Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    Jamey, you still out there??
    
    Richard

    
    
    Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out there.  ;)  I'm still here. But I have been
    on the road a bit lately and barely have time to catch up reading, let
    alone replying. Thanks for remembering. Besides, I wouldn't leave
    Collis all alone wiht the wolves   ;)
    
    Jamey

    I wouldn't worry about Collis, Jamey.
    
    He plays a *great* Kevin Costner role.
    
    Karen :-)

    Been a while since we've heard from Karin, Cindy P., and Pete Goodwin.
    
    Are you okay??
    
    Richard

    And, hey!  Where's our resident Zen Buddhist, Mike Seabury?
    
    Richard

    Thanks for your Christmas greetings, Karin!
    
    Richard

    Re.5

    Richard:
             I am alive and well and still living on the planet
     Earth last time I checked. I've been rather busy of late, but
     hopefully there will be time to resume regular participation
     here within the next day or two.
             Thanks for asking about me. 

                                                 Mike

    It been awhile since we've heard from Nanci or Guy, too!

    I'm here but in read-mostly mode right now.  
    
    hugs to all...
    
    Nanci

    				Carol duBois!
    
    	Okay.  I know you're in class this week.  But, I wanted you to know
    when you got around to reading this that you were missed! :-}
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    I'm here too,
    
    I just got way behind..
    
    'grandma bonnie'

    It's about time!
    
>>    'grandma bonnie'
    
    	Smile when you say that!

>Tangentally, an angel is traditionally a messenger.  The word 'angel' means
>'messenger'.

This just reminded me, how's Bob Messenger doing?

Peace,
Richard

Re: .14 Richard

>This just reminded me, how's Bob Messenger doing?

I've been cutting back somewhat on noting recently.  I've traded a few barbs
in Religion, and in Golf::Christian too until I got fed up and deleted it
from my notebook.  There are only so many times I can get into the exact same
argument with someone before I get bored.

				-- Bob

    Okay, does anybody know what happened to Collis?
    
    I know from reading other files Jim Richards have given
    notes up for Lent.  We'll hopefully hear from Jim again
    after Easter.
    
    Richard

Moi?

Well, thanks for asking.  Actually, I have been busy with a few others
things and have not been noting a few days.

One year I gave up ice cream for lent (thinking lent was 40 days)
only to discover that they don't count Sabbath's and that lent is
*more* than 40 days.  But I managed to tough it out.  :-)

Collis

    Collis
    
    I think you are supposed to be allowed to have what ever you gave
    up on the Sabbath, those days don't 'count' in the 40!
    
    Bonnie

*Now* you tell me.  All these ice cream sundaes gone to waste.

    Well at least they didn't go to *waist*!

    Welcome back, Jim Kirk!  Glad you're feeling better.
    
    Richard

    Welcome back, Jim Richard!  Good to "see" you, as always.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    I miss the lilt E Grace gave to this notesfile while she was
    contributing here.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Unfortunately, Richard, what drove her away continues to take place.
    
    Ro
    

    Well, I don't know about others, but I'm missing the presence of
    Nancy Smith in this file.
    
    I just re-read Nancy's note in the TIME OUT topic and she was going to
    be back from vacation May 6th.  I hope that if she is staying away
    deliberately, that it's for pleasant reasons.
    
    Richard

Well, I know Collis is busy with a big move.  I hope that is the reason
for Collis' conspicuous silence here in recent days.

Tony, you still out there?  I apologize for coming on too strong when we
really hadn't gotten to know each other all that well yet.

Peace,
Richard

I am indeed back, but busy.  I expect when I start my new job in a few weeks
I will be much busier and may drop out of some notesfiles (unless I
pick them up at home - where I probably should expect to be even busier
than at work if I'm to accomplish my list of 37 [and counting] projects).

Collis

    Our prayers that your new job will be a fulfilling and challenging one
    for you, Collis.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    I'm really feeling the absence today of the voices of Ro Flaherty,
    Jody Bobbitt, E Grace Noonan, Nancy Smith and Carol duBois here in
    CHRISTIAN-PERSPECTIVE.
    
    Cindy Painter, you still catching up?
    
    Richard

    Re.29
    
    Yo Richard! 
    
