The Theories of Pianistimo

[fiddes]

i was wondering what a merkin is (not very clever) and decided to type it into google thinking it might be some christian cult or a slang word for them

Wishful im horrified that you would call anyone that

 merkin (first use, according to the OED, 1617) is a pubic wig, worn by prostitutes after shaving their genitalia to eliminate lice or to disguise the marks of syphilis. There are many different ways of wearing a merkin, although most involve placing the merkin on the vulva or the scrotum. In current times, Merkins have become popular in Japan (where they are known as "Night Flowers"), and are sold to physiologically immature girls and young women to "normalize" body appearance. They are usually sourced from Chinese suppliers, who hand-weave the hair into a net backing. Each merkin is then trimmed to fit the customer's particular body shape.

unless of course i am as usual wrong and there is some slang that i havent heard

[wishful thinker]

YUK    no, that is not what I meant at all, and certainly not with respect to Pianistimo 

No.  George Bush is always referring to "my fellow Merkins" - I don't think that is what he had in mind.....

BTW, did you know that a large number of Iraqi ladies have chosen to shave themselves down there in protest against the the "war in Terr"?  The have had themselves tatooed there as follows:

"read our lips....no more bush" 

[fiddes]

hahaha thats quite funny actually wishful

[thalbergmad]

well...it's a good question and one that i have pondered.  but, i believe that if exodus 20:11 says that God created the heavens and the earth in six days - then He did.  literally.  i mean - what he did on day one was probably to make the earth start rotating.  He kept standing where He was.  one day and one night were according to the periods of light and dark - as mentioned in genesis 1:4-5.

i am going to make some guacamole.

I am glad you have pondered this, but dismayed that you have rigidly stuck to the "word".

I am also glad you used the word "probably".

But again, we do not know the length of Gods day. You accept the story as told in the Bible, but you don't know (or does anyone else), how long God's day was.

Do you not think that God's day might have been a few million years?

Thal

[pianistimo]

no.  the probably has turned to improbable.  otherwise the calendar is wayyy off. i would say that God has no shadow of turning - therefore - he wouldn't do this sort of wierd calendar thing and cause the earth to barely rotate - and then suddenly spin on the fourth day.  there was evening and morning on the first day.  that's that.  i don't see where there's a million years in the verses.

look - if God wrote a whole chapter in one week - what's He going to do with His time during a million years.  it's just improbable that it would take Him that long.  and, if everything on earth is fairly interdependent - you can't just take forever to create the other 90% that wasn't amoeba.

[prometheus]

Thalbergmad, the bible is just wrong. Attempting to bend the words of the bible to fit the reality totally unknown to its authors.

[thalbergmad]

Thalbergmad, the bible is just wrong. Attempting to bend the words of the bible to fit the reality totally unknown to its authors.

Indeed, you speak the truth and it is of course utter nonsense.

I was just trying to see if i could slightly loosen the absurd rigidity of which pianistimo sticks to Genisis.

For a nanosecond i thought i was making some impact, but her last post has brought home the futility of my efforts.

Oh well.

Thal

[prometheus]

Ok, fair enough.

But I think that believing that gods days are longer, the gap theory-thingy, betrays both faith and reason. Some people would propose that it is an 'improvement'. I am not so sure about that.

[thalbergmad]

I don't think it is an improvement, but perhaps a compromise?

Perhaps not even that.

Thal

[ramseytheii]

I prefer to see no possibility of compromise.  To the statement: God created the universe (by which people normally mean earth, since that is everything they know about the universe) in 6 days, the only answer is, Nope!  To the statement: It's in the Bible, the only answer is, yep!  To the statement: The Bible is fact, the only answer is, Haha!

Walter Ramsey

[thalbergmad]

carry on.  btw, i would like to hear a banjo concerto sometime.

The best plectrum banjo player on the planet.

Thal

[pianistimo]

cool. 

[prometheus]

Ah, gypsy jazz. They don't learn, at least traditionally, to read and write. But they play unbelievable.

[thalbergmad]

cool. 

Your banjo education continues, this time 5 string, 3 finger style bluegrass.

&mode=related&search=

Earl Scruggs (the daddy) and Steve Martin (he had to be good at something)

Thal

[ramseytheii]

Hmm.. somebody has been reading these threads.  An email I received:
======
Walter Ramsey,

You might be claming to be a atheist, cause you might feel that God has not helped you or that you feel that he has forgtten you. I sorry to say , but he hasn't. He loves you and so does Jesus.

