Having posted some items on the new pope I am wondering if perhaps I have offended anyone, as I see from Krispy that some form of sanction has been meted out. I have not seen this or recieved any but am open to guidance form the site moderators. Maybe one of them would let me know.Paul
Goodness no...Boy folk's this is really getting weird, perhaps I myself have been the cause of much of this trouble and misunderstanding.It's getting to be where so much confusion is apparent that can't help but wonder which one is the 'devil' around here...And before that gets taken the wrong way...Who is the "Author" of confusion?Would it not be a simple matter to just point a finger at him and ease ourselves off into a comfortable, smug satisfaction...What I can't help but wonder is in that subtle way of making things appear like he has absolutely nothing to do with it, (because we are such knowledgeable saints around here) :-? That maybe, just maybe it is in stirring us up by launching off into certain areas of discussion....how can I put this correctly?It's not the 'topics' per se, but the 'spirit' of divisiveness behind it? Is that what some are questioning? Not that we don't discuss these things, not that the vast majority don't see the falsehood, the problems associated, but that it gets turned around to launch attacks against one another? We are brethren, of one another, of one and the same Spirit.I fear my own words have been twisted coming out of the fingertips unto this cyberspace somehow, not in response from anyone, but right from the get go. In an attempt to reconcile and just merely bring forth some sense of balance...We have had many somewhat 'heated' discussions before in times past without all the associated baggage, why is it now somehow different?Maybe I am way off here, way out of line. Please, do bring correction and even criticism if necessary, I humbly and graciously would appreciate it, this is far more than one mans opinion around here. Somehow the Lord is getting sidelined here, what could be of greater importance than restoring that? Never have been one to see the devil lurking behind every bush, but is this not an area of his 'scheming'? It sure smells like him....
It's not the 'topics' per se, but the 'spirit' of divisiveness behind it? Is that what some are questioning? Not that we don't discuss these things, not that the vast majority don't see the falsehood, the problems associated, but that it gets turned around to launch attacks against one another? We are brethren, of one another, of one and the same Spirit.We have had many somewhat 'heated' discussions before in times past without all the associated baggage, why is it now somehow different?Never have been one to see the devil lurking behind every bush, but is this not an area of his 'scheming'? It sure smells like himI think you are discerning this mess properly Mike. I have been reading for weeks here and feeling a bit bothered: sometimes by the choice of possible strife leading topics (and I am one that is NOT shy of speaking of controversial topics ;-) ), but mostly by the responses to those topics. It seems to me that most of the division is coming from each other's responses concerning the topics. Maybe I'm wrong, but there is just not enough grace from either side.It seems to me that some of this may be just plain and simple personality clashes. It's hard to read other's posts that we've had "clashes" with before and not take things personally in their future postings, but as Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, we need to rise above all this nonsense. If it's the amount of material that is causing all this strife, then it seems to me the thing to do would be to PM the individual politely, if something continues, contact an administrator/moderator and let them decide what amount of discussion on one topic is sufficient. If something continues that is not palatible, prayer and silence works well. Just my take. Blessings in Him, Cindy
I'm sitting here, in my theater's office in Chicago, on my next to last day on my visit here.It has been both a blessing and a curse. Here's what I've been discovering;(Im sure you already know this) that the closer you come to a breakthru, or the closer you come towards doing the business of the Kingdom, either in your own life, or in the Body....the stronger, the more nasty, and ugly will the opposition come.The devil is playing for keeps, he knows he's lost, so he's not taking prisoners, he is intent on dragging down as many poor souls as he can.Its kind of like the battle of the Bulge. The nazis were beaten, totally beaten, they knew it, we knew it. But still they assembled a massive force, ill-prepared and desperate, but still lethal, and they struck when we least expected it.the devil's like that.I'm the only saved soul in my theater. The rest of my old old friends still do the same stuff, the same partying. Its not that I'm tempted, its just that when I want to go across the street to worship God at the new storefront, I'm told that they're just a "bunch of mopes".I had an ugly encounter just now with my ex-brother-in-law who runs the theater. He used to be one of my best friends, its not they we are not close, but he said to me a few days ago, that the only thing we have in common is the theater. Before we used to be party buddies.He said I shud move back to Chicago. I told him that I can't because his nephew, my son needs me, and that is my number one ministry (I