tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post5721205186277497409..comments2023-10-18T02:03:42.145-07:00Comments on LEARNING TO LIVE FREE: Principles of the Doctrine of ChristUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-43745545586035808492007-06-06T05:43:00.000-07:002007-06-06T05:43:00.000-07:00Tomte, that document has been around for a very lo...Tomte, that document has been around for a very long time.. at least 30 years and probably more. I have no idea who wrote it, but I've read it several times over the years. You are right, the references are vague, and definitely have a Laestadian flavor rather than simply presenting Biblical faith. These passages 'hint' at the Laestadian Christian walk of faith, but are not specific. Most likely only someone who was familiar with Laestadianism would understand what the underlying message is.<br><br>I'm also familiar with some in the ALC who, rather than depending on this document, are formulating a "Foundations of Biblical Faith" point of view which is not pointedly Laestadian, but is based on the Bible, and which emphasizes grace and the love of God. I heartily agree with this, and I hope the ALC and others continue in this direction.Norahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16601605468299470951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-31408909441327626962007-06-07T20:44:00.000-07:002007-06-07T20:44:00.000-07:00Hello Free: Haven't heard from you in ever so...Hello Free: Haven't heard from you in ever so long--I figure you need a break from all of us once in awhile. Hope all is well with you and family (including that impossibly cute puppy). Have seen several of my OAL relatives lately---and was greeted with the usual lovingkindness. I know I am so lucky to come from a family that doesn't practice that horrible shunning behavior. Blessings all around.lllreadernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-75177306316847224502007-06-10T19:48:00.000-07:002007-06-10T19:48:00.000-07:00No hard feelings, Free. I do get carried away and ...No hard feelings, Free. I do get carried away and if anyone was offended I'm truly sorry. (but calling your audience limited, is that the same as namecalling? And I thought being a neocon was a good thing! Oh well.)<br><br>It would be so easy to say something flippant and lighthearted, which is truly the spirit of my posts, if only that would come through.. but alas, I do not do that very well.<br><br>Blessings to all, and I'm going to work hard at being either just an occasional lurker, or try to leave this happy party behind altogether... Say a prayer for my success :-) <br><br>NorahNorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16601605468299470951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-33014006774725108722007-06-10T19:58:00.000-07:002007-06-10T19:58:00.000-07:00Don't go away, Norah. Some of us with "li...Don't go away, Norah. Some of us with "limited intelligence" will miss you. :).....4eyesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-80224541473256796002007-06-11T07:19:00.000-07:002007-06-11T07:19:00.000-07:00Thank you 4eyes :-).Here's the thing. This bl...Thank you 4eyes :-).<br><br>Here's the thing. This blog has been interesting to me because it was the first of its kind that I was aware of where people discussed the various Laestadian movements, and we could learn about each other. That still remains an interest to me; as we all know, if you are raised this way it is part of your world view and will always be a part of it. But if Free would like to encourage political discussions that is fine, too - it's her prerogative. The problem for me is that the politics of the left is supported but those of center or right are not, in fact they are denigrated. That too, is fine. But I am what I am and if those types of discussions are not of interest to me then there will be conflict. So it really makes no sense to visit here or post here - DUH, sometimes it takes me awhile to 'get it' lol. The Laestadian part, and getting to know all of you who post here, is interesting, but the rest of it is not. But who knows, maybe it will change some day, or maybe there'll be another forum somewhere which is comprised of all of the different branches of Laestadians (or former Laestadian) believers, and where we find we have much in common. If such a place appears, let me know!!