November 1, 2007

Eisen Print

Filed under: Uncategorized — eddieb @ 12:15 pm


http://sensibilist.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=0&pos=-1

October 15, 2007

Why is god imaginary?

Filed under: Other Links, Sensibilist Corner — Tags: , , , , , , , — eddieb @ 3:42 pm

It is usually nice to to be a sanctuary from the jesus freaks but it appears they they just can’t live and let live so I would like to reprint below 34 easy to understand proofs that god does not exist taken from the wonderful site http://www.godisimaginary.com/ :

Proof #1 - Try prayingHere is the easiest way to prove that God is imaginary. Simply get down on your knees and pray to God. Pray for anything that is concrete and measurable. For example, pray to God to cure every case of cancer on the planet tomorrow. Pray sincerely, knowing that when God answers this completely heartfelt, unselfish, non-materialistic prayer, it will glorify God and help millions of people in remarkable ways.

Of course, nothing will happen.

The fact that nothing happens proves that God is imaginary. Here’s why: Jesus and the Bible are extremely clear on how prayer is supposed to work. Jesus says in many different places that he and God will answer your prayers. For example:

In Matthew 7:7 Jesus says:

      Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

In Matthew 17:20 Jesus says:

      For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

In Matthew 21:21:

      I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

The message is reiterated Mark 11:24:

      Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

In John chapter 14, verses 12 through 14, Jesus tells all of us just how easy prayer can be:

      “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

In Matthew 18:19 Jesus says it again:

      Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

In James 5:15-16 the Bible says:

      And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

In Mark 9:23:

      All things are possible to him who believes.

In Luke 1:37:

      For with God nothing will be impossible.

Nothing could be simpler or clearer than Jesus’ promises about prayer in the Bible.

Therefore, an easy way to prove to yourself that God is imaginary is to pray. Jesus is God, so there is no reason for him to lie to you. In fact, it is impossible for him to lie to you because he is perfect. So go ahead and pray. Try it again: Pray that God cures every case of cancer on the planet tomorrow.

If you would like, gather a million faithful believers together into a prayer circle. Have them all pray together that God cures every case of cancer on the planet tomorrow. Pray sincerely, knowing that when God answers this completely heartfelt, unselfish, non-materialistic prayer, it will glorify God and help millions of people in remarkable ways.

Will it happen? Of course not. Your prayer will go unanswered, in direct defiance to Jesus’ promises in the Bible. In fact, if you pray for anything that is impossible, your prayer will always go unanswered. That is because God is imaginary.

Wait, I know what you are thinking -

If Jesus is God, and if God is perfect, why aren’t all these verses true? Was Jesus exagerating? Was he fibbing? If Jesus is perfect, why wouldn’t he speak the truth? Why doesn’t a prayer to cure cancer worldwide tomorrow work?

Believers have many different ways to explain why all these verses in the Bible do not work, even if you are praying sincerely, unselfishly and non-materialistically, and even if the answer to your prayer would help millions of people and glorify God in the process. They will say things like this:

      “You need to understand what Jesus was saying in the context the first century civilization in which he was speaking…”

or:

      “When Jesus talked about ‘moving a mountain’, he was speaking metaphorically. When someone says, ‘it is raining cats and dogs,’ no one takes him literally. Jesus was using a figure of speech rather than speaking literally…”

or:

      God is not a thing. He is a being. He has a will. He has desires. He relates to people. He has personality traits. Prayer is a fancy word for talking to God. God, who knows everything, even before we say it, knows the difference between our thoughts and wishes, and when we are actually addressing him. He hears our prayers and responds. His responses are based on his personal decisions. We cannot predict how he will respond to our prayers… [ref]

The problem is, all of these rationalizations miss two important points:

   1. God is supposed to be an all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect being.

   2. The statement, “Nothing will be impossible for you”, along with the other Bible verses quoted above, are false. The fact is, lots of things are impossible for you.

If a perfect being is going to make statements about how prayer works in the Bible, then three things are certain: 1) He would speak clearly, 2) he would say what he means, and 3) he would speak the truth. That is what “being perfect” is all about. A perfect, all-knowing God would know that people would be reading the Bible 2,000 years later, and therefore he would not use first-century idioms (he would say what he means). He would know that normal people will be reading the Bible and interpreting it in normal ways, so he would speak in such a way as to avoid mis-interpretation (he would speak clearly). He would know that when you say, “Nothing will be impossible for you”, that what it means is, “Nothing will be impossible for you” and he would make sure that the statement “Nothing will be impossible for you” is accurate (he would speak the truth). If God says it, it should be true — otherwise he is not perfect.