I do not belive in the atheist ideal that you calm to be. You clam you do not belive in God or the devil. Well , in all reality you belive in something and have a grate fear of something. The atheist ideal and belife system is full of wholes and in all honest. You belive in something or you wouldn't be dinying it or have fear as you do.

So you can say your a atheist all you want. But, I am calling your faith out in the name of Jesus Christ. I pray that God will save you and show you his true path to salvation. We all are born into sin and all have fallen short of the glory of God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is real and God is real. The Bible tells us to follow Gods law and his ten comandments. It is in your ingrance and self dinail that you clam to be an atheist. I truly feel sorry for you and your soul. We all have souls and God gave us soul. You can say we don;t and you can dine God all you want. But , you will stand before God and Jesus in judgement on your day of death. All humans will be held accountable and have to answer to their creator.

Also your faith is based off human idea and eveloution. Which is man created. You also can agrue and say that the Bible was man created. God used men and woman to write the stroies of the Bible for history and to have recorded accounts of past. In the name of Jesus Christ and God the father. I bind your spirit and your atheizuim. I here by rebuic it in the name of Jesus and I pleage the blood of Jesus over your life and your family.

I here by order all wrong ideals and teaching or faiths to leave you at once in the name of Jesus Christ. I here by cast out all the demmons that are around you or in you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out and leave. In the name of Jesus Christ I go back to the blood line of Adam and Eve and break and chop off the root of Satan or his demomns from your life. I order them to be art thou removed and cast into the deepest sea of hell. In Jesus name. AMEN!
======
To which I responded:
===

Isn't there a commandment against bad spelling? or is this just poorly translated from the original hebrew?

===
To which I received:
======
Walter Ramsey,

You can think all you want about me. You can even make fun of me all you want. I really do not care what you think of me. Your point to me and your point of view is worthless and meaningless to me. I really do not care if you make fun of me. Cause in all honesty your making fun of yourself. You coments and insults do not have any effect nor do they hurt me nor will they ever. For someone who does not belive in the Bible or God. You sure love to tear down someone for their mistakes in spelling. I also do not have to explain myself to you nor do I have answer you. No one on this earth is perfect. WWe all fall short of the glory of God.

You are clearly possed by many Demmon. I here by rebuic your demmons and cut them off at thy root from you. I cast them all out in the name of Jesus Christ to be removed from you and never to return again.

Also if I were you. I strongly suggest that you mind your words and what you say about Gods law. God said do not add to , take away from or change his word. To answer your quetion no thier is not. I type sometime to fast and make mistakes. I am human just like you. I am not perfect nor have I ever clamed that I was perfect or without fault.In my view your a punk and loser that thinks that he better then everyone else. I strongly suggest that you find God and Jesus Christ before you end up in hell for your life after you die.

You should be thanking God for your gifts. But I am not going to stoop to your level. I not gonna gie you the time of day. If you want to dine God that on you. I here by wash my hands of you and your soul. I leave your soul in Gods hands. If you want to go to hell that on you and it is also not my consern.
======
To which I replied:
===
    I'm glad you don't care if I make fun of you, because the Bible says you can expect it and be proud of it, which I see you are. I also don't care what you believe, because it's your right!
===

So.... which one of you sent it?

Walter Ramsey

[pianistimo]

i did not send this message to you mr. ramseytheii.  nor, would i presume that you had a demon problem - although christians tend to never rule it out completely.  as i see it - if God says 'we wrestle not against flesh and blood - but against principalities and powers.'  then, even when a christian talks to a christian - sometimes there's a problem.  take Jesus and Peter - he told peter 'get behind me Satan.'  now - what do you think peter initially thought of that?  he was probably a bit miffed at first. 

this person is obviously wanting the best spiritual outcome for you - but as all christians - we can only preach when someone asks.  if it's not asked for -it's likely that it won't be taken in the manner it was meant.  it's like having your mother-in-law tell you how to raise your children.  you just don't accept it - until you find out she was right after all (possibly). 

ramseytheii- i wouldn't worry about this message.  but, didn't it give the senders name?  that's really wild.  maybe it was a bad spelling angel?

i really don't know what to say about this whole merkin thing.  i don't know who thought of it or promoted the idea.  personally, i find that more offensive than someone attempting to save my soul.  i think it's lowdown.  interpretation:  there is no point in protecting a woman's dignity.

