Artful Dodger: That's Southerners... or Southern democrats... The same families who lost the civil war.

mckinley: The old phrase.. put your money where your mouth (or in this case country) is.... comes to mind.

A new law approved by all governments in the UN is to come into place today, in which your home country will be the one where most of your money is based.

In order to pass as an American Mitt is transferring his off shore funds (over $100 million) back to the USA.

Iamon lyme: Nope. That's just an excuse.

Iamon lyme: Then why are you arguing about what I am saying, is it just for the sake of arguing??

"True Christians are the first to regulate themselves, and to call fakers what they are."

Isn't that what I'm doing? ....ahhhhhh You've decided your able to say who is and who isn't a Christian!!!

"I'm not above using cliches. They have their purpose, but all the time and for every occasion? Are you kidding me?"

Then why do you and Art keep on using the same tired ones on liberals, etc all the time?

Iamon lyme: It's based on past events. It's also based on knowledge of certain charities in the past caught paying themselves a high wage.

"Compared to what?"

Charities. They are just begging after all.

I think the Buddhist approach to priesthood is more transparent.

Iamon lyme: I don't feel pressured. I just see the way they are doing it and understand that a good percentage of the money will never reach any 'causes'.. but will be spent on 'admin' costs.

It's not a feeling, they are in it for the money.

Iamon lyme: I left watching the Christian Channels in the UK for the same reason Iamon. It's all they want your money. They are even starting to use Glenn Beck style educating.. just a few pens and a white board though.

With lovely scenes of Flames/Jerusalem/the cross all to show they are genuine.

Their jewellery is.

mckinley: Google the gospel of Thomas. The text is all there.

The sense that Putin came out the meeting with more than Obama was enhanced by a comment from a Russian diplomat. Asked if the meeting was important for the Russians, the Russian diplomat said: "Yes, but even more for the Americans."

Putin has just come out of an election but Obama is facing one, making the US president the more vulnerable of the two. Syria is not yet an election issue but if television keeps showing footage of widespread killing in the country, it could easily become one.

John McCain, the Republican senator who was a presidential candidate in 2008, was dismissive of the joint statement by Obama and Putin. "I think it was the kind of statement you usually hear when there is no concrete agreement."

McCain called on Monday for US intervention by creating a safe haven for the rebels and to supply them with arms. He said on CNN it was an "unfair fight", noting reports of alleged supplies from Russia and Iran to the Syrian government.

The White House so far has shown an unwillingness for military intervention comparable to Libya last year and it had been hoping Putin might have helped in peacefully easing Assad from power.

Instead, Obama's failure to win over Putin leaves Syria facing the prospect of increasing violence.

>>>>>>>> Putin doesn't think much of Romney, some of the talks to try and save lives in that civil war can't happen now.

... Obama could do a Blair, and work afterwards on the problem... as a known face.

Vikings: Cheers, I might be able to find out what all the fuss is about now.

Why does God.tv need four million? True believers would do the lottery and give.

Especially the nice rolex the presenter is wearing from Jerusalem.

Iamon lyme: So you can't be bothered to see, ok. I know it won't support your case so that's fine.

Iamon lyme: Yes... it's goofy!!

Artful Dodger: .. I'm a prince and I am Funky.. never a king.. I am prince the one and only.

Artful Dodger: Yes it does matter how the US government (no big 6 trillion dollar wedding for Obama then! ) spends it's money.

If you don't... btw millions is not trillions

rod03801: I do when you CAN'T REMEMBER THE DETAILS.

It leads it very much open to debate.. or even an opinion!!

Iamon lyme: So that's where the 'knickers in twist' troll got to!!

Sorry.. someone tried to eradicate the Hogs Father... caused chaos

Artful Dodger: 6 trillion... *sigh* what's the breakdown? Did he spend it on a wedding or something??

Artful Dodger: Any spending already earmarked for DoD? Bank handouts?? Did the rules for accounting suddenly change or the previous years balance sheet predict nothing carried forward??

No. Nor does it work that way in any business or economy.

Stop trying to use lame economics and selective history!!

rod03801: Rod, politicians make deals with leaders of other countries all the time. Before politicians it was the royals, or port owners who collected a royalty.

22. Jesus saw some babies nursing. He said to his disciples, "These nursing babies are like those who enter the (Father's) kingdom."

