In the midst of all this strife--

[DR. BELCH]

--I'll set an island of peace. My niece Saliah has her own website. It's got a few pictures of her and a guestbook. Her parents and I hope you enjoy your visit.
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/s/saliah/
Looking at today's events, let's just hope the world doesn't blow itself to bloody blue blazes before she reaches her first birthday....

[Nftnat]

It won't, not for 1007 years @ least, if you know what I mean. I, too, will try to promote goodness & niceness & happiness in the midst of all of this. To quote myself, some would say "Why be happy? Life is bad"; I say "Why be unhappy? Life is bad enough".

[Singin' Stray Cat]

Thanks for the bit o' good news, DR. BELCH. Your niece is adorable! :)

[James Harvey]

Pretty neat website there. A friend of mine had her birthday today - not the best way to celebrate. I'll sign the guestbook to the site as soon as I can.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

In other news, Michael Jordan has all but officially announced his return to the NBA. Not that many of you care, but it's a quirky little news piece. :)

[Anthonynotes]

Re: "not for another 1007 years...": not sure what that's a reference from...."Futurama"? That "Once and Future Warners" fanfic story of ours?

Re: Michael Jordon returning to basketball: I'm wondering *why* he's not content with staying retired myself...he's already shown his legendary skills, I'd imagine that he's getting on in years to play the game, and has had at least one or two comebacks already. Plus, of course, the fact that he's made enough money to last through the next millennium (wonder what the royalties for "Space Jam" bring in...)

-B.

[Craig Marinaro]

Belch: She's precious. Thanks for sharing her with us. Best of the world to her and the family!

[Danielle]

She's so cuuuuuuuuute! "The best time for a joyous occasion is in the middle of a tragic occasion." I dunno where I heard that, but you get the idea. ;) And I signed the guestbook! Whee!

[Nftnat]

Originally posted by Brainatra
Re: "not for another 1007 years...": not sure what that's a reference from...."Futurama"? That "Once and Future Warners" fanfic story of ours? -B.

No, it's a ref from my religious beliefs. Seven years for the Tribulation, a thousand years for the Millennium, then it's a new Heaven & a new Earth. Is this the end of a lot of people's lives? yes. The end of the world as we know it? Perhaps. The end of the world, period? No. Anyone who chooses to is free to disagree, but that's what I believe.

[Anthonynotes]

Originally posted by Nftnat


No, it's a ref from my religious beliefs. Seven years for the Tribulation, a thousand years for the Millennium, then it's a new Heaven & a new Earth. Is this the end of a lot of people's lives? yes. The end of the world as we know it? Perhaps. The end of the world, period? No. Anyone who chooses to is free to disagree, but that's what I believe.

I see.... never heard of that belief before. Though I guess my not being religious might be one reason why...

-B.

[Craig Marinaro]

I see.... never heard of that belief before. Though I guess my not being religious might be one reason why...

And your not being that specific religion might be another. ;)

[happyheathen]

Originally posted by Nftnat


No, it's a ref from my religious beliefs. Seven years for the Tribulation, a thousand years for the Millennium, then it's a new Heaven & a new Earth. Is this the end of a lot of people's lives? yes. The end of the world as we know it? Perhaps. The end of the world, period? No. Anyone who chooses to is free to disagree, but that's what I believe.

This is an honest, sincere Q, pls do not mis-interpret it, as I am interested in religious beliefs (although I have none):

Is this from the same intrepretation that holds that the universe is approx. 6,000 years old?

I was aware of the historical projection, but not of any into the future...

[Danielle]

Originally posted by happyheathen


Is this from the same intrepretation that holds that the universe is approx. 6,000 years old?


I go by that belief, 'cept my belief is that the Messiah will come in the year 6000. I personally believe the universe is 5762 years old...but that's roughly 6000, isn't it? :D

[Roman Legion]

I'm more in the 10,000 to 100,000 year camp, myself. Then again, now's really *not* the time nor place for this kind of debate. Let's move on, shall we?

--Romey

[Danielle]

So much religion is brought up here. Maybe you should just make a board for that.


Yeah right.

[Anthonynotes]

Originally posted by Craig


And your not being that specific religion might be another. ;)

Well, I think my "not religious" statement precludes/includes your statement, Craig ;-)

-B.

[Nftnat]

The answer is yes. And before you ask, I also subscribe to the appearance of age theory. I could tell you exactly what year imo creation was if I had my notes with me. I could do some figuring & get back to y'all. Like I said, feel free to disagree but this is what I believe.

[DR. BELCH]

...without getting religion into it, let's just hope the world is allowed to end on its own whenever that may be and it doesn't go blowing up like a Black Cat stuck in a beer can before then. For the record, though, my mother actually has a computer program where she's calculated the date of the beginning of the world according to the Bible. She also believes Adam was the smartest man that ever lived, although I'm inclined to think that if he was and his libido introduced sin into the world, we're all bloody frigged.

Thank you to those who signed the guestbook, and those who haven't...well, you know who you are; feel compunction. ;) There's also a monthly competition of sorts, with themes involved and cash prizes awarded. To vote for Saliah as the cutest baby go to http://www.babiesonline.com/babycontest/vote.asp between this Saturday and Sep 21. Each of you can vote once a day. Vote early and often, and spread the word.

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

She's beautiful. It's nice to have a little happiness with all that's going on right now. Congrats on being an uncle, BELCH.
And don't worry, I voted for her in the contest.

Uh, universe age? Sorry, I'm with science and say it's 15 billion years old. But, that's all I'm going to say....oh, and let's not hope Earth ends because of humanity...

[Danielle]

I *would* vote for her....'cept I can't find her! What page is she on?


Originally posted by DR BELCH

She also believes Adam was the smartest man that ever lived, although I'm inclined to think that if he was and his libido introduced sin into the world, we're all bloody frigged.


