mstar1

God told me to stay away from the political stuff :biglaugh: I was amazed in TWI at how many people told me that they raised someone (or many people) from the dead...made new limbs, hands and arms appear out of thin air...or personally held back the devil and all his forces so we would even have a world to live in... Very creative and imaginative..... or always the infamous "God told me" whenver someone wanted their way Didnt VP personally save the United States from complete disaster at some time? I think it was sometime after he was given the keys to the far east.... ....I dont know how many people that Ive met that didnt put gas in their car because God would give them a free 1/4 tank to get their rattling death trap wow wagon to some meeting. The doctrine of VP still grows-- There is a former way leader in my area who has written a book that was personally dictated to him by Jesus Christ. IMO there is some underlying anxiety of people wanting desperately to be accepted even if it takes prophetic nose spiders to do it. There was a TWI subculture that came from a facet of Wierwille that just had to out outlandish one another.

No doubt there------Barth's basic foundation to all christianity was the trinity. Given that I have heard VP state several times that trinitarians were possessed, I gotta wonder either 1) why VP would even bother taking into consideration something spoken by someone he doctrinally considered to be possessed or 2)How confused, inconsistant and unintegrated Wierwille's belief structure really was....

It doesn't really other than he was always saying to "speak the truth". There are several places where he seems to have had a real problem with truth, and stretched, changed, alterred or just plain made things up for some reason or another. Re: snow on the pumps I dont really care all that much if he met Barth or not, maybe he did, maybe he didnt....just asking to see if anyone has catalogued this. VP had such flights of fantasy its hard to tell where he told the truth and where he didnt..... Much of his reality, and what he taught his followers to emulate, was an illusion that he created around himself.....something that many followers and those that were exposed to him still do

While offering his odd interpretation of Corinthians in the PFAL Class, VP made a big deal in the PFAL class about how he spoke with "the greatest theologian in all of Europe" Karl Barth. Has anyone ever figured out if this actually happened or if it was just a fantasy to fill out the story?

Merry Christmas everyone! As WW pointed out the elevated suicide rate at Christmas is an urban legend. People may decide to make Christmas into a commercial event and max out their credit cards but imo they really really miss the point. Here's a very simplified primer on advent and the approach to the Christmas season that should have been taught in TWI but never was... <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/S02KOlw7dlA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> TWI seemed to love the negative approach to darn near everything in its zeal to turn things upside down. Christmas is a time of spiritual celebration and joy and always has been. It is typical that they would try to rob followers of that.... I for one love the season and the day Merry Christmas!

I always have to laugh when these groups try to tell me that they are "nothing like" TWI, or have thrown off the bad and kept the good. These splinters and keeping the form of TWI is specifically for people who lack the ability to think for themselves, or move in any direction but a well worn path that they dont have to think about or put much effort into....... just my opinion. Its not surprisng at all that this is STILL the way they function. Same catch phrases, same format, same songs, same old same old......

I think they could still fit in Interleague games in June over 6 weeks or so like they do now (or whenever they do it) without having to spread it all over the season. There could be a number of different ways they do it--Play each team in your own league 10 times (10 x 14 teams= 140 games) which would leave 22 games for interleague games--or for people bent on keeping play within divisions alive --12 games against each team in the division (12 x4=48) 9 games against each team in the rest of the league ( 9 x10 =90) which leaves 24 for interleague play. If the schedule was efficient I think they could fit 24 interleague games in the same time span they do now or since Im not a fan of interleague play (at least not until they can agree on the same damn rules). 13 games with in the division (52 games) and 11 games against each other team in the league (110 games)..and leave facing the other league for the All Star game and the World Series like it was for eons This is all assuming that the Astros move into the AL, but Im sure some math whiz could tweak the numbers to make it work in amore balanced way no matter which teams play where

