Howdy all. I've been gone for a while. I was able to check in on the forums maybe once or twice in the last few months. Well, I'm back. For now.
I say that because I've been reading over a lot of the threads for the last couple of days. Whew!! A lot of reading, and a lot of bad blood!
The thing that made me register to this website was this forum. For hunting tips and stuff, I could go a lot of places, but the Religion and Hunting forum drew me in. In the first few days, I saw heartfelt discussion among people of differing beliefs. I saw people who didn't always agree, still have a good conversation with some real commradarie. I was drawn to that and to be quite honest, it made me feel pretty good to read and participate in these forums. Especially with people who are as knowledgable as a lot of you. Even those of us who can't quote very much Scripture (I'm probably the worst), there was real caring in most of the posts. That's hard to convey over a computer.
Frankly, I don't see it anymore. I'm concerned. Not because I want it "the way it was." But I'm concerned for you guys. I don't really know any of you. When I started reading some of the things you guys were saying, I actually felt sad. In the large scheme of things, it won't really matter if I'm here or not, so don't take this as "if you don't change, I'm leaving." I wouldn't insult any of your intelligence like that. From one man to others, look inside and ask yourself if this is how you really are. I don't think so. It's easy to get caught up in the tide of a hot topic. And, I admire conviction so strong.
Just remeber why we're all here. And I don't mean the forums.
I'll still be around, reading, maybe the occasional post. But I don't think I'll be participating in anything like what I've been reading.
God bless you all.
Dave.
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While you rest, someone, somewhere, is training. When you meet, you will lose.
Dave your sooooooooo rite
Jesus said something that fits so well with what you said.
mt 10 :34 Thinknot that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Please don't feel bad .what you are seeing is prophecy come true.religious indifference has started and backed more wars than not.and its not just Christianity tho she has been in there a lot .there is prophecy that all religion will be attacked to the intent to remove it from the earth.it is then, that we get into the great war of Armageddon.of that war it ispromised to be the last.
It ebbs and flows around here. You sort of get used to it. Enjoy the positive and try to learn from the negative. Stand for what's important, but love. Not always easy, we will all admit.
Dave- eloquence is never wasted..
I am very new here, but I would submit that what you are most concerned with can actually be a positive thing.
Not so much the few -very few-personal attacks that will linger long after the good images dim-but the back and forth-however heated-that cause us all to partake in a period of introspection and self awareness.
If the comments of some one are a catalyst that forces us into deeper thought and perhaps a trip back into the hallway to drag down the Book or another to assure us that what we state is actually what we really believe-good-.
If then we return with our loins girded once again for battle- even if it is of the literate nature- that is a good thing also.
And- NEVER forget this- any of you-- I have found this to be true elsewhere, and numerous young people ,and some not so young benefited--there will always be those who for whatever reason -are reluctant to voice any opinion because they fear being ridiculed, or they fear that their knowledge is not sufficient-BUT-they have a burning desire to learn to- a desire to be confirmed.. A very real need to have this mystery explained in terms that they can ubderstand and relate to.
I can tell you that I and a couple others were embroiled in a harsh discussion in another forum.
I got angry and even left the forum out of disgust, UNTIL..several young people implored me to return and take up the gauntlet..once again.
Uknownst to us-there were a lot of youn gpeople and some not so old that were watching and reading in the background and that at least 7-10 of these people found their way to the Lord because of this.
I had along running commentary/battle with an avowed athesist.. A former history teacher...
After perhaps two years of this he and I almost became friends. At least we became mutually respectfull of one anothers feelings and belief system, although I did chide him from time to time and reminded him that an athesist may have a system but it is not a belief system.
Why-praise God-he even said one tim ethat he would admit to the possibilit yto the existence of a soul.
And lest you think that I take any responsibility for anyone coming to the Lord- I can assure you that that simple statement by him changed more than afew minds. Because if the Lord could bring about that change, why there must be something to all this.