<br><br>Take care!!Norahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16601605468299470951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-43074502262023715912007-06-11T12:45:00.000-07:002007-06-11T12:45:00.000-07:00OK Free, so I am doing an end-run since you closed...OK Free, so I am doing an end-run since you closed comments on that inflammatory topic, but I do have to respond to Anonymous #25735: I DO SO understand "free enterprise." I run my own business, for heaven's sake, and worked for a major oil company, bank, etc in the past. I can identify myself as "conservative" if I want to. And I do totally agree that "Big Govt" has gotten totally out of hand, growth and cost-wise. Does that not make me a conservative? But you act as tho govt is separate from us. So if "We the People" want something else, then by gum we had better get on it and create it. We have more control over that than we do any specific corporation - or even all corporations. <br>Free enterprise is not democratic, it does not respond to the will of the people except as consumers. Is that all we are, consumers? Is consuming the be-all of our lives? It would appear so. Woe is me, yet again. MTHMany Trails Homenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-83036166582911292472007-06-11T21:35:00.000-07:002007-06-11T21:35:00.000-07:00AF, I wasn't alleging anything, I was encour...AF, <br><br>I wasn't alleging anything, I was encouraging you, as an individual, to cherish freedom. The US is a country that people do immigrate to, in huge numbers. So there must be something good in this country. That was my point, in contrast to the dark picture you painted of the US and its government.<br><br>I have no idea what Finland's part in the war in Iraq has been. You give me too much credit. My thoughts and questions are from the simplest and most transparent perspective. I rarely research anything, I write whatever comes to mind as quickly as possible because I'm usually short on time.<br><br>I don't agree that Bush will go down in history as the most disastrous president ever, however, he is the first president to have a major attack on US soil during his watch since Roosevelt and Pearl Harbor. Johnson didn't start the VietNam war, but he did escalate it. <br><br>"And then comes along somebody like you, Norah, who actually has the nerve to start speechifying that the Finnish people supposedly doesn´t cherish freedom just because Finland, as a country, doesn´t participate in the Iraq war."<br><br>"Norah, I would say that you have cause to feel more ashamed of yourself than you have ever been during your whole life."<br><br>Don't forget, AF, no personal remarks here. But to this and the rest of your expanded remarks on what you perceive are my intentions, all I can say is "WHAT THE????"<br><br>(I hope none of this is over the line cuz I don't like gettin' paddled.)Norahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16601605468299470951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-15662050587248881282007-06-12T04:11:00.000-07:002007-06-12T04:11:00.000-07:00I've already told you what I was thinking abou...I've already told you what I was thinking about. You have the right to express your opinions, thank you for sharing them with us all.<br><br>NorahNorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16601605468299470951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-76714014881263958392007-06-12T11:08:00.000-07:002007-06-12T11:08:00.000-07:00Norah,I think ´ve said about all I´ve felt like sa...Norah,<br>I think ´ve said about all I´ve felt like saying on this subject. Perhaps, strictly speaking, there might be a thing or two to add, but on second thoughts I don´t think it would do much good, so why don´t we just call it quits?<br>Deal?<br>AFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-77318747818006818202007-06-12T15:24:00.000-07:002007-06-12T15:24:00.000-07:00Free, it occurred to me when you called posters on...Free, it occurred to me when you called posters on "name calling" that I should apologize to cvow, as I called him (indirectly) a "red neck" and I will have to admit that I do not consider this a positive appellation. So I hereby apologize to cvow. I do try to not be insulting to individuals but still express my opinions in a "fiery" way if I feel so inclined. This is occasionally a fine, but critical, line and I do not expect to be exempt from chastisement when warranted! Your job has been a bit tough lately, Free. Blessings to you for taking it on. MTH <br>PS: I would still like to know what other people's conception of "conservative" is. Has some authority come out with a definition by which we all must comply? Or might there (gasp) be shades of gray? Or even stripes? MTHMany Trails Homenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-10348173318107854142007-06-12T16:27:00.000-07:002007-06-12T16:27:00.000-07:00“If this Virginia Tech shooter had an ideology, wh...“If this Virginia Tech shooter had an ideology, what do you think it was? This guy had to be a liberal.” direct quote by popular conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Liberal = maniacal assassin. How's that for nuance?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-31673812870034718132007-06-12T16:50:00.000-07:002007-06-12T16:50:00.000-07:00AF,According to Wikipedia, as of 2006 the US allow...AF,<br><br>According to Wikipedia, as of 2006 the US allows more immigrants to become permenant legal residents per year than the rest of the world combined.