TerryWalstrom

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Posts by TerryWalstrom

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  7

  How to start your day

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was sifting through some old daily musings i'd written and found one of my favorites from back in 2015. i thought i'd share it with you._____.

  a day in the life.

  i took a hot bath this morning.

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  TerryWalstrom

  Starbucks really has the least flavorful coffee. When I was in Paris and Madrid a couple of weeks ago, I had the finest tasting coffee ever.
  Probably because they don't use African sources. That stuff is bitter through and through.
• 
  7

  How to start your day

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was sifting through some old daily musings i'd written and found one of my favorites from back in 2015. i thought i'd share it with you._____.

  a day in the life.

  i took a hot bath this morning.

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  TerryWalstrom

  I was sifting through some old daily musings I'd written and found one of my favorites from back in 2015. I thought I'd share it with you.
  _____
  

  A DAY IN THE LIFE

  I took a hot bath this morning. Then, after making my bed and saying "Good Morning" to my roommate, Sana--I jumped on my bike and headed off to breakfast.
  Sound exciting enough for you yet? Stay tuned!

  The Dixie House family restaurant seems to cater to defunct older men which makes it great for breakfast. At $3.99 it's hard to beat sausage/bacon, eggs, toast, cream gravy, hash browns, strawberry preserves and coffee. (Okay, coffee IS extra.)

  Still not exciting enough? Hang in there . . .

  I didn't realize it was 59 degrees when I got on my bike after that hot bath! Immediately my shoulders became sore. I was baffled. That is, until I remembered having the territorial battle to the death on Saturday morning with two vicious biting dogs! Swingng that bicycle back and forth must have wrenched a muscle--or something--(that's what older people always say: "I wrenched" a muscle."

  So, after breakfast I headed for Starbucks, my home-away-from-home where I commence my writing for the day.

  As I was sitting down, a fellow of about 45 smiled at me and spoke:
  "How are you feeling this morning?"
  "My shoulders are sore from fighting with a couple of stray dogs. I think I wrenched my neck."

  He smiled and nodded. Then, he stood as I sat. He turned to face me and asked me another question:
  "Do you believe in the power of prayer?"
  ___________

  Now any of you who know me realize I have a wide range of quips, comebacks, parries and thrusts at my disposal from a lifetime of smart-assery. But--I thought I'd be diplomatic--for a change.

  I answered the way a politician answers: without saying anything.

  "I was baptized in 1963 and I'm no stranger to prayer. I'm 68 and still alive in good health." (How's that for a diplomatic answer?)
  So the man grins. He asks yet another question while still standing in front of me gazing down.

  "Do you acknowledge the healing power of Jesus Christ?"

  Well now, I was in such a good mood this morning, I just didn't feel at all like screwing around and spoiling this inquisitive fella's morning.

  "How could any man who professes Jesus Christ deny his miraculous powers of healing?" (See what I did there?)
  ____________

  Now comes the part you've been waiting for. The good fellow with the ordinary face and kindly smile stepped closer and reached out and laid his hand upon my shoulder right there in the middle of Starbucks!

  I don't know how you'd react to this--but I was suddenly having a great fun time! Where else but Texas can you get breakfast for under $4 plus your shoulder healed in Starbucks for free?

  The next thing I know, this stranger summons his inner Benny Hinn and raises his right hand to Jesus as his left hand finds the sore spot in my shoulder unbidden, and he commences to beseech the miracles of heaven to flow into my anterior musculature as a soothing Balsam from Gilead. Or something.

  His recitation, which included some rather colorful vocabulary usage such as "vexing affliction" and "unwarranted encounter with beasts of the field," and capped it off with a hearty "In the blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ." (To which I joined in with a magnificent and stentorian "AAAAA-MEN!"

  I was sucking up the numinous powers of celestial succor like chocolate milk through a straw! It's the most fun I've had since I found a $20 bill in the pocket of an old pair of pants.

  My benefactor was interrupted by another man he'd been waiting on, and they immediately went off to another part of Starbucks to talk 'bidness'.
  And that was that!
  Except, it wasn't. . .

  My shoulder instantly improved and the pain in my neck vanished as sure as I'm sitting here--no shit!

  Now isn't that dandy?

  Post Script:
  I just sneezed. A lady sitting to my right smiled at me and offered a warm, "God Bless You!"

  I can see this is going to be one of the good days!
  
  _____
  I remember that guy but I never saw him again--or the two dogs that bit me.
• 
  22

  Considering God's 'failure'

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovah's "failure".

  we humans never seem to consider god in terms of anything but power and ability.

  the idea of 'failure' is preposterous.. .

