mstar1

Im beginning to wonder if the Red Sox will be eliminated before the Bruins and Celtics....but at least they are on a torrid ONE game winning streak now...

It was a diseased Chestnut--couldve been a beauty but it had a catastrophically bad case of root rot--its nearly extinct now

My grandfather died when he was 113, he kept a job until he was 99 and worked in his garden and around the house until the very end of his life...He spoke about a lot of the same things as that gentleman...another thing...no matter what circumstances may have been, nobody recalls him ever being angry or upset about anything. he had a good run Im 55, Im just getting warmed up :)

Im often my own worst enemy and the only thing that stands in my way...the only demons are ones that I make up in my ownself unless your talking about some professional wrestler named the "The Ultimate Foe" in which case I'd change the channel

I doubt that the next economic system has been thought up yet...There have been a ton of economic systems since the dawn of time that have come and gone, and get replaced by new ones as history progresses... I doubt that capitalism is the final page in economic development or that it has to replaced by something that already exists (like socialism). There are elements of both that are good and there are elements of both that dont work well at all... Im not an economist so I couldnt tell you! Some hybrid version might work-- my general sense is that smaller local (or regional) economies that place their own value on their own people, resources and quality of life would work much better than some gigantic global system. Bhutan has an interesting system, they do not measure economic success by 'Gross National Product' but instead by "Gross National Happiness". They have a very complex series of calculations and indicators that keeps them moving towards that mark. Something like that would seem more reasonable to me--nothing seems as dead ended to me as produce produce produce just for the idea of getting more.

IMO whether someone believes in eternal life or not, christianity as a whole has added immeasurably to the human condition. The Christian church has always been a supporter and in or near the forefront of the arts, architecture, sculpture, music etc that has served to enrich peoples lives... If there is a disaster somewhere you can bet that a ton of christian groups will be at the scene sooner or later offering aid of one form or another. Schools, Universities, hospitals are all institutions of the church--not exclusively--but without them, life as we know it would not be the same... ....Even our three branch form of government was modeled after the Episcopal form of church polity which gives every member a voice.... People may argue over scriptural minutia, but without the general principals of christianity that have pervaded the culture for a thousand years(Love your neighbor, be forgiving, be upright and honest,have integrity, don't cheat-be generous---a million others things that i cant find the words for right now--etc)the western world would be a vastly different place. The next time you are at St Judes Hospital getting treated, at a museum viewing the Pieta, somewhere listening to the beauty of Handels Hallelujah Chorus, watching an important vote in the House of representatives or watching hungry people get fed in a soup kitchen THEN think about what they have to offer---as i said earlier, even with the heinous things that have happened in the name of christianity, the world is immeasurably richer for its existence. The work 'in His spirit' continues I personally am not sure if I can wrap my head around an actual physical resurrection from the dead or not, it's a very tough question that I wrestle with and have wrestled with for 40 years..I can see it easy enough in a more symbolic and figurative way.... Jesus definitely lives on in his stories, his parables, his words and his 'spirit' if nothing else. Is that enough? I dont know...Ive tried to make the 'leap' and at times I may for a short period then recoil back after i think about it. ---Whatever---Im Ok with who I am and if death be final Im fine with that too. Its a natural process,it was all a great ride--- Im not looking for any bonuses---- if I do happen to get a 'free gift' at the end of course I'll be overwhelmingly thankful but I am not going to bypass this life, all its hopes and dreams and all that it offers in hopes of one day getting it all straightened out somewhere else. If it happens, fine, if not I still have no reason complain-To live was still a great great gift

I can see the benefits of Christianity without an afterlife-- Whether there is or is not an afterlife, The hope of an afterlife can be uplifting and motivating in and of itself... I would never be a part of another TWI type group but even if it had nothing at all to do with an afterlife, Christianity still has many many beneficial aspects to it .

I asked that on the last page and got no answer yet--I think its probably politicspeak for "I was the only one but I want you to think that I was one of hundreds. I'm a politician -its my job to stretch the truth to make me look OK--just wait til I get into office!"

"She" has been way more successful than TWI ever thought of being...everything I have ever eaten, breathed or drank, directly or indirectly came from "her"--all with no ABS, tithing, plurality giving or mandatory classes involved....Like most 'mothers' 'she' is vastly underappreciated..... I doubt the treaty will ever see the light of day, there is too much good old fashioned exploitation and profiteering yet to do

Im a writer of Catholic childrens books, a second unit director of Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets, a painter of Australian seascapes, as well as an accomplished Scottish Footballer on Google. The footballer (is that soccer or rugby?) even has his own bobblehead. I apparently really get around ! I should run for office just to totally confusticate those who oppose me

He's getting to run for something and disavowing his cult background. Who were the 'several other campaigns' that The Way supported in that election cycle? Ive never heard any other names.

What really baffles me is that I HAVE heard that argument from people that are also vehemently "Pro-life" :o .... ...It makes my brain hurt.

Too bad the pol forum is no more...that would be fun--especially after reading his link

I guess thats the big political debate these days. Personally to me it is reprehensible that in this country people have to do without healthcare yet there are others that seem to think that you must be able to afford what you are charged no matter how astronomical or its just plain too bad for you. In my book Life>Money...anyones life > my money... but not everyone sees it that way, to some it is the other way around where their money>life... I dont know how they come up with that moral argument

He couldn't come here and post it himself?

