Your right to swing....

[Suzannah]

stops where someone else's nose begins. I am begging each and every one of you to refrain from debating in the other Congregational forums. It does not accomplish anything but bad feelings on both sides. You are all adults here and of course you have every right, and possibly would be completely right to ignore me and this post. But I am telling you, from a mod point of view, that you are alienating those who would be friendly and offer friendship. Defense of the Faith can be done here, in TAW, when anyone asks. And you can always offer your opinion and your answers outside of TAW....but rising to the bait will only "hook" you as an individual.

 

[brewmama]

Thank you Suzannah the peacemaker!!

 

[MariaRegina]

stops where someone else's nose begins. I am begging each and every one of you to refrain from debating in the other Congregational forums. It does not accomplish anything but bad feelings on both sides. You are all adults here and of course you have every right, and possibly would be completely right to ignore me and this post. But I am telling you, from a mod point of view, that you are alienating those who would be friendly and offer friendship. Defense of the Faith can be done here, in TAW, when anyone asks. And you can always offer your opinion and your answers outside of TAW....but rising to the bait will only "hook" you as an individual.

Suzannah

It's not so simple. Even if I do say that this is my opinion or give an honest answer, I have been slammed so badly and unjustly, that I don't even care to visit certain unnamed congregational forums here. All I can say is Hi, have a good day and "How is the weather in the Big Apple," But this gets cold quickly.

I guess you may have noticed that I am avoiding certain forums for this very reason as it is harmful to my spiritual growth.

This is the problem. They are rash judging us and this continues unabated. Even now there are threads in other congregational forum that are breaking the rules -- subtly -- but nevertheless, they are very uncharitable and inflamming.

So I stay away and encourage others to do the same. We could spend the time here on this earth more profitably in prayer and in good works.

Lovingly in Christ,
Elizabeth

 

[Suzannah]

Sorry Aria, but IT IS that simple. Sorry I offended but it is how I see it. And I always call it like I see it.

 

[Eusebios]

And I'm sorrry Suzannah, But I concur with Aria on this one, Have you looked around at what's being said in certain circles? It is not pretty and is in fact inflaming and in violation of forum rules, and yet it would appear that only EOCs are being censured. I hope that you and Oblio are indeed working on the things mentioned in the Taverna, because there ARE problems.
Most of the time, I simply stay away, but without some ability to respond to some of the utter non-sense being posted, it makes things difficult.
Sorry to disagree, but I call 'em like I see 'em.
Eusebios.

 

[Suzannah]

And you are free to do that. But Christ also called us to humility, not to prideful arguing.

 

[Suzannah]

And if you have complaints about me, then send them directly to I'ddieforHim....I'm on his team.

 

[Eusebios]

And if you have complaints about me, then send them directly to I'ddieforHim....I'm on his team.

Suzannah,
I have no complaints about you whatsoever, you are doing an excellent job as a mod and have 100 % of my support! I just happen to disagree with you somewhat on the content of the O.P. that's
all. Keep up the good work, I do understand.
Peace,
Eusebios.

 

[Gabriel]

If I may.....

Don't shoot the messenger here, folks. Suzannah is trying to keep the peace and enforce the rules. That is all. And let me tell you, it is not easy to tell those with whom you agree that it's time to take a step back. Please realize that she is trying to do her job and make this a better place.

What you don't know is this; When a report is made it sparks discussion among staff. Often the matter is close to resolved when someone from the "home forum" bites back and the war starts in full. If someone flames you or flames your church, whether in your area or their own, report it without flaming back and let staff handle it. I know it's not so easy sometimes. But it is the only productive way to get things done. I have never put a fire out by adding fuel to it.

Big hugs for Suzannah. She's on your side, folks. Love her like she is a daughter of The King, because she is.

 

[jameseb]

I debate enough in the Latest News forum, so I think I'll pass on debating in the Congregation forums. I was a bit discouraged over what happened today... the real shame was that it was a misunderstanding. I'll just be hanging out here with my brothers and sisters in TAW. I come here to recharge my batteries after long debates on other forums, and to enjoy the peaceful fellowsihp here... definitely would hate seeing things that happen in other forums happen here too.

God bless you all,

Eric

 

[Plan 9]

If this mere United Methodist may stick her nose in for a moment, I don't know what happened to you today, but I think that this is a problem in nearly all the Congregational Fora. It's so bad that sometimes when I see this happening in a thread and bring the subject as humbly as is possible for me to the home Congregational Forum because I find the question of interest and simply want to know the answer without bickering, others not of that forum show up to "debate" where they aren't to do it, and what I hoped would be my harmless little thread is closed as a result.
I've been guilty of posts I regret myself, all over the board, and have been trying to turn over a new leaf, probably with no noticable progress to to other members here, though.
I see both Suzannah's and Aria's points of view, and both have been there for me when I especially needed a friend, although neither may be aware of it.
In addition, everyone here has been most kind to me when I've been able to visit.
I want to thank all of you, and I'd very much like it if you would keep in mind that there are many of us who feel the deepest respect for you; we are just shouted down, so to speak, by more discourteous members.