    There are now over 6000 unread messages in my other conference notebook
    directory on C-P, so I've added a new one to try and keep current while
    going back occasionally to read the 6k I missed.  So if anyone sees a
    stray note from me in a long-forgotten topic, you'll know why.
    
    God's love to you all here,
    
    Cindy

    Richard, don't tempt fate! ;-)
    
    BJ

    Note 67.76
    
    Jim,
    
    	Blessings to you and your efforts.
    
    Richard

    Anybody heard from Ron Francey lately?
    
    Richard

Anyone heard from Ray Levasseur lately?

Richard

    Bonnie Reinke where are you?
    
    		Alfred

    Bonnie is on vacation this week.  I believe she is out of town visiting
    her parents.
    
    Ro
    

    yep, and I got back this weekend...
    
    thanks for the page Alfred... and for the reply, Ro

    Hey, Paul Cioto!  Did you give up on us here at C-P?
    
    Richard

	Mike Valenza:  You're not excused from noting in C-P, you know!!

	Mike Seabury:  Where are you and what are you up to?

	Peace,
	Richard

 Re.41   

     Richard:
              I am alive and well (last time I checked) and have 
             recently started working nights. Which I actually prefer
             because I like having mornings off rather than evenings.
             Yeah...strange I know, but I've always been something
             of a contrarian. It will also work out as a better schedule
             after the baby is born. I'll be home during the day to do
             the cooking, laundry and stuff like that because Elaine 
             will certainly be able to use the help and if may be allowed
             to brag a bit, I am a pretty good cook and housekeeper. 
              Well I guess that accounts for one of the missing Mikes.
             With a little luck I should be able to get somewhat regular
             participation in this conference in a month or so.

                                                              Mike

         P.S. Funny the first time I look in this conference 
              in a couple of weeks is the day you ask where
              I've been.       

    Glad to "see" you back, Jim Kirk!  Sorry your absence was not due to
    more pleasant circumstances.  Hope you're feeling better now.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

   Playtoe,

   The directory indicates you work in the LA area.  Please let me know
   you and yours are well. Are you safe?  

   Peace,
   Allison

Cuzz'n Cindy Painter,

	How come we in CHRISTIAN-PERSPECTIVE haven't heard from you
in so long??  I miss you!!!

Peace,
Richard

    The March Lamb is reported to be missing.  If anyone finds it, please
    return it immediately.
    
    Thank You.

    No such luck, Mike.  The March Lamb was captured by a pagan, feminist,
    liberation theology, pseudo-christian cult and offered as a sacrifice to
    their God/Goddess.  It is departed, deceased, passed on, bereft of
    life... (from here on I slipped into a recitation of Monty Python's
    "Dead Parrot" sketch.)  :^)

    Sorry about that... I'll be better once my prescription is adjusted.

    Eric

    :-) :-)

    
    .47
    
    pagan *and* pseudo-christian?
    
    Dorian

    Funny - it was in Colorado earlier in the month although it's been
    missing for the past week or so.  We did have a lovely ice storm
    yesterday.
    
    Maybe it moved to California to be with it's fellow pseudo-christian
    pagans.
    
    Nanci

    re .49

    > pagan *and* pseudo-christian?
    

    But of course.  Pseudo means "false", from the Greek root *pseudos*.
    Therefore, if one is a pagan, they are a false (or pseudo) Christian.

What's happened to Derek Button?

Eric Myers?

Wallie Montalvo seems to has vanished, also.

Pax,
Richard

    Also, "Elaine" whom I met at a C-P dinner in Acton two years ago.  I
    don't remember her last name but I believe she mentioned back then that
    she had met Richard sometime, somewhere.  She is 5'8"" to 5'10" tall
    and has shoulder length black hair.  She is a tech writer who worked
    a few years ago at PKO3 and lately in ZKO2.
    
    Anyway, I said "hi" to her yesterday and we reminisced a little.  She
    just got put on "high risk" so she probably won't be around shortly.
    
    Elaine seems to be a very nice gentle person and I wish her the best.
    
    	Peace,
    
    	Ron
    

Ron,

Do you mean Eileen Dunne????  Your note had me racking my brain for an 
Elaine (I know the memory is the first thing to go), but I can't 
remember an Elaine.  That I remembered at the first C-P dinner at the 
Chinese restaurant in Chelmsford, Eileen Dunne was in attendance. 
Eileen is a member of the larger writing organization that I'm a part
of and a friend of mine.  We expect big cuts on June 21, but I haven't
been notified if I'm at risk yet. 