They look like a good team--on paper--but nobody ever won on paper---things will warm up(hopefully) I just hope the sox dont dig themselves too gigantic a hole that would take months to get out of---- Sad to see Manny go, especially on such a note...even with all the drama of the last few years, during his Sox years he was still the best hitter and funnest ballplayer I ever had the pleasure of watching----I'll miss the genius goofball--for better or for worse--there was only one Manny Joe Posnanski

I had dinner last night with someone who just returned from Japan...In the midst of the catastrophe most everyone there is donating their food , not hoarding it. She also told me that to do otherwise would be near unthinkable in that culture. I dont know if thats a cultural difference or a religious difference (Buddhist/Christian), but whatever the reason it was hopeful to hear after reading some of this thread.

Is that a true story? That story is loaded -- I understand his circumstances and feel for him, I do... but this is a very serious crime....Ive been in some of those sections of the country where Meth use is prevalant and it is an ugly ugly ugly problem. This is not just stealing to meet a huge need of his, which if not totally forgivable would be at least understandable BUT it also is aiding in the creation of huge problems for other people and communities. This is very serious sh!t these days--this was a real breach of judgment on his part in my opinion I totally disagree with the concept of sentencing based on legislation and not by the will of a judge or jury. Each case should be judged on its own merits and demerits and sentences should be passed according to the evidence on each individual case. There's a third element that I have serious moral reservation about in that story....HE WAS APPROACHED by a criminal informant.. I know he sold the PE, but would he have if he wasnt coerced into it? Would a crime ever have been committed if it weren't set up by authorities for it to happen and them to get their subsequent arrest? It all sounds like entrapment to me. Whatever agency set up the buy would do their community a lot better to catch criminals instead of making criminals in my book. Thats a sad story. I have alot of opinions on it but its very complex and difficult to discern where real justice would be. I would have liked to have been on the jury and heard everything on that case.... I hope he has some advocates, it sounds like he needs them

I know at least one ex way leader who writes in his books that he has a "baccalaureate of theology" from "seminary" in "advanced biblical studies" Thats stretching it a tad-- I suppose it may sound better to his audience than telling them he spent time in a non accredited cult program...

In wayworld that would already have been categorized as 'believing', to steal the drugs to make enough $$ to take the class. Reminds me when I took the advanced class and went wow. In my way poverty I was counselled to ask people for money, so I basically panhandled my friends and acquaintances until I had enough to go There was no 'believing', faith and certainly not morality involved although I thought there was at the time. It was just a combination of manipulation and coercion with a spiritual veneer. Makes me sick now

is it a moral use of your time to be worried about a hypothetical person ? You see at least a few of those in the hypothetical druggist, I really dont know where my place would be to enforce his lack of morality or what it is in general --if anything--although if death were imminent and there were no other way, I would steal the drug necessary to save her life. Im not sure what category that it would be in--nor really do I care--it would be an innate drive. Interesting initial points on morality though. Im not the most upstanding person on the world by along shot but few things torque me more than organizations like TWI that throw all sense of morality to the wind because they are 'the called'and they are somehow exempt from common decency. I dont know how many times I have heard 'the law was not made for a righteous man'used as alicense for people to do whatever they wanted

Well.... a week into the season and the Sox have still yet to lose a single game at Home!...of course they havent played any home games yet either ---but at least its something :) you watching the home opener today Bolsh? Geisha?

There used to be something on the frontpage stating that this was not a specifically christian site. There are a lot of christians here, some people of other faiths, and some people who are agnostic or atheists...All are welcome...some people are rightfully p1$$ed off After I got out of the way I kept looking and looking and looking and looking in that dirty bath water and dang if I could find any baby anywhere. There wasn't one! There was an illusion of a baby with some good smoke and mirrors but underneath the slimy water it was never really there... Im a christian now, but Ive tossed out the bathwater, the tub, the faucet, the bathroom, the plumbing and the illusions

I dont travel to the Sudan or Afghanistan but that has been my general experience...one out of a hundred might be a creep or potentially dangerous but its not enough to build my world around. My father grew up during the depression and had what most of what we would consider to be less than nothing, yet somehow he and his family did pretty good. Im not a big believer in listening to the prophets of doom. I have just enough very real problems to tackle every day without manufacturing hypothetical ones. There has ALWAYS been dark side prophets of doom. They are rarely if ever right and somehow the human race has managed to always survive. Even on the off chance they are right Im fine with it and ready, and certainly not going to lose any sleep over it.

It depends on the community where you live, I just went on a work trip for a few weeks and left my doors unlocked. I didnt think twice about it. My former girlfriend sold her house after 25 years and had to have a locksmith come and put a lock on the doors just so she could give the new owner a key--She never had a lock on the door for 25 years. Not everywhere, but in too many places thats true. I mustve moved literally hundreds of times over 20-25 years before I finally found a place and settled to the place where I felt comfortable and at home, where people actually seemed respectful, concerned and were willing to work together. Community takes real work, if individuals arent willing to put in the effort and get involved to make it work they shouldnt be all that surprised if it gets overrun with big problems from time to time.