[prometheus]

Give me the email address. I'll remove his or her demon.


(Well, I'll try, haha. Or maybe not. I give too much love to all those religious people. Result, they get angry or down me with glibberish.)

[ahinton]

i was wondering what a merkin is (not very clever) and decided to type it into google thinking it might be some christian cult or a slang word for them

Wishful im horrified that you would call anyone that

 merkin (first use, according to the OED, 1617) is a pubic wig, worn by prostitutes after shaving their genitalia to eliminate lice or to disguise the marks of syphilis. There are many different ways of wearing a merkin, although most involve placing the merkin on the vulva or the scrotum. In current times, Merkins have become popular in Japan (where they are known as "Night Flowers"), and are sold to physiologically immature girls and young women to "normalize" body appearance. They are usually sourced from Chinese suppliers, who hand-weave the hair into a net backing. Each merkin is then trimmed to fit the customer's particular body shape.

unless of course i am as usual wrong and there is some slang that i havent heard

"Merkin" is also a concert hall in New York...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I did have a similar e mail from a tambo banger a while back.

My answer was "drop dead and meet him"

E mail preaching is the worst kind of spam, even worse than viagra sites.

I would be obliged for the e mail of the person that sent it, as this needs to be dealt with.

Thal

[tds]

pianistimo is married. yeah, that's her theory.
















and we don't know for sure if its true or not. and judging from the amount of time she spends here.....la la la..

[thalbergmad]

"Merkin" is also a concert hall in New York...

Best,

Alistair

Strange you should mention that, coz last week i saw a Japanese schoolgirl with a New York Concert Hall attached to her hips.

Thal

[pianistimo]

thal, you do know how to lighten the situation.

well.  back to the bible.  did you know that when the devil was tempting Jesus he wanted to make him doubt who He was?  he starts out a question : 'IF you are the Son of God....'

satan very well knew who the Son of God was.  that is why He wanted to provoke anger and doubt.  but, God knows his own.  that's why it doesn't matter what people say.

people can doubt you are in love with your spouse, doubt you are married, doubt you use your brains - doubt everying.  but, who really knows?  God.  so it doesn't matter.  Jesus wasn't offended.  in fact, i think he thinks satan is an idiot.  but, He never called him one.  satan attempts to look good at the expense of others.  but, anyone who has to use others to make themselves look good  - must have a bit of an ego problem.

you can't win in this life if you don't know what the game plan is.  that will prove who is using their brains.  Jesus said it was better to be humble.  it's not exactly how people get ahead today.  'blessed are the poor in spirit....'  if you are poor in spirit - people can' t handle it.  they think that you are unsure of yourself.  but, perhaps you are affected a lot by the situations in the world (as christians and non-christians can be).  perhaps you are even a bit depressed.  but, as i see it - the game plan isn't who looks the happiest and who has the most (brains, wealth, whatever) - the game plan is taking one day at a time with God and being 'comforted.'  where else are you going to get comfort?  'blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.'

brahms really understood this - because in his german requiem (which i believe was written around the time or after his mother's death) - he thought about the 'game plan' as people typically do when someone dies.  if you happen to think about why you are living now - it's much better.  because we ARE all like grass.  it doesn't matter who is the smartest.  it matters only our relationship with the living Word.  God.

[thalbergmad]

Thanks, i am just typing your post into my Enigma machine.

Have you got todays plug formation?

Thanks

Thal

[ramseytheii]

I won't give out the email, because I think it is just a spammer and not someone who participates on pianoforum.  I suppose they could have got my email from any number of sites where I post, but this is the only one where religion comes up.  here's the latest:

=====
Subject:     Brother, I forgive you!
Body:    Walter Ramsey,

I am very glad you enjoy making fun of people. I bet it make you feel so improtant and big. I bet you think it makes you a man. All it proves is your a scared little boy that needs to grow up. But in all honest it make you out to be a foolish idoit and a ingrant person. It also make you out to be unhuman.

I already know that the Bible says. People will make fun of me and others of God for my faith and walk with chirst. That cuase people who are evil and wicked and have unclean spritis with them. They hate hearing the gospel truth and Gods word. Satan hate hearing the word of God and so does his demmons. Cause they know it is the truth and they also remember the beating they got when Jesus Christ died on the cross. They also know their time is short and they will be dying to. Their afrid of God and you are to.

