Offsite Comments

>> Instead of “trying to present facts, or winning arguments for a debate,” they simply talked about “the amazing life and teachings of Jesus.”

Huh. Funny. Who woulda guessed? :roll:

Just this morning, elsewhere, a commenter was talking about the difficulty of arguing with an atheist about Christ, one of those whose claim was always, "just show me the facts!" I wondered if this atheist had actually sat down and just given the best historic testimony, the Gospels, an honest perusal, 'cause, as I added, I found them compelling:!:

Howdy!

These are "White Hispanics," ¿si? (Couldn't resist.)

I showed the graphic to Milady, the graphic alone without caption. Noting, this is now May 10, she got as far as guessing "5 Mayo?" I said, Close! Now say it en Español! Immediate light of recognition. :D

» yeah, that's working out just fine
Posted by: President Romney

Ref: used car salesman in Cato's comment.

» Immigration changed from reflecting the current make-up of the country to some sort of progressive wet dream about turning the USA into a haven for disgruntled 3rd world scum.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

How terribly, devastatingly unfortunate that this, so concisely stated, is so true. Immigrants were, by and large, the most loyal and patriotic of Americans, required to be more knowledgeable about our systems of government than most natural-borns. Seeing the group oaths still thrills me. Ones I've known are so proud to be citizens, and I am glad to have them here.

Yeah, that may have changed a bit....

"...credentialed zen ninja virtuosos of approved thought...." -Cato

heh. Nice turn of phrase!

» Good news, everyone! Dave didn't kill himself. He's just sleeping. — Gingy

Whew! Thanks. I almost worried.

"Reagan's time has passed.... Yes, we could restore that America, but I see no one who has the vision, guts and skill to do it. Instead, I see a bunch of people who give lip service to the values of the real America and keep bringing up a speech that is no longer relevant...." —MrScribbler

Reagan's time never was, just some hints, partial realizations of what can be, as proof of concept. But people like Goldwater and Reagan are remembered, and continue to inspire people born decades after those men lived. Why, look! There's a vid of Reagan, right there!

Few? Yes. Opposed? Mightily. However, I seem to recall a small ragtag bunch of folks whose leader was only around for a few years before he was cruelly executed by the Establishment of the day, yet those few went on to become a force which overturned the Roman Empire and changed the course of human civilization. And continue to do so. I can't quite imagine the outnumbered, ostracized, persecuted early believers fretting that their inspiring leader's time had passed and still achieving what they did.

Believe and hold to principle. We have a secret weapon in the attractive power of truth, clearly started. Isn't that the Reagan legacy?

Fen, if you're still looking:

I've been meaning to recommend that you might appreciate the scriptural investigations and other writings of chrissythehyphenated over at PoliNation. Also, if you like Vic, you'll probably appreciate PoliNation's acerbic Pistol Pete. It's quieter, and much more garden-like than this old tavern. But please don't let anything take you away from AoSHQ; its not the healthy that need a doctor.

PoliNation.WordPress.com

Um, if you go there, don't know if you should tell 'em mindful sent ya. Might want to start off on the right foot, instead.

andycanuck — wow! I thought you were joking about the Yukon permafrost film! Wow!

None of the missing Dr Who's, though.

"Convincing someone of his divinity is another matter."
—McCool

One must convince oneself. But, that's the thing about the gospel records, the most reliable accounts we have.

If you accept that Jesus lived,

that e.g. feeding the five thousand and raising Lazarus were not tipped-in-later fables but real, even very public events,

that he was brilliant like nobody else,

and that he really claimed divinity, that indeed the entire capital charge against him (Jewish, not trumped-up Roman) was his unwavering claim to divinity,

that HE actually believed he was God, Son of, described heaven, forgave sins....

You're kind-of left with a major decision of your own: delusional or sane? Delusional is never so solid, consistent, and truth-enhancing as this wonderful teacher. If not delusional, then, if sane, then... whoa!

"...People can argue about Jesus's role until the cows come home (which I find a waste of time)...."
—FenelonSpoke

Now hold on thar, li'l darlin'. I know this was just a hastily-generated peripheral remark amid your main point, and I'll agree "arguing" is useless, but there's nothing wrong with a robust discussion about Jesus' role, as folks have done since his baptism. Let's have one right now!

"...an atheist who claims that Christ never lived and none of the accounts of the Bible are true. 'Show me the facts!' was his refrain." - GGE of the Moron Horde

I wonder if this doubter had actually read and studied the only reliable historical records. Reading Matt, Mark, Luke, and Jack persuaded me, and that was during The Passover Plot days, when 'Jesus never existed' was very pop.

An agnostic can dialog, listen, learn, and most atheists seen to be ill-informed agnostics, when pressed. (My usual line: that god you describe? I wouldn't believe that, either.)

But, doesn't matter whether the hard-core atheist reads anything; zealotry and dogmatism are not exclusive to religions. Those who are simply contrary for contrariness's sake won't be persuaded by theologizing, either. Even Jesus himself couldn't reform Judas.

