The Always Humble Semi-Ancient Pie Hole Philosopher

 

“I believe that Jesus would have given His life for just one person. Jesus emptied Himself, He humbled Himself and He so yielded Himself to His Father's love that He had no ambition of His own. He was not looking to build an empire, He did not want praise or adulation or to impress people with who or how many followed Him. He stopped over and over again for just one person, for just one life.”

-- Heidi Baker

I am the humble semi-ancient pie-hole philosopher that spouts quasi-wisdom whenever I feel like it. Since I have no filter, I usually feel like it. But that's the reason I'm a minister.  Because I can't keep my mouth shut. You are better served to do what I say.  You certainly don't want anybody seeing you do what I do. There is a special place in hell... but, that's another story.

I have performed several marriages, served as the head of a PTSD discussion group at the local medical center, and have been called on to help a variety of people. After talking to a couple, the wife asked me where I preach, so she could come hear. I spread my arms and smiled as I looked around at the smiling faces in the cigar bar.  "Here?" she asked. "You don't have a chapel?" "Oh," I answered, "you want a brick-and-mortar edifice."  I walked to the front door and stepped outside with them. I pointed to the beach.  "take your shoes off and stroll barefoot through the sand in God's Cathedral. He will listen to whatever you'd like to say."

Proof that I have no filter.

I have married people inside, outside, and on a boat.  When people listen to what I have to say, they can't believe what they hear. A few fall back on "Christian" teachings, and I just smile. If they listen, it's all the same.  I tell them to think about it.

There was a big man in the PTSD group. He wanted to talk to me when we finished. In my office, he put his bible down and related his life story. He prayed for God's help to find a job.  He found one, got to drinking, and lost the job.  He asked again, Got another job, did drugs, and lost the job. He went to prison, asked God for help, got out, and found a job.  And on and on went his life.  I was smiling as he talked.

"Pastor, why are you smiling while I was talking?" I told him, "You keep asking God for help, He gives it to you and you throw it back in His face, again, and again, and again. When will you wake up and listen?" He looked at me with an open mouth.  He fell to his knees and began to cry. He had no clue.

We look to God for help, but God gave us everything we need to get through this life and into another. God's strength is what we ask for, as we go through life.  This gentleman made his own fulfilling life, and lost it, several times. Now, he has a clue. Now he might have a chance.

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Questioning Love, Respect, Caring, Happiness, and Unrequited

 

“I meant it when I said I didn’t believe in love at first sight. It takes time to really, truly fall for someone. Yet I believe in a moment. A moment when you glimpse the truth within someone, and they glimpse the truth within you. In that moment, you don’t belong to yourself any longer, not completely. Part of you belongs to him; part of him belongs to you. After that, you can’t take it back, no matter how much you want to, no matter how hard you try.”

-- Claudia Gray

I just met this guy today. Now he is telling me that he loves me. Does he really love me?

He’s more in “lust” with you than in love. He probably wants to screw your brains out. Okay… that was a bit off-color, but you get the idea.

What was the most challenging thing you have ever done?

Resistance training with the Royal Navy.

What should I do if I love my boyfriend but don’t like his family?

Who do you have a relationship with, your boyfriend or his family? The family is the boyfriend’s issue, not yours.

I want my girlfriend to break up with me, what do I do?

Tell her. Honesty is always best, even if it’s uncomfortable.

I’m lowkey ugly. Why does this girl still love me?

How’s your package hangin? Maybe she loves the “pipe” more than the man it’s attached to. Just sayin. And I’m assuming that you’re a man. If you're not, maybe she loves something else. Or, maybe she's into "lowkey ugly" people. You should ask her.

My wife cheated on me with a doctor she works with. What can I do?

Divorce. That’ll teach her. Have you wondered, who else she’s been with?

“I told my wife the truth. I told her I was seeing a psychiatrist. Then she told me the truth: that she was seeing a psychiatrist, two plumbers, and a bartender.”

-- Rodney Dangerfield

Can much love and no respect be applied to the same thing?

No. You must love someone you can be true friends with. If you are true friends, there is much respect. And, true love does not exist if there is no respect for the one you love.

How can I find an honest man in my life?

Do you go to church?

What are some reasons why men may leave a woman they love? Can anything be done to prevent this from happening?

You assume the men truly love them. If they did, they wouldn’t leave them. It either happens now or it happens later, but it will happen if they don’t truly love them.

