winsomebulldog

Whatever our personal opinions on "global warming" or "climate change" or whatever the title du jour might be, the really sad thing to me is that there are many people out there that will nod their heads in vehement agreement simply because they heard Rosie say this. (Or Oprah, or Al Gore, or any of a hundred other celebrities.) It's pretty pitiful that so many people get their opinions from their favorite famous person instead of forming them through their own research and thinking.

I absolutely cannot comprehend why he doesn't just settle this thing once and for all by having a team of forensic document experts go examine the original document, accompanied by representatives of both political parties (to help ensure fairness) and a documentary crew to video the entire procedure. I realize that there are some who will never be satisfied, but the thing that makes me doubt him most is all his maneuvering to keep the stupid birth certificate hidden. Seriously, if there's nothing to hide, then why try to hide it at all?

Beagles may be bred to hunt rabbits, but they'll chase a lot of other things. Hubby had multiple Beagles growing up and used them for rabbit hunting. He talks about poorly trained dogs chasing deer and other things instead of focusing on the job at hand. I had a mutt with bird dog in her as a kid and she'd point at birds in the trees. LOL And her son used to run rabbit trails all the time, usually backwards. There's just no way to account for what a dog will do most of the time. This one was probably so focused on the "trail" that he didn't even notice the fox behind him. I feel sorry for the poor fellow being called the world's worst hunting dog, though. Just because a dog comes from a breed designed for hunting doesn't mean they are ever actually used for that. The poor boy was probably just out for a romp and now he's being ridiculed!

Space archaeology...

How appalling! That's just terrible! How can any self-respecting nurse allow something like this to happen? I know terrible things happen sometimes due to a nurse being either insensitive or so terribly overworked that patients "fall through the cracks." But this is systemic abuse across multiple facilities. There is simply no possible excuse for that. Any nurse who could do this to a patient ought to be fired and never allowed to work in the health care field again.

I know that there are countless conspiracy theorists out there. I also know that most of them are relatively harmless. But this is a disturbing story about a guy from TX who hosts a site claiming that the shooting rampage in Tucson was all a hoax. Worse, some of his fellow "believers" are actually tracking down victims and witnesses to the crime and demanding "proof" that it actually occurred. I sincerely hope this doesn't become a growing trend. As if surviving the shooting wasn't scary enough, they now have to deal with nuts hassling them at home. NY Times Story

I understand the reasoning behind Diplomatic Immunity. There are doubtless nations where frivolous, trumped up charges would be used to blackmail a diplomat. However, there is a problem in that people can commit blatant crimes with the host nation having absolutely no legal recourse. They get deported back to their home nation where they are frequently not punished at all. I agree that diplomats should be protected from false or frivolous charges, but there should be some way of that protection being lifted in the case of provable crimes being committed.

It's obvious we get far more benefit from the money we give to Israel than the money we give to anyone else. The simple point is, Israel is our ally. While several of the Middle Eastern nations we give money to also claim to be our allies, they also harbor terrorists, promote radical Islamic views, and do nothing at all to curb the lies being fostered by these radicals. In fact, it is often their state run media that push the lies both about Israel and the US. Honestly, I don't remember seeing any Israelis celebrating in the streets on 9/11. Yet that was widespread in the Arab nations, even those who are supposed to be our allies. It's not that difficult to understand why many of us find it repulsive that we continue to give money to nations who would gladly bury a knife in our back if given half a chance.

I won't pretend to know the status of their personal relationship with God, assuming any of them have one, but I do sadly believe that very few, if any, politicians would dare to put God and His will before their own personal agenda. They'll stand for God so long as it doesn't get in the way of their political careers.

Well, we'd have to break that one down by issues. The truth is that neither or none of the parties (if you include Independents) are on the side of the Lord - because that is not their goal and objective. We do the best we can to focus our collective parties into what we believe is the Lord's ways, but the parties themselves are not in it for the Lord. Obviously we side with the party that we believe is more in line with the Lord's ways than the other. But if we seek perfect alignment, we couldn't belong to any party...which would mean we couldn't vote. It's a crazy mixed bag. Right! Political parties and philosophies are a creation of men, not God. No political party or movement has God at its center, irregardless of what they may claim. It's all about social and national policies and choices, not about advancing God's plan or message.

I've been a part of churches that I sensed were on the wrong path, or that were pushing doctrines that were a product of a man's opinion (generally the pastor) instead of being based on Biblical teaching. I am no longer a part of those churches because I actually read my own Bible to make sure whatever is being preached is actually Scriptural. My current pastor warns us to do this. He tells us to make sure he isn't wrong. Why is this so difficult for some to grasp? I was in my teens, a young Christian who'd been saved only for a year or so when I left the church I'd attended most of my childhood because decisions that were being made were based on politics instead of faith. I was hardly deeply grounded in the Word then, but I knew enough to pick up my Bible and seek out the Lord's will and teaching. I just cannot understand how people get sucked in by teaching as obviously flawed as this. I'm not condemning them. My heart breaks for those who have now lost everything because they chose to follow a man instead of God. But it doesn't change the fact that they have no one to blame but themselves as it was their personal responsibility to confirm the validity of Camping's teaching.

