Furtick and his buddies: accountability, my foot!
Well, well, well, our good friend Tom Rich, FBC Jax Watchdog, found this video from 2 years ago. He performed his magic and here it is for our TWW readers! Tom, you are awesome! This is what Tom wrote.
This video shows how much Steven and his buddies love and adore each other. How on earth can these guys who absolutely slobber over each other be the ones who hold each other accountable financially or otherwise?
Elevation really does call itself the Ruth's Chris of churches!!!!
I thought our commenters were joking with us. Then, I found out it is true! Can it get any weirder? (Don't answer that!). Here is the proof, straight from Elevation's website. Is there anyone with any common sense on their staff? (Don't answer this one either!) Good night! What a pile of codswallop. (Dee is really upset when she uses 'codswallop' and 'good night' back to back! )
At Elevation's website, under the category of the "oh so hip" The Code link, it audaciously (Elevation and other hip churches love the word "audacious" which is rapidly replacing the rather tired "winsome") states
8. WE ARE RUTH’S CHRIS, NOT GOLDEN CORRAL
Simplicity enables excellence. We place a disproportionate value on creating a worship experience that boldly celebrates Jesus and attracts people far from God.
Dee is rendered speechless. What is there left to say?
Watching that video was nauseating! I’m glad they love each other, but really?!
I think it’s a crime that money was spent to fly across the country just to introduce someone. I’m sure one church or another paid for that out of the tithes.
I think I threw up in mouth mouth a little
Furtick must think highly of the Golden Corral/Ruth Chris thing, because he has an entire page about it on a site under his name:
Pastor Steven Furtick – Be Ruth’s Chris, Not Golden Corral
I was just saying under a thread last night, I find the contrast so weirdly random for a church.
Perhaps a more apt comparison is Starbucks: his church basically ‘charges’ people $35 for a cup of .50 cent coffee? 🙂
I’ve never heard of either of them.
On the subject of grub, the sausage casserole was excellent, thanks for asking.
Speaking of Furtick’s buddies in the compensation speaking circuit…(Uncle Jack)
Bob Allen has a new story up on my latest blog post http://www.abpnews.com/culture/social-issues/item/8957-activist-says-media-helps-stop-abuse#.UmlZbOe9KSO
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
@ Nick Bulbeck:
Ruth’s Chris is a VERY expensive steak house. I was “treated” to a meal there once. I can buy better steaks at my fairly large grocery, and cook them better myself on my grill, and have, back when I was a heavy eater of rare steak. Even in winter in Michigan, I cooked dark outside, almost purple inside steaks on a hibachi that are better prepared than the steak I had at Ruth’s Chris. VERY expensive, VERY disappointing.
Golden Corral is a western (US) themed buffet/steak house. You can order a steak and then buffet all the sides, for example. Relatively inexpensive, less service (buffet), apparently cheaper cuts of meat. I like the food, but I don’t order steak!
“Simplicity enables excellence. We place a disproportionate value on creating a worship experience that boldly celebrates Jesus and attracts people far from God”
I don’t get it. How does being Ruth Chris instead of Golden Corral (which is silly) help them attract people “far from God”?
Does this mean those types who eat at Goldern Corral are for the most part already “near to God”? And the ones who would eat at Ruth Chris be more likely to be “far from God”
Is it not sad how folks will hear something, buy into it and not analyze what it means?
Furtick is little man, a coward and a snob.
(I agree with Arce about Ruth Chris. I have eaten in almost all of them in my business travels (not by choice) and am not impressed. I was, however, impressed with Mortons but could buy choice steaks for the whole family for one of theirs! As to Golden Corral, one goes there because their 90 year old dad thinks it is a great deal. Sigh. One has to ahve serious willpower not to overeat there. Don’t take your kids. :o)
“8. WE ARE RUTH’S CHRIS, NOT GOLDEN CORRAL
Simplicity enables excellence. We place a disproportionate value on creating a worship experience that boldly celebrates Jesus and attracts people far from God.”
Now compare that statement to what the Bible says about Jesus:
“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Isaiah 53:2
Somehow, I suspect you’d find Jesus among the folks at Golden Corral instead of Ruth’s Chris.
Oh dear. This is just old fashioned snobbery. We’re all better than y’all.
