"Shout from the highest mountain top"...your charities/good causes

[wilomn]

I don't have to decide if I think someone is bragging or working with a right heart. If you want to make that judgment call, then that is entirely up to you. Makes no nevermind to me.

Ahhhh, but it does. Or should.

Who we befriend, take into our homes and hearts, who we stand up for when they're not around, who we put our faith in, is determined by what type of person one is.

A braggart may just have a need for attention. It is also likely that there are other flaws, or what I would consider flaws, piggbacking on that bragging. That type of person is not the type of person I wish to surround myself with nor would I place any great trust in them.

Do you? Trust? Feel the same as you would someone of whom you suspected good doings but had not really ever heard them speak of such deeds themselves? It's not just modesty, it's something deeper, much deeper than that.

I think, just me, that there are times when story telling and singing of our good deeds is entirely appropriate. But not often and never just to brag, just to be seen in a better light or liked more.

There was a culture here, in what is now the USA, that had a pretty good handle on this. Some followed and tended to have greater respect of the people than others, who were more showy and needy, who while still well liked by many, never got the same degree of respect.

Celebrations of life or death, birthdays, days of gathering to commemorate a deed or person, these are good times for stories, for speaking of things done well.

But, in this culture I was speaking of, which was pretty much eradicated by our forefathers, there .....hmmmmm, it's difficult to write, even to say, but writing without facial expression and verbal nuances about something so delicate is a challenge I may well fail at, though I'll persevere for now.

Here's the way I got it. Those who care do things to help. Those who care do these things without any thought of personal reward later, even though they may well benefit as a side effect. There is no need to shroud oneself in secrecy though things done unseen are sometimes more easily accepted, more fully put into effect.

Now here's the tricky part. It's also ok for these things to be known and have OTHERS talk about them. Again, not all the time, not each and every time you have contact, but on occasions, it is not bad to sing the praises of someone provided you personally know them to be true.

People talk about other people all the time. But how many times have you heard someone say, "Hey, did you hear about Old Man Wilson? He's the one that (fill in blank) all these years. I had no idea. Pretty cool though."

Had Old Man Wilson spoken of it frequently, even once in a while, in a bragging manor, would you still feel the same?

We judge people by how they act. Some act, some are real, some don't know the difference. I suspect if you scratch the surface of our gilded guppy, you will release a foul stench. I think bragging as he does is a very good indicator of what type of person he is, in spite of the fact that he has now, now that he's been spanked so many times, started calling bg a 'character'.

He's a character all right, but not the way he's going to play it when it really comes home to him just how many find him rather pathetic.

[JLC]

I guess my statement was too vague and general. What I meant was, that it's not up to ME to determine if someone is going to earn spiritual rewards for their good deeds.

Do I make personal judgment calls on how I view someone's character based on their behavior? Certainly. I just don't assume MY judgments are the same as God's, because only He can see into the true heart of the matter. That's all I meant to say.

What you say there, Wes, is all true...and is entirely reflective of what those two Scriptures mean.

As to whether or not Neil, himself, is a true braggart in this regard...we'll just each have to make our own choice on how to see it. We all see the world through different facets and filters and only God sees all and sees it clearly.

[wilomn]

I guess my statement was too vague and general. What I meant was, that it's not up to ME to determine if someone is going to earn spiritual rewards for their good deeds.

Do I make personal judgment calls on how I view someone's character based on their behavior? Certainly. I just don't assume MY judgments are the same as God's, because only He can see into the true heart of the matter. That's all I meant to say.

What you say there, Wes, is all true...and is entirely reflective of what those two Scriptures mean.

As to whether or not Neil, himself, is a true braggart in this regard...we'll just each have to make our own choice on how to see it. We all see the world through different facets and filters and only God sees all and sees it clearly.

Well, except for that last bit there, which while it would make life easier had I faith in it, does not lessen its validity for you and those who feel as you do, in no way makes one of us more or less right than the other, I agree.

[WingedWolfPsion]

My opinion on bragging:
If it's justified, and done with a sense of humor, then it's merely amusing to me.

I'm not too deeply concerned with picking out 'perfect people' in the world. That's a task doomed to failure. If justifiable pride is a person's primary flaw, well, that's harmless enough to be sure.