didnt say "ministry") I then wanted to talk about generational sin, so I started to say, that "your father turned his back on you", and he got intensely angry, said I was "full of ####" and stormed out of the theater.what he didnt allow me to say, was that both I fathers had turned their backs on us, which I know led to problems in both our lives regarding drug abuse and problems in our relationships with the women in our lives. I was married to his sister, and there were three million problems, because we were lugging 3 tons of generational sin on our backs.About two years ago, I told her, that after prayer and reflection, it had been revealed to me that we were doomed as a couple before we even began, ie...both our mothers had given us primer course's on how to be adulterer's and pill abusers, and that the only way we can stop the legacy of sin is to ask Jesus to heal us. She divorced me, I never wanted to divorce her. Yes the marriage was broken and dead, but so was Christ as He laid in the tomb, and the Saviour I worship is in the resurrection business. Not to be in that case.So I wanted to tell my brother in law, that I was not going to repeat the sin of turning my back on my boy. He didnt want to have any kind of meaningful talk . In the past I've watched him beat people, I watched him literally worship his anger, I would watch him build his anger like a temple. Sad. I watched him the other day drink and smoke himself into a mumbling stupor. I havent been back to his apartment since, prefering to stay instead in the guest quarters of the theater. Its like watching somebody you deeply love die a prolonged senseless death.the reason I brought this all up, is that the Lord is guiding my pen, and allowing me to write the best work of my career. THAT is my testimony to all my unsaved friends here at the theater, that my work has never been sharper.let me write on more thing to you. my bro-in-law's sister , my ex-wife, has been prayed for , for over two years now, for God to save her. She feels the Call of Jesus. But the thing is this: New Testament Full Gospel Christianity is my "religion", she won't do anything Neil likes, so she has begun catechism in the Catholic tradition. and ya see, if I start nailing her on her romanism, I might drive her far far from Jesus.Thats why I've been kind of circumspect on this line of lets bash the roman church.are they bashable? oh yes.is it the wisest thing to do at this time?for me...no. For others, I can't say.I hate to sound like a beggar, but if you could remember me, your miserable servant in your prayers, I sure would appreciate it.His/yours, Neil
Neilgin1,Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Deu 14:2 For thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. 1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light...
Thanks for response. I can see where we are all a bit jumpy. I am reminded of something that happened to me a long number of yeras ago. I was in the habit of wearing a badge which depicted two small feet the actual size of a feotus at ten weeks as an anti abortion stand. One day I was approached by a girl in an office where I was working and she aked if I was a beliver. I proudly proclaimed myself to be so. She then asked why I was so judgemental. I was taken aback and said I was not but she pointed to my badge and said " do you think anyone who has had an abortion will open up to you when you declare openly that you are anti. Surely you need to show love first and then teach".Maybe I need to think a bit more and pray a lot more before I post.Sorry if I have hindered anyone.Paul
Our brother Krispy has asked me to change the content of my original post on this thread as it gives the impression that he was sanctioned. At the risk of generating even more wasted words on this whole please note that no such sanction occured either expressly or implicitly and our brother has witdrawn form active participaion in the forums. I pray that he goes well I have enjoyed most of his posts and been challenged to at least think by them all. Go niri on bother leis. ( may the road go well with him)Paul
my son needs me, and that is my number one ministryGood man Neilgin :-) MC
Somehow the Lord is getting sidelined here, what could be of greater importance than restoring that? Never have been one to see the devil lurking behind every bush, but is this not an area of his 'scheming'? It sure smells like him....Thanks for that Mike. I have been watching the posts the last months, and I would have to agree with the above quote. I remember when this site was 'young', the posts were on the same topics but it seemed that everybody was more willing to listen and share. Now I get the impression that instead of a reasoned discussion, what we have resembles the Legislature here in Manitoba, everybody standing up and shouting their opinions and views without giving consideration to the others viewpoint. One other thing that I see, and you can disagree with me on this. Is as Mike said "the Lord getting sidelined here" the focus seems to be more on doctrine instead of moving where the Spirit leads. Brethren we desperatly need to love each other, and in love communicate. Since by typing here is the most contact that most of us will have with each other, we need to make sure that we are slow to 'speak', and that our 'speach' is seasoned in love. Keep in mind "see how those men love one another".Lyndon
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