They said to him, "Then shall we enter the (Father's) kingdom as babies?"

Jesus said to them, "When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter [the kingdom]."

Bwild: Nag Hammadi library...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nag_Hammadi_library#Complete_list_of_codices_found_in_Nag_Hammadi

mckinley: I think it would be fair to say that most if not all the major events when 'earthquakes' and 'floods' happened, happened. Even, to some extent the Garden of Eden, thanks to new evidence that the Sahara desert is not a desert, but a cyclic environment that fluctuates between a lush and desert state.

The stories in the OT were more about carrying on wisdom and knowledge then the actual person. The aborigines use a similar system to tell their children how to survive in the bush, as did many early civilisations.

eg... the Greek and their Gods, The Norse with Odin and Loki.

Truth is hidden behind the story, just the story makes it easier to absorb.

No. The policies that created the trend to not balance the books started decades ago. Increased military spending, tax cuts which has seen the top rates tumble.

If the tax levels were as they were back before Raygun.. the loopholes wouldn't really matter. But the taxation levels have dropped and the 1% still use loopholes.

rod03801: Ok.. It would be (using my accountant head) a fair statement if only one tax existed. You yourself have told me this is not the case.

It would be fair if the the fed gov is the only giver of 'gifts' and the setting thereof. I've heard this is not the case. It would be fair if most 'rich' people just paid fed income tax. this is not the case.

Therefore the statement is in itself misleading.

rod03801: But that is only one tax, and the rich have many many ways of skipping paying tax that our bent accountant firms drool over. This is what is generally meant when not paying their fair share.

N' when some American companies are being given money to stay in business.

By the looks of it, you all pay taxes in some form, to someone.

Artful Dodger: *** sigh *** "the governments"

I asked a point of reference. Us UK people can get confused by the myriad of tax systems in the USA.


... How many different taxes at any level may a person of working age pay in the USA .. as an average?

You have Federal Income tax, state payroll tax?? Now.. this is want to know. straight info on HOW MANY fingers are there in the pie.

I was watching some scholars on the Bible from a UK university.. on the meaning of John 3:16

Common usage is not as originally written. ... Translation problems.

Iamon lyme: These guys I like to watch on youtube.. They are funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g1KhvF9nJg

No-one has been able to call them up and prove to their level of 'proof' that God, as written in the Bible .. just with Jesus, does/did exist.As written.

So much stuff was destroyed.. The Vatican has so much hidden...

Artful Dodger: Not the same as paying no tax.. just one specific tax out of how many? Sorry but we have a straight forward system, one income tax system. Not one from the gov and another going to the local 'state'/county. Local level taxes are collected through 'council tax' (ie property rates) and any such system used to generate extra revenue.. car parking fines as an example.

Iamon lyme: Not one tax dollar.. a myth it's paid for by government money.

Just like that 47% of Americans pay no income tax, as Mitt Romney did state a few days back when stating he has no intent of appealing to them.

... but they do pay.."61% of those who pay no federal income tax do pay payroll tax at 15.3%.

Another 22% of the non-income tax-payers are elderly, according to the Ezra Klein article. If that is correct, 83% of those who do not pay income tax don't really fit Mr Romney's characterisation, except in so far as his argument is that people who don't pay income tax aren't impressed by promises of income tax cuts."

Ephesians 5

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

....... But I do like this version.. David, I love you man!!

Twin Peaks rulz

You know you two, when you act like this it is a sign you have no further argument without conceding a point.

Iamon lyme: ?? What? .... straight?? Nahhhhhh

Iamon lyme: Beacuse the saving then was in their hands... the dual state of concious and unconscious, the sleeper must awaken!!

Iamon lyme: It's a term that was created after.

Abrahamic religions (also Abrahamism) are the monotheistic faiths emphasizing and tracing their common origin to Abraham[1] or recognizing a spiritual tradition identified with him.[2][3][4] They are one of the major divisions in comparative religion, along with Indian religions (Dharmic), East Asian religions (Taoic) and Neopaganism. As of the early twenty-first century, it was estimated that 54% of the world's population (3.8 billion people) considered themselves adherents of the Abrahamic religions, about 30% of other religions, and 16% of no religion.[5][6] The Abrahamic religions originated in the Middle East.[7]

The largest Abrahamic religions are, in chronological order of founding, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Baha'i Faith.