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  TerryWalstrom

  I once read someplace that mankind has passed through four stages of World Views as to how life really is and how to deal with it.

  Stage 1 is SUPERSTITION
  Thunder, lightning, earthquakes, winds, and nature itself was anthropomorphized (humanized) into ghosts, gods, spirits, etc.
  with unseen powers and these entities had to be appeased.
  Magic words, incantation, and elaborate astral / astrological concepts developed to predict and comprehend the mysteries.
  Stage 2 is RELIGION which built superstitious ideas into a BIG STORY with causes and effects and RITUALS for gaining favor with the gods.
  Stage 3 is PHILOSOPHY whereby rational thinking and logic were applied to naturalistic, mechanical, reasonable guidelines for thinking within limits sought to codify the world, mainly to answer the question: What do we know and how do we know it?
  Stage 4 is SCIENCE (additionally technology)
  The age of measurement and testing cleaned out much of the crap which crept into philosophy and religion and a remarkable METHODOLOGY arose: the Scientific Method.
  Falsifiability was a brilliant conception: Truth Statements must be stated in such a way they can be tested and falsified by contrary proof and facts. Nothing was sacred when everything was testable.
  
  The New Testament relied a great deal on the writings of Plato and much of Jesus' character borrows heavily from Socrates (especially answering a question with a question) and Neo-Platonic philosophy is all over New Testament structure and 'reasoning'. In fact, Aristotle was a huge influence on the writings of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas were huge fans of Greek philosophy and of Aristotle.
  
  The result was a weirdly impressive systematic theology which made Christianity appear to be founded on a much higher level of superstition than previous efforts.
  
  Unfortunately, after the Reformation and Renaissance science grew by leaps and bounds and overtook Catholic theology and the crimes against Galileo and other scientific genius dimmed the reputation of religious superiority and marginalized educated arguments into mere fluffy apologetics.
  
  The Watchtower religion fooled the hell out of me and I was pretty intelligent--but scientifically uneducated--and consequently a pushover for the "plausible" authority of Bible Verse smackdowns.
  
  The first important thing I did when I left JW's was to educate myself in Philosophy and Science which pulled that curtain WAAAAY back and revealed the tiny frauds scampering about in the Governing Body pulling levers and making scary authoritarian sounds.
  
  GAME OVER
  
  Jehovah God now stands naked and shivering in the cold light of constant disproof of His silly pronouncements.
• 
  22

  Considering God's 'failure'

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovah's "failure".

  we humans never seem to consider god in terms of anything but power and ability.

  the idea of 'failure' is preposterous.. .

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  TerryWalstrom

  Meanwhile...I'll be stone cold in the ground :)
• 
  22

  Considering God's 'failure'

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovah's "failure".

  we humans never seem to consider god in terms of anything but power and ability.

  the idea of 'failure' is preposterous.. .

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  2. 
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  TerryWalstrom

  God is like the beautiful girl who only hangs out with ugly girls for friends to make her look better ;)
• 
  22

  Considering God's 'failure'

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovah's "failure".

  we humans never seem to consider god in terms of anything but power and ability.

  the idea of 'failure' is preposterous.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  TerryWalstrom

  All clearly prudent thoughts. Almost inescapable is the conclusion that it takes a great deal of effort to make a stone float upward like a balloon.
  
  
• 
  22

  Considering God's 'failure'

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovah's "failure".

  we humans never seem to consider god in terms of anything but power and ability.

  the idea of 'failure' is preposterous.. .

  1. 
  2. 
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  TerryWalstrom

  
  As an addendum to the above mention of Just So stories*
  
  Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories each tell how a particular animal was modified from an original form to its current form by the acts of man, or some magical being. For example, the Whale has a tiny throat because he swallowed a mariner, who tied a raft inside to block the whale from swallowing other men. The Camel has a hump given to him by a djinn as punishment for the camel's refusing to work (the hump allows the camel to work longer between times of eating). The Leopard's spots were painted by an Ethiopian (after the Ethiopian painted himself black). The Kangaroo gets its powerful hind legs, long tail, and hopping gait after being chased all day by a dingo, sent by a minor god responding to the Kangaroo's request to be made different from all other animals.
• 
  22

  Considering God's 'failure'

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovah's "failure".

  we humans never seem to consider god in terms of anything but power and ability.

  the idea of 'failure' is preposterous.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TerryWalstrom

  Jehovah's "Failure"

  _________

  
  

  We humans never seem to consider God in terms of anything but Power and Ability. The idea of 'failure' is preposterous.

  Or, is it?