Arce wrote:
I love their fried chicken which I know is bad for me.
@ Arce:
Even as a young man I didn’t care much for steak. But I can honestly say that I’d lie, cheat and steal for good Southern fried chicken. Even at home when I make my own marinade and do the charcoal-fired-smoker-grill thing on chicken I’m in hog heaven.
After I was diagnosed with celiac disease a few years ago, I told my family it was such a relief. I no longer had to endure going to restaurants like Golden Corral because it was such a good deal or more expensive steakhouses because they were supposedly the best but rather I could focus my time and energy on good restaurants that feed me safely. I think the same thing can be applied to churches – now that my eyes have been opened to the rampant spiritual abuse, I no longer have to endure going to a “Ruth’s Chris church” or a “Golden Corral church” but can focus my energy on finding one that feeds my spirit safely.
You’d have to rope me and tie me down to get me in a Golden Corral. The thought of all those snotty nosed kids coughing on the buffet, combined with the lack of cleanliness I’ve seen in the Golden Corrals that I’ve been in, is enough to keep me away!
It may be almost completely off topic, but did you see this?
http://jonathanmerritt.religionnews.com/2013/10/23/controversial-pastor-mark-driscoll-says-christians-stop-infighting/
Oh, the ironing! 😮
Oh, oops. You all touched on that a few days ago. My bad.
@ Josh:
Well, I haven’t eaten at Golden Corral in over a decade. I guess we preferr to feed our snotty nosed kids at home. But, Jesus did say to let the snotty nosed kids come to him, and do not hinder them. Or something like that . . . 🙂
Gag.
Bridget wrote:
I wouldn’t use “Mutual Admiration Society”; I’d use a much stronger word (beginning with M) than “admiration”.
Can the phrase (ed.)” get through? Nope(ed)
@ Josh:
I just want to be clear that I was just having fun with you, Josh.
The “Elevators” are getting to me. Time to step away from the keyboard.
BeenThereDoneThat wrote:
More people eat at Golden Corral than Ruth’s Chris.
Ruth’s Chris keeps people out with the outrageous prices it charges.
An analogy?
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.”
BeenThereDoneThat wrote:
Or maybe the D.Q. or 7-11 😆
DQ = Dairy Queen
@ Josh:
Divisive pastor Mark Driscoll says Christians should stop infighting
Christians should stop in-fighting, says man who is at the root of, or start of, a good portion of Christian in-fighting of the past few years. 😆
Who created more infighting, who created chaos showing up uninvited at, crashing, the big ol’ Christian ‘Strange Fire’ conference, and to promote a new book of his.
I love it. 😆
P.S. Josh: I’m sure Rev Driscoll would remind you ironing is for women only. 🙂
You need to do something manly, like change the oil in your car. If you don’t know a woman who can do your ironing, you will just have to live with wrinkled clothing.
@ Daisy:
So, my work done today:
* Take daughter to school
* Get 1 cement and 3 sharp sand from Beatsons to make use of weather window here in Scotland
* Accordingly, make 3 mixer-loads of mortar and build first course of stone retaining wall in garden
* Hang out washing
* Make sausage casserole (which was excellent, thanks for asking)
* Progress systems analysis for (hopefully) a major sporting initiative here in the Forth Valley
* Ditto, but for “sporting” read “health and wellbeing”
* Get washing in
* Cut lawns
I care passionately about whether a Bible ventriloquist and motivational speaker thinks any of that is for men, women or gay people.
My husband reminded me today of William Carey’s epitaph:
“”A wretched, poor, and helpless worm on thy kind arms I fall.”
Hard to see how the men in that video and Carey believed anything remotely similar. 🙁
BeenThereDoneThat wrote:
As the Cheerios commercial parody said, I respect and celebrate people’s right to “stuff their faces with whatever they want, and with whomever they want.” Or something like that. But I can’t help it, I’m a germophobe. I was born that way. 😀
Arce wrote:
I had a similar experience with Ruth’s Chris. Completely meh. It was so meh I don’t remember what I ate, only how meh it was. I never saw the bill, thankfully. Very forgettable.
Daisy wrote:
That’s why I only buy clothes that look good without ironing. Ok, I lied. I buy such clothes because I’m lazy.
