Im not a religious person, but reading this scares me - Fun Stuff and Pickle Soup - Yasobich's Blog - Tehachapi News

Jul 22, 2008 at 01:07 PM : That's kinda like...

That's kinda like the row boat analogy.............I

sent a row boat .....I sent a helicopter what else did you expect me to do................much to be learned from this.

Jul 22, 2008 at 03:07 PM : This wasn't from...

This wasn't from a religious right-wing site, obviously...lol

Jul 23, 2008 at 06:07 AM : Hopefully, people are...

Hopefully, people are knowledgeable enough, & secure in their beliefs to see the ' humor,' in this joke, as gube pointed out.

Jul 23, 2008 at 07:07 AM : Yaso...why would this...

Yaso...why would this scare you? As Lori stated, hopefully people are secure enough in their beliefs.

This is what I got out of this story...Yes, God sent all of those things to save these people. However, these kids had so much faith in God itself...that they made it to the pearly gates. My belief and my faith in God .... I would much rather see those Pearly Gates than to spend another minute down here on earth with the negative and suffering.

Everyone has their beliefs....My belief is that God does not force himself on anyone. I would hope that no one tries to force God on anyone.

Jul 23, 2008 at 07:07 AM : If you put this little...

If you put this little ' tale' in perspective, isn't it actually a parallel for the ability to make, ' the better choice,' in every day life?

Jul 23, 2008 at 08:07 AM : Oh, I get it...so now...

Oh, I get it...so now God's in favor of stem cell research, clean energy, a pacifist (of course)....and a socialist? Guess that last one rules out Al Gore...

Jul 23, 2008 at 08:07 AM : Ooops, I forgot to...

Ooops, I forgot to say, Nyuk, Nyuk, whoooop whooop whooop whoooop! While I'm at it, just another observation...If this group of politicians (I'm reading this right aren't I?) were so pious and committed to faith, shouldn't they be happy to see the rewards of the Pearly Gates? And just who holds the copyright to the term "Pearly Gates?" Rappa Big JC and the Crusaders?

Jul 23, 2008 at 08:07 AM : Curlyshirly, we...

Curlyshirly, we don't know, maybe he is, is that what you read into the 'tale'?

Jul 23, 2008 at 09:07 AM : just a slob like one...

just a slob like one of us...just a stranger on the bus...

Now that I'll buy. But a politically correct "Green God" that also favors stem cell research and socialism? Like I said, at first I thought this was a political ad promoting Al "Pulitzer" Gore as the Second Coming of Christ. But MSNBC's already done that.

Olivia nailed it: My belief is that God does not force himself on anyone. I would hope that no one tries to force God on anyone.

Parables have been used by humans for centuries to tell a morality tale to those who can't quite get behind the concept of a "leap of faith." Either you're comfortable stepping out of the boat, or you're not. It's a personal choice. I personally don't believe that God created 2/3 of the Earth's people to be non-christians just so the anglo-christian world could do the great deed of "saving" them all. Or so He in his mercy could damn all the "unsaved" to hell. Because isn't that basically what they're selling door to door, all in the name of "fellowship" and spreading "The Word?"

Jul 24, 2008 at 07:07 AM : I truly believe that...

I truly believe that the "door knockers" think they are doing the right thing. How many times has my door bell rang and I open the door in my jammies and someone is standing there wanting to tell me about the word of God? They have to be able to see my discomfort, my impatience of standing there in my jammies, trying to make a graceful exit. I don't know if they realize they are turning people off to God's message. Surely that is not their intent.

God didn't "make" any of us non-believers. He made us all the same. Perfect in his eyes. Unfortunately, we have, along the way had experiences that have molded us into the person we are today. All that God asks of us is to know him. Know what He did for us. By knowing Him, I don't mean....I know who God is. I mean have a relationship with Him. Let other people look at you and think to themselves....I want what that person has. Have people become curious about what you have. I know I was born perfect. However as humans, none of us are without sin. Not one of us. God doesn't look at people and say...."hmmmmm, this person is the biggest sinner". There is no such thing.

I'm really happy where I am today. I know that there are a lot of people who have their own views. That's alright. I'm comfy and cozy where I am today. I'm learning a whole new way of living life and that is a life of acceptance. I feel so much better today knowing that I'm doing what I feel is right for me. If people notice a change in me and ask me about it, that is my opportunity to say.....I'm getting to "know" God. Hopefully, the more I grow and the more my attitude changes....that will be His message, His word.

Jul 24, 2008 at 09:07 AM : I worked until 3 am...

I worked until 3 am last week and at 8:30 am the door knockers paid me a visit. I called BVS police and reported them for tresspassing! The door knockers told me it was their constitutional right to free speech and I informed them not on my property it isn't!

Jul 26, 2008 at 09:07 PM : And what a Great Good...

And what a Great Good Neighbor Act that was, awsmom8. Keep speading the love!

And what did the police say? It isn't as if gated communities haven't adjudicated this type of non-commercial, free, and quite possibly neighborly speech before.

