Comments for Thomas Umstattd Jr. http://www.thomasumstattd.com An unusual perspective on religion, politics and life. Wed, 02 May 2012 22:19:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on The Sin of Sarcasm? by Sarah http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/the-sin-of-sarcasm/comment-page-1/#comment-4802 Sarah Wed, 02 May 2012 22:19:39 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=95#comment-4802 It's still the same idea/thing no matter how it's said. And that approach is used many times throughout the Bible... It’s still the same idea/thing no matter how it’s said. And that approach is used many times throughout the Bible…

]]> Comment on The Sin of Sarcasm? by ThomasUmstattd http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/the-sin-of-sarcasm/comment-page-1/#comment-4795 ThomasUmstattd Wed, 02 May 2012 14:58:36 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=95#comment-4795 The \"sarcasm\" used in the Bible, in every instance, makes the truth more clear. This is completely oposite of the kind of \"sarcasm\" used today. You cannot defend truth obscuring sarcasm by the Bible\'s use of truth illuminating \"sarcasm.\" The \”sarcasm\” used in the Bible, in every instance, makes the truth more clear. This is completely oposite of the kind of \”sarcasm\” used today. You cannot defend truth obscuring sarcasm by the Bible\’s use of truth illuminating \”sarcasm.\”

]]> Comment on The Sin of Sarcasm? by Me http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/the-sin-of-sarcasm/comment-page-1/#comment-4792 Me Wed, 02 May 2012 13:57:34 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=95#comment-4792 Wow... I agree! Though rather painfully... :P Sarcasm definitely being something I have a tendency use rather often, and something I have been known to struggle with as far as when and what is good or appropriate... I have been writing and thinking on it quite a lot... These last few weeks especially, This post and everyone's contemplative responses and perspectives, wow, couldn't have been more perfect timing :) I apologize ahead of time for my ramblings... ;) Words are so powerful... If you're not going to say something spirit building... Don Miguel Ruiz the famous author of the Four Agreements calls it... Be Impeccable with your words. What he means is never to inflict pain on anyone with your words. That's because whether positive or negative they are powerful. Words make or break a young child's spirit. Words break hearts. Words leave scars that hurt a lifetime. But it seems, because people insult one another so often, that we are impermeable to "put downs". Not true. The child inside of us still gets damaged when somebody cuts us down. Some people will carry the baggage of insults with them to their grave. Families have been destroyed by what seemed like a little joke. There is a cliché that older people use. They use it because it is wisdom. They say... "If you're not going to say something good about someone, then don't say anything at all." It's not cool to not insult. it's sort of like an "in" thing. But insulting is like stealing life from somebody. Take Don Miguel Ruiz's shamanic advice and build people's spirit with your words. If a put down session is already taking place and somebody you know is the one who is being ground down to mince meat, don't participate. Don't add your two cents worth of insults. If you do participate, your "so-called" friends will expect you to be mean-spirited and they will eventually fear that mean spirit that lives and grows within you. Sitting here ensconced in my thoughts... This is rather a kick in the head, to myself!.. But it is the truth :) Thinking about Philippians 4 -- Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy - let's think about those things, and how that influences the way we tease/joke. If I just shut my mouth and think, "Is this a necessary/uplifting comment?" before I say it, I save myself a LOT of apologizing/explaining later. And more importantly, I don't wound anyone!! And yes, there are times that the answer has been no to that question, but I've said it anyway, much to my chagrin... And I freely admit that I can be a total imbecile at times, or maybe my brain just takes a siesta... :P Good judgment comes with experience. Most of the time, unfortunately but sadly the way it is, we gain experience from bad judgment. :-/ I acknowledge that trial and error is not always pleasant, nevertheless, it is still beneficial in improving our character and constantly learning and bettering ourselves :) Wonderful post! Thank you! And I didn't know you had a blog! Loving how straightforward you are, tis very refreshing :) ALWAYS learning :)- Me Wow… I agree! Though rather painfully… :P Sarcasm definitely being something I have a tendency use rather often, and something I have been known to struggle with as far as when and what is good or appropriate… I have been writing and thinking on it quite a lot… These last few weeks especially, This post and everyone’s contemplative responses and perspectives, wow, couldn’t have been more perfect timing :)

I apologize ahead of time for my ramblings… ;)

Words are so powerful…

If you’re not going to say something spirit building…

Don Miguel Ruiz the famous author of the Four Agreements calls it… Be Impeccable with your words.

