Brother, forgive my own assumptions here.Yes, in part it was a build up because of your intimation of leaving. But usually couch things in 'general' because this is a collection of brethren, made up of individuals.The cause of this little outburst is because we have heard these same sentiments expressed by more than a few, in that sense it was directed in general, yours being the latest that prompted it.Have heard sentiments of second thought's about sending people here, not liking the direction the site is taking (which would be the forum, the messages haven't changed, but one wonders if they are getting any attention sometimes), accusations of all sorts, nit-picking and all this attention to ourselves, it is bluntly childish. I am just as bemused by some that have gone away over seeing these things in whichever way they have been perceived without the bother of attempting some kind of reconciliation. I understand it to a point, but if one wants to make this a public stand, not in private, then a response is going to follow in public.What's the old line, don't go away angry, just go away? ;-) Please don't let that be more fodder for misunderstanding. This little 'role' as it were of attempting to 'moderate' here is often times a handful, am no shrink, have no agenda, trying to keep the peace without compromising the truth. Beyond that of late with Greg in school, this is his site after all and am beyond words of gratitude to even be a small part in what amounts to such a great body of resources that are helping untold brethren out there. I am nobody, gladly, and learned that primarily from the preachers of yesterday who thankfully have been preserved here, Aaron's comments being a perfect example, to go back and read some of the early postings here from this misfit (me), childish, misinformed, knee-jerk reactionary, in need of rebuke and fortunately it came in a general sense, but I got the point and was embarrassed and yet strangely warmed because it was just one more area that needed attention that I was blind to.We all can get off track here, or as it has been succinctly put, "go off the rails". Another great comment was in regard to how volatile 'words' can be, especially by us amateur journalists. It is wrought with trouble from the get go, a misplaced word or 'upon further reflection...wish I would have put that differently'. It is extremely difficult to get 'inflection' into these things sometimes, trying to read between the lines and not jump to conclussions...I thought you of all people here had a pretty good understanding of me and where I'm coming from. Suggesting that I'm leaving because I'm offended shows how much of an assumption that was on my part.Actual that is still true and a want of patience from first utterings here, without rehashing all that, a bit vocal early on, but the beast got tamed through all these exercises :-D Hopefully we all are being tamed in our opinions, or at least having them put in there proper place, below or measured by what we all are striving after, God's thought. Have certainly mis-read some who have come in here, sometimes with gun's blazing and been too quick on the draw myself. My apologies again, seriously. Stretching the analogy, being caught in the cross fire might make this mod. peacekeeper a different kind of 'hole-y' :-? Saddened by the recent surge of ecumenical attitudes on this site.Whoa there, isn't that a bit of a leap? Don't see that as being the case, it seems that is the same thing being assumed by: Saddened that valid discussion of false heretical doctrines is confused by some to be personal attacks on Catholics.Which I would agree with, it goes back to this idea of drawing an imaginary line in the sand and the either/or construct. The way these things get strewn about often lacks tact by making broad pronouncements of judgment or really a consideration for the multitudes caught unaware. But to go the opposite way and make this into something of a 'ecumenical' attitude is just as well missing the point. Personally, I am ....amused or is it bemused? What the attempt is, at bottom with this whole idea(ecumenicism). Bluntly it seems impossible that it will ever work. The whole construct is doomed to failure without a laying down of man made tradition, the whole construct of popery, works righteousness, transubstantiation, who Mary is, praying to saints, icons and 'idols', purgatory... And at the same time what of the 'protesters'? What have 'we' become (not 'us' in particular) but how is it that 'we' 'evangelicals' (still hate even using all these tag lines), look at how that is being perceived? What is it that gets many of us up in arms about? WOF, 'name it and claim it', all these compromise's and muddiness, shallow 'self-help', 'how to's' and 'living a better life', it's upside down from just the plain teachings of Jesus, it is further and further away from Him everyday. Taking up one's cross is death to your 'self' and that is the last thing anyone wants to do let alone even discuss, again not here, but in the broader reaches of Christendom.Without a doubt much of what happens here is a struggle to get back to just core plain teachings of scripture and away from all the schisms of denominational thinking, even if we could put it this way, that there is much to glean from all these groupings over the course of history and that, though another topic altogether, is what much of Christendom is missing, it's history, everything nowadays is on this line of 'new' teachings, 'new' interpretations, 'new' revelations. Solomon was right;Ecc 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Certainly we have not lost the emphasis on;1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? But if anything I am hearing from those here is a want of helping those either completely outside the faith or those concerned over those caught in the clutches of false 'systems', the rub seems to be in just how we go about it. And frankly the only way it seems that we can be of any help is in getting people to understand what truly is involved in