I've often noticed that the sinful nature of the human being is toward the things that Satan is best known for. When someone refuses to accept Christ as their Lord, they demand to be in charge of their own life, in affect, they want to be doing what God should be doing, in affect, they want to be God for their own lives, in affect, they want to "ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High."

In the Garden of Gethsemene, Christ's prayers were "thy will be done" instead of wanting his will, as a living breathing human being he may have been tempted to simply live and not lay down His life on the cross. But because he knew his calling, He went to the cross for us. In affect, He became the greatest servant to human kind to ever have lived.

Their are scriptures that reflect the example of Christ and His authority. The picture gleaned for them is that an example to us, in that in order to gain true greatness, we should as Christ tend toward servings others. The world view is to serve one's self. Christ's example was to serve others.

Britty, whereas you commented:

"Satan's attitude was totally self-centered, prideful, and arrogant."

... what I might comment is this, that the World's attitude is totally self-centered, prideful, and arrogant. Mainly because the World does not serve Christ, it serves the Enemy, therefore would model Satan's actions.

The Bible is an amazing philosophical book with an incredible psychoanalytical look at human nature and the human struggle with good and evil. Long before the science of psychology we know today was invented. Some portions written in manuscript prior to the great Greek philosophers in Socrates and Aristotle's day. It truly is an amazing document.

On the home computer side (not counting Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000...which were designed for business systems)

We had Windows 95...

...then Windows 98

...then Windows ME... remember that catastrophe? Worst operating system ever....

... then we were given Windows XP... and lot's of holes and viruses were exploited, and they fixed them (mostly, finally) by Service Pack 2...

... now we gotta swallow Vista...


I am predicting Vista to go the way of Windows ME as a total crap operating system......

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

OK, so what basically is an update?

Here is my off-the-cuff explanation...

... every operating system Microsoft has ever offered for sale to the public was basically bug-filled crap from the get go. As the public uses and complains about the buggy junk they have to deal with, they e-mail and phone in to Microsoft tech support. Microsoft compiles lists of user complaints and assigns programmers to write additional code to fix the complaints. They issue the fixed software complaints as what they term as "Windows Updates." Also known as "patches" (like when you wear out a new pair of jeans three seconds after wearing them, and need to "patch" them...)

The reason Vista updates so frequently is because it is a total piece of junk.

If automobiles were marketed the way Microsoft markets software, it would be like this.... The customer drives home with their new car, all happy and excited to go on a nice long trip. Half way home, and idiot light comes on on the dash instructing the owner to service the engine. The next day, the new owner takes the car back to the dealer (gets a "Windows update") and a "small glitch" was fixed. It wasn't so bad, it only needed a gas tank... no biggee...

Next day, the new owner is about to start out on his or her big long trip and the two front tires both go flat at the exact same time. Back to the dealer.... Oh, it was a manufacturer flaw, there was a small piece of metal in the fender that was overlooked in the engineering design, and it came down and shredded both low-profile tires. The manufacturer pays to have them both fixed (another Windows update).

A week later, the new owner receives a recall notice in the mail telling them that if they don't bring the car back to the dealer immediately a steering mechanism problem will malfunction and the car will veer off the road killing everyone inside. In computer operating systems this is the equivalent of a 14 year old hacker figuring out an exploitable hole in Windows, and issuing out a real nasty computer worm that annihilates 300,000 machines in the first 45 minutes it hits the Internet. The car dealer is backed up for days with consumer complaints...

...and the owner of the car company... for now let's call him Bill Gates... becomes the richest man on Earth.....

This is how Microsoft has done business from day one.



Sell total crap to the consumers...

...depend on tech support to input consumer complaints by the thousands...

...hire programmers who do nothing all day but fix incomplete code issues



Oh and a "Service Pack"... ???

This is a "best of" compilation of Windows Update patch fixes. When they get enough patch fixes together, they compile them into a happy little downloadable doo-dad called a "Service Pack". I'm thinking we are up to Service Pack 3 for Windows XP... (last I checked)... I know there was a Service Pack 4 for Windows 2000 back in the day...


Ahhhh personal computing...... its not a perfect science by any means, but it is amazing what they can do with what they can sell to the public.

The Bible talks about putting one's light on a candlestick for all to see, intead of putting it under a bushel basket.

**************************

Mathew Chapter 5:14-16

v14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

v15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

v16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Oont oont

... gronk grunt...........

The cabin is built...

... MERRY CHRISTMAS....







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb89CUTwTGw

... Hope Floats ...

Well, a lot of this you could have controlled yourself. By "three days" I am assuming you shipped these packages on Monday, December 22nd? Common sense would tell me that that wasn't a good plan on your part...

And by "the second time" as this has happened... do I assume you did the same thing last year?

Next year, instead of waiting until the last minute to ship stuff, and expecting miracles, ship the stuff about a WEEK earlier. Then you are helping your relatives get their stuff ahead of the last minute rush.

