35 years as a commander

I started in 1970 as a comander then an area commander.

To save time go to:
http://fireline.org/trumans-turf/public_html/ranger.html
and
http://fireline.org/trumans-turf/public_html/ranger2.html

I also run a yahoo group for leaders.

Glad you're here Truman! I hope you'll enjoy shooting the breeze with us about everything Ranger and everything else as well!

Welcome aboard.

I read your story, Truman. I think that many of us can identify with different experiences that you've had.

It looks like you were smart enough to try to keep your mouth shut after being drafted into Rangers twice.

I got hooked for this job by having my pastor & his wife to our house for supper, and I mentioned that I had been a R/R Commander in Milwaukee.

He put his fork down, his eyes got big, and I said to myself, "Boy, you just messed up...."

Claymore, that was likely a message from God coming out of your mouth only you didn't realize it!

Well, if He can use a donkey...........

Claymore wrote:Well, if He can use a donkey...........

Oh, that statement is so applicable to us so many times, isn't it???   I'm just glad that God doesn't wait on us to figure things out before He puts the wheels in motion! 

Now I believe that we're free moral agents and can choose to walk away (I'm not a strict Calvinist), but He is the great composer orchestrating beauty out of madness when we trust Him and follow His leading.

A friend gets into the predesination vs free will debate a lot. To me its clear God knew Adam would fail and Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world. So never in my mind could Jesus fail or Adam could ever not sin either.

To me it's a moot point really. If everything is predestined, then it's predestined that I think that not everything is predestined, so I'm still right because I have no choice to see it any other way.

My personal philosophy is more of a both/and view rather than an either/or.

The biggest problem with this debate is point of view. We want to limit God to our temporal POV. HE is not. So as HE knows eternity past & future then yes I could see some POV for predestined.
BUT
1 His word has said we are free to choose, & I feel there are many clear examples of choice in scripture.
The best example I can give is a time traveling sports fan. Say I watch a game, I love it! I love it so much I go back in time to re watch it. Now, I know the plays. I know the scores. So are the winners destined to win? Or did their decisions allow them to win?

It's the rabbit hole argument. How far does it go? We'll find out the other side of Heaven. Frankly, I just nip the discussion I the bud and say witness and find out you were destined, rather than freely choose damnation.

Strods if you go back with 50 years of sports scores is it really gambling if I bet on a sure outcome??? Can I change it by fluttering my arms like a butterfly?

Find me a flying DeLorean & we'll test that theory.

Don't forget a flying locomotive works too! Can't slip a good sci-fi reference past you!