God is green
God is green
Hot diggity, I’m back alive and kickin’. Anyone out there AIRBORNE? I just got back from AIRBORNE School at Ft. Benning GA. Got my jumps done for my Wings but I’ll tell you … flying through the sky (especially down) is for birds and angels. Never been so scared in my life but was able to punch through the fear and walk (limp) away with a sprained ankle (bad PLF), separated shoulder (hit plane on exit), horrible whiplash (fast parachute opening 150mph to 5mph in about 5 seconds) and my last jump being a night jump probably gave me a heart attack and this is all an “out-of-body” experience.
The weather was literally hell….95+degrees and 80%+ humidity, for training but all-in-all I had a blast. I found out what God looks like after my jumps. God is green and big and circular because every time I finished my count I’d look up and say “THANK YOU GOD, THANK YOU GOD, THANK YOU GOD” upon seeing that big beautiful green parachute!
I definitely did more praying and now that I am back I hope I can go backwards to answer some of those earlier Forum responses. For some reason, my entry was being blocked to the site so I just sat there frustratingly mumbling to myself.
As I arrange my thoughts for a general answer I do remember someone saying something to the effect “Boy Steve, how can you expect to convert anyone when you come across so mad?”. Who said I was trying to convert anyone? That is God’s job. I’m just a disciple of Christ arguing truth against false notions. Just like Paul/Barnabus did … lots of noisy arguing which I am sure came across as "angry" but for real Christians I am sure they saw the "tough" love.
There are only about 5-7 responding authors to many of these topics but sometimes almost 1,000 viewers, so it appears to be working for someone.
Peace, Catholic Steve
The weather was literally hell….95+degrees and 80%+ humidity, for training but all-in-all I had a blast. I found out what God looks like after my jumps. God is green and big and circular because every time I finished my count I’d look up and say “THANK YOU GOD, THANK YOU GOD, THANK YOU GOD” upon seeing that big beautiful green parachute!
I definitely did more praying and now that I am back I hope I can go backwards to answer some of those earlier Forum responses. For some reason, my entry was being blocked to the site so I just sat there frustratingly mumbling to myself.
As I arrange my thoughts for a general answer I do remember someone saying something to the effect “Boy Steve, how can you expect to convert anyone when you come across so mad?”. Who said I was trying to convert anyone? That is God’s job. I’m just a disciple of Christ arguing truth against false notions. Just like Paul/Barnabus did … lots of noisy arguing which I am sure came across as "angry" but for real Christians I am sure they saw the "tough" love.
There are only about 5-7 responding authors to many of these topics but sometimes almost 1,000 viewers, so it appears to be working for someone.
Peace, Catholic Steve
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Oh, your parachute, eh?
When I first saw your topic, "God is green", I thought this meant you were Irish.

When I first saw your topic, "God is green", I thought this meant you were Irish.

Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Reason:
Paidion
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
Hello Catholic Steve,
I don't know you very well and seldom debate Catholics but:
May the Lord be with you...and also with you!
Paidion, I thought he may have been reading Al Gore.....
AIRBORNE? No, not I, ex-Navy. But my cousin was in earlier this year at Fort Bragg. He got out coz he was injured (in a fight...ruined his jaw).
In any event, there was a guy who jumped when he was in training...who's chute didn't open. And, well, he landed on another guy's chute and survived it! This fellow got out also with many broken bones. I understand they will be able to patch him up pretty good though.
I suppose God would have been just plain ol' "GOD" to this guy, huh? WOW-E!
Anyway, I have insomnia and otta try for a nap. Congrats on yer graduation, Steve. I suppose I druther tread water than air...why I was Squid, lol
"A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths!"
--lol, Steven Wright
I don't know you very well and seldom debate Catholics but:
May the Lord be with you...and also with you!

Paidion, I thought he may have been reading Al Gore.....
AIRBORNE? No, not I, ex-Navy. But my cousin was in earlier this year at Fort Bragg. He got out coz he was injured (in a fight...ruined his jaw).
In any event, there was a guy who jumped when he was in training...who's chute didn't open. And, well, he landed on another guy's chute and survived it! This fellow got out also with many broken bones. I understand they will be able to patch him up pretty good though.
I suppose God would have been just plain ol' "GOD" to this guy, huh? WOW-E!