If your stuff is getting lost (most likely just delayed big time)... be pro-active and mail early.

Solves the problem.

Sounds like you might need to learn that these places are SWAMPED this time of year. Put a sticky note on the fridge to remember that next year, and you can make things change by taking charge of the problem yourself.

Hello friends,

I suppose this is my way of sending out a holiday card. I am a Christian and have been for many years but I realize some of you that are receiving this may be of other faiths. Some may have no faith in particular, some may be atheists, some may simply be friends that I thought of at this time just to say "Merry Christmas." I am in no way sending this to proselytize my religion, I am just sending you a happy note to say "Merry Christmas." To me and my faith, the Christmas festival time is the remembrance of the birth of Jesus. I have no idea if they really get the date correct, and it doesn't really matter to me if they did, and I have no wish to argue that point. What I thought I might do is simply show folks where it is in the Bible that it is written about the birth of this baby Jesus. I don't have the money to send you all Christmas cards, and I don't have many of your mailing addresses. But I figured I could send a simple e-mail to say hi, and Merry Christmas in my own way. If you have other faiths, or other beliefs, I would be happy to receive anything from you on any of your special days. I didn't want to leave anybody out, so I sent this to everyone.

I might also take some time to add some of the things I don't think Christmas is about. Like this year when a man was trampled to death the day after Thanksgiving ("Black Friday") at a Wal-Mart store in New York because shoppers were so insistent on getting through the doors first to buy their Christmas gifts on sale. I really don't think Christmas is about buying stuff and wrapping it up in paper. Its not about the stuff, it is a birthday. Retail stores and capitalism have commandeered the holiday for their own means. I don't think that was the original intent of the event. Not at all.

Tonight as I sit in the quietness of my home, I simple reflect on what I believe is the real Christmas Story. It is found in the Bible, in the book of Luke, in the 2nd Chapter, in verses numbered 1 through 20. Or, in abbreviated notation for that location, Luke 2:1-20.

I will sit here tonight and go about my business, and I'll reflect on the day. Tomorrow when I wake up, I do not hand out presents to people, I have not celebrated this day that way for many years. I will be alone with my dog Koko, and it will for the most part be like most any other day. It is not a matter of economics, it is how I do the day. I could buy oodles of gifts if I wanted to, but I don't think I will be feeding into the retail market-ism of the day as many do. To me, and to my personal faith, the day has a much greater significance than can be bought or given away by earthly presents. So, for many years I have bought no gifts. Not because I have a great thing against gift giving, this is just a choice I make for myself.

I think it is a more sober way to honor the person that the Christmas season commemorates. It is also part of my personal belief system, and something I will most likely do the rest of my life. It does not diminish the joy of the season for me, it increases the literal meaning for me, and allows me to make a step closer toward what I believe is the true Christmas Story.

All that said, I wish you all the best. To all people, to everyone on this list, to varying degrees of friendship or aquiantences, to the people I pass by out here in cyberspace.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS"



TelephoneMan

*********************************************

Here is the account of the Christmas Story from the King James Bible:

*********************************************

Luke 2:1-20

v1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

v2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

v3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

v4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

v5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

v6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

v7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

v8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

v9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

v10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

v11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

v12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

v13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

v14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

v15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

v16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

v17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

v18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

v19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

v20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.



Merry Christmas.

:-)

Jacob's Ladder - Genesis 28:10-22

I found this tonight while reading the scriptures. I thought it was a neat passage so I thought I would share it here in the Bible Study thread:

*************************

Genesis 28:10-22

v10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

v11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

v12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

v13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

v14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

v15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

v16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

v17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

v18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

v19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

v20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

v21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:

v22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

I plan to have another research paper published in the next few weeks. I plan to continue to have papers published all the rest of the way through grad school. I should be ready to give my dissertation for my Ph.D. in 2015....

I would like to write a novel, or an auto-biography about my life's travels.

It is a way to tap into my mind and bring forth thoughts and emotions through the English language. I like to touch people with the langauge.

The things I like to write about vary, I could best put them into some kind of a list in no particular order.

- The oddities of the social structure we live in.

- I love to write poetry

- I love writing research papers (thus, my desire to become a college professor)

- I like writing about the gear that musicians use to create live and recorded music.

- I like to write about Shaolin Kung Fu and traditional martial arts.

- Politics without arguing about politics.

- Religions, without arguing about religion.

- The cognitive mind and the deep thinking philosophical man.

- I like to discuss military small arms, rifles, pistols, and shotguns used for self defense, without arguing gun rioghts or anti-gun rights crap.

- I hate arguing of any kind no matter the topic.

- I find historical references fascinating and often twine them into other writings of mine.

- I love to write about my personal adventures in life. I have seen so much, done so many things, and I have many interesting stories to tell. If there was one novel I would like to write, it would be my own auto-biography of adventures.

THOR !!!!

Another one of Stan Lee's masterpieces...