Hmm........there are a *lot* of opinions on Adam & why he sinned, and for that matter, why the Tree of Knowledge was introduced into the Garden. Why would G-d put it in there if it would endanger paradise?!

My opinion? That whole thing was aaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllll predestined.

Did you ever hear the saying, "You never know what you have until you've lost it?" Yeah, pretty much like that. The Garden of Eden was a paradise, yet Mr. Adam Smartypants realized that his future generations would not be able to appreciate it. So what did he do? He sinned. Now that the Garden is gone, people now learn to appreciate it.

But, that's just my opinion. ;)


Originally posted by BourgeoisBuffoon
Uh, universe age? Sorry, I'm with science and say it's 15 billion years old.

There's actually an argument that counteracts that. I'm not saying that what you think is *wrong*....remember, this is just what I believe. If you don't believe it or choose to believe it, that's perfectly fine. Heck, my answer may probably be wrong...

Yeah, I'm giving another example. When you sit in a bathtub, shower, swimming pool, etc. for a long period of time, what happens? Your skin begins to get wrinkled. I believe that back, at the time of the Great Flood, the whole world was given a massive bath, so to speak. When the waters finally subsided, everything looked aged and old, because, like our wrinkled fingers & toes, they were in water for a prolonged period of time. That's probably why scientists think the earth was much older.

Yet, I may be wrong, science may be right. This is only my opinion. If this has absolutely nothing to do with the thread/posts..........doodie to you!

[happyheathen]

Originally posted by Nftnat
The answer is yes. And before you ask, I also subscribe to the appearance of age theory. I could tell you exactly what year imo creation was if I had my notes with me. I could do some figuring & get back to y'all. Like I said, feel free to disagree but this is what I believe.

Thanks - I respect religion and am fascinated by the its many forms.

Dave

[Danielle]

Not only is a new homepage out for his adorable niece Saliah, but DR BELCH also happens to be turning a year older today! And here is a birthday present, and I'm sure it's much better than the "present" (very sarcastic on 'present') that was given to America yesterday. In the middle of all this gloom and doom, I say

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y !!!!!!!


~*~
| | |
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[Nelson]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. BELCH!!!

Your TTTP Friend
Nelson aka MOEHARE

[Narfpinky]

Happy NARF Birthday Dr. Belch!

[Sharklady]

What they said.

And I'll add, as somebody who's been there: don't worry about being a year closer to thirty. It looks a *lot* better when you get there.

[Nftnat]

By all means, happy birthday to my fellow right-winger. And my mother's birthday was yesterday. For your present, I'm gonna go look @ your niece's site right now. Happy birthday, Belchie!

[DR. BELCH]

Danielle:
I *would* vote for her....'cept I can't find her! What page is she on?
Page 20. If you tried to vote early, those were round 2 babies, and Saliah is a round 3 contestant. So she'll be there all this week.

I never really like to see sin as predestined. I mean, it's like saying God mapped out the Emergency Number Bombings and its aftermath in advance. That's not the sort of Supreme Being I want to follow. It seems tragedy brings people closer to God, but then I ask, "What sort of God demands trubute in blood? Tens of thousands must die to put a few dozen more butts in the pews?" I try not to ponder that too much, though, otherwise come Sunday I end up going to church all sour-faced and grumpy and make scoffing noises all during the sermon. :mad:

My mom basically says the exact same thing as your "water wrinkles" theory on the age of the earth. Tons of water pressure did in forty days what took the Colorado River eons.



Sharklady:
...I'll add, as somebody who's been there: don't worry about being a year closer to thirty. It looks a *lot* better when you get there.
Easy for someone who's aged gracefully to say. ;)

[Sharklady]

> ...I'll add, as somebody who's been there: don't worry about being a year closer to thirty. It looks a *lot* better when you get there.[/quote]

Easy for someone who's aged gracefully to say. <

Well, maybe that'll be you, too.

[Danielle]

Originally posted by DR. BELCH

Page 20. If you tried to vote early, those were round 2 babies, and Saliah is a round 3 contestant. So she'll be there all this week.

There she is! I voted.........for the one right below her.


Just kidding. I must say, she fits her surname perfectly. ;)



It seems tragedy brings people closer to God, but then I ask, "What sort of God demands trubute in blood? Tens of thousands must die to put a few dozen more butts in the pews?" I try not to ponder that too much, though, otherwise come Sunday I end up going to church all sour-faced and grumpy and make scoffing noises all during the sermon. :mad:

Don't worry about being rebuked for the scoffing noises; I do that plenty, and no one stops me. :D

About the "blood-tribute".....I heard a speech today about "Why there is evil in the world." It went on for quite a time, yet the point could've taken two seconds to say. It's always like that, isn't it? Anyway, the answer he gave us was this:

There is evil in the world so we can have free choice. Make of that what you will, I didn't understand it too well.

[happyheathen]

Originally posted by Danielle


"Why there is evil in the world."

the answer:

"There is evil in the world so we can have free choice".


welcome to theology 101 - this a basic Q which all religions try to answer.

(this is the std judeo-christian answer)

[Sharklady]

> There is evil in the world so we can have free choice. <

I would expand that just a bit.

There is both good and evil in the world so that we have a choice about whether to behave well, or behave badly.

Because, if we had no choice about what we did, what would any of it mean?

[Danielle]

Originally posted by Sharklady
> There is evil in the world so we can have free choice. <

I would expand that just a bit.

There is both good and evil in the world so that we have a choice about whether to behave well, or behave badly.

Because, if we had no choice about what we did, what would any of it mean?

He probably said that. I missed a lot of the speech 'cause I was distracted. Mr. Spider eats Mr. Fly. (Rated MA...{shudder})