But, will see who will get the last luagh and who will be crying out for Gods for forgiveness and to be saved at your last stand before God and before he throws you and other demons and other humans like you into the lake of fire forever. When your soul is thrown in hell for all enterinty. You think twice, casue it is not going to be party and happy. You are so sadly miss lead.

Your going to be crying for mercy, forgiveness and just a drip of water to satify your thirst and pain. When your burning in the pit of hell. You might think demon your having the time of your life, now . But, let me remind you. You wont be enjoying your self for very much loger. God is going to be returnning soon. Your life will end and so will your assignment to Walterr and your control over Walter will stop and it will be no more.

I here by have athority over you and I here by have the power over you as well. In Jesus Christ name and he has given me that power over you.

Father, in Jesus name I cover Walter with the blood of Jesus. I bind and rebuic all the demmons, evil spirits,and demontic force around Walter to be art tho remove and cast into the deepest sea of hell and out him in Jesus Christ name.

I bind up all demons in him and around him to start comming out of Walter and to come out of him name in Jesus name. I comand them to come out of his conscious, subconscious,unconscious mind, all parts of Walters body, will , emotions and personality, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen! I go back to Adam and Eve, on both sides of the bloodline, and I chop you all off at the roots, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Your power is nothing and you are nothing to me. You are weak and you have no power here. You have only the power Walter lets you have. Which now is you have no control over me or anyone on this earth and I her by bin your powers, your controls and your dummb and stuberness spirit to come out in Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus christ, I comand you out and your root are cut off. I here by declare Walter free from your powers and control. I here by bin and throw you into the deep pit of hell and it is where you bleong. I declair Walter as child of God and he is free from you and all other wickedness. I order in the name of Jesus Christ. Be removed and gone and you shall never retun to him or agasint anyone ever again. In Jesus name. Amen!

Let me tell you brother, we all fall short of the glory of God we all have sinned. It also say that you must confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. It also says ever knee shall bow and tounge confess that Jesus Chirst and was Lord and is Lord. He is the saver , healer, devlier and conforter. Jesus is the only one who breaks all ties and boundages.
=====

To which I replied:
===
    
The only time forgiveness enters your mean message is in the subject. Here's your attitude about forgiveness:
"your a scared little boy that needs to grow up."
" it make you out to be a foolish idoit and a ingrant person. It also make you out to be unhuman."
"But, will see who will get the last luagh and who will be crying out for Gods for forgiveness and to be saved at your last stand before God and before he throws you and other demons and other humans like you into the lake of fire forever. When your soul is thrown in hell for all enterinty."
"your burning in the pit of hell."
Obviously I hit a nerve which you cannot let go. Sorry to piss you off, I guess it's not good enough for you to find religion, but everybody else has to do it too. I especially like the bit about you laughing at people while they are in hell, that's really mature.
I've never heard of an exorcism over the internet, mcuh less over email, but I'm flattered that you are giving to me for free what you could be making thousands of dollars off of on TV. have you ever thought of going into broadcasting?
===

Walter Ramsey

[thalbergmad]

Go on, give me the e mail address.

I can have some serious fun with this knob.

Thal

[ramseytheii]

Next time I get another message, I'll post it here before I reply and we can all come up with the most hilarious answer.

Walter Ramsey

[ahinton]

well.  back to the bible. 

Boy, are we all surprised!

Now, for abit of fun, let's do abit of selective quotation along the lines of what happens when an artist purloins precisely what is required from bad reviews to his/her best advantage...

did you know that when the devil was Jesus he wanted to doubt who He was?

satan very well knew the Son of God wanted to provoke anger and God knows it doesn't matter what people say.

people can doubt you are in love [that's a song from Oklahoma, isn't it?] but, who really knows God? it doesn't matter.  Jesus.  satan has to use others to make a bit of an ego problem.

you can't win in this life if you don't know who is using their brains.  Jesus said it's not exactly how people get ahead today.  'blessed are the people you are unsure of but perhaps you are affected by' - the game plan isn't who looks the happiest taking one day at a time with God and being 'comforted.'  where else are you going to get blessed?

brahms really understood this after his mother's death - because we ARE all like grass.  it doesn't matter who is the living God.

I take it that you get the picture. I tried this for the first time when I got fifteen really nice press reviews of my quintet and one rather snotty one, so I extracted carfully selected words from the latter and it ended up reading almost as favourably as the others, only rather shorter...

