mstar1

You are thinking of going back? After what that guy said to your son and accused you of? Each to his own I suppose. I had a similar experience about 5 years after I left TWI-It took me about that long to even consider going to a church. I found a Vineyard Church in the early 90's that I liked and liked the people so I fell right in with them. I was volunteering , mowing the lawns, in a few groups, dropping money in the basket every week --all sorts of stuff. It was a small church but it took about 5 months to get an appointment to see the Pastor. The whole appointment lasted about 5 minutes when he found out I was with TWI, and after directly and pointedly questioning me I said I didnt understand the trinity ( I didnt say i didnt believe it I said I didn't know ) , he went on the heresy jag, told me his congregation didnt have place for me, and said I should "go back where i came from". All this from a guy who spent 2 out of 3 Sundays preaching on unconditional love. That was my very last bout of institutionalized christianity, personally I have better things to do with my time than to be told Im possessed (like i was in TWI) or condemned to the ninth circle of hell (like I was in this church) while all the while they are taking a good portion of my time and money. I gave it almost 20 years of my time, if thats the best that they can do -then no thanks for me.

Maybe Im wrong on the ARod deal someone was calling him the best position player etc etc. a few years ago-its probably my sometimers acting up.... Gees Louise 2-7, then 8-2 ---I know its a small sample but that would drive me nuts --well actually probably bipolar being down then up--I'll hope for you they can stay alittle more even keeled....What turned em? anything tangible? ( well beside scoring more runs than the other guys?)

I have the Bobblehead Jesus myself

God was marked and avoided a long time ago from The Way (if He was ever there at all)... If He shows up ( there? doubtful) they'll have Barney Fife in the patrol car escort Him from the grounds

The stRangers will never have trouble hitting, Its been awhile since I have seen one of those football scores. It makes for a ton of action. Ive always liked Young, even though you bemoaned it at the time if i remember correctly getting rid of ARod was good for the franchise, Young looks like a fun player to watch--Good to see your pitching held up. As far as that padding---thats actually a new advertising section that was tacked on to the old scoreboard this year so its new.Im not 100% sure. When I was out there in 04 the scoreboard wasn't padded, It was made out of sheet metal about an inch thick it had big nasty hooks to hang team names and scores on and all sorts of protuding rivets, dents and jags. That section in the pic may be padded now I'm not really sure. It goes back and forth. it never was for years until Fred Lynn got near crippled running into the concrete part of the wall in the 75WS For one season i'd love to be the guy inside the scoreboard, to me it is an icon like the Pieta. The park just turned 94 a few days ago

That Titor guy should have done the Back to the Future thing and gotten a sports score book while he was in 2036....but of course money means nothing in 2036 ( I guess I'll fit right in finally if i reach 81) Someone told me once that in those latin and carribean countries that are prone to war and revolt, that there has never been a war during baseball season. Is that true? wouldnt surprise me. Some one has to have clear priorities -that or understand the healing power of baseballl. Anyway heres a real "Webb" gem from Adam Stern the other night, about a tenth of a second before he made the catch and slammed full speed into that wall. I've been out there, that wall is solid metal of some sort with no give. had that loud *thud* sound when he ran into it, went down in a heap for a few seconds then got up as if it were the most natural thing in the world. God I love this game WEBB GEM

The Rays are playing a 4 man outfield with 3 infielders on the right side against Ortiz right now. Ive seen alot of shifts but dont recall seeing this one before ---ever. Have you found out from Mr Titor when the Rangers win it all?

I dont know how that Seattle team deals with the travel, the closest team they have is Oakland which is a few hours and every other team is about a continent away--they must spend half the season in the air and Late? at least you aren't on the East Coast --games start at 10 or 11 when my guys are out there.... and o yea Popoblam? its Pap el bon i have a feeling y'all be will remembering that name soon enough. The kid is fun to watch-He is going to make some waves. How old is Moyer about 62? Seems like he has been pitching forever. Ive always liked him and think he is one of the most underated guys around. Slips in under the radar....I dont know how he does it, I think his fastballl is about as quick as mine.