What he means is never to inflict pain on anyone with your words. That’s because whether positive or negative they are powerful.

Words make or break a young child’s spirit. Words break hearts. Words leave scars that hurt a lifetime.

But it seems, because people insult one another so often, that we are impermeable to “put downs”. Not true. The child inside of us still gets damaged when somebody cuts us down. Some people will carry the baggage of insults with them to their grave. Families have been destroyed by what seemed like a little joke.

There is a cliché that older people use. They use it because it is wisdom. They say… “If you’re not going to say something good about someone, then don’t say anything at all.” It’s not cool to not insult. it’s sort of like an “in” thing. But insulting is like stealing life from somebody.

Take Don Miguel Ruiz’s shamanic advice and build people’s spirit with your words. If a put down session is already taking place and somebody you know is the one who is being ground down to mince meat, don’t participate. Don’t add your two cents worth of insults. If you do participate, your “so-called” friends will expect you to be mean-spirited and they will eventually fear that mean spirit that lives and grows within you.

Sitting here ensconced in my thoughts… This is rather a kick in the head, to myself!..

But it is the truth :) Thinking about Philippians 4 — Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy – let’s think about those things, and how that influences the way we tease/joke.

If I just shut my mouth and think, “Is this a necessary/uplifting comment?” before I say it, I save myself a LOT of apologizing/explaining later. And more importantly, I don’t wound anyone!!

And yes, there are times that the answer has been no to that question, but I’ve said it anyway, much to my chagrin…

And I freely admit that I can be a total imbecile at times, or maybe my brain just takes a siesta… :P

Good judgment comes with experience.

Most of the time, unfortunately but sadly the way it is, we gain experience from bad judgment. :-/

I acknowledge that trial and error is not always pleasant, nevertheless, it is still beneficial in improving our character and constantly learning and bettering ourselves :)

Wonderful post! Thank you!

And I didn’t know you had a blog! Loving how straightforward you are, tis very refreshing :)

ALWAYS learning :) - Me

]]> Comment on The Sin of Sarcasm? by Antwuan Malone http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/the-sin-of-sarcasm/comment-page-1/#comment-4790 Antwuan Malone Wed, 02 May 2012 13:22:19 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=95#comment-4790 I'm not sure I agree completely. I actually think there was a fair amount of sarcasm in many of Jesus's exchanges with the pharisees... But I spouse that could be me reading into it. I’m not sure I agree completely. I actually think there was a fair amount of sarcasm in many of Jesus’s exchanges with the pharisees… But I spouse that could be me reading into it.

]]> Comment on The Sin of Sarcasm? by Mark Rojas http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/the-sin-of-sarcasm/comment-page-1/#comment-4776 Mark Rojas Wed, 02 May 2012 05:44:59 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=95#comment-4776 whoa... first off, posting a comment anonymously doesn't take very much courage. second, it's not as black and white as you'd like to make it. this is definitely a good subject to debate, and I would argue that you can say things sarcastically in love. sarcasm isn't doesn't have to be an abuse of anyone. Brian gave a great example of that... whoa… first off, posting a comment anonymously doesn’t take very much courage. second, it’s not as black and white as you’d like to make it. this is definitely a good subject to debate, and I would argue that you can say things sarcastically in love. sarcasm isn’t doesn’t have to be an abuse of anyone. Brian gave a great example of that…

]]> Comment on The Sin of Sarcasm? by Frida Denning http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/the-sin-of-sarcasm/comment-page-1/#comment-4768 Frida Denning Wed, 02 May 2012 02:10:00 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=95#comment-4768 Awesome blog post.Thanks Again. Awesome blog post.Thanks Again.

]]> Comment on The Sin of Sarcasm? by Melvin http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/the-sin-of-sarcasm/comment-page-1/#comment-4712 Melvin Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:45:00 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=95#comment-4712 I loved your article. Much thanks again. I loved your article. Much thanks again.

