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BS: God is Such a Chum
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Subject: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Ebbie Date: 21 Aug 10 - 09:23 PM When I went to pick up the little dog that is in my charge while my friend is out of town, the TV was on and s NASCAR race was just about to start. 'Ruth Graham' (Who is that? Too young to be Billy Graham's wife) gave the opening prayer (Did you know they do that?). Anyway, she asked for the safety of all the drivers and ended with: And God, we know you enjoy a good race", so let's etc, etc. What? |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Rapparee Date: 21 Aug 10 - 09:38 PM Hebrews 12:1 Ecclesiastes 9:11 1 Corinthians 9:24 |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: olddude Date: 21 Aug 10 - 09:44 PM Well maybe he does ... some how I think he may have a few more important things to do instead of watching people doing left hand turns over and over again in a circle. But who am I, I couldn't pretend to understand anything when it comes to the creator ... I am but a servant. left hand turns anyone |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Emma B Date: 21 Aug 10 - 09:46 PM gee! I've seen the Devil at the Tour de France but I had no idea ........ |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Joe Offer Date: 21 Aug 10 - 09:58 PM Well, Ebbie, Billy Graham's wife, Ruth Bell Graham, died in 2007. She was 87 years old, and I understand she was quite a remarkable woman. Billy Graham was born in 1918 and is still alive. I think many would agree that he also is a remarkable person, able to bridge many chasms. Now, Billy and Ruth's five children are another matter. Best-known and most notorious is son Franklin, who is more-or-less considered to be the heir of Billy's evangelistic empire. Franklin Graham seems to be best-known for his Islamophobia. I believe he's been somewhat of a disappointment as an evangelist, and he was banned from the National Day of Prayer this year and had to lead a dissident group in a parking lot. Newly-ordained minister Ruth Graham is the third of the five Graham children. She is married to a former minister who was recently convicted of possession of child pornography (click), which no doubt was a source of consternation for her. If you are so inclined, you can visit her Website, http://www.ruthgrahamandfriends.org/. There's an interesting 2008 article about Ruth Graham here (click). Sounds like she's had a pretty tough life, despite the fact that her parents seem to have been good parents and exemplary people. And yes, indeed, she did give the invocation at a NASCAR race. I didn't find the invocation itself, but I can believe Ebbie's assessment that it was dumb. After all, what can you say when you're asked to do the invocation for a sporting event? Many people seem to think it's really important that we bring God into our sporting events, but I have it on Good Authority that God doesn't give a damn about sports: There are jocks who think that God himself Is drooling in the bleachers In a cold November downpour With a bellyful of brew Whose entire grasp of heaven Has a lot to do with It's from them I would expect to hear The F-word, not from you God is, however, concerned about homelessness and bigotry and Islamophobia and ecological disasters. No time for sporting events, however - God leaves that to newly-ordained preachers like Ruth Graham. I hope that some day, Ruth and her siblings will inherit some of their father's tolerance and wisdom and generosity. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Ebbie Date: 21 Aug 10 - 10:25 PM Thanks, Joe. That is a lot more information than I had. (I love your word 'consternation') I don't necessarily think it's dumb to invoke God's 'hand' over a dangerous sport but it seemed altogether too chatty for me, somehow. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Rapparee Date: 21 Aug 10 - 10:36 PM Why? Prayer is supposed to be talking with "Abba" or in our contemporary colloquialism, "Daddy." Romans 8:15: For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Joe Offer Date: 21 Aug 10 - 10:58 PM Well, one big thing about praying in regards to sporting events and wars, is that I have it on Good Authority that the Almighty isn't biased in favor of any of the contestants, and would perhaps prefer that they work together to accomplish something instead of competing against each other. I can't say competition is immoral, but it certainly presents theological problems...but I do think God has a sense of humor, and would probably would prefer if some Muslim or Danica Patrick would win. "Consternation": a nice way of saying she sure was pissed.... -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: katlaughing Date: 22 Aug 10 - 01:05 AM Hmmm...I see my posting