Often folks working night shifts hang signs on their door so folks know they don't follow the normal sleep cycle. They're supposed to know the time you went to bed?

The United States and California Supreme Courts, as well as California Courts of Appeal, have consistently held that governmental bans on door-to-door leafleting violate the free speech guarantees of the U.S. and California constitutions. See Martin v. City of Struthers (1943) 319 U.S. 141, 63 S. Ct. 862, 87 L. Ed. 1313; Schaumberg v. Citizens for Better Environ. (1980) 444 U.S. 620, 626-632, 63 L.Ed.2d 73, 80-85, 100 S.Ct. 826; Van Nuys Pub. Co. v. City of Thousand Oaks (1971) 5 Cal. 3d 817, 97 Cal. Rptr. 777, 489 P.2d 809; Hillman v. Britton (1980) 111 Cal.App.3d 810, 816-817, 168 Cal.Rptr. 852; Alternatives for California Women, Inc. v. City of Contra Costa (1983) 145 Cal. App. 3d 436; 193 Cal. Rptr. 384; City of Fresno v. Press Communications, Inc. (1994) 31 Cal. App. 4th 32; 36 Cal. Rptr. 2d 456 (city ordinance prohibiting distribution of certain types of door-to-door leaflets even where resident has posted a sign prohibiting such distribution unconstitutional); Laguna Publishing Co. v. Golden Rain Foundation (1982) 131 Cal. App. 3d 816, 844, 182 Cal. Rptr 813 (discriminatory enforcement of ban on distributing commercial newspapers in a private, gated community unconstitutional); People v. Fogelson (1978) 21 Cal. 3d 158; 577 P.2d 677; 145 Cal. Rptr. 542 (ordinance prohibiting solicitation unless given permission by government unconstitutional on its face because it affords government officials unlimited discretion); Dulaney v. San Francisco Municipal Court (1974) 11 Cal. 3d 77; 520 P.2d 1; 112 Cal. Rptr. 777 (ordinance prohibiting affixing leaflets unconstitutional on its face because it affords government unfettered discretion); Belli v. State Bar of California (1974) 10 Cal. 3d 824; 519 P.2d 575; 112 Cal. Rptr. 527 (distinguishing bans on door-to-door leafleting for commercial and noncommercial speech; more protection entitled for noncommercial speech).

Jul 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM : awsom, what did your...

awsom, what did your BVP do?

Jul 27, 2008 at 09:07 AM : What part of...

What part of DOOR-KNOCKERS didn't you understand PD? Aws wasn't complaining about a couple of stupid leaflets being left on her porch, but by a couple of rude people knocking on her door after she worked all night - violating her right to peace and privacy.

Aws, do you have a sign posted on your porch? We had so many god-pushers in Vegas I finally posted a 'no soliciting of any kind right' next to my door. It worked for the most part. The ones who knocked anyway, if I bothered to answer, were greeted with the question "Do you know how to read?" They force people to be rude! If I'm in a public place - and the laundromat is always one where I get approached, then I am polite in my refusal.

Jul 27, 2008 at 09:07 AM : Someone actually...

Someone actually KNOCKED on a DOOR?!? What a HORRIBLE INVASION of Peace and Privacy!!!

errr...on second thought, wait a minute....that's what "door knockers" and "door bells" are for, aren't they?

Do you have either of those, Joty? Do you expect people to use them? Do you expect them to know what time you went to bed? Do you think people who come to the public entrance of your home and request permission to come further are trespassers?

As for your Vegas experience, it sounds like the sign method I suggested works pretty well - thanks for backing me up!

Jul 27, 2008 at 10:07 AM : Note that in...

Note that in the doggerel above, God urges the use of "umbilical cord cells", not fetal stem cells. No one objects to using cells from umbilical cords. Research on those cells has been both fruitful and unhindered by any moral objections. I'm sure the confusion was intentional, but the direct insertion of controversy requiring thought beyond the obtainment of a warm fuzzy would have violated the Hallmark Rules for junk emails.

Jul 27, 2008 at 10:07 AM : Sometimes you just...

Sometimes you just are too ridiculous for words PD. Someone knocking on a door of a person who has not asked for religious crap or any other type of solicitation is not the neighborly act that you seem to want to apply to it. Yes, it is a horrible invasion of peace and privacy if not invited, especially for someone who worked all night and is sleeping. No, I don't expect them to know my bedtime (can't help myself here - heavy sigh and eye roll) - if they haven't been invited or let me know they're coming, they are indeed trespassing. And it's posted on my property. No, I don't have a door bell or door knocker, my canine alarms let me know when someone is acomin'. And again, if they've been invited, they don't have to knock.

Sign are great - they don't always work. I have one posted that reads "Friends Welcome Anytime, Relatives By Appointment" - that one never works...lol

I know how you like to play Devil's Advocate though...and this morning I was just in enough of a mood to engage.