]]> Comment on Wrong Assumption #4 – The Military Can Stop Transnational Terrorists by John Strong http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2012/03/wrong-assumption-4-the-military-can-stop-non-governmental-organizations/comment-page-1/#comment-4028 John Strong Sat, 07 Apr 2012 19:02:56 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1562#comment-4028 You are correct that the armed services are too blunt an instrument. I served for 8 years in USMC during Vietnam era and know up close and personal what can and can't be done by 18 yr old troops led by 23 yr old Lts. We can crush governments but we can never defeat ideas with bullets. I don't think we could defeat terrorists with spies either. About 15% of Islam supports the concept and will continue to provide the intellectual and emotional rationale for recruiting the people. The spies would have to target the preachers and publishers, mainly in Saudi Arabia (!), who are providing the fuel and oxygen. ps - I need to send you a private note regarding first interaction with your company - best way? You are correct that the armed services are too blunt an instrument. I served for 8 years in USMC during Vietnam era and know up close and personal what can and can’t be done by 18 yr old troops led by 23 yr old Lts. We can crush governments but we can never defeat ideas with bullets. I don’t think we could defeat terrorists with spies either. About 15% of Islam supports the concept and will continue to provide the intellectual and emotional rationale for recruiting the people. The spies would have to target the preachers and publishers, mainly in Saudi Arabia (!), who are providing the fuel and oxygen.

ps – I need to send you a private note regarding first interaction with your company – best way?

]]> Comment on My Idolatry of Evangelism by ThomasUmstattd http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/my-idolatry-of-evangelism/comment-page-1/#comment-4017 ThomasUmstattd Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:56:12 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=79#comment-4017 Sure. Sure.

]]> Comment on My Idolatry of Evangelism by Neil http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/my-idolatry-of-evangelism/comment-page-1/#comment-3922 Neil Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:01:58 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=79#comment-3922 Hi Brother, I have felt convicted of this lately. Do you think I could talk with you via e-mail about this sometime? God bless! Neil Hi Brother,

I have felt convicted of this lately. Do you think I could talk with you via e-mail about this sometime?

God bless!

Neil

]]> Comment on The Sin of Sarcasm? by Yvette http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/the-sin-of-sarcasm/comment-page-1/#comment-3449 Yvette Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:34:21 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=95#comment-3449 You are correct. Sarcasm is destructive,.. to the one that uses it and the ones that hears it. Many years ago,.. I heard a sermon on the subject of Sarcasm and Mocking. It was deeply convicting and the Lord used it to change my heart and tongue. It took a long time, as I had quit a sharp and sarcastic tongue,.. the Lord had to change my thinking first,.. and He used all the verses you and your readers have listed,.. and for me,.. as a women, Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Lets face it,.. there is no way sarcasm can be considered "Kindness" or Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace,(A),.. sarcasm certainly isn't gracious. Your article is right on track and I pray it blesses and edifies and convicts hearts as the Lord leads. You are correct. Sarcasm is destructive,.. to the one that uses it and the ones that hears it. Many years ago,.. I heard a sermon on the subject of Sarcasm and Mocking. It was deeply convicting and the Lord used it to change my heart and tongue. It took a long time, as I had quit a sharp and sarcastic tongue,.. the Lord had to change my thinking first,.. and He used all the verses you and your readers have listed,.. and for me,.. as a women, Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Lets face it,.. there is no way sarcasm can be considered “Kindness” or Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace,(A),.. sarcasm certainly isn’t gracious. Your article is right on track and I pray it blesses and edifies and convicts hearts as the Lord leads.

]]> Comment on My Russian Home by My Homepage http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2009/03/my-russian-home/comment-page-1/#comment-3062 My Homepage Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:25:52 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=690#comment-3062 <strong>... [Trackback]...</strong> [...] Informations on that Topic: thomasumstattd.com/2009/03/my-russian-home/ [...]... … [Trackback]…

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]]> Comment on What I Learned in Russia by Homepage http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2009/04/what-i-learned-in-russia/comment-page-1/#comment-3060 Homepage Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:14:19 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=754#comment-3060 <strong>... [Trackback]...</strong> [...] Find More Informations here: thomasumstattd.com/2009/04/what-i-learned-in-russia/ [...]... … [Trackback]…

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]]> Comment on Safe in Russia by My Homepage http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2009/03/safe-in-russia/comment-page-1/#comment-3059 My Homepage Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:56:14 +0000 http://www.ThomasUmstattd.com/?p=673#comment-3059 <strong>... [Trackback]...</strong> [...] There you will find 437 more Infos: thomasumstattd.com/2009/03/safe-in-russia/ [...]... … [Trackback]…