Nick Bulbeck wrote:
After doing something “masculine” like fixing my lawn mower, sharpening an ax, or cutting down a tree limb with a chain saw, I often find that I’m laughing at myself and saying “wow, I did something manly!” Because chuckling at the silly things overcompensating preachers say is far better for my stress level than getting angry about them.
Josh wrote:
My grandfather always called us grand kids a bunch of Typhoid Marys. And he was right! Now my kids do the same to their grandparents. 🙂
@ Anon:
Great analogy!
@ Josh:
Josh, I am a lot like you, sadly. There is a way to avoid as many germs as you can on a buffet but it annoys people around you so one must be stealth about it. (think of the germs on the serving spoons everyone is handling!) I am not a big buffet person to say the least.
@ Arce:
Ah; light dawns on our hero. Thanks for the info.
formerly anonymous wrote:
You mean it was actually mutton?
Anon 1 wrote:
*
Anon, you sure you want to say that?
*
Huffington Post, Raw Story, The Inquisitr, and a few other news agencies and stations are carrying the Furtick mansion story now.
Here’s the Huffington Post one:
Elevation Church Pastor Steve Furtick’s Hidden Multi-Million Dollar Home Raises Questions Of Transparency
If you see a decrease in “Elevators” ( 🙄 ) posting here to defend Furtick, they might be over at HuffPost.
Scanning over the comments on HP, it looks like several of his fans have already left comments in the Huff Post page.
(They are repeating the same stuff on Huffington Post they were here, such as, “Why does everyone expect preachers to be poor,” which is a strawman argument; not many people expects preachers to “be poor,” but most recognize there are differences between poor, modest, and extravagant).
There was another guy on Huffington Post saying, “As long as people are voluntarily giving Furtick money, and he’s not doing anything illegal, so what?,” which is a point one of his fans raised here on another thread.
I haven’t visited the other sites yet.
@ Daisy:
I saw this comment on the Huffington Post page after reading farther:
That one made me laugh.
That was on page one of the comments. There are two more comment pages I haven’t looked at.
“Ruth’s Chris”? I’ve seen these seeker-driven churches more accurately referred to as the “McChurch.” If any comparison with Furtick’s church is to be made, it should be with fast food joints.
Oh, my. Furtick must not realize that Golden Corral was created and is headquartered in NC, shoot, they’re potential DONORS — and has been ultra-successful in going from the 70’s-sizzler-type restaurant to what it is today. The original founders believed in excellent customer service, and have been as successful in their genre, if not more so, than Ruth’s Chris is in theirs. Given the choice, I’d pick Ruth’s Chris anytime someone else is paying! We had two bad experiences there, but the third time was a charmed home run, and subsequent visits were out of the ball park.
All that to say that it’s a good idea to know what you’re talking about when you make comparisons. I’d say he owes apologies to both Golden Corral and Ruth’s Chris; i.e, don’t bite the hand that feeds you! (Say what you will about buffets, etc…but the proof is in Golden Corral’s banana pudding. Ahhhh!)
I’d never heard of Ruth’s Chris before this article. Steak Loft, yes, but the one time I ate there it was monstrously overpriced, way out of proportion to the quality of the food. The parking lot is always full though. Not into steak myself.
@ Seneca:
I certainly understand you are uncomfortable with the freedom to have opinioins you don’t agree with. :o)
Hester wrote:
Might be a regional chain. They’ve had regular commercials on Los Angeles drive-time radio for years.
Daisy wrote:
Reminds me of something that got into the local news a couple years ago. This one law firm was running an extortion racket, citing small businesses (usually run by blue-collar types unfamiliar with various laws and regs) for various code violations and offering to settle out of court (for a hefty fee, of course). Two mouthy drive-time radio talk-show types got wind of it and organized a little “Hour of the Bullhorn” street action at the law offices — a mob of a couple hundred ripped-off small business owners yelling for blood. Covered live by their radio station.
This caused what my dad would call “A BIG Stink”. Law firm got investigated. Their defense? “But everything we did was LEGAL!” Might have been (they were shysters, after all), but they all got disbarred. All of them. (This in a state whose Bar Association normally winks at shady business practices among their members — “One hand washes the other.”)
@ Headless Unicorn Guy:
National chain with outlets in many major cities. If you go to google maps, put in “ruth’s chris steak house”, united states of america, and zoom out, there are lots of dots. There are surprising gaps on the map as well.
