Eyesopen

Good post John. Now had the first comment concerning the grammatical idea been stated in this manner perhaps there wouldn't be a tiff going on right now. Just perhaps. Edited 'caus i still caint spel nun neethr!

Hee hee heee haaaww... I appologize but I found that funny! I do have a bit of a demented sense of humor tho... :P Ok so I don't really want a war but I am wondering how does this: quote: Imagine, maybe there is more to our healing than just moving on. Maybe there are layers, levels that need to be examined each one at a time, only to be seen and presented as the previous layer has been examined and addressed. See the pain; be the pain. IMO pain is OK as long as it's used in moderation. Qualify as an opposing opinion? With a little tweaking I can see it... I do understand Johns belated but welcome explanation concerning his comment but I fail to really see the opposing opinion part. But then again I really fail to see the opposing opinion in the comment concerning "grammer" as well. Perhaps someone would care to enlighten me on how that post was in any way shape or form an "opposing opinion". It was an opinion but it was at the very least off topic and rude and at the worst a personal attack. (I'm not saying that it was the latter as I have already stated that I believe it was the former. I am giving the benefit of the doubt on that comment.) But now I see this: Do you and Bramble really enjoy being victims as much as you appear to. You were 'victims' in TWI and now here you are being 'victimized' again just because someone disagrees with you (despite the fact the you initiate the confrontation just as often as not). Once again I am compelled to ask the question, where is the opposing opinion? Rascal was talking about layers of habit patterns that needed to be peeled away to get back to correct and healthy thinking. Bramble was agreeing with her. Where is the "victim" in that? And on a side note, isn't this thread titled; "Why is there an Ex-TWI site?" Is not each poster expected to some degree respond to the title question? Is that not what Rascal did? So what is the big problem here? Some disagree, ok so disagree without making personal attacks and move on. That is considered polite civilized adult behavior. It is something I learned by the time I was five years old. Don't force me to pull Rodney K!ng out of my pocket!

Exie happy birthday dear one! You have your own kind of special magic that touches everyone. Today go do something for yourself that's special! I love you

Yummm....I can hear my arteries hardening and feel the fat growing on my hips! Hmmmmm good!

Well like some of you I scrolled through the avatars and just wasn't finding anything that fit. Some seemed to fit some aspects of "me" but never the whole picture as I saw it. Then I came upon this pic of Angelina Jolie. It was perfect! My life is very similar to hers. I was a not so bad kid. I grew up with just a bit more and a bit less than my piers. While growing up I spent some time rebelling. Then I spent some time doing what was expected of me. Shortly after that stage I went into seclusion only coming out for work. But then I decided to be what I wanted to be...me...and if no one liked it...well so what? AJ epitimizes how I see myself...smart, clever, playful, sincere, truthful (you knew that was coming!), honest, a good friend, a dangerous enemy, loving, caring, just a little bit batty, faithful and of course just a tad bit sexy (not nearly as sexy as she...but not bad either). :D That's why Angie, I do admire her but I think she would admire me too! Hmmm...is that conceited of me? Well..I don't care what you think! I'ts the Word people...uhh sorry flashbacks! Hee Hee...of course I'm kidding! Oh yea..that whole "dare me" look on her face...yea that's me to a "T"

Understanding that it was false doctrine is a huge stepping stone. The point you made in your first post that Timothy was written to a church leader is a monumental item. Realizing that a foundational scripture of TWI was not even written to us when vp made such a big deal about "To whom is it written?" well...what can be said?

Hi Mark thanks for the information. I actually didn't have the Catholic one and had been looking for that text. I know that it was a gradual thing and that there were many events and people involved and lots of time elapsed to give us the Bible that we have today. But I was trying to forestall my enthusiasm for the subject because I didn't want to derail this thread. :P I got into a great discussion with my boss today on this specific subject. He did his thesis on the fall of Rome and of course had a lot of historical knowledge concerning the Catholic Church and the compilation of the Bible. It was a good talk. It lasted off and on for about 6 hours. Perhaps sometime we can get together and share our mutual enthusiasm and understanding of the subject. :)

Thanks ASpot. I felt rather foolish when I read the section again. Considering your definition my "dilema" becomes quite clear. Righteousness as I see it and if I'm reading Thayer correctly as he sees it as well, is a state of being. Kind of akin to being "alive" or "healthy". Either you are or you are not. There is not such thing as "kind of pregnant". Nor do I think that you can be "kind of righteous", either you are right or you are wrong; either you act accordingly or you don't. Which is what I think JC was talking about in Matthew. After verse 20 JC goes on to lay out several of the big sins and the appropriate behavior as opposed to the inappropriate. He was drawing the obvious contrasts out for people. He was trying to show them how they should live by example but not the example of the scribes and Pharasees. Because if you imitate them you will not be righteous. God is not stupid he knows that all men sin but, that is not the point. The point is does your life and your words line up with each other? When people sin they need only ask forgiveness and God is faithful and just to forgive our sins. Hence remaining righteous is not an issue. (Of course JC is not talking to those born again so these people will need to do the whole sacrifice something at the temple gig, which he also mentions in that sermon) ASpot you are absolutely correct the Bible as we know it today as a compiled piece of work was done in the 4th Century by Constatine and the early Catholic Church fathers. Up until that time all they had were scrolls, verbal doctrines and of course epistles. When they were compiled only those that fit the doctrine of the time were included. The rest were conveniently destroyed. Some apparently had copies and are resurfacing. But that is another story.

