- DAILY CHATTING ABOUT THINGS

:) :D :-* ??? 8) :o ::) ;) ::)

THIS IS MY IDEA: :o

A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST TALK! :o

:oDAILY LIFES
:(CONCERNS IN FACING THAT DAILY LIFE
;DHAPPY THINGS TO SHARE
;)PRAISES
???TIMES YOU JUST COULDNT FACE ANOTHE DAY, AND SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAS HAPPENED.
::)A JOKE
8)SOMETHING SPECIAL YOUR KIDS SAID
:PSOMETHING YOUR PET DID.
:-XYOUR ANGRY, BUT SOMETHING GAVE YOU PEACE. :D
:D BE ENCOURAGING AND BE ENCOURAGED.
;)COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WEATHER
:)SIMPLE EVERY DAY LIFE.
:(NORMAL ROUTINE, DULL, BORING, EXCITING, UNPREDICTABLE, THE PREDICTABLE, UNEXPECTED, THE SURPRISES, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS,
8)BEING IN THE 8 BALL, OR SCORING A HOMERUN.
:-[AN EMBARASSING MOMENT
;DTALKING ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD, SCHOOL DAYS, THE POSITIVE OF THE ASSEMBLY DAYS, A TRIP DOWN POSITIVE MEMORY DAYS.
:-[IF YOU CANT FIND ONE MAYBE SOMEONE CAN GIVE YOU ONE TO HOLD ON TO.
:DA BIBLE VERSE THAT TICKLES YOU, INSPIRED YOU, YOU JUST HAD TO SHARE IT, SPIRITUALLY LIFTED YOU, OR GAVE YOU A SPIRITUAL KICK IN THE PANTS.
;)YOUR SUNDAY SERMON, WHAT HIT H OME, AND THE
RESEARCH YOU DID AFTER.
:)I AM GETTING LONG AGAIN.
:oAND SORRY I AM ON CAPS :o

::) ::) ??? ;D :D I'LL START YOU OFF"

TONIGHT WAS BIBLE STUDY, STUDYING THE BOOK OF JAMES. IT WAS OUR LAST NIGHT ,FOR THE SUMMER.
WE HAD GOODIES TO EAT. I BROUGHT MY FAMOUS PINEAPPLE CAKE ALONG.
THE DISCUSSION WAS GREAT. PASTOR B. GAVE GREAT INSIGHT. GOD ALLOWED ME TO SHARE AND REMEMBER CERTAIN PARABLE, VERSES, ETC.
THAT AIDED IN THAT DISCUSSION.
OTHERWISE, WHAT DID I DO TO DAY? :oLETS SEE:
BREAKFAST WITH MY PARENTS :oGROCERY SHOPPING THX TO MY PARENTS :oGOT THE GARBAGE READY FOR TOMORROWS PICK UP :oDID UP MY TAXES 8)I GOT A BIT OF A REFUND. :oTOOK THE DOG FOR A WALK TO THE MAIL BOX, WENT TO CANADIAN TIRE FOR SOME :o
PAPER BAGS FOR RECYCLING LAWN MATERIAL. :oBAKED A CAKE :oANSWERED A FEW EMAILS :oGOT ANGRY AT ONTARIO WORKS :oGAVE THE DOG HERE ASPIRIN FOR HER ARTHRITIS :(CHASED THE CAT INTO THE NEIGHBOUR YARD BEFORE CATCHING HIM ::) READ THE LOCAL CHRONICLE GUIDE PAPER. ;D NOW I AM HERE.

??? ??? ??? ??? ???SO IS THIS TOPIC ACCEPTABLE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA ??? ??? ???FEEDBACK PLEASE ??? ??? :P

Hi Lenore,

Your posts have been a refreshing change of pace for this board. Most of the things you suggest for this thread have popped up here & there on various other threads, but they are only occasional spots sandwiched between real serious stuff.

It might be kinda fun to just chat about "stuff" on this thread without worrying about whether we seem spiritual enough. Too much time in the assembly mausoleums has made some of us gloomy & taken away our sense of fun... If we're going to do whatever we do Heartily as unto the Lord, let's just enjoy each others' company...

I've spent the day trying to get ready to leave tomorrow morning for a two-week driving vacation with wife Cathy. Getting ready to hit the road is always, for me, like trying to load ten pounds into a five pound container-- something is always popping up where I don't want it to...
Anyway, Cathy has all her stuff done & is going to bed & she asks me how near going to bed I am... I laugh & say I may not get to bed before we leave, so she says "Well, I'll just help you then." She doesn't realize that this is impossible, as I am so hopelessly disorganized at this point that I wouldn't know what to have her do for me.
So I tell her, "You can help me by being able to drive so I finally can get to sleep when it's time for us to leave in the morning."
"I can do that," she says, then kisses me goodnight & goes to bed.

We'll have a great trip, the Lord willing, visiting friends & family in NC & VA. Son Joshua is house/dog sitting for us. The dogs are not happy campers when we're gone. They'll be all over us when we come home. The terrier is 12 years old, petite & relatively reserved even when he's excited. But the golden retriever is a three year old pup (going on 6 months old ::)) who thinks that the only true expression of affection is non-stop licking. His tongue is the size of an oven mitt & the consistency of a well-used bathmat. We call him SpongeTongue Hairpants.

We'll be off-line for about two weeks. Take advantage of it to talk about me ;D

Thanks, Lenore, for setting this up-- I feel better already!!!

al ;)

;) THANKS AL, FOR YOUR VERY KIND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

I PRAY FOR TRAVEL MERCIES.
JUST ON THE WEST COURSE HEY???
HEY IS AN OTTAWA VALLEY ACCENT"YA RIGHT"

HOW OLD ARE YOUR KID? IF HE IS OLD ENOUGH TO HOUSE SIT AND DOG SIT? IN HIS TEENS OR JUST PASS IT.

GLAD TO HAVE 40+ AGE GROUP. MAYBE GETTING TO THE 50+ IS AROUND THE CORNER HEY???? ;D ;D ;D

MY DOG MISSY IS NINE YEARS OLD, SHE IS A BORDER COLLIE LAB MIX. SHE IS BECOMING LAME WITH ARTHRITIS IN HER BACK LEG.
SHE STILL AT TIMES THINKS SHE A PUPPY, TRIED TO CHASE A FLY AND FELL JUST BEFORE I WENT TO BIBLE STUDY. OUT CAME THE ASPIRIN MIX WITH HONEY.
I THANK GOD FOR MY CAT. THE CAT LIKES HONEY. MISSY DOESNT LIKE TO SHARE HER FOOD WITH THE CAT. SO DOWN GOES THE HONEY ASPIRIN MIXTURE. NO FIGHTING.

THERE IS A BILL GAITHER SONG CALLED
"THE FAMILY OF GOD"
FIRST LINE IS " I'M AM SO GLAD , I'M A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD. i'VE BEEN WASHED IN THE FOUNTAIN, CLEANSED BY HIS BLOOD, JOINT HEIRS WITH JESUS AS WE TRAVEL THIS SOD, FOR I'M PART OF THE FAMILY. THE FAMILY OF GOD.

THIS BOARD IS A BOARD TO VENT.
WE ARE ALL AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF ASSEMBLY EXPERIENCE, TRYING TO RECONNECT WITH FORMER BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD WE LOST CONTACT WITH.

TO ME, BEING PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD, NO MATTER WHAT OUR STATION IN LIFE, NO MATTER OUR SO CALLED"FAITH CORE IS" .

LIKE GOD'S WORD SAYS, ::)I CANT REMEMBER THE ADDRESS BOOK, CHAPTER OR VERSE:
WE ARE TO BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT OF EACH OTHER.
WE ARE TO WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
WE ARE TO HELP EACH OTHER BURDENS.
THIS CAN INCLUDE JUST LISTENING, NO TALKING, JUST LISTEN. "SAY DIDNT JAMES SAY THAT",
MAYBE YOU DONT UNDERSTAND, MAYBE WE ARENT MEANT TO UNDERSTAND, IF A SAINT NEEDS TO VENT, LET THEM VENT OUT , OFFERING THAT SAINT THE EARS, SHOULDERS, AND LISTENING HEART, TO VENT.
THEN WHEN ALL THE VENTING IS OVER.
BE ENCOURAGING. PRAYING FOR EVEN THE SIMPLE REQUEST, CAN BRING COMFORT.

I AM A LONG WAY TO GO. MY SPIRITUAL HEALING IS STILL IN PROGRESS, AND THE ASSEMBLY IS NOT TO BLAME FOR IT ALL.
I AM ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY FEELING. THERE ARE REASONS IN THE PAST THAT MAKE ME , ME AT THIS MOMENT. BUT MY WORD, ACTIONS AND THOUGHTS, ARE MY OWN RESPONSIBILITY,
SORRY I AM GETTING ON A TANGENT.

WHERE WAS I? YES: YOUR TRIP, DOGS, SON ETC.
HAVE A GOOD VACATION. ENJOY YOURSELF. BE SAFE,
YOU AND YOUR WIFE JUST ENJOY EACH OTHER COMPANY, THE SITES, AND GOD IN HIS CREATION.

THANKS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT.

::)MAY 19 3:14 AM EST:

ARNPRIOR:
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ARNPRIOR???

Have any of you ever had a 90 lb dog try to get into your skin?
Have you any experience a dog with worse case of separation anxiety?
How does your dog react to thunderstorms, firecrackers going off, or even sirens.?

Today: I was lying in bed with my feet up, separating papers, ones I want to keep and the ones that are going to be recycled.
And the ones that I want to pass on to my girls.
for example report cards, certificate they have earned over that 24 and 17 years inclusive.

Well we had a thunder storm,
Up jumped Missy. Until the storm was over. There was no more separating papers, and if Missy could crawl into my skin , she would of.

Went to a ladies bible study tonight, where one of the ladies gave her testimony, right from childhood to the present. Using quilting pieces to help us visual her testimony, moving the pieces around , emphasising certain areas, and changing priorities as her life experiences changed with circumstances and trials.
All the time relying on God to see her through.
Well when she was finished with her story.
Those quilting pieces she was putting on the fabric board, ended up to be an ohio star square.

Eight points.
in the middle the top part was Contentment
in the middle at the bottom was Promises.

Going from clockwise , starting at the bottom:
Jesus Christ, Joy, Peace, Family, Love.
Her testimony was a very inspirational one, of hope, endurance, faith, dependencing of waiting on God, peace during the rough times. Knowledge that God promises to care for us during those times.

The Mundane Stuff: even in our dull and boring repetition of life, we can be joyful and walk hand in hand with God.
I must of done about 10 loads of laundry today, walking up the stairs, to the basement, and up two to the bedroom.
I have a cat name Percy, who loves to play with rolled up socks.
You could give him a pair to play with.
Does that satisfy him. NOPE.
I can put 5 pairs or 50 pairs in a drawer.
This cat of mine has learned to open those drawers were those socks are. Next morning if you want a pair of socks, just follow the trail of rolled up socks all over the house.
He puts his little paws, in the draw opens it a crack, and pick a pair, throws it up in the air, bats it around .
Then goes and gets another pair. He got caught trying to do this with my daughter dresser one day. And got caught him self. He meowed and meowed and when I went to look why he was meowing so pitiful, There he was hanging by his paw , from the drawer.
Do you think he learned his lesson? NOPE
NOW WE HANG A BAG ON TOP OF THE DOOR TO THE ROOMS , THAT HAS A HOOK ON IT. This is were we store our socks. The cat will even throw them into the toliet, or bathwater, anywhere, to chase them.

If animals are not your things, What did you eat today?
Daily conversation, daily living, daily realities, can be fun......

Hi Lenore,

We just got back last evening. Thanks for your prayers & kind wishes. We had a wonderful time. We got home with enough daylight left for us to walk the dogs-- boy, were they a handful! They're pretty excited to see us when we've been gone all day, but when it's been almost two weeks-- Wow!!!
Max is a 12-year-old terrier mix (gold & white) & pretty well-behaved. Bear is another story altogether: a two-year-old golden retreiver mix with milk-chocolate brown nose, lips & paw pads, he is an overgrown puppy-- all play & with about a two-seconds-long memory for the last command he heard. He also has a typical puppy plumbing problem: when he gets excited, he leaks! I phoned ahead & had Josh leave him out in the back yard before we got home. That way, when he saw us, he watered the concrete patio instead of the livingroom carpet ;D.

The car ran like a dream, we had comfortable beds wherever we went, and the weather was almost perfect, which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are very spiritual people who are pleasing the Lord! ::) Just kidding, folks-- it really was that great, but it only proves that God was giving us a break this trip. He makes His rain to fall upon the just and the unjust, and we can be as grateful for one kind of weather as another because the earth is the Lord's and all the fulness thereof.

I'm a little disappointed, but not particularly surprised, that no one seems to be "getting" this thread. I suppose it doesn't seem spiritual enough :-\. But that's OK, cuz you & I are having fun here, right, Sis? :D

Cathy & I visited saints in NC & in VA, got to have some great fellowship & hear some inspiring ministry from the Word. We had unexpected encounters with Christians along the way as well. We learned several things: God's people are alive and well in a number of places, God's people are hungry for fellowship and to learn more about Jesus Christ, and God's people everywhere think that Joe Spering is a very funny guy.

The saints are really fun to visit with. In one place, a sister fed Cathy & me all kinds of wonderful food we aren't supposed to eat, and then right before we left she prayed for us that God would give us wisdom in following our
diet. ;D In another home, I watched a brother who found a small caterpillar crawling on his dining table, as he very gently let the little worm crawl onto the tip of his penknife, then carried it outside to release it. I was touched by the kindness to so insignificant a creature. Shortly thereafter, a flying insect entered the room and the brother told his dog "Get it!" and watched the dog pounce upon & devour the bug. :o After awhile, you almost get the idea that Christians are just ordinary people who have been saved by an extraordinary Redeemer God :).

Anyway, it was a great getaway, especially for Cathy after a busy tax-preparation season, and we thank you, Lenore, and all who prayed for our safety and guidance. We visited several lighthouses on the east coast, and took some walks on the beach, ate some fabulous seafood (that was on our diet), and saw some beautiful scenery. We also heard the endless chorus of untold thousands of locusts in Virginia that only appear every 17 years, and we had a brief but excellent tour of Washington, D.C., including a look at the new WW2 memorial which will be officially dedicated this coming Saturday.

Now, if you're new to this thread, please jump on in! This is the fun thread! You can talk about whatever is on your mind... show off your kids' or grandkids' pictures... brag about your flower garden... share a favorite receipe (or request one).

In fact, I have a request: When Cathy & I were married, someone sang a song during the service that was called (I think) Each For the Other, and Both For the Lord. At least that was the first line of it. We have never heard it or even heard of it since. If anyone could provide us with the words & music, or even just the words, we'd be grateful.

OK-- 'snuff for now... God bless,
al

P.S.-- Josh will be 33 in November.

: al Hartman May 25, 2004, 11:06:15 AM

WELCOME HOME AL;

PERCY THE CAT AND I ARE BOTH HERE TO SAY HELLO.
It is hard to type one handed but when an animal wants to cuddle there is no saying no.......I have a cuddler, right under the neck.

Missy the dog, it is so funny to see this 90 lbs border collie lab. trying to hide in a corner, with just her head hidden. Last night for Victoria Day Weekend there were
fire works going off in neighbours backyards.
One was quite close. This dog tries to get into your skin,and shake, she shakes so hard, I am sure the
earthquake richter scale went off.
My dog is a piddler too, when she gets excited, it is the breed of the lab. As well as the jumping trying to give a kiss in the face.
She not good at jumping anymore because she is 9 years old and arthritic, but she tries and pays for it
for a couple of days.
I heard, that when a dog piddles in front of you in their excitement, it is a sign that they are submitting to your authority. I just tell people that Missy like them when she peed at their feet. Well I think that what the
show 'GOOD DOG' said.
I even had a rottweiller did at my feet, and they are not known for that. It was purely submissive.
This is a good post , when you can talk about a dog's urinary habits. HA HA HA ;D ;D ;D ;)
In all your touring , any time spent on the beach.
This weekend was rain, rain , and more rain. I have grass growing in my back yard, that I am going to need
a goat to trim it, it is so wet, and because I have an
electric lawn mower, I dont dare cut it when it is wet, when I think it is getting dry, it rains again.
It up to my knees I am sure.
I have had clothes on the line for 3 days now.
This morning at 7 am est. the sky still doesnt look to promising.
I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon.
This is my usualy length. So I am saying
SEE YOU LATER.

ENCLOSED IS A PICTURE OF MISSY AND I TAKEN ABOUT 3-4 YEARS AGO.

One of the best things about going away is being welcomed back. ;) Thanks, Y'all! (This country is still homogenizing-- we didn't hear nearly as much "Y'all" in NC, VA, & WV as in years past.)

Marcia, Cathy & I can't thank you enough for the lyrics to our wedding song. I don't recall the melody to the verses, but I hum the chorus all the time.

Lenore, it is a privilege to finally meet the other person in the free world besides myself who still hangs laundry out to dry on a clothesline.
I think they shoot people in So. Cali. for that-- it's called "clothes-rage" or some such thing ;D.

I heard, that when a dog piddles in front of you in their excitement, it is a sign that they are submitting to your authority. I just tell people that Missy like them when she peed at their feet. Well I think that what the show 'GOOD DOG' said.

Yeah, the doggie sprinkling system is supposed to signify submission (in some ways it reminds me of the assembly ::)). But, honestly, I'd much rather the big doofus would just bow or curtsy or something-- his aim is awful & those spots are hard to get out of my shoes! :P
But, enough about the canine process of elimination...

I watched a brother who found a small caterpillar crawling on his dining table, as he very gently let the little worm crawl onto the tip of his penknife, then carried it outside to release it. I was touched by the kindness to so insignificant a creature. Shortly thereafter, a flying insect entered the room and the brother told his dog "Get it!" and watched the dog pounce upon & devour the bug.

After posting the above, I got to thinking: that little caterpillar will, if it survives, eventually become a flying insect itself. So the brother may be simply raising his own dogfood (or entertainment). ;)

Cathy grew up with cats around the house, & I owned one (or it owned me) when I was a teenager. But long since, we have both developed allergies to them. Cathy's involves her eyes tearing up & her sinuses giving her grief, but mine gets into my bronchii & has come close to shutting down my breathing.

So how 'bout you, Summer & Marcia-- any pets?

I'm told that it's hard to start a conversation in a singles bar, but this is a tough house to play, too! 8)

We're still unpacking, but it's mostly done. I got about half of the trip's laundry done today. Tomorrow I'll try to finish that & wash all the bugs from five states off the car. We kept so busy on the trip that we still have all the postcards we bought to send to people. Maybe we'll just e-mail them & use the originals to wallpaper the guest bathroom... ???

Well, I have lotsa catching up to do on other threads. Later...

al

:)MAY 26: 12:52 MIDNIGHT:

TELL ME: HOW DO YOU DO THAT? WITH JUST THE QUOTE YOU WANT WITHOUT RUNNING THE WHOLE QUOTE.??

you know this is fun, Just to be able to talk about silly things, like dog watering habits, "yellow snow",
clothes lines., insects etc.

Speaking of insects:
I was up late one night, sitting on the picnic table with the cat tie up, and the dog in the back yard, for well were back to the watering habits again,
A couple of moths flew into the house.
Well you would of rolled over, just watching the cat and the dog. I couldnt untie the cat fast enough.
I closed the door.
The cat would jump and bat the moth down to the floor and Missy would go and get her nose in the moth, trying to nip at it. And up it would fly again. The chase was on. Once again, the cat would jump and bat it down, only dogs nose who encourage it to fly again.
It was funny seeing the two of them , trying to work together, to the demise of the moth.

I believe God has given us these creatures as companion animals to give us these moments to enjoy, light our hearts and spirits.
Just like just talking of no real importance, just daily happening, it takes our hearts and minds off, the seriousness even for a moment, and lighten our hearts.
In just enjoying one another company, in small talk.

Maybe people have lost the art , of just small talk.
I remember growing up, in a village of Braeside/SandPoint. where neighbours would just drop by for a coffee, with kids along and visit .

Most the area of Braeside was relatives, but the its still some what true, among the more original families, that a walk around the hill of braeside, would mean an invite in for a coffee and a visit.
Just small talk around the coffee cup, It didnt matter if you house was a pigpen, upside down, with laundry, and chores etc, there was always time for a visit with a neighbour, and the coffee pot was quick to be turn on. Even if it was just instant. or a cup of tea.
And if you were going for a walk, a trip to the outhouse
maybe in order.
I remember, not having running water, or indoor plumping until I was 16. My parents boiled water for baths, and cleaning. I still remember taking a bath in a big round metal tub, in the middle of the kitchen floor, someone come to the door, would mean a quick dash up the stairs, I am kind of glad was 30 years ago. I dont think that dash , would be so quick now. NOr would I fit into that tub.
My kids have no ideas, even people who never lived in a village that you had to walk to a community well, to bring home drinking water. have no idea. you know right now some of that early training is paying off, since my gas was disconnected due unable to financially support the gas company right now. I am boiling water and carrying up stairs to the tub for what i call a teacup bath. I even thanked my mother last week for this training, that has came in handy.

whose next to share down memory lane, about the past , or even about today. funny, and silly, and just small insignifant chatter, just let our hair down, be ourselves as people who like to converse.

WHOSE NEXT.

: LENORE May 26, 2004, 10:02:11 AM

I believe God has given us these creatures as companion animals to give us these moments to enjoy, light our hearts and spirits.
Just like just talking of no real importance, just daily happening, it takes our hearts and minds off, the seriousness even for a moment, and lighten our hearts.
In just enjoying one another company, in small talk.

There are a couple of points I would like to draw from the quote above... not criticisms of what was said, but expansions upon the topic:

...God has given us these creatures as companion animals to give us these moments to enjoy...

There will come a time when, in the presence of Christ's glory, we will have learned to enjoy every moment. Of course our concept of "moments" will be different when time is no more, but we can learn, even now, that all our moments can be enjoyed, if we will view them from God's perspective.
When our pets' antics, or anything else, lightens our hearts let us remind ourselves that this is a gift from Him, and but a hint of the unspeakable joy to come...

Just like just talking of no real importance, just daily happening, it takes our hearts and minds off the seriousness even for a moment...

As children of the King of all the universe, we simply do not have anything in our lives that is "of no real importance." It is all very serious, and for this very reason God allows & even enables us to "take our hearts and minds off the seriousness even for a moment." He lightens our hearts with amusements, not to distract us from the seriousness, but to show us that even the seriousness can be, is to be, enjoyed. :D Serious does not necessarily mean somber. Delight thyself in the Lord, and Rejoice in the Lord always sort of indicate that to us, don't they? ;)

In just enjoying one another company, in small talk.

The Bible doesn't indicate that any of our talk is "small." The world's idea of small talk is that much of what is said is unimportant, but everything that proceeds from the mouth of the child of God is important, so our concept must be different than the world's.
What God doesn't want is for us to be fretting and straining over every sound we utter, trying to make sure that every syllable is Christ-honoring. We aren't capable of dealing with life that way, and He doesn't want us to think that we should.
Rather, by reading His Word, listening to sound ministry, and by committing our ways to Him in prayer, we can live and move in the assurance that He is with us, ministering to us, protecting us and guiding us. (He has promised to be all this to us-- our participation does not "make" it happen, but serves to remind us of the reality of it all. God, because of His covenant with us, makes it all happen.)
Because He has lifted the "worry" part of life off our shoulders, we are free to enjoy each other's company. If we are not enjoying each other, we need to ask God to show us why, because He wants us to...

All that being said, I grew up in the city, with running water and refrigeration for food, but community sanitation wasn't what it is today. There were big problems with rodents, flies, and other vermin.
My mother used to take me by bus downtown to shop. The stop where we caught the bus to return home was in front of a small newsstand at the corner of the Ohio statehouse grounds. Mom (Mum, to you of British persuasion ;D) would buy me a small bag of peanuts in the shell, with which to feed the statehouse pigeons & squirrels while we awaited our bus. Rats & mice would come out from under the newsstand shanty & beg for nuts side-by-side with the squirrels. Mom got very upset when I would toss a nut to anything with a hairless tail! ::)

In the movie theaters, mice scurrying after dropped popcorn & candy were common, as were bats chasing moths in the light from the projector. It added a certain poignancy to the Dracula films I suppose (I was never allowed to see them).

Money was tight for us in those days. Once, when due to my rambunctious behavior one of my houseslippers landed in a boiling pot of spaghetti on the stove, turning the whole batch red, we were forced to eat the pasta anyway, for lack of funds to provide an alternative. And for a season I was barefoot in the evenings, the slipper having been declared a total loss.

Things are better today, but the kids & grandkids have difficulty visualizing the tales of my youth. Fact is, they scarcely can accept that I ever had a youth, often comparing my age to those of rocks and trees (LARGE trees). :o

More later,
al

:DThank for sharing your memories of growing up.

Your are right of course, Some time it is hard to remember God in the simplest efforts of Life.
We forget to include him in the daily activities, which at times think is just ours.
It is true, God has granted us gifts of animal, conversation, being human, and human companionship and fellowship in our speach.

It was cute, about the kids thinking that we were ever
young, and quite often Sara, my youngest, refuses by saying that was you and not relevant to me.

