pamiam

sounds like you know what to do, doesn't it?

Of course, some did commit suicide in past years. Shouldn't have stated it so bluntly.

I remember reading about veterans who saw Saving Private Ryan and admitted that they had never talked to anyone about their experiences at Normandy. We didn't used to talk about what bothers us and we certainly didn't resort to suicide as a way out years ago. I think we're more fragile emotionally these days, maybe less equipped to deal with trauma in this "feel good" culture. Certainly we don't have the Judeo-Christian ethic that former soldiers generally had. Until Viet Nam, soldiers were supported by the culture. Until Viet Nam, children didn't try to blow you up. This war is so difficult on every front. Imagine using two Down's Syndrome women yesterday as homicide bombers. I suppose all war is a spiritual battle, but this one is specifically Islamic based. So difficult to read these tragic statistics.

That's cold, TheoMike. Death isn't diminished because it isn't Normandy.

Dear girl, get away from this man. Regarding your question about demons, yes they are out there and you are having some firsthand experience with them. Read some Frank Peretti books, read People of the Lie by M. Scott Peck. Don't think you can personally take care of everyone. Check out generational curses and the demonic strain that is possible there. Trust your instincts more. Consider why you are so willing to flirt with people of this type? Why?

Haven't read the book but have seen the dvd four times now, I think. Saw it at a Bible study and then have shown it to friends. Very impressive and clearly tells us to get ready. We're in the last days. Well done dvd.

Lorax, thanks for the postings and info. I've learned some things. Totally agree prisons should be used for criminals and not for drug addicts.

Still haven't listened to the tape but did read the article criticizing Rick Warren for body count evangelizing and celebrity name dropping, etc. Ok, guys, I'm so unimpressed with Warren Smith. I sat in the church the morning Rick Warren told of buying out the theatres and of inviting prominent local civic leaders. His goal, besides bringing non-believers to hear the message of the gospel, was to show Hollywood that Gibson's movie could bring in some crowds. Attendance matters. As far as celebrity name dropping, another good grief. Saddleback is in south Orange County, one of the garden spots of the country and celebrities live in south Orange County. We've heard John Tesh, Randy Travis, and others there. There is so much talent in the body that Sunday morning worship is like a concert. Saddleback is near the beach, guys. The surfing analogy fits as we are near the beach! We had a music intern from Saddleback live with us for two years and there was a wetsuit hanging in my garage right by his surfboard the whole time. Chuck Smith Jr's church is right next to Dana Point harbor, surfing land. Right before we moved to the desert, Saddleback was asking those of us who could to attend Saturday services or the earliest service to make parking available for new attendees. Then they began shuttling people in who could park off campus. There are sooooo many people who try out Saddleback. Some stay, some filter into other churches, some don't like it. Let's get over the numbers is a good idea, but let's not miss the point that Saddleback swarms with people who are trying out hearing the gospel. It is an amazing place. By the way, I looked through my copy of PDLife last night and couldn't find any reference to Seigel. Anyone know where it is?

We dare not expect perfection in any of our churches, so I caution about trusting something just because it is under the umbrella of Calvary Chapel or Chuck Smith Sr. I will listen to Warren Smith when my husband isn't watching UCLA on tv! must be quiet for now................. I wanted to add that Chuck Smith Jr is the most unbelievably fantastic thinker, the most sensitive and emotionally honest pastor I've ever known. He is not pastoring now and I wonder what God is doing with him. I have read everything I could find via google, but I wanted to add my two cents worth that his de facto dissociation with Calvary Chapel was long before the final contemplative issue. He simply was in another league. I cannot say enough positive things about him. He loves his father and I'm sure the events of this past year have been excruciating for both men. I guess I advocate healthy scepticism. Missler was warning of Y2K and we know what happened there. He is impressive, though, and I enjoy reading what he has to say. As Patsy Clairemont says, we're all cracked pots. Hopefully His light shines through the cracks!

We tivo'd Ceasar Milan's Dog Whisperer shows last year for a neighbor and I learned so much. We don't have dogs right now, but just watching the shows left me permanently changed in my attitudes towards dogs and toward parenting. I realized that I consistently have rewarded my adult children with money when I should have withheld my "affection" until they were respectful, submission in doggie terms. I love this guy and highly recommend watching his program or getting his book.

