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Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

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Samson:

--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on July 15, 2010, 10:58:11 PM ---About 25 years ago, I attended a CPA tax conference in Washington D.C.  A group of us stayed at a swanky hotel near the White House.  One night after a great meal and liberal consumption of alcohol, about ten of us decided to do a nighttime tour of Washington.  After much hooting and hollering, we came to the Vietnam War Memorial.  As we began to walk through, everybody became quiet.  Not a word was spoken.  We were all about the same ages of the tens of thousands of dead men whose names were written on the monument walls.  It really sobered us up.

I feel the same way when I go back and read old posts on the Forum.  I have gone all the way back as far as I can on the various posts and read forward.  I am shocked, saddened, chagrined when I see all the names that have gone "black" and are no longer active members.  Most think the Forum is the greatest thing ever, filled with the truths of God.  That Ray is a profound teacher sent by God.  They quote scriptures after scriptures.  Discuss the Hebrew and Greek meanings of the words.  Many make very profound statements about the truths we have learned here.  Some were moderators or leaders on the Forum.  But now it seems, the many are no longer around.  There are a few names that have stayed the course these many years.

Anyway, if anyone is in need of being sobered up, go back and read the old posts and see if you have the same reaction as me.

--- End quote ---

Hi John,

           I noticed this Thread approximately a week ago and considered it interesting, but it was a bad time for me to respond. John Popovich and I often go back checking the History of Old Threads and Forum Members from years gone by and also wonder Why certain ones leave. Apparently, the reasons mentioned on this thread from various posts basically covers it. I guess the bottom line is that it could happen to any one of us. I made a few friends with former Forum Members, but only one I still have contact with through telephone conversation. This particular Person still believes Ray's teachings, but left for reasons I won't publicly disclose, I guess that's there prerogative. Many times after reading a new members first few Posts from years ago and noticing they soon leave, it reminds me of the seed that falls and is unable to take root because of the Rocky Soil, they became scorched and withered away. (Matt. 13:5,6, 20, 21)

          Anyway, it seems that many fall in that category, joining the Forum, having great Joy from hearing these Truths, then they quickly disappear. Well, for whatever it's worth, that's my observation. Thanks for starting this Thread, because some of Us often wonder about these individuals, too.

                         Kind Regards, Samson.

arion:
We have a gem here the likes of which is found almost nowhere else on the internet that I am aware of.  There are hundreds of thousands of forums on the internet and thousands of Christian forums but only a handful that I'm aware of that teach the 'full' gospel.  (Of course back in my pentacostal days the 'full' gospel meant something different to me than it does now but I digress.) And of that handful this is the one that is the most consistent and has the most activity on it.  I lurked here for a few years before joining and there are so many that peruse the website, download/listen to the audios and read the forum that we may never know how much seed that truly goes forth.  Once God got my attention on these truths it was relatively easy for me to discard the false teachings that I both believed and lived for many years.  But I know that this too is of God.  I've been out of the established church for years even before coming to the website and being single I don't have the family dynamics to contend with as those who have spouses, parents and children who don't receive the truths that we have been shown. 

I was walking my dog early this morning and reflecting on the truths, hope and freedom we have in Christ.  I no longer worry about the millions who fail to hear of their own 'free will' and who are going to go to the christian 'hell' because they failed to make a 'free will' choice for Christ.  I no longer worry about making the grade myself neither am I burdened with the false idea that men choose where they are going to spend eternity.  I know that hard times are ahead for this world and especially this nation we live in but am comforted with the knowledge that God has all under control and that in the ages to come God will be All in All.  For really the first time in my life I'm living the words of Christ where he said; 'Come to me all ye who labor and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest.'  As I reflect on all these things I'm beginning to realize just how blessed I/we really are.  Thanks be to God!!

Craig:
People come and go but we must remember wherever they are now, they are where God wants them to be.  Some move on to weightier matters of scripture, some tire of the grind the forum can be if we don't get a break once in awhile.  Less than 10 per every 100 who join will stick around for over 2 years.  I wondered why some leave, but all is of God and I don't spend much time pondering it.  When they go, most I look at as old friends who I will meet up with again someday.  The business of the world makes it hard to follow or spend much time on the forum and if we try too hard we can become overwhelmed.

