tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post9068027827292684457..comments2023-09-23T11:16:00.352+02:00Comments on The Franco-American Flophouse has moved: Lapsed AgnosticsVictoria FERAUGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-37892406815602159512014-01-10T08:14:02.176+01:002014-01-10T08:14:02.176+01:00I finally got around to reading this post that you...I finally got around to reading this post that you shared with me some days ago. <br />This is a very brave post, and you seem very brave too from the story for many reasons. <br />I just can say I'm glad you survived all those things, and found God in the process. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-66853962820396348462013-06-04T07:37:30.894+02:002013-06-04T07:37:30.894+02:00@Tonia, Thank you so much for stopping by the Flo...@Tonia, Thank you so much for stopping by the Flophouse. Yes. And I don't think I will ever get over the wonder and gratitude I felt when I finally just asked Him for help and He gave it. <br /><br />@Tim, More wonderful links. Thank you. And never worry - your welcome mat has been bolted to the Flophouse door. My dearest friend here is a staunch atheist. We talk about it and the conversation is always respectful. I think our friendship is all the deeper because we don't agree on everything. But when we disagree, we listen carefully to what the other has to say.<br /><br /> I'm not surprised. 3 of the 4 Horseman of the New Atheism are Europeans. For an interesting analysis of this read Peter Berger. I think you would love his "In Praise of Doubt and "A Rumor of Angels."<br /><br />@Blaze, I am so grateful to have you in my life and I hope with all my heart that I can meet you one of these days.<br /><br />@Betty, Yes, you need to find what's true. The trick is opening up enough to let possibilities in. Stopping drinking made me "teachable." :-)<br /><br />@Mame, Thank you so much for your kind words. Took me a long time to find the right words to describe what I was feeling and how much these past couple fo years has changed me (for the better). <br /><br />Yes, "surrender" is a tough concept. One of the hardest in recovery and just as hard when you get that diagnosis. Sometimes people react badly when they hear that word. "No, Victoria. It's all about fighting!" I tried that for most of my adult life and, frankly, it never worked out very well. :-) When I stopped being at war with myself, God and the rest of the human race I got back wonder, curiosity, love, help and peace.Victoria FERAUGEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-79629167454361946222013-06-04T03:42:25.708+02:002013-06-04T03:42:25.708+02:00Dear V, It just astounds me how fiercely the force...Dear V, It just astounds me how fiercely the force of synchronicity presents itself. I mean, I don't "believe in" it at all, but still have encounters with nonlogical, relevant occurrances that capture my attention and leave a deep sense of humility in their wake. Your post today was one I saw after maybe three weeks of passing by and not zooming in. I read the first section, a favorite that uses the term, new freedom. I read on, and reflected on how similar in dynamics the ists and the isms are. What you are describing is a paradigm shift, out of the belief system and into experience. Today I was reminded to again, to allow trust to guide me, and regained brief glimpses of that new freedom cited above. Thank you for an articulation of something, like surrender, that often defies words. Your unique point of view is so refreshing. All best, MameAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-56814879753537883762013-06-03T13:58:07.103+02:002013-06-03T13:58:07.103+02:00V, this is a profound commentary. I am just awed b...V, this is a profound commentary. I am just awed by having missed perhaps three weeks or so of entries, yet stopped to peruse the favorites list this morning, and discovered this piece. I am printing this out and it will be at the office for inspiration and for encouragement as I go about my days. The new freedom cited in the paragraph up top is such a delicate concept, and it is based on a paradigm shift which is not easily described. You have done it justice with this piece. <br />Thanks for truly making my day! Mamemamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12304073542271406448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-52177172996075081842013-06-03T07:19:05.095+02:002013-06-03T07:19:05.095+02:00Decide what you want
do not expect others to help ...Decide what you want<br />do not expect others to help you. Find your own way.bettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03749299543011516514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-4776040607852197102013-06-02T18:06:36.100+02:002013-06-02T18:06:36.100+02:00"Blessed Be The Tie That Binds Our Hearts in ..."Blessed Be The Tie That Binds Our Hearts in Christian Love."<br /><br />I certainly can't claim to be a Christan, but a friend once told me I'm a Christian under construction. I replied I was still working on the foundation, but she was in the steeple. I told that story as part of the tribute I gave at her funeral last year. At her choosing, the hymn that followed was Blessed Be The Tie That Binds. I cherish those words and music now.<br /><br />Thank you for so openly and honestly sharing your live with so many who have never met you in person. You are inspiration and courage extraordinaire.<br /><br />I feel blessed to have had our lives connect across an ocean and across generations.Blazehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12871285356307431578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-56543107094702761402013-06-02T17:35:44.368+02:002013-06-02T17:35:44.368+02:00Breaking up my comments, I didn't realize this...Breaking up my comments, I didn't realize this myself but there is a lot of social pressure to drink alcohol. I was never ever a heavy drinker or even a moderate drinker. There was perhaps a period of time in my life where I might have a drink once a week. However, I was thinking yesterday that I haven't had any alcohol in almost three years or maybe more. Some of that is do to the fact I am social with a different group of people and in a different environment than I was three or four years ago. That is not to say those people are/were "bad" but it was different and there a certain degree of pressure to drink however, minimal. In a different environment there isn't such pressure.<br /><br />One problem I do have though is I AM most certainly addicted to caffeine and have do something about that. It is all through soft drinks though not coffee. Which in some ways is better and some ways worse. Soft drinks are really bad for health and in some cases raise your risk of Cancer considerably.<br />Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894651289037073128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-11220527506794027642013-06-02T17:27:59.469+02:002013-06-02T17:27:59.469+02:00Hopefully I don't get my welcome mat taken awa...Hopefully I don't get my welcome mat taken away for saying this but you might not have realized you just met one of the more prominent atheists/agnostics in Europe last week.<br /><br />Winner of the Irwin Prize created by none other than Richard Dawkins himself.<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYDaKvexVrU<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzL3dKlSbB8<br /><br />And more here:<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jn4lrX2WrM<br /><br />I myself am an agnostic although I am hardly militant like some.(There seems to a divide between those who are and aren't as seen in some of the comments on YouTube). I will add though I like anyone who gets in a fight with former Pope Benedict(Sorry if that is offensive).<br /><br />To come full circle I have a homelander American friend(who doesn't know about my activities at the Flophouse)who is big big pro Obama and pro FATCA. However even more than that he is a really big big atheist and gets quite upset that more US politicians(for all intensive purposes Democrats) are not self declared atheists agnostics. You can see how knowing what I know and involved with what I am involved with I might find that rather amusing.<br /><br />Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894651289037073128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-55010116152947923842013-06-02T15:30:56.241+02:002013-06-02T15:30:56.241+02:00Beautifully written.
People talk about the Lord ...Beautifully written. <br /><br />People talk about the Lord moving in mysterious ways but when you're drowning in troubles I think He starts to make Himself much more obvious.<br />Tonia Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08841121290446551461noreply@blogger.com