Anyway, I have insomnia and otta try for a nap. Congrats on yer graduation, Steve. I suppose I druther tread water than air...why I was Squid, lol
"A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths!"
--lol, Steven Wright
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Reason:
“In Jesus Christ God ordained life for man, but death for himself” -- Karl Barth
I thought he was an environmentalist! LOLPaidion wrote:When I first saw your topic, "God is green", I thought this meant you were Irish.
D.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Reason:
Well, calm seas and fair winds & semper fidelis to my Sailor and Marine friends. I am also US Navy, but who is FMF with the Marines right now. Have a huge appreciation for my Green side Marines. I have been on the Navy Blue side for years but the Green side allows me to do crazy things like jumping out of planes.
Sorry to hear about your cousin with a jaw injury. As a dentist, I am well aware of these injuries and it can be a nasty wound to heal from, both short and long term. I will remember him in my prayers tonight. If I am not talking about theology then this war stuff will really tick me off, so let’s stick to theology for the moment.
The Lord is always with us, we simply have to open our eyes and ears to recognize Him. I have always been aware of God around me. The times I forget is when I am clouded by news of little kids being raped and/or murdered, a family raped and burned to death and the Dad clubbed unconscious, three young people executed Mafia style by illegal gang bangers …. I am a Christian who still needs a lot of growth, but keeps pushing in the right direction Heck, years ago I was pro-abortion, now I am totally against it … so that’s good growth.
At Oral Roberts University we had a term for those that never took their heads out of scripture and worked face-to-face with the world in front of them. They were “…so high in heaven, they were no earthly good”. I guess for me, others could turn that quote back on me, huh?
Anyone seen the Dead Sea Scrolls? They are here in San Diego for an exhibition. If you ever get to see an exhibit you would love it. Very well done and definitely thought provoking. That being said, how tall is Goliath? What do your sources say a cubit is compared to inches/feet (English)?
Christ’s Peace, Catholic Steve
Sorry to hear about your cousin with a jaw injury. As a dentist, I am well aware of these injuries and it can be a nasty wound to heal from, both short and long term. I will remember him in my prayers tonight. If I am not talking about theology then this war stuff will really tick me off, so let’s stick to theology for the moment.
The Lord is always with us, we simply have to open our eyes and ears to recognize Him. I have always been aware of God around me. The times I forget is when I am clouded by news of little kids being raped and/or murdered, a family raped and burned to death and the Dad clubbed unconscious, three young people executed Mafia style by illegal gang bangers …. I am a Christian who still needs a lot of growth, but keeps pushing in the right direction Heck, years ago I was pro-abortion, now I am totally against it … so that’s good growth.
At Oral Roberts University we had a term for those that never took their heads out of scripture and worked face-to-face with the world in front of them. They were “…so high in heaven, they were no earthly good”. I guess for me, others could turn that quote back on me, huh?
Anyone seen the Dead Sea Scrolls? They are here in San Diego for an exhibition. If you ever get to see an exhibit you would love it. Very well done and definitely thought provoking. That being said, how tall is Goliath? What do your sources say a cubit is compared to inches/feet (English)?
Christ’s Peace, Catholic Steve
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Mine say a cubit is approximately 18 inches, about the distance from the end of your forefinger to your elbow.What do your sources say a cubit is compared to inches/feet (English)?
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Paidion
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
Goliath
Thank you for your cubit info. That is pretty much what I got, but I found another source that says it was 20 inches for every cubit. This being said I would like to look at 1 Sam 17 where ....
The Life Application Bible states he was over nine feet tall, ie, 6 cubits (using 18 inches).
The New American Bible states he was six and half feet tall, ie, 4.3 cubits.
The Jewish Bible (Tanakh, Nev'im, Kethuvim JPS translation from original Hebrew) states Goliath was six cubits and a span (half cubit), ie 9 feet 9 inches.
King James states he was also six cubits and a span. So in just four Bibles we have a significant difference in how tall Goliath was...a difference of almost three feet. One inch, maybe 12 inches I can understand, but a three foot difference!
Well, at the end of the Dead Sea Scrolls there was a last exhibit talking about 1 Samuel 17 and how scholars now know (via Dead Sea Scrolls?) that the Goliath really was only slightly taller than 6 feet (close to the New American Bible) and not 9 or 12 feet tall.