That's the reality I was thinking PETA needed to get a grip on.

Several years ago in a ladies Bible study group we were discussing an entirely different topic. (Related to how a woman should dress.) There are some in our group that adhere to the skirts/dresses only notion. One of the ladies there, who is a obviously faithful woman with a husband of equal faith, pointed out that she had never once felt any conviction about wearing pants. She said that when God convicted her about it, she'd start wearing only skirts. Until then, she wasn't going to be pushed into something by someone else's conviction. I agreed with her then and still do today. Perhaps this may come across as flippant, if so I apologize, as I am most certainly not feeling any sense of humor about this. My husband and I have been together for more than 20 years. We have chosen not to have children. (Though I agree that had God wanted it to be otherwise, He would have overridden our choice. I have, in fact, prayed often for Him to help me find His will about this.) I believe my husband would be a wonderful father. I, on the other hand, am simply not mother material. I don't dislike kids. I think they're cute. But I don't have the patience required to raise one. I had a happy childhood with a mother who was everything any child could have wanted. I adored her. She adored me and my sisters. It is because of her that I know I don't have what it takes to be a good mother. I'm too selfish and that's the blatant truth. All anyone has to do is open their eyes and look around at this sorry world to see countless evidence of people who should never, ever have had children. Just because one is biologically capable of producing offspring does not mean they should do so. Trying to take the God's commandments to Adam and Noah to "be fruitful and multiply" and transfer them to every other human on the planet is just ridiculous. First: are those of you advocating this saying that the countless couples out there who have hideously abused their own children, often to the point of death, should continue to have children? Second: Biblically speaking, the only people who should be having any children are those who are married. Are those who choose not to marry, and thus not to procreate, then committing sin? Before you answer that, consider that the Bible also tells us that it's perfectly fine for someone to choose not to marry. I Corinthians 7. You can't have it both ways, either it's our duty to get out there and get married and start having kids, or it's okay for us to stay single and not have kids. My point is, if you're using the "be fruitful and multiply" reasoning, then in order to not be fruitful in a sinful way, we'd all have to be married first. This makes that argument senseless to me since the Bible clearly says there's nothing wrong with staying single. Third: Even if you skip over my first objection and say that the commandment is logically only given to Christians, who presumably would not cause deliberate pain and harm to their children, then are you saying we all ought to be like the Duggar family, having kids nonstop until we die or they stop coming? (I am NOT condemning the Duggar family. I respect them to no end. I just don't happen to share their convictions when it comes to having children.) Obviously, we are all entitled to our own opinions. Equally as obvious is the fact that we're here because we like sharing those opinions. Less clear to me is why some of us here come at each other like warriors on a battlefield instead of the brothers and sisters we are supposed to be. Some of you have been awfully harsh in your comments. That's a shame and uncalled for, especially among Christians. In the end, having children is like every single other aspect of life. It is a personal choice that only God Himself has the right to convict us about. I have had more than one person try to "guilt" me into wanting children. It doesn't work. One of those who has been trying for years to convince me and my husband that we want kids finally figured out recently that we are serious about not having them. I have cancer. I have had treatments that most likely mean I will never be able to conceive even if I wanted to do so. She expected that to devastate me. It didn't. Does it bother me a little? Sure. As others have suggested, my husband and I have always kept our options open, knowing very well that we all change over time and our wants change with us. But anyone who gets in my face and starts trying to preach me into having children will learn very quickly that I am not a pushover. As my friend from church said, when GOD convicts me about something, then I will change it. No man, woman, boy or girl will do so. You can quote verses at me until you're blue in the face. Anyone can take a verse and expound upon their personal interpretation of it. Only God can make me (or anyone else) feel a sense of guilt or shame about something wrong in my life. I feel no guilt or shame for choosing not to have children. I would be a bad mother. Children deserve the best. They are a blessing from God and to give them anything other than the very best would indeed be a sin. I've rambled a lot to get around to saying that only you, your fiance, and God have any right to share in your ultimate decision. Never let anyone try to shove their own personal doctrine down your throat. That kind of heavy hand is the mark of a person with no sense of love and respect for their fellow believers and if they can't have compassion, love, and courtesy for others, then I have to question their ability to discern the truth of Scripture in the first place.

Whoa. Bit harsh sounding, to me at least. I voted other. Children or not is their decision as a couple. The Lord can and sometimes does over rule our decisions, and if that happens I'm sure he'll give the grace to deal with it. I feel the same as many here. Don't want kids? Don't have them. Leave the door open to your attitudes changing -- they do as we grow older.