It depends on what you mean by help-- i wouldn't help him be restored to his former self, but if possible Id probably help him to sort through his stuff which is considerable and help point him in a better direction if I could and find and see who he really is and what he needs to do. I have no brilliant answers for him, Im guessing he doesnt have any for himself but even with knowing his past, maybe even more because of knowing his past and where it has lead him, i wouldn't turn him away- He would be welcome but at least for awhile he would be on a very short leash. Ive known, welcomed and developed good productive friendships with people who have done worse things than Craig, just no one who had been so much in the limelight before. I am assuming that there is still a soul in there somewhere

i dont know exactly what orthodox beliefs are, so i cant say how far they deviate, but I am surprised that no one has brought up the teachings on righteousness, sanctification and justification where the wierwille believer is mostly a passive receiver without hardly any involvement in the process. No matter how out to lunch or how despicable you are ---one *ZAP* and you are righteous and all is forgotten--he also did away with any final judgement of any kind which erases any need for any great degrees of personal responsibility. There was really no need to reform any sort of bad character traits, they didnt matter -they were paid for--, just teach a twig and stack on another reward

Yes you did-but she and her sister were sooo much fun 7th save from guess who as i write---in another come from behind--ended on a great catch Damn these guys are already building a good history. Speaking of history..its the 25th Anniversary of the longest game ever played

What is he on pace for? about 110 HR's and 300RBI's this year? Its players like him that would make me consider moving to St. Louis, just so I could watch him upclose everyday for a season instead of just in the highlights.. Its a beautiful thing to see him in the box. doesn't cost you any extra: About two years ago my then girlfriend and I were watching a game (she was half listening as usual)--She asked 'Is that guy Native American?" Me; No, I dont think so --why? Well who else would have a name like Two Holes? :blink: Albert has been known as Two Holes ever since up here

Thats a new one for me-- Today is already a double holiday here in Massachusetts (Patriots Day and Evacuation Day)which most people have off--If they could move Dyngus up or back a week we'd have a few takers I'm sure

Well yea, you might say that. Are you aware that he was "THE Man of God For Our Day and Time". He was Joshua/Paul/Elijah/Moses all rolled into one (or so he tried to have us believe). I think he actually believed a that he was the only guy on the planet who really knew what was going on. Yea him -that guy you met - was THE guy once. Pride does come before the fall--and he had placed himself way way up there-so the fall was mighty far. I don't wish him any ill, everyone has to break with their illusions from time to time and deal with it although they are usually much much smaller in there scope than his were It's never easy --in fact it can be devastating--but it is necessary. I'm sure he is broken now but i dont count that as a bad thing, He just has one helluva lot of crap to clean up. Welcome to the cafe

well save number 6 from Paplebon today, batters are 2-24 against him so far, and another gem from Beckett-- Its strange but good watching the RS being a pitching and defense team for once-- I cant remember winning this many low scoring 1 run games in a very very long time.... 'Tiz OK Tomorrow got the majors only morning game of the year ---an 11AM start

Why shouldnt this be what we should be like? I think that you expressed it well. I want to know someone, i could give a damn about the slick outside package that someone tries to project. Thats just not the way life is and I dont buy it. I'll take someone who is genuine anyday warts and all, over someone who professes themselves to be some sort of leader but doesnt let you inside their real life.... thats .....no deal..... Trust is something that is earned over time by being trustworthy. the more trustworthiness they show the more I'll have a tendency to listen and deeply consider the things they have to say

I wasnt raised in a religious family so I dont have any specific childhood memories of good friday, but after my TWI years I lived in a small town in Puerto Rico for a while that more than filled in. The town was always very active-roosters, dogs and mules running everywhere, salsa music blasting, hustlers on streetcorners selling their wares, people drinking rum and congregating, old men playing dominoes--it was always a cacophony of sight and sound. Things started to noticably slowdown on a Tuesday. Wednesday of that week was very quiet and when I asked why, I was told it was Holy Week. Thursday you could hear a pin drop -the town was dead still, everything was closed, there wasn't a car on the street and almost no activity. It was weird. On Friday everyone (and I mean everyone) in town walked quietly to the town square where the crucifixion (complete with screams and spurting blood) was brutally reenacted. Of course being the new guy in town I was ushered to the front. Coming out of a group like TWI, that downplayed the crucifixion so much, and finding myself standing in a group of of thousands of silent people(well-many were crying) watching this all live and in color was incredibly sobering. People slowly and quietly dispersed. Friday and Saturday the entire town remained eerily silent. On Sunday all the churches let out at the same time and had a huge parade and festival together in the town square complete with fire works, bands and all sorts of boisterous celebrations. There were parties everywhere, by Monday things were back to normal. or as normal as they could be after experiencing that

