Christian militia charged with conspiring to kill police

[followsthewolf]

FTW, I spent my early years among the Shiite Baptists, like Sandy and PH. Every other year, the church had a particular revivalist come to preach hellfire and brimstone, and shake additional coin out of the pockets of the faithful.

The year I was twelve, I attended a meeting held each Revival for the young women of the congregation. We were told, point-blank, not to put ourselves in a position where we were alone with Brother Dribble EVER! Can you believe it? They KNEW this guy preyed (not to be confused with prayed) on nubile young things, under the age of consent -- and all they did was WARN US NOT TO BE ALONE WITH HIM!!! When I left the church that afternoon, I never went back.

In college I was exposed to many religions, and decided to follow the Insurance Policy dogma for believing in god. But I felt then (and still do) that to maximize my coverage and minimize my liability, it was only logical to believe in all of Them. Still, my favorite has always been Coyote. Think Bugs Bunny ... with super powers. Now that's a god worthy of my praise and devotion!

I understand PERFECTLY everything you posted here, Lolly.

The perpetrator and all the bastards who knew about it should have been treated to a little curbstone justice.

Way too much of this existed/exists for it to belong to "fringe groups" in evangelicals.

They terrorize children -- and it lasts a lifetime.

[Sandy Eggo]

It isn't said, but rather strongly implied that if Brother so-and-so does take advantage of you, then it's your fault b/c you were warned.

No details are given. Why should we stay away?

On-the-other-hand, he's an adult and we're taught to respect our elders and face punishment for questioning.

So why can't Brother so-and-so take accountability? He doesn't have to. He just has to ask for forgiveness.

[me]

All I can say about the things I'm reading since I first posted my opinion on this particular bunch is it's even worse than I thought. 

[Henry Hawk]

  Henry, I'd like to ask you a question.  Have you ever questioned anything that is in the Bible?  All the bad and terrible things God has done to his people?  The flood,  All of the magic, burning bush, parting the waters, Virgin birth?

  Ever have a bad experience with some pinched lipped, narrow nosed person of the church, while you were a kid?  Did you always enjoy the bullshit the church elders put upon you when you were young?

  If you haven't, to me, now don't have a heart attack.  You seem still after all of the years that have passed, you still, to me, still seem very brainwashed.

The Troll 

AGAIN Troll, you do not know me, you have NO idea of my relationship with God, but yet you act as if I am a fire and brimstone, holly roller bible thumper...

I know better than to feed the trolls, but I will give my 2 cents....

My folks never took me to church as a young kid, I went with my neighbor kids, we walked down the road to a tiny little Christian community church....I never once was taught to be afraid of God, I never felt threatened by anyone there, I ALWAYS felt loved and welcomed....as my teenage years came around, I got away from the Church, but always had a personal realtionship with God.....when I met my wife, we both decided to belong to a Church, we picked on out and began attending every Sunday, it was more of a time of fellowship with some other couples our age with common interests.....

yet as time went on, we got away from that church, mostly due to laziness and not wanting to get up on Sunday morningns....

as we had children, and times got rough that most folks do with kids and jobs, both of us was working very hard, on opposite shifts so we would not have to leave our kids for others to watch and raise...both of us was working on furthering our education to help us find better and more stable jobs....It was then when I began to do some serious soul searching and some serious reaching out to God for guidence.....and THAT is when I began to honestly feel His presence in my life....It is hard for me to explain, but it was/is very real...that is when we decided to go to the church where I attended as a young boy.....it was then, a very good friend of mine was pastoring this church. It was a small church of around 50 of the most loving and giving folks I have ever known.  We decided to become active in this church and we began to help doing food kitchens, and reaching out to those who was lost and needed guidence.....I never once tried to quote any passages from the Bible to "win" anyone over.....I simply did what I felt God wanted me to do...and that was just be myself and serve.....all I can do is pretty much act as my parents taught me to be, and that was to be kind and respectful....IF, I was asked why I belive in God, I would only then share what God has done for me.....I cannot force anyone to have what I have, I cannot force anyone to believe what I believe....nor do I want to force anyone to do anything, but I know what I have learned via, the Holy Bible and how my heart has been touched by what I believe to be the "holy spirit".....how I only became a stronger person when I went through hard times, because of this faith that I have.....and my wife has had a very similar testamony...

