tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post6425147986668720764..comments2024-03-19T09:47:02.249-05:00Comments on Say What?: Steps, Lava Lamps and My Faith StrugglesKevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-72741128168914479892017-01-03T21:42:28.615-06:002017-01-03T21:42:28.615-06:00I remember hearing about the book but honestly, co...I remember hearing about the book but honestly, considering the author and what a gasbag he is, I don't think I can subject myself to anything he's involved with. But I'll take your word for it. The Passion of the Christ gives a very gruesome depiction of what led up to Christ's crucifixion. <br /><br />I agree with you about abortion. I wish conservatives would make sense about this. They want the woman to give birth but by their actions and the programs they cut in favor of tax breaks for the wealthy they come off as clueless as to why some women choose abortion. In a moment of weakness I can totally see why a woman would choose that option when faced with little to no help for day care or the basic needs of the child. It would be nice if all children were born into functional homes with a stay at home parent and another to provide for them but that ideal went the way of the buggy whip it seems. <br /><br />I would love to be able to take the Bible literally but I simply can no longer do that and be true to myself. It's become a collection of stories to me and I seriously doubt the hand of God in all of it. Why should the Bible be any different in terms of being pure than our churches? Our churches are anything but pure. But having said that, I do believe in Devine intervention -- and I believe that we actually can be communicated with through our dreams. I had that happen for me the night before I attended Hosanna for the first time back in 1997. Here's a blog link where I write about it. <br /><br />http://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2009/08/coincidence-or-godincidence.html<br /><br />Ah, so you're a Quaker now! Do you have to wear a uniform -- funny hat and all that? :) Just kidding you -- good for you. I think the one thing I know about Quakers is that they're anti war. Is that right?<br /><br />I've heard about Ted Koppel's book and the concerns he raises. I agree -- the next war will be fought with keyboards and not bombs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Kevin Gilmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-8604016338444394532017-01-03T18:55:07.988-06:002017-01-03T18:55:07.988-06:00Thanks for the lava lamp link. Nice to see I can ...Thanks for the lava lamp link. Nice to see I can install it on Linux... why not your mac? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.<br />Yes the fish... well you live in walleye land. More winks and a nudge.<br />My problem has been with the cross at times. The evil method of torture the Romans used almost on a daily basis to those that offended the ruler of those times. Yes Jesus suffered and so did others as well. Listening to the book, "Killing Jesus", a historical record of the times at his birth and death and after and the terrible extremes of those days. It isn't a book that promotes the Christian faith as an evangelical writing but if you are a Christian it will make you cringe at the description of the killing of Jesus.<br />My eyes were opened.<br />Abortion is a terrible option for any woman I think. And I doubt it ever comes with a nonchalant attitude. Planned Parenthood gets all the bad press from the right but the reality is they actually prevent unwanted pregnancies and counsel those women that are pregnant and don't know what to do. I don't believe they promote abortion at all but make it available as a last resort or for the health of the mother.<br />The "religious right" will have you believe you are of the devil if you support PP.<br />I tell people that care to listen or want to know where I am with my faith... I'm a very bad example of a Christian. I have so many doubts regarding what is written in the Bible and the knowledge we have gained in those thousands of years since the Old Testament was written by many ignorant men that belonged to that flat earth society and thought the earth was the center of the universe and dreams were something to be explained as a message from a god or some other entity. So yes I'm a Christian but I'll never claim to buy into all of the things others believe as a requirement to wave the flag of Christ.<br />I have changed churches to a Quaker church. I find it to be more open and unlike all of the other churches I have attended. I've even joined the Men's Group... about 7 or 8 guys that get together weekly... I'll give it some time to see if I can learn and share too. Sue is very happy that we are back at church together again. And that is more important than anything right now. Church's web site. http://sherwoodfriends.org/ <br />I just finished listening to Ted Koppel's book "Lights Out".<br />I highly recommend it. It is a very scary look at our weak link in our defense plan. Nuclear weapons are no longer necessary. In fact they are the worst way to wage war. Simply damage the electrical grid in a serious way and then walk in and take what you want if you are prepared. We are defenseless against a hack attack in so many ways and we are in a very bad way if our grid was damaged. It might be months or longer to get the lights back on and in the mean time, kiss our society goodbye. Anarchy will be the rule of the day. And yes there are those that will say it can't or won't happen but the reality is there are more people in the know that say it can and might happen. Anyway give it a read or a listen as I did. So on that high note I'll sign off. David Bryan Gilmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08954058198438593014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-61505763413176093352017-01-03T10:08:40.777-06:002017-01-03T10:08:40.777-06:00I like that, John. I worry about the damage that w...I like that, John. I worry about the damage that will be done to the brand by the time republicans and their conservative christian supporters are through with their unimpeded march to a "better America". I've never been more disappointed in my fellow man for allowing this to happen to our democracy. Kevin Gilmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-15828665103883406392017-01-03T09:53:09.461-06:002017-01-03T09:53:09.461-06:00I have raised plenty of eyebrows over the past few...I have raised plenty of eyebrows over the past few years by preaching that I don'r often refer to myself as a Christian because I don't like the negative connotation that is attached to it.<br />First century Christians simply referred to themselves as Disciples of Jesus or Followers of the Way. I like that and so generally refer to myself as a disciple or follower of Jesus. John A Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07777330742400065045noreply@blogger.com