
3:47 pm

September 29, 2010

4:42 pm

You know I didnt even read when Bevdee said until you told me. Yea I actually got some cans of Spam lying in my kitchen.
Well, whatever happened to bans? I guess they dont work anymore eh? SC, you gotta disable the usernames or change the passwords so me and Bevdee wouldnt be able to login - if you realyyyy wanted to ban us, i.e.
That would effect the sales of Spam and crackers around the world though.
7:27 pm

September 29, 2010

OMW,
You wrote:
"YOu continue to tell people here who talk about God, that they are wrong."
Where have I said, "You are wrong to believe in God"?
I've said that I don't agree that there is only one way, and that I don't think any of us can know for sure. We have our "beliefs". They can't be proven.
So, unless I say, "you're right, there is without a doubt a heaven and a hell, and the only way to heaven is through Jesus" that I'm saying you're wrong?
I don't think any of us can prove our beliefs right or wrong. They are what we believe. It's faith not fact, in my opinion.
Guess that's offensive to some. Not really sure how that's bashing.
I'm not saying I'm right, and you're wrong. I'm saying we could all be right, we could all be wrong, some could be right, etc. No one knows for sure.
However, if YOU, whoever you are, ARE CONVINCED you're right, and I say that "right" can't be proven, I suppose that is slanderous to you.
Oh, well.
Mary
10:50 pm
September 27, 2010

You know what? I have tried to present the "other" side of Christianity. That there is a loving God. What did I get? Redneck Communion: SPAM, CRACKERS, AND A BEER.
Feel free to carry on. At least I know I was a little more respectful of your beliefs than you were of mine. I don't know if I am more offended as a Christian or as a Southerner. Either way it is pretty insensitive.
I will go now and turn the other cheek. Tomorrow this may not bother me as much as it does tonight.
Bitsy
11:07 pm

September 29, 2010

Gosh, Bitsy. I don't think those comments were directed at you. You're not posting condemnation.
Anyway, I posted to you on the other side, and I wanted to comment on your post over here about the woman you wrote about - the woman who was a mom to you and inspired you with her faith. I'm happy for you.
There's a woman I work with whose peace, serenity, and confidence I admire. She was Christian, but now she's Buddhist. In so many ways, not just in a spiritual way, she really has it together. Just being around her calms me. And she always has something positive and loving to say.
I need to get back to grading. Take care, Bitsy. And thank you for sharing from the heart, with so much love.
Mary
1:31 am

September 30, 2010

1:40 am

September 30, 2010

TerriBerry,
I live in South Louisiana. Over here, in my town we have Mardi Gras and the AWESOME festival called Festival International de Louisiane. It is always a big party, lots of fun, but every year there is always this one dude walking around with this big huge yellow wooden wearable sign, kinda like a sign dress. The sign reads "Jesus Saves, HELL IS REAL". On the back side of the sign there are all these bible verses about sin and hell.
Reading your posts it occured to me... YOU ARE AAC's YELLOW SIGN DUDE!!!! LOL!!! That's what you are.
"Jesus saves, Hell is REAL"
LOL.
But the people never really listen to yello sign guy, even if there maybe some truth to his message. Why? Because they don't want to hear it and they think he's ridiculous. I mean, who wears a big wooden yellow sign in HOT ass South Louisiana anyways??? He just looks stupid. And SWEATY!
Take off the sign, nobody is listening and you just look ridiculous.
1:46 am

September 30, 2010

Bevdee...
Oh I forgot...
"Smokin Hot Hos"
LOL, sounds like one of those PORN movies we used to argue about soo much. Remember the one Bowling Green came up with...Cum-dumpsters. I still laugh when I think of that one. (Even though it's really not funny.)
I can see the movie now, A big ole man dressed like the devil surrounded by his "Smokin Hot Hos", the fires of hell all flaming around them while they go about thier sinfull behaviors.
Totally porno. Not good!!!
2:08 am

September 27, 2010

I gotta share this story. Gotta.
Back in oh, 98 or 99- my kids were little and we used to to the beach all the time in the spring and summer. Well on one trip we were discussing how green and pretty the hills were (it IS brilliant green in the springtime) and the kids all thought there should be flowers growing as at the house flowers grow everywhere because I'm a flower fanatic. So that summer we collected the seeds from my sweet peas and saved them in coffee cans and whenever we went to the beach, we'd throw them out the window on this one stretch of highway one by Jalama beach. We were being "birdies" and scattering seeds. Mind you, the kids were little.
Well the birdie thing WORKED. No joke- when you drive highway one during the summer sweet peas are blooming all over the place- about a one mile stretch or so now. They must keep multiplying as I'm certain we didn't throw THAT many seeds! People in town talk about that stretch now- it's so amazing that birds would carry seeds from the flower fields of our town all the way out to the Jalama road.
Yeah, it is.
True story.
Sometimes, all you can do is plant the seed. Sometimes, all you can do is throw it out the window, especially if you're driving 45 miles an hour (I slowed down)
Don't be discouraged. There's always hope when ya keep the faith. And when ya keep the faith, amazing things happen.
free
10:58 am