“What you win them with is what you win them to”. IOW, if you’re attracting people based on the performance value of your worship service then don’t be surprised at the mass exodus when something flashier moves in down the street.
I think that analogy makes. Living outside NYC and surrounded by great restaurants, I look at Ruth Chris as an imposter….an average but expensive meal that makes you feel bad after you eat it. I’d take Golden Corral banana pudding any day over the box cheesecake Ruth Chris serves up…
Arce wrote:
I think Furtick wants to expand Elevation to be a national chain with outlets in many major cities. And when you zoom out on Google maps, you can see the little markers everywhere. *shakes head*
Southwestern D
I think he might like to do it as Ed Young Jr does it. Set up a satellite in Florida. Buy a very expensive condo to “minister” to the flock. And always, always, always, put the satellite in a place with a high disposable income.
Brian wrote:
This is SO TRUE!
I believe this Craig Groeschel guy is buddies with Furtick.
But the reason I’m posting it is that it’s another in a long line of Piperish, Driscollian, “Act like a real dude, dude, don’t be a wimpy wuss!” things.
Craig Groeschel Challenges Men to ‘Man Up,’ Become Warriors in New Book ‘Fight’
Christians wrapped up in traditional gender role beliefs keep telling the men to be manly he-men, while we ladies keep being told to bake cookies, refrain from college education, and stand by our men (if we have one. Sadly, some of us, despite being total catches, remain single 🙂 )
What Pastor Steven means is “it is a sin to serve up the ‘bread of life’ with bologna on it. Let’s serve up that gourmet gospel with a nice ribeye and a big baked potato and a slice of cake and we will see people getting saved by the thousands! You all can get that leftover stale Word with no life to it with your frozen chosen….here at Elevation, God is giving us the new wine and we are seeing people drink from the Well by the tens of thousands!
YEA GOD!!
@ Daisy:
I wanted to explain when I put the rolly eye guy 🙄 after this comment in my post up there:
If you see a decrease in “Elevators”…
I was not hating on the people themselves who go to Furtick’s church.
I was rolling my eyes at the word “elevator” being used to describe people who go there.
IMHO, it sounds a little silly. “Hi, I’m an elevator!”
I understand it’s a play on the name of their church, “Elevate,” but it still comes across the same as,
“Hi, I’m a stair case!,” or “I’m an escalator!”
Daisy wrote:
Maybe they should read this: “The Emotional Jesus: His Ups and Downs”
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/robertcrosby/2012/06/the-emotional-jesus-his-ups-downs/
Sharon Long wrote:
Does “Pastor Steven” ever make real world applications with his bon appetite metaphors? How would one go about serving up a rib eye Gospel?
Daisy wrote:
Just as off-topic as when I shared this before……. Mrs A A and I were once stuck in a crowded elevator. An Englishman got on the phone and said, “This is the elevator speaking— I’M STUCK!” Next video in the pipeline, I suppose, will be Hey, Elehaters!
Headless Unicorn Guy wrote:
Everything is permissible…but is it beneficial? It is perfectly legal – ie “permissible” – for Furtick to make money on some books he wrote and buy a big house. But, is it wise? It blows my mind that he actually sat down and looked at the price tag for his dream home and didn’t think twice about whether or not that was a wise move for him to make as a pastor. $1.7M! What could go wrong?? And then he acts all surprised and “feelin’ sorry for himself’ when people are upset about it. And I’m to believe this man has discernment from heaven?
I met a pastor, John Pavlovitz, online from Charlotte who I’ve read his thoughts for awhile in his blog. He is on staff at Good Shepherd Church in Charlotte. He just wrote an excellent piece about this situation. Since he is a local guy, I thing you all would like his take. He conveys the sadness quite well.
http://johnpavlovitz.com/2013/10/25/the-de-elevation-of-the-celebrity-pastor/
Daisy wrote:
Craig Groeschel is Steven Furtick’s personal minister. Furtick has mentioned this several times. I was surprised Groeschel is not on his five man compensation committee.