didn't take. Joe, excellent posts, but perhaps s/he look on it like a hamster owner watching the little critter go round and round their little wheels. Or more like, that Being just shakes its head at the what humankind has done with free will.:-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Jack the Sailor Date: 22 Aug 10 - 01:09 AM I believe that God, the omnipotent creator of everything, does indeed care about NASCAR as one of his creations. Its illegal roots in bootlegging, resisting arrest and endangering the driving public are a special source of pride. Of course as the Omniscient knower of every things, the uber-decider as it were, he would know in advance how any race would turn out and therefore would not be able to enjoy any particular race as much as even the dimmest Mountain Dew swilling redneck. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: MGM·Lion Date: 22 Aug 10 - 01:10 AM Transatlantic difference in vocabulary, just out of interest: Here in UK we use 'pissed' to mean 'drunk': our equivalent of your US 'pissed' [=annoyed] is 'pissed-off". The Ecclesiastes text above reminded me of what is one of my very fave quotes: "The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that is the way to bet." {Damon Runyon}. Wise words... ~Michael~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Aug 10 - 01:17 AM Click Actually, NASCAR has its own Sweet Heavenly Jesus ......... Don't need nothin' else........ Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Aug 10 - 01:23 AM Hi Michael........In racing people are more likely to say, "Its not cubic inches that win races, its cubic dollars." Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: MGM·Lion Date: 22 Aug 10 - 01:32 AM Hi Spaw. Nice one. Thank you. ~Michael~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 22 Aug 10 - 04:17 AM I thought this thread title was God is Such a Chump ... |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie Date: 22 Aug 10 - 05:15 AM And, in the words of Mike Harding.... And Lo! The roar of Moses's Triumph could be heard throughout Israel... Ok, a Triumph is a motorbike, not a car.... Works for me though. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Richard Bridge Date: 22 Aug 10 - 08:34 AM Triumph were also cars. Latterly they were part of the British Leyland Empire. Before that they were part of Standard-Triumph, but back in the 30s they did make a rather nice sports car called the Triumph Dolomite - which was a very close copy of an Alfa Romeo. It was very shortly replaced with another less sporting but fairly sporting car also called the Triumph Dolomite, which is a recipe for confusion amongst car auctioneers. During the British Leyland years there were other Triumph Dolomites most of which looked fairly similar to each other but some were front wheel drive, some rear, some were tame with little 1300cc engines, but the best was the Triumph Dolomite Sprint with an 1850cc engine (I think) and it was quite a ball of fire. It had an interesting rear axle location system involving cables in stead of a panhard rod for lateral location. Alas they also made the Triumph Spitfire, a nasty little hairdressers sportscar with dangerous swing axle rear suspension on the Herald chassis. Eventually that chassis went to a three-quarter trailing rear suspension which was much better, and the GT6 and later Vitesses (2 litre inline 6 in small chassis) were not bad. At least one GT6 hybrid with the 2.5 injection engine from the TR6 (150bhp) was made privately, and in a car weighing about 12 cwt the result was adrenaline-filled. Then there were the TR series sports cars - the TR2 with its 4-pot 2 litre on basically a Standard 10 chassis, growing up to the TR3, 3A and eventually 4 with the Michellotti bodywork - looked good but high drag factor from the eyebrows over the headlights. The engine grew to 2.2 litres somewhere in the 4/4A period. The TR4A went to IRS in stead of beam axle, and was unpredictable at the limit although some were raced in the USA with a lot of negative camber at the rear and nearly rigis springs and shocks and did OK. Then the 6 pot (starting at at 2.5 litres with carburettors) went into the TR250 and TR5. The upgrade to the 6 was largely bodywork although I think it was at this stage that the engine went to fuel injection and the rear suspension was revised I think to the 3/4 trailing layout again. A good TR6 could still be felt to squat when you opened the throttle at 130mph. The engines were strangled by emissions laws in the USA. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: beeliner Date: 22 Aug 10 - 10:41 AM ...the Almighty isn't biased in favor of any of the contestants... Between 1963 and 1979 it was said that He rooted for whatever team Jesus Alou was playing for. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: gnu Date: 22 Aug 10 - 12:59 PM TR Vixen 6... my buddy had one. Nice ride. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Paul Burke Date: 22 Aug 10 - 01:52 PM It must be a bugger being God, you know the result before the game has been played. In fact, it was in your mind when you created the world. On the other hand, if you are Stephen Hawkings's God, you have the pleasure of listening to all the prayers, then creating BOTH results in separate time trousers. Everybody is satisfied, except those who are in the wrong trousers, and if you don't know what to wear, well, you deserve what's coming to you. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Mrrzy Date: 22 Aug 10 - 02:12 PM LOL! The Wrong Trousers! |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: MGM·Lion Date: 22 Aug 10 - 03:46 PM Peter Bellamy used to write "Sudden prayers make God jump" above his name when asked to sign a record sleeve. ~Michael~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Art Thieme Date: 22 Aug 10 - 04:37 PM Chum is what you throw in the water to attract sharks. Art |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: gnu Date: 22 Aug 10 - 04:45 PM Art... kinda like a religion thread. Although this one is different. Ebbie's OP was a good one, giving all a pause to muse upon and hopefully discuss in a reasonable fashion. And hopefully entice a wee bit of the humour it has and will. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: olddude Date: 22 Aug 10 - 09:31 PM Well he could be a Nascar fan, he did give Bobster Shine .. so maybe he is .. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Art Thieme Date: 23 Aug 10 - 12:03 AM Coincidences are God's puns! Art |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Art Thieme Date: 23 Aug 10 - 08:32 PM As a manager of the Chicago Cubs, the first game Lou Piniella was in that position the Cubs were playing the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs lost that game. he score was 16 to 5. Yesterday was Lou's final game managing the Cubs. They were playing the Atlanta Braves again, and the Braves won the game by the identical score --- 16 to 5. No offense meant, folks. It's just my way. Coincidence---God's puns. Although it's more appropriately a machination of the Native-American trickster god---Coyote. Once again, a play on words---even if it do make one antisemantic on occasion! ;-) Love, Art |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: gnu Date: 23 Aug 10 - 08:39 PM Now that's just plain freaky. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Art Thieme Date: 23 Aug 10 - 10:34 PM ...and the first 4 words of the bible---all about baseball. In the big inning. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie Date: 24 Aug 10 - 04:30 AM Ahh... Richard Bridge wonders why I referred to Triumph bikes and not cars.. The potted history you wrote doesn't help as it misses out the reason why I don't refer to Triumph as car manufacturers. The Triumph Acclaim. I failed then passed my test in one of those buggers. In fact come to think about it, you missed out the Triumph 2500TC and PI. I had a 2500TC (twin carb) that looked nice, went nice but pulled like hell to the left. I used to call it Michael, after Michael Foot. My love affair with Triumph went downhill after that and apart from a Marina Estate (getting the gear in for gigs, the cheapest estate I could find at the time,) I never went BL again. Mind you, I drive a Jaguar these days and there might be some DNA in there? I shudder to think about it. I would have thought you might have mentioned the TR7 for that matter. Might have been a useless BL shed, but a desirable one at that. No matter, Moses was riding a Triumph Bonneville, the earlier 650cc version, (discontinued in, I think 1962, but I could be wrong and can't be arsed to google it.) Amen |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Slag Date: 24 Aug 10 - 03:33 PM Ah, theology ! Predestination! God, the Author, knows the ending from the beginning. What does He get out of it? If we are created for His pleasure, the reward must be in the execution ( an unfortunate term, but apropos) of the story. Rap! are you a biblical scholar or just quick on the references? Under the sun, solomon sees that the race is not to the swift but that time and chance happen to all and therein lies the key point. We who are bound by time and limited by dimension cannot see into the future. We can only anticipate based on memory of passed experience. Chance, not knowing creates the race, it's reason for being. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: gnu Date: 24 Aug 10 - 03:36 PM Art... hahahahahaaaa.. love it! |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: olddude Date: 24 Aug 10 - 03:55 PM I owned a Triumph TR-7 (the wedge) boy came close to hurting myself many times with that pocket rocket .. that thing could fly .. eventually sold the thing after it started killing me with repairs |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Bobert Date: 24 Aug 10 - 04:39 PM Well, I'm sure this will come as a complete shock, but I used to own and race a 1965 Volswagen Karmann Ghia in the mini-stock division and before every race there's a driver's meeting right their on the track where drivers are warned about this or that... and then there's the pre-race prayer... It's part of the deal... I rerally never gave it much thought if God liked racing or not... I can't believe he could have enjyed some of the shit that happens out there, tho... I mean, in my division we only ran 10 lapper between the "big boys" and we all knew each other purdy well and kept it clean but the Big Boy??? Some mighty unGodly stuff out there, fir sure... Anyway, I heard that God only goes to the races to see the crashes... lol... B~ p.s. Haven't raced since my son was born 23 years ago... Quit smokin' and quit racin'... Figured he needed a dad... |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Amos Date: 12 Dec 10 - 11:39 AM "Our study offers compelling evidence that it is the social aspects of religion rather than theology or spirituality that leads to life satisfaction," said Chaeyoon Lim, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who led the study. "In particular, we find that friendships built in religious congregations are the secret ingredient in religion that makes people happier." In their study, "Religion, Social Networks, and Life Satisfaction," Lim and co-author Robert D. Putnam, the Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, use data from the Faith Matters Study, a panel survey of a representative sample of U.S. adults in 2006 and 2007. The panel survey was discussed in detail in the recently published book American Grace by Putnam and David E. Campbell. According to the study, 33 percent of people who attend religious services every week and have three to five close friends in their congregation report that they are "extremely satisfied" with their lives. "Extremely satisfied" is defined as a 10 on a scale ranging from 1 to 10. In comparison, only 19 percent of people who attend religious services weekly, but who have no close friends in their congregation report that they are extremely satisfied. On the other hand, 23 percent of people who attend religious services only several times a year, but who have three to five close friends in their congregation are extremely satisfied with their lives. Finally, 19 percent of people who never attend religious services, and therefore have no friends from congregation, say they are extremely satisfied with their lives. "To me, the evidence substantiates that it is not really going to church and listening to sermons or praying that makes people happier, but making church-based friends and building intimate social networks there," Lim said. According to Lim, people like to feel that they belong. "One of the important functions of religion is to give people a sense of belonging to a moral community based on religious faith," he said. "This community, however, could be abstract and remote unless one has an intimate circle of friends who share a similar identity. The friends in one's congregation thus make the religious community real and tangible, and strengthen one's sense of belonging to the community." (Phys Org) This notable bit of research clarifies the situation with the God/NASCAR junction admirably, I think. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Lighter Date: 12 Dec 10 - 11:51 AM Yanks have been saying "pissed off" since about 1940. BTW, except for "the race is not to the swift," none of the cited bible verses apply to a literal race. Nor do they say anything about whether God may be said to "enjoy" a race. The closest thing the ancients had to NASCAR was chariot racing. Ben-Hur won a big though fictional one. |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: Ed T Date: 12 Dec 10 - 12:01 PM I am certain that God's favourite hockey team is the Toronto Maple Leafs. And, yes, non believers, he certainly does like hockey over other sports. He even enjoys the fights. Win or loose, (often the latter), he doesn't care. He puts time aside to watch them, like the other loyal leaf fans. He cares not, that they don't win trophies. Since they are rarely in the play offs, it gives him the extra time in the spring to check other things out. And, he likes the logo, 'cause it reminds of the wonders of nature he created. If you have faith, and look real close at the logo, you may see.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: God is Such a Chum From: mousethief Date: 12 Dec 10 - 12:05 PM Foolestroupe: I thought this thread title was God is Such a Chump ... Chongo Chimp is God?! Oh, you said chump not chimp. Nevermind. |
