God was saying... Eat your vegetables, try to get 8 hours of sleep a night, Love your Mom and Dad, Love your kids, Try to be honest, try to be fair... Love your self and your neighbor... oh and take a moment and be thankful for what you do have.
Listen to your Mom and Dad.. they may know a thing or two... Mom's and Dad's Listen to your kids... They know stuff too
and above all be still and know that He is God.
I am sure some one else will come out with a good wise crack but I think that mostly sums it up
Well, I guess my point is that, by explaining what a verse REALLY meant, it was like saying God was a failure at communicating his true meaning. We, on the other hand, were much more ably equipped to expound on the scripture's true meaning than the author himself.
Well, I guess my point is that, by explaining what a verse REALLY meant, it was like saying God was a failure at communicating his true meaning. We, on the other hand, were much more ably equipped to expound on the scripture's true meaning than the author himself.
...Thus, the waytree. God was such a failure at dealing with us individually that VP Cornfield had to step in and do the job for him...set up his own chain of command and hierarchy. God's will was delivered this way to each little leaf. Wierwille told us to walk by the spirit but nobody in his organization was allowed to. Not only did Wierwille do a better job of communicating his true meaning but also took his place in specific daily guidence...in other words...VP Cornfield WAS God...
...Thus, the waytree. God was such a failure at dealing with us individually that VP Cornfield had to step in and do the job for him...set up his own chain of command and hierarchy. God's will was delivered this way to each little leaf. Wierwille told us to walk by the spirit but nobody in his organization was allowed to. Not only did Wierwille do a better job of communicating his true meaning but also took his place in specific daily guidence...in other words...VP Cornfield WAS God...
You may want to check out these books – compiled from numerous Grease Spot threads:
From a different prespective: TWI, as well as other churches, denominations, gurus and self-help teachers feel that they have to tell us "what God meant", because, taken as a whole it isn't always clear what the author of the bible did mean. There are contradictions, apparent or real and theologians have been trying for centuries (millenia actually) to reconcile these discrepancies. Wierwille wasn't the first one to claim that he had the corner on truth either.
I like the little children analogy in the poem. Like who are we to say we are big enough to figure it all out? Better than us have gone before.
I like that the same comparison may be found in 1Jn. If it is true that he will care for us as "little children" and we find grace and mercy in His sight, then perhaps we need not be intimidated by the giants of the age.
Well, I guess my point is that, by explaining what a verse REALLY meant, it was like saying God was a failure at communicating his true meaning. We, on the other hand, were much more ably equipped to expound on the scripture's true meaning than the author himself.
Sorry i got what you were saying I was being a bit sarcastic.
IT is Mankind's Arrogance that is what got us in trouble in the garden of Eden and as your example shows, it is still getting us into trouble today.
There are contradictions, apparent or real and theologians have been trying for centuries (millenia actually) to reconcile these discrepancies. Wierwille wasn't the first one to claim that he had the corner on truth either.
Life felt a lot more sane when I finally quit trying to make it all fit like a hand in a glove.
From a different prespective: TWI, as well as other churches, denominations, gurus and self-help teachers feel that they have to tell us "what God meant", because, taken as a whole it isn't always clear what the author of the bible did mean. There are contradictions, apparent or real and theologians have been trying for centuries (millenia actually) to reconcile these discrepancies. Wierwille wasn't the first one to claim that he had the corner on truth either.
Kudos to you for taking the more moderate road here. I suppose I am just mean. I would concur that many religious movements start out with a senior of some sort trying to explain the bible, Q'ran, etc. But it just seems that they all degenerate into a personal control mechanism by the elite.
For all we (with some common experience) complain about TWI, TWI's abuse was amateurish compared to some rather global versions of christianity, islam, and quite a few others.
It would be absurd, in my view, for God to need explaining if the bible was written by the supreme being, creator of the universe. An alternative is to view the bible as a collection of writings by well meaning people trying to put into words their personal experience with what they call God. No need to make it "fit like a hand in a glove", no need to reconcile contradictions, no need to agonize over why, if it's God's Word, one has trouble understanding it. Just take what works and leave the rest.