@ Dave A A:
🙂 That was a funny story. And “Ele-haters.” 😆
Also only tangentially related (but funny):
Austin Powers takes the stairs, elevator, escalator, and a canoe
Erik wrote:
That is a very thoughtful post and he is bang on, thanks for sharing! If it were me, I’d only make one small change to what he said regarding the expansion of the celebrity driven megachurch based on what I’ve observed:
Yet more frighteningly, is the truth that more often than not, these massive religious institutions that we call megachurches, are launched, financed, grown, perpetuated, and replicated around the charisma, image, and giftings… of one single personality… and it ain’t
alwaysever Jesus.dee wrote:
And in a location that has really good saltwater fly fishing opportunities. Or really good shopping for the wife. Next Fellowship Church: London England.
Kristin wrote:
Don’t forget that a $1.7 mil home is really ‘not all that great.’
Why, a 1600 sq ft home is but a mere hole in the wall, modest lodgings! 🙂
JeffT wrote:
And that One Single Personality is mortal.
Ever heard of Succession Crisis/Inheritance Feud?
Like how Crystal Cathedral ended up the new RCC Cathedral (bought at estate sale…)?
When I read The Gospel Coalition blog I always take a shower afterward. After watching that video of the lovefest between between Stephen Furtick and Craig Groeschell, I need to take a shower.
Man where is John Piper when you need him?!? I miss it when he’s not talking about tornadoes.
I, too, have never heard of either of these guys. They have to be the most famous people that I have never heard of.
They both come across as gay. Sorry. I had to say it. They really do.
Anonymous wrote:
I think “metrosexual” is the word you’re seeking. 😀
My pastor still wears a fairly pedestrian suit and tie. For the sake of the comfort of our guests, I wish he’d dress down a bit. Still, I’d much rather him be like he is now than put an inordinate effort (and expense) into looking “fabulous” like these celebrity preachers do.
Anonymous wrote:
“Anonymous”, are you Mark Driscoll?
No, you DON’T have to say “it”. You DON’T have to perpetuate stereotypes. Do you realize this is why 9 year old boys who enjoy playing with dolls conclude that they are “gay”? As an educator of young and adolescent children, I have witnessed so many people who “just have to say” that a mannerism or personality characteristic is evidence of a sexual orientation. Please just stop. It is not funny, not helpful, and not in the least loving.
@ Erik:
to use the word gay pejoratively is highly insensitive & cruel. to use it as a weapon makes one out to be cognitively nothing more than a caveman with a club.
elastigirl wrote:
Exactly!
elastigirl wrote:
I hope to clarify my feelings by pointing out that my opinion of anyone would not be affected in the slightest if I learned that they were gay. Unless, of course, they were being viciously homophobic; then, I guess I’d think of them as being a bit more hypocritical.
That said, rightfully or wrongfully, in the LGBT and allied community, there’s something of a trend of calling into question the orientation of people who make remarks that are perceived as anti-gay (e.g. “if more people tithed, there would be fewer homosexuals”). So remarks like anonymous made are not always intended to be derogatory towards LGBT people on the whole.
I apologize if my more charitable reading of anonymous’s comment caused anyone to feel that I was being demeaning towards them.
@ Anonymous:
@ Erik:
Hmm, well, one never knows, but, from the little I have known of famous preachers/prophets hiding their orientation, I don’t think they fit. Fur-tick (flea collar, anyone?) seems very obsessed with his looks, his clothing, his expensive hair stylists, and likely he has someone to do stage make-up too. But, that look, to me, shows he is a celebrity chaser. His backslapping, slobbering video with Craig whoever – I suspect if they were gay, they would actually shy away from that behaviour (since they would obviously be hiding it from their wives and world, and that display would feel condemning to them).
I am more inclined to look at guys like Driscoll and wonder. He seems awfully obsessed with masculinity and calling guys who don’t “fit” whatever definition he has going on in his head about masculinity things like “pansy”. It sounds rather counterintuitive, but the amount of times Driscoll brings it up, and the hostility he shows towards any male (and even, in a way, females) showing “feminine” (according to him) traits, seems like it is something that is always on the forefront of his mind. That obsession seems like he is worried about something. I may be way off, but no preacher spends more time obsessing about masculinity than him. It is either a deep seated fear he has, a strange obsession he feels reaches his audience or a gimmick to get himself in the news. Either way, he is lobbing e-bombs again with a new post calling all Christian pacifists ‘heretics’ and telling pacifists they are ‘pansies’. That sort of obsession with being anti-feminie seems more likely to be “closet gay” to me than how much time a guy spends on his hair.
