geisha779

This is tragic and heartbreaking. . . it is so horrible. . . shame on those who ripped her to shreds. . . shame on all of them and those who continue to support this group. What kind of people do this? This really makes me sick. I hope her loved ones never heard.

I think the baseball malaise has something to do with this summer. It has been weird. I didn't even bother putting my light jackets away. . . . BUT, I decided to get into it. I have been, for the sake of marital harmony, watching the Red Sox on TV. . . volume on mute. . . and listening to the Twins on MLB audio. I love those live feeds that pop up. The drug thing. . . I am not going to let it ruin my obsession. I was. . . it really gets to me, but no more. . . I love baseball. . .it is one of the healing and good things in life!! Summer will be over. . . baseball gone soon enough. . . although I have had to kinda push myself into it. . . I am now loving it. Trade deadline today. Stuff going on. . . but kinda different. . . no real OHS!! Papi's response to the positive was pretty classy though. . .

Roy, Just a thought here. . . .it is not the same person, but three distinct persons. . . . one God. . . it is a relationship that reveals God's amazing heart of love. Nice post Roy. . . as usual. Ham, He is who He is. . . and He is eternal. . .He doesn't change. . . . OUR controversies are usually about who He is. . .or at least who we want Him to be. . . no? :)

God is good. :) Home indeed.

Other than what has been suggested. . . ???. . . but, we have oodles of it too. I have been making and freezing bread with them. I use the food processor and double the recipe. Tried triple, but it looses moisture. I have run out of people to give it to(everyone else has a garden). . . have no interest in another farm stand. . . and the bread keeps. It also makes a nice gift for someone. I donated a bunch to the camp we are involved with. . . . but it is a bit of a quandry. . . I hate to waste anything. Here is a recipe for zucchini bread. This is the one I have been using. . . you can substitute some of that oil with applesauce. 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon 3 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2 1/4 cups white sugar 3 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups grated zucchini 1 cup chopped walnuts (I don't add these) Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Well, you will be opening for these guys. . . . Dooj, Make sure to sign a liability waiver please. . . it could be an ugly battle.

Mstar Did you see Papi's bat shatter(I love that). . . top of the 3rd tonight? What an inning. . . now 5-2. . . LOVE the chest bumping. . . . I turned away. . . .was Geren thrown out? I heard "Rookie Ump"?? I guess they will talk about it. . . one ear is on the Twins. . . eyes are on the Sox. . . fun night.

You heard the man. . . . MOVE OUT!!

Oh. . . a plague. . . cool.

I wish it was talked to death. . . . you don't have to have special x-way glasses to see the havoc it has caused in the lives of so many or the continuing dysfunction of some of its victims. The fact that there are still people living well and fatted off draining funds from their "members" means it is still a nasty yet viable operation. Maybe when the BOT are holding up signs on a street corner saying "Will work for food" that might satisfy.

Okay, that is the funniest thing. . . because it is so true. . .a gen-u-ine miracle. . .

Along the same lines as people almost dying because they didn't seek medical attention. . . I had something rupture internally . . . usually that HURTS, but mine didn't. . .it is rare, but does happen. . . I knew something was very wrong. . . but, kept believing for it to just be healed. It went on for a couple of weeks and didn't go away. . . . . finally, hubby made me go to the doctor. . . the Doc was not sure what was going on. . . thought it was a miscarriage. . . and sent me home and told me to come for tests the next day. Here is the miraculous part. . . my file ended up on the desk of the head of Obstetrics at a huge teaching Hospital where we lived. . . a fluke. . . . he had nothing to do with me or even my Doctor. He called me at home and told me he wanted me to come to the ER right away. I hemmed and argued and asked if it was okay to come in the morning. . . he was so very insistent I went to the ER. When I got there I was rushed into emergency surgery. . . a few hours more and I would have died. . . it had ruptured nearly a month before. . . I was pretty much bleeding to death. The timing was perfect . . . not early. . . but not too late. . . how it all unfolded was God's mercy on my silly and stupid soul. I just thought I could believe it away. . . . I still remember that Doctor's name. . . He saved my life. . . Dr. Holliday.

A typical manipulated conversion, Dr. Clark said, involves a vulnerable person - a student leaving home, or at exam time, or someone who has lost a friend or lover - who is enticed by some reward: companionship, peace of mind, a place to stay or an implied sexual offering. ''Cult recruiters frequent bus stations, airports, campuses, libraries, rallies, anywhere that unattached persons are likely to be passing through,'' he said. ''Then they narrow the attention of the recruit, in controlled social situations,'' Dr. Clark said. ''He or she is invited to attend a special function, or series of classes. Cult members are assigned to attend the prospect constantly. Eventually they keep the mark involved in group-ecstatic activities, or use meditation, obsessive praying, constant lecturing or preaching or lack of sleep to maintain the mind in a constantly debilitated state.

