I read a newspaper story years ago that has stuck with me. A guy was fishing and his line snagged an old piece of pipe with some wires coming out of it. On a whim, he touched the wires to the battery terminals in his boat. Well, it was a pipe bomb (probably made for illegal stunning of fish) and it blew up in his face and injured him quite badly, but he survived. Telling the reporter about it he said, "I remember thinking just before I touched those wires to the battery, 'maybe this isn't such a good idea.'"

If we're honest with ourselves, don't we usually know it when we're about to do something stupid? If only we were better at acting on that knowledge instead of ignoring it and making the mistake anyway. But like Chuff said, maybe as we get older we do eventually learn to pay more attention. I like to think I avoid at least some of the mistakes I probably would have made when I was younger.

And here's a special hug for my special friend Joe {... }

Thank you, How did you know I needed that!

(;

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jesushelper76

Thank you, How did you know I needed that!

(;

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Hmmmmmm should I answer that LOL. Just a gut feeling. :)

Thank you Ordinary Guy for your post. It says a lot. It is better not to ignore your instincts, because when you do it usually means trouble. Thank you again for your post.

Joe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ordinaryguy

Don't sweat it, Punky. I doubt that anybody who's read your posts on the subject will be likely to take your word for anything.

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No sweat, Headjob.

Thank you OrdinaryGuy for your post. It says a lot. It is better not to ignore your instincts, because when you do it usually means trouble. Thank you again for your post.

Joe

Yes, ordinaryguy. I too would like to thank you for your post.

Allheart, I need a hug, too. And you are so good at it. Lol

Jesushelper76, Thank you for the topic. I have had a good nights sleep, no dreams of sitting on the loo, so I think we did okay. Lol

31pumpkin, sweetie, try to be a little more open minded. Never assume you know everything about yourself and the world you live in - you might be missing something very important. God is good. God is in you and all around you. You simply need to broaden your horizons a little.

Hug? Did someone ask for a hug?

Here is a heartfelt hug {... } for a very special BlueRose. :)

Thank you so much.

((((Group Hug))))

Love Group Hugs!

Is there anybody missing? (;

Joe

Yes Group Hugs... I just love group hugs (((((((((((... ))))))))))

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bluerose

Never assume you know everything about yourself and the world you live in - you might be missing something very important. God is good. God is in you and all around you.

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Thanks, Blue. This is good advice for anybody, and I intend to take it to heart.

Gosh, I feel so warm and fuzzy!


((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((WORLD HUG))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

LOL Mag... I love it... world hug

((((((((((((((((((((((((... ))))))))))))))))))))))))

Thoughts are things and they affect everything else so it just stands to reason that if enough of us send loving thoughts to the entire world, someone might pick up on it and put down their gun. Ya Think?:confused:

Oh Mag I love it! Sure hope it works. Think I'll send out another dose...


(((((((((((((((... ))))))))))))

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magprob

Thoughts are things and they affect everything else so it just stands to reason that if enough of us send loving thoughts to the entire world, someone might pick up on it and put down their gun. Ya Think?:confused:

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Good for you, Magman! You've mellowed a lot since you wrote this two and a half weeks ago. (Jehovah or Allah, post #44):

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magprob

When the true aim of Islam is to convert all Christians to Islam or kill them, then you can bet some Christian folks are going to get riled. If you think this is a simple, peacfull discussion between two peacful religions then you are delusional. All I can tell you is that we need to kill them before they try to kill us and I will be the first in the trench to do just that.

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No, I haven't melloed a bit when it comes to someone that wants to kill me. I'll do my best to kill them first. If I thought we could simply send out thoughts of love and end all our problems I would do it in a heart beat but, not enough people would get involved since there are so many people that would rather stir the poop that clean it up. Like you for instance. At any rate, I haven't changed my stance. FIRM BUT FAIR. I will protect me and mine even if it means killing some one to do it. So go hug your favorite tree and think about that for awhile.

Hmmm, Not melloe at all.

Too bad really, we could use more love in the world, not hate.

Your just as bad as the rest of them, the ones that stir the poop.

Joe

Yep, I do stir a stinky pile when it needs stirring right along with the best of them. Diplomacy is not my best suit. I also have the cahones to say poop when I finally get a mouth full too. That's for sure Joe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magprob

No, I haven't melloed a bit when it comes to someone that wants to kill me. I'll do my best to kill them first.

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I thought that was a pretty quick turnaround, but I was giving you the benefit of the doubt.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magprob

If I thought we could simply send out thoughts of love and end all our problems I would do it in a heart beat but, not enough people would get involved since there are so many people that would rather stir the poop that clean it up. Like you for instance.

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Yeah, all that stuff Jesus said about love your enemies, bless those that curse you, turn the other cheek, and so on is pretty unrealistic, I guess. Your approach is a lot more reasonable (and more popular) than his.

The turn the other cheeck thing doesn't mean to lay down and let them kill you. But hey, all you have to do is consult your natal astrology charts and you have all the "correct" answers. I don't delve into the black arts so I guess we will never really see eye to eye. That is why I left the other post you have referenced here. If you think your world is blissfull and without a threat, then who am I to crash your little tea party?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magprob

The turn the other cheeck thing doesn't mean to lay down and let them kill you.

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Apparently, that's what Jesus thought it meant.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magprob

If you think your world is blissfull and without a threat, then who am I to crash your little tea party?

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Our difference isn't about whether there are threats in the world, it's about how to deal with them. I think Jesus' approach is more likely to work than yours, that's all.

Oh dear, this thread has taken a turn. What a shame.

OK, to get back on topic, here's a piece from today's NY Times about some recent psychological research on "Magical Thinking" (or less flatteringly, superstition), i.e. the belief that our thoughts or ritualistic actions can affect physical-world outcomes. They find that such beliefs are far more common than is usually acknowledged, and conclude that in modest doses, they're probably beneficial, or at least not harmful.

Do you think that the beliefs and behaviors discussed in the article are the same as what we're talking about here, or not?