It kind of reminded me of my father , saying walking 5 miles in the snow , all up hill. to school.

Knowing that where some of my father g rowing up place , the school was about 5 minute walk.

My mother has further to walk than my father.

Those rats you fed as a boy, must of been pretty tame
at the time.

TELL ME SOMETHING; I should get an atlas out.
Is Ohio EST, or CST.

TALK TO YOU LATER:

I hope you are on one of your well days.

This is for you:::

THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LIFE"

Living on Earth is expensive,
but it does include a free trip
around the sun every year.

How long a minute is
depends on what side of the
bathroom door you're on.

Birthdays are good for you;
the more you have,
the longer you live.

Happiness comes through doors you
didn't even know you left open.

Ever notice that the people who are late
are often much jollier
than the people who have to wait for them?

Most of us go to our grave
with our music still inside of us.

If Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day,
how come nothing is free yet?

You may be only one person in the world,
but you may also be the world to one person.

Some mistakes are too much fun
to only make once.

Don't cry because it's over;
smile because it happened.

We could learn a lot from crayons:
some are sharp, some are pretty,
some are dull, some have weird names,
and all are different colors....but
they all exist very nicely in the same box.

A truly happy person is one who
can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Have an awesome day, and
know that someone
who thinks you're great
has thought about you today!..

"And that person was me.".....
Please don't keep this message
to yourself.....send it to those
who mean so much to you.... "NOW"..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It kind of reminded me of my father , saying walking 5 miles in the snow , all up hill. to school.

Knowing that where some of my father g rowing up place , the school was about 5 minute walk.

My mother has further to walk than my father.

My father had to drop out of school when he was still a boy, to help support his mother & siblings after his father died. They lived in a small apartment above a brothel in Cincinnati, so I doubt that the school was very far away.
My mother lived in rural Kansas, so probably had a farther walk to school than my father did. She attended until shortly before H.S. graduation, then dropped out. I asked her once why she hadn't stayed to graduate, but she said she didn't know.

Those rats you fed as a boy, must of been pretty tame at the time.

They were as tame as the squirrels & would probably have eaten from my hand if my Mom had let me get close enough. The squirrels lived in the trees & the rats & mice lived under the newsstand, but they were the kinds of neighbors that we all should be-- I never saw them fight over food or show any signs of disharmony.

TELL ME SOMETHING; I should get an atlas out.
Is Ohio EST, or CST.

We are in the Eastern Time Zone. When the TV says a program will be broadcast at "9 P.M., 10 Central," Ohio sees it at 9 ;D!
..........................................................................................................................

Some of the other memories I have from my childhood are:

Milkmen delivering dairy products to our door three days a week. In the winter it was important to get it inside before it froze, because when it froze it would expand & push the caps off the bottles.

A man came around about once a month with a handcart-mounted grindwheel that was powered by a foot treadle. He would ring a handbell, & all the neighborhood women would bring out their knives to be sharpened.

A man with a donkey & cart would prowl the alleys for usable scrap metal & other trash.

We would take family walks around the neighborhood in the evenings, & neighbors would be sitting out on their porches & would wave & speak to us. Sometimes my parents would stop for a chat.

There were lots of other things, but that's enough for now...

:Dal

MAY 26 AT 9:45 pm EST.

AL:

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR MEMORIES.

I too, remember when the milk man used to come to the door, as well as the bread man.

ALthough my mother baked her own homemade buns.
My grandfather would love the frozen milk, because the cream at the top is what he preferred, He would have that cream on his cereal or even drink it straight.

My grandfather has been dead 25 years now. I still remember him. I adored my grandfather.

I remember when I was five years old, we lived in a village of Sand Point, it was a mile long , a summer cottage community at the time. My grandparents live up the road. OUr dog was having puppies. It was the first time I was allow to go and get my grandfather, because my father was not home at the time. The dog was having her puppies on the couch.
I was scare of the dark. Well I ran there.
I dont remember anything else of that day. Only going to get
my grandfather.

Then my grandparents moved to Braeside, and a few years later, we also moved to braeside, and lived across the street from my grandparents, it is still the place where my parents are still living.

My grandparents MacLean on my father side, were married 66 years , and died 66 days apart.
I was married during that year, 25 years ago.
I always say teasingly that is why my marriage died, because there was 5 deaths in among my wedding.
I am divorced.

My folks this October coming will be married 49 years.
My mother is a Christian, my father is not.

NOW ON THE LIGHTER SIDE:
THERE IS A WEB SITE THAT IS A GAME:
A DAFFY DUCK GAME:

www.bewellweb.com-cogans-thinkjerm-games

I was able to get 300 points on one game, You get 10 chances.
The object of the game is to get Daffy to land on a target , after getting him to jump from a plane and get his parachute open.

so if anyone is willing to accept the challenge, You are on the honour system of the score.

DAILY CHATTER CHALLENGE:

TALK TO YOU LATER

I am finally going to get my clothes off the line after aweek of spending it out side in the rain.

That is one LOOOooooooong rinse cycle! But at least it's all-natural! ;D

Congenial conversation what a pleasure. The right word at the right time is beautiful:

Proverbs 15:23 NKJV: A man has joy by the answer of his mouth. And a word spoken in due season, how good it is.

DO YOU THINK THIS VERSE: IS BLESSING JUST TALKING TO EACH OTHER , WITH EVERY DAY CHATTER.

Wow, what a loaded question that can be! The key to its answer, I think, is the word "chatter." Chatter is what my teeth do when I'm really cold. They move rapidly & uncontrolably-- not a good description of what responsible conversation should be. Just how important IS what we say, anyway?

Jesus SPOKE our world into existence. With God's approval, Adam gave a name to every creature. The Lord holds everything together by the power of His Word.

The third chapter of James deals so seriously with the power and responsibility of human speech that I would be tempted to take a vow of silence & never speak again, except that I know that God has not given to us the spirit of bondage to fear, but the Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.

So I think that our everyday CONVERSATION, as the redeemed children of God, can and should be edifying, encouraging, joyful, beautiful, pleasurable, if at all possible. It can be holy, righteous, and spiritual without necessarily being of a religious nature. It only needs be honest, and the product of a heart that desires to know Christ better and to please Him more fully; the speech that emanates from a heart that has prayed "Lord, not my will, but Thine be done."

Such communication must surely include discussion of the weather, happy occasions, illnesses, money matters, traffic, crime, sports, what have you... But from the mouth of the child of God it will come forth in season, to bless, not necessarily by its spiritual overtones, but by its appropriateness for the moment.

So I hope I am answering your question by saying that Proverbs 15:23 definitely applies to our talking to each other every day, but not in idle chatter.

God bless us all,
al

: Stephen M. Fortescue May 28, 2004, 09:19:42 AM

The Lord has been showing me recently that sometimes I talk too much. I need to be sensitive to whether those listening to me are really interested, or whether they are just being polite.

Well, those who are impolite certainly offer less of a challenge to our sensitivity, don't they?! ;D

What you describe, Stephen, is a wonderful thing to be realizing, at any stage of life. Of course the key to being sensitive (as with anything else in a Christian's life) is to ask the Lord to teach you...

The thing that I have a hard time with is paying close enough attention to other people to remember things about them. Math and science are easier to remember because the information is available in an orderly, organized form. Information about people tends to be disorganized and hard to keep track of. The advantage of the BB is that there's plenty of time to ponder.

PEOPLE are disorganized and hard to keep track of! Trust the Lord, and ask of Him-- He alone has no problem with this state of affairs. ;)

Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: ...

The word for "studieth" in this verse is a study in itself...

When I was young I hardly ever talked at all. That simplified things, but means that I haven't had much practice.

Stephen, two points:

1. I personally remember a portion of that time in your life... Your silence may have seemed to simplify things for you, but it sometimes made relating to you pretty tricky for the rest of us. 8)

2. No excuses on the "practice" thing, Brother: You haven't been young for a L O N G time! ;D

Seriously, Steve, when the Lord is teaching any of us something, it is exciting for us all! You have been contributing significantly to the discussions of this board, and any additional depth that may be added to your understanding will surely benefit many here, and wherever else your influence may spread.

Keep looking up!

al

: LENORE May 29, 2004, 02:53:02 PM

Thank you Al for being a teacher

You are too kind. Actually, it would be a good idea for you to not refer to me as a teacher-- people may begin to question your judgment & doubt your credibility. ;)

...gifts can be learned once we get out of our own comfort zone

If this is true, I should be learning lots of gifts because the only "zone" in which I find comfort is sleep, & even then I sometimes awake on the floor, chewing on a blanket. ;D

But, seriously, we speak of "the gifts of the Holy Spirit" as if they are "things" that we can lay hold upon and handle. The gift IS the Holy Spirit, and the "gifts" to which we refer are His various manifestations in & through His saints. The only learning we can really do is to learn Christ, for He is always submissive and responsive to the will of His (our) Father in heaven.

...I get too talkative, usually on the subject of me.
if I may confess. Its because I been alone too much, and crave the attention of others, and if I been alone too much, there no one to talk to outloud, but the dog or the cat.

I used to talk to myself a lot. I was able to say aloud in private the things I was afraid to say in public. I grew to like the sound of my voice, and become more confident in my ability to express myself. With this increased confidence came a boldness, by which I was not only able to express my opinions (still in private), but to answer myself with rebuttals and criticisms. :o That became a little hard to take ::), and it was then that I began to converse with my two dogs...

"Converse" is not quite an accurate description. It is a monologue, now without fear of rebuttal or critique, for they are dumb (and dumber). But none of this is adequate preparation for dialoguing with other real, live people. And besides, up to this point I am pulling your leg a bit about to whom I talk. ;D
................................................................................................................................

The truth is, we are never alone. Our thirst for attention can only be slaked by the ministrations of Jesus Christ. The attentions of all others are insubstantial, and we shall thirst again. We need to learn that Christ is with us always, in every circumstance, dwelling in us, attuned to us, prepared to hear our every prayer. Never let religious formality rob you of the reality that prayer is simply conversing with, talking to, God. Okay, so that lays the groundwork for learning to talk, but what about the listening part? What about the learning to be sensitive to the other party?

I defy anyone born of the Spirit of God to ask the Lord about Himself and not immediately think of a passage of scripture from which to learn. I don't mean some mystical closing the eyes & opening the Bible & stabbing at the page with your finger... I'm saying that if you ask God to teach you about our Redeemer He will at once remind you of some quality of Christ which you can look up and receive from Him.

This is how God speaks to us. It may be a verse or only one word, or perhaps a theme, any of which may be found instantly or require intense research to discover. But we are speaking of learning to be sensitive to the speaking party, are we not. Learn to be sensitive to the Spirit of God and you will find your sensitivity to your brother or sister marvellously enhanced.

So I forget to listen, and just talk, maybe because I have company...

Listen to your company. You already know what you have to say... What they say should be infinitely more interesting.

...maybe I just want to be able to hear myself...

Next time you're alone, make a tape recording. Make sure you're alone when you listen to it, too.

The mouth just needs the exercise...

Chew gum. Blow bubbles. Yawn.
...................................................................................................................................

OK, Folks, I've been yanking your chain a little bit. I just got back from a restful vacation & I'm feeling frisky. But I'm serious, too.

Just think about it: What more marvelous gift could we have received than the invitation and ability to hold discussion with our God and Father whenever and wherever we desire? Imagine, the King of kings and Lord of lords actually desires to speak to us (not at us, but with us), and to hear what we have to ask of Him! We are blest above all the peoples of the earth. The world over, men and women are trying to work their way into favor, and God has swung wide open the door to us! Let us be found in His courts rejoicing...

al

MAY 29, 9:55 PM EST.

You are modest: Yes you are a teacher:

:D ;)Besides I was taught to respect my elders ;D ;)
Ha, Has,,,,,,

I just read you post, and if that isnt being a teacher, I dont know what you would call it.

You concise, articulated, sensitive, and like you said bold.

I can be comfortable in my aloneness, it is loneliness that becomes loud.

I know I am not alone, but sometimes I want an earthly representative there was a little saying I heard years ago.
"God with Skin on",

I am paraphrasing the story:

About a little girl, who was scared of the dark, She had called her Daddy several times, He looked under the bed and in the closets to assure he had chase the monster out of her room.
Daddy told that she was not alone , God was with her. He went back to bed. She called Daddy, Daddy. He went into her room,
and said tiredly, Didn't I tell you God was with you.
She just cried all the more, But I needed God with Skin on.
That was her Daddy, God's representative on earth for that little Girl.
Sometime even at 47, I needed that earthy representative of God. I am a doubting Thomas, I know.
but there are times when I just need the assurance of
"God with Skin On".

Am I making sense:

------------------------------------

It was a beautiful sunny day today, but it was windy. There was grey clouds, but the wind blew them out of the area.
My back yard has never fully dried up , with all the rain we been having, the grass has started to bury the dog, when she back there. All you see is her head.

I just finish watch Sue Thomas F.B.Eye.
I like this show, it is a police mystery show, but a clean one.
It is about the relationship between the co workers in the FBI office, And the main character Sue, is deaf with a hear aide dog.
It is the sign language that I like to watch. Because although I can do the signs, it is in the reading I have not had any practice, My aunt who is 89 , and a deaf mute, signs , I am in the dark, especially when she goes too fast.
So at least with watching a show like Sue Thomas F>B> Eye
I can get in some reading practice with the signs.

Well before the time gets away from me. I need to do my sunday school preparation.
We are now across the Red Sea and into the wilderness.
So my 5 year Micha, and I will be waiting on the manna.
Micha is the pastors son , child number two, son number 1.
He just turn 5. I have taught him sunday school since age of 2 years.
So he calls my grandma. He is a year younger than my two grandsons.
The first time he said that , I was okay. But it got kind of nice after awhile, I do not like Mrs. Whelan.... and for a child to say Grandma, or Auntie, is better than the first name.
I was taught that. I had so many adopted Grandparents growing up. Sadly they are all gone. including my own.

When I was two, my mother has a four generation picture.
All women generation, me, my mom, my grandmother, and my great grandmother.
When my oldest daughter was five years old, I got my last four generation picture , Christie, me, my mom and my grandmother.
all women generation again.
Now that my grandsons are born, I have a four generation picture when they were 3 days old.
the boys, my daughter, me, and my mom.
When they were 3 years old, I have a four generation picture of
the boys, my daughter, me, and my parents.

These types of memories are irreplaceable. and precious.

My mother has a picture on her mantal of my Dad's parents.
Before my grandparents died 25 years ago there was five generations.
My grandparents, My dad's oldest sister: My aunt's oldest daughter, My cousin's oldest daughter, then her twin sons.
This is the generation that is having twins. which my daughter belongs to. It seem that fourth generation from my grandfather, alot of them are having twins. A first cousins daughter just had her second set of twins.
In my family on both sides of my parents , in all branches of the family tree, there are twins. twins, twins, twins.
I had even learned that about 4-5 generations back on my maternal grandmothers side, there was one set of triplets.

HAVE A GIDDAY, A GOOD LORD'S DAY TOMORROW, AND I WILL TALK TO YOU LATER.

Lenore, you frequently ask "Am I making sense?" or something to that effect, so I would like to comment on that:

First, it is a very normal and conscientious question from anyone who cares about the well-being of their readers.

Communicating the matters concerning the kingdom of God and our redemption through Christ is an enormous responsibility, never to be taken lightly. But verbal interaction with other mortals can be a minefield.

The foremost key to communicating the matters of our God is a genuine conviction that God has given you a message that He wants you to convey. With that, one must have a belief that what God has given you to say, God will enable you to say.

Personally, I am a stickler for correctness in grammar, punctuation and spelling. I am very demanding on myself, reworking my posts repeatedly before letting them be seen. I make them as perfectly clearly expressive of my message as I possibly can. Before I post them, they are perfectly clear to me. But unless I am prayerfully trusting the Lord throughout the entire composing & posting process, all my labors may be in vain.
This has been amply borne out to me when I have posted regarding a specific concern of mine, only to receive responses from others demonstrating that they completely misunderstood what I had hoped to convey.
Some posters get angry when this happens to them, and show it. I have been there, done that. But I am learning that when I'm misunderstood the best response on my part is to draw nearer the Lord in prayer and seek His solution. It has also made me much more tolerant of other posters' efforts.

Getting back to your questions, Lenore, as to whether you are being clear: One of the first things you posted on the BB was that you have a difficult time expressing yourself in writing. It is apparent in your posts that your command of written English is weak from an academic standpoint. Having learning disorders of my own, I can only imagine that you must wrestle with your feelings about your writing.
Yet, marvelously, you persist-- apparently from a burden of heart and a genuine love for your brethren in Christ. I must say that, while I occasionally think I am missing some point of yours, for the most part, your messages are remarkably clear to me, and have been a great blessing. You seem to have no difficulty understanding the posts of others, and I rather imagine that your oral conversational skills are average or above.
Your struggles with writing posts are worth the effort. I frequently have more difficulty getting the point of some of our most literate posters than I do getting your messages, which are heartfelt and genuine. I credit the Holy Spirit that some posters with weak English skills have made remarkable spiritual contributions to this board.

You, Lenore, are certainly one poster I look forward to reading and learning from. Thanks for caring and posting.

God bless,
al

:)JUNE 1ST: 11:39 PM EST:

THANK YOU SO MUCH AL: FOR THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

They mean alot to me.

I love to write, it the need for an editor , I write the way I talk, who corrects their grammar when they are trying to verbalize something.

The grammar, and sentence structure is something I struggled with throughout my school years, and 30 years after I graduated high school, I still struggle with it.

Even a recent essay I wrote: I had an editor. Especially when I do not have a printer, on this computer. I send it via email to my spiritual mentor.

Because of her generousity in time, patience, and love, I was able to finish an essay , I wrote and submitted for competition.
It was a goal to finish something I started. An anchor sort of speak in a time of turmoil of emotionsl

there are also times too when my cat Percy decides to walk across the key board and screen and making a pest of attention for himself. :D

I love to write, this has been my way for venting for years, and not always for the positive.

There are times it is pages and pages , you should see the package I have, while I was hospitalized 18 months ago for 7 days due to a emotional breakdown.
The hospital became my haven, but the paper became my therapy. I gave between 400-500 pages of handwritten emotions to my social worker to read, because I could not express them verbally.

One of assembly sister, I have kept in touch with over the years, always jokes that I dont write letters , I write epistles. i have send her notebook after notebook of handwriten bible studies and verse fillin puzzles that I created out of bible verses, chapter by chapter, book by book. I still have three dog cookie boxes filled with these notebooks.
They were my therapy last year especially after I broke my ankle ayear ago , and was confined to my bedroom(it was the closest to the bathroom), until I was able to navigate downstairs on my own. My daughter Sara was getting fed up, having to cater to my needs, feed me, help get bathed, etc.
I done about 40 books of the Bible verse by verse fill in puzzles.

Al, you are a wonderful teacher, with sensitivity to encourage.
I am not just complimenting you. It is a fact, Some gifts are teaching, some gifts are encouraging.
You have both.//Thank God for them.

I ask the question, Am I making sense. Because I tend to get off topic, and swing back and forth to where my ideas may lead me.
I can bring myself back eventually. But I have taken my readers for a ride before I get to the point of the purpose for writing.
My spiritual mentor is desperately trying to get me to do a paragraph, of each chapter I am doing of the Purpose Driven Life.
Do you know how hard that is. Because I take the writing car ride on a tour around the country side, and back again. To figure out where I have been and bring it all together into one short paragraph. I havent been able to do that yet. She says it takes me three or four paragraphs , to make up one sentence structure of one. Even when she has read my work back to me ,I dont hear it, not do I see it the errors.
I just keep writing. I read , she knows that I read, so doesnt understand why. Maybe I read the same way, I read the way I talk, and can understand the meat of what is being written, but the sentence structure is just part of that meat, and it just doesnt want to click.
I keep on writing, because I know , if some one is persistent enough, that there is always an editor out there, that can correct the situation.
One other problem, I write, but I want someone to read what I write. Call it vanity, but call it I want to talk to people. Writing is a form of talking. so someone has to listen. RIGHT.
Quite , and it is the safest form of communicating, because you can give your reader time to digest, work through the emotions, and respond. That way body language, tones, temperments etc.
are not clouding the judgements.
But I have to remember, like the tongue is sharp, so is the written word can be sharp, because after all they are word that come out of the heart, just like the tongue.
So I try to be as positive with my writing as I can. So it becomes an encourager, not destructive, as I have been when I am venting my anger, disappointments, saddness, frustrations, etc.
Writing is an effective way to get rid of those negative emotions.
But they should also be used only in a journal, or diary. Like I said I want some one to read them. SO I keep them for any counselling session and let the counsellor decide what he can use out of them for counselling purposes. I have learned this. Not always true this learning, But I have learned where and when is the appropriate avenue for my writing.
This is why I like the posting. I can express myself, and my opinion, stated them, and then try to be positive , even if it is just to say thank you.
And it is improving my writing skills, and it is allowing me to make friends, I never knew, except in Holy Spirit Family Connection,
and receive conversation from them. And also receive encouragement , support, and teachings , and sharing of God's love and messages.
AGAIN I AM GOING TO ASK AM I MAKING SENSE?
It is a question for feedback as well.
Because I may have taken you a ride around the country and back before my point has been made clear.
Those country roads have so many twist , and turns, hills, and side roads, that getting lost, unless you know where you are , where you are going. Can be very beautiful scenery, but can make you forget, what you were writing , until you see a familiar landmark.
Another positive point, of me writing. I am improving my typing skills and increasing my speed, this is very important to a trained typist. And before some one says, what is that. It was someone who has been trained to use a typewriter, those old clunckers that you had to manually move back to the left side of the page.
I will leave the rest of the typewriter history to another time and place.
So I guess I am also showing my age, when I mention clunker typewriters. too. ::)
Well Al. I have laid before you book to read.
I want to thank you again, for your encouraging words.

I am glad you are feeling better.
Your patience for my writing style. It must be a trial at times, for someone who perfers perfections in their written work.
But you know what they say. Friction builds up the heat, to rough out the sharp edges. In Christian language. This is a good thing.

IT IS NOW 12:17 AM EST.
SO I WILL BE SAYING TALK TO YOU LATER

LENORE

Now here is an interesting observation:

Writing is a form of talking. so someone has to listen... and it is the safest form of communicating, because you can give your reader time to digest, work through the emotions, and respond. That way body language, tones, temperments etc. are not clouding the judgements.

Lennie, I know you are reading your way through the history of this BB, and sooner or later you will discover posts that totally disagree with your opinion on this matter. Most of us feel much more comfortable when we are eye-to-eye with our audience, so that we can gauge their responses to what we say by observing their facial expressions, body language, tones and emotions, etc.
What you say above is true, of course; that the written conversation gives the other party time to reflect, consider and pray about what has been said before replying. The problem we have generally experienced is that too many of us are such hotheads that we don't take the time for these things, but get our hackles up at the first hint of disagreement, and fire back an angry knee-jerk reaction.
I hope your example and instruction may mellow some of us out a little, and cause us to realize that our options for understanding are only limited by our own shortsightedness-- The Holy Spirit can enable us to perceive and respond correctly in any situation if we will learn to trust and respond to Him.

The grammar, and sentence structure is something I struggled with throughout my school years, and 30 years after I graduated high school, I still struggle with it.

My struggle is with a combination of mild dysexia and adult ADD. I have an awful time reading. I love to read, but I hate to study because both my mind and my eyes drift & I find myself re-reading the same lines over & over with no comprehension of what I've read, or my mind drifts clear off the page & the subject & is no longer with the reading material at all.

I am improving my typing skills and increasing my speed, this is very important to a trained typist. And before some one says, what is that. It was someone who has been trained to use a typewriter, those old clunckers that you had to manually move back to the left side of the page.

I trained on one of those old clunkers & used one for years. That was one of the ways I discovered that my eye-to-hand coordination is pretty bad. I completed a personal typing course cranking out 18 words per minute. :-[ I now type with my two index fingers because my little fingers & ring fingers are so uncoordinated that I can't use them on a keyboard. Using just my two best fingers & watching the keyboard as I type, I still frequently hit the wrong keys & have to correct my work ::) ...and I am SLOW!
.........................................................................................................................

Now I'm on to another topic that may really rub you the wrong way: What is it with Canucks & Tim Horton's? One of you is always saying something about Tim's great coffee.

A couple of years ago, Tim Horton's teamed up with Wendy's & began to appear in Ohio & other states. Their intitial ads centered on their trademark fabulous coffee. Either their shops south of the border are using a different blend, or you Northern folk have cast iron stomachs. The Tim Horton's coffee in these parts could replace Liquid Plumber or be used to clean carburetors. I tried it several times. Since the donuts were only mediocre, I learned to have my coffee with a pack of Rolaids instead. I never drank it in my car, as I feared it would spill and eat holes in my floorboard. The cups must be made of adamantium!
Now wait, before you tell me I'm crazy-- I'm apparently not alone in my opinion. The Horton's ads now focus on their lunch menu & their all-night drive-thru service, & don't mention the coffee at all. In fact, they advertise a lot less than they did at first.
So, what up with that? ???

