steveorino

To some exent I could accept that (for instance I think JC tells us it is wrong to always assume God's judgment when bad things happen) Luke 13 BTW, JC does imply GOD's judgment is forthcoming -- however, I think he means at the end of our life. While I think a sense of "karma" plays into our world "usually" I believe the game of labeling autrocities as the judgment of God a very dangerous path to go down. steveOrino

I agree -- somehow I don't think healthcare run by the government will be the best way. They don't seem to be cost effective in many other avenues. I admit, I'm not sure what the answer is, but I don't want to turn over something as important as HC to the government. I might as well let my 5 year old granddaughter pay my bills. That would be as fiscally responsible as allowing the governemnet be in charge. IMHO Anybody remember $150 hammers and a toilet seats? steveOrino

Since you enjoy tandems, you might see if anyone of them over an intergrated program where you can do a 1 or 2 "working" tandems before you go to solo AFF. steveOrino

I don't think the origin/spread of AIDs is quite as "simple" as we like to make it but I think you could be misapplying your theology. Perhaps an alternative look is God encouraging monogomous fidelity to prevent the spread of disease, rather than using the disease as a curse for those who are not monogomous steveOrino

Good grief! Here we go again, using a parable to make a point it is not inteneded to make. That parable is simply about being prepared for Christ's second coming. Only those wishing to build a straw man interpret it any other way. As far as the OT ... you know me, I don't put a lot of importance to cultural laws of ancient Jews, since I see the OT purpose as something different. But anyway, JC plays the trump card. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' steveOrino

Yep! Yep! "Happily" married for 33+ years!

Good selection! steveOrino

I doubt that .. no serious reason to do that, but I was on a SADM team and we were jumping "other heavy things" if you know what I mean steveOrino

you (& the twins) are in my prayers! steveOrino

First jump was 1977 (military) Loved it -- Made lots of jumps for 3 years. Then as you stated, "Life got in the way" Raised 4 kids until they were out of the home. At 46 I went back up. In the past 6+ years I have made 1400+ jumps, earned my PRO, coach rating, IAD I , TM, and filmed over 800 jumps as a vidiot. The sky was still there, and I enjoy it as much as I did as a young man. Did I miss it? Sure! But I wouldn't trade one minute of being with my kids in all their activities instead. BTW, my wife is very supportive of me in my endeavor. It helps that she has developed good friends, hobbies and other interests that keep her busy while I'm at the DZ. steveOrino

imagine if someone showed them how to hold and shoot a psitol. Gangsta-style shooting is an unorthodox one-handed combat handgun stance wherein the weapon is canted 90 degrees from "normal." This unconventional shooting method is appearing more and more frequently in movies and television. When Hollywood first introduced us to gangsta-style shooting it was met with snickers of derision from firearms instructors and experienced shooters, who quickly recognized it as an inferior technique. However, Ayoob mentions his encounter with an unnamed European armed service that was teaching its personnel to shoot gangsta-style as the technique of choice. According to Ayoob, their reasoning was: "Americans are on top of pistols, and they have their best people as technical advisors for their films, so it must be the thing to do." It’s not uncommon for new shooting students to inquire of their instructors why they aren’t being taught this specific technique. After all, it’s new, they’ve seen it on TV and in the movies, it looks "wuz-up cuz" cool and cold-killer businesslike, so it obviously must be better than the old fashioned methods! Handguns (1998) steveOrino

I've been on three mission trips -- one to El Sazul orphanage in Mexico, the other two were in Costa Rico ... Cimmarrones, & Limon. The best of experiences IMHO. Do it if you can! Have fun too Katee! steveOrino

I didn't get pied until my 1000th -- Around here 100 jumps was naked, not pied. steveOrino

Of all the "gimme" awards they mentioned in the picture and they leave off the ranger tab? steveOrino

Now there's a common misconception. There is nothing in the atheists rule book that says "atheists shall be hedonistic, promiscuous and self-centred". In fact there isn't even an atheists rule book. Atheists can have just as much peace, purpose and passion in their life as you guys. Atheists don't get it written down for them though. I didn't mean to imply atheists are hedonist, I was pointing out that was the "restrictions" of MY faith. Sorry for the confusion. Given your beliefs, I can see why. But given the promise of eternal bliss with your creator, how come all christians are not queueing up to fill a space in the morgue? I mean comfort in someones passing is nice and all but i'd have thought that would be a bit of an understatement. Shouldn't you be partying your ass off when someone dies in celebration that they get to spend the rest of eternity with god? I mean, what a result! Eternity with god! Yep, some miss out -- JC said the "kingdom of God is upon you" Too bad so many don't see the here and now of that statement and miss out on life. steveOrino

Your Sunday mornings? I love Sunday mornings! I sleep later than normal 8AM (can't sleep much later because of my back) Then I ride my Harley 20 miles to a park pavillion to conduct a service. I fellowship with people I love and we are not hindered by any man made rules or formality. A few weeks ago we cleaned up the park instead of me speaking. Many times we hold our service at the DZ, the lake, my home, or anywhere we can. These people comfort me when I'm down and I have the privilege of pastoring (leading & feeding) them through life. In essence we do life together. The best part of my week. Of course it is nice that at 11 AM I ride my Harley to the DZ to jump each Sunday. steveOrino

See, you've bet your eternal soul and your entire life on it. Me, I'm not sure about even having a soul but at least I get my life as my own. I'm trying to figure out what you think I'd be missing if I took your worldview? I have peace, purpose and passion for life. The restrictions my faith in JC calls me to are not anything I feel desparately devoid without (such as promiscuity, self centered attitude, etc. In other words, the hedonistic lifestyle is not one I would want) I find comfort in the passing of a loved one, and even purpose in the pain and trials of life. What part of my life do you think I have given up so that it is not my own? steveOrino

Bob S. Mel and I did a 3 way from 4K over walmart when we jumped in on their opeing day. You have a PRO you could have made it a 4 way -- Now THAT would be a heavy load! steveOrino

Typically I wear a wing suit. My black one from ParaChi has almost 700 jumps on it. I also have a faster one from Bev Suits that I wear with heavy tandems. I have a freefly suit I wear with free flyers. There rest I wear a wing suit. It gives me a larger range of speeds and I can change the speed faster with a wing suit. steveOrino

The same could be said of you. Why aren't you a muslim, hindu, jew, sikh, norse-god-ist, blah blah blah...? Yep! That is what I'm betting on. steveOrino

Already have courtesy of US Army Special Forces. steveOrino

You better hope if there is a God He is into playing the semantics game. steveOrino

Seriously, it's YOUR peers and contemporaries that established the huge DZ's that pull a ton of tandems. All other DZ's have no choice but to put tandems first or else not fly. Well, it appears whining is not any one particular generation's habit. steveOrino

Except that it is not the only way. It's a choice. You are 100% right sir. It is a choice But a choice that would often not even be considered if you had money. I find that hard to accept. I think those with little or no money have a pretty good chance of getting a student loan or even a grant. It is guys like me, who as middle class, own a home, have a car or two and can't qualify for a Pell grant find it costly to go back to school. But hey I did it three times. My 30s & 40s for a bachelors, in my mid 40s for a Masters and at 50 for my second Masters. Yes, I owe $28,000 for the second Masters but I already have a new job making 2 1/2 times what I was making. A good decision IMHO. If someone see the military as the only option for a better job, then they aren't looking far enough or listening to too many recruiters. BTW, I served and so did one of my sons, and my son-in-law. Go Army! steveOrino

I'm not sure. I'll ask Spanky steveOrino