jim

God bless GMC but denominations are no longer central influence. Seminaries are important, which orthodox Methodism has. But it lacks major public thinkers & influencers absent which it cannot advance.

I took my 11 year old to her checkup this morning and the nurse asked me to step out of the room for a moment. I politely declined and she said, "It's just for a moment." And I told her, "No thank you, given all the stories about children being abused my husband and I decided to never leave our children alone with anyone, even medical providers. Anything you need to do or say you can do with me in the room." She looked all miffed and just left, no idea what her plan was but she didn't feel the need to continue it with me present and that makes me even more suspicious?? When she left my daughter thanked me for not leaving, she's already shy about the doctor, her eyes got so wide when the lady asked me to leave.

a friend of mine asked a woman out after talking with her for weeks. she smiled and said no, i’m not really interested like that, sorry. years ago, he might have tried again, maybe sent flowers, planned something thoughtful, put in extra effort. back then, that was seen as romance. this time, he just nodded and said no worries, then left it there. no second attempt and no pressure. months later she told a mutual friend she was surprised he didn’t try harder, but that’s the shift most people miss. a lot of men aren’t less interested, they’re just more careful now. they grew up hearing persistence was attractive, but today that same persistence can easily be read as pressure. so the rule changed quietly. ask once, respect the answer and move on not because the interest isn’t there, but because effort feels safer when it’s clearly returned.