Such stressful times...

Ro

p.s. Ron, they are looking for a pastor at the UCC in Goffstown, NH 
where Don is the organist/choir director.  If there is any chance that 
you may not relocate out west, you might try looking into that church.

    I just noticedin the monthly listings of UCC positions that the cut-off
    date for Goffstown was May 31 (as in yesterday).  
    
    	Shalom,
    
    	Ron
    
    ps: yup, you've got that name right, Eileen Dunne.
    

    Say hi to Eileen for me, would you, Ro?  She and I had a lovely time at
    the MFA when I was there on vacation a few summers ago.
    
    Nanci

    re: .52
    
    A part of your question can be answered. I have been ill and away from
    work for a month. For the time being, I'm feeling better and ready to
    take up the cudgel for paganism again ;^)
    
    I see that Collis and Mike have put themselves on "hold" for a while.
    Pity: sort of narrows the spectrum of opinion by a couple of degrees
    of arc from each end. I hope they use their "freedom" to gather
    strength for their future reappearance.
    
    "Freedom" did not just 'slip out' in the last sentence. Since I
    joined you folks, I feel sort of captive to CP. I suffered withdrawal
    symptoms over the last month.
    
    Greetings, Derek.
    

    Welcome back, Derek!!
    
    Richard
    

    Nice to see you back Derek!  I hope you're feeling back to normal in
    short order.
    
    Nanci

    Thanks!
    
    I'm feeling fine again: being able to take a shot of CP every day
    is a sure remedy for most minor disorderes.
    
    Greetings, Derek.

    Hi you guys! I don't get in here much lately, but it's nice to
    see my name mentioned on a night when I have a chance to get in.
    
    Ron, thank you for your wonderful words! I'm actually not at risk, 
    anymore so I will be here for a while, I hope. It was wonderful to 
    meet you that day. I had just found out, and you handled it so well 
    when I told you. You really made me feel better. I wish you weren't
    leaving, but I know you're doing the right thing. You will make
    a terrific minister.
    
    Nanci, I remember that day at the museum, too, very well, and when I 
    think of you I think of that day. 
    
    I want to share my most recent spiritual insight with you all,
    especially those of you who are at risk. You know the 23rd psalm: 
    the Lord is my shepherd. He gives me repose. Beside restful waters he 
    leads me etc. When I thought I was at risk, I discovered what that 
    really means.
    
    The repose and restful waters are internal, a warm inner sense of 
    being in accord with the harmonious influences of the universe, or 
    close to God. After I got very sad about being at risk and thought
    of all the people I would never see again, and cried a lot, this other 
    strong feeling came over me. I was being TFSOed, but all was well
    and all manner of things would be well. My heart was filled with
    joy! So much so that I immediately thought of those lines from the
    psalm. Then I absolutely had to write down the experience. I felt
    just fine after that, even during the whole week I still thought
    I would be leaving.
    
    While I'm at it, I was reading a review of Arthur Ashe's memoirs,
    (he's the famous tennis player who is dying of AIDS),
    and it said that as he is an epileptic he has had many seizures. 
    During these seizures he has a strong sense that everything that 
    is happening in the world, including the evil, is somehow necessary.
    (He may explain this more clearly than the reviewer does.) I think
    I know exactly what he means, because I have had exactly the same
    experience but not related to a seizure or epilepsy.
    
    I had a "peak experience" consisting of those thoughts exactly, 
    about 15 years ago. I could see in a crystal clear manner that everything 
    that happens has a cause and effect result so that things eventually come 
    right in the end. What is happening now is simply the only way to get 
    from here to there. 
    
    This sense of clear knowledge of this lasted for at least one day. 
    I tested it out with every example I could think of,
    but right there was exactly how it was part of the pattern. For
    example, X commits murder. But then he has the opportunity to feel
    guilty and discover the importance of other people, which will lead
    him to do all kinds of beneficial things. I can't fully explain this
    in a notes file, but maybe Arthur Ashe does a better job. 
    