G'night,
al

JUNE 2: 11:33 AM:

OKAY AL:

TIM'S IS A CANADIAN THING. IT WAS FOUNDED ON BY A CANADIAN HOCKEY PLAYER FOR THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS.

Not everyone likes the coffee. Maybe only Canadian can make good coffee here at Tim's.

I perfer the ice caps myself, and the apple cider is delicious.
Here the donuts are always fresh. Especially Canadian Maple ones, anything with real Canadian maple sugar.

In this small town of over 7500 people, we have two Tim's.
One connected with Wendy's, and the other is alone.
The owner of both franchises is the same person, who use to play Old Joe Muffaw, at the school. Old Joe Muffaw was written by a town historian Bernie Bedore, and song by Stompin Tom.

I'll have to go to the town library to get you further historical facts about this.

Tims' is Canadian. Renfrew a town 20 minutes away was the first in the area. Now Arnprior has it own.
It put at least two local donut business out of business.

I think Tim's open 24 hours, and you can still walk pretty safe at night. It just a place where you can sit , visit, and have refreshments, just hang out and fellowship with local townspeople, or by yourself, still be among people.
Tims is what use to be local diner was years ago.
A hang out for adult, teens, men, woman, couples , christian groups, before and after work, alike.

Hope that clears it up some. Maybe on your next vacation, come up to the Ottawa Valley, and have a cup of joe, at our local Tims.

Ice caps are delicious any time of the year. And the hot chocolate is really good with a cinnamon stick in it.
Dont forget the herbal teas are always available.

Maybe us Canadian are just a more hardy bunch of people, you know able to handle anything that is thrown our way, weather, ice storms, snow blizzards, humidity, power shortages. mad cow, sars, west nile, etc.
::) ::) 8) especially us rural types. before any one gets mad at me. I lived in the city for 12 years. So I know the difference.

Getting to your other points:
Eye contact: I agree with you.
I have master the eye contact when I am listening to other people. I have too.
I am severly hearing impaired in one ear, and minor in the other.
So I must either appear to be attentive with the eye contact, or look like I am staring at people., because I am trying to follow what they are saying by watching the mouth.
Especially have to do this in noisy enviroment,because the hearing wants to go to where the noise is.
I hate it when people cover there mouths when they are speaking, or looking down, then get they get fed up with you, when you ask them to repeat themselves.
Some people do not have the eye contact, or body language edict .
I have had the unfortunate embarassment, of speaking thinking I am answering, and my topic is way of the wall, and totally not what the other person was speaking of.
So unless it is a two way conversation only, I tend to blend in, and watch, unless I am absolutely sure of the topic they are speaking of, and then I usually will ask a question first.
Even in group prayers, I have watch those soft spoken voices, unless I jump in first, I count to 10 before jumping in and hope I have not jump on someone elses turn.

Conversation is not just verbal, it is written, it is signing, it is body language, it is eye contact, and it is lip reading.
With the deaf culture, they rely on the signing, eye contact, and body language and jesture of face, eyes, and mouth as well as their hands . If you ever watch a couple or a group of people who sign, it is a wonderful language.
They are going to fast for me to catch on to what they are saying, if you watch the body language you can get the tone of their thinking.
I sign, but just signing, I still need someone to practice with so I can learn to read the signs.

Even baby talk, when you get a couple of babies/toddlers in a room, playing apart, yet chatting with one another. You see the body language. I keep wondering if they understand each other.

Even watch animals, when they are trying to communicate something to you. The body language, and the way they watch our body language. The significance they play a role in eye contact and tones and attitudes of our words.
I may have taught my dog to speak words, and I know she understands many of my words to her. But it is her attentiveness to me as her alpha leader, that she can almost read my mind in what I want her to do. It is not the words, it is in the eye contact, and body language.

What about the blind. They cannot see faces, eyes, or body language, They listen to tones, attitudes and senses feelings of the person who is speaking. They feel the written word rather than read it. ?

Writing is a talent, and I am comfortable with it as an expressing of communication, and I believe that if you want something done it is better to have a written request and copied. for future reference.
Writing as a conversational tool, is used when there is no body to talk to face to face.
Writing is still the cheapest way of communication, for visiting with a friend who live out the local phone area.
Writing you can get so much more detail down. Bring a situation to life, as if you are living it at the present moment.
Maybe writing is becoming a lost art form as a conversational tool.

I hope not.

TALK TO LATER AL:
IT WAS NICE TALKING TO YOU.

:): GOOD MORNING: IT IS THURSDAY JUNE 3RD AT 7:09 AM EST.

MY TOPIC THIS MORNING IS "PET"PEEVES

At 6:30 am, the dog next door started to Howl.

He is a beautiful white husky, shepherd mix.
He is just barely one year old.

They put him out in the back yard, tie him up and leave him there.
No shelter nothing.

Maybe I spoil my animals.

I take Missy out, but I wait for her, and I tie out my cat because it is the law, but I sit at the picnic table waiting for the dog to do her hygienic business, make sure the yard is safely hers.

When I go in the door is open, or I am at the window for her watching her. If I dont, she in the front yard, sniffing around sensing the communication of other animals.

I feel that when you get a company animal, they must become a member of your family. It is a 20 year committment , it is like raising a child. They look to their human leader(alpha of the pack), to provide for them, love them, care for them. In return you will have loyality, unconditional love, and protection.
An animal is not just a decoration that you have add to your home. An animal must be a member of the home.
In order to do this , you must spend time with them. train them, socialize them, until there is mutual trust and respect. other wise, you can produce a very dangerous animal.
I believe there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.

Maybe I am being harsh in this statement.
Like a child, raised in love, and animal raised in love, brings love.
An dog/cat or miscellous. Can add a flavour to a family setting, but only if you allow that family member to be entrench into that family. The rewards that come from those furry family fourlegged members, can be a tremendous gift of comfort from God.
I believe God has granted us these company animal, just that.
A earthly source of comfort, pleasure, love, and companionship.

OKAY, IVE SAID ENOUGH ABOUT MY 'PET'PEEVE.

HAVE A GIDDAY FROM THE OTTAWA VALLEY AND I WILL TALK TO YOU LATER.

LENORE

:)JUNE 4: 12:18 AM.

I GIVE MISSY CARROTS BECAUSE SHE LOVES THEM.

NOW IF THE RABBITS WANT SOMETHING TO EAT. THE GRASS IN MY BACK YARD IS SO TALL, THAT THEY WILL HAVE LOTS OF CLOVER AND OTHER GREENS.

My parents who live in Braeside, has a huge rabbit eating in their flower garden, Apparently this rabbit is eating the peony bushes.

The wild life in that village is almost as numerous as the people.
Between feral cats, bears, skunks, deer, wild turkeys, and garter snakes. There is also a fisher type of the weasel family that
has been going after domestic animals.

Yes there is a law in this town that cats should be tied up.
So I tie up my cat.
The dog just have to be under control.
Leashed when off your property.
This town also has a certain bylaw, that certain types of dogs has to be muzzled.

Some of towns bylaws are not exactly enforced.

Getting back to Missy and her carrots. One time she would go through 10 lbs of carrots a week.
I have her down to 5 pounds a week now. I have to limited
her intake of carrots because the sugar in the carrots were making her put on weight.
She perfer the carrots to the doggie cookies, but give her a raw hide chew bone, that another story, no body ever approach her
when she got a bone.

Today, I went swimming for the first time. I am a participant now for mental health clinic program. Which includes free swimming at the pool twice a week. I love swimming. Last year at this time I broke my ankle.

I slept most of the afternoon away, It was also a exercise program in the pool.
It was so good to have a hot shower, that I didnt have tO boil the water.

Percy the cat, says hello, and is helping me type. He does not eat carrots,but likes apples.

It is so frosty at nights, for the beginning of June.
There has been frost on roofs and cars for the last few mornings.
I just hope eager gardeners havent put out their tomoto plants out yet. Because they will need to be replanted if not properly covered.

mosquitoes are out about 9 pm, in full force. Spring may have sprung , so have the bugs.

Lets see, I've talked about my dog, my cat, the weather, the bugs, swimming. and my nap.
I think that about raps it up.

I was sent this in the mail today by my 17 year old daughter.
Today is NATIONAL KISS DAY. :-*

It was an email version of a chain letter, but the contentions is kind of cute.
============================

THE NATIONAL KISS DAY:

>Think about this... You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
>
>1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
>
>2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
>
>3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.
>
>4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
>
>5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
>
>6. You mean the world to someone.
>
>7. If not for you, someone may not be living.
>
>8. You are special and unique.
>
>9. Someone that you don't even know exists, loves you.
>
>10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
>
>11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
>
>12. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, probably, sooner or later, you will get it.
>
>13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
>
>14. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know.
>
>15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.
> ==========================================

The instruction was to send this to 15 of your friends.
etc. etc. etc.

What I did was copy down all of Sara's friends email address and send them a dayspring christian ecard instead.
The Gospel was send out.

I probably hear from Sara about this in not uncertain terms. Teenage language and attitude no less.
But...............!!!!

TALK TO YOU LATER.

JUST CHATTING WITH YOU.
LENORE

p.s. enclose picture is my daughter sara and the cat percy.

Helms,

I would guess that your pastor is aquanted with spousal abuse. He probably didn't speak about it because the Bible doesn't mention it in connection with marriage and divorse.

If there is opportunity for you to catch the pastor with a free moment, I would ask what his position is on marriage and divorse as it relates to spousal abuse. I know of few pastors who are unwilling to answer questions unless it is presented to them in a way they feel threatened (such as interrupting their sermon which you were wise not to do).

Most everyone (except for a nut I know in SLO) believes that if someone is being physically abused by his or her spouse, separation is in order. There are probably different views when it comes to divorse and/or remarrage. Again, since the Scriptures doesn't address this specifically, opinions on this is based upon conjecture.

One more thing, Helms. Don't feel that you have to justify yourself and explain your Assembly past just because you have a question. When I first left the Assembly, I felled compelled to talk to everyone about my Assembly experience. I think you may probably have the same need. However, make sure that you are in a safe environment with someone who truly wants to listen. You can make an appointment with the pastor or someone else you trust. Offering to buy lunch or breakfast is a good ice breaker providing the person is the same sex as you are.

-Dave

;)
JUNE 9TH 11:44 PM:

HEL LO OOOO : BB GANG.

HOW IS EVERY ONE TODAY? WE HAD A THUNDERSTORM TODAY.
EARLY THIS MORNING IT WAS SO HUMID THAT I COULDNT BREATHE, THEN WE HAD A THUNDERSTORM. IT HAS CLEARED OUT THE HUMIDITY OUT OF THE AIR.

MY MOTHERS SAYS IT IS TORNADO WEATHER BECAUSE OF ALL THE HOT AIR , WITH OUR FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN GOING ON THIS MONTH!!

I HAD BREAKFAST WITH MY FOLKS TODAY AT AUNT SARAH'S CAFE.
MY FOLKS COMES IN TO WASH AT THE COIN WASH, THEN HAVE BREAKFAST, THEN DO THEIR GROCERIES.

MY MOTHER BROKE HER BABY TOE THE OTHER DAY, FALLING DOWN THE STAIRS.

AFTER COMING HOME TO DAY. I TRIMMED A BUSH IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
THEN I WENT TO A DAY PROGRAM , THAT I AM NOW PARTICIPATING IN, THIS GROUP IS ACTIVITIES GROUPS, THAT MEET WITH OTHERS WHO SUFFER FROM MOOD DISORDERS: LIKE DEPRESSION ETC.
I HAVE MADE A COMMITTMENT FOR THE SUMMER TO DO THIS.

The web site on this is: www.mooddisorders.on.ca

We had lunch together, then we all sat around a huge table and
played bingo. I won a game and came home with a very nice prize, thank you very much.
It was a lot of fun. One of the workers was caller, but she kept dropping the bingo balls from the slot, she was constantly crawling under the table to retrieve it.

Then we sat around and just visited.

I came home, swept my floors, change my cat litter, gathered my garbage and took it to the corner.
There is a clothing pick up tomorrow, so I carried out 13 bags of
clothes that my daughter Sara can no longer wear.

Watch Canadian Idol?? Hello Marcia, did you see it!!
I also got a DVD on the Beverly Hillbillies:
This is a program that pure clean laughs, especially with Granny and Cousin Pearl get into the cat fights.

At least tonight there are no mosquitoes biting, the wind just carries them away.

Nice chatting with you about daily things.
So how was your day Al.

Helm , hows it going.

D. how the weather out your way?

Today is a day of regrets for me> Today would of been my 25th wedding anniversay. The should of , could of's, would of", has been plaquing me all day.
I know it is ridiculous, especially when I really saw 2 anniversaries as a couple of eight years of marriage, I have been divorced since 1987, receiving my divorced papers on my 8 wedding anniversay.
But I dont know , I cant explain it. The 25th. just something about that. Just knowing, that this could of been a milestone.
I am just , I dont know what I am just! But I am just!

25 years ago , It was a Saturday. It was a 7pm evening wedding.
It was held in a little church in Braeside, which my Grandmother played the organ for 30 years. It was a little Presbyterian church.
My Grandmother belonged to the Brethren church.
My parents were married in that church, October 21, 1955.
I was married June 9 , 1979.
This church is no longer a church, it was converted in to a house quite some years ago.

My sister was my matron of honour, she was expecting my neice at the time. Her and my brother in law was married June 10, 1978.
My ex. brother stood up for him.
My bridesmaid were two first cousins of mine.
There dresses were in pastel, yellow, peach, blue.
It was a comic of errors. Not to mention there was 5 deaths in amongst that wedding. Including my Dad's parents.
My beloved Grandfather and my Grandma M.

My sister forgot the ring I was to give my husband.
The minister was going to let us borrow his, but my brother in law went and found it.

My bridesmaids were late, Not I.

There was a little boy who was going to take a polaroid picture, and got behind the minister. The minister waited.
All you heard was click and ssing of the camera.

They move my mother over because the church was crowded.
My dad asked "Where the old lady"
My dad step on my dress.

Since it was a old church , rarely used, they polished the old pews, which was sweating.

Back in front of my parents front yard, the wedding pictures were being taken.
My mother found out she was still wearing the price tag on her dress.
The camera man , trip over a rubarb patch, and we got a good picture of the clothes line.
We have a picture of my brother who was 17 at the time, pulling up his fly.
The bridal car party, drove from Braeside to Arnprior, and around arnprior, before going to the reception hall.
We turned the street before, one of my ex.'s friends kept driving all the way to the park honking his horn all by himself.
During one of the square dances, another friend of my ex's was dancing with a first counsin of mine, and this cousin ended up twilling this poor fellow so hard, he hit the wall.
When the garter was thrown , it was caught by a 10 year old boy.

Otherwise it was a good party.

Maybe I was just looking back at a day of remembering.
The marriage was not good, due to abusive situation.
But it was a good party, after all the funeral we had to go to prior and after this occurred.
I always said my marriage had no choice but to die too.
In sympathy with all the family members we lost that year.
My grandparents were married 66 years and died 66 days apart.
They left five generations.

My parents, they endured difficult times, especially my dad's alcoholism, will be married 49 years this October.

Out of us three kids. Only one marriage survived. My sisters who celebrating her 26th tomorrow.

So I guess statitical, my family proves it one in three marriage works. There marriage is a duplicate of alcoholic home.

Thank you for allowing me to share my trip down memory lane today.

Lenore

:): Hello Dave:

I used to watch Christy series, and was disappointed when the show was cancelled.

I watch ER when Kellie Martin played a student doctor on the series.

After watching her on Life Goes On, where she played the main character, who had a brother with Down Syndrome, then Christy, watching her as Miss Knight
on ER was a little different. She was a good actress,
with a wide range of talent.

You will just have had a laugh if you just witness what I had just witness.

My cat Percy decided to walk across the desk, well,
he walk on the phone, which is one of those large button phone. He hit the speaker button, then
hit a number of dial buttons. It just went just played a music tune with the dialing.

I grabbed him and hugged him, Laugh,
'CATS DO NOT LIKE TO BE LAUGHED AT'
I even asked him who he was trying to call.
Since I had the computer on, it is a dial up service,
I hit the speaker button really quick and stopped the dialing.
It was funny.

I better get going, if I am going to be ready.

I am being taken out to lunch by a friend I havent seen in 17 years.

Getting back to Touch By Angel. I have the bio book on the subject, and how it came about.
It also tell why John Dye came on the show, was to attract the younger female audience.
Now why would they think that would work. Never mind the younger female, any breathing female, would
understand why John Dye was pick for the show.
He could act too.

I like the episode , that was there 100 episode, where
Wyonna Judd played a mother to a dying CF child.
With Cecline Dion singing.
I like that song, the 151th Psalm that Wyonna sang.

"Andrew and Monica" tears were real, even though they had to do several takes on that episode , especially that part. The emotions were not just good acting, they were realling into the scene.

Anyone else was touch by that episode.
That is one of the video's I have. It still gets to me.

P.S. CHANGING THE SUBJECT.

Does any one have the video "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE LAMB'.
My daughter Sara cried every time I put that video in, and when that song come up, the scene that go with the song is very realistic, and the fact that the father talking to his son, then being carried away to be executed for .............

The following came from an email I received. It is very touching and moved me a a very deep way.

Subject: The birth of the song "Precious Lord"

The true story of the hymn "Precious Lord"
( You might be surprised by the composer, I was. One never knows from another's profession whether they are a Christian or not. This is a sad, but true story. I looked up the song and sure enough, it WAS written by said composer.)

THE BIRTH OF THE SONG "PRECIOUS LORD"

Back in 1932 I was 32 years old and a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie, and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago's Southside. One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis, where I was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting.

I didn't want to go. Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first child. But a lot of people were expecting me in St. Louis. I kissed Nettie good-bye, clattered downstairs to our Model A and, in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66.

However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back. I found Nettie sleeping peacefully. I hesitated by her bed; something was strongly telling me to stay. But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with
my music.

The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again. When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram. I ripped open the envelope. Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED.

People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out. I rushed to a phone and called home. All I could hear on the other end was "Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead."

When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy. I swung between grief and joy. Yet that night, the baby died. I buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket. Then I fell apart.

For days I closeted myself. I felt that God had done me an injustice. I didn't want to serve Him any more or write gospel songs. I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis. Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie. Was that something God? Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died.

From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him. But still I was lost in grief. Everyone was kind to me, especially a friend, Professor Fry, who seemed to know what I needed. On the following Saturday evening he took me up to Malone's Poro College, a neighborhood music school.

It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows. I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, once into my head - they just seemed to fall into place:

Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand.
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home.

The Lord gave me these words and melody. He also healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power. And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home.

Tommy Dorsey

If you ever heard that song by the late Tennesee Ernie Ford, it is a beautiful song, sung.

Thank you Hugh for sharing this it is truly inspirational.

My daily chatting is not so inspiring, I am just chatting today.

WELL EVERYONE, MY GAS HAS BEEN RE CONNECTED, and I am once again given up my pioneer ways , and able to just turn on the tap for hot water.

No more tea cup baths for me.!!!!!!!!!

Tonight , I was a the Mill of Kintail , Park, trails, museum. along a river.
It is a beautiful spot.

The Ladies Groups from my church went their for a picnic for the last meeting until the fall.
It was a cold pot luck supper, and special speaker talked on her testimony.
This lady has been through a lot health wise.
She suffered congestive heart failure, strokes, arthritis, surgery on her back, pain, etc.
She has come along way with the Lord's help.

She collected cookie cutters, so she also had sample cookies to give out cut out by some of her cookie cutters.
You should of see some of those shapes of cookies.

SHe also presented in her show and tell, the brace she had to wear for 6 months afer her back surgery to correct a problem in her back, without that surgery she would of been in a wheelchair. She is still slowing clawing in the hands, and feet, but she is walking and standing. She does excellent plastic embroidery work.
She constantly doing hand work.

She is also diabetic, high colestrol.
So she is very limited in what she has to eat.
No sugar, no fat, no salt, things that could interfer with the medication she is on.

It was a good time. She also like making find a word puzzles out of Bible verses.

Food tonight, was a variety of salads, cold meats.
and home made breads.

The desserts, were apple crisps, rubarb/strawberry pie, and a butterscotch pie that was delicious.
There were about 30 women there enjoying each other company and christian fellowship, and testimony of one ladies reliance on her Lord , to get her through crisis after crisis, throughout the years.

My drive came for me at 4:45 and we got home after 9 pm.
It is about 30 minutes to get to Mills of Kintail, which is near Almonte.

So that was my day today.

Talk to you later.

Lenore

:): Okay anyone voted in the Canadian Idol Contest tonight..........................

Next topic:

I was sent this via email: I was wondering what the thoughts are on this?
======================================

> >
> > New version of the Pledge of Allegiance:
> >
> > Since the Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer are not
allowed in
>most
> > public schools anymore because the word "God" is mentioned.... a kid in
>Arizona
> > wrote the attached NEW School prayer. I liked it....
> >
> > Now I sit me down in school
> >
> > Where praying is against the rule
> >
> > For this great nation under God
> >
> > Finds mention of Him very odd.
> >
> >
> >
> > If Scripture now the class recites,
> >
> > It violates the Bill of Rights.
> >
> > And anytime my head I bow
> >
> > Becomes a Federal matter now.
> >
> >
> >
> > Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
> >
> > That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
> >
> > The law is specific, the law is precise.
> >
> > Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
> >
> >
> >
> > For praying in a public hall
> >
> > Might offend someone with no faith at all.
> >
> > In silence alone we must meditate,
> >
> > God's name is prohibited by the state.
> >
> >
> >
> > We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
> >
> > And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
> >
> > They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
> >
> > To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
> >
> >
> >
> > We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
> >
> > And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
> >
> > It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
> >
> > We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
> >
> >
> >
> > We can get our condoms and birth controls,
> >
> > Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
> >
> > But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
> >
> > No word of God must reach this crowd.
> >
> >
> >
> > It's scary here I must confess,
> >
> > When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
> >
> > So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
> >
> > Should I be shot; My soul please take!
> >
> > Amen
> >
> >
> >
> > If you aren't ashamed to do this, please pass this on.
> >
> > Jesus said, " If you are ashamed of me,"
> >
> > I will be ashamed of you before my Father."
> >
> >
> >
> > Not ashamed. Passing this on . . .

I think this speaks for itself.

HAVE A GIDDAY.

:)JULY 7TH 10:24 PM:

GOOD EVENING BB GANG:
FROM YOUR ECARD NUT SISTER ON THE BB.

I JUST FEEL LIKE BEING A GOOF TONIGHT, IF I MAY DO SO.

I HAVENT SLEPT SINCE YESTERDAY AT NOON.

::)So I just want to have some fun.

I went to the mall to have breakfast with my parents this morning. Since I couldnt sleep, I walk up to the mall about 7:30 am. I had to wait until they were finishing up their weekly washing.
So I sat at Apple Sarah's and had a coffee.

After breakfast, there was groceries to be bought.
Then the drive home, thanks to dear Dad of mine.
Then rushing to put away the groceries. As I put out my Missy and the cat Percy, while waiting on their little adventure outside, I read our local paper called the Chronicle Guide.
I had to go to the doctor for a physical. I took a taxi down to my Wednesday Lunch program, and since it was potluck today, I had to get my cheese and cracker there first. I walk to the medical center from there.

You know something, My doctor, there is a powerful shortage of doctors in this town, I had this town for last 13 years, so he knows my history.
Does he ever look like my ex husband, even the annoying mannerisms and attitude. Sometime I crinch, and sometimes I want to slug him.

The physical was just a physical, although he is sending me for test, test a 47 and half year old woman needs in those middle years.

I went for xrays for my back and my hips are really crying out in the damp weather.

I went back to the house where my C.M.Health program, and luncheon was going on.
After Lunch there was a surprise speaker.
A fire man came and talk on fire extinguers. He even lit a fire for us, so we could practice the extinguers.
Then the fun began, he had brought the fire truck and the hose came out to play with.

After that there was trip to drug store to lay in a prescription order, trip to bank to cash my big Ontario Works cheque, and pay some bills.
THen a trip to the local Giant Tiger to pick up a few pity party treats.
That doctor of mine all he harp on was my weight.
SO I came home, I didnt eat the pity party treats. I wrote a 20 pages outline of complaints. Medical Complaints and how he dismisses them because of my weight. If I lose the 100 pound all my depressional problems will go away.
He got the bedside manner of a rattle snake, I have never met a rattle snake, and I dont want one.
But I expect a least the rattlesnake , rattles.
Doesnt it. I cant think of what lives in these part of the world to compare it to a cold fish.

BY THE WAY HAPPY CHOCOLATE DAY TO EVERY ONE. I HOPE YOU HAD YOUR FEED OF CHOCOLATE TODAY.
IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE A DAY FOR US CHOCOLATE LOVERS AND AN GOOD EXCUSE TO INDULGE.

SO TOMORROW IT IS ICE CREAM SUNDAE DAY, SO ALL THOSE OUT THERE WHO ARE ICE CREAM SUNDAE LOVERS A TRIP TO THE DAIRY QUEEN JUST MIGHT BE IN ORDER.

WELL I HOPE EVERYONE HAS HAD A GOOD DAY TODAY, AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY, IT IS ROCK AND ROLL DAY AND SUGAR COOKIE DAY.
MAYBE ANYONE REMEMBER CHUBBY CHECKER'S SONG
"THE TWIST"

HAVE FUN KIDDIE:
GIDDAY FROM THE OTTAWA VALLEY AND WITH TALK TO YOU AGAIN.

