darkest_red

I understand that it is hard for an older person to find a job...but it isn't a picnic for younger people either! I was out of work for 8 months after I moved back home, if it wasn't for the fact that I ended my last job on good terms and they were willing to take me back that I am employed again. Not that I particularly wanted to be in the job but I prayed and, I don't know, it kind of feels like maybe I didn't get another job because I was meant to be back where I am. Not necessarily for the job, but maybe because the job put me in a place I need to be, for whatever reason. Or maybe it's just a job. Who knows. My point is, I sympathise but don't think for a moment that if you were 20 or 30 years younger, you'd be able to stroll into a job. Everyone is struggling these days! Every job has so many applicants, it really is an employer's market. They can afford to be fussy because they know there are always plenty of people applying for every job. Even a simple - dull - data entry job will have over 70 applicants. As for employment agencies...I hope they are better in the US than they are over here because, with the exception of one or two, they seem to want to do as little as possible! As wit all things, the key is persistence. It isn't impossible to get a job if you are older - my mum was made redundant a long with a number of her colleagues, all around the same age, and they have all found work. Keep praying, the Lord will provide.

I'm a bit late in on the party but welcome back!

I don't think that a generalisation like that could possibly be accurate! There are so many different types of people out there, to lump all men into one category and all women into another just seems unfair. As for the platonic friendships... I think it is ridiculous when people say that men and women can't just be friends. I have plenty of male friends I have never had any other feelings for, and they have never had any other feelings for me. Sure, some men think that you can't just be friends with a woman and I'm sure there are woman who think the same about men, but that is purely their own limitations, set down by themselves. I know females who are like this too. They seem to break up with someone and then the next minute they have found someone else! I don't know how they do it, but maybe that's because I've always had long gaps between the few relationships I have had. It depends entirely on the man and the woman! One of my closest friends had been with his girlfriend for 3 years (? I think) until they broke up last month after she admitted she didn't feel the same any more and had, in fact, cheated on him while she'd been travelling for the previous few months. Although he seemed happy in the relationship until the last few weeks, I had avoided being around the two of them as much as possible during the last 3 years because whenever he was around her, he was a different person, especially towards me. I have to admit, I have never been a fan of her as he changed as soon as he got involved with her and I can't say I'm sad that they are not together, but it's a shame that he had to get hurt. That said, there are plenty of people - men and women - who do fair better in a relationship. I think that is a very good point - timing is everything! There are times in a persons life when they will not be ready for a relationship, there will be times when they are not interested in a relationship but until a person is ready and interested, it is better that they are single.

Sometimes you have to let them go and love them from a distance. If the ex is going down the wrong road that's her decision and she will bear the consequences for it. I get it that its not easy to let 'em go, but you need to turn this over to the Lord and leave it with him. Ever think that maybe pretending isn't the answer? Jesus can change your heart and attitude about it, but you have to stop playing the victim (I can't live without her) and allow the Lord to do what only He can do. I had to struggle with that and still do sometimes. Life happens and we have to move on. I know because I lost someone, and spent over 20 wasted years angry at God over it. Don't play the victim. Jesus didn't die so we could do that. As for living a good Christian life you can live a good life single if that's what the Lord wants, or married. We belong to Christ and its His decision, not ours. I don't like it sometimes, but that's how things are. Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, but I've seen far too many people put themselves through so much unnecessary agony over things like this that it isn't even funny. This situation is in your life for a reason, and I don't pretend to know why, but the Lord allowed it for a reason. Perhaps it would be a good idea to spend some serious time in prayer and the Bible for a time and see how things begin to go from there. I am certain it will help. Great advice! I don't think I have anything to add other than if you still have feelings for her, you will not be able to move on while she is still such a huge part of your life. I know that you don't necessarily want to cut all ties with her and I don't think there is anything wrong with staying friends with an ex girlfriend, but you need some time to yourself first so you can move on. I understand that it's painful to watch someone you care about going down the wrong path but, realistically, there is not much you can do other than pray. You will move on and it will get easier, but - as clichéd as it is to say - it will take time.