September 30, 2010

11:36 am

September 30, 2010

Oh Bitsy :o)
I didn't mean to be disrespectful at all - especially to anyone who remains kind when speaking about whatEVER their beliefs are. I have a lot of love and respect for Christians, atheists, or those sitting on the fence - as long as they fit into my idea of what a good person is to ME.
I'm a full blown Christian, but I have a hellish sense of humor. Being insensitive wasn't my intention at all. Sorry about that. ((bitsy))
1:55 pm

September 27, 2010

pertaining to previous discussions concerning religion and intolerance...
2:03 pm

September 29, 2010

2:32 pm

September 29, 2010

Glittered,
Thanks for that link.
Here is a paragraph from that article, "Religious bullying is a problem around the world":
"Religion should have a humanizing effect on its adherents. Civilizing barbarians was an original aim of Islam. Christianity is supposed to cultivate charity for all mankind. The original idea of loving thy neighbor as thyself was first articulated in Jewish Scripture. Yet when religion loses sight of its potential civilizing leaven, it risks merely becoming tyranny in subtler guise."
What is it, I wonder, that makes certain people hold onto religious beliefs that inspire them to exclude, berate, even torment non-believers. Is it about power and control?
Mary
2:53 pm

September 29, 2010

This is from an article entitled:
Religious Addiction: Inner Peace Or Inner Turmoil?
Uzma Mazhar
http://www.crescentlife.com/sp.....iction.htm
"Regardless of the reason why a person chooses to pursue religion, at what level does healthy, normal religious belief become abnormal?
Often the personality change is subtle. Eventually, though, hyper-religious behavior will manifest itself in obvious and disconcerting ways, such as:
Loss of Objectivity
Their ability to reason logically can become impaired.
An inability to think, doubt, or question religious information and/or authority; and unwillingness to understand the opinions and interpretations of others.
A concrete and rigid thinking style develops that does not allow for consideration of extenuating circumstances in a person's life.
Black/white, good/bad, either/or simplistic thinking: one way or the other with very little room for grey areas.
A tendency toward magical thinking that God will fix you/ do it all, without serious work on your part.
Confusion and doubts lead to mental, physical or emotional breakdown.
They develop a fear-based belief system.. believing/following a religion out of fear, not understanding and love.
They also tend to have a shame-based belief system that they are not good enough or are not doing it right.
They believe in a punishing and angry God.
Reactivity: Anger and Defensiveness
If sincere faith in God is supposed to bring peace and contentment, a religious person who is paranoid and confrontational about it may have a larger mental problem.
They tend to have increased conflict and argumentation with science, medicine, and education.
They tend to become argumentative and defensive in dialog.
They have a limited ability to explain their beliefs. Since their belief system about themselves and the world is fear-based, they seldom understand religion, but follow it out of a dependent need for strength and power.
Force is their farce.
Judgmental and Critical
Hyper-religiosity may be revealed in someone as unusual self-importance, as if that person were much closer to God, making others around him seem inferior.
They develop an uncompromising judgmental attitude, with a readiness to find fault or evil out there.
An attitude of self-righteousness or superiority: "we versus the world," including the denial of one's human-ness.
They tend to be blind to their own behaviors, denying their projections on to the idol 'god' they have created.
Obsessive and Compulsive Behavior
Ritual is part of religion, and as such is neither good nor bad. However, when it disrupts normal activities it is unhealthy—as in being unable to function without repeated readings of the same passages, or unusually frequent rituals.
Scrupulously rigid and obsessive adherence to rules, codes of ethics, or guidelines.
Compulsive rituals or obsessive praying, quoting scriptures and excessive fasting often accompany the change in thinking patterns.
Giving up sleeping or eating to pray or meditate. Again, prayer and meditation are important aspects of faith, but not to the point of jeopardizing a person’s health or relationships.
Isolation
Isolation and breakdown of relationships often follows.
Progressive detachment from work and relationships is noticeable as they spend more time proselytizing their message.
Manipulating scripture or texts, feeling specially chosen, claiming to receive special messages from God, they move further and further away from the mainstream of social contacts.
Breakdown
In severe cases they may also develop some of the following patterns:
Psychosomatic illness: back pains, sleeplessness, headaches, hypertension, etc.
Maintaining a religious "high", trance-like state, keeping a happy face (or the belief that one should...)
Denial of any personal problems
When behavior borders on manic or pathological, the hyper-religious person may even start hallucinating, ie: hearing voices or seeing images, or possibly “talking to God.”
By then, it’s clearly evident something is wrong.
If you know someone whose interest in religion has suddenly (or even gradually) reached a point of fixation—when their regular lives are negatively affected—you need to understand what’s motivating their behavior. The problem could go away, but it could also get worse.
The ultimate temptation of the believer is to assume that his or her way to God is the best or only way for others.
The particular Way to God becomes what is adored, not the ineffable and incomprehensible Mystery to which we give the name of God.
In essence they become addicted to their faith.
It becomes a means of escape.
It is no longer a living BY faith; with understanding, hope and growing in unconditional love. Instead of love of God softening their lives, it makes them harsh, rigid and limited.
Uzma Mazhar © 2000
Contact Info: [email protected]
3:20 pm