Why is scriptural interpretation, translation, transliteration..etc so important? Heck, we are only talking about Goliath. A nice little story about God working through a small God fearing man (David) against the evil Philistines (Goliath), right?
Well, I ask this because I want to know how much we (as Christians) are willing to compromise on "truth". If Scripture is the unabashed truth of God when do we allow this word, that phrase be OK, yet stop at another word or phrase, ie, the New World Translation (JW Bible) in John 1 (...Word was a God)?
Is there so many different Christian religions, so many different doctrinal views/interpretations because there are so many small and gross differences in Christian Bibles? Seeing this exhibit about 1 Samuel 17 caught my attention.
Peace, Catholic Steve
PS
Did I catch that Emmet is Jewish or was I off-base with that? He seems to write some good retorts to everyone. He asked about where I got the parameters of Jewish scripture, ie, certain books within a certain time, Torah conformity, etc…. I believe I got that from one of the Jewish Encyclopedias at the Jewish Research Library here in San Diego located in the Jewish Community Center. Emmet may be an interesting source related to the dead Sea Scrolls and my comments above. Baruch HaShem
The Life Application Bible states he was over nine feet tall, ie, 6 cubits (using 18 inches).
The New American Bible states he was six and half feet tall, ie, 4.3 cubits.
The Jewish Bible (Tanakh, Nev'im, Kethuvim JPS translation from original Hebrew) states Goliath was six cubits and a span (half cubit), ie 9 feet 9 inches.
King James states he was also six cubits and a span. So in just four Bibles we have a significant difference in how tall Goliath was...a difference of almost three feet. One inch, maybe 12 inches I can understand, but a three foot difference!
Well, at the end of the Dead Sea Scrolls there was a last exhibit talking about 1 Samuel 17 and how scholars now know (via Dead Sea Scrolls?) that the Goliath really was only slightly taller than 6 feet (close to the New American Bible) and not 9 or 12 feet tall.
Why is scriptural interpretation, translation, transliteration..etc so important? Heck, we are only talking about Goliath. A nice little story about God working through a small God fearing man (David) against the evil Philistines (Goliath), right?
Well, I ask this because I want to know how much we (as Christians) are willing to compromise on "truth". If Scripture is the unabashed truth of God when do we allow this word, that phrase be OK, yet stop at another word or phrase, ie, the New World Translation (JW Bible) in John 1 (...Word was a God)?
Is there so many different Christian religions, so many different doctrinal views/interpretations because there are so many small and gross differences in Christian Bibles? Seeing this exhibit about 1 Samuel 17 caught my attention.
Peace, Catholic Steve
PS
Did I catch that Emmet is Jewish or was I off-base with that? He seems to write some good retorts to everyone. He asked about where I got the parameters of Jewish scripture, ie, certain books within a certain time, Torah conformity, etc…. I believe I got that from one of the Jewish Encyclopedias at the Jewish Research Library here in San Diego located in the Jewish Community Center. Emmet may be an interesting source related to the dead Sea Scrolls and my comments above. Baruch HaShem
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Catholic Steve,
You one of those gunjy-doc "devil dog" Swamp Foxes outta LeJeune?
Ever heard the phrase, "Aiiiiiiiii-Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" ?
I was in 2/6 (mortars platoon) and at RAS (Sick Call) in LeJeune from 84-86, HM3.
USN, 1983-93......only made E4, got a bad attitude at 10 & got out.
(I had become an alcoholic pretty "strongly" right about then).....
If yer at the Dental Clinic down the road from RAS & the firing range, I been there.
Never saw any action. (Ron Reagan was Prez). On Air Alert, we packed our trash & went up in the big bird outta Cherry Point...but flew in circles (it was a drill...those Marines were really upset too). A few days later the Navy blew up Kaddafi's house and killed one of his stepsons....
I wasn't ever "real Navy" (haze gray & underway). Was only on a sub tender, USS Simon Lake, AS-33 (now decom'd) for a few months awaiting A-School outta boot (Orlando, back then).
I put in for Psych-Tech but got "quasi-drafted" into the Marines. Np, my recruiter told me a 50/50 chance on it....(arf)! haha
Did my required 2 years in LeJeune & went ahead and became a Psych Tech (my last 7 years in). All hospital duty from then on out: mostly at GLAKES & Memphis NAS (now BUPERS)....
