TheEvan

I'm far more concerned that the movie fit with the SPIRIT of the scriptures than with its nut and bolt. Therefore, for instance, the "Jesus film", a rather literal rendering of the gospel of Luke, leaves me a bit cold, whereas Zefferelli's Jesus of Nazareth uses many 'extrabiblical' devices effectively and score a direct hit on my heart. I don't consider my understanding a whit behind 'the average Christian'. Indeed, I've been finding that their understanding is usually well ahead of mine... Planning on seeing the movie this week.

Hmmm, they have a sense of humor about themselves. Quite unlike those bouffant troglodytes at Der Weg who gaze emotionless & vaguely menacing at the slightest hint of self-deprecation.

Quite right Garth. And in a roundabout way I think that's waht Mel was trying to say.

It was an attack of The Adversary (Whoever that is)

As regards the mandolin, didya hear Bush on Prairie Home Companion saturday 'fore last? No, not that Bush, the REAL Bush, SAM Bush. Now THAT'S a player!

Zix, that's why God made classical guitars. There has been a trend of late to offer steel string gutiars in wider fretboard to facilitate fingerpickers. The narrower boards suit flatpickers & strummers. An 13/4 or 17/8" board is likely to feel much more comfortable. Ditto the radius. it haelps facilitate the barre for the weak of technique, but it makes other things more difficult. So, some, not many, steel strings are now availbale in somewhat flatter boards. Incidentally, I'm leaving for Africa this Friday, and I don't want to schlepp a guitar this time. It was a royal hassle last time. So, I made an offhand comment that I'd like to try a travel guitar like the Solette or the Yamaha SIlent Guitar on the trip. Heck, folks were tripping over themselves offering me their version to try. None of whom I've met. SO, I have a Yamaha S. G. and an Aria Sinusido in hand. Looks like the Aria breaks down into a smaller package so I guess it wins, though the Yammie is a nicer guitar. See, I have a full recital, hour & 45 minutes with intermission, the whole bit, coming in May. I have a lot of music to memorize & master before then and I can't afford to lose the 3 weeks I'll be in africa. Aren't people awesome?

Well, ex10, you could always hook up with a 'oneness' Pentecostal church (UPC being the largest group). There's no question they worship & honor Jesus. They are definitely unitarian when it comes to the Godhead. How do look with you hair in a bun & long denim skirts? :D-->

Looks like it's my turn. Went shopping for slacks yesterday and couldn't fit "my size"...

But are "biblical unitarians" or Trinitarians more "spiritual"? Is there a demostrable effect on the person's life that is notable superior to that of the other belief? Or is it just about 'being right'?

Well, rather than try to relate the miraculous or the supernatural to the adoption of this or that belief system, how about relating simple "spirituality" to them? When I don't think it's a fault of the doctrine per se, I find in general unitarians lacking in "spirituality" compared to Trinitarians. Now that could be because of some defensiveness about their doctrine (underdog syndrome) and a tendency to be doctrinally oriented. Outside of Calvinists, I've known few Trinitarians whose religious paradigm is doctrinal. It tends to be evangelistic (in the case of Baptists) or faith-actions (in the case of older-line Protestants such as Episcopal or Methodist) or mystical (in teh case of Catholics). In all cases, I've seen more of a tendency to reach for the spirituality exemplified by the Sermon on the Mount than I have in more doctrinally oriented groups. The fact that I worship and reverence Jesus as God only enhances my spirituality, as far as I can tell...

Danny, I've thought about your question many times. I never saw much of the miraculous during my Gulag years, just a bunch of wishful thinking. But I did see more of the supernatural my first few years. It seemed to choke down after the "Coastal Coup" when Wierwille brought the east & west coast under his control and his first corps grads were sent out....just my experience.

I know you know this, Mark, but just so the Trinitarian position is'nt misrepresented, saying Jesus is God is not tantamount to saying he's not the Son of God. i bring this up because of your reference to the number of times "Son of God" appears in the first chapter. Tell a trinitarian of all these references containing "Son of God" and I'd imagine that either their eyes would glaze over or they'd answer something to the effect of "Yes. And your point is...?" The hackneyed rhetoric and logic that Wierwille presented as "irrefutable" on this topic is embarassing. It was only made worse by the arrogance of those arguing the points. The doctrine of the Godhead is an arguable point. The trinitarian position has many merits as do some of the several unitarian positions. Why all the big arguments? Many even huff & puff over the issue. Like, who's big enough to explain God? Now, I respect the Bible greatly and wish to adhere to its tenets, but unless I missed something I see no clear didactic revelation of the precise nature of the Godhead in the Bible.