I haven't had time to listen to the Smith tape yet, but what's this about including Rick Warren in with the criticism of the course in miracles or the emerging church? We'd better be real careful about drawing hasty conclusions, especially the comment about Siegel being quoted in the Purpose Driven Life. Does one quote inform the value of the entire book? Warren quotes the Bible throughout as well as quoting non-Biblical sources. Ever heard of the gift of discernment? I'm from Southern CA and was around when Calvary Costa Mesa began, attended Greg Laurie's Calvary Chapel before it became Harvest, then attended Chuck Smith Jr's Calvary Chapel for years. Are you aware he's been drummed out of the Calvary Chapel community? There's lots of going ons behind the scenes, people. We left Chuck Jr's church for Rick Warren's Saddleback only because they had a Celebrate Recovery program and it was very close to our house. After five years at Saddleback, I think I'm qualified to assess the Prupose Driven Life movement as an insider, and let me assure all of you that it is good. Rick Warren is a sweet spirit, approachable, humble and brilliant. His wife is wonderful. Be careful, you who draw negative conclusions based on a thimble-ful of knowledge. Good grief. We've been in Purpose Driven churches in Indian Wells, CA, and now in Bend, OR. Point being, there is real fruit in the PDL movement. I think there is certainly a spirit of jealousy among some in the faith community that Rick Warren has created this Saddleback phenomenon, all the while praying for God to be the center of it. Well, I went to his church when it met in Trabuco Hills High School and came back years later when it was in the new campus. We've led three or four small groups through the PDL video series. It is Biblical and nothing insidious. Again, good grief to the criticism of this amazing movement of the Holy Spirit. However, wherever people are involved, problems emerge. That's not really news, is it? As far as the Course in Miracles, yep, beware. Emerging church too much to address here.

Calling a time out here, guys. Back to the original thread re vending machines in Ca, I heard on Fox news yesterday that CA law allows it but federal law doesn't. We'll have to watch where all this goes.

An earlier post said the vending machine was in Atascadero, interestingly, the location of a state hospital for the criminally insane. There has to be more to this story as a vending machine unsupervised makes no sense.

Would that all Christians were as passionate about their beliefs as Mr. Cruise. I find it so sad that he has become a target for pop-culture as if he were an alien. This culture prefers to worship real sleaze and villify those who at least embrace something of a positive nature. I am in no way an advocate of Scientology, and think Tom Cruise has gone far astray, but why in the world does Madonna get a pass for her Kaballah enchantment? John Travolta and Kirsti Alley are also Scientologists but don't get ragged on. Why? Cruise is sincere and obviously seeking something of substance. Let's pray for him, people. Also, realize editing an interview can make anyone look goofy. If you think he's possessed, pray for him.

She's a very strong woman and that intimidates some. She parades around with Bill Clinton all lovey dovey when we all know their marital history. Dick Morris tells stories about her that should be listened to since he worked for the Clintons for a few years. Add that she's extremely liberal in areas that don't work for Christians, especially abortion. I admire her amazing brain and sheer talent but trust her with this country? No way..................

Gotta admit though....Gov. Romney IS one handsome guy. Mitt Romney is gorgeous! He's smart and savvy and principled. However, Huckaby is also impressive. One of the things I really hang on to with President Bush is that he's a man of faith. This is an interesting race. to be determined..................

Funny how things that make sense aren't an option. We live in one of those gated communities where you can't even plant things that aren't on an "approved" list, and evap coolers aren't allowed if they can be seen. Appears they can save electricity but somehow pollute the aesthetic code. I had someone out last year but couldn't figure out where to hide it! When we lived in Orange County, we gave Edison the ok to cut our a/c if power usage was high and got a good rebate on our bill. Seems someone is now thinking that it should be mandatory participation.