this grand life of being followers of Jesus. That is who we ought to be ultimately concerned about, being reflections of Him.Saddened that a strong stand for the KJV is now considered to be blasphemy against the Holy Spirit by some here.Again, this seems a reach into blanket statement assumption. We have gone around this subject before and if there is any honesty whatsoever, that there isn't some problems with it... not going to open that can of worms here, the question remains; Is this an issue worth dividing over? Which ever 'side' you are on? To really put a fork in this, those that may hold to an opinion of 'no opinion' or perhaps "I don't see the worth in all this squabbling over" at the root of it, what amounts to secondary issues. Is it they that get the other tag line of being wishy-washy or stumbling between two opinions? Not that I could personally care less who "I" may be perceived to be in the least, but it is in this same idea that one must be dragged into one or the other, for or against, it's not always overt but subtle. "Think like the rest of us or you are 'outside'". Have seen it expressed in everything from the Calvinism\\Arminianism debates to arguments over KJ only to issues of 'healing' and everything in between.What goes on here primarily is a 'sorting out' of where we find ourselves in this fast paced world that seems entirely bent on destroying itself. Within the 'confines' of what Christianity is truly about is the same gleaning of what is true and real. Don't think anyone is after creating a 'new' 'religion' but discovering an old one and for us it is in digging through what amounts to a large mess and it is a messy business at times scavenging through what we have more or less 'inherited.' This website makes up about 2% of my life, and is hardly worth the stress it causes at times. However, I've made many friends here and for that I am grateful, but I do not care to be the point of controversy anymore. There does come a time to shake the dust off... thats scriptural. One of my biggest detractors on this site at the moment refuses to resond to my PM's, and I had hope they would so maybe we could work things out privately.If this is the way the site is going, so be it. There are hundreds of others out there.Again, isn't this the very crux of it?Is this really about you, me or is there a greater good that is available to the unknowns out there? (who may have better sense than to jump into the 'fire' as it were)The way this 'site' (meaning the forum again) 'is going' is largely determined by it's occupants and if anything that is puzzling is in the lack of 'stick-to-it-tiveness'. My, what would happen if some real persecution came our way? Please take that with the intention meant, it is a matter of perspective. We have brethren in other parts of the world being hacked to death over this life we can so easily let become a mere matter of words and controversy's.That it may be only 2% to you is fine, won't bother with placing some kind of percentage on it nor make it out to be something exclusive or beyond it's bounds. But for me it is of such a great importance what is contained or make that available here, freely I might add that this sounds like a slap in the face to everyone else. Re-read Aaron's comments as 'proof' if you may of what just an example of all these efforts here can and have done. Brother, there is so much much we just don't know, eternal verity's at stake. But some of these pot shot's in general... is it again only what one gets out of it that is important? Granted, may be misunderstanding your sentiments here, but have heard similar things expressed.I do not leave over offense. Let's get that straight. What stinks, Mike, is that you obviously gave no consideration that perhaps I prayed about this before I made my decision. And the assumptions you made about me here in this public forum is what hurts because I've always considered you to be one of my greatest allies here. Someone who may not always agree with me, but at least understood me.Well I still am brother, even while some were calling for your head early on if the truth must be told (an exaggeration on the head part there). It is just shear patience that is of want of a plea here, but it has to come from everyone involved. Brother I am sorry if I have misread you and done the very same thing in making assumptions. It is a reaction to the whole as that is what has to be concerned here. There has been some unnecessary remarks made that will draw some 'controversy' to ones self or a sharp reply from others that frequent here, what is to be expected? If we are going to put our thought's and opinions out there for public consumption are we then to answer in private leaving everyone else in a state of wonder? Think of the ramifications of all this to greater whole, that is what I must keep after. None of this is meant to be slander or setting you up as an example. You yourself have chided some of us in times past about being to 'soft' on things, to 'lighten up' a bit and frankly you are right if we can take it in the right way. Unfortunately often times the other extreme goes to seed in becoming flippant and careless and that is in general.Think we all tend to read too much into things and I am certainly guilty. As I suspected, shortly after posting this earlier bit a sense of remorse set in, it is something that is carried all the time anyway, causing a brother to stumble? Goodness no, be it far from me. Speak or be silent? What are the ramification of letting something alone? A multitude of thoughts, the last being hopefully mere opinion, it is a want of help and concern, it is not some duty I feel obligated to carry the whole world on my shoulders over. None of this is easy attempting to just keep the peace around here, it's usually just conduct more than 'content', though the content often springs the lever to all kinds of fleshly things being thrown about. But you know what's good about even that? Now it's out there in all it's ugly glory and we can deal with it, or at least bury it... :-?
