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Post by Valpower on Jan 16, 2007 17:29:57 GMT -5
I was just jestin' valpower. Read my next post. You thought you had me there didn't ya? ;D Rick, I was laughing all the way.
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Post by rick on Jan 16, 2007 17:31:54 GMT -5
Hey valpower, I axed you a lot of questions that you didn't answer. Are you going to answer any of them? Don't mind my language, it's all relative to the culture I was brought up in. (There goes that preposition agin at the end of a sentence) These are difficult questions, Rick, except that clearly I am not a Christian, as I would otherwise have definitive answers to the subsequent questions. But I will say that I'm not as ambiguous about right and wrong as you characterize me to be. Just one question then I'll leave it alone: On what basis do you determine right from wrong?
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Post by rick on Jan 16, 2007 17:32:47 GMT -5
Oh, forgot one. What don't you like about the Patriot Act since you brought it up?
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Post by Valpower on Jan 16, 2007 17:45:58 GMT -5
These are difficult questions, Rick, except that clearly I am not a Christian, as I would otherwise have definitive answers to the subsequent questions. But I will say that I'm not as ambiguous about right and wrong as you characterize me to be. Just one question then I'll leave it alone: On what basis do you determine right from wrong? The teaching of others, as most everybody else. Could God have given us the ability to know intuitively?
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Post by rick on Jan 16, 2007 17:49:49 GMT -5
Just one question then I'll leave it alone: On what basis do you determine right from wrong? The teaching of others, as most everybody else. Could God have given us the ability to know intuitively? Is that your final answer? Since I said I wouldn't pursue this any more, I'll let that be the last word and will refrain from commenting.
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Post by Valpower on Jan 16, 2007 17:53:36 GMT -5
Oh, forgot one. What don't you like about the Patriot Act since you brought it up? Rick, I didn't say I don't like the Patriot Act (though, I don't if you're askin'--and not tellin'), rather that it fits the bill for ends-justifies-the-means relativism (things like relaxed probable cause requirements for wiretapping, etc.).
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Post by Valpower on Jan 16, 2007 17:58:35 GMT -5
Is that your final answer? It is not. With luck, I'll have 45 more years before my final answer.
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Post by rick on Jan 16, 2007 18:17:18 GMT -5
Oh, forgot one. What don't you like about the Patriot Act since you brought it up? Rick, I didn't say I don't like the Patriot Act (though, I don't if you're askin'--and not tellin'), rather that it fits the bill for ends-justifies-the-means relativism (things like relaxed probable cause requirements for wiretapping, etc.). I see no problem with relaxing those requirements ONLY in cases where there are international calls (not calls within the US) being placed to known terrorists. And it is my understanding that this is the only situation under which wiretapping of phone calls can be done under the Patriot Act. It's common sense. If I place calls to known terrorist organizations or expected terrorist organizations, I should not expect to be protected by existing laws that will essentially allow me to enter into treasonous and terrorist activities. There is a greater duty of the government to protect the citizens of this country rather than to allow those folks free reign and to get by on technicalities of previous laws, many of which are sound and constitutional but lawmakers could not have envisioned when they were written the kind of murderous killing of innocents by those who don't wear uniforms and who sneak into the country their murderous wares and suicidal ideologues. Modern technology and asymmetrical and unconventional warfare have changed the entire landscape for determining how best to protect innocent Americans. The Patriot Act preserves the spirit of constitutional law but narrowly focuses on certain kind of activities without taking away substantial rights and protections of most Americans. The Patriot Act is a good thing and I'm glad it was passed as law. Sadly, the liberal democrats seem hell bent on destroying it.
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Post by valporun on Jan 16, 2007 18:30:16 GMT -5
I know this is off the thread topic, but rick, why do you say you're a Christian if anytime someone who doesn't agree with you or speaks against you gets "judged" as a liberal? Last I remember hearing Christians aren't supposed to judge anyone because that is what God will do when we die and potentially go to heaven... I don't know about anyone else who frequents the "Off Topic" Board, but it seems to me like its a place for Rick to condemn those who don't think on the same, even level as he does specifically? I know when I say certain things here I feel like I'm being judged after he responds back to what I've said. Would anyone else be able to concur with this thought?
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Post by Valpower on Jan 16, 2007 18:34:47 GMT -5
The teaching of others, as most everybody else. Could God have given us the ability to know intuitively? Is that your final answer? Since I said I wouldn't pursue this any more, I'll let that be the last word and will refrain from commenting. By the way, my last question was not rhetorical and was addressed to you.
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Post by Valpower on Jan 16, 2007 18:42:57 GMT -5
I don't know about anyone else who frequents the "Off Topic" Board, but it seems to me like its a place for Rick to condemn those who don't think on the same, even level as he does specifically? I know when I say certain things here I feel like I'm being judged after he responds back to what I've said. Would anyone else be able to concur with this thought? I understand how you feel, but, in my long experience with Rick, I've come to understand his abrasive rhetoric as more of a reflection of his certitude than judgement against others. You know, like a gorilla (only uglier) thumping his chest.