:DJuly 23rd at 9:41 pm

I just want to share an email that I recently received.

The Train Of Life

Some folks ride the train of life
Looking out the rear,
Watching miles of life roll by,
And marking every year.
They sit in sad remembrance,
Of wasted days gone by,
And curse their life for what it was,
And hang their head and cry.

But I don't concern myself with that,
I took a different vent,
I look forward to what life holds,
And not what has been spent.

So strap me to the engine,
As securely as I can be,
I want to be out in the front,
To see what I can see.

I want to feel the winds of change,
Blowing in my face,
I want to see what life unfolds,
As I move from place to place.

I want to see what's coming up,
Not looking at the past,
Life's too short for yesterdays,
It moves along too fast.
So if the ride gets bumpy,
While you are looking back,
Go up front, and you may find,
Your life has jumped the track.

It's all right to remember,
That's part of history,
But up front's where it's happening,
There's so much mystery.

The enjoyment of living,
Is not where we have been,
It's looking ever forward,
To another year and ten.

It's searching all the byways,
Never should you refrain,
For if you want to live your life,
You've gotta drive the train.

Anon ...

:D :)What was on my agenda this past week.
I went swimming at the local pool on Monday.
On Wednesday, the CMHC group , had a Christmas in July for three groups up the Valley, the gift were to be recycle gifts. It was a great Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings, and the game, where you could take another gift. // I watch the Candian Idol TV show, and voted for contestant number 6.
On Thursday, I went to see with CMHC the Ottawa Lynx, my first live BaseBall Game. It was fun in a way.
The score was 9 to 0 until the 6 inning. The visiting team the Louieville Bats were playing. Then it started to rain, then the Lynx played better once they got wet.
The final score was 9 to 7 for the Louieville team.
The Lynx Cat the team mascot was more fun to watch than the game.
Later that night was 3rd meeting of a new Mood Disorder Peer Support Group, already the groups is growing just by word of mouth.
Today, the animal had my attention today.
Right now the Dog is sleeping on my bed and the cat is in the window watching the moths playing at the window, even the fireflies seems to be buzzing around.
Correction the cat just came in for a cuddle.

Well that is the news for today. God bless your night

LENORE

Well, I haven't chatted here for a while. It's getting late & I'm tired & tomorrow's a busy day at church, but I'll take a few minutes to catch up.

I have booked Cathy a round-trip flight to Spokane, Aug. 31- Sept. 8, where she will meet up with her two older sisters to head for Montana to research some of their family history. They had planned to do it next summer, but the oldest sister's health is deteriorating & next summer it may no longer be feasible to do.

We had planned a So. CA visit for this Sept., but this throws a monkey wrench in that plan. Cathy may yet visit the southland for a week in Sept/Oct, but I likely won't be along. At least the dogs will be happy-- they hate when we're both gone at the same time.

We have had the older three of our four grandchildren here for four days during the past week-and-a-half. They will be going into the 5th, 6th, and 8th grades, and are at ages & of such dispositions that it is a joy to take them to museums, parks, a movie or out to eat or for an ice cream. They are good hearted & intelligent children, but are not being raised with Christian influence. They seem to have no aversion to the gospel, but no particular interest either. We pray for them & for their parents.
I finally set up the charcoal/wood smoker/barbecue that Cathy gave me for Christmas. It's a great unit & does a good job on the meat & veggies. I just have to get used to regulating the heat. Gas units are easier to cook with, but I'm an old fogey & like to cook with a wood or charcoal fire. (I had a propane unit once, but never liked it.

Anyway, if you're going to be in central Ohio, I'll cook for you. We have a guest room too. You'll be more than welcome, as we can always use some extra help around the house! ;D Seriously, we'd love to have the Lord's people stay with us.

The only other news of note here is that after several weeks of little electrical power "Hiccups," I realized that an evergreen at the back of our property had grown into the power line supplying our house. When this happened a number of years ago, I topped about 5' off the tree & it solved the problem, The tree flourished, to the point that it was once again dancing with our power line. So I have spent considerable time & energy this past week cutting back the tree once again. But this time, the poor creature seems to be afflicted with some blight & I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut it down completely.

Well, the Lord's day is nearly upon us, so there'll be no tree-cutting here today!

And now I'll wish you all a blessed Lord's day & a good night,
al

:DHAPPY LORD'S DAY OF AUGUST 1ST AT 4:19 PM:

This BB is a happening place today.
With help of David M. David K. Marcia, Summer, Al. Mark C.
It is just a buzzing.
Great conversation , the brain juice are flowing out into the fingers , into the computer, on to the postings of the BB.

GREAT.

What is happening with my life:

- problems with feet that are swelling.& other physical problems that have been plaguing me of late. I just say it is old age creeping up.
- marvelling in my pets , how God's creatures/creation can give so much joy and blessings.
- crocheting baby blankets for this new expectant grandchild.
- sending off ecards by the dozens
- sometimes wallowing in a self made pity party.

-ENJOYING MYSELF AT BB.

I also been journaling with the computer now. It is a therapy journal, everything is included, from calorie intake, or outake,
From walking 30 minutes, to appointments I make.
I copy segments of the journal for counselling sessions, to take to the doctors about medical complaints, or even to my monthly statement for Ontario Works about my activities for the month. My month in July on Word was 183 k, when I transfer it to Notepad for keeping it was reduced to 44 k.
I deleted July after I made all the appropriate copies.

I am learning more and more about how the computer ticks, but my knowledge is still so limited, basically data entry.

I did a web research on diabetes, and to find receipies, for a friend of mine, who adopted daughter is expecting in January and is diabetic. This friend is also boarding my daughter Sara.
She is a great Christian mentor to me. She and her husband needs prayer, as her husband lost his father about a couple of weeks ago to Cancer. They are still dealing with the grieve and settling of the estate. They have to travel 7 hours one way to get to the place of her father laws house to get the estate settled. They were travelling down there frequently in the last few months. prior to the passing of the parent.
My friend name is Lois.

This past week was a pretty quiet week.

GIDDAY AND I WILL TALK TO YOU LATER.

LENORE

:DGOOD EVENING, ON THIS BRIGHT SUNNY MONDAY SUMMER EVENING. IT IS NOW 8:36 PM ON AUGUST 9TH.

HOW WAS EVERY ONE'S LORD'S DAY YESTERDAY?

Pastor B. message came from 1 Thess. 4:1-12
With references in 2 Timothy 1:3-7 and Matthew 5:43-48

SPIRIT OF SELF DISCIPLINE
SPIRIT OF LOVE
SPIRIT OF POWER

OVER ALL THE SPIRIT OF STAMINA.

Today it has been a busy one with exercise .
I walk 10 minutes to the local pool, swam for 40 minutes, non stop, then went to a gym with the machine, cycled for another 20 minutes, 10 minutes on a rowing machine, and then 60 minutes on weight. Walked home for 30 minutes all up hill. As I figured I burned off about 1000 calories between 12:30 pm to 5 pm.

THis person of about 300 lbs, is going to be the fittest 300 lbs , if not the thinnest one.

I have spent the last hour on the computer.

SO how was your day.

At 10 pm I may watch CSI Miami and crochet on my baby blanket for my newest coming grandchild.

John 15:11: I have told you this that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Exodus 33:19: And the Lord said. "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

I want to share something funny. When ever my daughter Christie has a fight with her father. she phones me up, and says to me 'WILL YOU DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR EX HUSBAND" I have not talk to this man in about 5 years and the last time I saw him was when our grandsons were born
over six years now.
I just laugh and say "Do you mean your father".
THen she says" No, I mean your ex husband right now".
There is 40 miles between us, and we are on the phone, and you can almost smell the rubber burning, as she has a head of steam on.
She go on and on, I dont know how you put up with him, I dont know how you ever lived with him. etc etc.
Most the time my answer is. I dont. I didnt. Remember we have been divorced since 1987.
He still treats me like I am 6 years old, and not a 24 year old mother of two.
All you can do , is say, Yes Christie, I know CHristie, okay Christie, He turning 50 this year Christie, Now you know Christie.
She is funny in her venting.
It is funny now, especially when she left me to go live with him when she was in her teens.

That is my daily chatting for today.

God Bless you all.

Gidday and talk to you later.

Lenore

:DGOOD AFTERNOON ON THIS COOLISH, CLOUDY AUGUST 11TH SUMMER DAY, AT 4:56 PM.

This may appear like a venting page for me. so please bear with me okay.

On Monday, it was my second time at the gym, and I did alot of arm weights exercises.
Yesterday, my arms were muscle bound. They ached all last night, despite me putting deep cold and taking naproxin to help the pain. It was a good pain. At least I know I have muscles in my arms, because they sure objected to being overstimulated.
Yesterday afternoon, I got a letter in the mail, from Housing my landlord said I didnt pay my rent. I had proof , so I thought I had proof that I had paid it. The bank sent it back two days after, there was funds in the bank to cover the rent.
I walked 15 minutes down there, argue politely with the teller, and they reverse my NSF charge. So I left the bank with the rent money, walked another 15 minutes to housing office, and paid my rent, I was just crossing the bridge to walk to the grove to go to the program I am involved in.
The skies were opening up, lightening was hitting the water, even a duck , duck into the water. So I ducked into the library, just as the torrential rains came. We were having a tornado warning. I phone the place were I was going to go.
Well that was cancelled because they lost power. I was glad for the offer of the drive home. Missy my dog was so scared , when she is left alone , when a thunderstorm hits, she becomes Messy Missy.

Today made up for it.

I walked up to the Mall, had breakfast with the folks, a weekly ritual.
Got back home, needed to do with what I had to do, waiting for my ride.
We went up to Burnstown Beach. It is about 20 minutes up the highway from Arnprior.
Actually it is off the highway, when you get to Glasgow Station, turn left go about another 10 minutes.
The beach was wonderful. It is on the Madawaska River.
The beach area, is not a large beach, it off the main road way, surrounded by trees. The river is lined on both sides with tall trees. It is a moving river.
There were 3 other ladies, it was part of the field trip with CMHC program I am participating in this summer.
It was not busy, it was not too cold, not too warm, not too many bugs. I went swimming twice for about 30 minutes each time. Then while I was drying off the first time we played SKIP BO.(which is a card game), it is only the second time I played. We nibbled on veggies and dip. Then had salads and cold cuts for lunch. It was after lunch I went swimming the second time, after I sat for a while with my lawn chair in the water. The beach was sandy. The water was clear. The bottom was sandy, were I was swimming it was clear of rocks, weeds, and clam shells.
It was my group and one other group with two moms and three little girls playing. The oldest kept trying to show off her swimming skills, every time I swam in her direction. I asked her if she was ten, she was very proud after I said that. She was only 7. Isnt it amazing ladies, when we are little we wished we were older, and now we are getting older, we wish we were younger.
After I changes from my swim suit, we drove into the village of Burnstown. We had a coffee at a quaint coffee shop.
After that we walked through an antique store, and a gift shop, Burnstown is known for all their arts and crafts type galleries. There must be at least six of these stores all in a row, along the main street of Burnstown, which is part of a highway.

Central Ohio has a motto: If you don't like the weather, stick around ten minutes & it'll change! "Seasonable" weather here for August is hot & humid. The unpredictable part of August weather is usually whether it will be cloudy or sunny, whether or not it will rain &, if so, how much or how little. Wind storms are always possible, although the official tornado season was a couple of months earlier. Hail can also enter the picture & be quite damaging. Lightning strikes often knock out power & sometimes take lives. Lots of car accidents & fires whenever we have a thunderstorm.

A couple of weeks ago, we were having such an unseasonable amount of rain that there were floodwatches all over the state. I had to recheck Genesis 9 to make sure that the Lord had promised to never again destroy the world by flood-- it was so cloudy we never even saw a rainbow. The monsoons were followed by a stretch of cool weather the like of which has been unknown hereabouts for August during my lifetime: daytime highs in the low 70s & nightime lows in the low 50s. Great sleeping weather. Everyone's windows open, in spite of the ragweed pollen-- nobody wants to run an airconditioner when it's so cool. Cloudless nights allowing the humidity to evaporate.

This has been the first August in my life that I could mow the lawn between sunrise & sunset without risking heatstroke. The trees have supported a steady, if weak, stream of cicadas since June. This week our yard has hosted a katydid & a preying mantis. Mosquitoes have been delightfully few compared to recent years & I have yet to see my first tick this year. Sadly, the toad population seems to be diminishing & hasn't visited our property in several years. They used to be regular summer drop-ins.

Besides the comfort factor, the best thing about cool summer weather is that the dogs shed less profusely. Our definition of "home" is that place where the dog hair sticks to everything else as much as it sticks to the dogs. We don't even consider buying clothes that clash with the color of the dogs' hair. I'm sometimes surprised that the PETA people haven't doused us with red paint when we're in public-- all our clothes look like furs; even the t-shirts.

The other evening I saw the first bats of the season. We don't see many of them any more because the burgeoning urban population has eradicated the insects upon which they feed. That has also cut the songbird population way back. When I was a kid, there were meadowlark, warblers, mockingbird, thrushes, vireos, & numerous other avian species about because the area was more rural & the extermination industry less advanced. Birds flocked by the thousands then. Today, 200 seems like a large flock.

If I dwelt on these remeniscences, I could be melancholy over what appears to have been lost, but I prefer to count it all as the ticking away of the moments until the Lord's return, when all will be made right as it should be. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

Keep looking up-- our redemption draws near,
al

:DGood Morning on this beautiful August 20th, at 11:17 am Arnprior, Ontario. Canada time. Where the air is clean and fresh, with a crisp breeze bite.

I wanted to tell you about my Wednesday's trip to the Enchanted Gardens near Beachburg, Ontario. about 90 minutes from Ottawa.

I was picked up about 10:45 am, with a quick stop in Renfrew to pick up some more people from CMHC Center there to go on our field trip.

It took about another 30 minutes to arrive.
We ate a picnic lunch first.

Then the tour started.

I was with the group that was touring the gardens at first.
The gardens have different themes to them. There is a theme of Wizard of Oz, including a few yellow brick pathway, with Dorthy and the Tin Man and TOTO , blending in the garden plot with beautiful flowers.
There was a Japanese garden complete with stone steps water fountain, and a strange thing. And outhouse, with just a screen door, and a porclain toliet . Absolutely no privacy.
There was a woodland garden display, with dwarfs, a water wheel, and a millhouse.
There was another display with dwarf, and a mining track and their mining trains were filled with flowers.
There were also a sea chest, spinning wheel, bird houses, bird baths, bamboo lawn chairs, all blending in or filled with flowers in various displays.
I took about two rolls of film. I was sitting down, refilling my camera, and the group just kept a walking. SO when I was walking to catch up, I was told they went on a certain path. This was the path to a 4 mile hike that the other group went to , that goes to a look out point. SO I just kept a walking and met the other group, I went ahead alone and took a couple of pictures at the look out point. I rest a couple of minutes, drinking water and a energy bar. I walked back.
There were a couple of short steep hills, when I had to stop and catch my breath, but I made it back to a rustic looking inn, that serves as a tea room. The entire trip took about an hour. One the way there, A snake was hard pressed to get out of my road. All I saw was the tail.
Also while walking through the woods , the path was under a canopy of tall white pines and various other trees. I heard a bird talking to me, every time I said hello, he answered me with a bird talk of his, I didnt know which type of bird.
I heard bull frogs croaking, and splashing in some water.
Certain trees were blowing down small nuts, or something up in those trees were throwing them down at me.
The scenery picture at the top was beautiful.
There is also a pathway to a paddle boat adventure, and to a small waterfalls, but I didnt get off the lookout-tearoom pathway. Technically no body knew where I was until I caught up with the other group.
When I got back to the tea room, I bought a diet coke, the first soft drink I bought all summer. After that hike I just wanted some cold, wet and sweet.
Well there was my adventure for Wednesday.

Ever in Eastern Ontario, in the summer. Check out Beachburg, and the Enchanted Gardens, it is a pleasant relaxing afternoon.

Have a Nice Friday afternoon All.

Lenore

8)AUGUST 27TH AT 1:28 am Arnprior Time.

GOOD MORNING, EARLY MORNING TO EVERYONE.
The last few days, we have hot hazy days, and of course rain.

What have I been doing this past week? Well lets see.

On Tuesday went to my CMHC program for the evening meal and lawn games. We played BOCI Ball, like a lawn bowling type of game. Then came in side and played SKIP BO, a card game.

Came home and walked the dog around the big block. It takes about 30 minutes to go completely around.

On Wednesday, went up to the Mall, met my parents for breakfast, came home.
Then walked back down to my CMHC program (about a 30 minute walk), played SKIP BO, had a delicious pork chops, bake potatoes, and yellow beans out of the garden.
After the clean up.
We h ad a nurse from the Royal Ottawa Hospital.
The topic was on Personality Disorders.

It was a good presentation. With a power point presentation.
I have some handouts, with points on different personality disorders. I will type the points out and present them in a future post on the depression thread.

Went over to the gym, where I cycled for 20 minutes with a heart rate of 161, and cycling 2.8 miles.
Then I did weight training for another 30 minutes.
Walked home (another 30 minutes).
WHile walking home, I passed the after math of a bad fire .
It was on the corner of Daniel Street and Madawaska Street.
Near the bridge that cross the Madawaska River.
A complete house, that was converted into apartments were destroyed, plus damage to a business which housed a insurance business and a dentist office. There were no injuries or deaths.
At home had supper, just a sandwich and watch Canadian Idol. I was so tired from not sleep more than 2 hours the night before, I was in bed by 10 pm, but do you think I could sleep. NOPE.

Today, I was up to go for swimming at 9 am. Went to Tim's with the swimming group had a English Toffee Cappinchino, and a English Toffee Cookie. So much for the work out.
Came home and slept most of the day away.
Then was out at my Mood Disorder Peer Support Group this evening.
When I came home, I notice someone was in my house.
Dont worry. It was Sara, came in to use the computer, I found a note by the computer. Strange we are not talking, but she comes in the house when I am not there, and borrows somethings.

Thats about it.

Oh by the way, Percy the cat just jump up. and said MEW.

HAVE A REALLY GOOD DAY

LENORE

:DSaturday September 4th, at 10:05 pm Arnprior

This week has had its up and down moments.

On Tuesday, I went to the Ottawa Lynx Baseball Game with the Stanton Red Barons.
It was a beautiful evening.
The Lynx won 7 to 0.

Next morning I my throat was so sore.
I also had the sniffles.

Wednesday, the usual breakfast with the folks.

I was so exhausted all week, yet my sleeping has been difficult obtaining this week. Lie down, the brain thinks it time to plan the next year or so.
On wednesday, after I got home from the mall, I was going to go to my program. I thought I lie down for half an hour, before heading out to walk the 30 minutes it takes to get there.
I didnt get up for 5 hours later.

I had a Sunday School planning meeting on Wednesday Night.
Thursday Night was the Mood Disorder Peer Support Group.

Friday, I went to the Mall to purchase supplies for my Sunday School Class. Plus I went over to the church office to do the photocopying of lesson for the next thirteen weeks.
Came home and organized them afterwards, prepared the first two weeks lessons.
Our churches Sunday School will resume after a summer break, September 12th.
Our church's Sunday Morning schedule is as follows:
9:30 prayer time for the sunday services.
9:45 Sunday School
10:45: Coffee Break and Fellowship
11: am Worship Sunday Services.
We also have a 6:30 pm Sunday Service.
And a prayer Meeting on Wednesday Nights at 7 pm.

Now that Fall is here, the activities that took a hiatus during summer, is resuming.
The men had there monthly breakfast fellowship at a local eat establishment. This is one of the outreach programs.
The Ladies Groups has a planned meeting night on the 21st.
Alpha is thinking about starting up again near the end of September.
There is a planning of the possibility of 40 Days of Purposes,
Small Group Bible Studies.

Our Sunday School Meeting, was not only a preparation of the 12th when Sunday School resumes. We also are thinking of the Christmas paganent on December 19th, which is usually a meal get together before the evening paganent gets under way.

Today was a slow day. I wrote a few letters and printed them out. Since I have a old style feeder printer. Printing them out takes longer than writting them. But I am thankful for the printer and my computer.

The songs that I will be interpreting for tomorrow worship songs in sign language are
Victory in Jesus
Hosanna
Our God Reigns
People of God
Anywhere with Jesus

I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GOOD LORD'S DAY, AND WILL BE REFRESHED BY THE MESSAGE THROUGH YOUR SHEPHERD, THAT GOD HAS APPOINTED TO THIS SERVICE.

TALK TO YOU LATER

LENORE :)

:D: GOOD EVENING EVERY BODY.

I just checked it has been over a week since I last brought you up to date what is happening in the life of Lenore.

Busy, busy, Busy. Cant you hear all the buzzings

On the 7 I went bowling , it is part of my program with the Mental Health Clinic. It was the first time with this group at the bowling . I bowled more gutter balls than hit the pins, but I did manage a 87 average of 2 games of 10 frames each.

After bowling the group went to a local eating place called BRAX, for a coffee or lunch.

That evening it was walking back down to the program for their evening meal and a movie night.
If I am early enough I usually end up doing the cooking of what is being served. It was restrauant night, which means that what ever was put away from the community kitchen.
We had meat loaf, chicken caccatori, and cabbage roll casserole.
The counsellor was wondering about dessert, so I said if you had brown sugar, I could make brown sugar fudge.
Well we made brown sugar fudge, with a little bit of chocolate chips and peanut butter in it.
As soon as you say fudge in that place, the vultures come out, especially the ones who are diabetic. ::)
On wednesday it is up to mall to have breakfast with my parents.
Then back down to program for their wednesday lunch and afternoon activity. Lunch that day was corn on the cob and lunch meat. Will a peach truffle on angel food cake.
The activity was going mini putt. Which we accomplished 2 (9 hole runs). Each person for themselves. Then to Tim Horton's for a coffee, and Tim Bits. ;)
That night I also had a meeting at the church at 8 pm for a planning meeting of starting up an Alpha outreach.
Sara my youngest daughter came over and dyed my hair. Between the both of us, we can share one bottle of dye.
It is a dark reddish look. Covers the grey. Pastor B . told me it took 20 years off my face. 8)
Thursday, the tail end of Hurricane Francis dump about 125 centimeters of rain, if it was snow it would of been 5 feet. So glad I didnt have to shovel the stuff.
Thursday Night was my Mood Disorder Peer Support Group. I came home a bit frustrated. There is always one who wants to hog all the talking. :o :-X.
Also on Thursday afternoon I went over to the church to get my Sunday School in shape for Sunday.
Friday was conked out day.
Saturday I practiced my sign language songs . and went over to the church to prepared the refreshments like the coffee.
Do you realize, that I already know my job in heaven.
Because what we do on earth in service , we will do in heaven Right!!. I WILL BE MAKING THE COFFEE FOR THE BANQUET!!!! ::) ;D
On Sunday, it was our Sunday School kick off for the fall.
Sunday started about 2 hours earlier.
By the time I get to the church, set every thing up that needs to be set up, prayer time, Sunday School, Coffee Break, Sunday Services.
There was a pot luck lunch after the morning services.
By the time I got home, I obeyed the Lord. Took the rest of the day to REST ;).
Monday: Because the pool is closed for the month of September for maintenance. The swimmer are doing a walking club. We I walked to the meeting place 30 minutes. Walked for 60 minutes, went to the gym for another 90 minutes. Walked home another 30 minutes.
I went to KFC , while walking home, I near Pastor B home, and decided I would see what they were doing for supper. If they were busy I would just head home. I knock, walked in, said what are you doing for supper anything special. Mrs. B
said NO. I PUT THE KFC INTO HER HAND, SAID HERE'S SUPPER AND YOU HAVE A GUEST. 8) I stayed there until 8 pm. It was nice not to go home alone.
I calculated the calories I burned off was 1900 calories. that afternoon.
Tuesday: Yesterday :)I walked down town 15 minutes.
had an appointment with Dr. R. PSYCHRIATRIST, after that walked 30 minutes up to the NEW HOPE CENTER FOR SOME CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING, then was picked up to go bowling.
Bowled 30 minutes , 2 games of 10 frames each.
The first game I bowled 133, the second game I bowled 120.
Then it was to brax for lunch. I had two pieces of combo pizza.
Home. I fell asleep for 2 hours. This days activity was done on 2 hours sleep the night before.
My counsellor at the Community Mental Health CLinic Program called, Camed and picked me up and had supper there. We had hot dog roll up and curly fries.
We played Yatzee, I WON 8) WITH A SCORE OF 228.
TODAY: SEPTEMBER 15TH:
Went up to the mall 10 minute walk, to met my parents for breakfast.
Walked to the program 30 minutes.
Lunch was hamburger macroni and cheese casserole.
After the lunch clean up.
I played ping pong with one other person for over an hour.
Then it was the gym, which I cycled for 20 minutes with my heart rate between 149 to 183, cycled for 3.9 miles .
Then it was 40 minutes of weights.
I MAY BE 290 TO 3OO LBS 47.9 YEAR OLD WOMAN.
I AM GOING TO BE THE FITTEST 300 LBS WOMAN YOU ARE GOING TO SEE.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I calculated the calories for today 1060 calories burned. 8)
You should see the bottom of my feet :P
I have a LARGE BLOOD BLISTER!!!!!!!!! :(

I HAVE ONE THING I CAN PROUDLY SAY I ACCOMPLISHED.
THE IS A MACHINE, YOU HANG YOUR WEIGHT.
I HELD MY OWN WEIGHT FOR 3 SECONDS. REMEMBER I WEIGH 300 LBS. I HELD 300 LBS FOR 3 SECONDS. SOMETHING I DIDNT THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO 8)

Well this is the life that I led this past week.
I hope I didnt tire you out too much. I AM EXHAUSTED. :o

GOD BLESS

LENORE

;DHAPPY LORD'S DAY OF SEPTEMBER 26TH ;D

:oBOY HAS THIS WEEK JUST FLEW RIGHT BYE :o

:PIT WAS ONE BUSY, BUSY , BUSY , WEEK AND AM I TIRED. ::)

I am going on a back ward journey of the week and life of Lenore Whelan in a small town of Arnprior, population over 7500. 8)

Today was up at 7 am to do my Sunday School lessons and to prepare for my Signing.
Over to the church by 9 am, to put on the coffee for after Sunday School break and fellowship.
The little stand that carries my songs for signing is ready to go.
Church service at 11 am.