I like that you called it The Holy Spirit. I even like it better that the thrust of what you and other have said has more to do with yielding than an act of the will.

My son thinks it is SO COOL that we used to be in a cult. I'm not kidding.

We have friends who went to the Emporia auction. They bought the fabled red drapes. Yep, bought 'em. Not "believed for" them, paid for 'em. They were the red stage drapes from Kenyon. she & her husband were restoring a Victorian house & she wanted to make red velvet drapes for the parlor.

Here's an interesting account my daughter received from one of her Nashville friends... >Subject: Mel Gibson's Movie > Please pass this along to your friends and help get the word out about >this movie! > > This is an email from artist Christy Nockles: > > Hello friends and family, > > Nathan and I wanted to share with you that we were able to attend a > > private screening of the new Mel Gibson film titled "The Passion Of > >The Christ" this past Monday night. We unexpectedly got on the list to go > > and view it at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, TN. Neither of us > > were really prepared for what we viewed. It's really hard to find the > > words to tell you how life-changing this film was for both of us. > >First of all, Nathan and I felt completely out of place. We got in somehow > > through Don Donahue (thank you, Don) but most of the crowd was the > >Country Music Industry...artists, radio and press. Ricky Scaggs sort of >hosted > > the event. This movie changed our lives forever. The room was full of > > the sound of weeping and loud sobbing, including our own. I told > > Nathan on the way home that I only wish that I would have seen it as a >young > > teen. It is so fitting that the whole movie begins with a black screen > > with the text of Isaiah 53:5, "But He was wounded for our > > transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities , the chastisement > > for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed". I've > > attached an e-mail below from Lisa Bevill who attended the viewing as >well. She > > very beautifully describes the experience of viewing the film and then > > getting to have a question and answer time with Mel Gibson himself. > > (PLEASE take time to read it because she goes into great detail about > > the Q & A time that we had with Mel...it was so cool.) The room was > > silent as the movie ended and even as Mel walked down the isle of the >chapel people remained completely stunned by the film. After he was > > formally introduced, everyone stood and applauded him loudly. He so > > graciously answered each question, and was very candid with us. It was > > very apparent, though there was a huge absence of "christian lingo" > > coming from his mouth (breath of fresh air...thank you) that he has a > > deep relationship with God, he believes that Jesus is the Messiah, and > > that he's coming back to get his people. Mel and his small band of > > believers around him are asking the church to take on a "grass roots" > > approach to this film. They are asking us to tell everyone we know > >about it... They are wanting artists to show the DVD trailer at concerts, >to > > do pre-sales on tickets through churches and FOR EVERYONE TO GO SEE IT > > OPENING WEEK! It really does matter that you go the first 2 weeks of > > opening which is FEB.25TH. It is so important!! THIS MOVIE IS > > LIFE-CHANGING AND I PROMISE YOU IT IS ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. > > THIS MOVIE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I fell in love with Jesus on Monday > > night. Either for the first time, or all over again. It is so amazing > > that the same King who endured that cross and was broken for me, lives > > inside of me! I am in Him and He is in me. I cannot wait until Noah > >and Elliana are young teens so that we can let them view this movie. > > Please pray for Mel Gibson. Pray for protection for him and his family. > > Pray that God would pour back on him 100 fold what he spent on this > > movie so that MORE MOVIES LIKE THIS CAN BE MADE! He spoke about the > > major warfare that has been going on over this movie. He also told us > > about several miracles and conversions that happened throughout the > > making of this film. (Lisa tells about these in the letter below) So >amazing... > > Anyway, we just wanted you to know about this so that you can have a > > huge part in the success of this film! Lisa gives out the website info > > as well below. You can put a link to it on your website and you can > >also request promotional materials from their website as well. Blessings to > > all of you in the name of our Lord! Christy and Nathan Nockels (E-mail > > from Lisa is below) > > ------------------------------------------- > > Hey friends and family, > > Last night I attended a private screening of Mel Gibson's movie > > ...12/8/2003, at Ricky Skaggs' church in Hendersonville. I attended > > with Bonnie and Brent King. There were about 200 people in attendance. > > Well,....let me just say that I am speechless, moved beyond words and > > sobered by what I saw last night. I'm sure many of you will be > >receiving emails from some of your friends who were there as well...and >you'll > > probably be bombarded with their own personal stories.. There were > >many country artists as well as Christian artists there, along side some > > radio and press folks. The movie was in a rough cut version...but still, > > I thought a very finished state,...special effects had not been added > > yet, nor was the music complete....still it brought uncontrollable > > weeping from everyone.. I couldn't stop crying through the whole > >movie. And when the movie was over, there was complete silence in the > >church.. > > I wanted the story to go on and on...for another two hours.... I think > > the movie was about 2 hours long. It got started late, like around > >7:30, and the next time I looked at my watch it was 10:30... so I actually > > don't