Hmmm...come to think of it after having broken my jar, I had to resort to boiling the water and making two seperate 2quart containers of tea. Maybe it was a blessing. (Not so) funny that I would have not thougt of that.

Certainly God's word supports the "ranking" system. It is fairly clear throughout that once in heaven there will be those that receive more rewards and honor than others. It is also just as obvious that actions speak louder than words and intent plays a huge role in how God perceives us his children. My question was about degrees of "righteousness". But I have read the section in Matthew again and now realize my error. Matthew 5:20: ...That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. My error is self evident. Neither the scribes or the Pharisees were righteous at all. Hence no dilema concerning degrees of righteousness. Please continue as if I hadn't butted in with such an inane question.

Hhmmm...could be a parfaits. Not sure what it is, but I am pretty certain that Rascal is correct. It is like layers. Everytime I think that I have gotten to the chewie center of my tootsie pop, there pops up some other thing. For example. I dropped my gallon jug of sun tea on the floor the other day. Of course the bloody thing broke and sent tea spilling and flying everywhere. My immediate thought wasnt "Oh SH!T!!" it was "Now what did I do to deserve that?" it was immediately followed by "Where have I erred and stepped out of fellowship?" As soon as those thoughts burst into my brain I snatched them out again. But they had been there, first thing. Of course it was just an accident. It wasn't any "punshment", it wasn't me not paying attention to the "details" it was an accident pure and simple. Oh sure the bottle was wet from sweating and perhaps I shouldn't have been dividing my attention to the several other things that were going on at the same time. But dropping a bottle is not an indication that I have gone out of "fellowship" or am being punished for some sin that I have committed. The bottom line to this story is that we as people have been so conditioned to respond both physically and mentally to any given situation that it may take many many years before we even recognize that our response was a conditioned response incorrectly supplied by TWI. I haven't even been near a "fellowship" since 1990 and yet this little layer has just recently come to the surface for me to recognize. Makes me wonder, "What's next?" P.S. Rascal-I love you dear heart! I dont care how you spell. Your heart is as gentle as a spring rain and I for one am both pleased and honored that you share parts of it with us here at GS.

I'll have the above with eggs, sausage and SPAM! So glad you mentioned this as I love the stuff! We have two butchers here that carry anything you can imagine to eat in the way of meat and several that you had never thought of before. They have rabbit, both kinds, farm bred and Jack rabbit. They also have Moose, Elk, Venison, Rattlesnake, Shark, Squid, Octopus...the list is very long. If they don't have it just request it and they will find it. JJ thanks for the hasenpfeffer recipe! Now the squirrel one...naw I think I'll just substitute chicken. In honor of Mr. Ham.

MMMMMmmm....I love chicken.

Have a wonderful Birthday Oakspear!

I don't know if its old but in Tijuana they wrap the hot dogs in bacon before cooking them. Then they are placed on a slice of cheese in the bun and topped with diced Jalepenos, tomatoes, onions and dill relish, plus mustard or ketchup if you want it. Yum! Edited to add this: JJ, I have got to know...how in blazes do you wrap peanut butter with anything? and why in heavens name would you wrap it in bacon? (I still havent found a smiley guy that will shrug his shoulders for me...maybe cause they don't have shoulders)

Incredible! And very sad.

My comments in purple: Sorry I cant quite get the whole 'quote' thing correct. It would be foolish of me to disagree with this, but I am still wondering. Certainly ASpot is correct, our "approval" of God is not determined by our intellect, but certainly our enterence to Heaven isn't contingent upon our being more "righteous" I was not aware that there were degrees of righteousness. Perhaps someone can correct my understanding? I do understand the part that says basically he who sins the leastest gets the mostest in heaven. But only JC was sin free. Am I off topic ASpot?

There may be hope for my stick man yet!!

Ooooohhh....my toes are all tingly!!! Its her! Its Angelina! What an incredible piece of art...I mean the picture of course, we all know Angie is a piece of art! But I dont get how you get a bunch of people to draw on little scraps of paper to make a really good single picture.

Happy Birthday Dooj, If I could sing I would serenade you...probably wouldn't sound like Sir Paul but what they hey! I'll ask him to give you a call next time I run into him! Love ya girl, have a great day!!!

This sounds intriging...hmmm. Now I have to wait? For this I will be patient. :P Love you my dear!

I like this idea. Very cool! And I would like to hear your input as well Dooj. As I said I really find your art quite soothing. I am pretty much all thumbs when it comes to that style of visual art and as for theater or dance, hahahahahaha (I assume being called a "drama queen" doesn't count?) However, some people think that I can string a couple of sentences together that make some sense. I'm not so certain about whether or not that helps people though... This is a good idea Paw. Edited 'cause maybe I can rite ok but my spillin aint so very goood.

Belle, my prayers are with you. Dooj, its not nice to tease you know....tell... :D

I rather like the idea of a round table discussion. Certainly without venturing into anything really contraversial, like Kathy said, at least until we become more comfortable with each other in that medium. Perhaps a simple discussion to begin with and gradually move into more complex topics.

That is absolutely incredible news! I think your work is very gentle on the eyes. You have an amazing and wonderful talent. Four years is nothing in the art world. At least you didn't have to die for them to sell.