Ali: [[2003.11.29.19.06.9411] thanks for this. :)
oops! came out wrong.
hope this posts right: Blue into the Distance
poyen_fpy~
*smile* Thank you so much for the compliment. :) I'm glad that you liked.
Love and unsung silence, Ali
***MASSIVE T-SHIRT UPDATE!***
First off; sorry for the delays. But things are well under way now.
Second off, dang it, I may have lost some e-mail. My deepest apologies for that, a single missed mouseclick did me in. Hopefully I didn't lose too much--Spaded, I think you may be one of the victims.
Third off, paypal turned out to be more of a pain in the butt that I expected...for some reason they don't work with the online banking service Mo and I use, so Saturday I got a new checking account at a local bank...hopefully I can get my paypal verified mojo working before any payments get bounced.
Fourth off: multiple shirts will be sent in multiple packages.
OK, so here's the current status:
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PAYPAL'd up: (these shirts are all packaged up, should be in the mail tomorrow)
jwb71913, Misti, therosser1022, DS
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WAITING JUST FOR CHECK:
ladyinwaiting, Cessie
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WAITING FOR CHECK *AND* ADDRESS:
darwin, aparajita
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AUSTRALIAN. I'll be sending this double pack holiday wrapping tomorrow. I'll find out what the shipping is, we can figure out what the fairest split will be:
deevaa, Chances
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NO PAYMENT/ADDRESS INFO:
spaded (sorry!), elocution, Rhetoric, Violet, Just Some Girl, Angel
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NO PAYMENT INFO, AND HOPE THE XL WAS OK:
indefensible sushi
Injun Joe,
I am deeply troubled about the changes of the Episcopal Church because I have been worshiping in this way since I was six years old....I recognize that defects can be found in any organized religion and what it boils down to is God's grace, my spiritualism and my relationship with others...Also, I realize that nothing here on earth lasts forever, accept changes and make my decisions on my core beliefs...I always can laugh at all jokes that have been made about all religions, but I am wondering why the changes in the Episcopal faith affect you...
CS58
RainbowChaser
Eyes wide open was incredible
I'm going through a divorce right now and that summed up how I feel
I would feel so Honored if some of you would read my poems and let me know what you think they are all in new submissions under IcyHeidi thank you all so much
CS58, Jen, Laura, or whomever...
It affects me because I have always considered myself to be Epsicoaplian first and foremost. I accepted Christ as my savior at a young age, and subsequently renewed that faith many times over many years. I was raised as a Baptist until I began grade school, when my family "converted" to the Episcopal church. I was an acolyte, the president of our church's youth group throughout high school, and performed as a "gospel magician" in countless church performances during that time (delivering sermons using magic tricks to illustrate biblical stories). Up until college, I seriously planned to become a minister...college "lieralized" my plans and I studied psychology at one the the top 10 colleges in the U.S. with some pretty heavy hitters. I began to question my faith in typical collegiate fashion and sought out many religions to try and gain better understanding. I went to extreme, non-dogmatic route of Unitarian Universalism and also took refuge in Buddhism around 1995 (while promoting a tour of Buddhist monks from the Ganden Yangste sect of Buddhism). I also studied writing (with William Burroughs, Allen Ginsburg, and Anne Waldman) and contemplative psychology at the Naropa Institute in Boulder CO during the time that I was also on the staff of Werner Erhard & Associates (i.e. The est Training, The Forum). So, I guest I can say that I've done my homework on the topic, although I tend to believe that the entire topic is largely a personal one (that is to say that I believe it is rude or impolite to really even discuss the topic...I'm not out to save any souls, just trying to live right (i.e. Buddhist precepts of right thinking, right actions, etc). In the past five years, I engaged in largely unhealthy relationships that were mostly carnal and defined by immediate gratification. It took those relationships to fully realize how sick and detached I'd become from any morality beyond my own mind and fancies. I'd strayed radically from my core upbringing and beliefs, operating in a world where NOTHING was special or sacred. It took falling off that path to realize what I was truly about, and in the past year or so I have experienced something of a spiritual rebirth or re-awakening...not without a lot of sacrifice and self-examination. In the words of author Douglas Coupland in LIFE AFTER GOD, "Here is my secret: I tell it to you with an openness of heart that I doubt I shall ever achieve again, so I pray that you are in a quiet room as you hear these words. My secret is that I need God - that I am sick and can no longer make it alone." I gave up alcohol long ago, and I gave up marijuana about two years ago. Alcohol is an insult to the soul, and marijuana is illegal in the U.S. I gave up pornography long, long ago and I do all I can to fight for a total prohibition of such materials...given the enormous harm it does the mind and soul. I know of no man or woman who can use it without inflicting great harm and danger on themselves and others in their lives and relationships...regardless of what anyone may say to normalize and justify such things. I have come to see how damaged our society has become and I realize that all I can really do is live the best life I can, free from harmful indulgences. Ironically, for someone who thought themselves to be so progressive, the most progressive thing I have ever done is to get clear on my beliefs, to question those which are most harmful and to acknowledge that I am but a simple, flawed human being.