True enough that the way baseball is now set up is that in division rivalries are things that breed hostilities....As much as rivalries can be exciting, id like to see the schedule makers develop a more balanced schedule across the league somehow. In the AL East every other game is against the Yankees, Rays, Os or BlueJays--- with maybe a once or twice a year blast to see other AL teams who may as well be playing in some league in China..After awhile the billionth game of the year against the BlueJays gets old especially when I havent seen the Rangers, Angels, White Sox or Tigers in 5 months. Every division has the same situation. Personally Im not a real big fan of the overloaded division schedule and would like to see it spread out more. I dont know if it is mathematically possible (and Im not getting out the abacus to figure it out)but I think it would make for good baseball if teams could all play each other an equal amount of times the way they did in the 60's when I was first exposed to the game, and not be so overly focussed on the 3 or 4 teams in their region. Divisions have some advantages but make for unequal schedules and lack of exposure of some players that I would love to see more of... anyway--my 2 cents

As much as Im sure that Cards fans are walking on air--and will be all winter, I really feel more for the Rangers fans. Coming within one strike, not once but twice, having big leads that were blown, and watching Cruz drop Freese's triple in game 6 is the stuff of baseball torture. Many many Ranger fans will be reliving those nightmare moments over and over and over for along long time It's like they took a page out of Red Sox history.It’ll be remembered as the one that got away - one of the great choke jobs of all-time. If they are anything like Sox fans they'll be reciting the play-by-play of the epic failure and replaying it over and over in their heads for decades to come. Here oldtimers still debate whether Johnny Pesky held a relay throw too long in the '46 series, and the images of the ball going through Bill Buckners legs in the '86 series was never erased until the Red Sox finally won a series in '04-----and even then --it still stings---25 years later. Baseball is a great game, but as Bart Giammatti once noted, it is designed to break your heart. Getting as infintesimally close as the Rangers did only magnifies it. Now they know what we had to put up with for decades. My best to Rangers fans its going to be a long long winter---I feel your pain.

Do you think Cleveland will pony up $200Mil to get Albert? As much as I'd like to see him in Boston, the RedSox already signed Adrian Gonzalez to a long term contract at 1B, The Yankees have Texiera and who else would cough up that type of $$? Theo Epstein now with the Cubs? ....maybe, but he has never been good with long term contracts. The Mets?...ditto Albert is a once in a generation player, as much as I'd like to see him in a Red Sox uniform (he would be incredible in Fenway), it seems to me like it is only right for him to stay in StL---At least to those of us outside StL he IS the Cardinals---just as much as Stan Musial, Bob Gibson or Ozzie Smith--all of whom I could never ever picture in another uniform

Congratulations Cardinals---A good series, a GREAT game six (although I'd hate to be Nelson Cruz about now..) Enjoy it Cards fans .....as a PS I wouldnt mind being this guy who bet the Cards at 999 to 1 when they were out of the race- $500 gets you $375,250

this was tragic--- There are only 4000 of these beautiful animals in the entire world and now there are 18 less :( Why the state of Ohio would let anyone, let alone a convicted criminal, own these animals is beyond me

Ive known some pillheads and very few that Ive seen can cold turkey their way out of addiction to opiates--maybe they can--but depending on the level of use the "I can quit at anytime" people are usually deceiving themselves in my experience and generally dont quit unless they are very light users. Im highly in favor of Rehab, even if its only a 3 day dryout, but preferably it should be longer. Most addicts that I know have to change alot more than their pill taking but also a lot of their other behaviours that bring them to want to use in the first place. Some people find meetings like NA helpful, although some people cant stand them--but I'd say at least get some counseling of some sort to get some tools to fight off triggers and to build a support system. I cant oversstate enough the need for some good support system. There could be alot of other issues involved that might need to be addressed, if someone is willing to ingest opiates what else are they doing/not doing? Addicts notoriously leave a lot of things undone--try getting them to eat 3 square meals a day. I guy that works with me came off oxy's last year--it was a tough fight but he was successful--- whoever it is, give them all the tools and support that you can

Ive run out of any semblance of patience I may have had with that group, JAL is just plain disgusting to me. Not that its ever been an issue, but he doesnt even make a pretense anymore of wanting to do anything for anyone. Its all about him and his clownery Two minutes before I read this thread, I just happened to receive this video in an email: The juxtaposition between the two is too sharp.... ..At least I got one inspirational illustration today of what someone who isnt totally self consumed looks like

SIX more years. at $23M and $32M, they make $13 Million more than the entire Rays TEAM Rays Payroll A couple of really great games last night! I liked the post game interview in Milwaukee which consisted of two words--F**K YEAH!! <iframe src="http://videos.sportsgrid.com/embed/player/?r=4364729954395443&content=T9HTGT2VQJ912Q21&widget_type_cid=svp&read_more=1" width="500" height="415" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>