Of course I don't find the drama silly or funny and I am sure it was hurtful to those involved. What I think is a hoot. . . or a pleasure to see is people relearning to reason. . . something we lost in TWI. It is actually a joy to see. That is what I look for here. I find it all over the place.

I did ask you a question because I wondered about your comment. It was somewhat vague to my ears, but it was a loaded statement. I thank-you for clarifying. :) I don't know though. . . I think it is a hoot to watch people regaining their reasoning skills and evolve their thought process. . . Seems people can agree on a few things. . . disagree on others and still be quasi respectful. There are others. . . I just don't pay attention to. . . but, it is the same in life. There are some bright people here. Funny too. I don't see a we-them mentality or a paranoia . . . or the inability to get on with life. . . for the most part. It is such a small snapshot of an individual life. . . and I haven't been here actually posting all that long. . . so, I guess I missed all the drama.

Well, I can appreciate that you hate confrontation. . .I really can. . . . but asking for it in a passive way and being surprised when you find it is not a very good way to avoid it. Just a thought. RumRunner, Count me among the Star Bellied Sneetches please.

How so?

i have learned to look at things from the perspective of "every day life" to help me keep my wits about me and not be carried away by wanting things so much that i don't see the reality of things but only see what i want to see in things so i apply that alot to alot of subjects and religion is one of those subjects. it was brought up about osama and that's a good example because it's a "today" thing and it's easily understood in "today's" world. in that perspective i bring up the elvis sightings. how many people have seen the "risen" elvis who also saw the living elvis? how many people believe that elvis has risen because of the testimony of those many that have seen the "risen" elvis? and what court of law would accept anybody's "testimony" that the "risen" elvis left "instructions" and his lyrics to the "authority" to someone that had hated elvis, killed elvis fans and stood and held the clothes of a famous fan while that fan was beaten to death but one day on the way to killng more fans the "risen" elvis "visited" him and he "changed" dramatically? it makes no sense and nobody here would buy it for a second. brainfixed, Again. . . reading this I have to point out that Elvis never claimed to be the Son of God . . . . he was a god of sorts to many. . . but not the Son of God Himself. Your reasoning process intrigues me though. . . . :) I have to ask you . . . why the transformation illustrated in Paul's life is not considered by you to be a powerful witness . . . . supporting the events he describes on the road to Damascus. He was formerly a religious zealot. Not some guy just doing his job stoning Christians. . . . he was a violent persecutor. . . . feared. . . he was convinced he was doing the right thing in trying to destroy the church. You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. His conversion at the very least is convincing enough to believe he BELIEVED what he saw. . . . no? How about Jesus' own family? His brothers. They mocked Him. . . James was hanging out with the Pharisees. They were embarrassed by Him. Their brother went around claiming to be the way, the truth, and the life! They were around for the miracles too. . . . "Oh, that is just our crazy brother Jesus. . . thinks He is the Son of God or something". After the crucifixion they were different. . . James died a martyrs death. . . what changed him? Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:7 That he (Jesus) appeared to James after the resurrection. That may have been what got his attention. Would mine. It is not just one or two eyewitnesses or transformed lives. . . amazing is the account of women as witnesses to the resurrection . . . women witnesses?? They were considered invalid as witnesses. . .they were the first ones to see Him. . . Hostile witnesses. . . alive to be questioned during Paul's life and the time he wrote these things. They could refute these things. There is a compelling case to be made that the resurrection happened and Paul saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. . . it is not just one instance of an Elvis sighting. . . considering these things does not lead one into some kind of blind faith IMHO.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Who says it does change to accommodate a religious faith, more specifically the Christian faith? Remember, we came out of a cult. . . . where faith was deeply imbeded in a certain interpretation of the bible. Christians put their faith in Jesus Christ. It is an entirely different faith than in TWI where people put their faith in their own knowledge and understanding of the "word". The Christian faith is a very reasonable faith. However, one must first weigh all the evidence presented and examine it to make a decision to actually believe. Otherwise, it is a blind faith. I am not saying blind faith doesn't happen. . . but, I have yet to understand how that can be real faith. In what. . . a cuz I believe it. . . . kinda thing? Why do we believe it? A Christian knows. . . "The proof of your faith, being more precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have NOT seen Him you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls" 1 Peter 1 7-9 How does one get to that point? Blind faith? No, but what makes one even consider faith in God? The creation?. . . . It can call us to consider. . . all that you can see may cause you to wonder about the unseen or a creator. . . . Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. The creation points to a maker. . . not all will see that or agree with that. . . . BUT, does that change that some of us DO see it. . . it is SEEN. . . evidence to us. The bible. . . a touchy subject. . . I understand that. . . but, the uniqueness of the bible. It is seen by people. . . Its continuity, circulation, survival, prophecy, teaching. . . all unique. Proven track record? Written over a 1500 year span. . . 40 generations, 40 authors. . . written on different continents. . . 3 different languages. . . all about one unfolding story. . . . Jesus and the redemption of mankind. It is actually amazing. The witness of not only those in the bible, but the witness of countless Christian martyrs. Countless transformed lives. Paul was not the only man changed by what he saw and believed. External historical and archeological evidence that lends creedence to the validity of the bible. . . .prophecy. . . the history of the Jewish people.. . .the Christian faith in contrast to other faiths. . . the uniqueness of Christianity. . . . all these things and so much more I could spout. . . These evidences add up to a decision. . . to believe. Not blind faith, but in things seen and understood. Maybe not in things seen by all or things that can be touched. . . . or held or even smelled. . . but nonetheless. . . real. People make life and death decisions. . . important life choices. . . based on a whole lot less evidence than there is to believe in God. . . . . to have faith.