Pax,
~Planny

 

[MariaRegina]

Thanks Jennifer.

 

[Matrona]

Suzannah and Aria each have a point. It seems reasonably obvious to me that there are others in the Congregation who despise the Orthodox for our being who we are. I am as tired as any of you of seeing our precious Church derided in other fora, but when they get a taste of their own medicine, they cry foul, and we're the ones who get in trouble. This is patently unfair if you ask me.

But does it please Lord Jesus for us to start flame wars?

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

Let us pray to the Lord, for those who love us, and for those who hate us. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

 

[Plan 9]

Thanks Jennifer.

You're more than welcome, Elizabeth, and I have no doubt that I speak for many, many members here.

Look here! I dun brung ya mah best frog:

 

[brewmama]

I assume that "the thread" everyone is talking about is the one on unification in OBOB. Having gone back and read it all, including the comments removed (which I may add were mostly from Catholics, NOT Orthodox!) I am amazed at the venom and hostility shown here. I really didn't find the comments so objectionable. Compare it to the unification thread here, which in truth violates Rule 2 in a BIG way.
[notroll]

[size=+2]or posts that put down another Christian group or denomination.[/size]

Really, everyone take a deep breath and go to GA or Politics and find some folks who you can REALLY disagree with if you want to be offended or argue!

 

[Plan 9]

Brewmama and I have been on the "opposite" side of an open debate, but she was always most respectful to me, and I pray I was as respectful to her in return.
When I tried my hand at making a history thread and was very nervous, she PMed me out of the blue to encourage me.
Really, I have quite the list of TAW members who have been good to me at just the right time without being aware of how much I needed that.
Jameseb and I had a misunderstanding, which he was so kind about that I was actually pleased that we'd had it, and Matrona made the funniest joke I think I've ever read here, and I think I embarrassed her by openingly praising her for.

May I just suggest that family quarrels are the most potentially hurtful, and that any unification thread is bound to be full of pitfalls for the unwary, because they care, not because they don't?

Now..I'll get my pointy nose out of here and back to wherever it is it belongs, if I only can figure that out. .

 

[prodromos]

In addition, everyone here has been most kind to me when I've been able to visit.

Alas, I believe that has more to do with the grace and courtesy shown by your visits than any virtue of ours. When others come in swinging, we often seem to forget that our Lord told us to turn the other cheek.

John.

 

[Plan 9]

Alas, I believe that has more to do with the grace and courtesy shown by your visits than any virtue of ours. When others come in swinging, we often seem to forget that our Lord told us to turn the other cheek.

John.

Thank you, John, but I've noticed that my questions sometimes come across as adversarial when that isn't my intention. I've been thinking over why, and I feel it may be do to all the philosophy classes I took in college.
If I'm done better here than on other of the board fora, then I can't tell you how pleased I am. Thank you again.
Nevertheless, we all sometimes jump to warp when someone's taking a swing at us, and I've gone back to posts I made a mere ten minutes before to unmake them, only to find I was too late...and that's only when I realized I'd gone over the line.
We all forget both Jesus's words and his example at times, even though we shouldn't, and I myself need little or no provocation to do so, especially if something else unconnected is also bothering me, and I'm not in touch with that.

 

[jameseb]

Jameseb and I had a misunderstanding, which he was so kind about that I was actually pleased that we'd had it, and Matrona made the funniest joke I think I've ever read here, and I think I embarrassed her by openingly praising her for.

Awww...shucks. Now you gonna go and embarrass me....


Thank you.. and I'm glad we had a misunderstanding too as it did actually bring us together in closer spirit.

 

[countrymousenc]

What Gabriel said. (Wise words.)

Just my opinion: The Evil One loves to see us get mad and bite back.

This is a really big discussion board, with thousands of people reading the posts. Why give atheists, agnostics and pagans any reason to say, "There, you see? It doesn't work." To them, Christian is Christian - they don't care about all the various labels (Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, etc.).

We believe that our church is The Church. Frankly, I still believe that The Church ought to be detectably different from, yes, better than, the others. Do we love more than they do? Maybe it's time I thought that over again. If Orthodoxy doesn't produce love, then it is worth nothing. "Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels..."