mstar1

Oops you snuck one in between-- :biglaugh: No reason to mull any longer --I made it about 20 seconds in to the video and to me it seemed overdone to the point of parody--maybe its for someone just not for me.... I like understatements myself or someone just playing in their living room --I know this isnt for everyone but I honestly get more out of something like this or this--

:) :) I have to give some equal time to the pagans. Ive had these two in the old brain for a few days... and another kinda Christmas song

Here's a kinda christmas song Willie Nelson-The Greatest Gift

I dont know of any specific books on scientology that I could point your friend to, however I would do some research and find out what Department or who licenses therapists in your state, lodge a formal complaint and follow through whereever it may lead. The "therapists" behavior is unethical and unprofessional on way too many levels for the licensing board not to at least review his qualifications

Thanks! That's a great site--I'll be checking back and reading more throughout the winter... Its great to see that they admitted Emmett Ashford into "The Shrine of the Eternals". He was my favorite ump as a youngster, a good ump and a great showman, and someone who I still occassioally wonder about... At a game in 66 As the normal sleepy homeplate pregame meeting with the umps and managers broke up and everyone started jogging to their places, Ashford spun sprinted toward the mound, took off like a long jumper, got great height off the mound and was kicking in the air as he raised his hands in jubilation on his way to his position at second...of the course the crowd--and me --was loving the unexpected moment--its strange what you remember but it was a great way to start a game--It got me buzzing right away.... I actually remember wanting to go to games that he was umping--he was that much fun to watch He made wonderful flamboyant calls, his timing was impeccable, and had a way of building a little extra drama into his calls by the way he moved. I can still see some of the calls he made 40 years later, but doubt I could remember any call since or who was umping...the way I remember him... anyway-- good to see him recognized :) I'll be back to check the site out more thoroughly when I have more time

I woke up to the news that Sox owner John Henry is saying that the Sox are out of the running for Texiera--maybe he is calling Boras' bluff-- either way back to the money--which is surreal enough at those numbers, even stranger is the thought of someone turning down $185million

They'll be fine. My only concern would be that CC could weigh 370 in about 3 or 4 years if he doesnt watch himself so they ought to keep him on a strict regimen and short leash-- and also over the last 2 years he has thrown 500+ innings and gotten burned out by the playoffs. That'll be Girardi's job -- to pace him out down the stretch. We'll have to wait on that-- but I'll be a happy camper if he has him throwing complete games through August and September... Me too --its ----strange for me to even conceive of that much money, and at a time of national crisis when many people are losing everything--its sort of----I dunno---unseemly ---It doesnt seem right at all--But yet--I have the news on--hoping to hear of the signing. I dunno--I wish salaries would come down too--Im proibably part of the problem just because Id love to watch him play

Im not familiar with when that might be, unless you are referring to the RC Church which Im not too familiar with... Im not a 'bible guy' or a churchgoer but I know a lot of ministers and it is extremely rare outside of Way or fundamentalist circles to hear even a hint that ministers are somehow specially endowed. Most all of the ones I know downplay it if anything..Ministers have a job to perform like you said, weddings, funerals, baptisms, counselling, education etc.. some are very good, others,, maybe not so much. They have a degree and title that they somehow earned depending on their groups standards- similar to earning a "Dr." or "Master Plumber" or "CPA" title. It doesnt set them aside as a special class of people (where did that come from?) just informs you that theyve been recognized according to someones standards to do what they do. The ones who do attempt to flount a title or use it to manipulate people are worth running from imo--in a hurry

The Boston Herald is reporting that the Red Sox offered an 8 year deal to Teixeira. It said he is seeking $21 Million a year-- aren't we all?

I agree with that. Ministers are trained to perform a certain job. Some do their job well, some dont. Honestly, The best ministers that I know, know that they DONT know anymore than anyone else. Ive had plenty enough for one lifetime of the PT Barnum preachers who think they have some specialTM inside info --imo they belong either in a sideshow or a looney bin

Well, now that they've got Mike Mussina, Jason Giambi, A-Rod, The Big Unit, Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Carl Pavano, Pudge Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, the Yankees will surely win themselves a World Series!

