Watered Garden

I think they need to get a life! Good grief! Like there's a huge market for either version! I mean, I heard about it but never saw it in print in the bookstore for sale or anything. WG

Honeysuckle always reminds me of the first couple of years we were married. It grew all along the side roads in Athens, and when we were out for a run (yes I did still run back then!) or a walk at night, its scent hung heavy in the air. I still get nostalgic remembering that - not the run/walk but the warm summer air and the scent of honeysuckle. WG

When we lived in Charleston, it was wonderful to go for an evening stroll in our neighborhood (or South of Broad for that matter) and smell the jasmine blooming. When we bought our last house in Charleston, we planted one, and doggone if that wasn't the one and only cold winter we had down there, and it killed the darn thing! I was heartbroken. Then Hurricane Hugo came along that fall and killed nearly everything else! We did have some very strange flowers, possibly from Florida or a Caribbean island, spring up in the yard after that, though. I was so glad to be alive and have tales to tell, I really didn't mind too much. But I missed the roses Hugo clobbered. WG

One of my favorites, too! When we lived in North Carolina, there was this vine growing in front of the garage (which was separate from the house, out back of it) and I was not really happy with it until it bloomed and proved itself to be a sweet autumn clematis. Since then, we've had one at every house we owned, and this spring I plant to get one for this one! Their scent is incredible, equaled in my mind only by Confederate jasmine, which of course doesn't grow up here in Yankee-land. WG

Compost tea????? What is it and how do I make some? Powdery mildew is epidemic in my neck of the garden this time of year. WG

Honestly, while I am very sympathetic to most of what Mark has posted, the reason the government stepped in is because individuals weren't doing their part. The Catholic Church has always been very active in charity works but a lot of other churches aren't. Ephesians 4 tells us to work with our hands the thing that is good so that we may have to give to him that needeth, but I think most fall short in that area. Praise God for those who do not! Both my grandchildren were supported at least in part by government programs. We did help where we could. Probably the big thing is people keeping their heads and hearts straight on whether they worship God or the government. Does God inspire Obama? I have no idea, but I have my doubts. WG

No I mean the part about everything having been predestinated by God so there is nothing we can do. Why vote if that's the case? And by the way, one man who firmly believed and practiced theocracy was John Calvin himself. Though the Council of Elders had the vote, they were so influenced by Calvin (and probably afraid of him) that they pretty much voted his way. WG

I am beginning to think, Geisha, that you should be posting on the Calvinism thread instead of this one. WG

MORE tomato sauce to can. This time I'm doing it for tomato soup and it's not going to have a bunch of "stuff" in it. Corn, squash and beans are done; so are cucumbers. Got some lettuce coming on. Time to consider September plantings of kale etc. Lots of frozen stuff, too. We grew a green bean called Tenderette this year, first time. Awesome! WEG

2 Thess 3:10: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. This verse refers to those who are able but not willing. It is unfortunate that many churches have fallen down on the job and do not care for the unfortunate ones in their midst, but I doubt that ever changes, since the government does it for them. No wonder people think church is boring; you go Sunday for a couple of hours and there's not much else to do. The people in the first century church didn't just say it; they lived it. The Romans considered them to be inferior people; they weren't too interested in lending a helping hand to the Jews or the new church. Am I supposed to apologize that I never got beat to a pulp by one of those girls? I did get cursed a lot because of the color of my skin. Does that count? WG

The point was not sympathy; the point is are they really being helped, and in my opinion only one or two of them were. Throwing money and sympathy at a problem isn't a solution. Those girls needed to learn accountability and responsibility. They learned neither. They learned that they were pitiful, helpless, victims and that society owed them. They were taught that they were not responsible for their problems, nor were they responsible to learn any skills, support themselves or care for themselves in any way. I can think of two who very well may be independent right now, but most of them are probably still living off taxpayer money. I believe in helping those who cannot help themselves, but I do not have any interest in helping those who will not help themselves. And that's Biblical. Here's an example from that particular place: A teenage girl was in a class in the school and decided to spend the hour or so looking out the window. When she was asked, very politely and respectfully, to please kindly take her seat, she flew into a rage. How dare that &*()_()_^&*^())( tell her what to do? She flew upon the instructor, a big hulking young man, and had to be restrained. Even while her teeth were grinding the flesh in his forearm, this young man is saying, "Now, _____, you're really not angry at me you are angry at the person who hurt you when you were a child. That is the person you are biting, not me, not really." No accountability there. The guy had to get stitches and probably a tetanus and a rabies shot. But she was not responsible for harming him, oh no, she was a victim. I think it's time for people in this country to grow up, take responsibility for their own actions, and stop depending on the government. I believe in being as charitable as possible, but I would rather give my time and money and goods to those who really need help and want to help themselves. WG