Did you want to hook up?

To what?

Regarding men who may have a preference for large breasts, can this interfere with a relationship with women with smaller attributes? Do men only 'love' women who are of a physical type?

Some men are attracted to a physical type. Some men, like me, are attracted to women who are attracted to them. Some of us just want to have fun.

Can you explain the concept of "cause-and-effect" according to Buddhism?

Try this:

“Buddhism teaches that the law of cause and effect underlies the workings of all phenomena. Positive thoughts, words and actions create positive effects in the lives of individuals, leading to happiness. Negative thoughts, words and actions on the other hand—those that in some way undermine the dignity of life—lead to unhappiness. This is the general principle of karma.”

-- from “Soka Gakkai”

Do you really care what people say or think about you?

Not particularly. I am what I am, so take me or leave me. I don’t care. 

Is it true that if you don’t care about yourself no one can?

If you don’t care about yourself, how do you believe anyone else can? The saying isn’t totally true, since people can care about those who don’t think anyone could. First responders, doctors, nurses, and some people on the street would come to your aid without caring what you think of yourself. It is true that some care whether you do or not.

Is it possible for a human to be as strong as a silverback gorilla?

No. Gorillas are one reason we bring equalizers into the jungle. High-powered rifles… just in case.

Why are most English people satisfied with failure?

Failure is the best way we can learn. It isn’t the failure, per se, it is what you do with the failure that can satisfy a person’s need for learning. When you fail, you critique what you did to find out why you failed, and then you try, try, and try again until you attain the goal you are after. Most people are satisfied with failure because they can learn from it.

How do you feel wearing nothing?

Naked.

Why do unattractive men assume that a pretty woman, like me, wants them?

I never assume, especially with a “pretty” woman who has an attitude about unattractive men wanting her. The attitude alone would be enough to turn me off. I’m an average guy who has always looked for an average woman. I leave the games for other people.

“A session of boasting won't attract any real friends. It will set you up on a pedestal, however, making you a clearer target.”

-- Richelle E. Goodrich

Do you really care what people have to say?

Absolutely. It is the only way I can determine their intelligence.

Is it possible that people who claim they don't believe in true love simply haven't found the right person yet?

I don’t think they even know what true love is any more than they know what true happiness is. They fall in love as easily as they fall into happiness. They fall out of both in the same way. They think love and happiness are a switch they have a modicum of control over. True love and true happiness have no switch. When you realize this, you have discovered some wisdom.

Why do people try so hard to seek my approval and respect?

I’m not, so rest easy.

How do people move on from someone they have loved for years?

When they have screwed their lights out with several people, you either move on or become submissive to their liberal sexual appetite. It is a choice.

What inspired you the most today?

Voting.

Am I something out of nothing?

This is not possible. Everything has to have come from something. Even the “Big Bang” had to have something to work from.

“The one who tries to get something for nothing generally winds up getting nothing for something.”

-- Napoleon Hill

How can I be happy in my relationship?

If you have to question your happiness, you are with the wrong person.

What are the reasons behind missing our exes and wanting them back in our lives?

You’re kidding, right? Not on a bet! I miss my ex, but I sure don’t want her back, screwing up my life again. I’ve been truly happy for the 23 years we’ve been divorced, and I plan to be truly happy until I die. I am perfectly happy without her screwing up my life, thank you very much.

Why are people dumber as a whole more than individually?

Their stupidity is more obvious as a whole than individually. Take voters, for instance.

Does missing an ex-partner indicate that the relationship is worth rekindling?

They are an “ex” partner for a reason. Focus on that reason and ask the question again. Do you really feel like putting yourself through all that, again? Life is much too short to endure that kind of drama again. Better to find a better partner.

How would you describe a person who has achieved a lot but remains humble?

A “humble achiever” should cover it.

How do you deal with people who twist your words?

I try not to talk to them. If they constantly twist your words, what’s the point of talking to them? Don’t “deal” with them, ignore them. They are not worth the time you waste on them.

“Twist a tongue, and tongue a twist how many twists can a tongue twister twist around their twisting tongue. If a tongue twister's tongue could twist, how many twists would the tongue twister's tongue twist while their tongue was a twisting.”

-- Jazz Feylynn

What are some quotes about loving someone who doesn't love you back?

