Update Season VIII - "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!"

[Joe Biden 2020]

So, just for the heck of it, Bushie. Talking snake. Real or not?

I don't believe Satan was a talking snake when he successfully tempted Eve.  I believe he was a better looking being. He wasn't a human as Adam and Eve were the only humans.  He was condemned into being a snake, but I don't think he was a snake to begin with.  The reason I believe that is Satan never comes to people with red horns and a spear tail and a pitchfork like the cartoons portray him as.  He is a wolf running around in sheep's clothing.  So, no I don't believe in the talking snake.

[Paul Kemp]

[WalterMitty]

Is jj still biting people and chasing cars?

[Joe Biden 2020]

Is jj still biting people and chasing cars?

She's still biting at our ankles.  She's not doing it on purpose, but she's just a hyper pup.  We got the electronic collar earlier this past week, and so far she hasn't been on the road.  Training is still ongoing.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Information about my avatar change:

I changed my avatar for the time being to I-OK because I'm still trying to figure out exactly where I stand and who I align with.  This is a process that may take time.  Frankly, both parties are full of crap, it just is a matter of which one has less crap.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Frankly, both parties are full of crap, it just is a matter of which one has less crap.

I honestly find it depressing that this is such a hard question to answer for so many people, unless abortion policy is a particular preoccupation of yours, in which case I can more easily imagine the set of beliefs under which it might be so.

[Mr. Morden]

I changed my avatar for the time being to I-OK because I'm still trying to figure out exactly where I stand and who I align with.  This is a process that may take time.  Frankly, both parties are full of crap, it just is a matter of which one has less crap.

They're both full of crap, and yet, in every presidential election don't you say something like "Well, I actually like both candidates, and I'd be proud to have either of them as my president, but I'm going to go with this guy"?

[Joe Biden 2020]

I changed my avatar for the time being to I-OK because I'm still trying to figure out exactly where I stand and who I align with.  This is a process that may take time.  Frankly, both parties are full of crap, it just is a matter of which one has less crap.

They're both full of crap, and yet, in every presidential election don't you say something like "Well, I actually like both candidates, and I'd be proud to have either of them as my president, but I'm going to go with this guy"?

I find the good in the individuals.  I can't find a whole lot of good in the parties.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Greek Orthodoxy is the only true way anyway. I would know, I have been forced into it since I was a child.

[Mr. Morden]

I changed my avatar for the time being to I-OK because I'm still trying to figure out exactly where I stand and who I align with.  This is a process that may take time.  Frankly, both parties are full of crap, it just is a matter of which one has less crap.

They're both full of crap, and yet, in every presidential election don't you say something like "Well, I actually like both candidates, and I'd be proud to have either of them as my president, but I'm going to go with this guy"?

I find the good in the individuals.  I can't find a whole lot of good in the parties.

Corporations Parties are people, my friend.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I changed my avatar for the time being to I-OK because I'm still trying to figure out exactly where I stand and who I align with.  This is a process that may take time.  Frankly, both parties are full of crap, it just is a matter of which one has less crap.

They're both full of crap, and yet, in every presidential election don't you say something like "Well, I actually like both candidates, and I'd be proud to have either of them as my president, but I'm going to go with this guy"?

I find the good in the individuals.  I can't find a whole lot of good in the parties.

Corporations Parties are people, my friend.

Quite true.  As far as the individuals are concerned, when you have no other logical choice except either this man or the other, then you have no choice but to find the good in them, and research what they do well, otherwise you'd go insane and become depressed at all the stuff where they fall short.  When they're a mass of people such as the bigger parties, then yes, there is good in every one of them, but it seems harder to pick those out, at least IMO.  I still try to look for the good, but it is a lot harder to find them when they're influenced by the others and aren't standing out.  When they're all together and there's no single candidate, it's almost like a "Where's Waldo?" to find the good.  That's why the bigger parties are full of junk.  The individuals are full of junk, as well, but its generally easier to find the good when there is only two people to search through.

*This probably does not make a lick of sense, but I'm getting tired.

[memphis]

Just a suggestion. Instead of trying to find a "good person," find somebody with good policies. It's the only time you're ever going to be on the hiring side of a job interview. Do it right.

[Adam Griffin]

There's not enough rain in Oklahoma
To wash the sins out of that house
There's not enough wind in Oklahoma
To rip the nails out of the past

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

It just seems kind of silly to reject what Bushie says (not that I disagree with that) but then say the only denomination that "makes a lick of sense" is the one that says your sins aren't forgiven through faith but confessing them to specific celibate men and it doesn't count otherwise, and that these men, and only these men have the power to turn wine and bread into someone's flesh and blood. Part of why I'm evangelical is because it rejects hierarchical structures like this and states every person has equal access to God. (Yes not always in practice, but at least in theory.) And of course I find complimentarianism so repulsive I can't support any denomination with the practice. Complete dealbreaker.

[patrick1]

It just seems kind of silly to reject what Bushie says (not that I disagree with that) but then say the only denomination that "makes a lick of sense" is the one that says your sins aren't forgiven through faith but confessing them to specific celibate men and it doesn't count otherwise, and that these men, and only these men have the power to turn wine and bread into someone's flesh and blood. Part of why I'm evangelical is because it rejects hierarchical structures like this and states every person has equal access to God. (Yes not always in practice, but at least in theory.) And of course I find complimentarianism so repulsive I can't support any denomination with the practice. Complete dealbreaker.