Didn't we just have a thread on how so many seem to lack longevity period? It is no wonder they are handing out certificates to those who make beyond a certain point!

I have no idea what the product is for this one or the country it is from. . . . but it is the cutest commercial. <object width="425" height="344"><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="425" height="344"></embed></object>

I have two acrylic on arches paper from Shawn Skeir's Celebration Series. I bought them for my kids, but also because I just loved them. The colors are so bold. . . . the abstract design catches and holds the eye. I don't have a photo of them, but here is some of his other work. http://www.jacobgallery.com/art_gallery/original_fine_art/Shawn_Skeir/original_artworks.html The other piece I have is by an artist who is more well known for his conceptual art. Iain Baxter. I have the silkscreen mono print on paper entitled landscape. It is a weather vane. . . teal gray background. I love it. http://www.corkingallery.com/?q=node/50/bodiesofwork All are signed and in good condition. I have a few other things I really love. . . a beautiful water color with stunning calligraphy of 1st Corinthians 13 A signed silk Serigraph by Lyn Howley. Mine is dark greens with gold water lillies and when the light hits it just right it shimmers. It is huge and luckily I have a long wall where it hangs beautifully. It is my favorite. http://www.icollector.com/Chicago-Park-By-Lyn-Howley-Chicago-artist-2015175_i7801590

How deeply have you looked into these things? I sometimes need to examine other perspectives to help me cultivate a more rounded understanding. Mine is a limited scope held prisoner by my own everyday life experience. . . . unless I actively pursue outward considerations my view can be narrow indeed. Not to point out the obvious, but Elvis never claimed to be the Son of God. The King Of Rock n Roll maybe. . . but not the King of Kings. I don't think people believe he was raised from the dead. . . but that he never died. I get the analogy, but the thing that makes Jesus unique is that He claimed to be the Son of God. The evidence that Paul saw what he saw WAS the life altering change in him. That is a strong witness. He left relative comfort for outright persecution. . . . There is a really good book by Lee Strobel called The Case for Christ. You should pick it up at the library. It covers so much of this stuff and is well written. It might really interest you. Another is by Josh McDowell called "Evidence that Demands a Verdict". Mock up trials with real lawyers and judges have been done on the resurrection. . . I bet if you Google it you could find a bunch. The verdict might just surprise you. Law professors have weighed in on this topic. . . it passes the evidence test. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/jesus/greenleaf.html Either way, I hope you give it some more serious consideration than equating it to Elvis sightings.

Why. . . . it is almost as if they have a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words. :) Could be. . . . concerning the idea of financial partnership. . . . . . . in their greed they could exploit one with false words. . . . just a thought.

The irony. . . . . . if you could SIT... blah, blah... Your proof in the senses world...(BUT we weren't supposed to be deceived by our 5 senses!) I missed that one! SIT was(IMHO) a crock of S IT. And. . . . it was never really about trying to be good. . . although we were "The Best" . . . . and I know because people used to tell me so ALL the time. Accountability is what I learned AFTER TWI. When I didn't have someone always telling me I was God's elite, super special believer with all the power and actually doing Him the favor. It is a wonder God ever made it without us. . . Oh that's right. . . he didn't. . . he was lost until it snowed on gas pumps. Duh. . . . silly me. I wonder if SOWERS has picked up the slack we cop-outs left?