Here's the incident from a different angle:

Boy those Yanks are busy!---- Yankess Sign Iraqi Hurler

CAUTION: You may not want to WATCH this video. Its one of those seizure inducing houses, overblown with too many computerized christmas lights that makes an appearance every year about this time... I just like the song and its the only copy I could find Jethro Tull Holly Herald

I disagree alot with what Schilling has to say but dont begrudge him the right--he does tons of good charitable work and although we are miles apart on politics I suspect I'd get along with him if ever given the chance. He's opinionated--well--- so am I. He's no fool either--the bloody sock game cemented him in New England lore. He knows what that means to RS fans and I think he is smart enough not to have the legacy he left here brought into question by signing for afew months with the Yankees. Last I heard he was thinking of doing a Roger Clemens type half year deal with snyone who may be interested come June or July--he could be good for the right team down the stretch next year to win a handful of clutch games. Right now Im concerned about the Sox catching--they just let backup Kevin Cash go, Varitek is a free agent--so at the moment there is NO ONE behind the plate...that doesnt sound good...I dont know if other teams will use that against them and leverage a higher asking price in any catcher deal or not. In other news that Geisha may like to hear, the grandstand seats at Fenway which have been in place since 1934, and are the smallest in the majors at 17" across are being replaced with 20" seats--that doesnt sound like much , but if you've ever squoze your butt into one of those old seats you 'd know that those extra 3 inches will be welcome--- $550.00 apiece if anyone needs to know what i want for christmas

Since he was mentioned in the prayer forum I have to post some Delaney Bramlett Poor Elijah Delaney and Bonnie with Eric Clapton

Who knows...This time of the year is just as much of a chess match as during the regular season. Maybe Theo is waiting for the Yanks to do another signing. (Lowe(?, Sheets? Pettite?..I dunno) . No Team can sign more than 3 Type A Free Agents--The Yanks have signed 2 in 2 days, if they do sign someone else, it may drive down the price of other Type A's ( ie Texeira) as the Yanks will be out of the bidding war. theo may be doing a tortoise and the hare type thing...there is still plenty of time left... I dont know if Pettite would sign with the Sox anymore than Schilling would sign with the Yanks , maybe but unlikely. I'd think Pettite may want to go be with Joe Torre if the Dodgers have an interest. Ive been working long hours and havent been keeping up, as far as an older guy if John Smoltz is still available-thats a guy I'd love to have for a year as starter insurance--He may be able to be signed to a low base salary with lots of incentives--like Bartolo Colon was last year--Theo always seems to make some deal like that. Manny must be feeling lonely out there--I havent seen his name mentioned hardly at all... maybe after what he did to the Sox last year he is scaring some teams off?

Gees ya think? $246 million for two pitchers? Yikies So the rotation so far looks like: Sabathia Wang Burnett Joba (Hughes) They're gonna be tough in a short series thats for sure..Yank fans have to be happy--Now--do they go for the trifecta and sign either Sheets or Pettite? ..back end of the Mets bullpen looks scary good--- As far as the uni's go Im with Hiway--you just dont mess with a tradition--at least its only the away unis with a slight change and the (ghastly) alternate shirts which thankfully they ony wear a few times a year (burn em!!) ... The alternate hat with the two socks logo I can sort of live with.---at least the classic home uniforms havent changed--there would be a revolt in NE if they ever changed those. Its all about marketing and $$--they must have 100 hats on the market and about 50 different styles of shirts already-if they can add in two more 'game shirts' and one more 'game hat' it equals XXX,XXX dollars in sales

Well sure but thats for his hitting and leadership. Im not out to 'trash' him just trying to be objective. I purposely did not post THIS STORY about a month ago just for trashing him sake-- but I do think that it is probably a somewhat fair analysis. I have no problem mentioning that Varitek is declining or any ballplayer--they all do. The Fielding Bible that does the same type of analysis on every ball hit in play throughout the year also ranked both Cano, and Arod as 10th in the league at their positions. They are great offensive players, I dont argue with that, but defense has not been something that the Yankees seem to focus on. They will improve some with Swisher at first instead of Giambi, and Cano could improve, he seems to be streaky in the field as he is at bat, but my point was that Lowe might not be a good fit for them and their style of play for that type of money especially ( and Im not trashing just being realistic) as the left side of the infield gets older. Its gotta be a tough call being Cashman, When they got ARod I thought he was actually the better SS and he still might be, but Jeter is an icon and will stay at Short until he decides its time to move the same way Cal Ripken stayed in the lineup even when it started hurting the O's. I didnt mean this to open up a can of worms--I like Derek Jeter as a player i really do, --even though I fume about him from time to time.--but it does come up over the years with different players that have become iconic, when and how do you move them gracefully when their performance starts to effect the overall team--its asticky question and dont get me wrong he is still good--I just think the Yankees could switch things up and be better defensively if they moved him to 3rd or 2nd--which they'll never do.. just my opinion