At one point, as i stated earlier- I left the forums for a time.
We had gotten into one of our arguments/discussions and he made the statement that he could beat me with his brain tied behind his back-admittedly a statement that one might not necessarily attribute to a former teacher and one who made his living with words, but I seemed to bring out the worst in him at times...
I finally said, "I don't need this crap" and I left. About a month later lying in bed I had this idea for a story.. It would star me and "Gandalf " as was his forum name- and a couple others there.
I titled it "The Man With No Brain" and although it started out as a single short story about good against evil it became a trilogy with a fourth Book that I have never been able to finish.
I published it on that forum and several others and dang if Gandalf didn't like it and even applauded his role in the story-although he was the Bad guy or the evil entity.
After the first chapter- I moved away from him as the "Bad" guy and by the fourth book, he was my/our friend and helping us against the worlds most fearsome evil ever unleashed- "The Soul Eater".
Someday when you all get to know me better and if there is any interest, I would post it-one part at a time- to see what reaction It might receive.
Ah- here am I again garrulous as usual-but I shall stop now and go back to my first thought- You are , to my thinking , an important part of this place and your imput has been appreciated- especially by me-for what that is worth.
Take care and God Bless:
Leep Out:
Frankly I think this forum is enlighting and what you call bad blood to me is not.
You should see some of the discussions amongst the ultra Jews and the orthodox, with fists flying and rock throwing and the next day they are all praying and embracing each other at the whaling wall in Jerusalem, so This to me is a piece of cake.
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"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
good to have you back elgallo114, the place has not been the same w/o you, on this site i try to take the good and leave the other stuff, but even some of that stimulates thinking and searches of the scripture, which can be a good thing
BTW whats your average, i take it from your avatar you bowl, i used to be a low 180's bowler then i crushed a joint in my middle finger and i do good to carry a 158-162 now[&o], still a great game
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John 3:16
things are more like right now than they've ever been
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
William James
good to have you back elgallo114, the place has not been the same w/o you, on this site i try to take the good and leave the other stuff, but even some of that stimulates thinking and searches of the scripture, which can be a good thing
BTW whats your average, i take it from your avatar you bowl, i used to be a low 180's bowler then i crushed a joint in my middle finger and i do good to carry a 158-162 now[&o], still a great game
The last time I bowled was about 2 years ago. My average was 210. Yeah, I'm bragging a little. You know what's sad? I said that I haven't bowled in 2 years, but I was in the bowling alley twice last month! Why? I love the snack bar! I hurt my back at work and just kinda quit bowling. My wife and I are thinking of signing up for one of those real laid back leagues. The one I was in was soooo competitve. People would walk out of thepre-league meetings swearing and cussing if they didn't like the team rosters in regards to averages! Childish. I'm thinking of being a "coach" for little kids so I can teach them not to take bowling that seriously unless they are going to make aliving out of it. I went to a tournament in Reno once. Lost it all, first round. But I think I had more fun than the guys in the finals.
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While you rest, someone, somewhere, is training. When you meet, you will lose.
[:-]
man that is stout, oh yea!! and thanks for reminding me what i was[:@], (just a hacker) i have a buddy that is holding @ 203-205, it is unbelieveable how hard it is to pick up a few pins and brake into the heavy hitters, i can relate to the injury, when i crushed the joint in my middle finger it took away any grip strenght i had in that hand, also since i have had back trouble, herniated L5 s1, and trying to roll a 16# fingertip ball is really more than i can handle anymore[&o][:@], i think if i ever tried it again i would drop to about a 12-14 pounder and go for FUN, not even worry about the numbers, BTW great idea on the youth deal, i can't think of anything more rewarding, plus there are some great deals for the kids, including getting scholarship money for bowling, best of luck man, the main thing is enjoy it
keith
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John 3:16
things are more like right now than they've ever been
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
William James
I'm back, for now.
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