We also have a evening service. This evening was a special music night. We had a musical group called RESTORATION.
They carried the whole service with their music and messages.
There was after service fellowship, with special things for the stomach as well.

ON SATURDAY September 25. I went on a all day tour of the RENFREW COUNTY RURAL RAMBLE. ;D
You visit different site around the county. :D
I went with my Mental Health Program. It cost about 10$ for a button, but our cost was only 5$. ;)
We teamed up with a group from Renfrew. So a total of 6 hopped into a van, driving from 9 am to 4 pm. We stopped off a six different place.
From Renfrew we followed county road #5
1. The first place was a living museum at an old school house built in Admaston called the SS#2 HERITAGE SCHOOL.
Since our group was the first one there, the teacher dressed in period costume, made the boys and girls stand in separate lines. Then stand to say the Lord's Prayer and singing of God Save the Queen. She then put us through a mental arthrimetic quizz. ???
Then told us about what school was like in 1900's.

2. Was the Donden Cattle Farm.It is a modern barn with automatic grain and hay feeders.

3. It was up near Douglas to SHAGGY SHADOWS BISON FARM. We were went on a haywagon ride through the farm .
We were only about a couple of feet away from the bison.
One big bull, had such a huge head. :P

4. Up near Clear Lake to OPEONGO MOUNTAIN TROUT FARM
This place raises rainbow trout. Feeding the fish food, cause them to bubble up the water. There were ducks in all the ponds, and goats to feed. ;D
We ate our lunch here. ::)

5. Up the Road a little bit OPEONGO MOUNTAIN MEADOW SOAPS . Here were saw a demonstration of making soap.
They also raise goats, for using the goat milk to make their soap. I was able to bring home a sample. :D

6. On the Road to EGANVILLE to go to the Eganville Museum

Then we headed back to Renfrew , had a ice cream, dropped off the participants there, and the worker who was driving and I headed back to Arnprior.
All in all we have been in the car from 8 am to 5 pm. I got about one roll of film.

The rural ramble had about 25 places to explore in the Renfrew County.
It was a perfect day for it, warm and sunny.
The colours of the leaves that are turning , up the mountains of the Canadian Shield is beautiful.
SO MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR NEXT YEAR, TO TAKE A VACATION DURING A FALL RURAL RAMBLE TOUR OF THE RENFREW COUNTY. :)

What I did the rest of the week, was Friday was the community Kitchen.
I also went on a job interview on Friday morning.
Thursday was walking club, and the Mood Disorder Group Meeting.
Wednesday, I went to Ottawa to try to see my Daughter. She wasnt home. I did get to see her for an hour and the grandsons for 15 minutes. This was first time in a year.
I went out with my driver to supper and the movie.
Any one seen Wimpleton yet. It is a good movie.
Tuesday was bowling and afternoon program, which I picked Tomotoes, made homemade tomato soup, and a cherry crumb cake, and then I went to a Ladies Bible Study group at the church.
Monday September 20 was a banquet at program for the people who participate in the Aquafitness(swimming program)
to the gym
then to Alpha first meeting. :P :P :P

THis week has already been booked . :-X

SO HOW WAS YOUR WEEK.

:)GOOD EVENING EVERYONE ON THIS
BEAUTIFUL OCTOBER 1ST DAY.
HERE IN ARNPRIOR, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL WARM DAY.
I was still in shorts and sleeveless shirt, walking downtown to do the usual monthly banking and bill paying .
I walk to bank, then across the bridge to pay my rent.
It is about 30 minute walk.

I have tenditis in my heel , so all the way I was going ouch, ouch, ouch. ::).

Went to the drug store to pick up my prescription, popped into the library to see what books they have for sale.
Went into a couple of dollar stores and a new women's consignment store called the Cat's Meow.

Meet my daughter Sara for supper at a local eatery called Jim's Restaurant. Which is a very good family restaurant.
You can get a excellent meal for the value of the money. Quite often you can share a meal.

This week has been a bit more slower due to my injured limp.
Tuesday went to Bowling.
Wednesday up to the mall to meet my parents for usual weekly breakfast.
Then down to program, in which I got a drive that day.

The lunch was delicious. It considered of a main course called.
CHEESEBURGER PIE.

THE RECEIPE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO TRY:

1 lb. of ground meat
(brown)
Add:
1/2 tsp of oregano
1/4 cup of chopped onion
1/4 cup of chopped green pepper
1/2 cup of bread crumbs
8 oz can of tomato sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix ingredients thoroughly.
Add to an unbake pie shell
In a large glass pie plate
Top with cheese mixture

CHEESE TOPPING :
8 oz shredded cheese(sharp)
1/4 milk
1/2 tsp of dry mustard
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 of worcestershire sauce
1 egg
Thoroughly mix together
Spread on top of the pie

Bake for 30 minutes in a 400 degree F oven.

Serve hot.

On top of each slice served add a dap of sour cream.

DELICIOUS.
================================

I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Lenore

:DOctober 30th, 8:50pm DLST

It has been 29 days since I last written in this post.
Wow so much has happened in the last 29 days that I am not sure where to start.

Between Alpha, Sunday School, and the Community Health Program. Between swimming, bowling, gym and walking. Between doctors appointments and counselling appointment.
The month just flew right by.

I wanted to share with you a exciting two days I had this past week.
I had the priviledge of going on a two day seminar in Kingston . Spending two nights at the Holiday Inn over looking Lake Ontario. Over looking Fort Henry.
It is a beautifully old city of Canada. It was our first capital city. One of the workshops was in the City Hall, the place where our Parliament Building was supposed to be. It was a beautiful building. The up stair was the place where the original women medical school was located.

The workshops was on the changing attitudes of mental illness. One of the speakers, If you ever get to hear her, jump at the chance. Amy Long.
She is a consumer survivor. ( name for those who suffer from mental illnesses, been through the system),
she is a dramatic speaker, who uses her past experience to make changes. She is also a Psychristic Nurse. I spend 3 hours listening to her on Thursday Morning in that beautiful council chambers, on the topic of Patient hood to personhood.

Once I get my notes together I will be sharing on the Depression Post on the changes that were being suggested. I believe Canada is only starting to get on the pathway of change in the treatment of mental illnesses. There is still a long way to go even in the acceptance that mental illnesses is just an illnesses, just like cancer, diabetitis, heart disease.
Other workshops , although geared to the professionals, but there were many consumers (including myself) , but I kept writing down notes.
Many ideas were changes I would like to see .

The priviledge of being sent, with only spending money to worry about was a precious gift.
A gift of a vacation, which I havent had in about 9 years, to be able to go away for a couple of days.
It was a gift to be able to be bold enough to share ideas with professional, and be respected enough to be listened to.

I can contain all the words I want to relay on to one posting page. So you will be hearding more about this in the coming days as I absorb what I learned.

When I was asked by one of the workers that was also participating in the workshop whether I would like to go on another one. I said When and Where, only I would need a drive.

Talk more about this later.

One afternoon a man came home from work to find total mayhem in his house.
His three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.
The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.
Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.
In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife.
He was worried she may be ill, or that something serious had happened.
The sink left a small trickle as he peered inside; he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor.
Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.
As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?"
She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world did I do today?"
"Yes" was his incredulous reply.
She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

:D It is November 19th, at 11:54 pm .
Arnprior this past week has been in the beautiful weather like spring. Even the evenings has been mild and with just a sweater on your arms.

It has been 20 days since I informed you on the happenings of life here in Arnprior.

I may have to go backwards , because it becoming a blur.
This past week.
On Monday it was swimming and then going out to the local Tim's for a coffee.
Then I helped with the shopping for our Community Mental Health Clinic, adventure to make Tortierre"Meat Pies".
Monday was also Alpha Night, going throught the Beautifulattitudes, which I made homemade cookies from a cake mix.
On Tuesday was Bowling and then going down to the Center for lunch and then prepared 18 lbs of lard into 85 balls of dough for pies.
On Tuesday Night was our churches Ladies Bible Study Group, with a demonstration on Cake Decoration, including making a Christmas tree out of sugar cookies.
On Wednesday was up to the mall, to have breakfast with the folks. Then it was down to the center, to help mix up 48 lbs of beef, 9 lbs of pork, 22 lbs of moose meat, 9 lbs of deer meat. plus all the onions, garlic and all the other spices that were required. All had to be hand"I mean hand" mixed up.
On Wednesday Night was our cell bible study group, at one of our church members home, which we are studying Biblical ways of Spiritual Emotions.
On Thursday it was back down at 8:30 am to the Center to roll out the dough into pies.
By 4:45 pm, a group of about 6 people made about 110 meat pies. We had one for lunch, they were delicious.
There were pies every where you looked.
The baking crew each got one free, and able to purchase others for about $4.00 each. Others were on sale for $6 each. While about 20 are being frozen for our Christmas dinner in Renfrew, when we get together with Renfrew and Pembroke Group.
On Thursday Evening, I also had to go out to my Mood Disorder Group, as it is being temporarily meeting in my church basement. I made sandwiches and cookies for our meeting, then a quick shower because I was blastered with flour dust, Then go over to the church and set up for the meeting.
I came home and was in bed by 12 midnight, and I slept until noon, when Sara woke me to show me her 83% average report care, and her honour roll silver certificate.
Today I went back to bed at 1 pm and slept until 7 pm.
Sunday November 14th was Sunday School, and SIgning as usual.
Saturday November 13th, in the afternoon went to my AUnt Hazel 90 birthday party, she is looking great. This is the aunt that a deaf mute, but is not way handicapped.
Well I think I am at my limit.
So talk to you later.

:DLORD'S DAY JANUARY 2ND 2005

??? JUST NEED TO TALK ???

I will have to go back words in what has been happening with me.

This past week has been a very lonely, frustrating, confusing time.

Christmas was especially lonely.

My daughter Sara and I , since she left home last February, decided not to honour our usual Christmas routine.
It has been Sara and I for the last 10 years, since Christie decided to live with her father, especially since Christie boys , I have not spent Christmas with Christie or the boys. So in other words Christie has not been home for Christmas in 7 years. I have gotten quite use to that, since I understand the reason why Christie, prefers to spend Christmas with just her nucleus family.

This is the first Christmas with Sara living at home.
In the past on Christmas Eve, we would pour gingerale into wine glasses and put a candle in a sweet and wish Baby Jesus happy birthday.
Sara decided not to come home Christmas Eve.
Although I went to a Christmas Eve service in one of the church that had a CHristmas Eve service, at the Penetocostal Church, since our church doesnt have one.
It was enjoyable, and cute and meaningful.

At home, you can imagine I didnt not sleep very well.
Sara said she was going to come Christmas Morning, so I was up early enough, made sure everything was looking normal. Presents, the gingerale in the wine glasses , the c andle on a rice krispie square.
By 10 oclock, she still wasnt here. I called her were she was staying. She yelled at me.
When she did come, she belittled me, and told me that I would have to get use to being alone on Christmas.
She opened her presents, then half hour later we went up to my parents place, which presents were again there. She informed my mother just after the presents were opened that she was expecting a ride to go to her friends family near Calabogie for another Christmas Dinner. She knew my mother always has a meal at the noon hour. So we rushed around getting the meal on the table. SHe kept saying she didnt have time to eat.
Finally I got a plate, put some mashed potatoes, carrots, turkey and gravy gave it to her, and each time there was another bowl that was going on the table anyways, it was put in front of her. SHe was shovelling it down. When the rest of us 8 others, were ready to sit down. She was gone. Out of 6 grandchildren, only my brother's daughter was there. My sister and her husband. My brother and his wife, and my self, my neice, and my parents were around the table. Actually it was kind of pleasant.
So my Christmas was so-s0. My birthday made up for it.
Christmas depression has hit me , and I am working it through. THANKS FOR LISTENING TO MY UNBURDENING.

: LENORE January 03, 2005, 12:54:37 AM

It can be painful watching children as they move towards independence. For us, Christmas was fine, but my seventeen-year-old sometimes makes choices and expresses himself in ways that is rude, selfish, disrespectful and narcissistic. I guess, being a man, it is a little easier for me to process the fact that my son is becoming independent and that things are not the same as they were when he was a cute little kid. In fact, I want him to be independent - I really don't want him hanging around here for the rest of his life. Its a little more difficult for Loretta to process - expecially when we see our son make choices that are clearly risky, selfish, and wrong (didn't you learn ANYTHING from church or our example >:( :'()?????)

Everyone I have spoken to in a similar situation has told me that this is sometimes part of the package and that over time, their brain kicks in and they return to the things that you tried to teach them.

I don't know enough of your situation to decide whether your expectations of Sarah were reasonable or realistic but I am glad you were able to begin establishing new traditions for this new season of your life.

:DFebruary 23 coming from Arnprior, a strange dream. ::) I know it is not a real hot topic, but i hope you will have fun in guessing what you think it means. 8) ??? :-\HAVE FUN ;D

My Strange Dream of February 22

I was having a strange dream.
It was sort of a mixture of episodes of Star Trek I have seen, as I analyze the scenes.

In beginning , people were going around their business, it seem to be one area, in a house and the grounds around the house.

There were strange people, were actually creatures in disguise, and started hunting the people of the land, changing them into the creatures. Once the creatures touch somebody, that person outer body died, but the darkness of the creature transformed the inside of the person, and what was inside became the outside.

Even though people were running and hiding, these creatures were persistence to get every one, to look like them, including the ones who were transformed. The mission was to get every one to look, act, and think like them.

Then the dream turn to one or more of the people who were not caught, singing.
They were singing Oh How I love Jesus. They sang that song continually,
When a person who were not completedly transformed by the creature, started singing that song. After the fifth time through, the creature in side was exposed and expelled.

Then in the sky, there was a strong light in the sky, and it got closer.
People were able to shed there dark inside , were rising to the light. Even the ones who seemed to be totally absorbed by these creatures, started singing, Oh how I love Jesus, was able to turn from the damage of the creature, become something different.
Some newly reversed people left the earth to the sky, some stayed behind to rescue ones who were still be hunted down by these creatures.

This dream has stayed with me most of the day. I was even singing the song in my heart my self all the way to the mall. I have remembered the dream.
That is why I am writing and sharing.

I don't watch horror movies, and I don't even like looking at the commercials for horror movies on the television.

I havent watch any Star Trek episodes for at least a year.

I am wondering what you think of the dream and if you have any feedback on it.
It is not bothering me.
Just curious.

Lenore

:)February 27:

Well lets see what has been going on in the life of Lenore, up here in Eastern Ontario, Canada.

Sunday is always a busy day, spending it in the Lord's House of a Baptist Church.
Going about 9 am. To get my songs copied, then set up my little stand with my glasses .
Then going down to basement to set up the after Sunday School coffee.
Then go to my Sunday School room, to set up the crayons and glue.
I am very priviledge to be teaching one little 5 year old boy.
We have one more lesson to go in this session, learning of Jesus healing and caring for the people.
Sunday School has a 15 minute open session, then is to individual classes, from 2 years of age to adults.
Then it is time for coffee for 15 minutes, then worship time.
I sign the worship songs.
At about 12:30 I came home and took a nap after having a beef sandwich for lunch, which Missy was very generous in helping me eat it.
Then it was back to the church at 5:45 pm, to set up the coffee for the evening fellowship.
Then upstair to practice my 6 hymns for the month end music night.
Having skipped my supper to save for the after service fellowship, I had very delicious sandwiches made out of wrapped flat breads, and crunchy vegetables, one cooky and coffee.
I was home by 8:30 pm.
Then I did my Alpha preparation and emailed the questions for chapter to my co leader.

Yesterday was a fun day. The Sunday School went bowling from 2:30 pm to 4 pm.
Then it was back to the church for a spagetti supper. After supper was a croquino tournament.
There was 5 teams of four people, The winners of each got to move around, while the winners stayed put. For 6 out of 7 games I stayed put.

Thursday Nights if my Mood Disorder Group. It was Birthday week celebrating a members birthday of the month. Very good chocolate cake. The icing was rich and plentiful. It was almost I enjoy my cake with my icing.
I also went to the doctor's on Thursday, I have tenditis in my right shoulder, making my upper arm very painful especially when I move it, and it aches. I am right handed;
I also went to library for about an hour and half on Thursday afternoon.

Wednesday, went up to the mall, for my weekly breakfast with my parents.

Tuesday was bowling

Monday last was ALpha, If anyone gets a chance to attend an ALpha meetings, it is time well spent. It gets back to the basics. I have learned through the healing process whatever trauma we are going through, sometimes getting back to the basics, reaffirms our foundations.

I spend alot of time alone. But my animals keep me amused and keeps me company.
Today, as I first got up, the cat was following the dog down the stairs, As Missy, is getting old, going down the stairs is slowing process. Percy was being courtsey, in staying behind her, although he like to swiftly race down. All the way down those stairs, Missy tail, which is like a rope, was hitting Percy head each step. It was funny to see.

Oh yes I have been spending a lot time on the BB, getting in my writing skills and practicing my typing skills. Maybe that is why I have tenditis pain in my shoulder. I have been writing letters to the editor of my local papers and to my local government official on various of subjects like the same sex marriage bill in front of our Canadian government, and now a private members bill, decriminalizing prostitution. I posted some of the letters on Canada Great White North Topic.

I hope my sharing doesnt sound too much like boasting.

This week coming is already filling up. Including a trip to the city, for a doctor's appointment. I will be able to spent time with my grandchildren and with Christie.

I PRAY YOU WILL ALL HAVE A BLESSED WEEK TO COME

LENORE

:DGood Morning on this Sunny Warming Spring Promised Day on March 18th.

Well lets see what has been going on in the life of Lenore Whelan since I last wrote on this Thread.

I have had a severe case of the flu. Two weeks ago I end up at the Emergency with a temperature between 104-105 degree F.
I was house bound for at least two weeks, I did manage to go and teach Sunday School though. I had to go pay my rent though, so I ended up taking a taxi, to go to the bank, go to housing to pay my rent and go to the mall to get a bit of groceries I needed and go home.
That trip cost me 19$. But when you drive, and it was a snow day, and no one wanted to take me in this type of weather. It was necessary, and taxi's in Arnprior is the only public transportation available. IT usually not bad. You can drive any where in Arnprior for $6.

Since I have been on the recovery mode, still coughing at times.
I went to Church on Sunday.
I arrive at church about 9 am. I go and get my songs copied and set up my little stand.
Then I go down stairs and put on the coffee for the break between SUnday School and Church.
Then go to my sunday school room and put out the crayons and glue sticks and other preparation. Then it is preprayer time at 9:30 to pray for the services and in preparation for the 40 Days of Purposes Series coming up that the whole church is doing starting on April 3rd.
Your prayers would be appreciated on this topic.
I HAD A COFFEE AND A COOKIE
Then it was up to the sancutary, going up to the first pew, and I do the Sign Language for the Worship Songs. Church is over between 12 and 12:30 noon.
Monday it was the End of the Series Pot Luck SUpper for Alpha. The series was on the Sermon on the Mount.
Tuesday it was bowling, then down to the CMHC for lunch, then back to the church for a ladies Group, we had a quilting demonstration. Then I had an acquaintance come to the house and we played UPWORD.
Wednesday it was up to the mall, for my weekly breakfast with my folks, then it was back down to the CMHC for Irish Stew lunch celebrating St. Patrick Day. There was also a clients meeting with the staff. Then I went to Gym. and then to the library to pick up some books on BUGS.
Thursday it was Swimming and then my Mood Disorder Group.
From Tuesday to Friday afternoon, after receiving the CD Disc on 40 DAYS OF PURPOSE , I got my Sunday School lessons for the 6 weeks the whole church will be participating in.
ALso we have a lesson outline, because I am a visual person, to design each week lesson for my little guy who is my pupil. I designed 6 weeks of lesson, including posters to colour, bug pictures for collagues, making bugs to see if my 5-6 year old can do it with ordinary glue.
Friday I went over to the church office and photocopied it one for my pupil, one for a visitor, and one to keep on file. Last Night I separated all the lessons plan to 3 piles.
Then I started to colour some of the posters of sayings like
SERVING BRINGS JOY TO GOD. Even though the series doesnt start until April 3rd with a kick off April 2, I want to get the Sunday School stuff completed, so when I am participating in a Small Group for my self, I can concentrated on my own homework and lessons.
Preparing this Sunday School Classes had me waking up in the middle of night with ideas.
I must of worked on this for between 8-12 hours already. It has me energize and excited.
I always go over board when I do this, I rather have too much than not enough.
After all my pupil is 5 1/2 years so you have to be quick in turning over in the lessons, My pupil is stubborn and if he is not interested he will refused to do it. So you have to be able to have something else for him to do. Sometimes I have send home the entire Sunday Lesson for him to do at home, because he doesnt want to do anything. So I write a note on his envelope and tell his parents which is the Pastor and his wife, that their son has homework to do.
Well I better close because I think I am too long. I wish there was a warning to tell you that you are too long like a small stop sign warning how many lines you have left.
HOPE EVERYONE HAS A REALLY GOOD WEEK, and can smell the promises of SPRING.

:)March 28th:

Easter Monday:

The life last week has been a topsy turvery one for me. As you have notice I can use my writing skills for venting in a negative way, as well as a postive way.

On Monday last 21st: I went down to Ottawa to an appointment at one of the hospitals.
I went to the weight clinic, the doctor there is a Canada wide, renown physican and research on problems of weight. Even though throughout the winter because of my fear of falling on icy sidewalks, my exercise routine was curved to bowling once a week. Despite of that the Dr. was p leased that I lost 7 lbs and lost an inch of fat off my waist. Because now the ice walks are clear and I can use runners instead of winter boots. I am walking, going to the pool to swim and back going to the gym for weight machine exercise, plus bowling. Dr. is very pleased that for a person who is about 280 lbs that I do all that exercising. Even though I am about 100 lbs over weight, I am 5'6 1/2" tall, Dr. said I hold my weight well, it is balanced well. and I am fit for the size of me. He is pleased that I am slowly lossing because the rapid weight loss, is mostly water, and doesnt stay off. After all I have been dieting since I was 12 years old, more I DIETED , the more I gained. My metobolic system needs to be retrained.
I also got to see my daughter Christie who lives in Ottawa , spend time with the Grandchildren. I even got to be Grammie to my new little granddaughter Victoria. I even got to baby sit for a hour while Christie picked up the boys from school. To be able to see my grandchildren is priviledge.

On Tuesday, it was bowling, then I went to an appointment with one of the many people I access for my depression. When I got there I must of mixed up the time. Well I had to walk home again. So that was two walked down town and back.

On Wednesday, it was my weekly trip up to the mall, about 10 minute walk, to meet my Parents for our weekly breakfast. I also did some groceries. They drive me home.
On Wednesday , I went down to the CMHC[community mental health clinic centre}, when the participants which I am one of them, had a wonderful Easter meal. Completed with ham, scalloped potatoes, carrots with parnsips, and dessert. There was even a Easter egg hunt. Remember these are adults letting the inner child out to have fun. Sometimes you just have to be a kid again. It is a wonderful support group, when the clients[consumers] have ownership of the center, taking responsibilities with the workers offer support when needed as a guidance .
We had a speaking from the Royal Ottawa Hospital, taking on fibromyslia. I have the outline, when I will either put in the Depression or women postings.

On Thursday , it was to the pool. Then out for coffee at the local Tim's Horton place. It is a time of adults getting together after a swim. The group is from Renfrew and Arnprior CMHC.
The group does a warm up exercise, then group usually swim with a noodle, but I usually go to another lane, and swim laps until it is time for cool down exercises. I always say I have enough of bouyancy, that I dont need the noodle to hold me up. But I swim.
I access the swim, gym, bowling etc. through this group, because I am a client, but because I have a severe limited income, due to disabilities, and I wouldnt otherwise be able to afford to access these. I feel I am blessed with this gift of God. I take advantage of them when ever I can. Thursday Night I also went to a Pot Luck supper at the Mood Disorder Group, another group I access for support. It was a wonderful true pot luck, where most of the meals were basically consisting of starches, but it was delicious anyways.

