A new CF, an old vision (2)

[RoseofLima]

Anyone who thinks that this new system cannot possibly work would do well to take a gander at the Women's Discussion Forum...a large majority of the threads there over the past month or two have become [open]. Women seeking adivce about things ranging from health, employment, parenting, marriage difficulties, finding a church home--and it never has denegrated into a place that felt antogonistic. In fact it is a very nice place to be, at least in my experience-despite the fact that all Christians and lately all non-Christians are free to post there.

 

[Da_Funkey_Gibbon]

I'm glad you're not too worried about it.

Isn't it just possible that the atheists and other non-Nicene-affirming members of this board have gotten an undue reputation for being unending debators due to having been forced to do virtually all of our substantive posting in the debate fora? When I joined, even fewer of the fora were open to me than are currently.

I think it is quite possible that the board will find that those who are the most skilled and active in the debate areas will prove to be surprisingly sensitive to the art of knowing when debate is not apprpopriate. I've seen Danhalen prove that about himself recently on another board where he has moderated and now is an administrator.

___

On another note, I don't see it as inevitable that the moderator positions will become highly sought-after prizes involving campaigns and voting blocks! If the rules are as simplified as Erwin plans, then being a moderator will mean little more than the occassional janitorial clean-up. There will hardly be a great deal of status or power involved. If moderating for the content of our opinions is not one of the moderator duties, then it is the members, not the moderators, who will set the tone and direction of the discussions. I hope I'm not being too naive.

Also I'm curious as to whether we will see an upswing in non-Nicene-affirming members, as some seem to think we will. Why would that be? There are actually very few of us here after all these years. Why will there suddenly be hoards of us seeking and able to disrupt every one of thousands of topics?

Exactly - and I actually think, as you'd be more dispursed around the site, the poor old apologists in GA would get some breating space. It's damage control, really!

 

[TheAntiLion]

Satan and his Demons of Discord are having a blast I tell you what.

 

[Ramona]

War has NEVER solved anything............









































Except ending Slavery, Fascism, Communism and Nazism.

Maybe you should open up a History book instead of worrying about what popular songs are saying.

OOPS! Except that was a reference to Mr.Jim's declaration of WAR against CF, not the end of Slavery, Fascism, Communism, or Nazism (the latter three of which are not over yet). Please use context clues before lobbing random insults.

 

[Father Rick]

Ok.. while I think many of the changes will be good, here's my main concern...

In the past, as a staff member I have personally had to handle situations of sexual harrassment and even real life stalking. Discussions had to be held amongst staff as to the best way to confirm/refute allegations when they were made-- which included discussion of sensitive material that should not be public knowledge. What if the accusation is false, for instance? Or victim who already feels victimized and is reluctant to speak out already... and now his/her victimization will be seen by all...

To not have any confidentiality at all causes serious concern for this reason...

 

[moonkitty]

Anyone who thinks that this new system cannot possibly work would do well to take a gander at the Women's Discussion Forum...a large majority of the threads there over the past month or two have become [open]. Women seeking adivce about things ranging from health, employment, parenting, marriage difficulties, finding a church home--and it never has denegrated into a place that felt antogonistic. In fact it is a very nice place to be, at least in my experience-despite the fact that all Christians and lately all non-Christians are free to post there.

(((((HUGS)))))) I'm sorry RoseofLima--but I have I recently told you how much I enjoy reading your posts? I agree with you--the WD has been wonderful.

 

[pgp_protector]

Exactly, there's no reason for beleiver's to want to be here.

I want to be here, so if there's no reason for believers to want to be here & I see reasons for me to be here what does that make me ???

 

[SunMessenger]

I can not answer all of the PMs at once so I have decided to copy my response to the current policy here from it's original posting in the private staff forum. Thanks for all the PMs but the following is all I have to say about this issue...

He is trying ...

Erwin is trying given the best of his ability and knowledge to do the right thing. Do we abandon our Brother because he has done something we do not like ???

Maybe the "Emperor Has No Clothes" or maybe he has made the most brilliant decision that has ever been made. I do not know but I do know that there is a reason for everything in this life.

Perhaps God wants some of the "trouble makers" to have a free run here for awhile in order to be found and saved. That sounds like a good mission to me.

I have arrested prostitutes and priests. I have arrested beggars and the wealthy. They all had one thing in common. They all at least for a moment had lost their way. They needed direction and correction. One day I was sent to a Church because some drunken wild man had stripped himself naked and jumped in the fountain in the Shrine I was taken by surprise. Two problems were presented .

One was this man who was naked in the Church yelling obscenities and crying before a statue of The Virgin Mary. The second was the fact that a man of God called me in an angry hostile voice to arrest this man and remove him. He did not say pray for him or try to help him he said ARREST HIM AND REMOVE HIM. This poor soul needed help of some kind and the only way I could bring him to any hope of being helped was to arrest him . So I did. Then I asked the Priest to wait one moment while I put the man in the police car.

