Rex

I thought you'd kill me for my unsolicited matchmaking.

Just teasing you, dear. You know I love you.

There is a distinct possibility that I could be confused most of the time... However it all depends on how you look at confusion. If you are looking at it from the perspective of the simple minded confusion is a perpetual state of being grounded in nothing more than their current circumstances. However if you look at it from an intellectual perspective confusion is limited to only the state that one will allow their mind to be in. Therefore it is subjective and not an absolute... I tend to lean more towards the intellectual side of that perspective based merely on the fact that I always know what I'M talking about...


















HA! Just kidding... LOL

I'm usually a happy, upbeat person (or I couldn't sell fine art or lighting -- no way). I do get irritated with some commentary and as any person can do, overreact a bit. Sometimes I'm not as serious as I sound and it's hard to convey that I am ribbing someone -- such is the written word over the in-person communication where facial expressions and body language can convey the intent.

Sorry, hep, if we've had words but isn't it an old rule that religion and politics should be kept out of the conversation with friends and relatives (well, some of my relatives I'll chastize for favoring some insane politician).

I don't change my mind to please my friends. I do consider you my friends... I change it when my friends present a reasonable argument against what I propose.

You have not done that, yet. Instead you resort to some cuts and digs.

That does not convince that alienates.

When you reply with substance then I will respond.

I consider this as a kind word of advice to ALL on this forum.

REread your posts and delete out all of the insults, look at what is left? Then post it.

Especially here in the relationships forum... People do have feelings. (even though I am quite heartless)

Heartless? Exactly. You do communicate that well.

What the heartless part?

Fight fire with reason and truth.

You need to be doused with some ice water.

What can I say, rexred is a fiery guy... sometimes I may fire back.

Luke 3:16
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

We're back to nekkid talk.

I hope this leads to two men getting some clothes ripped off or something. ..

Eh...RexRed, have you found any resolution with the original thing that had been bothering you, at all?

No resolution... But, I am ok thanks.

I have just been going through one of my learning phases.

Out of confusion comes clarity.

I get irritated and overreact as well sometimes. I think we all do. I'd be surprised if someone said they didn't. (Showing my butt seems to be one of my greater talents now a days... ) At times it's incredibly hard to tell HOW someone is saying what they are saying. Especially if you don't know them at all. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt most of the time, however, there are days where for whatever reason I'm grumpy and someone says just the right thing and WHAMO... look out here I come... *sigh* I'm sorry for the words we've had lightwizard. It is in fact an old rule, but what do you do when religion becomes nothing more than politics? If you ask me that's all it comes down to anymore.

I'm glad you're okay, RedRex.
Learning phases are good....especially if a person can avoid temporary insanity.

We spend our entire life trying to correct character flaws. I'm certainly no angel and I can really be put off by any holier-than-thou, I'm perfect, I don't lie, et al, bs. Apparently it doesn't always work for them when they whine about a mistake they've made in life and the consequences. We all have to live with those consequences, but that's the time for action, including some helpful introspection and advice from a close friend one trust or even professional counseling. Advice on these matters on-line can be unhelpful rather than helpful. If one is searching for a sympathy card, hardly anyone here knows anyone else that intimately to really understand.

If you're going through some tough time, RR, the best advice I can give is to stop beating yourself up. I get the indication that my digs are getting to you and I apologize -- I am, after all, a member of the same club with a lot of experience having lived in a gay community and still having many friends (at least those that AIDS didn't end their life) from over thirty years ago. One is the wealthiest gay man in California and a Republican! I just bumped into an architect friend of many, many years at Woody's in Laguna Beach and it came up in the conversation. He's as far right as Atilla the Hun. He's still my friend. A friend is someone you know all the bad things about as well as the good, and they are your friend nevertheless.

Likely the most valuable, transcendent post I've seen in weeks.

Thanks for that, LW.

I agree LW with the possible exception that on-line help isn't generally helpful. I know you said it 'can be unhelpful rather than helpful', which is certainly true, but having spent significant time on this forum I have seen more instances than not where it truly has helped.

That's why I stated that it can be unhelpful rather than helpful. I don't agree that the percentage weighs in favor of helpful. I've read some really inane, Yahoo Chat! kind of advice on these threads that is truly laughable. There are a few posters who are actually in the profession of mental health and they are almost always helpful. They also identify that they are professionals. Armchair psychiatry almost always does more damage than good. A shoulder to cry on is often necessary but the anonymous, cyperspace shoulder is not much help. Thankfully I have several friends who will offer solace when they sense I need it, including friends of my nephew who lives with me (one particularly nasty, cloned member has actually made remarks about that relationship). Of course, my Mom has always been my best friend (she puts up with me!) but sometimes her advice is the motherly kind that is given when you were twelve. I just laugh and then she starts laughing.

I hope I don't infer mean-spiritness when criticizing personal opinions and thoughts spilling out on the forum. I'm sensitive to crazy talk, stupid talk and have tried to raise my tolerance but sometimes that's impossible.

Rex, first I want to apologize again for hijacking your thread. I didn't come here with the intent of getting into a sparing match with anyone. Though I know that you understand that kind of thing happens sometimes. I posted the original confused smiley because I honestly didn't know what to say at the time. I felt flustered for a few different reasons and decided that it was best for me to say nothing at the moment. I actually made a really huge assumption when I first read this. I mean REALLY huge. I had absolutely no idea that you are gay and therefore chose to assume that this thread was nothing more than some sort of propaganda to make some sort of point.