I'm sure that Thal will approve of this particular kind of editorial process in this particular kind of context...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

A work of genius.

Fantasy on a theme by Pianistimo.

Thal

[ahinton]

A work of genius.

Fantasy on a theme by Pianistimo.

Thal

Merci, mon cher (one does one's best) - an operatic transcription of melodies from Susanna's Secret, perhaps (although the references to Biblical characters might arguably be taken to confer upon it more of a sense of an oratorio transcription - a genre which, it seems, Liszt never thought of, for all the sometime quasi-religious sojourns of his latter years...)

See you Friday!

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

dear ahinton,

i don't recall giving you any bad press, ahinton.  i know that you don't believe what i do - but, i have never considered you anything but a friend.  why do you feel the need to misquote me?  do you realize people get banned for this?  or, should get banned.  this is a portion of 'freedom of speech' that is taken lightly.  if one is to give an account of their own self - you must give them the freedom to do so.  apparently you don't believe in free speech.   and, don't give thal any ideas. 

was listening to a german opera today - and the only thing i understood was 'roast beef sandwich' and 'vodka.'  when you read the bible - it's plain language.  when you deal with demons - you don't really know the message they are sending or even if they have one of their own.  they just don't want the gospel to be sent to the world.  why?  because they lose.  even though i said 'amen' to spirits leaving whomever has them...   we don't know for sure that ramseytheii is foaming at the mouth yet.  or, thal.  or, for that matter ahinton.  perhaps - what this misspelling angel needs to do is to further explain freedom in terms of God's view - and freedom in terms of satans.  people don't even know they are bound.  as i read the word of God - i read that Satan must obey God and shudders at the name of Jesus Christ.  in fact,  wherever satan is commanded to go - he must - if the name of Jesus Christ is invoked.  people try to defy God - but it's usually only a matter of seconds/minutes to days before whatever prayer is prayed - is effectively seen.  that's how powerful God is!  He can do the 'impossible.'  what we consider impossible is very possible with God.  after all - he is LOVE.  love triumphs over evil.  when you want good for a person - you don't want them bound.  bound by evil thoughts, intentions, lies, deception.  but, the person has to come to literally see this bondage in their lives.  to be tired of it.  to replace it with the Word of God.  which literally is Jesus Christ's words.  when you fill your mind with that - you don't have time for petty arguments - because love enters the picture. 

[thalbergmad]

dear ahinton,

i don't recall giving you any bad press, ahinton.  i know that you don't believe what i do - but, i have never considered you anything but a friend.  why do you feel the need to misquote me?  do you realize people get banned for this?  or, should get banned.  this is a portion of 'freedom of speech' that is taken lightly.  if one is to give an account of their own self - you must give them the freedom to do so.  apparently you don't believe in free speech.   and, don't give thal any ideas. 

was listening to a german opera today - and the only thing i understood was 'roast beef sandwich' and 'vodka.'  when you read the bible - it's plain language.  when you deal with demons - you don't really know the message they are sending or even if they have one of their own.  they just don't want the gospel to be sent to the world.  why?  because they lose.  even though i said 'amen' to spirits leaving whomever has them...   we don't know for sure that ramseytheii is foaming at the mouth yet.  or, thal.  or, for that matter ahinton.  perhaps - what this misspelling angel needs to do is to further explain freedom in terms of God's view - and freedom in terms of satans.  people don't even know they are bound.  as i read the word of God - i read that Satan must obey God and shudders at the name of Jesus Christ.  in fact,  wherever satan is commanded to go - he must - if the name of Jesus Christ is invoked.  people try to defy God - but it's usually only a matter of seconds/minutes to days before whatever prayer is prayed - is effectively seen.  that's how powerful God is!  He can do the 'impossible.'  what we consider impossible is very possible with God.  after all - he is LOVE.  love triumphs over evil.  when you want good for a person - you don't want them bound.  bound by evil thoughts, intentions, lies, deception.  but, the person has to come to literally see this bondage in their lives.  to be tired of it.  to replace it with the Word of God.  which literally is Jesus Christ's words.  when you fill your mind with that - you don't have time for petty arguments - because love enters the picture. 

Copy of an e  mail i have just sent to the research dept of the British Library.

Dear Nikki,

Concerning the attached that has just come into my posession, i wonder if you would be so kind as to advise me of the language it is written in.

My own opinion is that is some variant of Cuniform 3, but i am not sure.

