George Aar

To me it sounds like very typical religious nonsense. The Bible makes all sorts of promises. Prosperity, health, joy, peace, - all of that sort of stuff - but (to me anyway) is quite often found wanting in the "follow though" department - i.e. The miracles DON'T happen. So what's a good Christian to do? Well, they could toss the whole theology as mindless superstition (somebody I know has done just that), or they could do like the good reverend here, and cook up a whole lot of spin doctored theology to explain away the obvious contraditions. I don't find it that remarkable that someone so dedicated to an idea is willing to go to ridiculous lengths to keep from admitting the obvious, I see it everyday right here at GS, or at any church I've ever wandered into...

Socks, "so slap my hiney and call me Judy" You tease...

Well, I love and am loyal to my parents as well. Problem is, my father thought that Franklin Roosevelt was the greatest human being to ever draw breath. He told me so many times. My mother, OTOH, thought that Roosevelt was just about the spawn of Satan, and was equally vociferous in her condemnation of him. What to do, who to believe? Gee, maybe, bright lad that I was, I could do a little reading and find out for myself, and develop an opinion all on my own, just like a big boy. You might try that out yourself, cmck. Sooner or later you're gonna haveto develop the ability to think all on your own.

Lorna and ckmkeon Hey, I'm not the one who claimed that I could do "all things". Yeah, yeah, I know what's coming now, more parsing of words and mindless spin. "It's all things according to The Word, George! (you ignorant, unbelieving boob!)" and such like. Yes, The Bible has tremendous meaning, but the meaning can't be understood in light of what the words actually mean, but in what the meaning that God meant them to mean, and not necessarily anything resembling reality as we know it, but in the reality that faith reveals to us, or should, anyway. That is, if we have it interpreted right. But we just know it's true, don't we? Whatever blows your skirt up...

Hey, in Duluth curling is taught in High School. Not sure if it's required or just an elective, but... Anyway, think of shuffle board on ice, but where you can change the speed and direction of the "stone" after it's thrown. I've always loved it, but don't ask me why...

Oooo, I'm am getting dated, my first car was a 1952 Chevy twodoor sedan. Aching bones, BP meds, and now Wilford Brimley has taken up residence in my bathroom mirror! Getting old sucks. I wish there was a reasonable alternative...

Well, probably everybody's seen it a dozen times or more, but RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK has got to be the greatest comic-book movie of all time. For a darker theme, THE RAGING BULL is a longtime favorite. I think it was De Niro's best. Maybe not exactly a "guy" flick, but I don't know a woman that didn't hate it. And Chas, except for maybe the Stooges, I'd be outta the room too. "School of Rock"? Accck!

Well it's all been said already, but SEVENTEEN MONTHS ahead of time?(!) Good Gawd, they plan Moon Landings in less time. This really is hilarious. Yeah, I'm sure the new grads will be able to accomplish things like: Tying their own shoes Wiping the spit off their own chins Finding all the books of the Bible really quick (oooo, that's a tough one!) They didn't mention anything about pinning a note to your collar so they know where to send you if you get lost. I think that's a gross oversight...

ckmkeon, I really find it refreshing when folks like you show up here at GS (and yes, they show up with great regularity). It reminds me of just how bassackwards we are were in our priorities and the utter inablility we had to think clearly. And - sorry to say - I laugh a little bit (at your expense). But hang in there, you may catch on yet. Or, if nothing else, Rosy may need a poolboy...

Well Jonny, you've filled in some blanks for me. When I was in Colorado in the 80's building a house, I took a weekend and went up to visit Gunnison. I saw the TIP battles still in progress at that time and wondered WTF? And now, believing as I do that "tongues" and the related prophesy and all, is simply gibberish, it's even curiouser. WayWorld was certainly adept at bringing out the peculiar in us all...

If I may, he was not "just a man", he was "just a CONman". The fact that he chose to peddle religion rather than snakeoil should do nothing to mitigate that reality...