I was extremely angry at that idea, to the point of deciding enough is enough and I was going to leave. I was so disappointed to think that you would do something like that. Then I engaged in that whole thing with lightwizard and I'm still here. I'm sorry Rex for making such an assumption about you, about your character. That was really wrong of me. I wish I had some advice to give you, but I think everyone has pretty much covered it here. So I'll tell you this... Regardless of what your lifestyle is I count you as my brother. I have seen more integrity and good character from you than I have from the majority of people who would like to condemn you to hell for how you live.

I believe that God looks at the condition of a persons heart, and so should we. So many "christians" get lost in what people present on the outside and trying to "fix it" that they seem to forget it is this outside shell that is going to pass away and be left behind, but if the God we believe in is true it is what is on the inside is what will count. THAT is what will make all the difference. I am so sorry for having made such an assumption about you and your intentions in posting this thread. That was very selfish and ignorant of me. I'm really sorry that you are having a hard time right now. I do wish I could help. I'll give you what I've got though and tell you that I will pray for you and for this situation.

I thank you and I cannot even calculate how much I have been helped from you all here.

I spend most of my life "together" mentally while I see a world that is more often that not unstable and usually unattached to any firm basis in life.

Yet I am human and even though I am a very stable emotionally. Stable enough that I can dedicate my life to others most of the time and not feel like I am neglecting time that I need to dedicate toward my own self.

There are many needy souls who are hurting much more than me. And I have the answers that they seek.

I know how to calm their minds.

Yet when I become a victim of my own human desires and needs I do not have the same luxury of a person who is devoted to others to help me reason though things. Though my moments of my own confusion are brief they do take me on an emotional ride sometimes. I wouldn't be human if I did not have feelings.

But my feelings are still relatively very fit and stable. (Be strong IN THE LORD)

I never seem to know where on this forum to bring up a certain issue.

I should talk about specific subjects in specific areas. Lately everything has become, all jumbled up it seems on this forum.

Maybe it is just me.

Today the words are base and basis again. (I have discussed these words before, here is some more about them.)

I have realized why I do not connect with people sometimes.

Because many people do not have a concrete "basis" in their life.

They only have a highly detailed often dismal "base". That base is broad and often indiscriminate.

But if you preface life and motivation with a basis, for instance, a "true" God, then your base will change.

About a year ago I went into the Kabala very heavily. I learned some great things. Surely they are truth. They came with a price that I would subject my own inner side to the fire of truth. That I would descend into my own hell and war with my own demons. I with this endeavor took this journey without a moments hesitation.

I am intrigued by the hermit character of the Kabala. My lifestyle has always seemed to favor the hermetical code.

Being a musician, music is often shared only with God. The hermit holds a lantern that contains a bright star within it. The hermit journeys through the night leading the people through the wilderness. This is me. Yet the hermit can be accompanied with pride depending on whose light is placed in the lantern.

So the fact that I have my own faults do not detract from the fact that I also carry the lantern.

This all relates to base and basis.

Each individual has a responsibility to understand their own basis. Yet it is possible to live one's life and neglect this area nearly completely. When the basis of life is neglected then we see a guideless existence that borders on those lifeless and disconnected from hope.

My friends come to me this way. In fact I pray to God to send people to me who are crying in their souls so I may share this precious light with them. Each time I share it in a different manner.

Yet the light not only brings wisdom but it can also blind a person. So this leads to a quandary of the mind. How do we find the true light without becoming blind to it? How do we reach our destination without wandering lost in the wilderness?

This is where there is a clever mind trick. You will only go as far as your own faith. By faith all of the patriarchs were delivered.

Yet we are presented with two roads. One road is to take God and Jesus Christ and curse them... So you are cursing the creator of existence and you are cursing the greatest creation of existence, his son. When one curses God and the Lord Jesus then they receive this very damnation within. Thus their "basis" becomes wickedness and wild abandon. They follow an assumption (among many others) that God created evil so God must be evil. So they accept moderate or even radical evil into their lives. They also consider God on a par with evil man. (like Zeus and other God/Men)

Then there is the other road. To not jump on the God bashing bandwagon but to exalt God and his son above all evil and any ill reproach whatsoever. (I am of this camp.) To sanctify (clean) God and then one receives this perfection within. The holy of holies begins to reside within the human temple. It is not by confessing our sin but from raising Jesus from the dead and discerning the true God from a lie.. GOD HAS NO EVIL WITHIN HIM.

So this it the root of all evil this ideology. You tell me what you think of God and Jesus Christ and I will tell you how far you will go spiritually. If you have a loving forgiving God then you will have a "base" that reflects that. We need to remove the father from sin in order for our sin to be removed.

So the light that the hermit holds is the truth of God, not that of the world. The "faith" in God. Life without a bright basis that is uplifting and encouraging leads to a basis that is lower than generality and often far below par. This only becomes a weight that pulls one into the depths of despair. Every person has a duty to learn and focus on there basis. Not to let God become entangled by a system of religion but a system of truth and perfection. So that the dialog within is not cut off. So that each thought can be spiritually tried against righteousness and grace. Our own grace toward God!

For we must sanctify God and redeem God from the worlds hatred in order for the sun to rise within our souls and redeem us from our own God imposed evil.

So when we take God from the faulted, hated, perverted, jealous, war mongering, blood thirsty, etc... God of the world and "sanctify God" (We do not accept God is evil, we reject it.) then we begin to converse and relate to this perfection. Then our basis begins to build and it is the constant building within of a strong basis that manifests outward to supply our base. Thus the base is then guided by perfection.

So one must change the ideology of the basis in order to guide the habits of the base from within. People are hurting and need to get God right.

Peace with God

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.