Now, you asked me if I every question parts of the Bible?....well YES, of course I have....but, as I have began to study the bible, as of the last five or six years, I have gotten a much clearer understanding of (in my opinion) Gods will and intent for all of us....I think the God gave us the Bible to give us a way to build a realtionship with HIM, despite the evil and horrible things this world has to offer.....that He does offer a better place for ALL who want to make a step of faith and accept His conditions of Love.....not ours, but His.....and many folks think that is wrong, but it is His rules that He set...we can play or not play....our decision.

[followsthewolf]

Nice try, Henry.

Good luck with trying to explain to mr. diplomatic.

[Henry Hawk]

Nice try, Henry.

Good luck with trying to explain to mr. diplomatic.

THX, I'm pretty sure I wasted my time....but, I gave it a shot for what it is worth.

[The Troll]

   Henry, that was some of the best words you have written.  I have work with many strong Christian men, but they never tried to convert me and we had some good time together. 

   All tho I do have a very close friend and fellow pipefitter, who tried ever now and then to SAVE me.  I say, "Pat you going to have to stop that or I might say something about God and I going to hurt your feelings.

   One day he came up to me and put his arm around my shoulder and said, "Troll (not my real name) have you ever thought about changing your life.  I said, Pat I'm happy as I am now.

    I said, Pat doesn't you Bible tell you to treat you body like a temple.  He said, yes.  I said, then why do you smoke a pack of Camel's a day.  Well he gave me several reasons why he didn't.  I said, God has sent you 5 messages to stop smoking.  What you mean 5 messages he said.  I said how about that Pace Maker and the 4 Stints in your heart.  Well after 2 more stint and a new Pace Maker and guess what, he quite smoking.

  Nice piece of writting.    The Troll   

[LOsborne]

It isn't said, but rather strongly implied that if Brother so-and-so does take advantage of you, then it's your fault b/c you were warned.

No details are given. Why should we stay away?

On-the-other-hand, he's an adult and we're taught to respect our elders and face punishment for questioning.

So why can't Brother so-and-so take accountability? He doesn't have to. He just has to ask for forgiveness.

I see you had to attend the same meeting.

[The Troll]

again, troll, where have you got the assumption, that I am an "end of timer"....or where you think that I think that Obama is the Anti-Christ?....It is hard for me to take anything you say as serious, you show me way too much ignorance on anything you talk about....you speak in generalizations, and assumptions and act as if YOU are correct........you make Dan seem civil... I have no desire to exchange much with you until you start showing some respect....that is the difference between you and the other members here.....if you don't want to give any respect, then I will not waste my time voicing my opinion with you.....I rarely respond to Dan for the same reason.

   Henry since I have been dragged out my Troll Hole under the bridge and out into the radiant sunlight.  I now can see the wrongness of my ways in this new light.  From now on you can say anything you want and I'll back you 110%.  George Walker Bush will go down in history as one of the greatest president we have ever had.  Right along with Ronald Reagan, Nixon, and maybe Lincoln.  So please forgive me for not understanding you and your ideas.

The Troll 

[dan foster]

   Henry since I have been dragged out my Troll Hole under the bridge and out into the radiant sunlight.  I now can see the wrongness of my ways in this new light.  From now on you can say anything you want and I'll back you 110%.  George Walker Bush will go down in history as one of the greatest president we have ever had.  Right along with Ronald Reagan, Nixon, and maybe Lincoln.  So please forgive me for not understanding you and your ideas.

The Troll 

And I thought we were just all having a healthy debate on these issues.  Guess I need to tone it down a bit.    However, I chose to limit all my posts to the UNMODERATED forum so I can be over the top...