Ncn Getting in trouble? What a shocker!! Depends on your views about a tatoo. Some say its biblical that your not supposed to because your body is supposed to be a temple others say that its fine/ If that is valid then it's a sin to live in the Los Angeles basin, cause the air quality there is so disasterous to health at times that long term.it will hurt your temple body.... there is a big difference between going and getting "damage" done to your body v.s bad health from the environment People move to LA that don't have to...... same difference. I'd be one of those people if I could be! having asthma, I had to turn down a very good job in the television industry, and eventually change careers from not being able to live there with the smog. Very frustrating. That must suck. My dream is to go to the US for a good length of time - a year or so would be perfect - but it is so hard to get into the country if it's not just for a short holiday that it is never going to happen. Is it that hard to get over here? You would be so welcome. We love company, LOL. The trick to getting in our country is first go to Mexico and then you can just walk right in and you will be instantly given a goody bag complete with social security, a mail box, food stamps and welfare benefits, free healthcare and your college tuition is on us! Just kidding around. Seriously, what is the longest they will let you stay here without giving you a hassle?. A lot of Americans have told me to go via Mexico! The tourist Visa is up to 90 days (pre 9/11 it was up to 6 months) and if you remain in the country longer than that you risk being kicked out and not allowed back. Other than that, there's the Work Visa, but you can't apply for that until you have a firm job offer and to get a job the company has to prove that it couldn't be done by a citizen that has applied (or something along those lines, I can't remember exactly how it's worded). The only other options would involve marrying an American, and even then, by all accounts, it is a tough process. Understandable.....but harsh on a chick who just wants to experience the country properly.

No salmon? Cheese? I like smoked cheese....... Smoked cheese is sooo good! And to echo the sentiments of others... praise the Lord! I have never been a smoker (a fact I am extremely glad about) but I know plenty of people who have tried to give up - some have succeeded, others...not so much. From what I have heard, it isn't an easy thing to do for most people so you have been blessed to have such an easy time of it!

Ncn Getting in trouble? What a shocker!! Depends on your views about a tatoo. Some say its biblical that your not supposed to because your body is supposed to be a temple others say that its fine/ If that is valid then it's a sin to live in the Los Angeles basin, cause the air quality there is so disasterous to health at times that long term.it will hurt your temple body.... there is a big difference between going and getting "damage" done to your body v.s bad health from the environment People move to LA that don't have to...... same difference. I'd be one of those people if I could be! having asthma, I had to turn down a very good job in the television industry, and eventually change careers from not being able to live there with the smog. Very frustrating. That must suck. My dream is to go to the US for a good length of time - a year or so would be perfect - but it is so hard to get into the country if it's not just for a short holiday that it is never going to happen.

Ncn Getting in trouble? What a shocker!! Depends on your views about a tatoo. Some say its biblical that your not supposed to because your body is supposed to be a temple others say that its fine/ If that is valid then it's a sin to live in the Los Angeles basin, cause the air quality there is so disasterous to health at times that long term.it will hurt your temple body.... there is a big difference between going and getting "damage" done to your body v.s bad health from the environment People move to LA that don't have to...... same difference. I'd be one of those people if I could be!

I can only remember one time when I was actually hit, and even then I don't remember it particularly well so I don't think it was a hard hit or anything. In general, I have always been pretty good - and that isn't just me saying it, believe it or not, my parents have said numerous times that all of their children were good most of the time. I never experienced anything at school as by the time I was in school, teachers weren't allowed to physically discipline. Maybe that is a bad thing, though the people I know of my parent's generation who were punished with the cane etc at school all received the punishment more than once, so perhaps it wasn't as effective as people sometimes like to make out. I do agree, though, that something needs to be done these days. I can remember in one of my English classes there was a couple of guys who would always mess around and the teacher would always threaten to send them out of the classroom but never did and they knew she wouldn't, so they kept on disrupting the lesson. As with a toddler, if they know the threat is empty, they will keep on pushing. Lucky for me it wasn't a class I was weaker at or it could have had a worse effect on me.

I don't think I have ever seen the TV show, but I did grow up listening to their music as my parents are fans. A sad loss.

As others have said, it is, as always with Facebook, just going to be a case of watching what you put online. I know people that have everything from their hometown and current job to their phone number on there and it's just crazy. I have very little on my Facebook page - I have nothing regarding where I live, where I was born, my current employer etc and I don't plan too. As for my "entire life" being on Facebook...the people that need to know the things going on in my life do so without the help of Facebook. I'm not keen on the Timeline idea but it isn't going to change much for me really, as I have nothing embarrassing or shameful on Facebook anyway. I don't do drunken nights out or abusive/offensive/embarrassing statuses and the only embarrassing pictures I have on there are purely because I'm not very photogenic!

Good idea Nebs, texting is a simple solution. Most phones allow you to set up a template so he could even just put it as a template and then he doesn't even have to write it out each time. Or even if he just arranges to let your phone ring once before he hangs up so you know that he's switching his off and you don't need to worry.

Very good point. And those "dregs of society"....they're the people that Jesus would be hanging around with. Another very good point and very well made. I don't believe people getting tattoos is about trying to "improve" on God's creation and I, too, find it an odd notion!