Take your obsessions out of the Update, thanks and good day. That goes for telling Bushie to go to Christian hardcore shows too. No one cares, well maybe the R2D2 poster.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Actually I just think he should go to hardcore shows in general because they are a great method of weight loss. Better not try to crowdsurf though.

[Хahar 🤔]

It just seems kind of silly to reject what Bushie says (not that I disagree with that) but then say the only denomination that "makes a lick of sense" is the one that says your sins aren't forgiven through faith but confessing them to specific celibate men and it doesn't count otherwise, and that these men, and only these men have the power to turn wine and bread into someone's flesh and blood. Part of why I'm evangelical is because it rejects hierarchical structures like this and states every person has equal access to God. (Yes not always in practice, but at least in theory.) And of course I find complimentarianism so repulsive I can't support any denomination with the practice. Complete dealbreaker.

How do you feel about sola fide salvation?

[Mr. Morden]

This was eight days ago:

Indeed, I just got out there and walked JJ for a half hour.

How many times have either you or your parents walked her since then?

[Joe Biden 2020]

This was eight days ago:

Indeed, I just got out there and walked JJ for a half hour.

How many times have either you or your parents walked her since then?

Several times, at least once a day.

[memphis]

This was eight days ago:

Indeed, I just got out there and walked JJ for a half hour.

How many times have either you or your parents walked her since then?

Several times, at least once a day.

The first step to being good at lying is to tell plausible lies.

[Joe Biden 2020]

A major prayer has been answered!! When we left Kenya earlier this month, there was a teacher's strike that prevented students from going to class right around exam prep time. After much prayer from God's people, the teacher's strike has been called off, so the teachers and the students can return to the classroom and prepare for and take the necessary exams later this summer! So proud of several young men and women in Kenya who, instead of partying while the teachers were on strike, organized study sessions with their peers to study on their own for the exams. They take their schooling seriously and with pride! That hit home to me when I heard that. Thank you, LORD!!

[Joe Biden 2020]

I just weighed JJ and she is 16 pounds!  I thought 20, but she's growing at a clip of 3-4 pounds every 2 weeks, so by August 1, she'll be 19 or 20.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Pathetic.  Salvation should come from how you live, not whether you believe the right thing.

People often get caught up in the believing Jesus existed.  In truly believing that he died for your sins, you're going to realize that every time you sin, that's another sin that he had to bear on the cross.  A true Christian is going to realize that and do what they can to not sin.  They may have "head knowledge" of salvation, but there's no "heart knowledge", and that, according to my beliefs, is what actually matters.

[Lief 🗽]

A major prayer has been answered!! When we left Kenya earlier this month, there was a teacher's strike that prevented students from going to class right around exam prep time. After much prayer from God's people, the teacher's strike has been called off, so the teachers and the students can return to the classroom and prepare for and take the necessary exams later this summer! So proud of several young men and women in Kenya who, instead of partying while the teachers were on strike, organized study sessions with their peers to study on their own for the exams. They take their schooling seriously and with pride! That hit home to me when I heard that. Thank you, LORD!!

Wow, so not only does Bushie's version of God not dis-incentivize bad behavior, but He's also a strike breaker? At least the Catholic God isn't anti-worker.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Jesus Christ.. literally. I used to subscribe to the same theological thinking as Bushie (to me, what he said is Christianity, period, if the Bible is your guide.) You guys are missing the point.

- Everyone has sinned, therefore no one is acceptable to a perfect God
- Jesus, who didn't sin, took the punishment for us
- If you accept this you are free from sin
- Now that you are free from sin, live as holy a life as you can

The Bible says we should not sin freely like there are no consequences because duh, that makes the whole thing look retarded, and furthermore it means you must not seriously believe. If you are saved, it will show outwardly by your works.

This is one of the best things to people about Christianity. You can always come back.

The problem is that what Bushie believes isn't quite this, or rather, it is but only in the most disgusting, self-serving way possible. I've bolded the parts that he doesn't seem to care about.

Actually, Tik hit the nail on the head.  Just because you have been saved does not give you a "license to sin" as it were.  Salvation will show through your works.  The Apostle James says "Faith without works is dead."  Works does not affect your salvation, but you can judge a tree by its fruit.  If someone's life doesn't exhibit good works, then one has the right to question if they've ever believed in the first place.  In my own life, I've made tons of mistakes, but there is a clear trail of wanting to get into His Word, spend time in prayer, assist my fellow man, etc.  Yes, I have a lot of lies and porn on my record, but when I repent of those sins, God throws those sins as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more.  They will not be brought up when I get home.

That's not true.  II Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:12 are pretty clear that we will still have to give an account for our lives.

So, just for the heck of it, Bushie. Talking snake. Real or not?

I don't believe Satan was a talking snake when he successfully tempted Eve.  I believe he was a better looking being. He wasn't a human as Adam and Eve were the only humans.  He was condemned into being a snake, but I don't think he was a snake to begin with.  The reason I believe that is Satan never comes to people with red horns and a spear tail and a pitchfork like the cartoons portray him as.  He is a wolf running around in sheep's clothing.  So, no I don't believe in the talking snake.

So then why does the Bible say he appeared as a serpent?  Because there was no better description that Moses could write down?  Was it some sort of symbol?

There's not enough rain in Oklahoma
To wash the sins out of that house
There's not enough wind in Oklahoma
To rip the nails out of the past

GREAT song... find me a meteorologist who doesn't love it.

This was eight days ago:

Indeed, I just got out there and walked JJ for a half hour.

How many times have either you or your parents walked her since then?

Several times, at least once a day.

Of those "several", how many were you and how many were your parents?  I'm guessing one of those numbers is a 0...