That's a tough one--it's sort of contrary to my nature to root for the Yanks--It's deeply ingrained, although not as bad as in some years---can a leopard change his spots? i dont dislike them this year--they are agood team--but Im really not sold out or rooting for anyone at this point What I really want to see is good and exciting baseball---I have to admit I have a soft spot for underdogs--

I dont know what was up with Varitek, he has always been a team guy--but its a little strange when the captain is the third string catcher. Thats gotta be a tough position to lead from--Even the other veterans and genuine team guys--Ortiz, Wakefield etc. seemed to have a "meh" attitude most of the year. Its tough to know for sure what went on on the inside the Red Sox are pretty much a closed corporation and deal with things in house and there is not a lot of public talk the way there had been in decades passed. But one thing was certain there was never any real fire in the team and from the outside it lacked the cohesiveness of a championship team. Talent is good but it only goes so far. I'd give more of a shot to 25 average players that love to play baseball and will do anything to win than I would to a team of so called stars that expect success and have given up the will to fight for it.... anyway--this should be an interesting winter in Boston. John Lackey could be traded for a used bucket of balls and Carl Crawford for a peanut vendor and the Sox would be way ahead to start 2012 <_< On the plus side--we have 3 game 5's tonight! This should be really fun

in a word---Fat and entitled---they started out 2-10 in April and in September were 7-20, In between those times they had the best record in baseball but were never in shape and the whole year never had any 'fire'. A lot of players mailed it in. I like the Red Sox, some years I really love the team, this year --not so much--they never looked or played like they really cared all that much what happened. I had a hard time building any enthusiasm for this team..they didn't seem to have much at all. Too much of a "whatever" attitude... Terry Francona took the blame upon himself and is now gone but he is the one of a small handful that I'd really want to see come back

in a word---Fat and entitled---they started out 2-10 in April and in September were 7-20, In between those times they had the best record in baseball but were never in shape and the whole year never had any 'fire'. A lot of players mailed it in. I like the Red Sox, some years I really love the team, this year --not so much--they never looked or played like they really cared all that much what happened. I had a hard time building any enthusiasm for this team..they didn't seem to have much at all. Too much of a "whatever" attitude... Terry Francona took the blame upon himself and is now gone but he is the one of a small handful that I'd really want to see come back

Mustard sandwiches? thats a new one! i was partial to fluffernutters <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/O6gljDcLrvQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

thats simple enough..they didnt know any. You really cant name a building 'The Four Crucified Auditorium", the "So, I Went Down The Aisle And Kicked Him Office Building" or "The Comma Is In The Wrong Place Worldwide Tool Shed", and have it sound any good Its odd, that these were the same people that would rail against anyone who went to "Christ Church", or "Grace Church" or "Calvary Church" or whatever as idolators..

Boy I could use some of that! Thats a great idea--- Congrats that your working and moving around!

That sounds great---- I had forgotten about bullseyes--I definitely had my share of those--and loved them... My neighborhood had "Mac's" for penny candy...I'd go in with a nickel and it would take 20 minutes for me to make up my mind. Id choose something then change my mind then change my mind again...and again meanwhile he was filling my little bag behind the counter then unlaoding it and refilling it again. He was a cool guy---I never heard him complain once or be impatient while I was making the monumental decision of how to spend my nickel

Ditto+++ I found my own life and not the life that was dictated for me to live by someone else. That alone made it 'more than abundant'

Me too-Darbys Mocha Chip Ice Cream--1/2 Pint for 35 cents. Every once in a while I'll get an urge for a candy bar that I havent had or seen or thought of in 40 years---I can't remember them all right now but the memory of the taste will come back just for a second and it makes me smile--The last one I remember thinking about was "Bit O Honey", I also used to love Charleston Chews...I know there are others (some "squirrel" something or other penny candy) but I cant remember the names just now, maybe they'll come to me. All that sugar probably effected my memory Edit to Add a few I though of---- Bonomos Turkish Taffy SweetTarts Necco Wafers Smarties Razzles DingDongs Hohos... I loved candy--almost any candy-- when I was a kid---you name it, I probably ate it---Its a wonder Im still alive