Sorry for the long answer, but your question above seemed to question why I care at all about the Episcopal Church's current problems. I am one, and therefore part of the problem... rather, I believe I am now part of the solution. The church I now belong to is perhaps the most diverse, compassionate community of people of faith I have ever experienced. And in no way "homophobes" or gay-haters. In fact, the gay members of our church also believe that it was wrong for the U.S. Episcopal Church to ordain an openly gay, non-celibate bishop. Ironic, huh? By taking a stand on this subject, I open myself to criticism by those those hold the opposite opinion but I have never been much concerned with conformity or being popular! I believe homosexuality is a grave mental illness and I have nothing but concern, compassion and tolerance for gays. But I don not accept that lifestyle choice. I totally reject the minority scientific opinion that it is a matter of biology or genetics...because I believe totally in the human capacity for free will thought. I believe homosexuality is abberant BEHAVIOR. It is proof of the failure of modern psychiatry and religion. It goes against centuries of religous thought, even that of Buddhism. It is the modern-day liberal sects of those groups, driven by the gay lobby, that seeks to "normalize" such behavior along with everything else that is the basis for our society's moral decay. As a toerant American and Christian, I SUPPORT "gay civil unions" but reject totally the notion of gay marriage. I do not hate gays; I simply choose NOT to have it in my space, m life, or in my face. I am the most tolerant person I know with respect to race; I have many inter-racial relationships and hold no prejudcies in that regard. But you don't CHOOSE race; you DO choose BEHAVIOR. I view homosexuality less as a sin and more as a crime against nature. Or so I believe.
Thanks for asking.
sorry about the typos ("liberalized," Episcoplain, guest = guess, etc) plus I have a cat that likes to help me type (when she isn't trying to lay across the keyboard) : )
Why are we seeing lengthy disquisitions on church reorganization posted as Blender Submissions? What does this have to do with the stated purpose of this site? If you want to talk about religion on the Blender Board, fine, this is an open forum -- but please don't post them as <i>submissions</i>. When you submit an item you are warned that "...your work [may be] deleted for being off topic..." I suggest to the Blender Keeper that it may be time to act on that.
FYI...
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/special/humansexuality/index.html
These posting have EVERYTHING to do with love and romance and the general purpose of this site...at least these postings are far more relevant than a lot of what is posted here. Or so I believe. These are in no way attacks or anything but a healthy contribution to this site. I also realize there will be some rather thin-skinned individuals who will be unable to to view them as such. Submissions on human sexuality and current world issues are very much a relevant contribution to this romance and romance poetry site...
One might find a lot of postings here to be skewed towards a more liberal view...I am quite confident there will be a great many readers who will applaud my attempt to bring some balance and critical thought to this site.
Ecolation -
OFF Topic? Why I have never been more ON topic. These aren't simply "disquistions" (???) on church reorganization, but rather something far more relevant to the heart of the matter re: relationships, romance, love. I have seen far more items that were OFF topic posted here, with little or no complaints.
Yeah, that's the way to deal with the topic - CENSOR IT!!
Injun Joe
The Messenger (Shot)