There are far more important things to get worked up about. I'm sure someone will get steamed about it somewhere, though. People can be like that . . . Ohhhh so true! People are....odd

Wait...the world in the state it is, and people would genuinely be concerned because someone is reading the Bible from a screen rather than from a page? Seems to me like there are far more important things to get worked up about.

Praying.

Jack Johnson - Good People You win It's your show now So whats it gonna be 'Cause people Will tune in How many train wrecks do we need to see? Before we lose touch And we thought this was low It's bad gettin' worse so [Chorus:] Where'd all the good people go? I've been changing channels I don't see them on the TV shows Where'd all the good people go? We got heaps and heaps of what we sow They got this and that With a rattle a tat Testing one two, Man whatcha gunna do? Bad news, misused, Got too much to lose Gimme some truth Now whose side are we on? Whatever you say Turn on the boob tube I'm in the mood to obey So lead me astray by the way, now Where'd all the good people go? I've been changing channels I don't see them on the TV shows Where'd all the good people go? We got heaps and heaps of what we sow Sitting round feeling far away So far away but I can feel the debris Can you feel it? You interrupt me from a friendly conversation To tell me how great it's all gonna be You might notice some hesitation 'Cause whats important to you is not important to me Way down by the edge of your reason It's beginning to show And all I wanna know is.. Where'd all the good people go? I've been changing channels I don't see them on the TV shows Where'd all the good people go? We got heaps and heaps of what we sow They got this and that With a rattle a tat Testing one, two Now what you gonna do? Bad news, misused, gimme some truth You got too much to lose Whose side are we on today anyway Okay, whatever you say Wrong and resolute but in the mood to obey Station to station desensitizing the nation (Where'd all the good people go?) Going, going, gone. A song that has always spoken to me with regards to television!

What a lovely idea

I have only attended one church regularly, which is the church I grew up attending. Though I am not close enough to attend regularly anymore - a 3 - 4 hour drive would be a bit much every week! - I do still class it as my church. It is a small church and I love that. Although there are a new people since I moved, there are still a lot of people that have gone for years and I love that I can walk in and be greeted as if I'm family. In fact, one of the things that I love most about the church is that it DOES feel like a family. I can't really be sure, as I've never attended a big church, but I don't imagine it would be as easy to feel that in a huge church. As for the technology...my church is an old church, and we do still have pews (though that could more be the cost to replace them than anything else) but we do have screens and the service is projected. I know some people - especially some of the older members of the congregation - were not happy at that, most people now do agree it is much easier than using books. We do have a more traditional style communion service at 8:30 on Sunday mornings, and 10:30 mid-week and they are from the books. I attend the mid week communion when I'm around but I do much prefer the service being on screen (maybe that's more because I'm not a big fan of the traditional service). It is all about personal preference though - maybe if I had grown up in a larger church, I would prefer large churches. I agree with Neb - the important thing is to be at peace about what fellow/assembly the Lord would have you at.

I don't believe it is right for parent's to lose custody of their children if they are over-weight. As other people have mentioned, more education could do a lot of good. Perhaps more relevent given the current economic state though, is the fact that healthy food is so much more expensive than the not-so-healthy food. Another thing that could help the US especially is portion size...seriously, your portions are huge! I know so many English people who have gone to the US for a holiday and haven't been able to finish a single meal because the portions are so big.

I loved to Kill a Mockingbird too! I couldn't put it down. It very quickly became one of my favourite books!

Most people even in the secular world still view tattoos as taboo. In the corporate arena it's still very hard to get a job and near impossible move up the corp latter if you have visible tattoos. So though someone with a tattoo might be completely on fire for the Lord the outside world might just see the tattoo and dismiss them without even hearing what they have to say or seeing how they live their lives. I have to say, I don't agree that most people see tattoos as taboo. I'm relatively sure we move in different circles, so maybe it is just that, but I think they are so common place these days that I don't think most people give them much of a thought now. I do agree it can make it harder in the corporate arena but that isn't really what we're talking about. As I've mentioned, my brothers tattoo is based on a Bible verse and he has had people asking him what it is and it has been a useful chance for him to talk about the Bible.

I don't really see why they would cause people to stumble unless they are offensive etc. My brother, for instance, has a tattoo of an artistic interpretation of a Bible verse done by a friend of ours. I really don't see how that could cause anyone to stumble.

I agree with Joe and OneLight. These kind of opportunties may not come again. I'm hoping to go travelling next year or the year after myself - the thought of coming back to no job is scary but I don't have children or a mortgage and if I don't do it now, I may never get another chance and I know I will end up regretting it. If this is something you really want to do and you have the chance to, I think you should go for it.

John 16 v 33 - "The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world"