tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318245630918980101.post7167853271605116694..comments2023-11-08T22:57:40.237-05:00Comments on OUT OF THE BOX: L.D. and the Religious FolkBilly Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318245630918980101.post-61826205477065596672008-02-16T12:10:00.000-05:002008-02-16T12:10:00.000-05:00I am one of Billy's friends that classify myself a...I am one of Billy's friends that classify myself as a raconteur. I am an under-educated lover of people and life. <BR/><BR/>I once shared with Billy that I was an ordained minister, a distinction bestowed upon me for a fee of $25 to an advertisement in a periodical. I sometimes tell people I am ordained to change the tone of on going discussions...it does get people to stop and consider language (and how foolish they must appear)<BR/><BR/>I, too, have many stories about observations of people and life over many years of living...A quick story I will share: A friend of mine was a Duke divinity graduate and a minister of the First ______church of Charlotte or Raleigh. He was in the pulpit preaching and the rear door of the church opened and in walked his drunk brother yelling to him,"HEY BRO".My friend grabbed his brother and took him to the front of the church and said,"This is John, my brother, a drunk, and I love him. You will get to meet him after the service." He did make his brother stand next to him as the congregation left and introduced him to everyone. (My kind of man)<BR/><BR/>I did not know Mr. LD but I know many similar to him...I may even remind Billy of him in some ways. <BR/><BR/>To those that know me not...being ordained was a whimsey due to the area I come from producing ministers, cops, and criminals...and my wanting to be counted on the good side of that group.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318245630918980101.post-18049901279095807422008-02-16T08:59:00.000-05:002008-02-16T08:59:00.000-05:00I am posting here a comment from Jeff in Miami. -B...I am posting here a comment from Jeff in Miami. -BL<BR/><BR/>Billy,<BR/>This is why I don’t like the word “religion”. I don’t have a religion with God, I have a relationship with him. I’ve always said religion was designed to put god in a box and is man’s way of conforming God to our wishes. Our God is too big and too wonderful to do that to. Thanks for the story-it is a good reminder.<BR/><BR/>JeffBilly Longhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13739420756402743057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318245630918980101.post-70526270219543132072008-02-15T10:47:00.000-05:002008-02-15T10:47:00.000-05:00Billy, great story as usual. I had a similar conve...Billy, great story as usual. I had a similar conversation with the guy who makes my surfboards yesterday at lunch. I've been praying for him for over 25 years, been on trips out of the country with him, and he's one of the ones who helped Jason and Leah with finances back when Jordan died. He's not a believer, but a great guy and we've had some awesome talks. He recently went on a surf trip with an arrogant, self-centered, hyper-religious guy, and his first question to me was, "Why is someone who says he knows God such an A--H---? When he asked me to pray over our lunch, I prayed, "And God, help us Christians to stop being such butt h----." He just laughed.<BR/><BR/>Keep the stories coming!<BR/><BR/>TimAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12613687353475467949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318245630918980101.post-25125303528138793222008-02-15T08:26:00.000-05:002008-02-15T08:26:00.000-05:00Being Billy's sister I can attest to the fact of t...Being Billy's sister I can attest to the fact of these wonderful stories from Longs. I remember Mr L.D., as I called him, and his little country store. I would drop in to buy a pepsi or something and he never rang up a bill. He would spend a few seconds adding in his head and then say well, that'll be about 20 cents. I agree you should write a book. Mr L.D. and others will forever be ingrained in my memory. EvaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318245630918980101.post-21176889285666619252008-02-15T06:42:00.000-05:002008-02-15T06:42:00.000-05:00You've done it again, brother -- hit the mark righ...You've done it again, brother -- hit the mark right in the center. Maybe you could sell a book of your stories -- one section consisting of humor and one of rich truth wrapped down home wisdom.steve Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09636663818169138997noreply@blogger.com