“Because, if you could love someone, and keep loving them, without being loved back . . . then that love had to be real. It hurt too much to be anything else.” ― Sarah Cross

Why do we believe everything we’re told without question?

If you believe everything you’re told, you’re not that intelligent. This is how we got Joe Biden as President. You need to question everything, or, you can just cut the red wire and pray that you won’t blow up. Questions help to keep us alive, I don’t go skydiving because I don’t pack the parachute. If I packed the parachute I still wouldn’t have gone skydiving, because I don’t trust myself. If I don’t trust myself, why would I trust some other idiot? Question everything, even yourself.

How do I cope with the fear of not existing after death?

Don’t be an atheist.

Is it possible to find genuine love in today's world? What are the qualities that contribute to a lasting and genuine love?

Absolutely. Fall in love with your best friend. Don’t fight, discuss. Be understanding and selfless toward each other. And, most of all, be truly happy with your life. If you aren’t happy, your partner won’t be happy.

How can one determine if someone is not very intelligent without causing offense?

Listen to them. You don’t have to say a word, just listen.

How can we be so sure if an afterlife really exists?

Die. However, if you die, you had better be prepared for an afterlife. If you aren’t prepared, you will have died for nothing. Atheists don’t die to find out, they just die. If you are questioning the afterlife, then you must be questioning the existence of God. You probably fall into one of these categories:

“There are four main positions in the argument about whether God exists: atheism (God does not exist), theism (God exists), agnosticism (it is impossible to know whether God exists or not), and skepticism (at the moment we do not know whether God exists or not).”

-- PhilArchive

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Questioning Doing, Time, Happiness, Brainwashing, Truth, and God

“Remember that there is only one important time and that is now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person you are with, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future? The most important pursuit is making the person standing at your side happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life.”

-- Leo Tolstoy

What do you do if you have nothing to do and want to do something?

I’ve never had “nothing” to do. I’ve had “no one” to do and wanted to do “someone,” though. Is that kind of the same thing?

When in your life did love feel like a trap and trick you?

My marriage of 25 years. She finally admitted that she never loved me. She used me to escape her home life. She has no idea what love is. I divorced her in 2000 and have been happily living in sin ever since. I’ve been with my current girlfriend for 20 years. You need to trip into the right partner so life is perfect. 

What is the reason behind children calling adults by their first name only?

A bad upbringing. It is a sign of no respect for age. That probably wouldn’t fly on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Why don't you let me have sex with you?

I’d blush, but I’m not sure what sex you are. Besides, I'm spoken for.

Can making ourselves unhappy make others happy?

Only if you feel like making an asshole feel happy. I don’t have that much unhappiness in me. I surround myself with good people.

If a person makes an effort to improve something, isn't that the pursuit of happiness?

The “pursuit of happiness” is a simple “choice” you make for your life. You strive for true happiness, always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. This simple "choice" is sustainable, as long as you don’t change your choice.

“Others may question your credentials, your papers, your degrees. Others may look for all kinds of ways to diminish your worth. But what is inside you no one can take from you or tarnish. This is your worth, who you really are, your degree that can go with you wherever you go, that you bring with you the moment you come into a room, that can't be manipulated or shaken. Without that sense of self, no amount of paper, no pedigree, and no credentials can make you legit. No matter what, you have to feel legit inside first.”

-- Chris Gardner

Is time itself something out of nothing?

Time is a human concept. The seasons, phases of the moon, and the sun cutting across the sky, are things we have used to come up with the concept of “time.” Time is something out of nothing, but based on planetary reality.

Is death always a subset of destruction?

Not necessarily. You go to sleep and not wake up. You die in your sleep. No destruction, just death.

Is it okay to be stupid and know it and just be happy?

It is never okay to claim stupidity. But it is very intelligent to be truly happy for no particular reason. We don’t teach our children, early on, to strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of their circumstances. It is a choice we should all make early on. We bring too much drama into our lives when we would be so much better without it.

Aren't you supposed to seek God first for you to find him?

You can seek God if you want, but, sooner or later, God will find you.

1.  Why does my mind make it hard to believe God?

2.  Who is God, and why don’t I feel him?

Same answer for both questions:  Atheists and theists both have “faith” in their beliefs, and yet, niether of them has any incontrovertible proof to back up their belief. Faith is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. Personally, I think “God” is pure energy. God was, is now, and ever shall be. Sounds like energy to me. People find it hard to believe in a “biblical” definition of God, and your mind is no different. I believe in an “omnipotent force” that created everything. God? I am comfortable calling it that.