Got out and lived in Memphis till 2001, working at FedEx for a while then became a prison guard at a relatively small prison north of Memphis. Then moved back to my small hometown due to a family illness...got back to live with Dad his last year on earth (who rests with Christ as I type), Amen.
Ever meet a Father (was LCDR when I knew him) Kienzle (you say "Kinz-lee")? I'm sure he's out by now. I used to go to his Bible studies & Mass (some) while on Oki (for 6 months, training).
I have a story about him. They say when you go to Oki you become either a jock, a drunk, or you get religion. I did some of all three...but the drunk part "bit" me pretty bad a couple times. So I decided to go see a Padre (instead of a shrink!), even tho I wasn't Catholic. (His office was right next to 2/6's BAS on Oki, Camp Schwab). I went in to see him and, basically, it was probably something like what an AA guy would tell to his sponsor...the dumb & quite franky, the sinful and evil stuff I'd done while I was drunk.
At any rate, he just listened mostly. And on about our third session he suddenly made the Sign of the Cross and said, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven."
I went, "But Father, I ain't even a Catholic! Are you sure about that?" He assured me God forgave me. And I thought, well, um, okay, why not? lol. A few days later I realized I had been to "confession" and Padre told me how he was allowed to do that. Ok, why not? (I felt forgiven...but I hadn't really turned myself over to God...still working on that).
See, in his Diocese (I think it's called), the Far East one...the Catholic priests somehow got "permission" (or whatever) to do things with Protestants they couldn't normally do...except I was really a...I don't know what I "was," a "New Ager" or something (?).
To wind down here, I saw Fr. Kienzle several years later in Memphis. He was late for an appointment and I said, "Sure, I'll come to church some time." But my alcoholism was...(I'd get alone, always wanted to be alone, as much as possible & get, and stay, drunk)...the final stages, they say....
Anyway, Fr. K. gave me a small Salvador Dali painting of Jesus on the Cross that I still have as a keepsake. I truly wish I'd have gone to see him in church now. Btw, between hangovers I used to do something in the Catholic Mass on Oki. I carried something up to the front (Far East Diocese let me do it). It was something like a "(religious) flag"...can't recall just what it was now.
I got faith back in the God of the Bible in 1999 and after many "tries" in AA beginning in 1987; I've been totally sober for just over 2.5 years...the longest "run" since about 1982. How did I get sober this time? I read and believed what 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says on it....
The only hope for peace in the Middle East and this world is Jesus. And I pray for His peace and for our troops...and theirs, to be honest about it. I'm not much of a "hawk" these days....
Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!
Thanks, ever have yer cover Grrrrrrr'd? lol
Rick
P.S. You must be an E6 at least?
You one of those gunjy-doc "devil dog" Swamp Foxes outta LeJeune?
Ever heard the phrase, "Aiiiiiiiii-Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" ?
I was in 2/6 (mortars platoon) and at RAS (Sick Call) in LeJeune from 84-86, HM3.
USN, 1983-93......only made E4, got a bad attitude at 10 & got out.
(I had become an alcoholic pretty "strongly" right about then).....
If yer at the Dental Clinic down the road from RAS & the firing range, I been there.
Never saw any action. (Ron Reagan was Prez). On Air Alert, we packed our trash & went up in the big bird outta Cherry Point...but flew in circles (it was a drill...those Marines were really upset too). A few days later the Navy blew up Kaddafi's house and killed one of his stepsons....
I wasn't ever "real Navy" (haze gray & underway). Was only on a sub tender, USS Simon Lake, AS-33 (now decom'd) for a few months awaiting A-School outta boot (Orlando, back then).
I put in for Psych-Tech but got "quasi-drafted" into the Marines. Np, my recruiter told me a 50/50 chance on it....(arf)! haha
Did my required 2 years in LeJeune & went ahead and became a Psych Tech (my last 7 years in). All hospital duty from then on out: mostly at GLAKES & Memphis NAS (now BUPERS)....
Got out and lived in Memphis till 2001, working at FedEx for a while then became a prison guard at a relatively small prison north of Memphis. Then moved back to my small hometown due to a family illness...got back to live with Dad his last year on earth (who rests with Christ as I type), Amen.
