Total depravity? wow. we went to war . we guzzle oil. we kill. we send brownies to jail. we pray to theft g-d. we spell dog backwards. we tax the working poor to finance a war against them too...whoop, I better just say, 'beautiful.'

years ago when I started telling people to listen to Garrison Keillor, people said I was nuts. The Current Occupant is a empty shell, worst than a rotten peanut. Mr. Keillor wrote a beautiful redeeming 'piece' of non-Calvinist mythical cake. No false security, yep. Lost/Saved, a choice.

Once 'one' person chooses to be lost, they can choose, to stay in dark delusion. A beautiful expression, you G.K. good nut. Thanks. hope. A light at the tip of a candle, shedding a bright light along our Way. a glimmer of a hearty, gracias.

I heard what you wrote and wanted to discern your fair and sincere 'gripe.'

The Institution of the Church can get a "wee-bit" pompous or a "tiny bit" self righteousness, without knowing it. To remain salaried and loyal to a 'institutional hierarchy,' must take much skill. The best job done that I know of in 'ecclesiastical' stuff would be a earth "theology" in the non-Creed vein of a "excommunicated" Mathew Fox.

I'm only a "tiny bit" theologically read. But the historian Martin E. Marty, does amaze me. I once signed up for a several day PA. Kirkridge 'treat,' to hear M.E.M. speak about the...

...O 'stranger' who wanders into towns and possesses a non-Creed, non-infatuation with church attendance....but, has a hard to pin-down, spirituality.

The enrollment was low, and because of lack-of-interest, the Talk got cancelled. Shucks. I attended a "Fellowship of Reconciliation" shop. Now, I got a Non-Violent Trainer Certificate." What can one do with THAT?

"Roll over rover. And before You get tossed a blueberry pancake, jack, say "ruff." That's right, the wars and lies make Life seem rough.

vondo with a big "V" for peace and victory at our end of a Life....

....This story (~*~) you reminded me of is true. It's too early, yet today, to accuse me of sipping Pinot (no eating the peanuts, either) Noir.

My point: I knew a Calvinistic scholar who studied at Gordon Conwell Seminary, outside of Boston) Graham H. played a guitar, and wore rumsfeld "lookin'glasses" that matched Beatles's sing-song, spectacular Guy, and his Life, too, ended in a shot...tragedy...

...I have a photo of Calvinist-versed young Graham H. holding my infant daughter from a visit (Vietnam veteran friend)at my home. Graham was in extreme debt, and the lady he loved could NOT commit her life to him because of school-loan-debt, and a general discouraged 'air' from G.H. that exuded from being downcast-poor.

Sad, but, with a Calvinistic guarantee (the Select- no-doom-or -elect-salvation?) of all the theological kook-0-huh...gets confusing.

Good 'ole GH shot his self in the head! "Why?" His mother said the memories of war tormented him...

vondo. I not versed about theology. I can't even defend my self very well when I get jailed in a savings bank...

...The crooked D.A. sure ain't fair and I question if the judge wasn't looped on Merlot mixed with Pinot Noir's....before court...

...I wanted a people-trial. No? Why? OH, Ah! Where is Guy Noir...the private eye...a Guy Noir in quest for the answers to Life's perpetual secret and endless mysteries...

...ask Guy Noir, and get the followers of the "Occupant' out of politics.

Respect to vondo.

Thanks vondo. We're all HERE to learn a "tiny bit" from each other, every day.

I try to get away from here. I go away. Then come back. The further I get behind, I don't know if the journey has yet began. I don't know if I've gotten ahead, or slipped on a mushroom and fell on my behind. I write a thought, and don't know when it's wise to stop. G.G is ruining my life? I tease.

Glenn rambles "this" and then "that" and makes a view for readers to see unburdened (or troulbed?) vastness's to open up to...Great knowledge of practical wisdom's, sister's prudence, and this all seems to never, never, never, stop. Good.

When will this ever end? Never. weewinkle. A wonderful name.

A bit of paradise stretched out before us on this earth too.

We should perceive and know it.