Those who believe in God, and please him through good work, will be paid with what?

If you are selfless in your good work, you will be paid in true happiness.

“Peace is something like happiness; you cannot say "I will be happy when..." and you can't say "I will be peaceful when..." Your happiness shouldn't depend on the situation you're in, nor on the circumstances that surround you. In the same breath, you cannot wait for everything around you to become peaceful in order for you to say "I am peaceful." In both happiness and peace, there is a heart of strength, determination, and steadfastness; a heart that has the power to make things happen. You have to be at peace. You have to be happy. Now.”

-- C. JoyBell C.

Why do most people believe that money can buy happiness?

Unfortunately, yes. They will be happy for about that long, and then they are out looking for their next fix. True happiness doesn’t need money to make you feel good. The big mistake in our society was when parents stopped teaching children to strive for true happiness in life. It is a simple choice. Strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances.

What can having money do for me?

Complicate your life.

How can someone be happy when they are really not?

If they aren’t happy, then they’re not. Anything they show you past this is an act. Most people have no clue what true happiness is, so they adopt an act that they think is genuine, How may people off themselves and their friends say they had no idea they were hurting?

Do you think that money is everything in life?

No, but true happiness is.

Why are most people playing not to lose rather than to win?

Why would you play to lose? Unless losing is a tactic that benefits you in some way, it is counterproductive. Most people are not that stupid.

Is free will a real concept? If not, why do we have the perception of being able to make choices?

Free will is a real concept. You can do whatever you feel like you can do. If you give your choice to someone else to make it for you, that is your free will. If you choose to kill someone, this is also free will. You will be prosecuted and die from a lethal injection, but it was your free will. If you feel you can’t make choices, you have no concept of free will. We live in a society of laws, and it is in our best interest to obey those laws. To obey laws is an act of our free will, or we can break the laws and pay the penalty. This, again, is an act of free will.

"God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong, but I can't. If a thing is free to be good it's also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having."

-- C.S. Lewis 

When is brainwashing available for humans?

When you start to believe the bullshit being fed to you. For the weak-minded, Democrats do a fair job of it. Joe Biden is the sad result.

Given that the destination is death, is life about the journey?

The destination isn’t death unless you believe death is the end. Nirvana is the true destination, and it may take many lives to arrive. Those lives you will live are the journey you take to get to Nirvana. Death is simply a marker to show you left this life for the next. I have lived many lives and will live many more before I am ready for Nirvana. “Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven. In Buddhism, nirvana is the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, meaning a person's individual desires and suffering go away.” -- Vocabulary.com

Can animals make decisions that are best for them?

Have you ever watched a “working dog” do their job? Or, a wolf as it stalks its prey? Animals, by and large, take care of themselves, and who they’re with. 

Why do people live when they know they will eventually die?

Because we will live again. We take everything from our past lives with us into the next.

How would you define discipline and determination in life?

Perseverance, in the face of failure. It isn’t that you fail, it’s what you do with the failure, that is important. You can cry or you can learn from your failure and try, try again, until you succeed.

Is science considered a religion or a belief system?

Science is a discipline. It is a systematic methodology based on evidence. The science that is based on superstition is superstition, not science.

"Science is a way of life. Science is a perspective. Science is the process that takes us from confusion to understanding in a manner that's precise, predictive, and reliable - a transformation, for those lucky enough to experience it, that is empowering and emotional."

-- Brian Greene

How does a Christian know or recognize the truth?

They have faith in their belief, just like the atheists have.

If atheism is true, can someone prove it to me?

Neither atheism nor theism has any incontrovertible evidence to validate their belief. Both rely on the faith of their belief. “Faith” is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof.

Can I find a job without college?

The Air Force is always on the lookout for volunteers. 

Why did Hitler not gas as many gays as he did Jews?

There weren’t as many gays as there were Jews. Is this a serious question, or are you messing with me?

What are the consequences of not showing up for a job after being hired?

You will be fired.

How do I make sure that the universe never dies?

One, it won’t. Two, it isn’t your purview.

“What are the lessons to be learned from this journey of the mind? That humans are emotionally fragile, perennially gullible, hopelessly ignorant masters of an insignificantly small speck in the cosmos.

Have a nice day.”

-- Neil deGrasse Tyson

What is the term for the belief that God created everything but does not care about humanity?

