> George,

 >  GP> They don't mean in an absolute sense (lkiuve or die) but relaticve to
 >  GP> heir deired standard of living.  I say if you didn't put ourself so
 >  GP> high to start with, you'd hsave had less distance to fall!

 >   As the tagline from the late Nancy Backus (I miss her) noted:

 >   "We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then, it gets worse". 

 >   Everyone came into this world as naked and broke as I did, and is going
 > out the same day. I've yet to see a girl come out in a white satin dress,
 > and a box come out in a nice tuxedo. Or as the doctor told the mother in
 > labor "it's going to hurt a lot more coming out, than it did going in". 


I was considering being 'Born Again' but my mom said no.

 >   The one I liked was where the husband brought his wife, in labor, to the
 > local ER...and as they were taking her to Labor and Delivery, the OB-GYN
 > said he wanted to try a new deal, where they transferred all the pain from
 > the mother to the father. Mom was excited about that, and Dad had a high
 > pain tolerance...so, they agreed.

 >   The doctor started it slow, and basically got it to the max. Neither Mom
 > or Dad had any pain, and she delivered a healthy baby.

 >   When they got home, the milkman was found dead on the porch. 

Classic!  How long's it been since we had milkmen?

 >  GP> Like JC said: If you have a roof over your head, a place to lay your
 >  GP> head, & a bowl of food, you have enough.  [seeking] anything more 
than
 >  GP> that is from the evil one. (i.e. Love of money)

 >   That's all I want...but having finances to pay the basic bills helps, 
too.

I'd say that falls under "enough"; but you got to trust you'll have that
"enough," too, right?

 >  GP> Naturally, I seek to have a bit more comfort than literal enough, but 
I
 >  GP> don't NEEED it & I get that.  I'd rather help someone worse off be 
more
 >  GP> comfortable first before I go up another level.

 >   If I could know the hearts and motives of these homeless folks, I'd be
 > more inclined to help them. But, with limited finances myself, I can't.
 > Plus, you don't know if they've got a weapon to kill you and steal all
 > you have.

My belief is we are to judge favorably and that we are commanded to help, not
to judge.

If I can help, I do. If I can't I say so (I'll stop and talk, even if I'm
broke, because we all need human interaction & acknowledgement of our shared
humanity.

I'm a Jew, so t he principle is different; in Hebrew the word is "justice" 
not "charity"; we help to even things more fairly, not just because it feels
good.


 >  GP> I don't want a blinking ruler in the capital -- I want a
 >  GP> servant-leader!

 >   They are to serve us...not the other way around.

Exactly my point.

 >  >   I think we should put this thread to bed. 

 >  GP> You were ill -- I hope you did go to bed!

 >   I did after I got home from the first COVID-19 shot...but eating a big
 > lunch beforehand likely made me sleepy.

Rst is always healthy, I say, especially if you're feeing the need.

Whoever decided that resting before you're tired is lazy, not efficient?

 >  GP> 2. Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree.
 >  GP> Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark. Noah built an ark which
 >  GP> the animals come on to in pears.

 >   Really. Or as Bill Cosby's "Noah And The Ark" routine noted,
 > "He had to keep telling the rabbits...ONLY TWO!!".  I did
 > that routine for my final exam in 10th grade drama class...got
 > a perfect score. :)

I love that routine, beginning with, "whoosha, whoosha"(saw), God's greeting,
& Noah saying, "Yes, Lord? I've been good!"

 >  GP> 4. The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they
 >  GP> had trouble with the unsympathetic Genitals.

 >   Especially when you had to take a shovel everywhere. 

What shovel? Huh?

 >  GP> 5. Samson was a strongman who let himself be led astray by
 >  GP> a Jezebel like Delilah.

 >   It was a hair raising (removing) experience.

It's a good song, though; catchy.

 >  GP> 7. Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made
 >  GP> unleavened bread, which is bread without any ingredients.

 >   Well, they must've thought the same about Manna, which 
 > translated as "What Is It??".

Yup, though it's actually just called "man" in Hebrew.

 >  GP> 9. The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat
 >  GP> the apple.

 >   I thought it was when they first saw each other naked...and he told
 > her "Stand back, honey. I don't know how big this is going to get". 

Eve was the first carpenter; she made Adam's banana stand.

 >  GP> 10. The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit
 >  GP> adultery. [I suspect the pastor called that kid's dad in for a talk]

 >   Do infants enjoy infancy, as much as adults enjoy adultery?? :P

Rumour has it. . .

Your friend,

<+]:{)}
Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
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