>>>>> Didn't realise the Baha'i was considered an Abrahamic rooted faith. Yet I admit I've not really read up on it.

Iamon lyme: Wow... you've decided that an atheist speaks a certain way, that critique of history of the use of the Bible is illegal and against God!!!

"On other occasions you've spoken of God as an invention of man, to control people or simply make them behave themselves."

Be specific. As at certain times God has been used in various ways throughout history... as did the Gods that came before and after

"but that you just want to keep your undefined deity a secret."

If you really mean that, there is no point.. You should give up Christianity and go and worship.... http://kevinsmith.propworx.com/files/2010/10/pr016.jpg ....

Iamon lyme: More like Glenn Beck in his rewriting of American history lessons.

Artful Dodger: That is an almost Heinlein style statement. But in that.. it was done to the letter. If someone did a hit and run and through not stopping, the victim incurred injury beyond the accident itself.. they were inflicted on the same injury and any subsequent delay in treatment..... In one universe that is.. no lawyers as well. Lawyers were wiped out some time in the past.

But back to.....

What is forbidden in all 3 Abraham based religions?

Artful Dodger: No.. I'm just doing it in sections, doing it all in one leads to confusion and/or lots of presumptions on this board.

So, basically you are saying the phrase set limits on behaviour, and before that people were going to far, so much that compensation became revenge?

Like with the Jewish price taggers?

Artful Dodger: Right, they were not. It is not consistent with Christ's teachings.

.. yet an eye for an eye is there in the Bible.

Yes, I know it could be said that it is a phrase in the OT, and Christ is of the NT. Yet the OT is part and is relied on to 'authorise' certain NT matters.. such as the coming of a Messiah, much regarding being 'gay' and the big argument over evolution.

All gone with no OT. Which contains the oral history of the Jewish people, written down. Including their wars, some notable geographic events and massacres done by the Jews.

.. The same God that Christ is of ordered, or did these massacres according to the OT.

That cannot be denied as written.. debatable if it was actually 'God'. It might just have been their justification for it all.

.. The terrorists that were Catholic and Protestant during the Northern Ireland troubles..

Were they Christian Art? Trying to be basic here!

Artful Dodger: Are they Christian in the acts they committed, or just calling themselves Christian?

Iamon lyme: No.

Artful Dodger: No.

FAIRVIEW — A young girl told authorities a Fairview pastor used sexual abuse as punishment.

Tommy Joe Pitts, 51, was charged Wednesday in Major County District Court with nine felony counts in connection with the sexual assault of three girls ages 8, 9, and 12.

The complaints include two counts of first-degree rape, four counts of lewd molestation and three counts of rape by instrumentation.

Pitts appeared briefly in court Wednesday afternoon with his attorney, Fritz McGee. His bail is set at $1 million.

His wife was in the courtroom. She called the sheriff’s department March 31 to report Pitts molested three girls and was threatening to kill himself. Pitts was arrested after he deliberately drove into the path of a tractor-trailer rig, authorities said. The vehicles did not strike each other and Pitts was not injured, authorities said.

Pitts’ wife said she became suspicious of Pitts when he insisted on spending more time alone with the girls and confronted him about the alleged abuse on March 31.

The 12-year-old girl told authorities when the girls broke a rule Pitts would give them a choice of punishment. He offered the option of getting a spanking or touching his genitals.

Investigators claim they’ve documented more than 70 instances of sexual assault against the three girls. Pitts, an ordained minster with the Assemblies of God since 2007, was pastor at the Midway Assembly of God in Fairview.

Iamon lyme: Like the Christians and churches discipline regarding child abuse by church members?

Artful Dodger: Judaism recorded their wars as well.... including the massacres they did. Christianity was formalised into a religion based on a pogrom.

And when our religion split....

"Interesting that the uprisings started on 911. But then there is no connection."

911 is just when Americans as a nation woke up to what had happened on their behalf.

Artful Dodger: I could say about the same with the US, regarding the CIA and foreign policy a few decades ago. We are talking about policies that have ended up in thousands upon thousands dying.

But it wasn't the whole of the US population who wanted this... just the 1%.