    Speaking of books, here is another one worth reading.
    The book Fear No Evil was written by Nathan Scharansky, a Russian-
    Jewish mathematican who was imprisoned in the USSR and only released 
    a few years ago (and is now perhaps the Israeli ambassador to the 
    U.S. though I may be wrong about this). It's about his prison
    experiences, and he is very bright and witty and constantly made 
    fools of the KGB, because he is so much smarter than them even
    though they had all the material power at their disposal.
    
    All he was allowed to have with him when imprisoned was a book of the
    psalms and some photographs. He was not a spiritually oriented person;
    he had the book of psalms for sentimental reasons, because his
    girlfriend, who is a spiritually oriented person, had given it to him,
    and he thought that they would let him keep that in prison.
    He and a Catholic friend he met in prison had such a spiritual
    experience there that they half regretted being released because
    they knew what a loss it would mean in terms of their spiritual life.
    This is truly worth reading, especially if you are experiencing
    something painful.
        
    Regarding being at risk, embarrassing as it is, I advise everyone to
    take the risk of telling everyone if you can. The support I got was
    worth being at risk! I really mean that. I would do it again. And
    who knows, maybe I will get the chance! I hope not soon!
    
    It's really great to touch base with you all again. What would we
    do without God's gift of technology! Ron, I hope you will send us
    your Internet address in Texas.
    
    Eileen
     
    

    Good to "see" you again, Eileen!
    
    Richard
    

    I'm missing Ruth Fannin.  I know she's simply very busy.
    
    I wonder about the whereabouts of Steve Bittrolf.
    
    I hope Marc Hildebrant will find an opportunity to check in sometime.
    
    Hey, Phil Yerkess!  You still out there?!
    
    These and others are in my thoughts and prayers.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Hi Richard,
    
    Yes, I'm still around. I was out for most of September and I'm
    still in catch up mode. There seems to be alot of interest in 
    Information security at the moment, which is keeping me very busy.
    
    It is nice to know that you have been thinking about me - thank you.
    
    I hope to add a reply or two next week, as I see that there is a
    couple of topics opened related to Jehovah's Witnesses.
    
    Bye for now
    
    Phil.

Richard,

Thanks for thinking of me, I was on vacation in sunny (read *HOT*)
Florida for much of September.

I was also wondering about Ruth as I try to catch up to the 300+ notes entered
since I left. I'll look for her tomorrow.

Steve

    <ow-ow-ow-Steve-leggo-my-ear>
    
    Steve found me wandering the halls in a daze and said I wuz missed.
    
    Well ya know what I have to say about that?
    
    
    Good!
    
    
    Nice to know I'm being thought of.
    
    Love,
    
    Ruth

    Derrick, Jill, Glen, Paul, Juan,
    
    	Are you still with us?  You never know anymore who is and who
    isn't.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    

    723.101 David,
    
    	Good to see you participating here again!
    
    Shalom,
    Richard

	I'm still here Richard!!!!



Glen

    If with Derrick you mean Derek, I'm back.  Just got back from a month
    in USA and still trying to digest my impressions.
    
    Am also in notes catch-up mode.
    
    Greetings, Derek.

    Ooops!  Please, forgive my misspelling your name, Derek.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    
    
    > it's good to see yah back David
    
    
      Just give it awhile Richard,I am sure I will wear out my welcome :-)
    
    
    peace,
    David        p.s. Yah feeling better??

    Anybody know anything about Nancy Morales??  Isn't she in the quake
    area??
    
    Richard
    

Nancy is nowhere near the quake area.

    Good.  One less worry.  My prayers are with those who've been affected
    by the quake.
    
    Richard
    

re.-2

She checked in this morning in the "other" conference.

She didn't say a word about the quake so I assume that she didn't get the same
"wake up call" everyone else in the area got this morning.

ace

 Nancy is 300+ miles north of Los Angeles






Jim

    Eeeps... I've been in Newhire Orientation most of the day with of all
    things... you guessed a newhire to Digital.  When you've been with this
    company for 9 years, I wish they could just hook us up on some
    brainwave transfer... oh so glad not to live in the future.:-)

    Tom!  Haven't heard from you in a while!  You still out there?
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    

    
    nice to see collis and /john contributing here again

Agreed, and nice to see you, too, Peter.