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Post by rick on Jan 16, 2007 18:55:55 GMT -5
We are not told in Scripture never to judge. In fact , Jesus tells us to make right judgements. What we are not to do is judge hypocritically or self-righteously. Telling someone they are a liberal when that someone admits to being a liberal already is not an erroneous, hypocritical, or self-righteous judgement. It's just a fact. Now if I condemned someone for being and acting like a liberal when I acted like that in my own life, that would be a hypocritical judgement. And although it may appear that defending one's faith and the Truth of one's faith is being self-righteous, St. Paul and all of the Apostles and Church Fathers boldly proclaimed the Truth of the Gospel to everyone. St. Stephen chastised the Jews and was stoned to death because they were greatly offended by the things he was saying about them. Jesus Himself ticked off quite a few people who wanted to stone and kill Him. So make right and true judgements but don't do it hypocritically or self-righteously. As for me, I break the law every day in thought, word, and deed. And Scripture tells us that when you break one part of the law, you break all of it. So in that sense, I am a murderer when I have anger with another; I am an adulterer when I look with lust; you get the picture. I am far from being a saint so I don't speak with any sense of self-righteousness when I point out things to valpower, although in my deepest of deepest heart, I know that I cannot perfectly obey any of God's Laws. Only Jesus did that and you can't name one person in the history of mankind, including you and me, that ever has. So I stand with the rest of Christians - sinners in need of God's grace on a daily basis. When Jesus told us to pray daily for the forgiveness of our trespasses, He knew that this was necessary for all God's children. St. John wrote that he who thinks he is without sin deceives himself and makes God out to be a liar. So I guess if you feel judged, it's something within your own conscience that is pricking at your psyche. Because I neither condemn you as a person or valpower as a person. I do however take issue with the behaviors and mindset and philosophy of liberals, who for the most part don't believe in absolute Truth and whether or not they are aware of it, are therefore a living contradiction to biblical Truth in their actions and beliefs. If this makes them uncomfortable, well, it should make them uncomfortable.
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Post by rick on Jan 16, 2007 19:17:54 GMT -5
Is that your final answer? Since I said I wouldn't pursue this any more, I'll let that be the last word and will refrain from commenting. By the way, my last question was not rhetorical and was addressed to you. Well since I believe that God created all human beings, He also gave certain gifts to them as well, some have more than others. From what I can tell from your writings, you seem to have a remarkable gift of intuitive thinking. In my view, God gave you much more of that than he did me. But from my point of view, that sharp mind which I think you possess comes not from yourself. Those were the cards you were dealt. And you should be thankful that he gave you that gift. Surely, you can strengthen and nurture your mind and intuitive and logical skills on your own - but you got it from God. Just like some beautiful-looking women think they are really the cat's meow only because they look good, they mistake their own physical beauty as something they did on their own rather than having been received from the creator. They like to think it was because of them that everyone stares at them. NOT! They could be an airhead with little personality yet be physically attractive. Now some might think that's just what they want. LOL! So God not only could have given us the ability to know intuitively, I believe he actually did give us that ability. Scriptures tells us that there is no excuse for not knowing God. God's work is in nature, in the clouds, in the seas, and the whole creation is known by the creatures because He made sure we would. God has made it plain to everyone. St. Paul goes on to say that "although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him..." Instead, they chose to suppress the truth. These too are difficult and serious questions to think about.
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Post by rick on Jan 16, 2007 19:18:58 GMT -5
I don't know about anyone else who frequents the "Off Topic" Board, but it seems to me like its a place for Rick to condemn those who don't think on the same, even level as he does specifically? I know when I say certain things here I feel like I'm being judged after he responds back to what I've said. Would anyone else be able to concur with this thought? I understand how you feel, but, in my long experience with Rick, I've come to understand his abrasive rhetoric as more of a reflection of his certitude than judgement against others. You know, like a gorilla (only uglier) thumping his chest. LOL! Busted! Darn!
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Post by Valpower on Jan 17, 2007 2:05:40 GMT -5
By the way, my last question was not rhetorical and was addressed to you. Well since I believe that God created all human beings, He also gave certain gifts to them as well, some have more than others. From what I can tell from your writings, you seem to have a remarkable gift of intuitive thinking. In my view, God gave you much more of that than he did me. But from my point of view, that sharp mind which I think you possess comes not from yourself. Those were the cards you were dealt. And you should be thankful that he gave you that gift. Surely, you can strengthen and nurture your mind and intuitive and logical skills on your own - but you got it from God. Just like some beautiful-looking women think they are really the cat's meow only because they look good, they mistake their own physical beauty as something they did on their own rather than having been received from the creator. They like to think it was because of them that everyone stares at them. NOT! They could be an airhead with little personality yet be physically attractive. Now some might think that's just what they want. LOL! So God not only could have given us the ability to know intuitively, I believe he actually did give us that ability. Scriptures tells us that there is no excuse for not knowing God. God is in nature, in the clouds, in the seas, the whole creation is known by the creatures because He made sure we would. God has made it plain to everyone. St. Paul goes on to say that "although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him..." Instead, they chose to suppress the truth. These too are difficult and serious questions to think about. Thank you for your response. It was unexpectedly beautiful. In spite of my age, I am still thinking and learning. You are the cat's meow (only uglier, much uglier).
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