Look forward to hearing from you and thanks for clearing the Raff score.

Regards

Mike

[ahinton]

dear ahinton,

i don't recall giving you any bad press, ahinton.

No, I know that you didn't. And please stop addressing me as "ahinton" when you know my real name!

i know that you don't believe what i do - but, i have never considered you anything but a friend.  why do you feel the need to misquote me?  do you realize people get banned for this?  or, should get banned.  this is a portion of 'freedom of speech' that is taken lightly.  if one is to give an account of their own self - you must give them the freedom to do so.  apparently you don't believe in free speech.   and, don't give thal any ideas. 

Oh, Susan, dear Susan - didn't you get the joke? Why do YOU feel the need not to get certain jokes? Do I have to explain it to you? OK. One gets a lousy notice and has to "edit" it to make it sound much better but one must not alter any words therein, so one extricates a few words discreetly without even altering their order and, hey prestissimo, a good review! I thought that, just for abit of fun, I'd try applying that principle to one of your pieces. No offence intended (as surely you realise)...

was listening to a german opera today - and the only thing i understood was 'roast beef sandwich' and 'vodka.'  when you read the bible - it's plain language.

In which chapter of which book therein do you find those two things?

when you deal with demons - you don't really know the message they are sending or even if they have one of their own.  they just don't want the gospel to be sent to the world.  why?  because they lose.  even though i said 'amen' to spirits leaving whomever has them...   we don't know for sure that ramseytheii is foaming at the mouth yet.  or, thal.  or, for that matter ahinton.

I can't speak for the others but can assure you that I am not foaming at anything...

perhaps - what this misspelling angel needs to do is to further explain freedom in terms of God's view - and freedom in terms of satans.  people don't even know they are bound.  as i read the word of God - i read that Satan must obey God and shudders at the name of Jesus Christ.  in fact,  wherever satan is commanded to go - he must - if the name of Jesus Christ is invoked.  people try to defy God - but it's usually only a matter of seconds/minutes to days before whatever prayer is prayed - is effectively seen.  that's how powerful God is!  He can do the 'impossible.'  what we consider impossible is very possible with God.  after all - he is LOVE.  love triumphs over evil.  when you want good for a person - you don't want them bound.  bound by evil thoughts, intentions, lies, deception.  but, the person has to come to literally see this bondage in their lives.  to be tired of it.  to replace it with the Word of God.  which literally is Jesus Christ's words.  when you fill your mind with that - you don't have time for petty arguments - because love enters the picture. 

Do throw caution and all else to the winds and come to Jonathan Powell's recital next Friday; you can always cover your eyes when it gets to the bit near the end where John the Baptist's head gets served as the main course...

Fraternally,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

alistair,  i only call you 'ahinton' when i'm mad at you.

and, to clarify - for everyone - what i meant by the roast beef and vodka was merely that if a person speaks one language and hears another (any other) they will only hear the words from their own language  - unless they are multi-lingual.  so, for me - the only english words in this german opera was roast beef and vodka.

as i see it - the Word of God is like that for some.  a foreign language.  has to be translated (even though it has been several times).  i mean - translated into modern day english.  well, that has been done, too -come to think of it.  but, what i mean is that people think 'posh, the bible is so old - you are reading historical bronze age material.'  but, the words of God are somewhat miraculous in that you can meditate on them and they become REAL for your day and age - as they were for someone thousands of years ago. 

face it - we haven't changed species (as some like to think) and we are as fully human as any human ever was - back to adam and eve's time.  and, God knows our natures.  they aren't significantly different.  only the environment and technological changes.  but, that doesn't negate the need for God.  computers do not replace God's knowledge. 

i liked what the anonymous writer said about Jesus Christ telling those demons what place they had after His ressurrection.  He basically preached the gospel - but from a different perspective.  He was no longer The Word in human form - but God's own ressurrected Son and full of glory and light (which must have burned them up - pun intended).  I peter 3:19 'in which also He went and made proclaimation to the spirits NOW IN PRISON (they were imprisoned to earth when they fell from grace) who were once disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is , eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 

and now, corresponding to that, baptism now saves you - not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - through the ressurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.'

as i see it, alistair - the reason Satan wanted John the Baptists head on a platter is that he was the one responsible for the absolute obedience to Jesus word ABOUT baptism.  the fact that He baptized many people was the reason he was beheaded.  not that he had committed any sin towards herod.  in fact, herod was quite willing to have let him live - because he sensed truth in what he said.  in fact, herod thought Jesus Christ was john the baptist reincarnated because he remembered how john had told him what his hidden sins were (that he had his brother's wife) without john having previously known.  john the baptist was something of a curiosity for herod.

