amen and amen.

I can't think of much that irritates me more than this. Give me a break! top

Yeah, clearly a misdirected waste of time, energy & tax payer money.

I've often heard it said that "hate" is also a waste of time and energy. While I don't fully endorse that, I reserve that word and that emotion for something other than the peccadillos of the country that personifies freedom and that nurtured me.

I hate bigotry, I hate poverty, i hate war, I hate errosion of freedom, I hate terrorism, "I can't think of much that irritates me more" than HIV runing rampant in 3rd world countries while the Catholic Church counsels against condoms. I'd hate living in Cuba, N.Korea, Iran, or Nazi Germany.

Senate hearings on football or baseball provoke me to exaspiration, not hate. Even adding it to an over abundance of cake frosting choices, doesnt elicit a hate response. What am I missing here, besides the humor in misapplied irony?

Hump top

you are missing knowing the writer, and his sense of humor. yikes. top

Understood, Rachel.

But, the reach of the internet is broad. It extends beyond personal relationships, the church, the immediate community, and the country. Its world wide thus "www.".

Words convey meanings. To readers not having the good fortune to possess the intimate knowledge of a blogger's personality, humor, or sense of irony, those words stand on their own, original intent and "context" not withstanding.

Thanks.
Hump top

I'm right there with you on this whole post.

I saw the article about Specter and sent it to a couple of buddies with this question, "Is this guy an idiot?"

And the same thing occurred to me about the baseball investigations. top

i do not know why, but this kind of stuff does not get me going - i assume that as long as men are running the government, money will be spent on things that i may or may not like.

i just have to trust that the Lord is in control and focus on things in His kingdom and let this other stuff not affect me negatively.

And because i have a personal relationship with AP, i can laugh at the irony of this post.

And Drome, as we have seen, is always about human reasoning and getting a response. He has a need to analyze and box things up tight and neat so the world makes sense to him. And that is ok. That is why he does not need a relationship with Jesus, because he already has everything figured out. top

Shane,

I detect a bit of anger or hostilty. Not sure what provoked it. I didn't think anything I said was confrontational vis-a-vis your faith.

But, as long as you mention reason; I am a product of the age we live in, where reasoning, questioning, and logic are valued. That faith is undermined by reason, and thus often feared by, or provokes anger in theists is understood. Martin Luther said it best: "To be a Christian one must pluck out the eye of reason." He understood the two, faith and logic/reason, were inconflict.

The world does make sense. If it doesn't to you,there are any number of secular books I could recommend that explain human nature, and natural laws. They represent the culmination of 300years of Man's curiosity, study and discovery. But,they aren't the last word in knowledge,as discovery and knowledge continue to evolve prodded by man's curiosity.

They are to be approached with caution, however. They contain reason.
Peace,
Hump top

No bitterness or anger - just pointing out that based on reading your comments you feel as though you have a grasp on everything and can explain it all. And secular humanism books are not needed for me because I understand the things of the Kingdom which have nothing to do with human understanding - Prov 3:5-6.

And it is fine for you to believe what you believe and it is fine for me to have faith in Jesus without understanding - I am not bitter - I just wanted to comment because I know others like you who overanalyze to make sure you can make sense of everything in human understanding - which you cannot, by the way.

Peace,
Shane top

I can't stand this stuff either. Drives me nuts.

I also have a tendency to toss around the "hate" word. I hate beets, I hate speedos on men (ok, I think it actually applies to that last one!) -- well, you get the idea. I'm passionate and demonstrative in my expressions (ok, fine, I'm loud and boisterous!), but my husband has pointed out that I overuse this word. It's something I'm trying to be more conscious of.

Drom has a point about the wide implications of our words put on the internet. Readers don't always know the personality of the writer and may tend to miss the tone in the words written. I do know Andrew and do "get it", but I also understand Drom's point.

Shane ... what does anything that Drom said have to do with his belief or not in Jesus? Maybe this time, it was me who missed the tone? Sorry, I don't see any connection between the two.

By the way, I really DO hate Speedos. top

Shane,
For fear of misdirecting,or even hijacking Andrew's thread, I'll not reply direcly to your comments above. Joyce's inquiry speaks for me.

But I did want to point out that your reference to "secular humanism", which I never mentioned nor even suggested, means something entirely different than my reference to "secular books". Thus your injecting secular humanism into this conversation is confusing. It had no bearing on, nor connection with, anything said in this thread. top

Shane,
For fear of misdirecting,or even hijacking Andrew's thread, I'll not reply direcly to your comments above. Joyce's inquiry speaks for me.

But I did want to point out that your reference to "secular humanism", which I never mentioned nor even suggested, means something entirely different than my reference to "secular books". Thus your injecting secular humanism into this conversation is confusing. It had no bearing on, nor connection with, anything said in this thread. top

i also do not like speedos - although i like Joyce and think she is funny.

of course Drome has a point about our words beung broadcast on the world wide web, etc...

our words always matter, whether online or not. the main point i was trying to make is simply that it is ironic that drome knows everything and can explain everything in a way that completely dismisses what andrew writes or intends.

andrew says someone at church got it that Jesus loved her and drome replies by saying that is why we have AA and other groups that get together with commonalities, etc...

well, no it is not - the Lord Jesus moved in that woman's life that night and she understood for the first time in a seemingly long time that He loved her and it was not because of her actions or anything.

so, it is frustrating to come here and read all of drome's dismissing of what the Lord does because He admittedly does not believe in God, etc...

so, i said, it is fine for you to believe what you believe, but don't overanalyze and dismiss what andrew says as fluff - that is all i was trying to say.

as far as secular humanism and your secular books, i am not well versed in either, perhaps a long dissertation on the subject would be useful.

and i really do hate speedos. ha! top

Shane,
that my comments and observations about the benefit of group sessions within a shared community bothered you is unfortunate. That you didnt think to post within that thread, instead allowing your pent up angst over it pervade into this thread is,well... interesting.

My perspectives here may represent a divergent opinion. I always though of that as a good thing. But, they are never intentionally disrespectful ... I am afterall a guest here. If they are somehow upsetting to the larger readership as a whole, Andrew need only ask that I not partake in convo, and I'll be just a (bad?) memory.

I'll not provide you with the requested "long disseration", much less book suggestions. First, because this isn't my blog and would be out of place, as is this entire exchange I fear. Second, because you made it clear enough that secular knowledge(i.e. knowledge in a non-religious, earthy realm vain)has no value to you.

But, I respectfully suggest you at least access dictionary.com to understand the difference between the word "secular" and the phrase "secular humanism". top

angst - wow

i do not really have built up angst, but i guess i should have gone to that "thread" to continue thoughts on that

sorry for the disconnect in my thoughts - i can understand how my input has been all over

i will try and make time for the dictionary.com suggestion

and thanks for not giving the dissertation as it would be of no use to me

i am sorry if i offended you or anyone else in any way - was not my intent

and i assure you i do not have it all figured out - that is why I trust the Lord - he is the only one who can lead me

peace to everyone! top