet our appetite for Him...not arrive at knowledge. Here are the word study fallacies Carson covers for anyone interested....it is a handy and helpful little book that really kind of shook me...The Root Fallacy, Semantic Anachronism, Semantic Obsolescence, Appeal to unknown or unlikely meaning, Careless Appeal to Background Material, Verbal Parallelomania, Linkage of Language and Mentality, False Assumptions about Technical Meaning, Problems Surrounding Synonyms and Componential Analysis, Unwarranted Semantic Disjunctions and Restrictions, Unwarranted Restriction of the Semantic Field, Problems related to the Semetic Background of the NT, and Unwarranted Linking of Sense and Reference. And that is just the chapter on Word Studies.

This....as he sent off (two X two)hormonal 20 somethings.....to live together communally for a year......brilliant way to resist temptation!! God has no hands but our hands..... Acts 17:25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

What's not to get? That is as clear as.......mud. Scary thing is....there was a time I actually understood that quote.