prisonchaplain

In business or government work, whoever comes up with the brilliant idea needs to take ownership of it. Right Ray?

Is this one of those "blue pill / red pill" scenarios???

It's not what you're saying, but it is what the IRS says. They went after Grove City College (PA) in the 1980s, demanding that it prove it does not discriminate. They college say, "We receive no public funds." The IRS said, "Oh contrare--you do have students with grants and loans, don't you???" Speak to some lawyers for the Catholic Church about this little quandry. In the lawsuits many diosces have faced, lawyers and church officials have been lambasted for trying to shield Catholic universities and individual parishes from being party to financial settlements. The "who controls what" is not so cut and dry--so Captain's example is not unreasonable. No, it implements it. Both Bob Jones University and Grove City College faced IRS action, when the agency determined that they may have violated public policy. Both institutions had religious tax-exempt status that the IRS said it had the power to remove, due to public policy concerns.

No I hate my video games. Everytime I break down and try them again, they end up killing me. So cruel.

I don't know if I'm THAT great, but the first skill we were taught at Introduction to Corrections was a defensive manuever known as "Let the force pass." It's a tremendous means of avoiding much unnecessary frustration. I'm sure. From their view, he's a spiritual leader with a spiritually prodigal son. Of course, you see you're father is being spiritually stymied. Heartbreaking situation all the way around.

When Churches or Seminaries accept Federal Funds to operate. If you take public funds, you are subject to the whim of the Public. Period. I hope you're wrong. If so, BYU surely has students on loans/grants. The IRS consideres that "the taking of public funds." Likewise, some churches also have charitable works that are partially funded by government grants, such as preschools that welcome low-income students. So, Jason, if an LDS or AG run preschool accepts a child for whom the government chips in $50 a month towards tuition, you think it would be right to force the church to perform gay marriages (should they become legal)? Must they hire the homosexual worship leader that applies? If so, the short term solution is for churches to askew all forms of government financing. But it hardly seems fair that we should have to choose between educating the upper classes only and sticking to our beliefs, or compromise our values in order to help those with less means.

When I pray I sometimes call him simply "Father" or "Daddy"--"Abba, Father, deep within my soul I cry..." I probably use "the" because I have done a fair amount of formal writing in my lifetime, and it's a habit. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

Thanks for sharing some personal experience/testimony, Ray. Maybe because of my own place in life and my own calling, I sense so much of that struggle in your posts. The Heavenly Father has also endowed each follower with varying levels of tolerance for the unknown. IMHO those with high levels make great missionaries, and yes, chaplains. Those with greater need for clarity and understanding probably do well as apologists and advocates. Just some meandering thoughts of mine, during a brief midweek break. :-)

Ray was asked what he learned FROM me, and he answered with what he had learned ABOUT me. I suppose that's okay, but it does not concern me so much. He lives at least a couple hours drive away from me, and it is quite possible we shall never meet in "real life." On the other hand, indirectly he did admit he had learned something from me: PATIENCE. It's not my goal in life to be a source of growth for others in the area of patience, but if that's how the Heavenly Father intend that I be used in one life, then "Thy will be done."

Anyone who bites on this worm deserves the hook in their gills. :) Note: worm doesn't refer to Jason, but to his baited question IMHO, if the BoM were a true revelation from God, it might impact Christians who are not LDS more than it would LDS Church members. Just a thought.

I'm pretty sure CaptainTux is not Ari! :) M. Im wondering about that. I've never seen anyone else mention politcs and NAMBLA in the same post. Capt. Tux is not Ari--I'm almost positive. While invoking NAMBLA can be extreme, it's a slippery slope that's not unreasonable to speculate about. What about an 18 year "man" and a 17 year old "boy"? 19 and 16, 20 and 15? Some churches believe that a child as young as 7 or 8 is old enough to be "born again." Jews declare 13-year olds to be men. 20 years ago the right-wing Moral Majority types said that homosexuals would eventually go for legalized marriage, with the hopes of eventually destorying it. Far-fetched!! Outrageous! They exclaimed. Just stay out of our bedrooms. Today many are saying government should simply get out of the business of marriage all together (i.e. the public institution of marriage should be abolished...destroyed). This is a tough problem, because the religious arguments against homosexual marriage are, well, religious. The bottom-line question is, can society have certain standards of behavior that are common and based in shared morals? If yes, then societies may continue to say no to homosexual marriage. If not--if we want to embrace the Libertarian concept that there should be no legal sanction against "victimless" behavior--i.e. consensual behavior--then, there's really nothing to stop it.

or in other words....not right now or in other words ....maybe someday or in other words....btw...i'm just having fun Yeah, you're just a fun-gi.