But for a genuine truth-seeker, willing to be shown, M,M,L, & J are highly recommended. YMMV

I mean, hot air balloon ride, not die in a horrible disaster, of course.
Posted by: Gem

Whew! I was worried there for a minute.

Awful for those folks - fun turned horror.

Many years ago, a fellow took off in a balloon from our farm. I was in the ground crew following by car. Going up is cool. Being up there, sailing with the wind, must be beautiful. Coming down.... he managed to get the balloon to clear the power lines before landing crashing in a random cow pasture.

I don't even like rollerblades, because (as I learned the hard way), they have no brakes. I'll pass on balloon rides, thanks, even without getting burned up in mid-air.

"A MA court has ruled that atheists failed to prove that their children were harmed by the words 'under God' in the pledge of allegiance."

Oh, darn. I was hoping to sue because I'm offended that they're offended, starting a cycle of chain-offendedness lawsuits that could tie up all the courts for decades. So much for that plan.

trying again ~ morning, Glories! C'est moi!

Vic schools the Pope. It's not the end times yet while we still have Vic!

Scolds, schools, whatever, Autoincorrect.

Hey, did anyone read Uncle Ed's War Stories?

And am I too late to say, Morning, Glories!

Oh, another thing about Oklahoma. Dooodes! Before I' passing out on de floor...

Daughter & wife are nearby, discussing the petitions (again) to legalize medical and recreational pot in Oklahoma.

* Taxes to be about the same as sales tax. To keep the cost low for the po' folk. Seriously! Can we do that for everything? Gasoline? Medicinal tequila?

* Encouraging growing, special emphasis on export to other states where it's legal. * Discussion of how to ship through states where it's not! As if this had a chance!

I've always said hotbox (SWIDT?) Oklahoma was a great place for growing the herb. Grow it for export? Plenty folks who would never personally touch the stuff would be glad to grow it. I hear it grows here like a weed.

Why, I may even have, secreted somewhere deep in the catacombs, a tiny knotted-off corner of a sandwich baggie with a few Acupulco Gold seeds from that trip to New Mexico forty-some years ago. I could be a pot farmer for nothing. I can see it now. As I ride across the prairie, tweezers gleaming in the moonlighty night. Ha ha of course not. That's silly. They wouldn't be viable. And nowadays, so I hear, you don't get those bonus free seeds anymore. Rats.

Wait, wasn't there something about a Federal law... some ginormous per-ounce tax? HaHa again. What am I saying? Who enforces that old stuff any more?

Wow, I hope it's not like gasahol, where the cost of other hemp products goes up because of all the tokers. "Cannabis has so many uses!" -The Marley Boys

WHOA, DUDE!

♫ Marley was deaaad whhoa-oh
That one t'ing wassss cer-tain... ♫
-A Christmas Reggae by Charlie "BigBong" Dickens

____

It was the Pear Strudel talking. I swear. It was a couple of days old and I think it was a little fermented.

Good night Gracies.

God help the survivors.

"Everyone know about the Great Dustbowl era in Oklahoma History?"

I know my mom (who didn't leave) said they'd tape the sugar bowl shut, put it inside the cabinet, and dust would still get in.

WHOOSH!

____

About quake insurance: Friends in Tulsa had to move out and spend tens (? I forget what) of thousands in repairs after the 2011 Nov 5 quake near OKC. I felt that one 50 miles the other side of Tulsa.

Not only do mid-continent quake waves cause more damage at a distance, nothing here is built to stand up to quakes!

(I-survived-2011-Nov-5 merchandise available here:
http://www.cafepress.com/mindfulwebworks/8208986
Honestly! You want that mug! Especially if you weren't there.)

BOOM!

♬ OOOOOooooklahoma, ♫
where the wind comes right behind the rain
and the waving EARTH
creates.. um.. such .. mirth ..
wait, whut?

To all the good, conservative people looking to escape der Pipples' Republik of California:

Consider the great state of Oklahoma.

The only state where 100% of our counties vote Republican (yeah, I know, but what were the choices?) in Presidential elections.

We're no Texas, yet, but our economy is good.

Oklahoma's rolling green hills, numerous natural and man-made lakes, vast prairies, and lovely woods can't match the Golden State's mountains, ocean, or redwoods.

But we go the extra mile to do our best to make you feel at home! Settle in the Oklahoma City area, and you'll fell right at home, but chances are there won't be any "big one" like California expects.

Chances are.

»» The vote breakdown was 225 Republicans and 7 Democrats in favor, with 186 Democrats voting against the measure....

See? This is why we need to have more big tent, bipartisan reaching across the aisle. Those seven Democrats did! While all those mean Republicans just vote as a monolithic block.

The division in this country is not of ideas, but of fundamental principles. The party of RINOs is at least on the right side here, whatever the committee will be worth, while the Democommies just want cover for their evils. I suppose I'm stating the obvious (to folks here), and still more obviously... hard to see how this ends well.

Morning, Glories.