Want to talk about a real issue?

[Stan]

A real issue is the inability to have a normal discussion without leading to sarcasm.

[teresaq]

Satan assailed Him [Christ] in every point, yet He sinned not in thought, word, or deed. He did no violence, neither was guile found in His mouth. Walking in the midst of sin, He was holy, harmless, undefiled. He was wrongfully accused, yet He opened not His mouth to justify Himself. How many now, when accused of that of which they are not guilty, feel that there is a time when forbearance ceases to be a virtue, and losing their temper, speak words which grieve the Holy Spirit (MS 42, 1901)?

i just came across this and while it spoke to me, for me, i thought i would share it anyway.

[Twilight]

A real issue is the inability to have a normal discussion without leading to sarcasm.

Indeed.

And after having a recent experience of that on this board.

Then when objecting, being "warned" about "my own attitude" and being treated as if it is in my "imagination" or because of the "anger in my own heart".

I am seriously considering my membership here.

I want to contribute positively, I am open to directness and welcome frank discusion.

But I really struggle with some of the sly behaviour and attacks on here.

This is supposed to be a Christian community.

May God help us.

Mark

[Twilight]

I would like to address the posters openly and directly but that will obviously cause me to be banned.

Maybe we should have a place here where we can openly air our grievences with others.

That way, people can speak openly.

I would welcome being able to say:

"I find that your responses to me are sarcastic and upsetting." without being threatened with a "holiday" from the board or my grievance being treated as if it was my own fault and then being threatened with:

The "moderators" are carefully watching you and if behaviour does not improve, you will be off this board.

Mark

[Twilight]

Maybe I am being too open?

And the only way to express these feelings is through inuendo and sarcasm?

[John317]

Mark,

May I suggest that you contact one of the Administrators, Gail or Stan (if they haven't already seen this or contacted you about it), and ask if you can set up a "private thread" where certain ones would be able to join you.

Also you can send Private Messages to other members as long as they are open to your messages.

If you want, you could also send me a PM and tell me the kinds of thing you want to say, and tomorrow I'll let you know what I think. :-)

[John317]

It is a Christian community, but as with all Christian communities on earth, that community consists of many kinds of people at all stages of spiritual maturity (or immaturity, as the case may be). We have to take into account all their problems and issues, recognizing that we are all imperfect and make mistakes. I think God allows us to have all these experiences with less than perfect people in order to teach us lessons about how to love and be patient-- as God is with all of us.

This is not to excuse people's misbehavior but only to explain why we find people as they are on the Adventist Forum.

[Twilight]

It is a Christian community, but as with all Christian communities on earth, that community consists of many kinds of people at all stages of spiritual maturity (or immaturity, as the case may be). We have to take into account all their problems and issues, recognizing that we are all imperfect and make mistakes. I think God allows us to have all these experiences with less than perfect people in order to teach us lessons about how to love and be patient-- as God is with all of us.

This is not to excuse people's misbehavior but only to explain why we find people as they are on the Adventist Forum.

But I run my own small forum with non-christians and they behave better than many on here...

[oldsailor29]

thought we were going to read about real issues.

[teresaq]

too many of us consider ourselves "experts" or "authorities", we see our opinion-which it is many times-as "the right one".

i think one of the things we could all do would be to make statements such as:

this is how i see it

i believe it is like this

i read it to say/mean

etc.,

and when coming to an obvious impasse the always available,

we will just have to agree to disagree.

[Woody]

too many of us consider ourselves "experts" or "authorities", we see our opinion-which it is many times-as "the right one".

i think one of the things we could all do would be to make statements such as:

this is how i see it

i believe it is like this

i read it to say/mean

etc.,

and when coming to an obvious impasse the always available,

we will just have to agree to disagree.

Excellent suggestions teresaq. I do like this. I will try to use them. But then we could also give each other a grain or two of salt and assume these to be true even though they might not be stated each time.

[karl]

Originally Posted By: teresaq(sda)

too many of us consider ourselves "experts" or "authorities", we see our opinion-which it is many times-as "the right one".

i think one of the things we could all do would be to make statements such as:

this is how i see it

i believe it is like this

i read it to say/mean

etc.,

and when coming to an obvious impasse the always available,

we will just have to agree to disagree.

Excellent suggestions teresaq. I do like this. I will try to use them. But then we could also give each other a grain or two of salt and assume these to be true even though they might not be stated each time.