even remember. There was a question and answer time with Mel > > Gibson himself, so who cared what time it was. Every moment of the > >movie was captivating,..breathtaking....still there are no words. The > >beating and suffering of Christ was almost unbearable to watch. The scenes > >with flashbacks of Jesus when he was a little boy and a scene of his mother > > running to comfort him and then cradling him in her arms after he had > > fallen down about the age of 4 or 5.....was interlaced with scenes of > > him falling to the ground carrying his own cross, so bloody and > > unrecognizable...and then her holding him in her arms after he had > >been taken down from the cross. Her face then stared into the camera while > > she was holding him...and you could just imagine the things she was > > thinking. Every parent who was seated near me .. fell apart. The nails > > being hammered into his hands was the most real thing I had ever seen. > > One scene of Jesus and the interaction with his mother...just reminded > > me of every 20-year old man/child and mom relationship. Where she's > > trying to get him to come to eat...and has to remind him to wash his > > hands before eating...she brings water to wash his hands..and after > > washing, he gently splashes water on his mother..but then wraps his > >arms around her and kisses her on the cheek....and takes off running to the > > food.. I don't know..it just reminded me of something my 15 year old > > Cody would do to me..... And the thought of one of my boys going > >through that, just made me want to die inside... Anyway... I could go on >and > > on....but I truly have no words....as you can tell by the book i'm > > writing here....haha. There was a question and answer period last night > > with Mel himself. We had heard rumors that he's been showing up to > > these screenings. I got brave enough to put my hand up and ask a question > > about the miracles that we had heard about, on the set. And he began > > to talk about so many I couldn't really keep track. I remember hearing > > about one of the actors being hit by lightning twice yet walking away > > from it..with only smoking fingertips, healings , conversions on the > > set,..but I especially remember him talking about a Two-year old > > child's, hearing and sight being restored...and he said...you know you > > can't fake that when you're two. So we know it was real. > > He was asked about Spiritual warfare on the set...and he just > >laughingly said..."Oh yeah..just being in Italy alone was enough >warfare,..but he > > said it was intense. He said that the bad press surrounding the > > movie..is just a few small pressure groups that are causing all the > > noise. But seem to have the loudest mouths. And that became the reason > > for having these small private screenings..is to get the word out and > >to start a grass roots campaign into a swell. WOW....that sounds > >familiar. > > We all get the chance to be Christ's disciples all over again, in a > > fresh new way... > > Ricky Skaggs asked the final question of the night to Mel.....about > >how we can pray for him, help him, spread the word etc. He said that > >"prayer was the most powerful thing. And not to pray for all our enemies to > >have warts grow on their faces, (laughter), but to pray for our warring > > angels to fight against satan's angels, because the people don't know > > any better, they are clueless...and they are just being used by > >satan." > > It was mentioned to everyone in the crowd who were artists, press > >folks, radio..and such..anyone who had a website...to get on a mailing list > >and sign up. That they would be sending links, so that everyone could put > >it on their websites,...there would be movie trailers that artists could > > take on tour with them, show at concerts....any type of promo material > > on product tables etc. They passed out a poster flyer last night as we > > left...and the official website address is: > > http://www.thepassionofthechrist.com > > http://www.thepassionofthechrist.com/ > > This is the address they have on all promo materials for the movie. > > It was a little easier to see the trailer on this site....as it was > > equipped for all computers video capabilities. You can go to this > > website and register to find out more info on how to help. This other > > site that is listed will just give you more info on press stuff and > >more press on the miracles that happened. http://www.passion-movie.com > > (fan site) > > The movie comes out February 25, 2004.. Ash Wednesday...in theaters > > nationwide. And the movie's official title is The Passion of the > >Christ. > > Mel said that he spent 35 million of his own money to make this movie. > > Mel,.. I have to say is a man of the word! He knows the Bible..and is > >a sold-out believer. He said that this movie has been his passion for > >the past 12 years....just 3 years ago did the Lord begin to give him > > landmark signs that now was the time to start filming the movie. He > > mentioned some of them...but one that stuck in my mind, was him saying > > that some random little old lady in France I think...came up to him > >and said something to him that nobody could've known, I don't know what > >she said to him..but he said the signs to get started on it, were > > unmistakable. Ok....well...I know that I am changed...and I pray that > > what I saw will be etched on my brain forever...and Lord, help me to > > never forget the price you paid for us all. Whenever I begin to argue, > > or complain....shut my mouth Lord. And help us all to remember,...we > >are not home yet...that heaven awaits all of us who believe in Him....and > > that we all have a part to play, a heart to share, a burden to > > carry...and a story of love and hope to spread.... Thank you for the > > cross LORD! Make it a point to take your entire family to this > >movie!!!! > > I love you all....and have a blessed Christmas holiday if I don't see > >or talk to any of you before then... Lisa B. >