Ever meet a Father (was LCDR when I knew him) Kienzle (you say "Kinz-lee")? I'm sure he's out by now. I used to go to his Bible studies & Mass (some) while on Oki (for 6 months, training).
I have a story about him. They say when you go to Oki you become either a jock, a drunk, or you get religion. I did some of all three...but the drunk part "bit" me pretty bad a couple times. So I decided to go see a Padre (instead of a shrink!), even tho I wasn't Catholic. (His office was right next to 2/6's BAS on Oki, Camp Schwab). I went in to see him and, basically, it was probably something like what an AA guy would tell to his sponsor...the dumb & quite franky, the sinful and evil stuff I'd done while I was drunk.
At any rate, he just listened mostly. And on about our third session he suddenly made the Sign of the Cross and said, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven."
I went, "But Father, I ain't even a Catholic! Are you sure about that?" He assured me God forgave me. And I thought, well, um, okay, why not? lol. A few days later I realized I had been to "confession" and Padre told me how he was allowed to do that. Ok, why not? (I felt forgiven...but I hadn't really turned myself over to God...still working on that).
See, in his Diocese (I think it's called), the Far East one...the Catholic priests somehow got "permission" (or whatever) to do things with Protestants they couldn't normally do...except I was really a...I don't know what I "was," a "New Ager" or something (?).
To wind down here, I saw Fr. Kienzle several years later in Memphis. He was late for an appointment and I said, "Sure, I'll come to church some time." But my alcoholism was...(I'd get alone, always wanted to be alone, as much as possible & get, and stay, drunk)...the final stages, they say....
Anyway, Fr. K. gave me a small Salvador Dali painting of Jesus on the Cross that I still have as a keepsake. I truly wish I'd have gone to see him in church now. Btw, between hangovers I used to do something in the Catholic Mass on Oki. I carried something up to the front (Far East Diocese let me do it). It was something like a "(religious) flag"...can't recall just what it was now.
I got faith back in the God of the Bible in 1999 and after many "tries" in AA beginning in 1987; I've been totally sober for just over 2.5 years...the longest "run" since about 1982. How did I get sober this time? I read and believed what 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says on it....
The only hope for peace in the Middle East and this world is Jesus. And I pray for His peace and for our troops...and theirs, to be honest about it. I'm not much of a "hawk" these days....
Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!
Thanks, ever have yer cover Grrrrrrr'd? lol
Rick
P.S. You must be an E6 at least?
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
“In Jesus Christ God ordained life for man, but death for himself” -- Karl Barth
P.S.S. I keep up with the DSS some. Here's an article you may like. (I'm not sure if it is re: same DSS exhibition).
THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS
AT SEATTLE’S PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER
by Norman Golb, DEC 06
and this:
Jim DaVila's Paleo-Judaica.com (has review of San Diego Exhibition)...see the links (articles, conference papers & book reviews) at this site too (loaded)!
and this (just found via DaVila's site!):
CONTROVERSY ALIVE AND WELL: A Chicago professor (Norman Golb) is at the center of a dispute about who really wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls
by Pauline Dubkin Yearwood (07/13/2007)
Paidion...I think you'd like DaVila's site too,
Wait, Steve....San Diego? You must be in Pendleton!
In Christ,
Rick
THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS
AT SEATTLE’S PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER
by Norman Golb, DEC 06
and this:
Jim DaVila's Paleo-Judaica.com (has review of San Diego Exhibition)...see the links (articles, conference papers & book reviews) at this site too (loaded)!
and this (just found via DaVila's site!):
CONTROVERSY ALIVE AND WELL: A Chicago professor (Norman Golb) is at the center of a dispute about who really wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls
by Pauline Dubkin Yearwood (07/13/2007)
Paidion...I think you'd like DaVila's site too,

Wait, Steve....San Diego? You must be in Pendleton!
In Christ,
Rick
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Reason:
“In Jesus Christ God ordained life for man, but death for himself” -- Karl Barth
I am not surprised that the dead sea scolls have Goliath's height as 4 cubits and a span. The Greek Septugint also has 4 cubits and a span, which in my opinion, is more accurate than the Masoretic Hebrew text whose manuscripts are, I think, no older than the twelfth century. The Septuagint was the text that the authors of the New Testament usually used.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
Paidion
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald