Watered Garden

Wow! Wasn't Chuck (one of my favorites) a Buddhist at one point in his life? And Clarence Gillyard is a cool guy, too - he was in Top Gun as a young guy, in the final fight scene, his biggest line, sitting behind Tom Cruise was "You're gonna WHAT?????" WG

We're going to Branson with our sister and brother in law. And to the wine country of Missouri, which is actually very good indeed and could give California wines a run for their money. second week of August. I understand it will be quite warm, but bro-in-law has a ski boat he's towing out there. It may be fun; I feel a tad young for Branson, tho. Mark, a tour of a submarine is not all that bad. When I lived in Charleston I got to go to King's Bay and tour the Stonewall Jackson, a "boomer" then when I lived on the left coast, I got to tour the "Ohio" a trident sub about the side of Rhode Island. They are quite interesting in that they make use of every nook and cranny, and are quite business-like and utilitarian. IF you've seen "Crimson Tide" sets for that motion picture are not much like the real thing. And there really are areas of the submarine that if you snooped they would have to shoot you or some other dread fate. If you didn't have a security clearance that is. They feed the sailors really well, though, lobster, filet, and such, at least at the beginning of a cruise, getting down to the not so tasty toward the end. All this info is from folks I knew who were assigned to them; alas, we never met Galen and Mrs Galen, we were as "ships passing in the night." But I'm thankful for the service of every individual in the armed forces. We lived in Jacksonville, FL and Charleston SC so I have a soft spot in my heart for the Navy. WG

Zix----Regarding teacher's pay, I think we should reverse a trend - give the teachers what the Congress makes and vice versa!!!!

My husband is a teacher and he feels it is detrimental to children with learning disabilities who are now forcibly mainstreamed. He had a child with with a handicap in a class of his and this child could barely get by and became quite frustrated. Some children have aides to personally help them in each class. As far as kids who just mess around and don't get good grades in school, graduate unable to read a newspaper or balance a checkbook, they don't need legislation. IMO, they need parental involvement. WG

Guess all that would be a big surprise to those down through the centuries who've believed, eh? So God held the epistles in abeyance just for TWI, and they applied to no one else? I think that's just a tad egotistical, when one considers that at least part of the first century church would be eliminated by that statement, and folks like Martin Luther, and other great believers from the past. Oh, but then did Martin Luther speak in tongues? Guess he was a phoney if he didn't, eh? What a lot of organic fertilizer. WG

The book by E. W. Kenyon is "Jesus the Healer" and it can still be purchased through the website of I think Kenyon Bible Society or something? Anyway, it is a wonderful book and people have been healed just by reading it. WG

What's a Pelagian? WG -->

First of all, it's Wierwille, get the spelling right. Second, I was never taught in TWI salvation is by works, but by confessing Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and believing in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. Nor was I taught in PFAL that only TWI followers are saved. See Rom 10:9-10. Maybe they've amended their teachings by now. PFAL also taught that salvation is by grace. I think this chart makes it even worse than it is. There's enough bad to be said without adding to it. Okay. I actually had the unmitigated audacity to defend TWI/PFAL. LET THE FLAMING BEGIN!!!! WG

Tom, PFAL used to have a 3 hour trailer that was SIT, Interpret and Prophecy. It was in the VERY early 70's. My honey took it that way (I'm pretty sure) in 1971 or so. Probably should've stayed that way. But they didn't aske me, did they? WG

What happened to "Can you feel the love tonight?" from The Lion King???? One of my favorites, moreso than #99

I guess I should amend that statement to explain that I am referring to the personal hatred, rather than his policies/politics. If you don't agree with a holder of public office, disagree all you want...it's the American Way, and I'm thankful for it. I guess it's the personal aspect that bothers me. Lots of people disagreed with Ronald Reagan, or Bill Clinton, or Jimmy Carter. But they were respectful of them as people, and had respect for the office of President of the United States. Maybe we're just a disrespectful nation. Maybe that's the proper attitude nowadays. Shut the **** up you ******* ************! seems to be the manner in which to disagree with someone. I feel disrespected when someone calls my opinion bull****. I wouldn't call your opinion bull****. That's rude. WG