Most all of us here are non-conformists in some way, and many, though the truths of God excite them, cannot conform to the forum and it's rules.  I wish the forum could have no rules and everyone on the internet could join and all would be great, but that is not the case.  If anyone has ever been on any other forums or chats on the internet (not just religious related) they will see how bad things get.  That is not to say we are perfect, but we try to be focused and centered around the teaching that brings us here, most cannot conform to this for the long haul.  I don't believe for a minute that God want's us to be mind numbed robots and He honors our individualism, but do you all not think we are being created in and being conformed to His image?  The beast is strong in all of us and for the majority of us here who do not conform to the world around us, we don't want to conform to a few rules here either.

We are all brothers and sisters here, but like in our own families some rub us the wrong way and we become irritated.  When that happens you don't have to lash out, get mad, etc. You can ignore some posts.  And remember the person who rubs you wrong is God's child the same as you, and He don't make no lemons.

So before you delete your account or go quietly away, consider if the rules you agree to when joining are that much too restrictive, or if it may be something inside you?   We as moderators or members do not force any beliefs or actions on your part, we only ask that while you are in this house to abide by the rules you agree on when we let you in.  If you ever have a question about anything, pm one of use for clarification.

Craig

mharrell08:

--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on July 28, 2010, 04:44:33 PM ---Where do you go to learn weightier matters of scripture?

On the Forum we have learned that all has come out of God and that God will be all in all.  That God will bring salvation to everyone in the heavens and on the earth; He will save all mankind, all angels, even Satan.  That we do not have freewill.  That God is totally sovereign and controls everything, both good and evil.  That God created evil.  That each human is the Beast; that the Beast is within all of us and it must die.  Ray presented the idea (I believe it was at the last meeting of the 2007 Nashville conference) that God birthed Wisdom, with the implication that God learned.  That He may have gone through suffering in the past.  That He had to develop the character trait of long-suffering.

Wow, those teachings seem to be very profound and weighty to me.  They seem to be more than milk.  More like strong whiskey.  So where do you go to get stronger drink than that?
--- End quote ---


I cannot speak for every teaching that is out there. But everything other members or what not have tried to show me in times past, has been fool's gold. One can find many teachings out in the world and 'judge them by their fruits' [Matt 7:15-16] for themselves.

From studying the scriptures, everything you list above are 'weighter matters'. But, just like the children of Israel, people gain 'itching ears' and want to hear something new:

* Some want to know what every single symbol means in the book of Daniel & Revelation, when in actuality, the book of Revelation is the Unveiling of Christ in YOU. The book of Daniel further supports this. This mindset is one of being more concerned with a shadow instead of the reality.

* Some want to know about divisions within the synoptic gospels. As if the book of Matthew is for one body of people, book of Mark for another, etc. As Paul said, Is Christ divided? [1 Cor 1:13]

* Some want to know about division within the apostles' teachings, as if what they taught was different. Paul, Peter, John, etc. were different people but of all one body, one bread. Paul directly addresses this nonsense in 1 Cor Chapter 3, but that doesn't stop the conspiracy theorists.

* Some have gone full circle back to embracing Babylon and all it's wickedness. Their reasoning is simple: All is of God so the false teachers are doing what God 'wants' them to do.

Their reasoning is foolish: Ezek 33:7-8  “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.

* Some want to know every last detail of Christ coming to reign on the earth and judge humanity AND God being all in all. How on earth are God's thoughts so much higher than our thoughts [Isa 55:9], but yet we think we can deduce everything He is going to do. There is a point where our brains cannot spiritually go there...acceptance of this is the beginning of humility. (And I have eaten my share of humble pie on this subject  :D).

* And some teachings out there, though they believe in the salvation of all, are completely out in left field:  Aliens, World Politics being the fulfillment of spiritual prophecies, God being a literal gray-haired man, different races of people being the literal children of Satan, etc. Again you can find all these things out in the world and judge them for oneself.

As Paul taught, we should be content in whatever state God has us in [Phil 4:11]. I wouldn't worry about where all the 'flowers' have gone, because more often than not, those same flowers have become thorns & thistles.

Hold on to the truth and DO NOT let it go,

Marques

walt123:
I think Craig said it well.

I also think some may have not left at all,for what ever reason just do not post,but still come
to the forum to read whats posted from others.

I do not think its a mandate to be a posting member on this site in order to be consider in good standing with
posting members,God is in charged and knows who are his at this time,and will finish his work in us.

Walt

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