Ignorance.

Is the word 'zen' mentioned in any of Buddha's teachings?

“Zen” is “meditation.” If Buddha mentions meditation, he mentions “zen.”

Can "Zen" exist without Buddhist philosophy and practice, or is it simply another term for Buddhism?

“Zen” is another word for meditation.

What are some things that should not be said to a girl who does not have a boyfriend?

“Are you gay?”

How do I find a good friendship with good friends?

A neighborhood “cigar bar” worked for our little town.

Is there a way I can stop being so curious?

The knowledge that “curiosity killed the cat” doesn’t do it for you?

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.

-- Albert Einstein

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Questioning Girlfriends, Guns, Skills, Termination, Bullies, and Marriage

“What a kid I got, I told him about the birds and the bees and he told me about the butcher and my wife.”

-- Rodney Dangerfield

 

What can I do if my girlfriend breaks up with me and she gets into another relationship within no time?

I could surmise who she was with... when she wasn’t with you.

How can I break up with my girlfriend without telling her?

Don’t be a coward. Step up and do the right thing.

If this happened to you, could you please share your personal story of how you gained confidence and a strong sense of self-worth without exterior validation?

As a member of the Air Force Combat Intelligence branch, I had to call down a “higher” Intelligence agency over a mistake I found in their description. I was ignored. This began a years-long game of calling them down and being ignored. The good point, that made me laugh, is that in the next updates, the descriptions were changed and I was always vindicated.

What do I do when the person who I love doesn't love me anymore?

Find someone who can truly value your love and appreciation.

Why does my boyfriend have his astranged wife living with him?

Gee, this is a “hard” one.

How can I put a love spell on my partner?

Strip.

“When you strip away all the layers one by one, not much remains to “discover.” You will never find real meaning among your selfish interests, feelings, and aspirations. The answers do not lie within you.”

-- James C. Dobson

Why do we people create guns?

For protection. The same reason we developed clubs, knives, spears, and then swords. 

My coworker treats me indifferently but speaks highly and well about me to others, what does it mean?

The coworker values you but doesn’t want the value to go to your head.

What can you do if your boss is always angry at you, even when you do your job well?

Sit down with the boss and ask what the problem is. You can keep guessing, or you can get the facts from the boss’s mouth. At least you will know what the issues are.

What are some key factors that contribute to achieving success in both personal and professional endeavors?

Knowledge, desire, and perseverance in the face of failure.

How should a subordinate respond when their manager tells them they have no respect for them?

“I have no respect for you, either. So, where does that leave us?”

1.  Do you hate your ex or have you moved on?

2.  Do you hate the person you were previously in love with?

Two questions caught my interest.  I hated my “ex” before I realized it was my choice to stay married to her. I had it in my head that I could make it all good. I was telling myself fairytales. After 25 years of marriage, I divorced her and moved on. I’ve been with my current girlfriend for 20 years of happiness. 

But, do I hate the person I was married to?  Yes, because of what she did to me. But, I still love her, I just can't be with her, or around her.  She gave me two terrific children.  I love her for that. Some people can't just flip a switch and stop loving.

“Going back to your ex is like taking back your spit from the ground.”

-- M.F. Moonzajer

How do I have good conversation skills?

Get involved in conversations, and learn to listen and question. You don’t have to input life’s drama. 

1.  How do I cast a love spell to bring my husband back?
2. Can I use a love spell to make my husband love me more?

Another two questions (above) caught my interest,  Why, you might ask? Because, for me, it plays to a person's naïveté. In the first question, the husband left.  In the second question, the husband is not loving enough.  For me, both husbands are vacant in marriage, and the wives don't have a clue.  Why does one want him back, and the other wants him to love her more? Both husbands are worthless, and the wives should be looking to move on down the road and find someone better. 

When’s the best time you function?

3 a.m. to about 8 a.m., when I answer questions. It gets my mind moving. 

Do you believe in destiny? If so, what do you think your destiny is and how did you come to this belief?

A person’s destiny, like a person’s luck, is what they make it. Our lives are made up of choices and decisions. Some are good and some are bad, but all of our choices and decisions make our lives go in some direction. Hopefully, the direction is where we hoped to go. I was in college when I received a draft notice for the Army. I decided to Join the Air Force. At the end of my tour, Vietnam was over, but I chose to stay in the military Intelligence field… for another 19 years. I chose to retire, and I chose to go to work for an Institutional Review Board. Choices and decisions have steered my life, as they steer everyone’s life. If you give up your right to choose and decide, you have made another choice to let someone else steer your life. 

