Rocky

I was in the last draft lottery. My number was very high. There was no way I was going to be drafted, but I had two uncles who were career USAF NCOs. Funding for college was a big issue for me at the time. I enlisted in the Air Force, with the good fortune that I was able to select a career field (according to qualifying tests we took in high school) that pretty much assured that I would never be directly exposed to combat. It was the best series of decisions I made as a young adult. Of course, no young adult goes long without making plenty of bad decisions. Thankfully, none of mine have had as long lasting impact as the one I made to get involved in a religious cult... in O-HI-O. Even that one I no longer regret... due to the greatness of how a person can take tragedies/mistakes and turn them into life changing triumph.

I doubt it. Kids get into mischief. If they didn't make a habit of setting fires...

I wonder how those two are doing now. https://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-6.htm

Talk about double standards. Didn't you grouse about and demand that since no one (supposedly) had refuted you "with a specific bible verse" you wouldn't consider anyone else's view on the subject?

In case anyone is unfamiliar with this expression, a. a military command to withdraw an order, return to the previous position, etc b. a statement to withdraw something just said from a different website,

Of course he'd be welcome back.

WORD!

And great post T-Bone. Cult mentality from Wierwille dismissed "world wisdom" but there's SO much to know beyond what the cultist wanted us to explore. I think of Proverbs 2:1-5 His cult mentality was so limiting and insecure, IMO. Limiting GOD, for sure. As I've shared in other threads on GSC, read classic literature. It can help expand your imagination which can greatly enhance your understanding and wisdom of people, how they (we) can enhance each other's lives AND our understanding of God. The Apostle Paul wasn't afraid to engage with people in the realm of "world wisdom." Btw, what's the Body of Christ analogy all about if not for understanding how we interact and enhance each other's lives?

That's sad.

Totally tribal, for sure.

Meanwhile, back at the... something, however, this is not intended to be a joke. From a 2017 article in The Atlantic titled "This Article Won't Change Your Mind": "There are facts, and there are beliefs, and there are things you want so badly to believe that they become as facts to you." This is most likely a large part of why our friend Waxit didn't see eye to eye with us, or us with him. FWIW, That, in itself doesn't make Waxit's belief system necessarily sinister. But it also as such makes neither him nor us inherently correct.

Twinky said: Indeed!

Wow... yes, in a very limiting way, it can be. I remember a time when I used to think I had SO arrived at that place. But now I'm much more comforted by the realization that there is SOOOOO much more available to know about God and about every aspect of life than we can ever learn. I think of Proverbs 2:1-5. My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Hey STL, I appreciate your posts. It now occurs to me that this thread presents a poignant case study in critical thinking... as well as demonstrating very well that there is safety in a multitude of counselors.

It certainly was apparent even though it took quite a while to figure out which one.

How generous of you, my Lord.

I totally understand. A couple years ago i started/tried reading a book by Peter Gabel, a law professor who has been a university president. (Desire for Mutual Recognition). What I could get through (and understand) made sense. But his sentences were almost exclusively very long with numerous dependent clauses. I got frustrated and gave up. I wrote a review on amazon giving it only three stars. The handful of other reviews and rates were primarily five star. Professor Gavel contacted me by email (which was posted on my blog site). We had a nice 20-30 minute chat on zoom. Now I reflect back to a cost accounting class I took in the mid-1980s. The instructor apparently very much disliked my (then) writing style. I had been using long sentences. Never got higher than a C grade on any writing assignment in that class. Jump forward a decade and while working for an Arizona state government agency, I took a professional development class the agency offered on Effective Writing. That class changed my life dramatically. I've been writing a LOT ever since. I had numerous op-eds and letters to editors published afterward. Now I write a blog (political) and have posted more than 1,100 of my own essays to it. For the last couple of years, I've been thinking in terms of writing fiction. I still haven't written much of it. But hopefully, when I get started, it will flow like rivers. All of that to make the point that if nobody reads any of it, I don't see the point. So, I try not to write those humongous sentences anymore.

The same verses from the Message Bible: 1-2 The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one. 3-5 Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out. From my perspective (as it is now, not what it was 30+ years ago), I'm thrilled by penguin2's ideas. I'm not right and you're not wrong. (Which contrasts how I viewed things 35 years ago). In much the same way reading classic literature can help a person learn how to think deeply, it seems obvious that comparing these two versions/translations CAN foster deep thinking. This is important because I believe there is so much to God that we puny humans can even come close to comprehending. Thanks so much to every commenter here for your thoughts and suggestions. WE belong to each other not because we fellowship in the same living room or annual cult festival, but because we share a journey and a heritage and can fellowship with each other in THIS cyber living room. I love you.

Intriguing. John 1:1-5 from the Passion Translation 1 In the very beginning[a] the Living Expression[b] was already there. And the Living Expression was with God, yet fully God.[c] 2 They were together—face-to-face,[d] in the very beginning.[e] 3 And through his creative inspiration this Living Expression made all things,[f] for nothing has existence apart from him! 4 Life came into being[g] because of him, for his life is light for all humanity.[h] 5 And this Living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom[i]— the Light that darkness could not diminish![j]

Obviously, I'm not the one who's disappointed. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 11:15

I would think it's important to use a beer that you like. There are some that can taste pretty bad. I remember a bad one my mother's second husband used to buy that I've heard referred to as weasel p i s s. (Carling's Black Label).

Socks, what do you use to season it on top? Those look great.

I believe dmiller IS on Facebook. Friends there with several current and/or former GSCers... but not me, so I wouldn't be the guy to ask him for more specifics.

Thanks. I knew what sourdough starter is. And I figured that might be what you meant by the bubble substance. But couldn't find anything doing an internet search.

Bubble substance? Haven't seen that expression before that I can recall, but I used to enjoy a chewy sourdough bread. But now I stay away from white flour products as much as possible.