  If we take our notions of Jehovah in terms of PURPOSE, even the most devout pilgrim must acknowledge --at least for now--such PURPOSE has not come to pass.

  
  

  "Oh, but it will!"

  Okay, if you say it enough times. Sure.

  
  

  The Apostles and disciples ended their fervent prayers with, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus."

  And we're still waiting.

  
  

  JW's who jury-rigged Jesus' 'arrival' back in 1914 are forced to split such an invisible notion into two halves! Their Jesus has been busy all these years GUIDING the Governing Body in circles.

  Such a great guide! What a marvellous plan. Hooray.

  
  

  Be that as it may...

  I would reduce the problem of J-God's failures into one compound thought and I'll share it with you for your autopsy.

  Here it is:

  
  

  J-God's failure stems from having created INFERIOR creatures (making them less than divine) and holding them to perfect standards. Humans are inferior to Angels. Angels are inferior to God. (We'll side-step the whole Michael/the Word/Trinity argument).

  Holding a legless person to height standards is unthinkable. How does Jehovah differ? Not at all.

  JW theology builds an argument forever crumbling under poor design.

  
  

  Concocting a Legal Contract with Israel and attaching a malediction to failure to uphold a perfect law guaranteed centuries of persecution and hounding. The Jews (like Jehovah's Witnesses) buy-in to a special relationship and status and end up ruinously disappointed--all the while--covering up for it. (Not admitting God's failure.)

  
  

  The Apostle Paul (more or less the founder of Christianity as a theological reasoning process) lamented he was torn between what he wished to do and what his human nature demanded instead.

  It's like a stone wishing to float like a balloon!

  
  

  Conflict of nature is a very silly notion and I'll tell you why.

  
  

  IF...(I say "IF") we are designed and manufactured by a Divine being such as Jehovah, then we can't escape His design flaws.

  Dogs chase cars. It is their nature. Sure, you can punish the dog--but why not create him differently? (If you're God, of course.)

  
  

  The scenario mainstream Christianity suggests consists of DYING and being re-engineered into something ELSE entirely.

  Doesn't that REALLY mean--"Oops, let me start over and try again with these humans and angels and the whole damned architecture?"

  Well, it does to me!

  Christianity is a 'back-to-the-drawing-board situation contrived to look like a DIVINE PLAN of the ages.

  
  

  God's failure (I repeat) stems solely from creating creatures INFERIOR to Himself and demanding they adhere to a SUPERIOR standard wholly against the very nature He imposed.

  
  

  The Ad Hoc explanation of the serpent, Garden, Sin is no better than a Rudyard Kipling "Just So" story.

  God manufactured a chair. The first time anybody sat in it--it crumbled. Let's blame the sitter?

  Bah, Humbug.

  Build a better chair and it won't crumble!

  
  

  VICTIMS BLAME THEMSELVES!

  Accepting some built-in 'sin' from ancestors is a 'blame-yourself' victim argument.

  Surely we can't blame God?

  
  

  GOD FAILED and took humanity down with His error.

  JESUS FAILED and there are forty thousand denominations eager to make slightly different arguments as to why it only appears to be failure IF you come to their church and believe their proprietary nonsense.

  Whichever "God" humans think up--they still die hoping that self-same deity has been appeased by ritual and virtuous hijinks.

  
  

  Notice, if you will, this is not an Atheist argument at all.

  I'm granting an implied "swallow the gnat with the camel" presupposition.

  I just toss this out as an observation on my part.

  It isn't clever. It isn't argumentative.

  
  

  Think of me as just a man looking at a gorgeous old building with collapsed walls while reading a plaque which says, "The most perfect structure by the finest architect which endures forever."

  
  

  What is APOLOGIA?

  It consists of talking people out of plain sense by contrived arguments.

  It's considered an act of Faith.

  
  

  Been there. Done that. Thanks, but No Thanks.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Have your say ...

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
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  11

  Encounter with C.I.A. Military Dude

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  encounter with c.i.a.

  military dudewhat follows is my conversation with a well-muscled dude in a paramilitary shirt (outside on starbucks’ patio) yesterday.military dude: (pointing) “rear tire : ya got a flat, buddy.”me: “thanks.

  slow leak.

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  TerryWalstrom
• 
  11

  Encounter with C.I.A. Military Dude

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  encounter with c.i.a.

  military dudewhat follows is my conversation with a well-muscled dude in a paramilitary shirt (outside on starbucks’ patio) yesterday.military dude: (pointing) “rear tire : ya got a flat, buddy.”me: “thanks.

  slow leak.

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  TerryWalstrom

  Bear paws sounds better