From: someone@anywheret.net   
      
   "JimD"  wrote in message news:2017010214074161219-email@nowherecom...   
      
   > I'm not really responding to the biblical things above because there's   
   > nothing to say.   
      
   There is when there's a lot to DO!   
      
   > We don't really disagree, it's just philosophy.   
      
   But philosophy without Action is Nothing.   
      
   A very clear precept of of this in Scripture is found in the following   
   passages in the book of James:   
      
   2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy   
   faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.   
   2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also   
   believe, and tremble.   
   2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?   
   2:21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered   
   Isaac his son upon the altar?   
   2:22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith   
   made perfect?   
   2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and   
   it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of   
   God.   
   2:24  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith   
   only.   
   2:25  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she   
   had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?   
   2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is   
   dead also.   
      
   In other words, 'philosophy' by mere words alone is in fact, effectively, in   
   reality, no philosophy at all, and is tantamount to, as Capt. Kirk once put   
   it, in the "This Side of Paradise" episode, "...debating in a vacuum" ;)   
      
   >  Not " just " as in unimportant, but just as in, interesting to talk   
   > about,   
      
   Merely talking about it is NOT enough!   
      
   > but we each must find our own way to enlightment.   
      
   Like the occasional plane or ship that loses their directional   
   indication/compass, such as an entire squadron TBM Avengers in the infamous   
   Bermuda Triangle...they had no choice but to *try* to find their own   
   way...and that didn't work out so well for them!!!   
      
   > Apparently it's not possible to open someone else's eyes. As in if they   
   > don't want them open.   
      
   Yes, Free will allows STUPIDITY...but nonetheless, there Will be   
   Consequences for whatever Choice is made.   
   However, we can be Salt and Light to those who Need it and do our part -   
   then the rest is between them, and God.   
      
   > More and more I just don't care to talk religion. It's ok, but I see it as   
   > an individual path we each individually need to walk.   
      
   There's almost always a MAJOR distinction between 'religioin', and Faith!   
   Genuine Faith is ALL ABOUT what you Believe, as Reflected by how you   
   BEHAVE!!!   
      
   My very favorite poet put it in such Awesome terms  thusly:   
      
   Sermons We See   
      
   by Edgar Guest   
      
   I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;   
   I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.   
      
   The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,   
   Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;   
      
   And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,   
   For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.   
      
   I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;   
   I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.   
      
   And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,   
   But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;   
      
   For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,   
   But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.   
      
   When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.   
   When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind   
      
   Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me   
   To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.   
      
   And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today   
   Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.   
      
   One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;   
   One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.   
      
   Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,   
   For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear.   
      
   Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,   
   I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.   
      
   AMEN!!!   
      
   > Ok, back to music.  It's NEVER a good idea to start mic-ing drums in small   
   > club settings.  You'll learn that.  No sound balance issue, however   
   > critical it seems, is worth opening that bag of problems.   
      
   > You'll see.   
      
   I realize that it's entirely possible that you may have NEVER experienced a   
   level of Maturity in band members that could control volume levels to the   
   point where drums could be mic'ed, but my drummer, and my Soulmate, is   
   simply incredible. His style is Very dynamic and he has no problem using   
   "Hot Rods" sticks and even brushes as needed. He can and sometimes does play   
   Very quietly, he's by far, the quietest drummer I've ever heard...no one   
   else even begins to come close, because he's got *that* much control, and is   
   *that* Mature and Professional about it.   
      
   > Nah, 7.5 billion is nothing.  Each one is a blessing, a possible benefit   
   > to the rest of us.   
      
   Since so far as we know, this is the Only planet available, I Strongly   
   Recommend NOT Gambling to see how much Excess PESTS it can be Infested   
   with...particularly since there is NO Precedent for the INSANE   
   Overpopulation levels we now have!!!   
      
   > The global elitists want less people. In their ideal world, there is room   
   > for themselves and just enough serf / worker bees to keep them happy and   
   > living like kings.  Any more people than that are just in their way.  It's   
   > really just that simple.   
      
   Even they understand that OVERCROWDING IS A VERY BAD THING...too bad their   
   TERMINALLY STUPID prospective Slaves aren't that intelligent, otherwise,   
   they wouldn't end up being their Slaves!!!   
      
   > Pick somewhere with open fields and blue skys and not a lot of liberals in   
   > whatever government your new location happens to suffer under.   
      
   Less people = less problems.   
      
   Small population = Small government.   
   Big population  = Big government   
   Excess population = Excess government.   
   OUT OF CONTROL POPULATION = OUT OF CONTROL GOVERNMENT!!!   
      
   > Nope.  Disagree.   Not too many people at all.   
      
   You *can't* have a basis for that position simply because there has NEVER   
   before in all of history, been a time when the Excess number of humans has   
   even been anywhere near 7.5 BILLION!   
   This is downright Frightening...actually HORRIFYING!!!   
      
   > If there is any problem at all, it's in the fact that far too many people   
   > want to be sheep, to let others tell them what to think, how to feel, and   
   > what to believe.   
      
   Jim.   
      
   Only the most STUPID animals breed when there are already WAAAAAAAAAAY   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)