Friday, I went to Good Friday services at my church. Then at night I went to Sara's my daughters church, where see was taking part in there Easter performance called JESUS IS...Sara was in the choir plus had a speaking part in the Drama. There took people who was part of Jesus passion week. And they spoke "of what they either did, or saw". It was a very compelling drama. The music was also wonderful. Isnt it amazing at the talent God puts in each church.
Sara did a wonderful job, many praises went her way. Sara is has cyclone energy, and she used that energy and her nerve into her acting. I got many praises to which made me even more proud of my daughter.

Saturday I walked downtown and back, it is about 15 minute walk one way.

Yesterday Sunday, there was a breakfast that the men of the church made at 8:30 in the morning, it was a wonderful pancake, scrambled eggs, sausages, ham, homefries, toast, fruit salad, juice and coffee. It is a wonder we stayed awake for Sunday School.
Pastor B. preached a good Sunday Service.
Then I went up to the folks for the Easter Supper. I was under tension the whole afternoon.
I will talk about this later, because I think I am at my limit.

There is week of Lenore

Good Morning on this Sunny warming Saturday April 9th in beautiful town of Arnprior.

It has been a couple of weeks since I last reported to you what has been happening. So I will go backwards as usual. It has been a very busy week, that I slept for almost 24 hours yesterday just from exhaustion.
Thursday. I went to the hearing doctor, and the audiologist didnt show up, I sat there for two hours, then they rescheduled, the desk clerk was getting worried. SO I prayed nothing happened to that poor man. The hearing doctor was wondering why he didnt have any patients. I got half of a book read. I am learning to take a book when I go to doctor's appointments.
In the afternoon I started a 8 week course taught by Olive Poff called IT A TIME FOR ME, a self help course.
Wednesday was the usual breakfast trip, then I sat outside with a neighbour. We sat on the drive way. It was sunny that you felt the heat of the sun through your pant legs.
Tuesday. I went with the CMHC group to the Sugar Bush in Pakenham. We had a wonderful pancake lunch, and walk the trails for about 30 minutes. There were about 4 friendly labs there.
There was a 7 year old girl, helping her mother clear the tables and saying good bye to bus tours. She must of made about 50$ in tips that day from all the people.
Also on Tuesday night I join an 8 week exercise course on yoga. Boy during the mediation , since I couldnt hear the instructor words, I used that time to pray. It was great.
On Monday. I went to the CMHC to help a worker do the shopping for the week. Since there is usually meals at group. Then I went to my doctor for a check up. I waited about 30 minutes which is fast. When I went home I made chocolate chip cookies to take with me to church.
We have started our 6 week course of the PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE '40 DAYS OF PURPOSE'.
I also teach that course in my sunday school class.
On Sunday. Sunday School, church, then home for a sleep, then back at church.
Was my little pupil ever surprised the way I decorated my classroom for his 6 weeks of 40 days of purpose.
On Saturday, there was a kick off video on the 40 days of purpose, with a cheese cake dessert time. Our pastor's wife bakes them. They are so delicious.
On Friday April 1, APRIL FOOLS DAY.. I went out to pay the bills.

Well that the last week.

:) April 15

It is a beautifully sunny day, in downtown Arnprior today. I should be out raking up my backyard, especially after a winter of being my dog MISSY private bathroom.

This is the day , I can catch up on some of my computer time.

I have been busy, there are degrees of busyness, but by Friday I am exhausted physically and mentally.

On Saturday last, I walked up to the A&P store at the Mall, taking Missy with me. I tied her to a bench that has been put out for smokers who cannot smoke in the Mall.
She cried as I went into the store.
I purchased a four in one Christian novel.
I sat down and read it for two days.

Sunday always a busy one, with going to put on the coffee. I swear that is going to be my job in heaven, is making coffee, I do so much of it here on earth.
I also organized my songs to do the signing . And then there was Sunday School. This week I took my only child into another child to play games with the older class.
Then it was the Sunday morning service, then I went out for lunch with some older women.
Sara was in the restaurant having lunch too, with her churchs pastor and his family.
One of Sara's boy"friends" is the pastor son. I kept tickling the back of her neck, because I was sitting just behind her. Boy was she getting annoyed. Then the women who I was sitting with came to realize it was Sara that I was bothering. Sara came over and hugged each of the women.

Sunday Evening back at church, then I went with a couple out to our local TIM"S for coffee.

Monday was a reading day. The animals love it when I spend a day or two at home with them.
I went back to the church for study session on the Purpose Driven Life.

On Tuesday it was bowling, which I walked down town to. God is helping me improve my score. When I started last September, I was lucky to get to 60, then it was 70, then the 80, then the 90. The last month it has been over the 100. The first frame I bowled this tuesday was 149.
For the first time I got two strikes in a row it only took 7 months.

Tuesday night I just walked across the street to a school to take a yoga exercise class.
I am surprising the teacher how well I can keep up. She is surprised at my flexibility.
There are some things that a woman of 280 lbs will never be able to do. My muscles are letting me know that they have been working out.

Wednesday, is back walking to Mall, to have breakfast with my parents.
Today was a nap type of day.

Thursday. Was collect the garbage to the corner, collect the recycle stuff too.
Then it was a 30 minute walk down to CMHC at the Galilee Grove area for a self esteem course I am taking for 8 weeks. Usually there is lunch available. I made some soup, and got the fixings for sandwiches, and there was also homemade macroni and cheese to warm up.
The session 2 was a really good discussion.

One of the exercises is which would you choose and why?
1. Are you a dancing shoe or a bedroom slipper
2. Are you a kite string or a clothes line
3. Are you a shopping bag or a briefcase

[[CAN YOU ANSWER ANY OF THESE AND WHY?}}

Walking home as I had some errands downtown area on my way.
I spend doing some of the homework that has been assigned for the Time for Me Class.
I also spend some time on the computer.
Since my Mood Disorder Group has disbanded, I watched CSI AND ER.

Today. SInce I arose this morning, I been spending time on the computer.

I better get up before my body is in a permanent sitting position and Missy has been begging me to go out for the last hour.
I havent eatten any thing to day yet and it is 1:30 pm EST.

Well that is the week in the life of Lenore .
How the weather where you are living.
Are you having leaves on your trees yet. Ours here is just starting to bud.

GIDDAY AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

Is it possible that we are having too much fun on this BB?
I know some of you may not be aware of it, but apparently there are folk really agonizing about why guys like Tom Maddux, Brent Tr0ckman, Mark� Campbell, Dave Sable, Verne Carty et al (with the exception of Marcia no sisters were mentioned� :)) would spend so much time on a BB talking to one another. Apparently the thing we have in common is that we are all bitter and frustrated guys who were removed kicking and screaming from our places of religious authority and we simply cannot get over it. What a heartbreak!� :)
And here I was thinking that these guys simply liked one another.
Didn't that used to be called fellowship?
Oh, I almost forget, the other reasosn we are here is to teach other Christians how to be good haters of "God's people" right?
You can really discern that from all the things that are posted here, no?

Well I want to entreat you guys (AND GALS) to cease and desist from that� kind of conduct immediately!
No more hate-mongering d'ya hear?
From now on. I want to see no more arguments, no more rebukes, no more discussion about standing for righteousness and other condemnatory kinds of talking...

ONLY GROUP HUGS FROM HERE ON OUT, CAPISCE??!!

Then again, I must say I enjoy the company, faults and all... :)� :)� :)

anybody shorting this market, or not...???!!! � ;D

he! he!

Verne

: VerneCarty April 20, 2005, 09:10:53 PM

Is it possible that we are having too much fun on this BB?
I know some of you may not be aware of it, but apparently there are folk really agonizing about why guys like Tom Maddux, Brent Tr0ckman, Mark� Campbell, Dave Sable, Verne Carty et al (with the exception of Marcia no sisters were mentioned� :)) would spend so mcuh time on a BB talking to one another. Apparently the thing we have in common is that we are all bitter and frustrated guys who were removed kicking and screaming fro our places of religious authority and we simply cannot get over it. What a heartbreak!� :)
And here I was thinking that these guys simply liked one another.
Didn't that used to be called fellowship?
Oh , I almost forget, the other reasosn we are here is to teach other Christians how to be good haters of "God's people" right?
You can really discern that from all the things that are posted here, no?

Well I want to entreat you guys (AND GALS) to cease and desist from that� kind of cocnduct immediately!
No more hate-mongering d'ya hear?
From now on. I want to see no more arguments, no more rebukes, no more discussion about standing for righteousness and other condemnatory kinds of talking...

ONLY GROUP HUGS FROM HERE ON OUT, CAPISCE??!!

Then again, I must say I enjoy the company, faults and all... :)� :)� :)

anybody shorting this market, or not...???!!! � ;D

he! he!

Verne

I think you would understand this better if you have been "not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together" and attending the chapter summary in Nehemiah. You see, brother, Nehemiah is a picture, or type, of the faithful remnant. This faithful remnant, gathering in simplicity as unto the Lord, is rebuilding the walls of God's testimony which has been in shambles due to the denominationalism and divisions of our day. They are standing for the truth of God in these evil times. Sanballat, on the other hand, is a picture of other groups that are trying to oppose the work and discourage God's people. (That would be us.) They discourage God's people through gossip, frontal attacks, and division.

This is why, in the face of false accusation, God's people is continuing to meet in simple gatherings with the battle cry, "I am doing a great work, I can't come down" (see Nehemiah 6).

On the other hand, maybe we go on this board because we like chatting with old friends with whom we have something in common.

: VerneCarty April 22, 2005, 01:35:07 AM

Hey Brent, I see they think that you miss them so much over at "Eagles" that you have to sneak back in to get your two cents worth in under a pseudonym??!!!
Well I had not looked there for a bit and while I no longer ate the central topic of discussion (thank yew, thank yew very mush!), I see I still rate an occasional mention. Group hug everybody� :)
Verne

I noticed that I am bystander.

Well, I'm not....but that doesn't matter too much.� I don't suppose bystander will become a regular poster over there,� he and Matt seem to have a "beef."�

I have mostly tried to fly under the radar when I post, and rarely use my name.� I usually post under the alias,� Brent Tr0ckman, but I guess everyone knows now that my real name is bystander.

Oh well, I wish them well.� I feel no compulsion to get embroiled in anything right now.

It's just a simple case of mistaken identity.

I did learn something, however.� If someone has a critical word for me,� I am just going to tell them that they are not who they are, and that they are Matt.� That way, I don't have to listen to what they say, and can sidestep the issue.� Honestly, this had never occured to me, but I am only beginning to see how useful this is for personal growth.

Brent� aka Brent

Brent

April 25th:

Wow was this past week ever busy for me: I was physically exhausted from the road runner experience.

Sunday was church sunday school, morning service and evening services.

Monday back to the church for the 40 days of purpose
Tuesday was bowling, then down to the CMHC center for lunch and I did the monthly newsletter. Then back to the church for our monthly ladies meeting. Where our guest speaker is a breast cancer survivor. It was a excellent testimony of faith and reliance on God. She is also the founding member of the Breast Cancer Support Group here in town.
Wednesday up to the mall for breakfast, then walk 30 min. walk back down to the CMHC center for lunch. I came home early because I end up with a slight fainting spell.
I slept most of the day at home.
Thursday it was another walk back down to the CMHC center for my self esteem group called IT A TIME FOR ME. including lunch. Then I had a doctor's appointment.
I went into the local library. They were giving away books. God knew I wanted some computer books like POWER POINT to learn how to do THE POWER POINT. There were about 6-7 computer books. I end up taking 2 whole bag of books home.
Then it was the Mood Disorder Group. The co leader pleaded with me at lunch hour that she need support, to find out the direction that the group was going.
I think it is on its final curtain call. But a few of us will met for coffee at the local Tim's .
Friday it was back down to the CMHC center to do a Gourmet Cooking Class.
We made New England Clam Chowder... I never had clam chowder before it was quite tasty.

We also made a Brie Cheese in a Pastry . It was delicious.
The cooking club about 4 of us including the worker.
We all devoured the thing.
We were like vulture over this with our toast baguette crackers.

Saturday was a sleep day for me. It started to rain in these parts. And the different air pressure gave me a head ache around me sinus area.

Then back to Sunday. Yesterday. It was Sunday School , morning services, out to lunch with some ladies, home and did some computer work, and back to the evening services which was a music night, with a refreshments later.

So there you have it ...

So I am off and running for the week to come.

SO like the road runner . beep ,....beep....beep....beeeep..!!!!!!!!!!!!

APRIL 30:

It is only 5 days since I last contributed to this post:

My week was another busy one as per usual:

It a wonder Missy the dog and Percy the Cat doesnt pin me down to stay at home and give them the much needed attention they deserve.

Monday to the church for the 40 days of purpose. We are on week 4. with our daily devotions which is Purpose 4: You were created to become like Christ.

Tuesday: To the bowling alley , which is sponsored by the CMHC. I only have to pay $1 per week.
I was very encouraged by God. My second set was not going very well. By the second last frame I only had a 63. Then I got a spare, and the final frame I end up with 3 strikes in a row.
My first three strikes in a row.
It was great to get that turkey.

Tuesday Afternoon I worked on the computer to complete my lesson for SUnday School.

Tuesday Evening: I went to Yoga which is also sponsored by CMHC . I pay $2 for each of the 8 weeks I am taking it.
I was able to so stretching exercise. I am surprised at what I can do . The teacher still says how flexible I am.

Wednesday Morning: is the usual going up to the mall, to have breakfast with my parents, who come in from Braeside to do their washing and shopping for the week.
My father is 74 and my mother will be 73 this July.
My father has been retired from Ontario Hydro for the last 20 years due to severe OSTEOARTHRITIS ALL THROUGH IS BODY. Of course as I told you before my Father has been dry from his alcoholism for the last 11 years. A month after my father quit drinking he discovered he saved $500 a week. My mother retired from working as a church secretary 8 years ago.

Thursday I was up and walked the 30 minutes to the Medical Center, I had to have a hearing tested and to see the ear doctor. My hearing in both ears are bad. There is no hope in the left ear, and the right ear is diminishing. I am waiting on a MRI testing . which I have to go into the city to do. Eventually I probably will have to have a hearing aid for my right[good ]ear.
But to come up with $500 plus will be a financial concern, when the time comes.

I spent an hour in the hospital cafeteria doing my homework for my workshop in the afternoon.
I talk with a couple of ladies.

A noon hour, I walked over the CMHC for my afternoon self esteem workshop called a TIME FOR ME. I made lunch for the group that was there, plus cleaned up afterwards.

The two and half hour workshop is on feelings.
There is about 10 different areas of homework that needs to be done.
Including "how many time do I 'should' on myself, and others'.
How do I respond to my feelings, when I am in a situation?
How to I personalize my communication, when expressing my feelings?

Evening I went to my Mood Disorder Peer Support Group. After a quick trip to the local Tim's
we went to see the new apartment of on of the members , who lost her mother a couple of weeks ago.

Friday was a day of spending time on the computer personalizing what I learned from my daily devotionals from the Purpose Driven Life.

Today, I have spend a couple of hours on the computer and internet already.
Tonight I will go to the Pastor house to baby sit the kids while Pastor and his wife, goes out to a Deacon & WIfes get together.

Then tomorrow is SUnday. It is the first sunday of the month, which is communion week. So to prepare for that is also .

Well I havent had lunch yet and it is 2:51 pm.

Talk to you later.

Lenore

MAY 2:

SUNDAY WAS A WONDERFUL DAY.

My Sunday School class: My little boy is learning the 5 purposes of the Christian Walk.
The lesson is related to bugs.

The lesson of the day was on SERVICE, and how got has uniquely created each of us for the particular service he has planned for our lives.

The Bug of the day was an ant. How he is able to lift 20X his own weight. I had a big toy ant, We look at the outside, and we read on the wiring of what goes on inside. How it protects the colony with its very life.

The Bible story related to that was on a little girl who protected her Baby Brother.
Even a child can do a simple job, and it has great value to God in heaven.
I sure you know the story of Miriam and Baby Moses, how he was found by a Egyptian Princess.
And the importance of Miriam Job, resulted in a leader of the Israel.

I went out to lunch with a couple of older ladies of the church. Since there is very few single people my age, I decided to adopt a few more Mom's .
The ladies were both in their 70's. Pray for one of them . She is having severe health problems.
The other one has energy to boot. SHe the one who drives.
I appreciate these ladies kindness and friendships.

Sunday Evening was an extra special treat.
I went to the Braeside United Church for a special music night.
It was two hours of singing, just singing.
There were hymn and other gospel songs. But there was an Scottish Tenor there as a special singer. The old Scottish songs was a wonder to the soul.
Even though there were some fun songs as well. Like SITTING UNDER THE APPLE TREE, YOU CAN CALL ME SWEETHEART.
The last performance , was a funny one the choir put on.
They all dressup like nuns, and performed the SISTER ACT songs.
The choir master was a man. directing the choir. They acted goofy.

I saw my Mother and my Aunt there. There were at least 4 relatives in the choir. Including one who sang at my wedding 26 years ago.
Who knows how many relatives were in the pews and how many acquaintances.

The woman I went with was again one of the elderly woman who didnt want to drive alone , so I went with her.
The only complaint I have is 2 hours on wooden pews, is hard on the butt.
It was a wonderful end of a Lord's Day.

Memories to cherish, and keep, and then repeat and repeat to your children.

: Ruth May 03, 2005, 08:59:02 AM

Hey, Brent, why don't you stop being a jack-ass.� You are going to devastate that poor lady.� Do you struggle with food allergies or what has gotten into you that you have become beyond appeal?� Are you losing sleep and drinking dark coffee?� Did you hit your head on a beam? shut your hand in the car door? stub you toe on the edge of the bed?� Did a car run over your family dog?� Whaattt?�

Really, this is not funny, charming, clever, or productive.� You are obsessed.� Next thing we'll all hear is that you are living on a street corner in a cardboard box because "he couldn't give up his hatred for Welfare."�

IMO, Al does go out of his way to use spiritual terms.� He wears himself out "giving God the glory" and constantly gives subtle corrections of others who do not give a spiritual sounding account of something that has to do with him.� It seems that he has a deep desire for everything in his life to be about God and doesn't believe it is unless he speaks of it as such. That really doesn't make it so, but he believes it does.� There are worse things....people who turn into ranting maniacs, just to mention one.�

But I'm just a guest here, so I don't want to overstep.�� :-X�

Sondra

OK,

I think you're right. I'll stop.

Thanks

Brent

: Ruth May 03, 2005, 09:27:05 AM

You've made a lot of good points that I'm sure any who have read all of this won't forget anytime soon.� I don't think "Welfare" has ever been so front and center in my attention before reading all this on this board.� An awful lot of us tax paying Americans are sick of the contradictions and abuse.� It is almost maddening.� This type of rage seems to be catching on among caring Americans who are sick of the waste and abuse.� We work hard so others can play and destroy our society in big numbers.� It just seems like the sleeping giant has to be awakened to serious national problems as a nation before they can be corrected.

I sure appreciate your strong convictions.� You show you do care by your "fervor."� �

Sondra

Thanks Sondra,
I have been doing alot of reading lately, mainly about the way people thought about public policy prior to FDR.

I am convinced that conincident with America's spiritual decline is America's transition to an immoral social/economic system. AT the forefront of that is the notion that other people have a right to property that doesn't belong to them, by virtue of some special right or privilige. It could be some sort of dictator, or in our case poverty. It's wrong, either way.

I never realized how bad it was until I studied proverbs recently. I was shocked. We're in big trouble.

Brent

: Ruth May 03, 2005, 10:48:50 AM

My husband and I discuss this stuff all of the time.� I am convinced that liberalism got it's toe in the door through the teachings of Nietzsche
in the universities in the US in the early 60's.� Liberalism has taken over the minds of young college grads through liberal professors and they can't seem to give our country away fast enough.� (This is a generalization, of course).�

"America's spiritual decline is America's transition to an immoral social/economic system" - It's hard to say which decline was first.� When God got left out of our schools and universities, moral decay set in in many ways.� Nietzsche and other philosophers had atheistic influence on the minds of a whole culture of young people during the 60's.� Now they are the professors who are teaching liberalism.� And the cycle continues...atheism, socialism, marksism, etc

Well, the pendulum swung out.� Maybe it will swing back somewhat as good people with strong conviction continue to awaken.� Stepping up and getting tough with liberals is a must, IMO.� Conservatives didn't have much of a voice and it was very discouraging to always hear conservatives criticized by the media during the news hour.� Well, that's changed and I believe things will change.

I believe the strong influence of the Word of God in our nation will keep people revisiting the values of God.� We may have a fight on our hands to restore what has been stolen from our society, but it's been done before.� With God, all things are possible.� I'm hopeful.

Sondra

Certainly the libs introduced these things.� FDR was the one who made it federal policy, yet even he didn't forsee the massive waste and abuse that has occured since.

LBJ made it all worse, and things got really out of hand in the 60's and 70's, which is when the "entitlement" mentality took hold.� Here's an interesting quote:

Martin Anderson, former senior economic adviser to President Reagan, sums up the simple illogic of workfare.

If people are on welfare then, by definition, those people should be unable to care for them- selves. They can't work; or the private sector can't provide jobs enough. That is supposed to be the reason they are on welfare. What sense does it make to require someone to work who cannot work?

The idea of making people work for welfare is wrongheaded. If a person is capable of working, he should be ineligible for welfare payments. Instead of requiring men and women who are receiving fraudulent welfare payments to work, we should simply cease all payments.

This guy has it down cold. If they are able to work, they shouldn't get benefits. Having them work for benefits is an oxymoron. It is the height of stupidity, and it's evil. Why should I work in order to pay a lazy bum money for doing only what is required in order for him/her to receive benefits? I don't qualify for the benefits I am forced to purchase for a stranger!

Here's the clincher: If I refuse to hand over my money, I'll go to jail and/or have my property confiscated. If it becomes apparent that welfare bums have been working the system, instead of dealing with them in the manner they deal with the diligent, they re-work the system to keep the money flowing. It's sick. Christians shouldn't have any part in that system.

Libs want to throw more money and benefits at welfare people.� Sadly, most republicans want to require welfare people to work or go to school in order to qualify to receive benefits.� That, to me is the biggest problem we face now.� Everyone knows that welfare has miserable failed.� However, there is no longer any debate about whether we should have it....it's here to stay.� The only debate now is how we should tinker with the system to force recipients to behave better.

It still boils down to rewarding evil and punishing good, which is wrong and doomed to fail.� The republicans are just as guilty as the dems in this respect, even though they're supposedly evangelical christians.

Brent

: Ruth May 03, 2005, 07:44:01 PM

Well, I guess you've got me on this one because I was not aware that R's are supporting legislation that sponsors "work for welfare relief."� Have not heard about this.� �???� I still don't see how they would be "as guilty as the dem's in this respect."� Plus, IF I WERE KING, I would necessarily devise a plan for transition from welfare to earning your own way which might include a combination.� There's no sense in throwing people out into abject poverty.� This program has worked for welfare mom's.� Don't know why all of the men that hang around street corners sipping on wine were ignored in this regard.� It seemed to me that the mom's should have been the second group to be baptized.

Re. paying taxes.� Many Christians aren't fully disclosing on their tax reporting for this very reason.� I've heard quite a lot of "inside" comments on this.� Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's...give to God... can be discerned to take into account what is fair and due tied to faithfulness and wise usage, in the eyes of many believers.

Sondra

cheating on taxes is NOT the way to go. I don't do it, and your point about rendering to Caesar is spot on.

Welfare reform is what the republicans are all about. They've done different things in different states, all of them designed to make it harder for people to receive benefits. What I mean by this is that in one state, benefits for children are contingent on the children being enrolled in school. In another, welfare recipients must show that they have looked for work, etc. Still elsewhere, they are required to get training, or attend classes. The basic idea is that by educating, coercing and modifying behavior by linking the benefit with a certain action, people can be transitioned from lazy to productive.

It has failed, miserably. I'll post articles about the "declining" welfare roles for those who want to repeat that talking point. The greatest failure is in the black community.

Forget discussing the libs...they're helpless, hopeless and lost. It's the republicans who worry me.

Notice that if we adopt the "welfare reform" mentality, we are still faced with the same problem. If you can cajole people into working by withholding benefits or making them go to school....why not just eliminate the payments altogether? Wouldn't that force them to work just as well? What's the point in reforming a system that is inherintly wrong and evil? Scrap it. Let the bums pick strawberries, and then maybe the Mexican illegals will share some carne asada with them at the end of the day. That accomplishes the same thing as reform, and it doesn't require the building of government centers and the employment of hundreds of workers in order to occur. Behavior is modified due to the benefit being eliminated. I like it.

The problem is that no one has the stomach for it.

Brent

: CAGirl May 03, 2005, 10:51:14 PM

Brent,
Isn’t there a time limit on how long you can be on Welfare? I mean, I understand helping people who are “down on their luck”. But is this like a bottomless pocket for them? Say I went on Welfare. Can I just stay on it for a few years? Do I need to prove that I have a disability or do I have to get pregnant? What’s the deal? ??? ???

Supposedly there is a time limit.

However, there are exceptions and extensions to that time limit, and as far as I know, once you go off welfare you can just re-up a few months later.

