On that note let us all resolve to cherish the days we have left. I like reading the bible, one scripture that always puzzled me, this one:

Matt 12:

31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Years after first reading that I met an old fart who was sort of a theologian. I asked what he meant by the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.

He said: 'Despair.'

He went on, saying when you are in despair you are denying the possiblity of God's grace, you are whining about the indignity of being forced to be alive. I recently did some web searching and found numerous sites that agreed with him!

This is a big one for me to keep in mind as I lapse into a wee bit of despair now and then.

Away, ye devils!

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

At the risk of hijacking this thread (I'll tread lightly) there are many many parts of the bible that simply do not make any sense. I was lost when god said "let there be light!" on the second day of creation... but he didn't create the Sun, the Moon, the stars until the 4th day.

Then I got to figuring. If conflicts like this require theologians to interpret in order to make sense, the book isn't for me.

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One day the greater consciousness of humanity will ask of itself... "How many Einsteins and savants did we destroy to satisfy the wants of women in their lawful genocide upon the unborn?"

Nate ;

Having despairing thoughts now and then is normal, more so considering what you've been through, take it easy for a few days, don't make any sudden decisions just yet .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I would never give anyone grief for having despairing thoughts. I do it myself. But I do think it important to be aware that it can be a serious pitfall if we allow ourselves to descend too deeply into it. The person that lifts me by my bootstraps is me.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

The origin story is poetry. Any connection to fact is coincidental.

I thought I was an atheist after dropping out of the Mormon church at age 18. I started reading the Tao Teh Ching (5th centure BCE) at some point and later words of the Buddha (similar era) and was surprised at how often they resemble the words of Jesus. Got me into reading the bible again. It's an odd book in many ways, I never have been down with the 'Ev-very word in the bible is the revealed word of God-duh!' routine.

But there is good food for thought there IMO.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Perhaps the classic in our family around religion. Is when one daughter asked the minister when she was about 5 or 6. If God created the universe and the world. Where did he do this from?

They tried to explain that god was a spirit. She responded with where did this spirit come from?

Actually religion played a role in keeping society at least under some self control. Whatever rows a persons boat is fine by me. A belief in something is probably better than a belief in nothing.

A serious flaw in the bible is the lack indicating any understanding of the universe. That the world was flat finds no contradictions in the bible. It was likely that it was not written with active participation of any entity that was all seeing.

Religious organizations where the first corporations in all probability. Some have substantial financial holdings today including banks. They were the first to develop the one way flow of money concept perhaps.

One I am thinking of has massive holdings. Their religious activities are little more than a front for the commercial components of the corporation. For all practical purposes now.

The celibacy component was perhaps the first employee cost cutting example in society. This has also emerged again with current discussions with them about eliminating it. Plus development of what today are systems engineers. Possibly the religious orders where even the inventors of that concept . They had to be the first organizations to go international as well.

I suppose the beauty of humanity is our vast differences, resulting in our survival. In the end none of what we say, think, believe, or dream will matter... all trivialities. I can only end on the words of Leonard Nimoy... "Pure Energy."
(Oh damn, now I need to go listen to that song!)

What's on your mind... PURE ENERGY

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One day the greater consciousness of humanity will ask of itself... "How many Einsteins and savants did we destroy to satisfy the wants of women in their lawful genocide upon the unborn?"

At least _someone_is thinking ahead......

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

could have used 2 tyenol 5 a day for 10 more days,but dope heads cause people to suffer.Otherwise cleared for driving,mowed some today.Much better

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

You have to take it slower Nate ~ I've cracked and broken ribs and once ripped the cartilage (?) that holds them evenly, that took over a year to stop hurting .

The neck popping and cracking sounds may well be normal aging, your body telling you to GO EASIER .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Your colon will thank you as well

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

You must be a tough Hombre!

Good to hear its going well!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If I'm not on the forum,for a while,you'll no,I had another bad spell today.Arm pain,jaw,and burning chest.
Hopefull it was some junk that got knocked loose.Must me real estate dude,then off to VA emergency room.
I read some folks even after 3 weeks,either graft,fails,or clogs.Evensome junk gets floating around.If so,I demand stents,can't go thru rib splitting again

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

Get stronger every day and keep posting!

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Wait, wha?? ....

You look a lot like a woman I used to virtually know.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K