Extremism in the defense of satiating a sweet tooth is no vice.

Ray, can you elaborate on this? For example, we know that the Heavenly Father addressed the Son as God, and commanded the angels to worship Him. Do you believe that after glorification, the Father will address you as God and command the angels to worship you?

BobOz asked three questions that related to me in his post. 1. Why so many Christian churches (meaning denominations, me thinks)--is God pleased by this? 2. Why are LDS singled out as heretics, in light of all this disagreement? 3. Why do non-LDS spend so much time at an LDS website? 1. There are many different denominations for many different reasons--not all of them doctrinal. For example, the Salvation Army started because the "uptown" churches didn't want to deal with the "rough around the edges" converts that Booth was bringing in. Pentecostals were initially rejected by their churches--though now many churches have "Charismatic Renewal" within them--including the Catholics. For the most part the different Christian denominations accept one another as spiritual brothers/sisters, so I think God is fine with them. IMHO, we get far more caught up in organizational structures than the Heavenly Father does. 2. The LDS Church does get a lot of attention--as do Jehovah's Witnesses, and a few other groups. Why? The teachings are quite different in some major areas of belief. Additionally, both Jehovah's Witnesses and the LDS Church have teachings that more or less indicate that they got it right, and the rest of the Christian world is signficantly wrong. 3. Why do I spend time here? Initially it was to learn and share what I could. Having spent time here, I found that I was able to do both, so I stayed. 4. Oh, P.S. I'm reading the BoM in particular, to learn. I am neither looking to destroy, nor to embrace. I'm praying that God will show me what he wants me to see from it. I've made slow progress of late, but even from the writings of Nephi, I've been able to improve my understanding of the conversations we have here.

Bottom-line: Ray, if you believe your efforts are wasted, and that the Heavenly Father's precious gospel is being squandered by these conversations, stop. ApostleKnight, if you believe that gospel is being shared, seeds are being planted, and that there are blessings from these interfaith discussions (and even the intrafaith ones), then carry on. Maybe you're both right, and the Heavenly Father has different callings for each of you?

Why do I enjoy talking with Ray, ApostleKnight, Traveler, etc., even though none of them agree with me on major issues of doctrine? 1. I <strike>might</strike> have learned a thing or two. 2. It's mostly pleasant engaging intelligent people in conversation about important issues. Too often we do not have these opportunities, even with those of like precious faith, other than in formal "classroom" like settings. 3. The Holy Spirit might indeed anoint our words to bring blessings to others. Ray, maybe the bottom-line question to ask is at what point do we discern that we are "casting our pearls before swine?" When that happens no announcements are necessary. We just pack up and move on.

I've heard stuff like this my whole Christian life. "If your life is too easy, you probably aren't doing any damage to the Enemy." Or, all those verses about suffering producing character, and how God allows his most worthy followers to endure fire so they may come out as pure gold. Such words are true, and are meant to encourage those going through the fires. On the other hand, it's counterproductive to think that the more faithful I am the more I suffer. We all answer our "calls" from God, and He gives us the strength to endure whatever may come our way. However, we don't bring evil into our lives by our good deeds/beliefs/thoughts. Rather, we live in a sin-sick world, and it rains on the just and unjust alike. BTW, IMHO, times of adversity may be the most important times to take spiritual strength--be it from sacraments, prayers and fasting, worship, or service to others. All of these truly do become "sacrifices of praise"--and have special meaning to the Heavenly Father. God bless you as you travail this difficult path--ever keeping your eyes on Him who is able to deliver you.

Special people indeed who choose to care for special children. God bless and empower you in this!

Ahhh, now.... ... I'm tongue-tied, here. The bottom-line is that the non-LDS who take the time to establish a presence here are mostly respectful and thoughtful. There have been a few that "hit and run,"--but less than at the secular forum you met me at. :-) BTW, if I ever run for office I'm hiring Sugarbay and Stormy to run my campaign.

You buy, I'll fly. I'll start saving now. Don't forget my wife and three children!

Happy B-Day FF--however old you really are (was it 16 or 32???). LOL

So, MrsS--the bottom line is that Billy Graham is not "music to your ears?" I guess I can live with that. :-)

I really don't want to hijack this string with a side topic, but I gotta ask: Why not? Graham is one of the least controversial, cautious, well-loved evangelists of the last 50 years. He's preached in China and North Korea, and he's taken flack for including a broad spectrum of churches in his campaigns. Granted, he's not LDS. However, as evangelicals go, he's about as mild and accepting as you can get.

Mark this down in the annals of history, and mark it well: I agree with 100% of what Traveler had to say here. Thank you, hermano.