if an anonymous angel can pray for ramseytheii, then i shall say my own prayer for you alistair.  that - after the recital - you can see how pointless it was to kill an innocent man who was murdered for the sake of preaching 'life' for others.  and, how people WILL murder if given the right opportunities to sway those in high places that someone is preaching the gospel too much.  i say - too much - in terms of what people want to squelch.  but, it was commissioned by Christ to the disciples 'preach the gospel of the kingdom of God to the world, and then the end shall come.'  God doesn't do anything without warning people of the pros and cons of how they live their lives.

Also, the bible states that our words are to be taken very seriously.  for, 'by your words you shall be judged.'  so, as i take it - our prayers for others for their salvation would start by unbinding them from the deception around us in the world.  that music is often composed with a very real message (sometimes inspiration) from satan.  it's so that people will not notice and actually enjoy something that might be somewhat hideous in nature.  but that the true nature of it will be hidden for many generations and that many people will be decieved by it.  excepting those that might openly expose it.

[thalbergmad]

face it - we haven't changed species (as some like to think) and we are as fully human as any human ever was - back to adam and eve's time. 

Cobblers

[thalbergmad]

if an anonymous angel can pray for ramseytheii, then i shall say my own prayer for you alistair. 

Angel, that was a feeble minded spammer. I get crap like that almost every week and i love responding.

I am sure Alistair is sleeping all the more soundly knowing that you are praying for him.

Thal

[pianistimo]

i doubt you even get it once a year.  but, that's because i'm american - and usually the only way it comes is through a door to door thing once a year in the spring.  perhaps in britain they do it through e-mail - but i rather doubt it on a weekly basis.  am i right?

alistair is not sleeping. he is moaning.  i don't know about what.  either that he senses what i am saying is true - or he can't stand it.  but, i'm hoping it will move from the latter to the former - as he sincerely likes me.  i shall use my wiles as salome did - excepting in reverse.  the platter of  john's head would have deterred most from following Jesus - but in this case - perhaps alistair will be convinced by the music that this incident literally happened and that some things in life are worth dying for.

[ramseytheii]

was listening to a german opera today - and the only thing i understood was 'roast beef sandwich' and 'vodka.'  when you read the bible - it's plain language. 

This reminds me of 'Ma' Ferguson, the first female governor of Texas:
(this from a UCLA website)
===
There was a hot argument in Texas in the 1920s—one that is still going on in several states, particularly in California—about whether Spanish should be used in the classroom to teach kids who came from Mexico, or whether only English should be permitted.  Miriam “Ma” Ferguson had become the state’s first woman governor, after her husband, Governor “Pa” Ferguson was impeached.  She ended the debate quite quickly when she held up a Bible and proclaimed, “If the King’s English was good enough for Jesus Christ, it’s good enough for the children of Texas!"
===

Walter Ramsey

[ramseytheii]

if an anonymous angel can pray for ramseytheii, then i shall say my own prayer for you alistair.

For me it is more being prayed at then for.  And I think this "angel" is rather praying I end up in the eternal fires of hell.

Walter Ramsey

[ahinton]

alistair,  i only call you 'ahinton' when i'm mad at you.

I wondererd if that was the case. There's absolutely no need of it, you know. A joke is a joke is a joke, after all...

and, to clarify - for everyone - what i meant by the roast beef and vodka was merely that if a person speaks one language and hears another (any other) they will only hear the words from their own language  - unless they are multi-lingual.  so, for me - the only english words in this german opera was roast beef and vodka.

as i see it - the Word of God is like that for some.

What? Like roast beef and vodka?

a foreign language.

Ah, now I understand.

computers do not replace God's knowledge. 

Indeed - there's a whole lot of things that computers and their software don't replce...

as i see it, alistair - the reason Satan wanted John the Baptists head on a platter is that he was the one responsible for the absolute obedience to Jesus word ABOUT baptism.  the fact that He baptized many people was the reason he was beheaded.  not that he had committed any sin towards herod.  in fact, herod was quite willing to have let him live - because he sensed truth in what he said.  in fact, herod thought Jesus Christ was john the baptist reincarnated because he remembered how john had told him what his hidden sins were (that he had his brother's wife) without john having previously known.  john the baptist was something of a curiosity for herod.