What DOES put me off? People who find it necessary to spread their negative opinions of others in situations where it's not critical to do so. Those who put down others tend to have a low self esteem, and that can be a far more dangerous personality flaw than a bit of bragging. They put others down to build themselves up, and portray themselves as superior, because they don't feel that they are. ('If I'm bad', they think, 'others have to be worse'). A person with a low self-esteem might do anything...after all, they don't think much of themselves to begin with, so why hold to morality or ethics? That's a person that I am far more cautious around than a braggart.

[Big Gunns]

Wow where is this comming from. Sorry I didn't comment on this sooner but I see it now and I I have to. Just a little before that passage we see this passage.

Matthew 5:14-16

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

So which is it. Should we let our good works glorify our father or should we hide them.

HMMMMMM...very interesting.

LOL.

Reckon it sort of depends on why you're needing the attention to begin with.

Your book bites its own tail very often. It is no problem to find opposing texts for almost any situation.

One of the reasons I don't buy most of what's in it.

Sure you can go right ahead, your place in heaven is assured. No, don't do that, you'll go straight to hell.

How about we look at the person. What's THEIR motivation?

Maybe this tactic will work from Kung Fu Willy. Attack the "book" and that has got to send this to QT. After all, what could possibly make people lose their cool more than an attack on the "book" and what's in it.

Don't think I've ever heard anyone suggest that the "snake" was God. That's a new one. And no, I don't think it was. But seriously, the topics of religious and Biblical theory should be taken to QT. Feel free to start a thread there with questions like that, if you wish.

but Kung Fu Willy would be much happier if this one was there.

Are you kidding mer? You asked a question about the verses in question. Check out the bold text in your original message. I gave you an answer to your question and you think I'm presumptuous? I wonder why you didn't go off on Judy like this? Makes me wonder.

What did you expect? You asked what the difference was, not me. I gave you the answer and you think I'm wrong for telling you the difference.

As to your last question, if you really want an answer, yes. I do not believe it is right for you to brag about what you do in this world.

BTW, where did you receive your Doctorate in Religion?
Jim Smith

And now we have Smitty showing up to help the QT cause.

Hey Jim, buddy, pal, enemy of my enemies had I any to enomize, cool out a little.

Just because someone disagrees with you, or seems to not think exactly as you do, is not really a good reason to get all snippy UNLESS you're a whiny little guppy, which, even though you may not know it, I don't, as of now, think you are.

If you can learn to use your ......emotional and no doubt serious though misread posts in a calmer manner, one given more than two seconds of thought before pounding out a response, you will be a much better, higher skilled player, as it were, in this game of ours.

I know you mean what you say and believe that you are on the ONLY true path, and for you that's cool and hopefully true, but it's not for everyone and they're not wrong for not being on it. I think that even though you think you're ok with that, you're harboring some doubts.

Lighten up a bit and you'll have more fun.

If you care to take some unasked for and more than likely unwanted, advice.

"Snippy"??? Now Big Gunns may be a lot of things, but "snippy" is "clearly" not one of them. BG is sorry you have felt him snipe at you KFW. Has anyone else felt the snipe of Big Gunns? Big Gunns will NEVER be "snippy". It's just not in the evil genius.

Good work by you to try and calm Smitty down Kung Fu Willy. You may need his help with BG in the future.

Hey now, be nice to Ol' Jim. He's just learning the ins and outs of multiple responses.

I think he's doing quite well. Lots of promise in this one. Potential, you know?

More kissing up.

whats the difference between a war and people fighting about religion over the internet?



at some point in time the war will end!

Bomb, guns, knives and "clearly" brains.

Ahhhh, but it does. Or should.

Who we befriend, take into our homes and hearts, who we stand up for when they're not around, who we put our faith in, is determined by what type of person one is.

A braggart may just have a need for attention. It is also likely that there are other flaws, or what I would consider flaws, piggbacking on that bragging. That type of person is not the type of person I wish to surround myself with nor would I place any great trust in them.

Do you? Trust? Feel the same as you would someone of whom you suspected good doings but had not really ever heard them speak of such deeds themselves? It's not just modesty, it's something deeper, much deeper than that.

I think, just me, that there are times when story telling and singing of our good deeds is entirely appropriate. But not often and never just to brag, just to be seen in a better light or liked more.

There was a culture here, in what is now the USA, that had a pretty good handle on this. Some followed and tended to have greater respect of the people than others, who were more showy and needy, who while still well liked by many, never got the same degree of respect.

