Finally have my computer back ... I finally got a copy of Illusions from the library (couldn't find in the sales bins--but then I don't shop a whole lot). Picked it up this morning while drinking my coffee, and am halfway through it. Seriously considered calling in late to finish it.

I won't go into details, but where I stopped reading was so appropriate ... had a serious work issue miraculously resolve itself this morning in the best way possible.

Thanks to all who posted just enough excerpts and comments to make me just HAVE to read it for myself.

If this keeps up, I will have reread the book once more, minus the parts the mice ate, and speaking of that, it does give the book a new twist, I wonder how it will end this time?

When one picks up a book to read, the words on the page only find meaning in the life of the reader, as the reader changes so does the book.

or so it would seem.

wanted to add this footnote:


Gangmembers of "the cribs" and "the bloods" show their disrespect for one another by taking a book and changing all the "B"s to "C"s or by changing the C's to B's and that too might make and interesting read, of course gang members are not well known readers of anything, but again, what do I know.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Nathen on Oct 25, 2002 ---</FONT></center>

Todd Carl Goodman,

january 9,1952- septemebr 23,2002

"YOUR FRIEND IN SERVICE"

you are never given a dream without being given the power to make it true. you may have to work at, however.

Thanks to Miss Kitty West, a little bit of Todd arrived in the mail today, this is something I shall treasure forever. Two very important people, two angels, joining together to brighten my day, and to show me once more that love can enpower the soul.

Thank You Todd for your faith and thank you Cindy for sharing him with us, thank you Kitty for being who you are, a train watcher, lost but going foward with a zeal, a wonderful sweet and kind soul, an a gift from God to us who are on the sidelines.

If you will practice being fictional for a while. you will understand that fictional characters are sometimes more real then people with bodies and heartbeats.

This says so well, how we as a people often love and or live with people we do not even know, one reason for this is that we seldom know ourselves, perhaps self-knowledge is the most scary thing of all.

This is my favorite....
and how true it rings in my life...

<B><I>"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.
Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.</B></I> "
- from "Illusions, The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah"

Kitty-

Never has that meant more to me than it does now.

Nice quotes guys. Aye we had a book club here once. my memory serves me!?

*I remember Muffy's report. I guess I called Louise an ass-hole. The beligerant side of RB. But that was Muffy's side of the story. Other than that, no-one showed. When we read the Wizard books. & the new Movie's out soon, with the Pilot premiering on HBO in Thankgiving...Impecable timing?>>><img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16><<<<

So.. RB... What book would you like to discuss? I'd like to start reading something new to me... and I'd like to talk about it with "intelligent" people...

As for the quotes... I do believe the Illusions quotes tend to inspire... and since I lent my copy out, I am seeking inspiration where I can... I subscribe to Powerquotes and here's what came to me today:

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”

<FONT size="1">~Helen Keller, Author and Inspiration</FONT s>

The way is was saposed to work, was we would choose a book off the #10 best sellers list.

If that doesn't work, we'd find one that we could agree on. That never worked...lol...We had allot of fun reading 'Married to Laughter' as Dave Downin had seats next to Jerry Stiller, and ended up doing his website. I believe Jerry was plugging the book at the time. Don't remember if it made the bestsellers, but it was a damn good book. Probly the best, on a whole.

I think it's hard to compromise, but not impossible....(Everybody's read the bestest book of the month club----Paraphrasing ADG)

**I'd like to Discuss Laura Lee's book Arlo Alice & Anglicans....GREAT READ and it's about the Church. Something we can all relate to! Just an idea???

The truth you speak has no past and no future.It is and that's all it needs to be.

This topic is not about quotes, or even the book Illuions, it is about the life of one man, one man who felt compelled to live a life of the reluctant messiah. That man was Todd Goodman.

Found within the book, Illusions is yet another book, it is called "The Messiah's Handbook" and from there have I been drawing the quotes. I have been posting them here as a blue feather for a friend to find, but for sure, he is laughing his head off at me for thinking I was posting these for him, when it was he who wanted them posted for us all to share.

The world is your exercise-book, the pages on which you do your sums. It is not reality,although you can express reality there if you wish.

You are also free to write nonsense, or lies, or to tear the pages. The original sin is to limit the Is. Don't.

I am not trying to speak here on Todd's behalf, but I do feel that Cindy would agree with me, that Todd's life style was woven within the pages of Illusions, We often spoke on the topic and shared our views, that is why, I post these quotes to honor Todd and I Thank-You for bearing with me, this concludes my posts on the topic, God Bless you all.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 2 times, lastly by Nathen on Oct 29, 2002 ---</FONT></center>

Maybe it wouldn't be appropriate as a book discussion,or maybe it would, but I had started reading the book "Abraham" about how Christianity, Judaism and Islam are linked through the person of Abraham. I didn't finish the book, by the way...

One interesting part, though caught my imagination. Jerusalem holds important symbols/places for all 3 religions, and it is practically impossible to take a picture of one without including at least one of the others. The question is then, not "Can God bring peace to the world?" but "Can WE bring peace to the world, by learning how to live together?"

Also there was a part about the Dome of the Rock, and the significance of the Rock (where David wanted to build the original temple) as holding back a flood of pain--anybody out there know more about that than I do?

Comments?

The Arlo & Alice book would also be fine with me--I've read pieces and parts here and there, but wouldn't mind re-reading it.

One other thought about a book--admittedly it was written for children, but "The Quiltmaker's Gift" says a lot that adults could learn from, too. (Yeah, I know it has quilts in it, but it's really good) It is by Jeff Brumbeau, and should be available in the Children's room of your local library. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/tiedye.gif" width=17 height=17>

ahh!the course in miricles....Nathan my bright star.( maybe a scare but i'm not on my screen name and i had to post now.) this post means nothing, my house my car are just stops along the way.stops.