Oh, com on, Susan - all I mentioned that for was in reference to that particular event in Salome, in the context of Jonathan Powell's forthcoming world première of Sorabji's piano transcription of the closing scene from Strauss's opera - no, more, no less!...

if an anonymous angel can pray for ramseytheii, then i shall say my own prayer for you alistair.  that - after the recital - you can see how pointless it was to kill an innocent man who was murdered for the sake of preaching 'life' for others.  and, how people WILL murder if given the right opportunities to sway those in high places that someone is preaching the gospel too much.

You make it sound as though I don't recognise this alfready and that it will take Jonathan's wonderful playing oand your prayer for me (which necetheless I much apprecaite in advance) for me to see the error of those particular ways; you surely don't really believe that I actually favour - or would even pass by on the other side of - the murder of innocent people, do you?

Also, the bible states that our words are to be taken very seriously.  for, 'by your words you shall be judged.'

Yes, b ut it doesn;t also counsel against the cracking of the occasional joke in good spirits, does it?

so, as i take it - our prayers for others for their salvation would start by unbinding them from the deception around us in the world.  that music is often composed with a very real message (sometimes inspiration) from satan.  it's so that people will not notice and actually enjoy something that might be somewhat hideous in nature.  but that the true nature of it will be hidden for many generations and that many people will be decieved by it.  excepting those that might openly expose it.

Would you include mine in this category? - or have you not yet listened to sufficient of it to decide? Or shouldn't I ask?

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

alistair is not sleeping. he is moaning.  i don't know about what.

For the record, I was neither sleeping nor moaning at the time.

either that he senses what i am saying is true - or he can't stand it.  but, i'm hoping it will move from the latter to the former - as he sincerely likes me.  i shall use my wiles as salome did

Well, if you're to ply me with your wiles, it'll be such a shame if you can't come to the concert and do it personally; anyway, I thought at first that you meant "Wilde's" - since the play on which Strauss's opera is based is his (Oscar's, that is, of course)...

the platter of  john's head would have deterred most from following Jesus - but in this case - perhaps alistair will be convinced by the music that this incident literally happened and that some things in life are worth dying for.

I'm quite certain that I've never said that it didn't happen. I'm sure that I'll be convinced by the music - and its performance - in any case. And, once again, if we're momentarily to be really serious about all this, please do remind yourself that I have never once spoken out or written against the teachings of Christ and I'm not about to start doing so now.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

For me it is more being prayed at then for.  And I think this "angel" is rather praying I end up in the eternal fires of hell.

...where apparently one day you'll be able to play banjo duets with Thal; some things have their compensations, you see - even that...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

i doubt you even get it once a year.  but, that's because i'm american - and usually the only way it comes is through a door to door thing once a year in the spring.  perhaps in britain they do it through e-mail - but i rather doubt it on a weekly basis.  am i right?

No you are not right, tambo spamming is far too frequent.

Almost as bad are the smartly dressed young Americans who knock on my door occasionally.

I think they are called "Morons".

Anyway, i doubt if they will bother me again.

Thal

[prometheus]

According to a report by the European council creationism is not only totally unscientific, it is also dangerous for democracy and human rights.

[thalbergmad]

According to a report by the European council creationism is not only totally unscientific, it is also dangerous for democracy and human rights.

And i bet it cost 20 millions Euros of taxpayers money to come to that conclusion.

Thal

[pianistimo]

yes.  and what substantiates this claim?

[prometheus]

I haven't read it yet.

[pianistimo]

maybe they think religious warfare is killing off too many people.  well, it's sort of happening in iraq - but, i don't think the people that are bombing the mosques are particularly religious.  they just know it will irk the people who are.  i feel terrible when i see them coming down.  they are historical and monumental.  now, nobody will know where they are in the city.  it's a travesty.

it used to be there was an unspoken respect for God by avoiding religious buildings in warfare.  almost as though people know there should at least be one haven for people who seek peace.  but, you can't even be there.  that's terrible. 

[prometheus]

It seems to be that educating children creationism might lead to a theocracy. And that is what you support too. Just like in Vatican city and Iran.

[pianistimo]

a theocracy with Jesus Christ is much different than one with a man.  every man has an agenda of his own.  God is for all people.

[prometheus]

That's what the pope says. And that is what Khomeini says.