Celebrations of life or death, birthdays, days of gathering to commemorate a deed or person, these are good times for stories, for speaking of things done well.

But, in this culture I was speaking of, which was pretty much eradicated by our forefathers, there .....hmmmmm, it's difficult to write, even to say, but writing without facial expression and verbal nuances about something so delicate is a challenge I may well fail at, though I'll persevere for now.

Here's the way I got it. Those who care do things to help. Those who care do these things without any thought of personal reward later, even though they may well benefit as a side effect. There is no need to shroud oneself in secrecy though things done unseen are sometimes more easily accepted, more fully put into effect.

Now here's the tricky part. It's also ok for these things to be known and have OTHERS talk about them. Again, not all the time, not each and every time you have contact, but on occasions, it is not bad to sing the praises of someone provided you personally know them to be true.

People talk about other people all the time. But how many times have you heard someone say, "Hey, did you hear about Old Man Wilson? He's the one that (fill in blank) all these years. I had no idea. Pretty cool though."

Had Old Man Wilson spoken of it frequently, even once in a while, in a bragging manor, would you still feel the same?

We judge people by how they act. Some act, some are real, some don't know the difference. I suspect if you scratch the surface of our gilded guppy, you will release a foul stench. I think bragging as he does is a very good indicator of what type of person he is, in spite of the fact that he has now, now that he's been spanked so many times, started calling bg a 'character'.

He's a character all right, but not the way he's going to play it when it really comes home to him just how many find him rather pathetic.

And here we have it. This is Kung Fu Willy's "shout from the highest mountain top". KFW is "shouting from the highest mountain top" for everyone to listen to him. Please please please don't like Big Gunns he says. Why do you all like him...he's bad KFW screams. Can't all of you see what this is doing to your former leader of wit on the forums? If anyone believes that Kung Fu Willy doesn't "hate" BG with all his heart...this post should remove all doubt.

"Pathetic" is the right word, but for whom it applies can very easily be debated.

My opinion on bragging:
If it's justified, and done with a sense of humor, then it's merely amusing to me.

I'm not too deeply concerned with picking out 'perfect people' in the world. That's a task doomed to failure. If justifiable pride is a person's primary flaw, well, that's harmless enough to be sure.

What DOES put me off? People who find it necessary to spread their negative opinions of others in situations where it's not critical to do so. Those who put down others tend to have a low self esteem, and that can be a far more dangerous personality flaw than a bit of bragging. They put others down to build themselves up, and portray themselves as superior, because they don't feel that they are. ('If I'm bad', they think, 'others have to be worse'). A person with a low self-esteem might do anything...after all, they don't think much of themselves to begin with, so why hold to morality or ethics? That's a person that I am far more cautious around than a braggart.

WWP...this is a great post. BG was gonna say something along these lines, but he couldn't have said it better than you. There's only one problem with this post...it's the fact that you said it. BG has no problem with you at all because he understands you. You have strong views and post them when others may not. It's very clear you have pointed out KFW with your post.

Big Gunns has all but given up on Kung Fu Willy. His hatred for BG runs too deap. Apparently since BG is not "perfect" like KFW(PPPFFTT), we should not like him at all.

Let BG ask a question though. Is anyone that calls himself "The Man, The Myth, The Legend in his own mind" really bragging about himself? It's just food for thought. Why is it soooooo bad to brag anyway? Guess it depends on what you're "bragging" about. If you're "bragging" about something that might look like you're a halfway decent person sometimes(can't possibly be true), then BG shouldn't be allowed to do it. Everyone needs to hate BG like Kung Fu Willy.

Kung Fu Willy has been blinded by his hatred for BG to see the truth of the "character" Big Gunns. Yes KFW...BG said "character". Big Gunns has said this before, and he'll say it again. BG's good friends(and half the reptile community) have no clue who Big Gunns is....it's only forum losers like us and now some of SS. BG has bad news for yah though KFW. BG is gonna change that and this was just the start. Will someone please check on KFW daily just to make sure he's still kickin. BG doesn't think he'll be able to take it if more people know him.

[Big Gunns]

The question can be asked. Was BG "bragging" when he made the post? Whether or not he was can be debated. What can't be debated is the fact that BG knew exactly how some people would take it. This is what makes BG special(or nuts), he always knows what you're gonna do. He also knows what he's gonna do. BG is gonna listen to Mother Teresa.