I am amazed at the vitriolic hatred people have for GWB. If my memory is still slightly accurate, it far surpasses that flung at Richard Nixon. It doesn't seem to me that it's so much what Bush has done, but who he is. The media to a person loathe and despise him, such that if, in one of his admittedly rare press conferences, some Peter or Tom or Dan stood up and just went crazy screaming and cursing and accusing, it would not surprise me one bit. A lot of this is propaganda in my opinion. Michael Moore's famous (and quickly accepted as gospel truth) lie that Bush's first year in office included 42% vacation,includes trips to Camp David, which are most frequently working weekends for presidents, not actual vacations. Excluding the Camp David weekends would make it 14%. But there it is. I HATE, LOATHE AND DESPISE WITH A BURNING HATRED....and to he11 with the truth or even facts. WHY???? My personal take is it's not because of 9/11, Afghanistan or Iraq. I think the bottom line that the organized hate campaign has at its base, veiled in righteous indignation over the so-called "unwarranted" wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the so-called "lousy" economy and sending jobs overseas, (like the 76 food factories owned by Heinz Corporation that are overseas)and all of this amazing juggernaut of loathing -I think it's because he is a faith-confessing Christian and that's the most hated religion in the world right now. So politically incorrect. So hokey. So just not quite right. Not popular. Embarrassing. If anyone cares to hear another side (and I realize most of you have your minds made up and would be hopelessly confused by the truth) you can subscribe to an e-letter called The Federalist that reports another side of the story. Even my local news station, a CBS affiliate reports that not everything Mr. Moore states is factual - they're where I got the 14% number. Jeez. Pick up the hammer and nails, it's another crucifixion party. WG

Oh, Thomas Heller, one of my favorite places on earth!!! Lucky you & family!!! Can you post pix sometime? Like St. Mary's Lake or something? Or those pink granite mountains? OOOO, now I want to pack up and head West!!! WG

I think it was Crestor, the one whose commercials sound like they were written by Dr. Suess, I suppose to make it sound harmless and even a little bit of fun. I would rather subsist on lettuce leaves and soy bean cakes for the rest of my life than be on another statin drug! WG

Aw, Galen, I'd never hurt you...too much! ;)-->

I actually got some stuff called Eucerin that may be akin to Crisco or lard, but is applied externally and helps a lot. I don't normally have extremely dry skin when I'm not taking the drugs. Don't know what the next move will be. Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and comfort and support! Where would I be without GSC? :D--> WG

dmiller, you are one of a kind! Very special and wonderful. This fool's last name is different from yours. Trust me. I wasn't talkin' bout you! :)--> WG

All of this microscopically exquisite defining of the "household" is simply utilized to make TWI feel set apart and special. From what very little I've read, it's a pretty common cult brainwashing technique. Outside the household means outside the small, exclusive, specially blessed-by-God (God being the cult hierarchy or leader) group. You can't function outside the household. I distinctly remember the young squirt who was our socalled MOG stating that "It is impossible to exist outside the Household of Faith. If you leave this household, the spirit within you will die, and shortly thereafter your physical body will die also, because it is impossible to exist outside the household of faith." I'm still standin' D.M****r. Happier, healthier, and a better relationship with my heavenly Father than I ever had under your dictatorship, you little f**t! I don't have to try to please perfect little TWI folks any more. I please my Lord Who loves me! So there! :)-->

I'm told very few people have a problem with Lipitor. I gave the rest of my bottle to a friend who has taken it for years. At the same time, I've been told several times that Cholesterol levels are largely genetic. See Goey's post. I've been told to lose weight and am working on that. Get more exercise - joined Curves (and recommend it highly). So we'll see. I'll get another blood panel done in August. Right now, I'm kind of inclined to take my chances. Without any meds of the statin family. WG

A trip to the doctor: I like my family practitioner a lot. His first comment on seeing the peeling rash and dry skin on my arms was "EEEEWWWWWW!" He thinks it is from the Lipitor. He prescribed me a steroid cream, as diabetics shouldn't take oral steroids unless absolutely necessary. It helps a lot. He also sent me for a check of my liver and and for muscle wasting, so got blood drawn yesterday too. LFT and CPK the tests are called. At home, we started the South Beach diet and it may well help the LDL problem, along with the other helpful tips y'all have given me. The doc is thinking about something like Norvasc, Dove, I have a PE scheduled in October, so we'll see. Thanks, y'all. Love, WG

Tom, I do like nuts. Almonds, Walnuts pecans (pronounced pee-cans in South Carolina). Am eating them as snacks instead of Cheetoes most of the time. thanks for the tip!!! WG

If I eat enough grinders, will it help my cholesterol?????? :D--> Seriously, I'm not too worried about the cholesterol. It's the damn peeling skin and itch that are bothering me. Going to Dr. this afternoon. Oh, yeah, in Italy they call colonoscopy the Great Lakes exam. It's uppa US. Never had either. Healthy as a horse when I'm not scratching. But thanks for the thought, Oldies. You could have one and tell us about it. Then we'd know! I have seriously avoided all that crap. WG WG

Zix---does this mean the "colon cleanse" was not all it was cracked up to be???

Zixar - words of wisdome for sure. I happen to like salmon, and buy wild salmon whenever possible. I take vitamin C, E multi- and will probably try this CQ-10 enzyme if possible. Oh, yeah, I like Cheetoes too, just to keep a balance in life!

Oh, and let's not forget salmon, nicely grilled and served with a sour cream-dill sauce on the side, as a source of antioxidants and pure dining pleasure besides! WG