Disclaimer: The above is in no way intended to disparage those who do believe that the bible was written by God and is thus infallible
An alternative is to view the bible as a collection of writings by well meaning people trying to put into words their personal experience with what they call God.
Yes.
Not a recipe of something to be cooked, but rather an analysis of that which has already been cooked.
Part of the problem is trying to define the Almighty..
in my opinion, anyway..
in Geometry and other disciplines.. there are undefined terms. You'd think a system of belief would fall apart with such a thing.. but it really doesn't..
you leave the term "point".. "line".. "set".. etc.. pretty much undefined in the system.. why? Perhaps because somebody can always come up with a better explanation..
That's why so much of poetry, or other works are timeless..
they left so many terms undefined..
a new generation comes around.. and with a completely different set of problems and conditions say.. "they really meant this.."
even the Almighty did that with his own word, if one believes it..
One of the great figures in Bullinger's work was Gnome, or quotation.. the contexts "God's" words were forced into sometimes were entirely different than those in which they were composed.. at least at times..
Not a recipe of something to be cooked, but rather an analysis of that which has already been cooked.
Nicely put
Instead of trying to experience the divine in exactly the same manner that Moses or Paul or even Jesus did, why not look at what they did experience, think "wow, that was cool...I wonder what's in store for me?" and then sit back and enjoy our own transcendent experience?
While most people agree on the basics of what is right and wrong - God put that in our DNA - we need more than the basics to thrive and have hope. At least I do. Those questions about life and death and eternity keep bugging me.
Though people disagree on interpretation of the Bible, it seems that there is a right way to interpret. And it seems that the Bible answers well allthe big life questions.
The Way, CES, Baptists, and Pentecostalists all bring some truth to the table. I try to trust God and sort the error from truth.
One thing I love to reject is the jaded and decadent and dumb ideas promoted by most mass media and academics in the US.
Instead of trying to experience the divine in exactly the same manner that Moses or Paul or even Jesus did, why not look at what they did experience, think "wow, that was cool...I wonder what's in store for me?" and then sit back and enjoy our own transcendent experience?
That all sounds so nice, so liberating. But it is kind of anarchist and rebellious, and leads nowhere. Sounds so "Cheech and Chong." Whoa dude, pass that bong and let's see what God has to say...
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leafytwiglet
God was saying... Eat your vegetables, try to get 8 hours of sleep a night, Love your Mom and Dad, Love your kids, Try to be honest, try to be fair... Love your self and your neighbor... oh and take a moment and be thankful for what you do have.
Listen to your Mom and Dad.. they may know a thing or two... Mom's and Dad's Listen to your kids... They know stuff too
and above all be still and know that He is God.
I am sure some one else will come out with a good wise crack but I think that mostly sums it up
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waysider
Well, I guess my point is that, by explaining what a verse REALLY meant, it was like saying God was a failure at communicating his true meaning. We, on the other hand, were much more ably equipped to expound on the scripture's true meaning than the author himself.
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GrouchoMarxJr
...Thus, the waytree. God was such a failure at dealing with us individually that VP Cornfield had to step in and do the job for him...set up his own chain of command and hierarchy. God's will was delivered this way to each little leaf. Wierwille told us to walk by the spirit but nobody in his organization was allowed to. Not only did Wierwille do a better job of communicating his true meaning but also took his place in specific daily guidence...in other words...VP Cornfield WAS God...
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doojable
Perhaps this is the real reason why he wrote, Jesus Christ IS NOT God
OH! That would make vp the usurper - what he always said Lucifer tried to do.
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T-Bone
You may want to check out these books – compiled from numerous Grease Spot threads:
vp is not God
Is PFAL alive now?
vp tells me so
vp our plagiarist
The New Dynamic Cult
Christians should be promiscuous
The vp way: or the highway
Lifestyle of a deceiver
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Twinky
Too funny, T-Bone!
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JeffSjo
Yeah that was very funny!
I remember TWI preaching, "God says what he means and means what he says."
It seems like in practice it went,"Let ME tell you what He meant when He said that."
