Chris,

I doo feel better. Just remember - lift with the legs, not the back. <g> It was a 19" monitor that got me. <g>

As far as the butt kicking goes... Typical liberal response - full of nonsense, made-up facts and incorrect conclusions... <g>

I enjoy the back & forth as well....

Perhaps I'll be able to get my personal web site up and running some day and post the pictures to Dodge Manor II. <g> I'd really like to have a huge barbeque at our home should DevCon ever land in Salt Lake City. Unfinished I think my basement is approximately 70 feet from one end to another if that gives you an idea... The one room downstairs, when we finish it, will be 32 feet by 19 feet and is where I'm hoping someday to put a big screen projector.


>Happy New Year to you too, and no rush in responding. How you feel better soon so I can continue to kick your butt in these debates. < g >
>
>>Happy New Year.
>>
>>Sorry for the delay in responding. I wrenched by back and I've been really busy.
>>
>>I read through the article and have decided that I need to do a little more digging. Karol and I are about 6 weeks out from moving into a new home we're building so I'm not going to promise anything soon but I must admit you're piqued my interest in this whole slavery issue.
>>
>>I believe I've thought through the issue enough to where I could give you a reasonable and cogent response but I want to do a little more research so you're going to have to wait a little..
>>
>>Essentially my answer will center around the nature of man and the nature of God and how that works out in daily life. Additionally I'll try and give a less biased and more in-context interpretation of the scriptural references you've provided as well, perhaps, of some of those on the various web sites I've found.
>>
>>I must admit that the approach is clever that these folks are taking but they're not really doing much more than approaching the Bible with preconceived notions and shoe-horning that thought process into their interpretation. It's the oldest trick in the book where God's fairness is challenged via a misinterpretation of what He said.
>>
>>That said I want to give you some additional references and that'll take a little time to put together is all. My problem is that for the next few weeks I don't have too much of that extra time but I'll see what I can do for you.
>>
>>>>Ok.. Let me respond as best as I can. Perhaps, in the interest of clarity we might break this apart into separate issues. If you're interested that is..
>>>>
>>>>Ok, I went and read through the document you referenced in your original message. It looks like your normal PC-based response to the scriptures. Slavery happened and was a fact of life. One thing I didn't notice (though I may have overlooked it) was where in the OT there are mentions of the Doulois (or the willing slave). Slavery often times was a much better life than non slavery.
>>>
>>>The articles say more than that. They in fact say slavery was condoned in the Bible. After reading the article, I have to tend to agree. No, if someone can counter the point there, I am happy to listen. I don't like the idea of the Bible condoning slavery, and I hope my source is incorrect.
>>>
>>>As far as doulois goes, here is how one of the articles reads:
>>>
>>>
>>>In an apparent attempt to disguise the practice of slavery, some translations in the Bible translate the word slave (doulos in Greek) as servant. Casual readers of the Bible would assume that the passages refer to a hired servant (diakonos in Greek) - i.e. a butler or a maid. The King James Version of the Bible (KJV) frequently referred to slaves by various ambiguous terms, such as: bondmen, servants, maids, handmaid, manservant, maidservant, etc. For example, consider Exodus 21:2 which is part of the Laws of Moses:
>>>
>>> 21st Century King James Version "If thou buy a Hebrew servant..."
>>> King James Version "If thou buy a Hebrew servant..."
>>> Living Bible: "If you buy a Hebrew slave..."
>>> Modern Language "When you buy a Hebrew slave..."
>>> New International Version: "If you buy a Hebrew servant..."
>>> New Living Translation: "If you buy a Hebrew slave..."
>>> Revised Standard Version "When you buy a Hebrew slave..."
>>>
>>>
>>>I could not find any references on the site about willing slaves, although I don't don't it was true. And while the Bible condemns many things, does it condemn slavery? If so, where? The article points out that there are no passages that clearly condemn slavery. Again, I hope that is not true.
>>>
>>>>*shrug*
>>>>
>>>>Let's start this part over again then. If you have a specific question I'll be happy to do my best to answer it.
>>>
>>>My specific question was where is there a study of the greater accuracy of your source, Matt Drudge, than other mainstream press organizations.
>>>
>>>>Ok.. I guess I owe you an apology then. What would satisfy you here?
>>>
>>>An apology was never needed. Just recognition that the article was not a study of Matt Drudge's accuracy.
>>>
>>>>Ok.. I'll try to see if I can do this for you in the future.
>>>
>>>Great.
>>>
>>>>Well, I've sure seen a downturn - at least in the stock market. I personally have some stock that started out at $60 per share and now is at around $5-6. <g> Now, my living wage is around three times what it was about four years ago so no complaints there.. <g>
>>>
>>>Well, the definition of a recession is when your neighbor loses his job. The definition of a depression is when you lose your job. < g >
>>>
>>>>Let me ask you a question about FAIR? Are they ideologically 'left', 'right' or ?? That is, do they have a proverbial axe to grind?
>>>
>>>They appear to be. Take a look at:
>>>
>>>http://www.fair.org/media-beat/001221.html
>>>
>>>Where they bash CBS, Washington Post, NY Times, NPR, as well as others. What many consider the liberal media. Your source strictly bashed the left. I could not find a single article remotely critical of the right. I can't rely on a source who strictly bashes one side or the other, whether it be liberal or conservative.