How do I manage a coworker who doesn't show respect, doesn't teach me well and completely, is hostile when I make mistakes, but is a friend of the boss?

Quit, and tell the boss why, in detail. His “friend” is costing the company happy workers.

What and when was your most recent lie?

If you lie, you will have to remember what you lied about. This is too much drama for me to handle. Better to just tell the truth, no matter how painful, and move on down the road. It is just a lot easier, especially for a guy like me that has no filter.

“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.”

-- Mark Twain

Why did my boss fire me for not saying hi back to her?

Geeze! What a grouchy bitch.

Why does everyone leave when life gets tough?

They never learned the lesson of persevering in the face of failure. I can tough it out for at least 25 years before I'm told there is no chance. 

Am I being fired if my boss told me to look for another job?

Nice of the boss to give you a heads-up.

How can I politely call you an idiot big time?

Try saying this: “You’re an idiot, big time!” Being polite is not in play, but… you must be certain that you’re not being the bigger idiot… big time.

Is it better to fail than not try at all?

Yes, because when you fail you learn, and life is all about learning, and you try again.

What causes people to mix up the difference between love and lust so much?

There is no way I can mix these two up. Lust has to do with getting down and nasty. Love has to do with not being able to take your eyes off of hers. Love is when your heart melts. Lust is when you get wood over a stranger. Love is when you can’t come up with humorous bullshit because you love her.

“He looked good, like sin in a suit.”

-- Melissa Marr

How can teachers and staff identify signs of bullying and intervene effectively?

As an ex-victim, first I’d look for the “definition” of a victim, and if they have a bloody nose, bruising, they’re an extrovert that’s now an introvert, they cower when you raise a hand, and they don’t want to talk about any of it, these should be some red flags of bullying. When you’re too late is when the victim is hospitalized, or when the bully beat to a pulp. I just about beat my bully to death with a tree branch.

How might a control freak react when you decide to break the relationship?

I don’t want to be around. I’ll do it by phone, and have a new number at the ready.

How do confidence and persistence play a role in the success of dreamers?

If you don’t have confidence, it would be very hard to find persistence, much less perseverance in the face of failure. Without these three, confidence, persistence, and perseverance, the possibility of success for a dreamer is, well, just a dream.

What kind of effort is needed to prove that his love is genuine after a breakup and make a possibility of getting back together?

It helps if the person you broke up with is an idiot. 

Why is it that we can never be too sure of what we know?

Because what we know can change. What is a fact today may not be a fact tomorrow. Scientists would be well served by couching their findings with, “At this point, we can say…” It leaves the door open for updating what they think they know at a later point.

What is the meaning behind someone saying you should be bad sometimes because you're too nice?

Jealousy. There is nothing wrong with being too nice.

“Emotional intelligence does not mean merely "being nice". At strategic moments it may demand not "being nice", but rather, for example, bluntly confronting someone with an uncomfortable but consequential truth they've been avoiding.”

-- Daniel Goleman

What makes you afraid of getting married?

Been the minion of Satan once. I see no reason to do it again.

Is everything God's will?

No. God got tired of talking and writing everything down and having man misinterpret it. So, God gave man everything he needed to do things right. It is man’s choice to follow what God gave him or to continue misinterpreting. 

Why do some Christians view immigration as a crisis but not others?

Some are Democrats.

How can a person become the Christian god?

Too late. The best one can do is to find an empty pedestal to climb on and say some quasi-believable things that might garner them a congregation, but it won’t make them a “Christian God” as there is already a Christian God.

Can atheism be used as a basis for determining morality?

No. It is the only thing the atheists won’t argue with me about.

What is the biblical basis for Christians to support immigration reform?

Try this:

“Then Jesus said to them, 'Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and give to God the things that are God’s.' The men were amazed at what Jesus said.”

-- Mark 12:17

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com

At Harmony with Contrarian Thought (Updated from 3/22/2015)

 

"Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."