September 27, 2010

Keep sprinkling the seeds Befret. Love your story Free.
Here a song that seems fitting.
Praise the Lord
Words and Music: Jackson Baugh, Scarlett Moore, and Kevin Casteel
c 2006
People may reject you
Scared by what they've heard
Remember, it's not really you
They're rejecting The Lord
They might be offended
They might get annoyed
But God's holy word
It never comes back void
When you least expect a miracle
A loved one comes around
Cleansed by forgiveness
Angels make a joyful sound
You may never know it
"Was it something that I said?"
One dark moment
You placed a glimpse of God in their head
People all around you
See the way you live
Go ahead and speak the word
It's what you have to give
God will not reject you
He's the force you need
He will reap the Harvest
Are YOU planting the seeds?
Look into their faces
Look into their eyes
Feel their desperation
Listen to their cries
Reconciliation is the message that we bring
Let them know that they are heirs with the King
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Changes are made, people get saved,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Hearts are changed when people get saved
Praise the Lord
3:29 pm

September 30, 2010

Hey Terriberry, any reason why you haven't responded to my post of a few days ago? Cutting and pasting long pieces from other sites and not engaging in conversation with others is known online as trolling and offline as antisocial. Here's the note again!
"Terriberry,
Can't you SEE from reading all these threads that no one is disdainful of someone who chooses Christ as his/her savior? The disdain that comes out is for when you, or any other person, whether Christian/Jewish/Muslim/atheist or WHATEVER, starts telling other people who do NOT believe the same thing that they are doomed, going to hell, deviant.
I know I was a bitch to you on that gay thread, and though I try not to be that way in life either online or off, it is very hard to sit back and listen to someone tell somebody else that they're BAD.
Can't you just live and let live? I WANT you to experience a higher power in a way that is fulfilling to you. I believe EVERYONE deserves that. Can't you just let everyone else live the way they wanna live and be HAPPY?"
3:37 pm

September 29, 2010

3:46 pm

September 29, 2010

I know that you believe you're "right", OMW. And it seems that "being right" is very important to you.
There are plenty of others, of all different faiths, who need to believe "they are right", too.
As I've written and in my opinion, "right" in regards to faith cannot be proven. There's no way for a Muslim to prove his/her version of heaven is true or right just as a Christian cannot prove his/her version is true or right. They're beliefs.
Yes, it's very clear that your beliefs are right for YOU.
Mary
3:48 pm

September 30, 2010

thanks, TB. i love the smell of tolerance in the garden, don't you?
think i'll stick around and keep throwing the seed in this field. hard soil, stony soil, good soil, weedy soil. looks like a mission field to me. God, in His grace, may someday do some tilling here.
i'm not very talented, but i have the seed and i know how to throw it.
grace and peace
3:55 pm

September 29, 2010

Religious Addiction: Inner Peace Or Inner Turmoil? Uzma Mazhar http://www.crescentlife.com/sp.....iction.htm
"The ultimate temptation of the believer is to assume that his or her way to God is the best or only way for others."
I think you must be doing the work of the devil, Bereft and TB. Your judgemental and arrogant posts are turning me away from God. I don't see God's love and light in your posts at all. I see bullying and stubborness. That's not God.
Mary
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