You are such a chick! I'm a chick, but I love Godzilla movies! The Three Stooges... meh. I used to love old Laural and Hardy episodes, though, does that count? Oh, and I'm an absolute nut for sci fi and action flicks and shows. I like football, too.

Wow. PETA really needs to get a grip on reality. And a moral compass. And AWESOME post, LuftWaffle!

I'd be reluctant to sit down and try to add up all the money we've spent on our pets through the years. We've invested a particularly large amount of money in our girl, Katie. (She's my profile pic ) She's had two surgeries on her legs and one emergency surgery to be spayed when she developed a uterine infection. And that doesn't even count the amount of money we spend on a yearly basis for basic care like food, shots and flea/tick meds. Hubby and I don't have children, so our pets are our kids. We love them very much. I still grieve strongly for my childhood pet who's been gone for more than two decades now. Yes, they're animals. No, they don't hold the same "value" as a human. If push came to shove, one would presumably have to choose the life and welfare of a human over that of any animal no matter how beloved. But - I also believe that we are stewards of the animals. While we were given clear dominion over them and are free to use them in many ways, including for food, I do not think that means we are free to treat them cruelly or without basic compassion. Even the ox at the mill was allowed to eat the grain it helped grind. The moment we agree to bring an animal into our lives - and I'm not just talking dogs and cats and other traditional pet species here - we agree to take full and total responsibility for it's care and welfare. This means, as far as I am concerned, that we are responsible for making sure they are kept comfortable irregardless of their purpose. No animal, whether it's a house cat or dog or a cow or pig in a bar that's destined for slaughter should be allowed to suffer. Case in point, we had some pigs several years back that we were raising for the sole purpose of filling our freezer with pork. One of them developed an issue that would have had no impact what-so-ever on the quality or taste of its mean once it was slaughtered. However, it would have been painful for the pig. So we treated it. We gave it daily injections of antibiotics until the issue was healed. Then, a few months later, we took it to the butcher. That was money out of our pocket that we didn't technically have to spend, but it was something neither I nor my husband could refuse to do. The animal was in our care and needed treatment. To have let it go on suffering simply because it was destined for slaughter would have been cruel. So, basically, I would spend whatever I had to. That's not to say I won't put a suffering animal down. I've done it before and my heart is still broken over it. But so long as I believe my pet can continue to live a life without pain and suffering, I'm going to do what I can to keep it here with me.

I hate to say it, but too often I think Christians fall into a trend of thinking they are helping by being openly confrontational and aggressive in trying to point out how others are sinning. Ultimately, I honestly believe it comes down to a matter of pride. Most of those I've known who behaved in a judgmental way toward others did so because they saw themselves as somehow better. Christians are the worst when it comes to categorizing sins, you know what I mean. "Sure, I over eat, but 'they' are living together without being married!" "Yeah, I gossip a little, but 'they' are drunk more than they're sober!" The analogies could go on and on. And this is what God meant when He told us to get rid of the beam in our own eye before we started trying to remove the speck from someone else's. I know that I have personally had to pray for God to keep my pride and tongue under control when speaking to someone else about an issue in their life. A good example is that I felt heavily led to visit my sister-in-law several years ago and speak to her about the chip she was carrying around on her shoulder when it came to our church and specifically our pastor's wife. Before I went over there, I asked God to bind my tongue so that I would only say what He wanted me to say instead of giving in to my own pride and saying what I thought. Funny thing was, we had a good, long visit and I wound up not saying a word about her attitude. Instead I just talked about my own relationship with God, our church, and our pastor's wife. I left, wondering if I'd said and done the right thing. That night my sister-in-law came to the revival we were having. It was the first time in a long while that she'd been to church. The point is, too often we give in to our own personal idea of what needs to be said or done instead of letting God guide us. It is sad how many Christians I know wind up being very harsh toward others because of something they think the other one is doing wrong. I believe sin needs to be confronted. I believe that it should never be glossed over or ignored for the sake of either political correctness or current social trends or a desire not to "rock the boat." But the moment we start pointing fingers at someone else we need to take a step back and make sure we're doing it with the right attitude of humility, love, and compassion. Otherwise we are stepping outside of God's will and no good can come of it.

I always said I couldn't get a tattoo because 1) I can't get past the pain factor, and, 2) I can't think of anything that I'm not sure I wouldn't get sick and tired of within a short period of time. Then I got cancer and when I went to start my radiation they gave me a series of tattoos used to line up the lasers for treatment. These tattoos are hardly large or obvious. They look like freckles. Here's one of my actual tattoos: I have 7 of these. They were done by placing a drop of tattoo ink on my skin and then using a very small single needle to push it beneath the skin. I joked when I got them that I now knew for sure that I would never get any real tattoos because these 7 tiny little things hurt like the dickens. It wasn't the worst pain I've ever felt. The injections I got for my sentinel node biopsy were far worse. I am NOT going to go into detail about that! If you're curious, look it up! Still, it was painful enough for me to be sure that there's no way I could sit still while someone jabbed my skin hundreds or thousands of times with a bunch of needles!