BG's post that started the "debate". The emoticons did not copy to this post. It's probably better to read the original to see whether or not BG is joking or not. There was a where BG says he's "gifted" for instance.

I(no third person) was asked by JLC what can someone do as far as wildlife conservation goes. The reason for this question was because what I said on the Steve Irwin thread. My answer to that would be to do whatever you can. Obviously everyone can't do what I've been doing, but there is always something you can do if you put your mind to it. Even donating to a worthy cause is something.

I have loved animals all my life and really did decide when Steve Irwin died that I should use my gift(clearly BG is gifted) to help them. I really don't care what anyone thinks about it either. Clearly some people are going to be cynical, but I could give a rats you know what what anyone in this business thinks. I have met a lot of good people in my years, but I have met a lot more that could care less about me or the animals they own. This is how most people live their lives. They care about themselves and what's good for them. Obviously I have been guilty of this same thing in my life also. That needed to change.


Scot West's wife from Sea Shepherd had asked me to post a link to the site to make people aware of what is happening in Taiji Japan. I did this on my buddies Steve's forum and will do the same thing here. I don't know why I feel the need to say this BUT.....I'm no "animal rights nut", but some things are just wrong. In some respects I feel a little hypocritical complaining about what another country does, but if you watch what I have filmed, it's just wrong.

So JLC you asked what you can do. Here is just something Big Gunns has been up to the last few years. http://www.seashepherd.org/dolphins/...vember-13.html There a few pics of BG, but a least this one doesn't make us all look like dwarfs because Scot shrunk the pic up to fit the screen. You can also notice who took the video on that page(it's on the front page of the website also). You'll notice Big Gunns decided to keep the reptile forum name. There are more videos on youtube at bigunnsmissions. There is going to be a lot more in the future also.


Everyone has a choice in life how they want to live it. I'm not 100% sure what the future holds for me, but I have a good idea. I'd be willing to bet that quite a lot of animals in the wild would be extinct right now if it wasn't for a few good people. I've decided to try and be one of those few good people.

You can be cynical if you want, and I really don't care. I'll just let Big Gunns actions speak for themselves. My hope with this thread is that maybe I have motivated some of you like Steve Irwin's words motivated me. I'm sure a lot of you thought that Big Gunns was full of it when he said that he had more important things in his life than this "business". Well, maybe now some of you might believe it. This is only one of a few things BG has been up to....and there are more to come. This one(Taiji) is Big Gunns priority right now though. Hopefully we(everyone involved) can make a difference.

The funny thing is Big Gunns is just thinking right now about his true haters. The ones that could never look through the BG bull on the forums. BG is 100% sure they will think that BG spent all his money and time just to try and make himself look good. If any of you bozos actually believe that. Please get some serious professional help. Yeah....if you think BG is talking directly to you. He is.

Anyway guys and gals. Big Gunns really does hope that maybe you are motivated like he was to try and make a difference in some small way in your life towards something positive. It doesn't need to be animals, but hopefully something. Yeah yeah, BG knows he may sound a leeetle corny right now, but like he said. BG could give a rats you know what.

Big Gunns will let Mother Teresa speak for him.


Do good anyway...

"In the Final Analysis"

by Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered...
forgive them anyway


If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives...
be kind anyway


If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies...
succeed anyway


If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you...
be honest and frank anyway


What you may spend years building, someone may destroy overnight...
build anyway


If you find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous...
be happy anyway


The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow...
do good anyway


Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough...
give the world the best you have anyway


You see, in the final analysis, it's all between you and God...
it was never between you and them anyway

[Wh00h0069]

The only cause that I have donated to was an animal sanctuary local to me. I personally do not give money to the homeless. I know some will not agree with me, but I think that giving them money allows them to stay homeless longer. I can't figure out why they don't apply themselves and get a job. There are many out there. They just have to look.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Well, certainly some people came to mind when I made the post, but it wasn't actually targeted at a specific individual--I do not generally run that way. I see no point in personal attacks.

Strong opinions, yes, I do--but I'm not so attached to any opinion that I would never under any circumstances change it (save for just one--I can't stand bigotry, lol).

The things people value in one another, and dislike in one another, vary from person to person. I wanted to point out that there are far worse things to worry about than bragging. A braggart can make a trustworthy friend. Someone who disparages others frequently...probably not so much so. But, then, we all base whom we trust on our past experiences with various types of people.

People in general tend to suck, so when you find good ones, hang on to them.