Unfortunately, the fact is that thousands of things are impossible for you no matter how much you pray, and no one (including Jesus) has ever moved a mountain.

In order to see the truth, you need to accept the fact that all of the above verses are wrong. The fact is, God does not answer prayers. The reason why God does not answer your prayers is simple: God is imaginary.

One of my personal favorites:
Proof #19 - Notice that you ignore Jesus

Jesus made a number of very clear statements about money and wealth in the Bible. For example:

Matthew 6:19

      Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:24

      No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Money.

Matthew 19:21-24

      Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:23-25

      Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Matt 13: 22

      The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

Hebrews 13:5

      Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Phil 2:3

      Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Acts 2:44-45

      All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

The message is clear. If you want to follow Jesus, you need to “sell your possessions and give to the poor.” It is a very simple message, and easy to do. Have you done it? The fact that you are reading this page would indicate that you have not. Chances are you own a computer, pay for an Internet connection every month, live in a home or apartment, have a car, etc. In other words, you live a life at a level of wealth unimaginable in Jesus’ time. Meanwhile, billions of people on the planet live in starling, abject poverty.

Why don’t you sell everything and follow Jesus, as he requests in the Bible? The reason is simple: Jesus and God are imaginary, and you know it. If Jesus were real, you would do what he says

I encourage you to read them all, and then head down to the most important question we must ask ourselves today:

http://www.whywontgodhealamputees.com

October 11, 2007

New and Updated Washington Legislator List for 2008!

A new and updated, “clickable” pdf file to contact Washington State legislators can be found here for you, or anyone else, to use:

New and Improved….Washington State Senate
and
Washington State House of Representatives
Here’s a “clickable” pdf file of every Washington State Senator and Representative for 2007-2008.
E-mail yours…or all of them TODAY
and tell them what YOU think!
http://sensibilist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3943

(Registration is necessary to download file)

Clean Up The Unconstitutional Nazi-like Spying

Filed under: National News — Tags: , , — eddieb @ 5:08 am

Please make a particular point in your life of calling your House
member toll free at 800 828-0498, 800 614 2803 or 866 340 9281 in
support of the Holt FISA bill, described more below, with detailed
links on the action page itself,

FISA Action Page: http://www.usalone.com/fix_fisa.php

Today on Air America, Randi Rhodes issued a call to… [Read More]

March 7, 2007

Horse Race on House Bill 1858!!

Filed under: Dumb Ass Politics, Satire, Vancouver-Clark County Politics — eddieb @ 11:38 am

Forums (http://sensibilist.com/forum/index.php)
-   Hot , Hot, Hot Issues (http://sensibilist.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=5)
-   -   Horse Race on House Bill 1858!! (http://sensibilist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1808)
 
  

eddieb

03-07-2007 07:17 PM

Horse Race on House Bill 1858!!

Looking at the March 7th edition of the “Columbian” (http://www.columbian.com/news/localN…12782.cfm  and the “Local View” (http://www.columbian.com/opinion/new…s112806.cfm  by Ginger Metcalf, and the front page article by Kathie Durbin, it looks like we got us a horse race!!!!

Ginger Metcalf of Identity Clark County 

Funny, even Rep. Deb Wallace, who’s big on the transportation wagon says the money would only generate enough for ‘few sidewalks or a small interchange.’ So, what’s really in it for them, besides a little bit of overpriced coffee? How about leveraging that “paltry” amount of money through, and creating, more debt by bonding it out? Maybe just only 30 mill or so. Who would have to pay that M.O.N.E.Y., not lattes, back? Oh, the non voting citizens.

Even “The Columbian” in its Sunday, March 04, 2007 edition summed it up:

http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/03042007news111685.cfm

“City councils ought not be given authority to levy $20 per vehicle annual fees without a public vote. So, HB 1858 by Rep. Bill Fromhold, D-Vancouver, should be defeated.”

Man, even “The Columbian” found a tax they didn’t like! What are they afraid of? Perhaps greedy, overzealous, empire building politicians? What’s next? The mayor wanting a pyramid built on the newly covered I-5 bridge with light-rail passing in its grand shadow? Hey, he does LOVE this town!

I agree with Ms. Ginger that $20.00 isn’t much, especially since she’s living in a 10 year, property tax abated condo. The problem is how many twenties? Besides, I’ve only ever had one latte. At least that’s what I was told in one of my 2 total Starbuck’s excursions. Perhaps fate had me saving all of that latte money so elected officials could blow it for me now without a vote? I don’t think so!