Also, in CA there are many different kinds of public assistance. Medi-cal, WIC, AFDC, SSI, HUD, foodstamps, etc.

Many people qualify for multiple programs. As far as I know, the ones that involve children have no time limit. Medi-cal is based solely on income, if a person has 4 kids and only makes 50K per year, they can get Medi-cal.

Also, keep in mind that low income people pay no income tax either. They do pay sales tax, gas tax and everything else, but SSI, PIT, SDI, ETT....almost every penny of these taxes are refunded, and in some cases people actually get money back that they didn't earn in the first place. I do all the payroll for my office myself, so I know this to be true.

Somehow, in spite of the "limits" there is a large and growing class of permanent welfare recipients. Many of the clever ones collect under more than one name, and in more than one state!!

Here's a funny story:

One of my patients who is a case worker for social services (means she fills out paperwork for people so they can get welfare) saved up with a few co-workers to go on a week-long Mexican cruise. The cruise cost about 1000.00 per person, double occupancy. That includes food, room, etc. BUT NOT BOOZE.

Who should these ladies find were their shipmates? A group of people that were clients of theirs....welfare recipients. They were drinking up a storm, and smoking too. Where did they get the money for this? When asked they said, "We have been saving for years, this is a dream trip for us."

Not bad eh? Get someone to fill out forms for you, and save, and go on a cruise...all for being lazy.

Brent

Dear Lenore,

I like Moonie's(belfry's) advice, "Say it with me Lenore: God loves ME so much that He died for ME. I am special to Him because HE LOVES ME. I am worth something because He died for ME." This is where your true self worth lies. If/when someone disappoints me Christ still loves me. If/when I fail Christ still loves me.

I/we do not begrudge you anything, but want the best for you. We (you and me) disagree on what avenue that 'best' comes by.
I remember the gift you gave me on my 25th birthday (almost 23 years ago now), something you had made yourself, and of all the gifts I received that one touched me at the time. I remember thinking that you did not have to give me anything, but you took the time to make something so that you would have a gift for me.

You may have observed that I suffer from mood disorder ;) when I get behind the the steering wheel. It is always some driver's fault that I missed the green light because he couldn't find the pedal on the right. It gets me in a foul mood, good thing I don't drive a truck. My daughter and I were commenting on the mother's day stories broadcast on CHRI/FM today. Some kid would phone in and say, "my mother is the most patient person I know..." and we were laughing at how she(my daughter) could never phone in and say that about me, especially about my driving. It sounded too much like fiction.

So, welcome to the human race. We all have problems. But now that I am an adult, I own my problems. Sure I can identify the source/root of the problem, but it is up to me to own it. I cannot change my environment, but I can change my attitude. I can blame others for my foul attitude, "it was that driver's fault for slowing me down, I can't believe how people drive. He's getting on the freeway and he thinks he's on Carling Ave etc. etc. etc." When I get in a car my one focus is to get to my destination. It humbles me to know that I am nothing, but thank God that He loves me.

Oh and those pre-conceived notions, those really bring on a dose of disappointment. When things don't go as they should have, or should they have gone the way we pre-conceived it anyway :-\, but that's another discussion.

Got to end this now.
Blessings,
Marcia

MAY 7TH:

MARCIA:

I LOVE YOU FOR TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

Yes it begins with the attitude. which I am trying to learn, to recognize my feelings , my responses, and to change my responses.

Feelings are normal...

What you described is not MOOD DISORDER...
MOOD DISORDER...IS A MENTAL ILLNESSES.

and Mental Illnesses does not mean that you are MENTALLY INCAPABLE or deficient in INTELLEGENCE.

Mood Disorder...is dealing with the swings of moods associate with depression, bi polarness, sciphenia, etc.

Mood Disorder can control you outlook in life, can control you moods, and control your actions to those moods, just like real life does, but must more so...but you are still able to think but because of your outlook on life, because of the learning mechanism you needed to learn to cope, becauses of defenses required to protect an already battered and scarred soul, and heart, and mind, and because of the wack out chemical reactions that occur in your brain.
When all this comes in to play, that is all that matters for the moment.
Whether it is being so dispaired that the suicide thoughts come, you want to dig a hole and crawl into it and stay there. Or crawl into bed and cover yourself up, and stay there, blocking out everything, that is too difficult to cope with at the time.
Or you go the other way, you get so enraged so angry. YOu seek revenge, you want the other to feel the pain you are feeling.
Neither solution is positive. A person growing up with nothing but negativity, will be negative.
Only through exploring those negative feelings, bring them into the light, identifying the negative feeling, acknowledging the feelings,then learning to respond to those negative feelings if just like learning to walk all over again. Thus with all my support groups, counselling sessions, and workshops this is what I am doing and have been doing. It take time to reprogram a life long pattern of thinking and feeling.

IN REALITY.... I LOVE YOU FOR TRYING TO UNDERSTAND .
Only those who have lived with mental illness, depression{MOOD DISORDERS} DISEASES, can and only be the ones who really know what it is like to live with a disease of the mind, that{ can} be debiliating to ones personality, one psychic, to allowing people to reach out to them, to copying with circumstances, I have submitted a lot of articles that I researched off the web
on the THREAD : DEPRESSION.
I have even describe some of my swings on that thread, and recently really describe some of my swings.
That is what I had this past week. I swinged in Moods.
Yes it is attitude.
I went from feeling like a DOOR MAT to being a PIT BULL, and because that shaken pop bottle released, and the anger released a pressure cooker value that was brewing in me, I believe it has been brewing for a very long time, possibility for two years or more.
THANK YOU BRENT FOR HELPING ME RELEASE THAT VALUE.
I got angry... in that angry I was able to work for a goal...even if it was not very rational,
Out of that angry sprewed things I have already apologized for , but I am not sorry for STANDING UP AND SPEAKING MY MIND.. JUST MAY BE, JUST MAYBE...what I did in anger, can be a turning point of self confidence, self worthlessness, and eliminate the lies that have been inside my spirit for the past 30 some years. That I can be able to tell that voice that I am worth something, I have something to offer, I can speak up and not have to shrink into a crying mess, I can use that negativity into something positive, I can look someone in the eye, and speak my mind assertively and not have to fear from getting beaten down.
In God's wisdom, God used this situation, for good.
God used Brent temperament, to change mine.
YES I AGREE WITH YOU AND BELFRY...GOD LOVES ME. GOD LOVES ME SO MUCH HE WANTS THE BEST FOR ME.
I needed to love myself...forgive myself...etc.....this again I am learning to do..It will take time...
Learning to love yourself, to take care of your self, to get your self physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually whole, after being SCARRED, RESCARRED, AND THOSE SCARS NEVER FULLY HEALING , OPENING AND BLEEDING .. then I will be able to finally HEAL WITH GOD HELP and with supportive FRIENDS AND SPIRITUAL FAMILY...
Alot may say..I pampered myself a lot...this is recovering which I have been doing for the last year. I have only been just existing for the last 47 years...maybe not even then...
for the last year the path to recovery has been taken...journey on that path is not completed yet... I have come along way...with a few bumps in the road...I look back look how far I have come...yet I look forward I see how far I still need to go....trying not to get discouraged.. by just looking at today.. Not yesterday and not tomorrow...today. It will take one step, one moment , one...one....one...

MARCIA I DO LOVE YOU FOR TRYING TO UNDERSTAND...
I DO LOVE YOU FOR CARING.
I DO LOVE YOU FOR BEING A DEAR SISTER AND FRIEND.

: Marcia May 07, 2005, 07:44:45 PM

Lenore, by your own admission you state that your condition is not as simple as mine.� I can always attribute my behaviour to a sinful reaction, but yours depends on the chemical mental balance at the time.� I suggest that because we on the BB are unable to know when your balance is going to be off, that it may be best for you to read and not post on the BB for a time, and to communicate with your counsellors and mentors privately about what you read.� We cannot always be supportive and encouraging, because the nature of the BB is to openly toss opinions back and forth and there will definitely be times when all the planets (your emotional/menta/chemical state and a poster's opposing opinion) are lined up for disaster.� I, and I'm sure others too, want the best for you, but I cannot offer that depth of counselling and support on this BB.

That's all for now.
God bless,
Marcia

Marcia again I will say I LOVE YOU FOR TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

I am not saying I am without sin, believe me I have sinned, I have sinned this past week,
I know that when I reached eternity, I will probably get there by the skin of my teeth, all the hairs on my body burned away.
There are times I FEEL I am the worse Christian in the World.

When I am getting to that point where my emotions are getting the best of me, I will warn the people on BB as I did before by some sort of metaphor.i.e. SHAKEN POP BOTTLE.
I am not asking for counselling.
I just asking to be accepted.

I also dont want to be feared, shunned, avoided, because I suffered from a disease.
It is a disease just like a any other disease. I am not different, I .............
I just want to be accepted like every one else.

Support, encouragement, unconditional acceptance , & love, friendships, companionships, like everyone else is required.

I want to be listened to, opinions respected, treated as an equal, despite my circumstances, despite my financial situation, despite any illnesses, despite what comes out of my mouth, despite my sinfulness, who doesnt want that .
I am no different in these needs department than anyone else.

I shouldnt have to be anyone door mat, I should be able to feel strongly about an opinion, and should be able to express it, like everyone else, with out fear of ..........................rejections, humiliation, and ridiculed. I should be able to have misunderstandings with out being condemned.
I should be able to weak , and strong, sick and healthy, good, bad, angry, sad, happy, etc like everyone else. I should be able to feel free to explore those feelings with fellow members of God's family.
If I choose to be a example of the struggles of living with an illnesses that someone else is also living with... showing them the ups and downs, the blows and the victories. The cascade of every aspects that are and have affected me, that have drawn me closer to God, or when I have pulled away out of discouragement and doubt, and how he showed me a new lesson.
What is wrong with that?
I have always been honest about that I wear a mask. That I must pulled that mask off for God to work. I must over come the fear of vulnerability to expose what I have hidden behind that mask for so long. I believe that what went on this past week, was part of the process.
Doesnt the Bible tells us: That what goes on to one member of the Body, it affects the other members.Bad or good, sickness and health, richer or poorer. etc.
I was always aware how needy I was, because most of my life areas are out of control, while in one area I try to get control. Maybe it is time to give all control over to God.
I know God wants me to be part of the body of believers, because I can get the nuturing from the body, they can share, as I share with them areas that become too much to bear.

So enclosing. Thank you for trying to understand...in your attempt to share my burden...with my struggle with my disease...sorry if I frighten you or others...or got you out of your comfort zone in regards to having to put up with the very public obvious symptoms display of the disease.
But I am not the disease. I am a person who has to deal with a disease like Mood Disorder.

I DO LOVE YOU ALL FOR TRYING TO UNDERSTAND....

Lenore

: Marcia May 07, 2005, 09:04:16 PM

Lenore, I accept you and do not want to shun you and would like to maintain contact with you, but the BB is not the place for you right now.� You have suicidal tendencies, and set backs directly triggered by BB discussions. � Warnings are not going to be sufficient to stop a ball rolling, once it is already in motion.� Your shaken pop bottle can seriously injure yourself and others when it explodes.� We are not professional counsellors and will not be able to accurately heed a warning from you when it comes.

This is not a church setting but a BB (I know you alreday know that).� The various members of a body are weak &/or strong to varying degrees, and based on that the treatment differs.� Though we still have the same care for you as for the others, based on your condition and suicidal tendencies and set backs, it is best that you stay off the BB for now.

God bless,
Marcia

I will comply what is being ask, after this:

I understand it is fear , and fear of the unknown, fear you dont understand .

I have two questions:
Is there someone out there who is saying I WONT PARTICIPATE IF SHE IS ON BOARD.

Is this request, not parallelling certain reactions that was made to you when you left your local assembly, and they way they treated you differently, because you didnt think or act like they did any more.

Dont say it is not the same. The circumstances is different, but the reaction is the same.

I WONT BOTHER YOU AGAIN.

I already talk to my pastor.

ONE LESSON I HAVE LEARNED WHILE HERE, DO NOT BEAR YOUR SOUL , BECAUSE THEY WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND IT.

GOODBYE.

: Marcia May 07, 2005, 07:44:45 PM

Lenore,

I agree with Marcia.

None of us on this BB is equipped for counselling anyone. Within limits, as a BB, this is more or less a "free for all" discussion area. That's what BB's are like.

My last post suggested that we can be our own worst enemies. No one has suggested that you are what you thought BAT said you were. That is how YOU took it. The negative way you look at yourself caused you to immediately think that BAT was thinking of you in the same way you think of yourself: Someone who is substandard in anyway one could think of.

When I was dealing with depression, someone suggested to me that I was feeling sorry for myself. It did not cure my depression, it was not the cause of my depression, but I was feeling sorry for myself, which is very common during depression.

It jolted me out of a rut I had gotten into, and I was able to continue my climb out of despair. There is always someone worse off than we are.

In thanking us for "Trying to understand", You are saying you are worse off more than we can possibly understand, that we really can't possibly understand what it is like for you to be where you are. We may not have been in the exact, down to the jot and tittle, situation, but some of us here have been where you are.

You have been talking about feelings and emotions. If I voiced how I felt, when I was growing up, I was told literally that I was "crazy". These were legitimate feelings of lack of love, which is very characteristic of alcoholic families. So the best you can do, is stuff your feelings and emotions down, because you are told they aren't real anyway. You are just crazy. Alcoholic families do not acknowledge feelings and strive at all costs to appear normal to everyone on the outside. Assembly mentality reinforced this exact type of behavior.

I will challenge you in love, �Lenore, (without going into any past details) that we had a very similar upbringing, and that I do know where you are coming from. You also probably married into the same relationship that you grew up in.

A lot of the feelings that we feel now are a result of past feelings, and they are not necessarily real anymore, but we never learned how to deal with them when we were growing up.

You are much more intelligent than you think you are and are capable of more than you think you are.

Marcia had a good suggestion: For the time being, take what you read here to someone else who can help you to read it in a more positive way. I still do that sometimes in life situations (when I can't read someone's behavior) to get another opinion before I react� in a negative way. It may help to post here a little less often, and take things in at a slower pace (when you feel that the posts are referring to you).�

No one here is rejecting you. You are worth something to God because He sent the most precious thing to Him, to die for someone (you) who is the most precious thing to Him. He has you here for a reason.

It's a lifetime of learning.

Love,

Moonie

Just a comment: Bob over at swte said it well," Brent threw a rock down a dark alley and took a hit Lenore". So he called her bluff, and all this Drama insued. If she does'nt want to work thats fine, but ahh, she does. I think she needed a sort of inspiration to see the light, it came out as a slap in the face"snap out of it". Yet I hesitate to push too hard, if she's too ill to work, yet desires too, then I pray she Gets Well Soon. It's good for anyone to take a break from this board I left for 4 months and came back to this. Wow is this positive no its not. Its really negative and L needs to stay strong for others its too much drama. Does B have a slight OCD problem I dont know I'm not a doctor, so I won't diagnose. But its been noted amoung people in cults have a higher incidence of "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" think Howard Hughes in Aviator for an example. We all have problems, and we all have times where "Life Is Beautiful" we pop in here and check comments and posts who needs all the negativity? Matt over at Soaring has this board pegged, he's got some talent! And Sondra really mediated giving cups of cold-water to all. I had more to say, but I've been interupted several times and lost my train of thought...Oh yeah, last night I thought now what...well we shall see..Summer. P.S. Lenore the Mothers Day Story touched my Heart...Thank-You!

: summer007 May 08, 2005, 12:54:09 AM

Yep,

gotta agree with you. email if you wonder what I am saying.

Brent

: summer007 May 08, 2005, 01:39:15 AM

Brent, I think I get your drift.I� was more shocked when you kept posting and posting, it was like Paul's ship in the storm (when we could not bear up we let her drive) I think we knew there was no stopping you. Ha. What pissed me off was you thinking it was ok to call us all� (those who did'nt agree with you) wicked hypocrites and cruel tender mercies Ha. Oh well we still have a right to our own opinions. You do see through alot of the b.s and plainly let it be known. So through it all I kept thinking you forgot you railed on all the other board members you did apologise did'nt you? I skipped a few posts towards the end, if they get too repitive and drawn out with anyone its just too much to take.� Summer

I don't think I fully apologized to all the board members for calling some of them hypocrites.� The reason being that I think they are.�

The comment where it slipped that Lenore was like a "retarded" kid, and I was a bully, was key, IMO.� Anyhow, I don't apologize for that at all, sorry.� It doesnt' mean I don't like them, or that I despise them, it just means that I totally disagree with certain things they say, and some views they have.

Everyone has their own level of intensity.� Some people, for instance, like to float on an inflatable raft in a pool, while Michael Phelps likes to be the fastest swimmer alive.� Who's to say which one enjoys it more?� Not everyone has to be as serious about going into pools as Michael Phelps, and in the same way, those who like to float on rafts have no� right to say he's a fanatic.

I'm like that with ideas.� When I'm interested in something, anything, doesn't matter what it is, I get really into it.� I learn as much as I can, try to get as good at it as I can, practice it, talk to people who are really good at it....I get pleasure from being intense about things, intense pleasure.

I proudly accept the label of having a mental illness!� I now suffer from Obsseive/Compulsive Disorder!� (and really bad spelling lately! I was playing two poker games while typing this up.)

I am living proof that a person can have a mental illness and still be high functioning.� The only meds I use is about 1 or 2 beers a week, and I work 26 hours per week, do dishes, sail boats, and watch my kids do sports.�

On top of that, I can be a rude, irritating troll on a BB chock full of people who were in a cult for much of their lives, telling them that they don't always see things right.

I guess the reason I like this so much is because it's the only place I can talk like this, and I can talk about my experiences in the Assembly with other people who know.� It's also one of the few places with serious discussion about the Bible, certain types of theology, and their practical application.

Is this eveyone's cup of tea? No way.� Strange people post here, and stranger one's lurk about reading it everyday.�

Like it says at the bottom of my signature.� Decide for yourself if what I say is right or wrong.� I have no problem with someone disagreeing with me, but if they are intellectually dishonest about it, or use specious arguments, I just may have something to say back at them.

I sincerely appreciate your input, Summer.� Thanks for speaking up.

Brent, the high funtioning OCD guy.

: LENORE May 07, 2005, 09:28:08 PM

I will comply what is being ask, after this:

I understand it is fear , and fear of the unknown, fear you dont understand .

I have two questions:
Is there someone out there who is saying I WONT PARTICIPATE IF SHE IS ON BOARD.

Is this request, not parallelling certain reactions that was made to you when you left your local assembly, and they way they treated you differently, because you didnt think or act like they did any� more.

Dont say it is not the same.� The circumstances is different, but the reaction is the same.

I WONT BOTHER YOU AGAIN.

I already talk to my pastor.

ONE LESSON I HAVE LEARNED WHILE HERE, DO NOT BEAR YOUR SOUL , BECAUSE THEY WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND IT.

GOODBYE.

I was reminded by email that I had not answered one of the questions, so this is a re-post.

Yes, you have hit the nail on the head when you said, "it is fear , and fear of the unknown". That is exactly the reason that it best for you to not participate for now.

You asked, "Is there someone out there who is saying I WONT PARTICIPATE IF SHE IS ON BOARD."

I do not know, as no one had told me so.

You said, "Is this request, not parallelling certain reactions that was made to you when you left your local assembly, and they way they treated you differently, because you didnt think or act like they did any more."

No, I do not want to treat you differently than I have already been treating you, unless it is an improvement. I just do not want to see you in a position where some discussion will trigger your suicidal tendency and set you back for months. On a BB we cannot see facial expressions nor read body language nor hear tone of voice. I am still willing to discuss topics with you in private and to not shun you and to maintain contact with you.

God bless,
Marcia

Hi Brent!

Yes, I guess we are kind of freaky here--- at least my wife thinks that I am for spending so much time here reading and posting :).

You know that I have great respect for you, and that is because you stepped up and had the courage and faith to start the whole internet ball rolling in calling out GG and company.

I can even take your exhortations to follow a "tough love" stance in re. to those on welfare; it is clear that you have made a very valid point.

However, calling those that felt that you did not excercise a good bed-side-manner in the way that you offered that advice, "hypocrites and freaks," is dissapointing to me as well. Yes, L. brought up the issue publicly, and though she is not "retarded" in the least, she has some emotional struggles right now.

Back in the beginnings of the Assembly Betty touted a book called, "Reality Therapy." The essence of this book was that almost all mental institutions could be instantly emptied by the application of this author's method of confronting "the so called mentally ill" with their "phony illness that was only an excuse to escape the responsibilities of life (reality)."

I'm not sure if this book launched her "vision" of the use of "consequences" in the Assembly "living situations" that eventually included husbands giving their wives this kind of shock therapy, but if it didn't the two did have a symbiotic relationship of some kind.

The book made some valid points, but the proof really is in the eating, as this man did not "empty any mental hospitals" with his book, and Betty did not produce great Christian character via her version of this in the Assembly.

The reason for this is that while it is a noble activity to help others be all that they can be the question must be asked: "did my confrontational presentation of the truth actually help the individual to whom I addressed it?" If the answer is, "that's up to them, as I'm only the messenger of the truth" then I would say that the activity was not what the bible teaches is a loving response. Paul says we are to lift those up who are taken in a fault and to consider ourselves as we do so, lest we also fall--- in other words, we can't just lay out the correct way to walk without stumbling, but help that person by taking them by the hand and providing actual support. This means we must consider what is the best action we can take to actually produce the results we want, in the recognition that we share human weakness with them.

Was Lenore lifted in your discussion with her? Is the only issue in her life to deal with her need to get off of public assistance? Is it possible that a person can be intelligent and able, but have severe emotional problems?

In Lenore's case the confrontational reality therapy not only did not help her it caused her to be physically ill, and made her so upset she lost any ability to rationally carry on a discussion about the matter. Not all psychological difficulties are helped by confrontation, nor does it mean that these individuals suffer from flawed character, per se.

I do not mean to say that psychology is God's answer to the truth about the nature of man, and I don't know enough about it to even offer an educated opinion about what Lenore does need, but I have enough common sense to figure out what seems to help and what seems to hurt people (freak though I may be ;))

I do believe that some of those that you claim didn't really care about Lenore ( a criticism that I do not level at you BTW.) because they did not see the urgency for her to get a job as you do, have provided some deeply needed help for her.

Lenore has shown a very strong faith in Christ, despite her struggles, and this is by far the highest value of Christian character that we should support in her life, vs. the goal getting her off of public assistance. Those that have supported her in ministry and prayer toward the building of her faith have indeed been involved in a good work in her life.

There is a very thin line between "tough love" and "cultish shame based techniques" that can be crossed and the true test as to whether one is involved in one vs. the other is in whether I have actually been able to reach down and lift the one in need.

God Bless, Mark C.

: Mark C. May 08, 2005, 10:39:14 AM

However, calling those that felt that you did not excercise a good bed-side-manner in the way that you offered that advice, "hypocrites and freaks,"� is dissapointing to me as well.� Yes, L. brought up the issue publicly, and though she is not "retarded" in the least, she has some emotional struggles right now.

Please keep in mind that I suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.� I am working through some things now, and as a result, I shouldn't be held responsible for what I say and do.� I'm having some struggles right now.

When I am confronted about this, it makes me go into a severe OCD episode, and I'll just post and post and post and post.� I may become an irritant, I may be a nuissance, but I'm working through some things now, and I could use some support.

I have a strong faith in Christ, and I think it's best to for you to remember that this is the aspect of my life you need to support.� My tendency to bluntly say things, over and over and over and over is a secondary thing.

I want to thank all those who support me.� You couldn't possibly understand what it's like to have OCD.

I feel like you've just attacked me. I want to be able to say anything I want to, and not be criticized. I can't handle the criticism, because I have OCD, and if I get compulsive about the people who criticize me, I get physically ill. If I don't get the support I need, I'm just going to have to go elsewhere.

I'll close with a quote from an email I received yesterday, regarding GG,

"He was kind and gentle.
He didnt know what to say, he just listened.

He has never done, rejected, etc...of what you have done today."

You're worse than George, Mark Campbell. (I may not be totally sincere here....think about it)

BAT

: BAT May 08, 2005, 08:49:16 PM

Please keep in mind that I suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.� I am working through some things now, and as a result, I shouldn't be held responsible for what I say and do.� I'm having some struggles right now.

When I am confronted about this, it makes me go into a severe OCD episode, and I'll just post and post and post and post.� I may become an irritant, I may be a nuissance, but I'm working through some things now, and I could use some support.

I have a strong faith in Christ, and I think it's best to for you to remember that this is the aspect of my life you need to support.� My tendency to bluntly say things, over and over and over and over is a secondary thing.

I want to thank all those who support me.� You couldn't possibly understand what it's like to have OCD.

I feel like you've just attacked me.� I want to be able to say anything I want to, and not be criticized.� I can't handle the criticism, because I have OCD, and if I get compulsive about the people who criticize me, I get physically ill.� If I don't get the support I need, I'm just going to have to go elsewhere.

I'll close with a quote from an email I received yesterday, regarding GG,�

"He was kind and gentle.
He didnt know what to say, he just listened.

He has never done, rejected, etc...of what you have done today."

You're worse than George, Mark Campbell.� (I may not be totally sincere here....think about it)

BAT

OKAY, everyone. Heads up!