I'm posting from Bend, Oregon, but have lived in CA all my adult life. Our house in La Quinta, CA, near Palm Springs, has a mandated temperature regulator that forces fresh air in because some engineering study claims that inhabitants will die from stale air if you never leave the house. I'm exaggerating slightly, but the house is supposed to be so air tight that it is mandated to have this fresh air regulator. Thing is, it brings in hot air in the summer, when we're trying to cool the house, and cold air in the winter, when...you get the picture. Absurd. We manage to turn it off when we're there, but it resets itself when a power outage occurs, so we are sure we'll go home to it running. Power outages all the time. I've heard that the new houses being built will have the regulator in the attic so homeowners can't turn it off. Who are these people who come up with these ideas? This forces the homeowner to use more power to cool the new hot air and heat the new cold air. Bizarre. However, the CA desert is full of baby boomer money which buys these houses that often sit empty half the year, since it is so hot in the summer and people leave. The free market allows people to own homes, often huge homes, with pools and yards that have to be maintained, even though they sit empty. Until the recent real estate bust, new home construction has been blitzing the landscape, so what about the electricity shortage? Go figure. It's called the free market. Competing interests. Of course, we wonder where all the water will come from as well, and are absolutely insulted when public service messages tell us to conserve electricity. I conserve because it costs so much!!! All this to say that it seems perfectly natural for some bonehead to come up with this mandatory regulation plan since there isn't enough electricity to go around. There's too many houses and not enough power? Good grief. Does Arnold know about this?

i am totally with ya on this! You know what's weird? I'm an example of an "American," whose parents left Kansas when I was young to make their lives in California, so extended family was fairly well eliminated. Left the Catholic church for a non-demoninational church. You can't tell by looking at me that I'm any particular ethnicity. Well, not really true, as I'm a tall blonde, so that rules some things out. Here's the thing, though. I'm so assimilated and unaffiliated that I feel a little sad about it sometimes. One of my favorite movies is "Moonstruck," and I just love that extended family thing, wacko or not. I was in Boston this year and felt the same thing in the Italian district where we bought pizza. One of my Jewish friends called me, "white bread." I love it when those black football players look at the tv cameras and say, "Hi, Mom." My sons are grown now but I'm sure they would never have thought to mention me if a tv camera was in their face. I'm mixing apples and oranges, but I think the results of social goals always come with unexpected, unintentional and unwelcome results. We aim for diversity, assimilation, demand tolerance, and experience a potpourri of belief systems that boggle our collective minds. I think I've sufficiently confused myself that I'll stop whatever it is I'm trying to say. At least I've admitted that I rather wish I'd been born in an Italian family. lol

I used to have pretty much the same view that you are espousing here. I used to think that I grew up poor, my mother worked 2 and 3 jobs to raise us, no one ever gave us anything, no one ever gave me anything, and I got where I am through hard work, tough choices, and determination. So if I could do it, anyone could. I still largely believe that. I still believe that it takes hard work, tough choices, and determination to succeed in life regardless of who you are other than some trust fund kid. Where one starts in life definitely helps ones outcome, but even starting at the bottom, one can certainly succeed. However, I came to a realization after a while too. You see, I live in a major city that is about 30% black. Yet, the companies I have worked in, and they are white collar professional environments, without exception were almost entirely white. Blacks making up about 1% of the workforce in these companies, yet making up 30% of the cities population. Now part of this is definitely due to lower percentage of African Americans possessing the skills, education, and experience to qualify for those positions. This is largely due to problems of higher crime, higher incidence of children born to single mothers, higher poverty, and poorer quality of schools in many African American communities. In the end, that

I see that Hugh Hewitt has written a book on Romney and it looks favorable. I love Hugh Hewitt so am thinking more favorably towards Romney. The Obama church website was pretty disconcerting. That won't play well when the press decides to exploit it.

hey, mathqueen, how do you like CA after Texas? do you see any differences in race relations there?

It heard me to when I heard it...I am praying for the family. It may not have been God but Satan out to kill every Christian and destroy the living ones! Hugs mathqueen. Pray for you too, bless your heart! This is so sad and too hard to explain, other than this is what Satan would do to all of us if he could. I wonder too why some things are harder to hear than others. Since this hit you so hard, maybe you're a special intercessor for this family. God is weeping too.

I give him credit for having the guts to at least say this. It makes sense and should be done, and I say good for him for bringing it up. I just emailed my ultraliberal senators Boxer and Feinstein last month and told them that we should stop this nonsense. Was a waste of my time, but felt good to vent.