Ms. Ginger does, after all, represent special business interests who promised city council to support this and like type legislation in lieu of no return of a business and occupation tax. That’s like saying, “You kill the B&O and we’ll help you kill the citizens” Wow, talk about rape, robbin’ and pillaging the serfs, eh?

The simple fact is that these bills, HB 1858 and Senate Bill 5767, still are nothing short of a “Trojan Horse” and given the fact that our local officials have usurped these types of powers and legislative authority in the past, not to mention the cost of a whole bunch of lattes already, I feel that passage or further advancement of these bills would be unwise. How about you?

This also still amounts to, in my opinion, a devious and underhanded, no vote way to form a TBD and demonstrates the personal inability of our local officials and government to honestly advance issues such as this in a manner consistent with the democratic process i.e. open and honest debate, discussion and voting. Do these elected officials hate those “pesky” voters seeking accountability and fiscal responsibility or what? Bill Fromhold has yet to make his case to my simple citizen’s inquiry. Why, I’ve wondered. No case to make maybe? Exactly!

And what makes any sensible person think that once they get their TBD and 5 lattes that they’ll not raise property taxes, impact fees, tolls, and more, for still more lattes? After all, the mayor said in his “State of the City” address:

‘That’s $41 a month for essential programs and services. Some of you spend more than that a month on your tall, half-caf, soy, extra hot, no whip, hazelnut and vanilla lattes. Think about it’…

Yes, think about it. Don’t you think we should?

Me? I’m coffee’d out.

Till later then,

Ed Bennett
Vancouver, Wa 98660

mailto:edbennett@comcast.net

©2007
Ed Bennett
A nationally unknown, unsyndicated
writer based in Vancouver, Washington.

As usual, feel free to use,
disseminate, and forward
in its entirety.
and no, you can’t make
any money from it either!

He can be reached at:
via his site at:
http://Sensibilist.comThis is satire, such as it may be, and any and all resemblance to any entity or people, dead or alive, thinking or not, or any resemblance to the truth, is purely coincidental. The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me
…The distinction is yours to draw…
This is satire, such as it may be, and any and all resemblance to any entity or people, dead or alive, thinking or not, or any resemblance to the truth, is purely coincidental. The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me…The distinction is yours to draw…This is satire, such as it may be, and any and all resemblance to any entity or people, dead or alive, thinking or not, or any resemblance to the truth, is purely coincidental. The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me…The distinction is yours to draw…This is satire, such as it may be, and any and all resemblance to any entity or people, dead or alive, thinking or not, or any resemblance to the truth, is purely coincidental. The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me…The distinction is yours to draw…This is satire, such as it may be, and any and all resemblance to any entity or people, dead or alive, thinking or not, or any resemblance to the truth, is purely coincidental. The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me…The distinction is yours to draw…

 

©2007 Ed Bennett
 

 

February 19, 2007

Contact your Washington State Legislators

Filed under: Other Links — eddieb @ 1:11 pm

Washington State Senate
and
Washington State House of Representatives
Here’s a “clickable” pdf file of every Washington State Senator and Representative for 2007. E-mail yours…or all of them TODAY and tell them what YOU think!

http://www.sensibilist.com/issues/wa_leg_2007.pdf

HB 1858 and SB 5767-Loading the gun of light rail

Filed under: Vancouver-Clark County Politics — eddieb @ 1:02 pm

The Loading Gun of Light Rail-HB 1858 and SB 5767

No matter where you’re at on the issue of light rail, any sane person should be concerned about a loaded gun aimed at you. Two guns, I mean bills, HB 1858 and Senate Bill 5767 sound innocuous enough; a $20 buck extra charge on vehicle relicensing with the bucks being used for transportation, or at least that’s what the local press told you.

Problem is, there’s no vote, and it also creates what is known as, in guvment speak, as a “TBD”, a transportation benefit district, to the rest of us. What’s a TBD you ask? Well, as I read it, it’s the legal infrastructure for the pursuit of light rail, with all of the powers to tax everyone to death. Better yet, these proposed bills are sponsored or co-sponsored by local pols Fromhold, Moeller, Curtis, and also endorsed by the City of Vancouver, even though there is no “official” position.

 

Read the rest of the story here: http://sensibilist.com/issues/tbd_2_07.pdf

 

January 31, 2007

Tom Koenninger-The Columbian’s naysayer’s naysayer?

Filed under: Vancouver-Clark County Politics — eddieb @ 1:16 pm

Why does he feel compelled to stoop downward to their supposed level?