There have been quite a few churches in my life that pushed "works" instead of grace, and instilled "terror" of the Lord. Yeah, I hate to hear of people being raised to fear the Lord like He's some kind of monster hiding under their bed. And the whole adhering to some kind of strict code of what can or can't be said aloud or read or worn or whatever is a complete mystery to me. Obviously Christians ought to be wise in their speech and actions and modest in their behavior and dress, but there's a line that a lot of churches seem to cross.

If youth are bored in Church, maybe it is time to take a long hard look at what changes can be made in the youth ministry. Just a thought. I have to agree. I was rarely bored in church when I was in my teens. And we didn't have some hyper, "always going to some kind of event" youth group, either. We just had a very dedicated youth director who devoted himself to not only making it relatable to us, but to insisting that we take part in every lesson. If kids are bored then they aren't actually hearing what is being said or learning what is being taught. As for Ms. Perry, her upbringing sounds less like a good Christian one than a borderline fanatical one. Saying the word "devil" is not a sin, nor will it magically conjure Satan up. It's sad that she was clearly not taught discernment and so now is falling into that whole "acceptance" mentality that so pervades our society. I'm not preaching intolerance, but voicing my sadness at how twisted the Christian faith can become when injected with human thoughts and feelings about what is or isn't "right." I pray she finds her way to God at some point instead of being pulled in by the countless other philosophies floating around out there.

No need to yell, friend.

Dude, sometimes ya gotta tell a joke to break the tension. It may be "tension" to you to engage in such discussion of importance . . . but not everyone buckles under the weight and gravity these things. To me it is an inappropriate distraction to necessary thought and prayerful consideration the church needs to give itself to in these days and the times rapidly approaching. Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. I appreciate a good joke as well as the next person, but in its proper place and setting. The Spirit of God would be working through God's servants to exhort His people in wisdom as we see this day approaching. It is nothing more than the silliness of the flesh to engage in jesting behavior in matters of such sobriety. Its the individual's choice, we can yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to bring forth our gift which ministers grace to the hears and receivers thereof, or we can in our old nature choose to be the class clown. One strengthens the rest of the body . . . the other just clamorous, distracting and inconvenient. Perhaps that is why we are to long-suffer and forbear . . . I don't think ANYONE is "buckling under the weight and gravity" of this topic. I do, however, think you might want to lighten up just a bit. Wyguy is wyguy and expecting him to be anything else is wrong. He's perfectly capable of being as serious as anyone else, but chooses to use humor and wit most of the time. I, for one, greatly appreciate this aspect of his personality. (Perhaps because I married a man who does the same thing and credit God alone for bringing us together into a marriage that is joyful, loving and mutually supportive as well as based on Biblical principles and a shared love for and trust in God.) If you don't share my fondness for wyguy's tendencies toward humor then simply skip over his posts. There's no reason to suggest that he is somehow wrong for showing us the personality God gave him. Honestly, humor has a place most anywhere. That's why many of us find ourselves laughing through our tears in trying times. Or maybe that's just me...

What is the word, you ask...? A-well-a everybody's heard about the bird B-b-b-bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a don't you know about the bird? Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word! A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a... A-well-a everybody's heard about the bird Bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a don't you know about the bird? Well, everybody's talking about the bird! A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word A-well-a bird... Surfin' bird Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb... [retching noises]... aaah! Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa- Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-ooma-mow-mow Papa-ooma-mow-mow Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow Oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-oom-oom-oom Oom-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow Papa-a-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow Papa-oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow Oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow Well don't you know about the bird? Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word! A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow Even on your own thread . . . this is why I can never take you serious or stop to give any real consideration to your posts. Dude, sometimes ya gotta tell a joke to break the tension. Which reminds me.... Steven Spielberg was discussing his new project - an action docudrama about famous composers starring top movie stars. Sylvester Stallone, Steven Segall, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger were all present. Spielberg strongly desired the box office 'oomph' of these superstars, so he was prepared to allow them to select whatever composers they wished to portray, as long as they were famous. "Well," started Stallone, "I've always admired Mozart. I would love to play him." "Chopin has always been my favorite, and my image would improve if people saw me playing the piano," replied Willis. "I'll play him." "I've always been partial to Strauss and his waltzes," said Segall. "I'd like to play him." Spielberg was very pleased with these choices. "Sounds splendid." Then, turning to Schwarzenegger, he asked, "Who do you want to be, Arnold?" Arnold, in a slow deliberate voice replied, "I'll be Bach."