Bagpiper, I haven't posted much on GS, but when I first found WayDale, uh, I was a rather regular contributor. I didn't realize it at the time, but that was some of the best therapy I could ever have found. I said all the nasty, ugly, (and, unfortunately TRUE) things I'd been thinking about WayWorld for years. I got it all off my chest. Day after day, I just unloaded. All the resentments, pet peeves, anxieties, broken dreams, unpleasant realizations, wasted years and resources, I let it all out. And after all that I DID feel better. I really did. WayWorld was/is an unspeakable evil. They are a sinister, $hi++y little cult that exists ENTIRELY to serve the whims of it's leadership. An inbred, introverted, insular, self-serving, disgusting clutch of closed-minded, judgemental jerk-offs. After spending 28 YEARS in such a dispicable outfit, it's no wonder you're having some issues after leaving. Give yourself a break. Do things for yourself for a change. Follow YOUR dreams for awhile. Find out what you really like, what your real abilities and interests are. And above all, take a break from Bible talk for a bit. If there really is a God, He can wait for awhile while you get your bearings again. And if you think you could use a therapist, you should know that a lot a them WILL negotiate their rate, especially if they know you'll be paying cash, and may not have insurance. I'm not entirely sure mine did me any good (I was going to her for an entirely different reason), but, a lot of folks claim it was a life saver. You can always quit if it doesn't do it for you. So, my advice? Post A LOT. Get if all off your chest. Say all the things you've only dreamed of saying before. Tell off all the boneheads at HQ and elsewhere. It's REALLY cheap therapy (God knows WayDale saved me a small fortune in "shrink" time).

I guess it depends on what exactly you think the church's "job" is. Personally, it seems to me the church's job is to make plausible excuses for why reality never lines up with the "promises" of The Word. Basically, to rationalize why God never seems to deliver in the manner advertized. In that regard I think TWI did a pretty good job. But the churches weren't all that lacking in that department either, from what I could tell...

Eventually, even for the dimmest bulbs, the scam became all too obvious.

O.K. , so believe the bible then - bring about world peace, put an end to suffering, hunger, and want. And bring joy to everyone. I'll watch...

Patriot, Re:"His bookkeeping got him his start in the furniture business where he made millions." I know this was always the WayWorld contention, but I kinda doubt it. I mean, I saw the little place where HEW did his upholstery work, I saw the shabby little cottage where his widow lived, and the cars he drove, etc. If that's the trappings of a millionaire, well, I'd be more than a little surprised. I wonder if the assertion that Harry made so much money isn't more a product of WayWorld lore than of anything that really happened? Just a little dubious...

What nonsense. It doesn't take much of anything to dismiss the bulk of Herr Doktor's "teachings". The majority of them don't hold together on their own, let alone by getting "hysterical" over them. It was mostly a lot of feel-good claptrap and a bit of appeal to the rebellious nature of our youth. Other than that, it was just so much religious blather. Shame on all of us for being so easily conned...

I'm a pretty hard-core jazzophile, and, sorry to say, I've never heard of Benny Golson. The Quincy Jones reference may be a bit telling though. I think Quincy has tried to promote quite a few marginal talents over the years. I remember guys like Billy Cobham and David Sanctious and a few others. Good musicians for the most part, but maybe without a lot of depth. They put out an album or two and then quietly fade away. I think the value of the album would be entirely dependant on whether or not anybody knows the guy, and on that count I'd have to say, I don't think so...

Gawd, It's all so warm and inviting, almost as much as a hospital operating room, or maybe the "clean" room at some electronics assembly plant. Jeezus Gawd, we weren't the least bit anal-retentive now were we? Damn! Can you imagine actually living like that? It boggles my mind that I thought that was the way things ought to be. What was wrong with my brain?

You gals are too sweet. I do have a lady-friend in Kobe, though she's more an onna no kyodai (sister) than a Hana-Ogi (reed flower, I think). Maybe I'll have to go back in the fall. The weather's wonderful then...

Women have a groin? ewww, it sounds so unlady-like. And why do I keep thinking of the comments of the Olympic sports-announcer on the National Lampoon album - "That's not Funny, That's Sick!" while he was viewing the floor exercises?

Yeah, been there done that. I wish I had wonderful words of encouragement and comfort, but... I just don't, sorry...

Gee, almost like they have a dogmatic adherance to dubious blather. Funny, I noticed the same thing - in a markedly reduced degree, but there all the same - from my former "Christian" friends when they found out that I was an agnostic. Hell, that was even the excuse my wife used for taking her leave. "Don't share my superstition?" "Well, I can't be seen with YOU!" It seems like a pretty human trait...

Yeah, What Kharmic said. Personally I've been on some statin or other (I think it's Lipitor) for about a year now. I haven't grown a third arm or gone blind - yet. I've heard nothing but good about them really(statins). Have you been spending too much time with the organic granola crowd? Funny how we keep living better, longer in this country but there's always more doom, death and despair with the "alternative" folks when the subject of modern medicine comes up. In my current state of mind I don't much give a $*@! if I die tomorrow, but if I did, Lipitor would be the last thing I'd worry about...

Sudo, This may come as a shock, but I never saw the show. Dohno why, just wasn't on my agenda. I did watch "The Addams Family" though. Maybe that explains it. Were they on at the same time - different stations? "Car 54" was a great one, too, and another sit-com of the era that nobody remembers "I'm Dickens, he's Fenster"...