-- Plato

Ever ask yourself, "Why am I arguing with this jackass?"  It's frustrating, especially when you're arguing a point with, what you think are, intelligent people whom you respect. This is when you see information flow in and garbage flow out.  It can feel like college, when you hand in a five hundred-page thesis for grading, knowing full well the instructor will put it through a cross-cut shredder without reading it, then give the confetti back to you in a paper bag.  Why bother arguing when you know it is pointless?  If you aren't involved in governmental politics, then why bother?  And, even then, why bother?  It isn't as though the government ever accomplishes anything.  

Those who know me also know my question of choice is, "Why?"

"Wise men don't need advice.  Fools won't take it."

-- Benjamin Franklin 

One would hope, where politics is concerned, presenting a cogent argument with undisputable facts might be enough to sway contrarian thought to your side.  Unfortunately, in politics, even if they agree that you're right, they will stay the party line.  This is why watching Congress is like watching jackasses braying loudly at each other, instead of intelligent people discussing with each other.  After a while, you begin to realize you're just watching paint that never dries.  

The topic of religion can be just as bad, and when we look for the reasons why, it seems fairly clear.  It is hard for a person to admit the culture they grew up in could, possibly, be wrong.

“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”

-- Mark Twain

A child brought up in a culture of neo-Nazi, white supremacist propaganda, will probably be hard-pressed to convince that any other ideology is not a threat, much less admit the one they hold dear is dangerous. I always find these folks, who think they're superior, rather sad. If they were superior, they wouldn't fear all people different than they are. If they're so superior, why is everyone else such a threat to them? Instead, we find them to be small-minded, intolerant, frightened, and possibly dangerous. I think this example holds true in Christianity as well.

 

I see it with the Hillsboro Baptist Church and other "cult" congregations that want to interpret the bible in such a way that everyone else is condemned to hell except them. It is just easier to judge others than to be tolerant and loving to them. I find this a lot with mainstream Christian views of the Christian gay community: "How could they possibly love Jesus? They're gay!"

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."

-- Bertrand Russell

I have also found that people get angry... when they type.  Have you noticed this?  First, their sentences go from coherent, to reading like their spitting nails and can't construct a complete sentence.  Then they get belligerent, and the cussing starts just as they hit the "caps lock" and put the exclamation point on autopilot.  This, for me, is a sure indicator that you've entered into "Braying Jackass" territory.  I've been told for years that I have this effect on people.  I hadn't noticed... but, then, I am humble to a fault. 

Families experience frustrating communication at times, some more than others.  My dad and I got into a heated discussion, one morning, concerning a kitchen cabinet and the power runs underneath it.  I failed to stand back, as I have tried to do in the past, figuring I'd allow him to discover my point as we got further into installation.  I failed because I have to live in the house after it's built, so I thought it prudent to iron out any issue before the cabinet is installed.  My first recommendation was to wait on power until later when the cabinet is installed.  Until that time, we could leave the wires coiled up under the house.  After an hour of trying to understand each other's points, our final decision was to wait on power until the cabinet was installed and leave the wires coiled up under the house. What? Who woulda thought?  Both of us went to our respective corners and, although I think I won on points, I'll call the sparring match a draw, since I allowed him to beat me up, pretty well, in the process.  

And this is my point.  People seem to have "debilitating frustration" over contrarian thought just to find out, in the end, it really accomplishes nothing as you beat your head, or your son's head, against the proverbial brick wall.  It is the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.  You both know you're right.  In this instance, did it really matter?  The right and wrong will shake out when the cabinet gets installed.  Why put each other through this grief?

"The softest thing in the universe

Overcomes the hardest thing in the universe.

That without substance can enter where there is no room.

Hence I know the value of non-action.

Teaching without words and work without doing

Are understood by very few."

-- Laozi, "Tao Te Ching" (604-531 BC)

Taoist philosophy teaches that water flows around the stone, seeming to have no effect on it.  Yet, 10,000 years later the stone has been worn away by the constant flow against it.  I would think that this might also follow through to the butterfly that flaps its wings in Africa and makes it rain in Kansas.  The smallest, imperceptible, things can have a great impact, given time.

So, the next time you feel like you're getting into a braying contest, do yourself and your blood pressure a favor... smile sweetly, give a slight bow, and walk away.  If a comment is made about you leaving, do not turn around and dignify it with a response, just keep on walking.  Personally, I'd give them the finger over my shoulder, and keep on walking, but that's just me.  Yeah, I know, technically it's still a response, but it will make me smile knowing I just called, "Last tag!" 

"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom."

-- Charles Spurgeon

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com