WHERE ARE YOU GONNA GO, WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO?

Thomas: Happy St. Patricks Day, it's a time to be jovial and chill and the historical figure is probably squirming some at all the commotion. But perhaps there is room for a theology of just fun...why not? But in answer to your question what are we going to do...well, put your hand on the plow and hang on; all is not lost when even a dew work together. There is hope. God still works wonders in mysterious ways, ways which will become clearer.

Nice words, Greg. Thank you.

Are you sure you don't need some SAM-e - or some green beer ???

(or just some sunshine???)

both green beer and sunshine work fine. Not real sure what is meant by Sam-e? But regardless, here's a toast to all of us and to Thomas in particular for all his hard work and enduring all of our comments.

SAM-e is suppose to lift one's mood

I imagined Thomas wearing burlap and sitting in ashes, and eating locusts, and Gather is his wilderness to cry out into.

(but then maybe that's just me and my imagination)

ha ha

Greg and Peter: Thank you both for putting up with my rants. I appreciate your taking the time to respond. I'm not very tolerant am I?

Thomas,

Interesting take on things, although a tad bit more on the pessimistic order than I might think of it! Feeling low today? This too shall pass!

James: Thank you for your comments. As I have said before here on Gather, the immediate future is very dark indeed, but the distant future is unimaginably glorious.

Hi Thomas. Thanks for stopping by my Silly Lil game yesterday.
I agree with Greg. God does work in mysterious ways and I think it will all work out in due time but it is our kids and grand kids I worry about most.
I put it in the Lords hands.
Happy St Patty's Day.

Janet: Agreed.

Thomas: Please don't eat the locusts! They are not good for you. The burlap is okay if you use water softner. I think your tolerant and a gifted writer, a thinker who sticks by values and beliefs and yet has a certain openess as well. We maybe thousands of miles apart physically (I think but not too awful sure about that) but very close in a spiritual sense and I certainly appreciate that. And I do look forward to your posts/comments and insights, oh yeah, try not to sit in the ashes :) not good for the burlap.

I'm more of a stickler than anyone I know about speaking and writing correctly, but I also acknowledge a difference between spoken and written English. What may sound to you likel "wanna" is actually "want a" and is not a bastardization at all.

Do you use contractions? Would you call those bastardization? I hope not because they aren't.

Greg: Thank you for the kind words. Yes, I set standards for myself which I try to live up to. It is good to have like-minded people such as yourself in my circle of friends.

Elizabeth: I agree with you that there is a difference between written and spoken English. My post was directed toward the written variety. When speaking, our "want to" may come out sounding like "wanna". But there is no excuse for using this sloppy language when writing. Anything that is worthy of putting in writing is worth doing properly, proof reading and correcting where necessary. We can't do this with our informal, spoken words.

Thomas,

I do believe that you should be aware that all languages change. And that those persons present during the changes usually feel the world is going to hell in a hand basket! But none of us can stop the changes that come along, were doing good if we can only keep up with what the heck they are even talking about.

But if languages didn't change, we'd still be speaking Greek or Aramaic. And regardless how much we detest it at times, it will work out. There is noting sacred about the language with which we grew up. I'd hate to have to read the language of Shakespeare on a regular basis! In fact, he was none too sure of it himself, having twenty five different spellings for his name!

And someday, people will be looking at the new language which has developed and watching it change, bemoaning the loss of their good old language! I like to think of our language as a very precise thing with innumerable nuances needed to fulfill the breadth of expression possible. But that is only my antiquated and romanticized concept which will, in the long run, never hold water for long! So grit your teeth, learn all you can of the new and prepare to live with less and less of the old.

James: Once again the voice of wisdom hath spoken. I'm not opposed to change. What I decry is the dumbing down of the language.

Thomas,

I certainly understand that!