<br><br>Ta Da!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-5820486088319951882007-06-12T17:01:00.000-07:002007-06-12T17:01:00.000-07:00So?I already said that the US has, in internationa...So?<br>I already said that the US has, in international comparison, a very liberal immigration policy and that´s precisely what the figure you just quoted shows. Immigration policy is much more restrictive in most EU countries. In spite of this, the EU took in 1.8 million immigrants in 2005. A considerable number, I should say.<br>In Europe (as in the US) immigration policy is a very important and much-debated political issue. The debate is mostly between those who want to make immigration policy much more restrictive and those who´d like more or less to maintain the present policy or to make it just a little more restrictive. Those who´d like to make it as liberal as the US immigration policy are very much in the minority.<br> Another FinnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-17877175333663825152007-06-12T17:15:00.000-07:002007-06-12T17:15:00.000-07:00More precisely:That 1.8 million is just the net ga...More precisely:<br>That 1.8 million is just the net gain due to movements of population. The total number of immigrants into the EU in 2005 was, of course, higher than that.<br>Another FinnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-2809094648775005092007-06-13T14:37:00.000-07:002007-06-13T14:37:00.000-07:00What about me AF? Am I an original and creative t...What about me AF? Am I an original and creative thinker?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-82993008815631058622007-06-13T16:41:00.000-07:002007-06-13T16:41:00.000-07:00Anon,maybe you are and maybe you aren´t. Given tha...Anon,<br>maybe you are and maybe you aren´t. Given that you´re just another Anon among a crowd of Anons and I´m not psychic, it would be kind of difficult to assess the degree of originality and creativity in your thinking...<br>AfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-7895917217600893142007-06-13T17:19:00.000-07:002007-06-13T17:19:00.000-07:00Anon,your rather strange (to put it mildly) questi...Anon,<br>your rather strange (to put it mildly) question got me thinking about originality and creativity and the kind of atmosphere where these qualities can thrive as well as, on the other hand, that kind of atmosphere which nips these qualities in the bud where they are unwanted.<br>Somebody on this forum (I think it was free) has already quoted the Danish-Norwegian (he was from Denmark but wrote in Norwegian)writer Aksel Sandemose on this subject. Sandemose is famous for coining the "Jante law", named after the fictive small town in one of his novels.<br>"Jante" is described as a very conformist small town with a stifling atmosphere. The town has a strongly enforced unwritten law which serves the purpose of nipping all originality and creativity in the bud as it protects the inhabitants´ unalianable right to maintain their tunnel vision intact. The law contains the following paragraphs:<br>1) Don´t think that you are special.<br>2) Don´t think that you are of the same standing than us.<br>3) Don´t think that you are smarter than us.<br>4) Don´t fancy yourself as being better than us.<br>5) Don´t think that you know more than us.<br>6) Don´t think that you are more important than us.<br>7) Don´t think that you are good at anything.<br>8) Don´t laugh at us.<br>9) Don´t think that anyone cares about you.<br>10) Don´t think that you can teach us anything.<br><br>Sandemose has succeeded so well it´s creepy in describing a certain mentality, according to which all originality and creativity are forbidden, with the help of this "law".<br>Some food for thought indeed for all of us...<br> Another FinnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-14244707871821480012007-06-13T19:26:00.000-07:002007-06-13T19:26:00.000-07:00AF, those statements included in that law could, i...AF, those statements included in that law could, in no small measure, be describing the church community of my childhood. It took me years and years to break free of that "law". I still have a fair amount of insecurity because of it (don't think you are special...don't think you are better than us...etc.) It's probably hard-wired and something I must learn to live with, even at my advanced age.sisunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088717.post-26472950931072774492007-06-13T19:30:00.000-07:002007-06-13T19:30:00.000-07:00I meant to say, Don't think you are smarter th...I meant to say, Don't think you are smarter than us." It was taboo to show any kind of intelligence above very average, and frowned upon to have any ambition above desiring to sack groceries at Red Owl.<br><br>I think my cynicism is showing! Sorry!sisunoreply@blogger.com