The Yanks and Mets are already asking for a ""Bailout" ----- Maybe the reported offers are all hyperbole..aside from CC's massive contract which is 'weighted' hugely in his favor, the numbers that are being reported for good but not great pitchers like Lowe and Burnett are insanely high. I know they have to fill up the staff but $17mil a year for Lowe? Thats way out of bounds to me, especially considering hes a groundball pitcher and the yanks infield defense is (well I'll be polite..and say...) porous. To me that doesnt make sense I have to wonder if they are trying a little desperately to win one more for the "Old Man" before he either passes away or forgets who he is-and bypassing reasonableness to do it... The back end of these contracts (especially if they sign anymore) could bite them hard in future years

That one is definitely on my life list of places to see. There is something about church architecture that is almost always very humbling and inspiring to me--not always but almost all of the time. Whether simple country churches , extravagant cathedrals, eclectic moderns or even one room near bare churches in very poor countries --they almost always communicate something very rich. ...One of these days I'll make it to Barcelona...and ..Istanbul....and Paris...and Canterbury...and Chartres...and....

It depends on what brand of christianity you look at, not all christian doctrine is fundamentalist way style doctrine although they can at times seem the loudest and most vocal. Although they clang loudly it doesnt necessarily make them 'right' or even in the majority among christians. There are many christian denominations and groups that welcome, baptize and even ordain homosexuals. To equate God with only one group or style of christians is a narrow view. Contrary to the way we were trained to think in the way, there are completely different well developed viewpoints and approaches to scripture. IMO TWI's view of 'The Word" was f'ed up beyond repair---culminating in horrendously unchristian actions like those to your friend. Nothing that they taught was 'advanced' at all, if anything it was completely backward. After I left I replayed it and replayed it until finally I did take Realweird's advice and "chucked the whole thing". It took around 10 years to get it out of my mind.... If I do decide to build another relationship with scripture someday, its not going to be on Wierwilles literalist hodge podge terms or by using his vacuous "principles" to attempt to gain an understanding of it... That has proven itself to me ----"by their fruits you shall know them"--it didnt and doesnt work--BUT thankfully thats certainly not the only view there is to choose from....

I did--I was very moved by that. Im not a church goer but I love working in churches, often I am there while the choir or the organist is practicing while I am installing some window and I think that i have to have the best job in the world. Thanks for posting all those wonderful songs. oh---Ok Heres a few in different styles--I like 'em both :) Pretty Paper-Willie Nelson Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming/The Blessed Son of God--Baylor University Choir Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung. It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night. Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind; With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind. To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior, When half spent was the night. This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere; True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us, And lightens every load. The blessed son of God only In a crib full poor did lie; With our poor flesh and our poor blood Was clothed that everlasting good. Kyrieleison. The Lord Christ Jesu, God's son dear, Was a guest and a stranger here; Us for to bring from misery, That we might live eternally. Kyrieleison. All this did he for us freely, For to declare his great mercy; All Christendom be merry therefore, And give him thanks for evermore. Kyrieleison.

Not with Baltimore in the AL East Though hes good, Its still a bafflingly large number for me to digest-- rumor has that they are offering Derek Lowe a ton (4/$66m) too...another move I dont get... as always we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out

You can find them all in the yellow pages and usually have gigantic signs in front of where they meet. Unlike TWI fellowships or its off shoots they dont hide, arent secretive, nor are afraid to publicly acknowledge when and where they meet. You may even see a big sign that says something completely unwaylike such as "All Are Welcome"--- The lack of fear may taking some getting used to...