What version of the Bible is that? Romans 13:1,2 etc refers to being subject to the higher powers in the church (who have not so far in the 21st century been worthy of it IMO) Most of us pay taxes whether we want to or not. Paying taxes that are used to supposed social welfare programs takes all the choice out of charity. My one brush with the system was when I was a receptionist for a year at a former orphanage which was then billed as a "residential treatment facility for troubled adolescent females." I have absolutely no sympathy for these kids. They did as they pleased - stole, beat the crap out of each other and the counselors, ran away, turned tricks whenever they could. And there was no discipline in place, for they were poor innocent children according to the all-knowing State, and under no circumstances should they be taught right from wrong or even accountability. "IT'S NOT MY FAULT" was their battle cry. They were schooled on grounds, got an allowance, and pretty much lounged around the rest of the time, when they weren't threatening murder and mayhem. One of the pitiful little darlings decided to commit suicide by setting her room on fire, changed her mind, and wandered off to play. Three people who crawled into her room to rescue her suffered smoke inhalation, while she was out enjoying volleyball with her friends. Another little lady threw a plugged in radio into the shower where a girl was bathing whom she didn't care for. The problem, as I see it, with this "charity" was that there was no godliness in it, no accountability, no real caring. Most of the counselors were just babysitters in bedlam. I think it would be much better if such charities were privately run. Like George Mueller. These chicks were turned loose on society with no skills, no home, no clue how to take care of themselves. The State should have just taken all the money it poured into that place and had a nice bonfire with it. WG

Mark said, God wants us to depend on Him and Him alone. Socialism substitutes God with the State as the source. Socialism is a grave moral evil. Thank you. Well said. wG

Just perfect! WG

John Calvin had no problem with those disagreed with him. They were quickly and efficiently banished or executed. Michael Servitus, who was basically a Unitarian (not believing Jesus was God) was burned at the stake with green wood, so it would take a lot longer. Calvin's government decided what food was placed on the table and how much, what colors were to be worn, and could enter into private homes at least once a year for inspections. Laughing in public was prohibited. Naming children after saints was against the law. He basically had a "Christian" Taliban in place in the 16th century. Nice guy. WG

Isn't God's grace truly amazing? WG

There's a thread on Calvinism in this forum. Calvin firmly believed that church and state should be intermingled. Scary, scary, scary. WG

Perhaps it was a windbreak; I notice that around these parts too, or a fence row that has had trees grow up in it. Wind at least in central Ohio can be quite fierce at times. WG

Waylaid, Why are you here? Are you here to extol TWI, to defend the MOGs? When I first posted, actually on another, closed site called WayDale, I was somewhat aghast at the tone posters could sometimes take. I had to sit back, calm down, and learn. There are some wonderful people here, people who have suffered as a result of their involvement with TWI. They have, in fact, moved on, and are kind enough to stick around, reaching out a helping hand to those who still suffer ill effects. I'd suggest some outside reading: "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse" is a book much recommended here. I forget the author but someone can fill it in, I'm sure. If you had a wonderful experience in the Way Corps, that's great, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Many others did not; I found my three months at Indiana Campus to be hell on earth. There were many who experienced far worse and far better than did I. If you were never mentally or emotionally abused by WC leadership, if you were never sexually molested or even approached, thank God! Some were; others escaped. There are those individuals who have posted here for years and find it impossible to believe that anything untoward happened at the hands of those who held our trust. I believe it. Take a deep breath, lose the chip on your shoulder, and relax. Listen to those around you. Look for the heart behind the words. Or we may have to switch you to decaf! WG

And that's a good place to be. WG

Mayberry was based on Mt. Air, NC, where Andy Griffith grew up. Remember when they talked about going over to Mt. Airey? WG

Sometime in the early 1980s I was diagnosed with a disease called sarcoidosis. It was in the lymph nodes in my lungs. I was told it could get better, stay the same, or get worse and eventually kill me. I had started a new job, and I dickered around with my coworkers and ended up going to the opening Sunday of ROA, flying home Monday morning, and being at work on Tuesday. Mr. Garden stayed the entire week. Once we had his tent set up, I went to the House of His Healing Presence, and I stayed there until I KNEW I was healed. It may have been hours, I don't know. Four months later, an x-ray showed no progress of the disease. Six months after that it was gone. Think what you will, I know God put His healing hand on me that day. WG

And no one will get hurt!

We had a lovely thunderstorm last night, a real toad-drowner! Aren't you all thankful not to be in a tent in northwestern Ohio last night? Oh and by the way, everyone keeps complaining about the smell of rural Ohio. I LIVE in rural Ohio, and it doesn't smell bad here at all. I don't live anywhere close to NK, however. If you are referring to the pig farms in rural Ohio (and Indiana), I expect to the farmers who raise the pigs, that just smells like money. WG

Kimberly, this was in central NC about an hour north of Charlotte. It was pretty awesome. I love North Carolina. I know I write about Charleston a lot, but North Carolina is a wonderful state as well. WG