olorintheyounger

To folks of all religions or none! I know so many people who deeply love God and who try hard to love their neighbours as themselves. This being the case, why are believers in and lovers of God so reluctant to 'admit' their faith to those they meet - let alone to 'enthuse' about it?

I think perhaps I am beginning to know why - but what does everyone else think?

I am moderator of smarties4ever group and my own e-mail messages to my group are getting bounced! Help!

A bit tongue in cheek here!

I was brought up in a religious tradition that made it my fault - personally - that Jesus died two thousand years ago. With that load of guilt laid upon me at the age of six or seven, how was I ever supposed to learn to love myself, let alone anyone else?

Sounds like a joke doesn't it? Not funny though ... still trying to learn to love ... aren't we all?!

I run a not-for-profit guinea pig sanctuary in Sheffield U.K.

I keep my pets plus refuge animals, in spacious, colony style conditions and habitats, and this includes some controlled breeding, as a natural part of their colony life.

I fall between two stools, because of the breeding! I am neither a commercial venture nor a straightforward refuge provider! Donations help me to keep the sanctuary going, and to make improvements here and there, as I do not receive any grants to support my work.

I have lots of photos of guinea pigs on my website www.peteandpets.com, and welcome visitors and enquiries about any and all aspects of guinea pig care, breeding, health issues, refuge enquiries etc.

Cheers PETE

C.S.Lewis wrote a book called 'The Four Loves' in which he extolled Friendship as the highest form of love between human beings - partly because we can be very close to people who are very different than us, in many ways, and yet delight in their differences - their refreshing contrast to the way 'we' are! We do not seek, or have or claim any right to seek to change them - for that would make them different than what they are - and it was their difference from us that largely attracted us in the first place! Does this make sense? What do YOU think about friendship?

This has plagued me for many years - I associate things going alright with the fear that something nasty will happen very soon to spoil it! I call it 'the sudden blow to the back of the head' syndrome! Trouble is I've been right so often that it's really hard to believe that things can actually go on being O.K., or even better than O.K., for more than a few days on end!

erudite = clever glue!

Get the idea?

Just coined this word ALLAHOLIC - what a difference one letter makes!

THE TRUE ATHEIST CAN STATE ....

My confident belief that there is NO God needs no defence on my part, for it is based upon my personal and private conviction, not upon fear, and certainly not upon ignorance = TRUE, RESPECTABLE ATHEISM!

THE TRUE BELIEVER CAN STATE ....

My confident belief that there IS a God needs no defence for precisely the same reasons!

Interesting?

Who, then, is more afraid, the theist or the atheist?

The theist that they may be 'good' and wrong (= WHY BOTHER TO BE 'GOOD'?)

or

The atheist that they may be 'bad' and wrong (= WHY RISK BEING 'BAD'?)

I suggest that ....

Both parties in fact refuse to entertain their doubts - also out of FEAR!

The only common factor, therefore, is FEAR, which - in effect - unites both believers and unbelievers!

Is this TRUE or just INTERESTING? Or BORING even?

... went to the chemists and asked to speak to the pharmacist about a sensitive matter!

"It's my husband," she said. "We've been married thirty years and he still wants, you know, 'it', all the time! Morning, noon and night, sometimes twice a night. I'm constantly tired and sore and totally fed up with it. Can you give me something, anything for him, PLEASE!!! I'm desperate!"

The pharmacist paused in thought for a while. "This is a most unusual problem. However, I think I may have just the right solution! Since he is the patient I will need to provide a guidance note that you can pass to your husband. Will that be alright with you?"

"O yes, thank you so very much", said the woman.

The pharmacist wrote a note and sealed it in an envelope and the woman faithfully passed it, unopened, to her husband that evening, eagerly awaiting his reaction.

What happened next? OTYHEE! xx

Go on - I dare you!

'Cos I don't!

Does anyone?

OLLYGATOR

x

My appeal declined - truly silly time folks ... here is the text received today ...

" Hi olorintheyounger,

We're sorry, but upon review we found that the following question was indeed in violation of the Yahoo! Answers Community Guidelines:

"Could anyone please report this as not being a question?"

Violation Reason:

As a result, your question will remain removed from Yahoo! Answers, and 10 points have been deducted from your account.

If after reading the Answers Community Guidelines, and the Yahoo! Terms of Service, you feel strongly that you’re appeal should not have been declined, you can request a review of your appeal on the Yahoo! Answers Appeals Board.

Go to the Yahoo! Answers Appeals Board: "

Anyone notice the missing data! VIOLATION REASON: ... None provided - how convenient!

Well, what is the violation then, you brilliant Y!A team people?

Would 'Because the adder adder ankie!?' be deleted on the same basis, one wonders!

As in 'Why couldn't the viper wipe her nose?'

I say Ivor old bean, how's the mighty chopper today? How are thr rotors coping with re-entry?

Wonder if this will be deleted too?

See you - are you any relation to 'Ivor the Engine' by the way.

I knew a chap called Ivor Balls. He was an Employment Exchange Manager in Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean). His name looked great on the staff list I BALLS ! True!

OTYHEE

xxx

Do you? From Pooh!

OLLY THE ODDEST

xxx

I have heard that the blue ones make you hyperactive? What so different about blue?

Answers on a postcard please to

OLLY OF MAG

A38 [third wet paper bag along, near the old station building]

Axbridge

West Anglia

U.K.

Near Cheddar [where the cheese comes from!]

TTFN

xxx

[Used to go to that old station building when it was a youth club in 1900 and frozen to death! Anyone from Axbridge who can confirm that?]

ALL answers welcome, scientific or otherwise!

Any scryers, diviners, wiccans, mystics out there to answer this deeply philosophical question please?

I'm sorry - I haven't a clue!

PETE=OLLY=ME

[E.R.O.S.]

[Earth Rules O.K. Society]

xxx