When I returned the Priest told me he was too busy to talk to me at the moment as he had to ready the Church for a big event that was happening that evening. Then he turned and began to walk away from me. I grabbed his arm and physically sat him down and said there is time !

I prayed silently before him for the devil to be gone from this Holy Place and for Our Beloved Holy Spirit to enter and calm all involved. I saw this mans face go from surprise to anger to peace in the a matter of seconds and then in tears he apologized to me for his quickness and anger.

It was at that point that I saw Our Beloved Holy Spirit work and instant miracle without me even saying a word for or against the situation. This man of God now touched by Our Beloved Holy Spirit asked if he could speak to the sick man in the police car. I nodded yes and went with him to the car.

The man in handcuffs and foaming at the mouth with anger and rage earlier was now weeping. I asked him did I hurt you are you in pain? Calmly he looked up at me and said... "No. You did not hurt me . You should have the way I treated you but you did not . Are you an angel ?"

I looked at the Priest and we both smiled and began to laugh out loud. The man began to laugh with us and the Priest asked if I could release the man . I said yes if both promised to call me right back if needed. They did and I released the man and went on my way.

Several weeks later the Priest called me to thank me. I said for what . I did not do anything at all. He said, "Yes you did. You reminded me of something I had forgotten. You reminded me that a mans soul is more important than anything else on this earth. You reminded me that we are all here one for the other and not just for the special events in our lives. That man is now one of the most dedicated servants of this Church and I praise God for that."

If you have read this far then there is still hope. Yes HOPE ...

Hope for this and all situations to improve. HOPE can never be lost. HOPE is light and is of God.

ERWIN LOH together with everyone here, go to the mountain and pray. Have HOPE !

I offer my prayers of HOPE for you and this place. I know they will be answered...

In Jesus Name May We All Be Given Strength To Live On Your Word ...​

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." ​

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Amen​

__________________

 

[Zecryphon]

Both.

"Both."

I disagree. The church building is primarily a place for Christians to gather to worship God. Recently it has become more focused on the needs of seekers than on the needs of the believers. Worship services have denigrated into evangelism rallies. Now, how do we decide who is right under the new rules? Are we both right?

 

[CrusaderKing]

This is gonna go over well. I'll just grab some popcorn and watch the show. In the meantime, we'll see what happens. I just don't have much hope here.

 

[ProdicalChristian]

Well actually according to Erwins post you are wrong there will be no denominational restriction whatsoever.

True however, you will be supported by other denominational believers who believe such doctrines and explain to those who don't.

Who cares if they give us a hard time. I welcome the challenge.

 

[pgp_protector]

This is gonna go over well. I'll just grab some popcorn and watch the show. In the meantime, we'll see what happens. I just don't have much hope here.

If Christ is in your life, you should always have hope.

 

[Da_Funkey_Gibbon]

My chief worry is that we are hemeriging members at an alarming rate - but maybe that's not such a bad thing if they do go and make a thriving "spin off" sites. (There are already a number of good ones out there!)

Am I the only one that think one of CF's main problems, or at least one of the major aggravaiting factors to its problems, is that it's simply too big?

 

[RoseofLima]

(((((HUGS)))))) I'm sorry RoseofLima--but I have I recently told you how much I enjoy reading your posts? I agree with you--the WD has been wonderful.

I feel the same way about you. Big girly, tear-filled hug.

 

[No Swansong]

True however, you will be supported by other denominational believers who believe such doctrines and explain to those who don't.

Who cares if they give us a hard time. I welcome the challenge.

You go ahead and welcome it but that is not why the Congregational Fora were designed in the first place. There are many, in my opinion the majority, who come to CF for the Congregational Fora because they were supposed to be a safe-haven. A place of rest and fellowship. Now they will not be.

 

[pgp_protector]

xapis... out... it's Saturday people. Go outside.

Too hot outside.

 

[No Swansong]

If Christ is in your life, you should always have hope.

Hope for eternal life does not equate with hope for the success of a message board.

 

[ProdicalChristian]

My chief worry is that we are hemeriging members at an alarming rate - but maybe that's not such a bad thing if they do go and make a thriving "spin off" sites. (There are already a number of good ones out there!)

Am I the only one that think one of CF's main problems, or at least one of the major aggravaiting factors to its problems, is that it's simply too big?

I tried the so called thriving "spin off" sites however they are too legalistic and too controlled.

 

[CrusaderKing]

If Christ is in your life, you should always have hope.

It's not a question of my relationship with Christ. I'm just being realistic here. I like CF because it can provide a safe haven, which isn't always easy to find on the internet. Eliminating that is like removing the bottom of a bucket filled with water. You can't hope for the water to magically stay in place because gravity inevitably pulls the water down.

 

[Da_Funkey_Gibbon]

I tried the so called thriving "spin off" sites however they are too legalistic and too controlled.

uberchristians is legalistic?