Here’s a man who continually and without fail berates what he continually calls ‘naysayers’ of the community, and in so doing, jumps headlong into their slop. I think he also shows his limited vocabulary and sub-par writing abilities.

The pot calling the pan black

Perhaps he should learn a few other words in his feeble attempt to silence these bogeymen-like ‘naysayers’ he has dancing a jig in his mind. Critics, skeptics, and one of my favorites, heretics, would be a positive start. Heretics? Can’t you just see a good old fashioned Salem witch burning now? I know I can.

In his opinion piece on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 which can be found here: http://www.columbian.com/opinion/new…7news99180.cfm the editor emeritus, which as we all know from our remedial Latin classes means almost dead, claims that

“Constructive criticism is important, and it should be welcome in decision-making and deliberation on major issues. Sniping, sarcastic comments have no value. It’s essential that small minds everywhere learn that distinction.
Discussion and debate should continue on light rail and tolls for the new bridge, but let’s put both on a respectful level so the community can take the high — not the low — road toward its own future.”

Unfortunately, he himself has reduced the debate to exactly the sniping, and sarcastic comments that have no value.

Guess it really does take a small mind to have one.

    ©2007 Ed Bennett A nationally unknown, unsyndicated writer based in Vancouver, Washington.

As usual, feel free to use,
disseminate, and forward
in its entirety.
and no, you can’t make
any money from it either!

This is satire, such as it may be, and any and all resemblance to any entity or people, dead or alive, thinking or not, or any resemblance to the truth, is purely coincidental. The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me
…The distinction is yours to draw…
[]

January 24, 2007

Mayor wants your Starbuck’s money

Filed under: Dumb Ass Politics, Vancouver-Clark County Politics — eddieb @ 8:28 am
 

 

Mayor of America’s Vancouver wants your Starbuck’s money for improvements.      

After blowing smoke up everyone’s asses in his “State of the City” address, America’s Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard wants your Starbuck’s money for improvements and light rail. He figures you all spend $80 bucks a month…and he wants it! The numbers just don’t add up, even with tolls.

He wants it anyway; just like a bully stealing lunch money in a school yard. How do you like them apples?

Sorry about his luck, as I’ve only been to Starbuck’s once in my life!

In his speech, which I liked for a speech, and not public policy, he seemed rather like a whiney bully as he said, ‘If the final alternative doesn’t have a light rail component, I will not support it.’ So, he’ll just take his toys and go home if he doesn’t get his way? Sounds o.k. to me.

Is this the “official” city position or just his opinion?

Seems as though there has NEVER been any discussion among our elected officials that have resulted in any sort of resolution, it writing or otherwise, so it’s REALLY just his opinion which, as we know, everyone has one, just like ass holes. Too bad VOTES or M.O.N.E.Y aren’t included in his visions.

He’s also having other visions. Visions of I-5 being capped, or covered. First, I think his “visions” have to be capped.

©2007
Ed Bennett
A nationally unknown, unsyndicated
writer based in Vancouver, Washington.
As usual, feel free to use,
disseminate, and forward
in its entirety.
and no, you can’t make
any money from it either!
He can be reached at:
via his site at:
http://Sensibilist.com
This is satire, such as it may be, and any and all resemblance to any entity or people, dead or alive, thinking or not, or any resemblance to the truth, is purely coincidental. The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me
…The distinction is yours to draw…

OTHER LINKS:
http://www.cascadepolicy.org/pdf/env/drain.htm
http://www.cityofvancouver.us/stateo…ubmenuid=21343

January 16, 2007

Edwards/Obama in 2008?

Filed under: National News — eddieb @ 9:58 am

I think this would be the team to beat on the Dem side. Both have been vetted. Hillary would do nothing for the situation and has too much baggage, and sadly I think either a woman or a black of any gender would fail, not because of competency, but due to an inbuilt gender and racial bias in this country in any run for the presidency.

If these 2 men could set aside and mesh their aspirations I think this is the team.

Unless of course the unthinkable would happen……like Bill Clinton running again.

Remember, you heard it here first!
__________________

©2007
Ed Bennett
A nationally unknown, unsyndicated
writer based in Vancouver, Washington.
As usual, feel free to use,
disseminate, and forward
in its entirety.
and no, you can’t make
any money from it either!
This is satire, such as it may be, and any and all resemblance to any entity or people, dead or alive, thinking or not, or any resemblance to the truth, is purely coincidental. The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me
…The distinction is yours to draw…

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