... I hope when they are done with Spidey, Hulk, Fantastic Four, and Ironman (all originally created by Stan Lee) in the theaters, that they will do a good Thor movie, too... he deserves to be on the silver screen !!!

Rebuilding the cabin.....

This my 2000th post and I am posting it to praise God.

Not to flirt.
Not to argue.

But to tell everyone I love Jesus.

To praise my Creator and live this day in peace.

To spend my 2000th post loving Jesus.

I wanna be like my Jesus.........................

My Jesus - Todd Agnew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srH1CCVOXBI


Which Jesus do you follow? Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ... Why do you look so much like the world?
‘Cause my Jesus bled and died, He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant, So which one do you want to be?


Blessed are the poor in spirit, Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land?
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness,
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand?
‘Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins, He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich, So which one do you want to be?


Who is this that you follow? This picture of the “American dream”...
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side?
Or fall down and worship at His holy feet? Holy... yeah...


Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for your sins,
But the Word says He was battered and scarred, or did you miss that part?
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him!
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?


Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet...
But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
And I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cried out loud


I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus! hey yeah
I want to be like my Jesus! Oh-oh, woah-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh, woah_____


Not a poster child for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus
But I'm not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
‘Cause you said to live like you, love like you, but then You died for me


Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like you Jesus
I want to be like my Jesus

Where is it written that a writer must love to read?

I hate reading.

I love writing.

When I first heard about unabridged audio books, I thought to myself "THERE IS A GOD..." (I have 11 DVDs worth of audio books on mp3....) (probably in the neighborhood of 500+ audiobooks...)

If someone gets too wordy or blah blah blah with one of their posts, I will be the first one to skip it and go on to something else. I am usually the first to get too wordy and blah blah blah with my posts.

LOL.

OK, here goes... (brainstormed in no particular order)

Ursula K. Le Guin
- "The Earthsea Trilogy"
- "The Dispossessed"


J.R.R. Tolkien
- "The Hobbit"
- "The Lord of the Rings Trilogy"
- anything by Tolkien...


Thomas Freidman
- "The World is Flat" (I'll let you know if he stays on my list after I finish the book... if I ever finish the book... I hate to read...LOL))
- any other of his books pertaining to globalization (on the shelf waiting to be read)


H.G. Wells
- "The War of the Worlds" (30 years BEFORE it was a fugging Tom Cruise movie) (I hate Tom Cruise, I NEVER went to see the movie... by the trilaers it looked like the title could have been "Run, White Boy, Run...")


Ray Bradbury
- "Fahrenheit 451
- "The Martian Chronicles"


B.B. King
- his autobiography... read it cover to cover in 2 days... could NOT put it down (but then again, I love the blues)


George Orwell
- "1984" (I listened to the entire unabridged book on mp3 audio files... the most best better thing since sliced bread)


Franklin W. Dixon (a.k.a. Leslie McFarlane, et al)
- author of "The Hardy Boys" (when I was younger I did actually read...)


Stan Lee
- "The Amazing Spiderman" comic book. (I once owned every issue from # 30 To # 328, and was only lacking 12 of the first 30...) LONG before it was a movie... I am Spidey's biggest fan.
- "Fantastic Four" comic book
- "Ironman" comic book
- "Thor" comic book
- "The Incredible Hulk" comic book
- STAN LEE ROCKS !!!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Lee


Screen Writers
- All the folks who write all the cool movie scripts... because I'd much rather watch a movie than read a book... LOL. I hate reading..... but I LOVE LOVE LOVE to write.

Well...

...I think of myself semi-retired, as of age 40... and I am 46 now. I don't live within the parameters of the society I live in. I do not punch a time clock, I do not work a regular job, and I am not independently wealthy.

I am a college student.

I teach guitar lessons for some money, but I only have 2 students at this time.

Guitar and electric guitars are one of my passions.

I suppose that is enough about me. It gets rather boring after that, it is more interesting to write about other stuff... like my adventures...


Jim

something to someone

"MOTIVATION"

...that word seems to be a key factor in getting most anything done.

With Diabetes,the doctors try a little fear motivator, but the threat of losing limbs and eye sight doesn't seem to last long after you leave the doctor's office and start feeling a bit better... its very easy to slip into denial about Diabetes when you don't feel all that bad.

I am thinking that health is going to be like most everything else in life... it can become a habit to be healthy. Its all about choice.

Choice.

Motivation.

Anybody got some things you've tried to influence yourself to change?

I love to eat... I am taking full-time classes... and have been living on financial aid (student loans and Pell grants and such...) since May, 2003... very tight financially... my money comes in once every four months...(and some people complain about getting paid every two weeks.. LOL) I do everything I need to do on the financial aid money, and give a few guitar lessons, but that has been slow for a few months... major stress ensues... I've been pretty crappy at taking my meds...

the rest is classic Diabetes

blood sugar goes up, health goes down.... yada yadda yadda...

Now its time to take charge of my own life... do things right... get in control of all of the above...

Its exciting.... even sitting at grandpa and gramma's house....