I just deleted some posts of mine that Brents could have interpreted as a personal attack on his OCD condition.

Please go back and review ALL your posts and pm's sent to Brents. Please delete immediately any posts that he could construe as a mockery of his condition. Apologize for the pm's that criticize his responses.

We all played a part in inducing this most recent episode of his. Please delete your abrasive postings before he finds out that we know anything about his condition. �

He will be happiest if we just let him be! This BB will then be the haven of rest that it was meant to be! �

Don't correct an OCD'er. We've seen the results, haven't we?

The Beatles were right: LET IT BE!

Oops, I didn't mean "IT" personally.

LET HIM BE!

: belfry May 08, 2005, 10:26:48 PM

Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding.

I feel like I was attacked. I feel like I was attacked. I feel like I was attacked. I feel like I was attacked. I feel like I was attacked. I feel like I was attacked.

This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly.

I'm working through some things right now. I'm making progress. It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now. I'm making progress. It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now. I'm making progress. It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now. I'm making progress. It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now. I'm making progress. It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now. I'm making progress. It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now. I'm making progress. It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help.

I'm so glad that I finally found out why I'm like this. Now I know it's normal, and that I AM NOT THE PROBLEM. IGNORANT PEOPLE ARE THE PROBLEM, PEOPLE WHO DON"T KNOW ABOUT OCD.

Brent

: Brent A. Tr0ckman May 08, 2005, 10:32:27 PM

Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding. Thanks for your support and understanding.

I feel like I was attacked. I feel like I was attacked. I feel like I was attacked. I feel like I was attacked. I feel like I was attacked. I feel like I was attacked.

This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly.� This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly. This is exactly how I was treated in the Assembly.

I'm working through some things right now.� I'm making progress.� It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help.� I'm working through some things right now.� I'm making progress.� It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now.� I'm making progress.� It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now.� I'm making progress.� It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now.� I'm making progress.� It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now.� I'm making progress.� It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help. I'm working through some things right now.� I'm making progress.� It takes a long time, and there and being attacked doesn't help.

I'm so glad that I finally found out why I'm like this. Now I know it's normal, and that I AM NOT THE PROBLEM.� IGNORANT PEOPLE ARE THE PROBLEM, PEOPLE WHO DON"T KNOW ABOUT OCD.

Brent

Oh my!

Forget the apologies. Don't say anything at all! Just let him post and be happy, please! It takes too long to read his posts. It takes to long to read his posts. It takes too long to read his posts.s.s.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....OCD.......OCD........OCD.........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzhave to read up on it sometime...........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

: summer007 May 08, 2005, 10:37:59 PM

This is too much...LOL..."A Merry Heart is Good Medicine" Prov17:22. Easy now Brent with those Compulsions. LOL wipe tears from my eyes. Summer....p.s. I think Matt really loves you and regards you as a sort of Father Figure, not a Shepherd, but he's really nothing with-out you!

Because I'm making myself a target, I don't fault someone for getting mad at me. �The point I'm trying to make is that being needy doesn't give us special rights. �We can excuse certain things, at certain times, but to habitually grant someone special rights and privilges, due solely to the fact they are needy, is flat out wrong.

It teaches them that their need is an advantage, or a virtue. �At the same time, it insulates them from ever having to face facts and deal with their problems. �Anyone can play the game, including me.

I continue to receive attacking emails from a person like this. �The only way to fight it was to take the moral high ground and get a mental illness. �I wasn't even aware of my condition until people pointed it out to me. �What a relief! �I am no longer totally responsible for what I say, and need not listen to anyone. �In this way, I can be confident that I don't need correction, rebuke, or admonishment. �I need support. �Anyone who doesn't support me is just like George.

Of course, pretty soon people will start to avoid me, and think less of me, but they'll never say that to my face, because of their compassion and the power I have over them due to my needy condition. �So, we can play games where I say a bunch of stuff, and people cringe, but never actually try to help, because it's impossible to help, because I need support, not help.

Yes, this is going to totally irritate some people. �I am fully aware of that. �However, I think it's wrong to grant certain people greater rights based on their needs. �Why not give people, like my nephews, who have Down's syndrome drivers licenses? �(I know there is an obvious reason...think about it.)

Anyways, it's OK for me to insult anyone I choose, because I have a problem.

Brent

: belfry May 09, 2005, 12:01:41 AM

Ah.......she's a blamer!!!

What does the state have for her, Brente?

Hmmm,

there are a number of programs and resources that can be accessed.� I want to get you partnered up with a benefits co-ordinator, who can fill out all the forms for you, and get you access to the resources you qualify for.� We have a number of programs, and portals of entry.� Some people need "share of cost," but there are ways of working around that, especially if you quit your job. We'll partner together with several different community resource programs, and get you some long-term temporary assistance.

Probably most of your problem is from being victimized by George.� The BB here is a good support group for that.� Lot's of folks here are still getting over it.

There could be other problems as well, so we'll get you some classes and psych evals.� Any treatment needed will be covered.� Do you need a live-in recovery program?

You probably have a learning disability.� If that's the case, you should take classes.� You won't have to stand in line to get your classes, however.� You'll be at the top of the list because of the disability.� You'll also be given a longer time to complete assignments than other students, and can make up exams you miss.� (This is 100% true, BTW.� That's exactly how it works in real-life.)

If you need tutoring, we'll help you access that.

Hopefully, you are pregnant.� If that's the case, we can get you an abortion.� If you don't have good enough sense to do that, we'll get you set up for Healthy Families, WIC, AFDC and State daycare.� � After the baby is born, we'll access the resources that get you diapers, formula, clothes, toys, car seats, etc.

As long as you're having these problems, we'll be there to take care of everything.

You can count on the fact that it will never change.� You'll always just get by, but never need to worry about failing.� We won't let that happen.

If� you know any people who have problems who AREN'T accessing the resources, please let them know that there is an alternative to having to support themselves.

brents

Sorry to interrupt any conversation on this thread.

I will try to keep this brief, and I dont mean my underwear.

1. If any encouragement articles I submitted, in line of bible verses, emails , sunday sermons, etc. If it help just one person to feel encouraged then , the purpose has been accomplished.
PURPOSE IS FELLOWSHIP.

2. Someone said that this is not a church. I disagree. Where believers are gathered together, no matter what the menu is. It is a church.
If Christ has commanded us to encourage each other.
PURPOSE IS DISCIPLESHIP

3. If my life which as been displayed, with its ups and downs, can encourage someone who is witnessing the struggles, battles, successes, the persistence in not giving up.Despite of any and all obstacles that I have over come and are still in my way to over come.
PURPOSE IS SERVICE

4. If I wish to submit a hymn, inspirational poem, bible verse.
PURPOSE IS WORSHIP.

5. If I wish to submit a piece that I found especially inspirational from a sunday sermon, or book, like the Boundary book by Cloud. which I do have and a Kay Arthur Book called Lord Only you can change me, or even the 40 days of purpose. Despite of all slip up and sinful acts, and what ever along the Christian journey I have.
PURPOSE IS CALLED EVANGELISM.

Why would anyone object to this?

: Lenore May 09, 2005, 05:26:04 AM

Sorry to interrupt any conversation on this thread.

1. If any encouragement articles I submitted, in line of bible verses, emails , sunday sermons, etc. If it help just one person to feel encouraged then , the purpose has been accomplished.
PURPOSE IS FELLOWSHIP.

2. Someone said that this is not a church.� I disagree.� Where believers are gathered together, no matter what the menu is.� It is a church.
If Christ has commanded us to encourage each other.
PURPOSE IS DISCIPLESHIP

3. If my life which as been displayed, with its ups and downs, can encourage someone who is witnessing the struggles, battles, successes, the persistence in not giving up.Despite of any and all obstacles that I have over come and are still in my way to over come.
PURPOSE IS SERVICE

4. If I wish to submit a hymn, inspirational poem, bible verse.
PURPOSE IS WORSHIP.

5. If I wish to submit a piece that I found especially inspirational from a sunday sermon, or book, like the Boundary book by Cloud. which I do have and a Kay Arthur Book called Lord Only you can� change me, or even the 40 days of purpose. Despite of all slip up and sinful acts, and what ever along the Christian journey I have.
PURPOSE IS CALLED EVANGELISM.

Why would anyone object to this?

The primary purpose of an internet forum is two-way exchange of ideas between people.� With most of the things that you post, discussion is not realistically possible.� You often make many posts in a row, which are all very long.� To respond to everything would be a massive project that nobody wants to do, so people ignore your posts.

Often you post things that other people wrote, and often it isn't clear whether you yourself understand the material that you posted.� If someone disagrees with something that you posted that you yourself don't even understand, it is very frustrating not to be able to explain to you what is wrong with what you posted.� In the past, there have been a few of your posts that were very bad, but there was no way for anyone other than the moderator to do anything about it, and the moderator didn't want to be bothered with sorting out your many long posts.

The BB is no place for chain emails.� Everybody's email is full of that kind of thing, so people don't need more here.� It makes the BB seem like a garbage dump, being filled with that sort of thing.� Since you seem to want to post many things on the internet, a more reasonable approach would be to create your own web site, and post as much as you like there.� There are a few web hosting services that are free.� A link to your web site can be put in your profile for anyone who wants to read such things.

What is most valuable are your own personal thoughts about the ideas being discussed here.� This means that you need to pay close attention to what other people are saying and directly focus what you have to say in your own words on the subject being discussed.� Only a few posts are needed for that.

A posting style that ignores other people is very antisocial.� Since you seem to reject other people with your posting style, you should not be surprised that a few people feel inclined to reject you.

: Stephen M. Fortescue May 10, 2005, 01:27:14 PM

Lenore Stephen is quite right in his observations and I hope do not take them personally.
It is indeed a breach of BB etiquette for you to post the way you do sometimes. There have been some occasions on which all ten most recent posts have been yours and they have been so lengthy as to make any meaningful exchange of opnion virtually impossible. This is a problem that should have been addressed by the moderators but out of fear of offending you, they elected not to do so.
The BB is not church, despite what you may think. There are people posting here who are not Christians and whose opinons deserve as legitimate consideration as yours and mine. I think it is a good opportunity for you to learn to give restraint to your impulses. God bless.
Verne

: VerneCarty May 10, 2005, 06:05:22 PM

Yep, Verne and Steve have got it.

Some of you aren't going to like what I say next, but you can sure bet I will say it.� Let me start by saying a few blunt, honest statements:

1.)The BB has become a "support group," for people with "post-assembly" disorder.� The more you come here, the more certain your disorder will be.
2.)The fear that the moderators had towards correcting Lenore is pretty much the same fear that allowed them and many others to keep silent during their Assemlby tenure.�
3.)The deference shown to Lenore, seemingly in the name of compasssion, was not at all helpful to her, or to anyone else.
4.)More often than not, those who make long, flowery posts full of God-talk are self-deceived hypocrites and really have no such spirituality.� It is all done for outward show.� This becomes quite apparent when they are crossed.� Their first instinct is to tell people how to think, and what to feel, while they dance around the subject matter.

With regard to #1:� Pretty much everything I have said about mental illness and support groups and such apply to the BB.� Things need to change here, or we will become almost totally wrapped up in our ex-assembly identity.� That's not for me, thank you.

#2: Lenore irritated pretty much everyone here.� I kept silent about it for quite some time.� Verne said something to her in private----he followed the rules---and she blew him off and rationalized it with some stupid book about honesty, with a little "purpose driven life" thrown in.� She insulted me in the most ridiculous manner, and then the welfare thing.� Who was the bad guy?� Me.� She continued on, and then took to sending me abusive email.� That's spirituality for you.� I still don't totally understand how we can be so exercised against one person----like Sondra, John Malone, Brent----and so irresponsibly passive against another----Lenore.� The weaker a person is, the more rights and priviliges they have?� It worked for Betty and David.� Super.

#3: Lenore think she's righteous.� She brags about an "all expenses paid working vacation" and complains about how hard it is being on welfare.� She says she can't work, but she can sure fight!� She can sit and take notes at a seminar, where she learns how to be a person with mental illness, but she can't sit at a job.� "Praise the Lord, Amen."� "Your posts are a blessing."� "Worship is indeed the highest exercise of the redeemed"....blah blah blah.� That's how she was spoken to.� However, she tells me I have me head up my butt and I think she is retarded.� We make peace, and then she attacks me via email again.� I've never sent her an email except to say a few kind words about how she is stronger than she realizes.�

Why allow her to continue in her self-deception?� It's cruel.� Sure, it's not comfortable to confront someone, but it needs to be done at times.� Some of you need to really consider why you so obviously consider her as a substandard person.� She may be having problems, but is she less capable than we are?� I think not.� She's learned to be useless, and treating her that way is cruel.

#4: I need not say much about this.� Phoney Pharisee's speak long speech, that sounds really good.� They always bristle when someone who isn't wearing all the robes notices how silly they are.

The best thing to happen to this board in a long time is seeing Sondra and Verne carrying on a meaningful, kind and respectful discussion.� The next best thing is the Beatles/Paul McCartney thread.

All the sick God-talk is an embarrassment.

For the record, I have not been an ex-assembly person for quite some time.� When I come here I feel a pull to sink into an identity of "wounded pilgrim."� Well, any wounds that I have now aren't due to George.� Those have healed.� If I have any problems now, they are all my own� If the Gaderene Demoniac can heal, if Lazarus can come forth from the grave, don't you think that ex-Assembly people can do the same?

Brent

: Ruth May 11, 2005, 06:13:17 PM

..... p.s. I do care about you and respect you, Marcia, but I find that you still do a fair share of "flip-flopping" IMO. I think I know where you are coming from, and turn around and find you on a different side of things. So, for right now, I do keep a guard up. Not that I think everyone has to agree on everything, but loyalty is important to me. Loyalty is deeply engrained in me so it's something I look for in others, I guess.

A BB is a place for discussion hence I make 'truth' important. So, yeah, it does look like I'm flip-flopping.
Where loyalty is displayed is in my great respect the truth teller on this board and elsewhere. My church has 4 pastors, and each of them has my loyal support for their ministries. I will not be one of those who criticizes and pinpoints every little triviallity and slip-up. However, if something major goes wrong, I will not hold back my opinion on the matter.

: Ruth May 11, 2005, 07:01:58 PM

Marcia,

When my husband and I have a disagreement, we don't allow ourselves or each other to do what you just did.� Exaggerate what the other one said to the "n-th" degree.� We found that we are able to "discuss" instead of "cuss and discuss" as they say.� �I didn't say anything about having a "tight set of rules for posting."�

Back to my point, nothing was said to Lenore publicly **early on** and so a long standing pattern has been established that she herself perhaps cannot break.� I agree that people are **now** doing a pretty good job of addressing it.� Anyway, this board IS this board and is not SWTE or any other.� I think we all have room for improvement though, but I think it is phony for people to act like there are no rules, bias' or prejudice - that there are no parameters.

sj

btw.� Brent "said" he would start deleting some of her posts if she kept up the "10 in a row" posting, but he didn't do it.� That breaks a rule of consistency or doing what you say you will do.� (His name is in red).� Why did he not follow through with his threat?� Was it because L is weak?� That's inconsistent with what he is accusing others of doing.� Besides, I don't see it as punishment to delete some of her posts.� I see it as helping her to get order in her life and consequently breaks the cycle of "wilfulness" which is a help.� But, to delete some posts is truly� not "anything goes."� So, either way "a rule" is broken.� We have rules on SWTE, but we say we have rules.� �;)

I thank you for your honesty. While I agree that there is a need for guidelines, there is a need to give people room to grow and learn. So L could have taken her cue from yours and others' comments about her posting. I understand that she was also warned in private.

I'll be frank and blunt with you here. I cannot have a discussion on SWTE, because, no matter how careful I am, by SWTE guidelines I seem to be crossing lines all over the place. However I have taken every bit of criticism, which is mostly what I get, to heart and seriously considered it. I will sometimes ask others if I am missing the message. So it's sometime SWTE's fault that I flip-flop (just kidding, but hope you get the idea).

Re. Brent, I have a good idea of what happened, but Brent can speak for himself.

God bless,
Marcia

PS
Verne, were you at the January 1984 seminar in Fullerton. I was looking at a picture and discovered that Mark and Sindy were there and someone that looks like it might be you.
Marcia

: Ruth May 12, 2005, 09:48:48 AM

While I appreciate your very patient view, I have to believe that you perhaps have not had tenants, Marcia, and perhaps have not had employees?? Just a guess. You are blessed if you haven't. I am blessed that I have. :-\

Tenants. If you don't call them the first time they pay rent after the exact day it is due even if it is on the first month of their tenancy - you will find that you trained them already to do what they will do the rest of their tenancy. The first three months establishes the rest of their tenancy's paying habits, generally speaking.

Employees. Same principle. Let them come in late without mention or let them see you be consistently late - you have trained them to be late. Let them smoke on the job, take bathroom breaks often, get advance partial payment, blah, blah, blah....you will have to live with what you've trained them to do....because you thought you were being patient.

Then, you have to work harder while they are partying which cuts into your family and devotion time. Then you will be doing their consequences. That's how I've found that to work....all because of what many would call being "merciful" and "patient." I don't do mercy and patience when it is my responsibility to run a business, a board, etc. I try to be respectful and that's about it.

I've had this discussion with someone else a few years ago. He worked in an environment where the system they had devised worked like clockwork and most everything flowed in harmony as a result. We then wondered why those principles could not be applied to a group of friends where things hardly every worked in harmony. We came to the conclusion that work is work and group is group (in this case it would be the BB is the BB). These people are not tenants nor employees. We are individuals each unique and needing to grow through the things we experience.

: Ruth May 12, 2005, 09:48:48 AM

And, thank YOU for being honest. As I remember you moved around pretty freely with your posts on SWTE, but you had that nasty little habit of taking pot shots at the anonymous eaglets regarding their protected species status. I think we both knew you were pushing it and I think you thought it was sort of worth the grief - did you not? Well, anyway, I did enjoy your posts although I had to keep an eye on you with our endangered species. :) You were always the one who said "good-bye" - just for the record.

You are correct re. my comments about Bob's identity and saying "good-bye" of my own choice. However I felt that with other discussions, no matter how careful I was, by SWTE guidelines I seemed to be crossing lines all over the place, and I was not gifted enough to work within the SWTE constraints. Obviously Matt and Bob are managing to do so, but I could not.

Marcia

Wow Brent! :o

I just got back into town and was surprised to read your rather cynical responses. You don't directly respond to my post, but I get the idea that you have some strong issues with my views.

I'm not sure who "bat" or "belfry" are, but assume that Matt from SWTE is paying a visit.

Though you may have little respect for my views, don't you think I deserve a little better response from you than what I've received?

Hypocrite? Yes, I daily fall short of what I should be as a Christian.

False Spirituality? Yep, that too!

My views on recovery (Wounded Pilgrims) are flawed and only end up keeping folks in a damaged state?

This is the first time I've heard this from you, but if you read back over my posts' on that thread I am constantly inviting challenges to my posting.

Re. "confrontation": I would expect that if you believe that I am wrong that I should be challenged, but not with sarcastic methods that demean. Speech can be direct, and yet thoughtful re. how such speech might actually affect the individual for whom it is directed.

As I stated many times before, the Bible tells us to "make a difference" in how we warn someone who is out of the way: with some using tender heartedness and others by fear.

I will grant that I tend to be very tolerant, and as such probably make for a poor moderator. Of course, this also made me a very poor leading bro. and bros. house leader. ;) Extreme personalities are usually bad, but part of the purpose of living in the body of Christ is an opportunity to help one another to a more balanced way to live. Those that have little tolerance are placed together with those that have too much.

Strongly held opinions can have a destructive power, even one's with a scriptural basis (Rom. 14:1-10) In vs. 10 Paul asks a very interesting question, "Why do you look down on your brother?" Ridiculing another's views is a form of "looking down" on them, even when you know that you are right and your brother is wrong.

Now, I understand that you believe I am the one "looking down" on Lenore, by not "reigning her in" for her long posting, etc. and that I'm restraining her from getting to her potential.

If I'm out of the way on this, and you are correct, you have an obligation to make your point, but not to do so by using ridicule.

I will grant you that Jesus and Paul did use ridicule to attack false teachers and wilfull rejectors of the truth, but it is not to be used among fellow believers as it can have a destructive power. Our intentions should be to "build-up" and not tear-down."

God Bless, Mark C.

: Mark C. May 15, 2005, 02:32:07 AM

Wow Brent! :o

� �I just got back into town and was surprised to read your rather cynical responses.� �You don't directly respond to my post, but I get the idea that you have some strong issues with my views.

� I'm not sure who "bat" or "belfry" are, but assume that Matt from SWTE is paying a visit.

I'm BAT, and I believe Moonflower is Belfry. Matt isn't here, as far as I can tell. I even signed BAT's posts with my own name.

If you read carefully, you will see that I am not attacking your views, but making a general statement about the state of the BB. Lenore wasn't treated as an equal, she was treated as if she was substandard. Case in point, your standing up to me here.

I don't blame you for doing it, but you wouldn't do it to Lenore.

You probably missed all the posts where I had a mental illness, but I shouldn't get much flak from those, I was needy, which means I don't have to live up to the same standards as other people.

Hopefully, if you are able to sort out the goings on over the last two weeks, you will see that the point I was trying to make with the post you commented on is that the current mentality on certain aspects of the BB is a real problem for those in post-assembly "recovery."

Again, this was spread out over several posts, but the general thought pattern goes like this:

1.)We were spiritually abused in The Assembly
2.)We need to recognize that, understand it, and learn from it in order to move on to the abundant life that God has for us.
3.)The BB, and the discussions and insight shared is helpful for those who were in the Assembly.

Well, that's the problem. Most people agree on 1 and 2, but I don't buy number 3. Yes, it was totally usefull at one time. It could still be usefull, but I see that we have fallen in to a really bad rut. A person like Lenore, who is a needy victim, is given all sorts of leeway, deference and tolerance...because she's a victim. This encourages her to stay that way.

Much of the emphasis is simply reiterating how bad GG was, and how we are wounded pilgrims. Yes, GG was evil, and yes, he hurt people. However, many of the dozen or so people who are here have become the spiritual equivalent of Lenore....their identity is "wounded pilgrim." This is their support group.

I find this alarming. I promise you that others see it too, and most people just consider it negative and draining.

Yes, it's progress to go from calling George "The Lord's Servant," to understanding that he was a fraud. That's good.
It's also good to understand that much of what we built in George's service is useless, and should be abandoned.
It's not good to dwell on that, and re-hash it all the time. It keeps us from moving on and up.

I'm not a wounded pilgim anymore. I have my own problems now, and George isn't a part of them.

I hate to think of how depressing it would be if I blamed my problems on George all the time. Let's not keep the pus oozing with our support group here. That's what they do with Lenore, and people like her.

I don't think Ex-assembly is a good identity for people.

I could say much more, but don't think for a second that this is personal against you Mark, it isn't.

Brent

: Brent T May 15, 2005, 03:28:05 AM

Much of the emphasis is simply reiterating how bad GG was, and how we are wounded pilgrims.� Yes, GG was evil, and yes, he hurt people.� However, many of the dozen or so people who are here have become the spiritual equivalent of Lenore....their identity is "wounded pilgrim."� This is their support group.�

I find this alarming.� I promise you that others see it too, and most people just consider it negative and draining.�

Yes, it's progress to go from calling George "The Lord's Servant," to understanding that he was a fraud.� That's good.�
It's also good to understand that much of what we built in George's service is useless, and should be abandoned.
It's not good to dwell on that, and re-hash it all the time.� It keeps us from moving on and up.

Brent

Let me suggest another perspective.
After the documented conduct of George Geftakys prior to his starting his assembly "ministry", there is no possible way a man who had engaged in the conduct he did should have been let anywhere near a pulpit.
My suspicion is that no one did, so he built his own- from scratch.
Let us fact it folks. The rise of this apostate to prominence was due to the silence and derilection of duty of those who should have been sounding the alarm.
For some of us, this BB has never been about recovery. It was about sounding the alarm.
Let me ask you folk a question: Is there ever going to come a time when condemnation of what went on under this man's aegis ever becomes pase?
I guess the folk who knew Geftakys early on thought so.
Is it not the reason the BB was started in the first place?
Don't tell me he is too old to do any further damage. As long as he breathes, he is dangerous.
He has now reproduced himself in others who are bent on continuing his legacy. Who will warn the unwary?
It seems to me that is our responsibility whether on this forum or som eother venue. Are we going to repeat that mistake?
The fire still burns...
Verne

: VerneCarty May 15, 2005, 09:27:33 AM

Ah, yes.

Warning others is paramount. I think it's best done by writing a well thought out, well researched essay and putting it on GA.com.

I don't need to be reminded how bad it was, I know it was bad. I want to move on past that into other things, however.

I think there should be a permanent presence on the Internet, warning people about George. However, I don't think that it's healthy for the BB to be used as a place where people sound warnings and re-hash everything.

I DO think it's a place for discussion about certain topics, like some of the one's that are going on now. What I worry about is the perpetual victim, permanent recovery mentality.

Brent

AssemblyBoard

General Discussion => Any and All Topics => : lenore May 13, 2004, 09:13:25 AM