I'd go a step further and argue that behaviour was what was taught. We aren't talking about being taught auto mechanics here where someone teaches you to replace your brakes and they are either right or wrong, but christianity which is a way of life, not a mechanical ability to "work the word" or teach the word. IMO Spiritual leaders are more than what they say but models in thier entire life of, "what it is". Many in TWI emulated VPW and took on not only his admonitions to 'work the word' but also as part of that package his characteristics, mannerisms, and personality traits --whether they were aware of it or not. The way TWI was setup VPW was a father figure -and for good or bad, like it or not he was the role model. Sure people learned some interesting mental gymnastics in TWI that Wierwille taught---4 were crucified, Jesus died on Wednesday--blah blah blah-any myriad of subjects--that may or may not be true and were able to teach it. But in a more subtle way we also learned that if you had that knowledge that it superceded being honest in observing and living life and examining and dealing with your own character or its internal flaws. Many people picked that up and it was part of the unwritten but near all pervasive doctrine of TWI. You are righteous now, and the cheap and easy forgiveness as taught by Wierwille, may or may not be true, (I dont really care anymore), were dishonestly used to justify and hide extremely abusive behaviour patterns. If you actively shared the word -then somehow the rest of your lifes actions no matter how heinous could be overlooked and hidden, was a message that was lived out loud and clear and doctrinally backed up. If you could articulate a good teaching, kept your house clean, ABS'ed, said Bless you on cue to the right people, were ready with a scripture quote and knew what to wear at what meeting, your real struggles could be covered over and forgotten , as far as east is from west (even if you were a rapist). That all somehow made you 'spiritual'. Behaviour is what was taught imo just not as overtly as the bible expositions. We were taught to 'work the word', but we were also taught to justify our behaviour when doing it, We were taught to speak the word, but we were also taught to look down anyone who didnt agree with us. We were taught to pray but not to examine ourselves in the process, We were taught that you could get away with almost anything if you just keep speaking 'the word'. Maybe Wierwille was technically right where some comma went or on various bible subjects ina superficial sort of way, but imo he was way off the mark in what he actually taught, which was to be a self centered over grandiose narcissist who carries a veneer of christianity on his outer shell to cover his insecurities No thanks

I cant think of anyone else right now that i'd take ahead of him--Well maybe I'd sign Ortiz for 4 more years who also brings alot to a team....O yea--we already did that today 6-1 now, Another gem from Beckett and a yet another nice close by Pap. Im liking these new guys. Mike Lowell, whose hitting was suspect got his first taste of Fenway and went 4-4, Loretta made a great play at second and is a natural number two hitter. Even with Coco out a few weeks with a busted finger-the bench is steppin right up. (Stern 4 RBI's in 2 days) The starters are all going 7 , the only thing I havent seen is the middle relief so far. Although i was sort of unsure about a slew of new faces, and its a whole new style of play (which is good ),they are making a lot of fans fast ...

At my shop a bright red cardinal has been flying in everyday for about a week now and banging on my window for about 10 minutes at a time . Its wooded and there are shrubs right out side the window, i think he sees reflections or something and hangs out there while he sings , chirps and hits the window until he finally figures out he's not getting in...What does this have to do with baseball? I named him Albert today ...after Pujols.... What else would you call a cardinal who shows up and hits everyday? ...things to do on an offday

OK OK, unlike MLBs deal with Gooden, I wont put Papelbon in Cooperstown quite yet, but i think this kid is the real deal.....He is fearless, has a bucket of youthful fire, never mind some serious heat and there's a few more at or near his caliber waiting in the wings.... Schilling is mentoring the bunch...Even if he didnt want to pitch--Id pay Roger just to be around these young guys for a season and yes, I wouldnt mind mixing things up with Mia either--even if it put me on the DL (which it probably would for quite awhile). Home opener tomorrow We need our own Ted out there singing "Its Good to Be Home Again"

Looks like we got us a closer, who can actually close I was impressed when this kid came up last year, but after 3 tough saves in the first week Im really impressed... Watch out for this kid, Jonathan Papelbon is gonna make waves for awhile. 5-1 and comin home

Step right up you earned it Regarding Marks pic-well yes its offensive -so? TWI and Wierwille were at least as offensive as that pic--much more so in my book. Its just a picture--its not an actual rape--but it is true at its essence regarding what some think and an accurate reflection of Wierwilles narcissisitic self promoting theology---and thats what makes it relevant and worthwhile in my little booklet. A picture is still worth a thousand words--that one to me was on the money

Is it something in the water out there? Its too early in the season... I wonder what the heck Mia's doing , Nomar has been on the DL almost constantly since he got married...is she giving him too much of a workout at home? :B)

Im sure you are! wait until you watch it every day for years and years--It becomes like coffee in the mornin' Any word on how he's doing? He deserves to have good year