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]]> Comment on I am Going to Russia! by URL http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2009/02/i-am-going-to-russia/comment-page-1/#comment-3058 URL Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:55:34 +0000 http://www.ThomasUmstattd.com/?p=655#comment-3058 <strong>... [Trackback]...</strong> [...] Find More Informations here: thomasumstattd.com/2009/02/i-am-going-to-russia/ [...]... … [Trackback]…

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]]> Comment on Wrong Assumption #2 – Limited Number of Terrorists by Graham Tribble http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2012/01/wrong-assumption-2-limited-number-of-terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-3003 Graham Tribble Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:16:19 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1519#comment-3003 Hi Thomas, Guns don't kill people, People kill people. The United States doesn't produce terrorists. Terrorists produce terrorists. One may enable the other, but the responsiblity rests with the person who pulls the trigger. X doesn't result in Y. Y results in Y. On the issue of the USA inspiring revenge by killing someone's brother: You assume people in Afghanistan are content with totalitarians ruling them and their families. Say the Taliban is ruling Austin. Would you be okay with another country coming in and helping you kill the Taliban? What if your brother sided with the militaristic totalitarians and got killed? I hope you would mourn his death, but would his death swing you enough to take up arms in support of the totalitarians? A few thoughts. It was nice meeting you in Charlottesville the other week. Graham Tribble Hi Thomas,

Guns don’t kill people, People kill people.

The United States doesn’t produce terrorists. Terrorists produce terrorists. One may enable the other, but the responsiblity rests with the person who pulls the trigger. X doesn’t result in Y. Y results in Y.

On the issue of the USA inspiring revenge by killing someone’s brother: You assume people in Afghanistan are content with totalitarians ruling them and their families. Say the Taliban is ruling Austin. Would you be okay with another country coming in and helping you kill the Taliban? What if your brother sided with the militaristic totalitarians and got killed? I hope you would mourn his death, but would his death swing you enough to take up arms in support of the totalitarians?

A few thoughts. It was nice meeting you in Charlottesville the other week.

Graham Tribble

]]> Comment on Why Those Who Oppose Ron Paul’s Foreign Policy are Wrong by Neville http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2012/01/why-those-who-oppose-ron-pauls-foreign-policy-are-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-3000 Neville Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:09:33 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1514#comment-3000 Thomas, It appears that you are getting to and deleting the spam comments just as fast as they appear. Thanks for saving your readers the time and effort of chasing these distractions. By the way, I saw your little brother at an NCFCA tournament in Grand Prairie TX last week. Even from across the large room, I thought he looked just like your picture. Thomas,

It appears that you are getting to and deleting the spam comments just as fast as they appear. Thanks for saving your readers the time and effort of chasing these distractions.

By the way, I saw your little brother at an NCFCA tournament in Grand Prairie TX last week. Even from across the large room, I thought he looked just like your picture.

]]> Comment on The Problem With Power by Valentine gifts for him http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/06/the-problem-with-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2987 Valentine gifts for him Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:12:43 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1120#comment-2987 <strong>Valentine gifts for him...</strong> Really good post.... Valentine gifts for him…

Really good post….

]]> Comment on The Problem With Power by cham soc be tre em http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/06/the-problem-with-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2936 cham soc be tre em Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:04:51 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1120#comment-2936 <strong>hoc trang diem nau an cham soc be...</strong> I had to say best place huong dan... hoc trang diem nau an cham soc be…

I had to say best place huong dan…

]]> Comment on Wrong Assumption #3 Bullets Can Stop Radical Islam by Ron Paul 99% right? http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2012/01/wrong-assumption-3-bullets-can-stop-radical-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-2935 Ron Paul 99% right? Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:30:39 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1522#comment-2935 [...] Futures of Ron and Rand PaulObama …. or More of the SameLa hora de desconcertar al mundoWrong Assumption #3 - Bullets Can Stop Radical Islam Thomas Umstattd Jr.One Granite Stater’s Take on PaulJon Huntsman gets Democratic Endorsement Ron Paul 99% [...] [...] Futures of Ron and Rand PaulObama …. or More of the SameLa hora de desconcertar al mundoWrong Assumption #3 – Bullets Can Stop Radical Islam Thomas Umstattd Jr.One Granite Stater’s Take on PaulJon Huntsman gets Democratic Endorsement Ron Paul 99% [...]

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