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Oakspear
From a different prespective: TWI, as well as other churches, denominations, gurus and self-help teachers feel that they have to tell us "what God meant", because, taken as a whole it isn't always clear what the author of the bible did mean. There are contradictions, apparent or real and theologians have been trying for centuries (millenia actually) to reconcile these discrepancies. Wierwille wasn't the first one to claim that he had the corner on truth either.
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JeffSjo
I like the little children analogy in the poem. Like who are we to say we are big enough to figure it all out? Better than us have gone before.
I like that the same comparison may be found in 1Jn. If it is true that he will care for us as "little children" and we find grace and mercy in His sight, then perhaps we need not be intimidated by the giants of the age.
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leafytwiglet
Sorry i got what you were saying I was being a bit sarcastic.
IT is Mankind's Arrogance that is what got us in trouble in the garden of Eden and as your example shows, it is still getting us into trouble today.
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Tzaia
Life felt a lot more sane when I finally quit trying to make it all fit like a hand in a glove.
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RumRunner
Kudos to you for taking the more moderate road here. I suppose I am just mean. I would concur that many religious movements start out with a senior of some sort trying to explain the bible, Q'ran, etc. But it just seems that they all degenerate into a personal control mechanism by the elite.
For all we (with some common experience) complain about TWI, TWI's abuse was amateurish compared to some rather global versions of christianity, islam, and quite a few others.
Nonetheless - I admire your moderate comments.
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waysider
Thank you all for your responses.
The world is filled with "Mrs. Parkers", eager to help us understand what the poet really meant to say.
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Oakspear
It would be absurd, in my view, for God to need explaining if the bible was written by the supreme being, creator of the universe. An alternative is to view the bible as a collection of writings by well meaning people trying to put into words their personal experience with what they call God. No need to make it "fit like a hand in a glove", no need to reconcile contradictions, no need to agonize over why, if it's God's Word, one has trouble understanding it. Just take what works and leave the rest.
Disclaimer: The above is in no way intended to disparage those who do believe that the bible was written by God and is thus infallible
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waysider
Absolutely!!
And it would be likewise absurd for us to think that we were the chosen ones who were uniquely qualified for that task.
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waysider
Yes.
Not a recipe of something to be cooked, but rather an analysis of that which has already been cooked.
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Ham
Part of the problem is trying to define the Almighty..
in my opinion, anyway..
in Geometry and other disciplines.. there are undefined terms. You'd think a system of belief would fall apart with such a thing.. but it really doesn't..
you leave the term "point".. "line".. "set".. etc.. pretty much undefined in the system.. why? Perhaps because somebody can always come up with a better explanation..
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Ham
That's why so much of poetry, or other works are timeless..
they left so many terms undefined..
a new generation comes around.. and with a completely different set of problems and conditions say.. "they really meant this.."
even the Almighty did that with his own word, if one believes it..
One of the great figures in Bullinger's work was Gnome, or quotation.. the contexts "God's" words were forced into sometimes were entirely different than those in which they were composed.. at least at times..
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Ham
might I add.. "I don't have a real problem with that.."..
:)
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Ham
Now whether "ms" parker has the answer to God, the universe, and everything, perhaps is a different matter..
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Oakspear
Instead of trying to experience the divine in exactly the same manner that Moses or Paul or even Jesus did, why not look at what they did experience, think "wow, that was cool...I wonder what's in store for me?" and then sit back and enjoy our own transcendent experience?
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caribousam
While most people agree on the basics of what is right and wrong - God put that in our DNA - we need more than the basics to thrive and have hope. At least I do. Those questions about life and death and eternity keep bugging me.
Though people disagree on interpretation of the Bible, it seems that there is a right way to interpret. And it seems that the Bible answers well allthe big life questions.
The Way, CES, Baptists, and Pentecostalists all bring some truth to the table. I try to trust God and sort the error from truth.
One thing I love to reject is the jaded and decadent and dumb ideas promoted by most mass media and academics in the US.
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caribousam
That all sounds so nice, so liberating. But it is kind of anarchist and rebellious, and leads nowhere. Sounds so "Cheech and Chong." Whoa dude, pass that bong and let's see what God has to say...
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waysider
Any particular examples come to mind?
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