Jul 27, 2008 at 02:07 PM : Devil's Advocate?...

Devil's Advocate? For proposing that folks should knock on doors before entering, and that people should expect it?

Oh well - at Joty's, one is either welcome to enter without knocking or liable to be shot coming up the driveway. The job hazards of the Kirby salesman can be high....

Jul 27, 2008 at 03:07 PM : Sorry PD...we have no...

Sorry PD...we have no guns in my house. And I'm sorry all you like to do is argue. And I'm mostly sorry you've never developed a sense of humor...

Jul 27, 2008 at 06:07 PM : Sounds a little odd,...

Sounds a little odd, but I kind of enjoy the door-to-door religious people. I like to argue with them. And I like to scare them. And I like to mislead them. I figure if they're coming up to my door, I'm not being excessively cruel by messing with them :) They don't ever seem to be fans of Slipknot: "If you're 555, then I'm 666/ (What's it like to be a heretic?)" Or of Nine Inch Nails: "your god is dead and no one cares/ if there is a hell I will see you there." Muahaha!

Jul 27, 2008 at 07:07 PM : AAAAHHHHH!!!!

AAAAHHHHH!!!!

Jul 27, 2008 at 08:07 PM : LOL!

LOL!

Jul 28, 2008 at 09:07 AM : You crack me up...

You crack me up Madkow! If I'm feeling particularly bothered, I like to tell the door2door thumpers I'm busy torturing small animals and children in the basement, but they're welcome to join me if they remove their shoes, pants and crosses. Joty, I disagree...I think PD has a very unique and twisted sense of humor, it's just sometimes hard to scrape and peel away the dry layers of superior intelligence in order to laugh with (or at) him. I'll bet he laughs at himself as often as he does at the rest of us.

I've been away for awhile and I thought I'd post here because there's been lots of praying lately for my sister-in-law whose had 5 surgeries following two strokes, all in just one week. She's stabilized and her vitals are all good, but now it's just a waiting game. We're all exhausted and emotionally drained. I got into an argument with my husband about faith the other night (not unusual). His other sister is called the "prayer warrior," because she has this amazing pure faith and she never falters. Frankly, it can be annoying, although I love her dearly. None of my husband's family has studied any comparative literature or any non-Christian religions, and hence subscribe without reservation to 3,000+ years of divine biblical inspiration of both the Old and New Testaments. This in spite of the fact that any one of us could write a Testament of our own, today claiming that same inspiration. Hence the popularity of the literary self-help genre. The argument came about because he said after they had prayed he felt better because his "prayer warrior sister" didn't have any "bad" feelings afterwards and felt a full recovery would be forthcoming. I told him it's pure vanity to claim that kind of sight or vision instead of being patient and waiting for the outcome. I think they put their faith in her ability to pray with such focus and zeal. Needless to say, it really pissed him off. What can I say, PD and I both have a knack! I do have to agree with at least one thing curlyshirly said above, and that's about taking a pure leap of faith. You can't have it both ways. Pray and "give it to God" or don't. I didn't used to know what that really meant. It's not an easy thing to do, regardless of your religious preference or lack thereof.

Jul 28, 2008 at 10:07 AM : sushisoo answering the...

sushisoo answering the door with nothing on butt my thong is how I get rid of unwanted guests............lol

Jul 28, 2008 at 10:07 AM : sushisoo.................

sushisoo.................. I hope you sista in law gets better..........

Jul 28, 2008 at 10:07 AM : Thanks Gube,...

Thanks Gube, for the good wishes....and especially for the visual: "Good morning brother, we're here to share The Good News...Oh, er, um, well, Haleleujah! We can see you've already been abundantly blessed brother..." Can I get an Amen?

Jul 28, 2008 at 10:07 AM : Amen sista...........

Amen sista...........

Jul 28, 2008 at 10:07 AM : zomg !!!!

zomg !!!!

Jul 28, 2008 at 10:07 AM : Back in the day when I...

Back in the day when I had more patience I used to like to argue and scare door knockers, I'm just too old and cranky now. I just want them to leave me alone - which, I might add, they do as I don't get door knockers up here in the outback...LOL!

I hope for the best outcome for your SIL, Sush...whatever that may be.

You are, of course, intitled to disagree with me about PD. Intelligent? Yes. Superior? Hardly! Anyone who comes across as so condescending (to me a sign of low self-esteem) and tries to cover her insults with a "dry wit" really isn't worth my time, although I do let her drag me in once in a while.

Jul 28, 2008 at 11:07 AM : LOL, Joty, I should...

LOL, Joty, I should have used parens around "superior" as PD's questionable superiority is certainly complex, just as you have pointed out! Thanks for your wishes and support.

I am still amazed that you and Sparks both think PD is a woman...Well PD, are you going to come out for us? Which is it? Ying or Yang?

Yaso, eye'm so glad you didn't change your avatar! Winks!

Jul 28, 2008 at 11:07 AM : rawr!!!

rawr!!!