I tend to agree, Senor 3. I also got the impression that the dynamics of his relationship with "Dad" were difficult at best. (One of Don's first cousins once told me "hey, you'd shake too if VP were your dad")

johniam, I worship Jesus as God. Am I doing something wrong? I didn't say I worship Him as the Father.

We see her on rare occasions. They live in the French Quarter...

My latest theory about playing an instrument well is to quit practicing. Yes, stop now. This is urgent. Every time you practice you are ingraining mistakes into both muscle memory & auditory memory. Instead of practicing, commit yourself to "learning". Take apart what you've been playing and analyze your fingerings, shifts, etc. Find the little faults and learn how they can be corrected. Slow the pasage down until you can solve the problem. Then gradually work it back up to speed in the new way you've learned. In this way (and with ample help from a good teacher), I've gradually remade my playing into something a bit better. Don't practice; learn!

My Christian health never really improved to 'full health' until I chucked the whole thing. So what if a few things Mr. Wierwille said were true? It's like trying to ladle out a few good things from an infected soup. Sorry, there are turds floating in the pot! I've enjoyed my 'long slow slide to orthodoxy'. Those of you who are so sure of the exact identity of the Godhead, the state of the dead, so-called 'administrations', etc, etc, what's to lose if you chuck it all? Nothing, if those things are true. They'll come back 'atcha from 'clean' sources, with no Ohio turds floating in the mix.. Are you afraid you'll, like, backslide or something?

Well, none of this qualifies as abuse, but by the time I worked at Valahalla, aka 'Wayworld', promiscuity there was apparently rampant. I don't want to overdramatize this, but once I was pushed against the wall by two women, one married & one divorced, both of whom started rubbing me all over and saying, well, all sorts of things. Their willingness to haul off and do such a thing showed, to me, their familiarity with this kind of behavior, and and their expectation that there's be no repercussions. This was just one incident. And I'm no desirable hunk, just an ordinary guy. I shudder to think.

Roy, Mike has ignored Dawktor's pronoucnement from the throne, Keeeds, that "God watches over His Word". Mike chooses to urinate all over that one. Mike, be true to your idol, willya? Roy, the English versions of the Bible, particularly the KJV, NKJV are extremely reliable. By reading prayerfully, with faith, you will learn from the Lord himself. He will speak to you through those scriptures if you ask Him. Pay no attention to Mike's faith blasting...

Well, thanks for the bump. Just after Christmas I received the new guitar I'd ordered from Darren Hippner, a Washington luthier that builds better for less. This time around I got a classical braced on the Bernabe pattern, cedar top, Brazilian rosewood back & sides. I ordered it with a short scale because of reach problems with my (old injury) left hand. Also, it features an elevated fretboard for easier access above the 12th fret. And it's all lacquer instead of the incredibly fragile French polish I usually prefer. Santofagunn but the thing is responsive and plays easy. I will use it at my big "graduation" recital this summer, unless my next guitar is even better. Yes, I have another short-scale on order, from Lucio Nunez of San Antonio. It will be spruce over Ziricote and the bracing is a variant of the unique lattice bracing popular in Australia. Okay, so I've got it bad. My recital program: Dowland: Fantasy #7 Bach: Cello Suite #1 Domeniconi: Variations on an Anatolian Folksong Albeniz: Caprichio Catalan Albeniz: Torre Bermeja Intermission Jorge Morel: Cancion y Danza Antonio Lauro: Maria Luisa Antonio Lauro: El Nino Antonio Lauro: El Marabino Paulo Bellinati: Aristocratica Bellinati: Un Amore de Valse Bellinati: Alvoroco Augustin Barrios: La catedral Encore (like I'll ever get one!) Kern: Somewhere Over the Rainbow/If I only Had a Brain

Lightside, Wendy Ford was her name in the Corps (I only mention her full name because she freely uses it on that referenced site). She was in rez for a very short time, as I recall. Of course, alfakat will have the dates, duration, eye color and food preferences...The Man With A Memory.