Or... we could all post stuff that we DON'T believe. Let's try that for a week.

Is it not a basic assumption that our opinions are our opinions? It's obvious "to me" that people understand this here on Club Adventist

If I post some statistics, Pam or Teresa have been quick to challenge them if they disagree with what I am saying, so I don't think there's any danger of people getting duped.

Unless it's a quote, I just assume it is the opinion of the poster. Is there any other conclusion I should come to? Am I missing some other option?

[Gail]

Opinions are maybe all we can have presently, seeing as how we "know in part".

Truth may be absolute, but I doubt that our understanding of it will be until Jesus Himself opens it up to us in person.

Let us hold fast to what we've got and yet allow ourselves (and others) room for growth.

[Twilight]

Opinions are maybe all we can have presently, seeing as how we "know in part".

Truth may be absolute, but I doubt that our understanding of it will be until Jesus Himself opens it up to us in person.

I agree with this. :-)

[oldsailor29]

The closer we come to God, the more we feel our sinfulness. And the more we learn about God, the more we know there is to be learned. Absolute truth is hidden from finite beings, and always will be.

[Woody]

too many of us consider ourselves "experts" or "authorities", we see our opinion-which it is many times-as "the right one".

i think one of the things we could all do would be to make statements such as:

this is how i see it

i believe it is like this

i read it to say/mean

etc.,

and when coming to an obvious impasse the always available,

we will just have to agree to disagree.

Thanks teresa ... I've added the first one to my sig. I hope that covers me.

[phkrause]

Opinions are maybe all we can have presently, seeing as how we "know in part".

Truth may be absolute, but I doubt that our understanding of it will be until Jesus Himself opens it up to us in person.

Let us hold fast to what we've got and yet allow ourselves (and others) room for growth.

Good post Gail.

pk

[teresaq]

Originally Posted By: teresaq(sda)

too many of us consider ourselves "experts" or "authorities", we see our opinion-which it is many times-as "the right one".

i think one of the things we could all do would be to make statements such as:

this is how i see it

i believe it is like this

i read it to say/mean

etc.,

and when coming to an obvious impasse the always available,

we will just have to agree to disagree.

Thanks teresa ... I've added the first one to my sig. I hope that covers me.

thats one way to do it.

the idea is not unique to me. as i read the pioneers i see them make similar statements and it struck me. they were very "strong" in their arguments and certainly not perfect, but they regularly made these kinds of statements instead of the kinds we make.

[abelisle]

The "real" isue is that there are "real" Adventists who behave like "real" people of the world rather than "real" Christians they supposedly became when they were reborn in the "real" water of baptism.

We just have to keep it "real" and try to be like Christ - not easy at times but it's just like working out; it's hard but we get stronger everyday.

Alex (trying desperately to keep it "real" )

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Alex, I always wanted to ask this question. Why is it that runners/joggers/etc always look so miserable while they're doing something that they supposedly enjoy?

[phkrause]

Alex, I always wanted to ask this question. Why is it that runners/joggers/etc always look so miserable while they're doing something that they supposedly enjoy?

LOL Pam, but I must admit Alex she brings up a good point. And its probably better to start a new thread for this one, or maybe not?

pk

[abelisle]

Alex, I always wanted to ask this question. Why is it that runners/joggers/etc always look so miserable while they're doing something that they supposedly enjoy?

Pam,

Let me tell you a secret. Can you keep it? Lots of runners want to appear that they are more serious than they really are.

Also if we are racing, the effort does get painful at times. But the feeling after a hard race is indescribable!!!

Check out the faces on the speed skaters, and X-C skiers as they compete. Not too many smiles there.

Alex (I'm smiling right now - do you believe me? )

[Woody]

Quote:

Also if we are racing, the effort does get painful at times. But the feeling after a hard race is indescribable!!!

Yeah. I can imagine it's something like poking your finger in your eye. You can finally rejoice when you remove your finger.

[Tom Wetmore]

Alex, I always wanted to ask this question. Why is it that runners/joggers/etc always look so miserable while they're doing something that they supposedly enjoy?

That reminds me of what my father-in-law, a dedicated runner always said the reason he ran - "It feels so good when I stop."

As a cyclist, I find more cyclists smile as they peddle than runners do while running. Of course, as they say, "You can tell a happy biker by the bugs in their teeth."