I also don’t get MD’s approach.Consider this, in his spare time my husband fixes cars, builds additions on our house, renovates bathrooms and kitchens, goes hunting, etc. He has no problem with holding my purse if I have to go to the bathroom in public. He isn’t threatened because he is a guy’s guy, and doesn’t need to prove his masculinity to others. He is also an egalitarian, and couldn’t care less if the preacher/teacher were a woman or a man, as long as their a good teacher. So are his hunting buddy friends. I think when guys are comfortable in their own masculinity, they enjoy the feminine in this world, they don’t fear it.
@ Josh:
hi, josh. your comment wasn’t on my radar at all when making my own. you always seem to be very kind.
@ elastigirl: Ditto. Back at ya, elastigirl.
The point is, that Golden Corral provides 50 different types of food or a “buffet”. Ruth’s Chris (substitute any establishment that just focuses on one thing) tries to make the best steak it can. The deal is, that typically you don’t do everything great, just a few things. Elevations is very upfront that they focus (like Ruth’s Chris on steaks) on the worship experience (music, worship and preaching) @ Anon 1:
LC wrote:
Oh good night! This is the depth of Biblical teaching at Elevation? How embarrassing.
dee wrote:
Dee your a genius – I was simply explaining what it meant. It is one point of the 12 that help guide elevation in its ministry. Funny all these people who have never been to Elevation, never heard more than a 30 second clip of Furtick, and really have no clue what goes on at Elevation all the sudden have an
opinion that they want to pass off as well informed, when in reality they know nothing about.
LC wrote:
How do you know this to be true?
dee wrote:
My mother agrees.
LC wrote:
I’ve listened to more than 30 sec clips. I’ve listened to entire sermons, via You Tube and a show that plays his sermons where the host critiques the sermons.
Josh wrote:
So not tithing makes you Queer?
“I thought I had a most morbid imagination, as good as any man’s”, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around just HOW those two things are connected.
Two Plus Two Equals PURPLE! time…
Val wrote:
To me it shows he’s just very vain.
But then Vanity isn’t a SEXUAL sin, so that must make it OK.
These sites are like listening to a bunch of old women sitting around gossiping! I by no means am defending anyone or actions being discussed but most of you just sound like bitter old hate mongers… Go find a hobby beyond tearing everyone and everything down. Everyone talks a big game behind a keyboard! Grow up folks!
@ Really?:
Looks like we picked on one of your sacred cows. And you might be surprised how the people on this blog serve others.
@ Really?:
Why don't you hang around and see what we discuss. It's apparent from your comment that you are absolutely clueless about what is being accomplished here at TWW.
Dee,
Something to add to what the world is saying about The Wartburg Watch…
Bunch of old women gossiping.
Can't help but wonder about the reaction of our male commenters to Really?'s remarks.
Hey, in addition to being an attorney, I have a Ph.D. and have been a deacon in Baptist churches, served as chair of committees, etc. And I am a man willing to stand up for the poor, abused, and victimized against the wealthy and powerful who try to expand their wealth at the expense of others (see, e.g., mega-church pastors for a list of victimizers).
Really? wrote:
There’s that word ‘b!tter’ again.
There it is used to sh@me, shut-up, and shut-down people pointing out the elephants in the room.
There it is, used to by someone with their fingers in their ears going, “La, la, la, can’t hear you, la, la, la. I want to stay in my fantasy church world, la, la, la. My mind is made up, don’t confuse me with the facts, la, la, la.”
Really?
You want to deny the very real issues facing today’s church?
Then fine. Go stick your head in the sand somewhere and wait till it bits you in the buhankas.
Just know that your misguided, shaming tactics have no power here.
Really? wrote:
You have to say “old women” since old men sitting around gossiping is what we know as an “elder retreat”. LOLROTF!
Heather
Incredibly funny answer!!!!
Dee, that was me being restrained. The other version had “bite me” at the end of it. It is one of those days.
Really? wrote:
And one really old, really friendly, really nice, love-monger gossiping from the great beyond!
@ Heather:
Your response was so funny because, like all good humor, it is based in a certain amount of truth.