Jim

    Has anyone heard from Richard lately?

    	Eric

	He had sent me mail on Monday....

    I was out of town a few days, but I'm delighted to know I've been
    missed.  I'm afraid commitments will sharply curtail my activities
    here over the next few days, also.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Patricia Flanagan?
    
    Cindy Painter.
    
    Richard
    

    Richard,
    
    I went on vacation last week but I am back.  I spent a wonderful
    healing week at Rowe Recovery camp.  Rowe is a UU Camp and Conference 
    Center and this one week camp is a generic approach to recovery through
    spirituality and community.  I spent the week truly working issues of 
    Love, intimacy, sexuality, Gender, trust, play, nudity and
    spirituality.
    
    One of the highlights of my week was playing in a mud pit with 5 men
    and 1 other women.  It was fun, hilarious and a wonderful place to work
    issues of love, intimacy, gender, sexuality, play and trust.
    
    Boy, did our inner children have fun.
    
    Patricia
    
    

A mud pit?

    Better than an arm pit... <;-<)

    Let's say, we were getting in touch with our "earthiness"  Perhaps
    returning to our clay origins.  apreciating the earth in a way that
    only children are usually able to do.

    Welcome back, Patricia.
    
    You were missed.
    
    Richard
    

    Have we silenced Rob Lincoln and Derek Button?
    
    Have they succumbed to economics?
    
    Are they okay?  (Derek went into the hospital June 20th)
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    I am (Derek) back at work from today.
    
    I had a longish spell in hospital followed by a quiet holiday in a hut
    in the pre-alpine region of Upper Austria. Did a lot of star-gazing
    and internal functionality checks. Feeling fit enough to wrestle a
    herd of bears.  I'm going to need all the strength I,ve tanked to 
    catch up on the backlog of work, so don't be tooooooo disappointed if
    I don't show here a whole lot in the near future.
    
    And another spell in hospital is due in the Autumn (Fall).
    
    Greetings, Derek.

    Welcome back Derek,
    
    Patricia

    I miss Eric Myers.  I miss Cindy Painter.  I miss Rob Lincoln.
    
    Richard
    

    I miss Collis Jackson.  If anyone is in touch with Collis, please
    tell him his ol' notes nemesis remembers him fondly.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

I saw Collis a couple of weeks ago at the Nashua bridge club.  If he shows
up again I'll say "hi" for you.

				-- Bob

What's the latest word from Derek Button?

Shalom,
Richard

    It's been a while since hearing from Justina Chan.  Are you still with
    us, Justina?
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

Derek Button has been heard from!  The following is an extract of his mail:

	........ I was taken for a computer tomograph test which revealed
	that one of my spinal disks was shattered and that at least one piece
	was jammed between spinal bone and a nerve string. 

	I was then admitted to a private clininc and, on 28 Feb, had an
	operation to remove the splinters and to reshape the remaining disk 
	as far as was possible.
	
	Since then, I have been learning to walk again and exercising to
	restore some feelings to my left leg and foot.

	It will take another couple of weeks until I am freely mobile and
	up to 4 years until my legs regains full sensitivity. 
	
	I saw that someone (Richard?) in CP was flagging for me in "Missing
	persons". I do not mind if you answer them on my behalf and please
	give them all my best regards. I miss CP more than I expected that
	I would. 

	I expect to be "up to speed and fully back to work by Easter. Until
	then, I wish you all the best. 

    I'm glad to hear Derek is alive and well.  
    
    -Jack

    .101
    
    Yes, I'm a bit of a mother hen.  Glad to hear from you, Derek.  And I
    pray you're mending well.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

I saw Steve Hayes and his wife yesterday at a nearby supermarket.

Steve, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, hasn't been active in C-P for a while.  It
seems Steve received the tap a week ago Monday and was severed as an employee
of Digital.

I told Steve I'd keep him in my prayers.  He indicated that he'd be visiting
me sometime in the near future.

Shalom,
Richard

    Okay.  Has Jack been kidnapped or what?
    
    Richard
    

	Jack Martin is busy in SOAPBOX right now trying to explain his way out
of a few things. :-)

	IIIIIIIIII'mmmmmmmbaaaaack! :-)  I have been kind of busy and have cut
my noting down a bit. But I am back! :-)