SemperParatus

Welcome and good luck on the book.

I believe the correct answer is seventy times seven. Has there been a discussion with the mother about medication and when it may be best to be given to help both her son and others get the most from the scouting experience?

I supersize it. Either that or I have to sit on the other side of the room to see it.

Dan, How about countin' em up for me and we'll call this 'poll' a wrap!

ScoutNerd? Isn't that an oxymoron?

My favorite hat blew off my head on the swinging bridge on Grandfather Mountain. I miss it. Family and friends have given me new hats over the years, but they are just not the same. You always remember your first love. Thanks for helping me to remember.

Okay, I heard it again last night (for maybe the 100th time in the past decade)...a parent telling their son that the drivers license will be held up until the scout at least gets a good start on his Eagle project (if not completes it). I have to admit that everytime I hear it, it rubs me the wrong way as a cross between a threat, negative motivator, and bribe. Granted, I don't hear it in every case but I would venture to say it is stated by the parents of 20-25% of the Life scouts I have worked with. I've always bit my tongue in the past and will continue to do so. Do other troop leaders hear this as often as I seem to? Does it bother you? Do you say anything?

I've always thought that this troop looked particularly sharp. http://www.troop17.org/

ps56k, Thanks for sharing this information.

Well I think I'll jump off this pad and hop on over to check it out. Wow. That was toadally cool!

kittle, I commend you for taking time out to help this lone Bear that would otherwise be left behind in advancement. That's scouting at its best! Your commitment and dedication to help other scouts in your pack is a great example for others.

Ol' Baldy, You got great advice here. Just a word of encouragement to help your son make a thoughtful decision and respect whatever he finally decides. While scouting can be a very important part of his life if he wants it to be, the most important thing is supporting him in his personal interests wherever they may lie. Best of luck to you and your son.

Fred, Best of luck to you and your son in boy scouts. Let the perturbance roll off your back, relax, smile and enjoy the ride. While communication breakdowns can happen, when I think of the number of things that our troop announces, e-mails, telephones, newsletters, posts, flyers, it is mind-boggling. Miss the crabs yet?

The story continues... After coming out of the bathroom, you trip and fall headfirst into the kitchen counter, splitting your head wide open. Thrashing about, you fall into the fireplace breaking your arm. Mr. Z immediately responds. Not finding a towel, he runs to the bathroom and returns with the offensive magazine and proceeds to rip the pages out using them to stop the life-threatening loss of blood spewing from your skull. He then proceeds to use the remaining portion of the magazine to form a splint to immobilize the arm. He sits by your side and prays over you until the paramedics arrive. Has his morality been redeemed? Should we consider him any more moral as a result of his actions? Isn't he just the same guy with the same degree of 'morality'? Do you ever have enough information about someone? Who are we to judge anyone anyway?

I joined only four months ago and have enjoyed my time here, helping others as best as I can and learning from the experiences of others. It has only been in the last three weeks or so that the unkindness level on this forum has been ratcheted up significantly. I will leave you to conclude why that has happened. IMO, this change is not the result of non-Scouters posting here, but rather certain Scouters.(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

You crack me up. BTW, in case you hadn't noticed I started this thread as a religious discussion two days ago. If you want it closed down, why don't you request that of the moderators or just move on.

Bob, As I said Jesus was convicted under Jewish law. The Sanhedrin was granted the authority by Rome to act as the high court in all matters under Jewish law. Rome retained the power of the sword, however, while refusing to get drawn into matters of Jewish law (John 18:31). I agree that Jesus was never convicted by the Roman authorities. He was convicted by the Sanhedrin under its laws for the crime of blasphemy and for that he was found worthy of death (Mt 26:66, Mk 14:64). Ever here of the death penalty pronounced at an indictment?

That would be very hard to conjecture. But, I bet he would be very pleased to see how the program has taken root and blossumed.

Did Robin Hood ever live in Hollywood or was Don Williams just looking for a rhyme?

"You must be viewing a different thread than this one when you came up with your poll numbers." No, Dan. I am viewing this thread and I can read and count just fine. BTW, did you answer? or are you still punting 'with need more information'.

Jesus was indeed convicted of the crime of blasphemy by the high priest Caiaphas, a crime punishable by death under Jewish law (Matthew 26:65).(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

OGE, Just out of curiosity, what was number 1? **** I live with 12 other men. We are homeless, typically sleeping in a field or a home that is kindly opened to us by strangers. I don't have a paying job. Most of the time I just walk around and talk, saying the most outlandish things. In fact, most people think I am demon-possessed. Very few would give me a glowing reference if asked. I hang out with drunks and whores, some of my closest friends are the lowest scum of the earth. I do things that tradition says is pure evil. People say I have brought some dead people back to life. I have broken many laws. I am a convicted felon. And the strangest thing is that I do all of this completely by choice. Questions, 1. Can I join the BSA? 2. Am I living an 'alternative lifestyle'? 3. If I am, why would my bombastic teachings possibly be considered a part of a 'traditional lifestyle'? (This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

Very unofficial and riddled with problems poll update: Continue - 13 Quit - 3 Wait and see - 1 (Hunt?) Note - some posts have given no discernible answer.

"Your particular beliefs and your comments about how they should be inserted into Scouting are part of the issue that swirls around Scouting all the time in regards to God/gods. Your beliefs define a particular "God" and the way "he" should be treated within a Scouting environment. That's all well and good, but there are a lot of people who believe in a "God/god" and there are many different definitions that quantify that God for them. Who's to choose which definition and set of practices to use?" Perhaps the clarity of thought was lost in my musings. If God wants to be a member of the BSA, let him sign up in whatever way He chooses. Open the door and God may reveal himself to us. Some may call that non-sectarian, I would call it letting God be God. Definition and practices are meaningless when God really comes knocking at your heart. The BSA should get out of the God business, and stick with scouting. I think God knows how to run his own shop. I recognize the incredible variety of belief systems and acknowledge that at the end of days I could very well be disappointed, that is why I am not advocating treating God in any particular way within a scouting environment. Let God worry about these details, if you truly trust Him.