Thanks for the memories, but it's time for Christians to unite not fight

Many vivid word pictures painted.

941 posted on 04/30/2015 6:10:49 AM PDT by Resettozero

To: Elsie; GarySpFc

I LOVE that woman!

Sad that she had to do the job of a man and father. That is the problem. Black mothers have had to be the mother, father and mentor for their sons, work, keep house and keep order in the family. At least it was like that in the 70s and 80s when I went to a fully integrated school in a city. I went to school with boy peers and friends in such family structures. No dad there to reinforce house rules and be the hammer and male roll model. They rely on any man who is willing to mentor at a PAL club, church, mentor program basically strangers. No dad to toss the ball around on weekends or after school to ask 'how are things going.' No dad to spend a father-son day at the ballpark. No dad to show up for career day. A sad testament which now permeates all racial and social structures in the USA.

942 posted on 04/30/2015 6:14:18 AM PDT by redleghunter (1 Peter 1:3-5)

To: mlizzy; daniel1212

There’s problems on both ends. That’s why a [devout, patient] Catholic moderator helping out would be very beneficial. Would you keep [happily] attending your son’s soccer games if both referees were opposing team fathers [and you didn’t always agree with their calls]?

The easiest way to avoid a problem with the RMs is to watch what you say. I had a post or two pulled way back when, and I tried to understand why, and modified my style to make sure it didn't happen again.

But as long as you're using the example of referees, I can also tell you I've watched NFL football games where one team was just way better at avoiding penalties. They actually practiced to avoid penalties, so they did. That should not go down as bias on the part of the referee. Blaming the ref exposes an assumption that both sides are equally disregarding of the rules, and objectively speaking that might not be true. One side might really be more disciplined.

Which is why when I see one of these personal fights developing, I try to steer clear of it. No one comes out of those with anything useful. I'd love it if someday we could self-moderate. I never use the abuse button when I experience a personal attack. I go into this assuming that attacks will happen, and I've already worked out, at least in theory, what I will do when it does. First, I make a judgment call. Is this an attack that does so much injury to the Gospel that I should respond? Or is it just an expression of frustration on their part that would be so obvious to the average reader that I really don't need to respond. In effect they've conceded my point because they stopped using real ammo and are resorting to spitwads. At that point, I am better of if I just walk away.

Second, if the attack is in violation of the rules, and it is against someone else, then I have an obligation to try and help that person defend themselves from unjust attack. It's been a while, so I'd have trouble remembering specific instances, but you mention respect for women, and in general I recall my "defense of others" responses to be in defense of the Evangelical women. I don't know if that's just a guy thing, or if they just get more of that than some of the others, but that's how I remember it.

The point is, if you're really trying to keep score on who does the most bad stuff to who (bad as defined by the RF rules, not your own subjective standard), I think that score keeping is going to be tainted by the specific experiences you have been through, and will not take into account all the experiences of all the other posters taken as a whole. That would be nigh unto impossible to do, which is why trying to keep that kind of score is a fool's errand.

And even if it could be done, it would be wrong to do because it doesn't comply with 1 Cor 13, the love chapter, which tells us that love doesn't even keep track of wrongs:

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
(1 Corinthians 13:5)

The phrase "thinketh no evil" is a poor translation. Turns out the terms used actually describe something like keeping a ledger of bad things. If we've got a ledger of wrongs done against us, we're living in violation of the second greatest commandment, that we love one another. So as members of the Religion Forum, which is predominantly Christian, one of the first and most important things we could do to self-moderate would be to simply love one another according to these and all the other principles of divine love, beginning with, "Thou shalt not keep score."

But that's hard, isn't it. I know. I've felt the sting of somebody having the nerve to spew nonsense back at what I thought was a good post. But somewhere I read, and it has always stuck with me, that that sting I'm feeling when that happens is just my old sinful pride. I am a fallible, sinful man. Jesus is perfect, and His "posts" were met with much harsher rejection than anything I've ever said. I have no basis for pride. When I feel that sting, I have to set it aside and try to keep on loving. It's sometimes very hard.

BTW, this is one reason why I don't use the abuse button in self defense. It serves as a check on my pride, which always lurks under the surface, ready to intrude on what otherwise might be good. Another check is time. Sometimes I've been stung and rushed to put together a sternly worded reply and then sat back and said to myself, nope, that's just you spewing your sewage. Nobody but God ever needs to hear you say something that useless. I'd rather even He not have to hear it. So sometimes the best thing to do is just get quiet and give it some time, think, set it before God, and come back at it later when I've got some perspective.

Anyway, I think we can do better. The rules reject personal attacks, but that should only be thought of as a starting point. Maybe instead of having FReepers opus out with a list of grievances, we could agree on a new set of rules that we enforce, gently, among our selves. Not sure exactly how that would work, but perhaps we could start with a thread that explores 1 Corinthians 13. Just a thought.

Peace,

SR

943 posted on 04/30/2015 6:14:53 AM PDT by Springfield Reformer (Winston Churchill: No Peace Till Victory!)

I’m on way to rosary, Mass, dog walking, and then adoration. I can’t keep responding to these posts. I’ve made myself clear.

I now know from your posts that you are a bitter roman catholic female who has a dog. That's all you've made clear.

944 posted on 04/30/2015 6:19:42 AM PDT by Resettozero

To: Springfield Reformer

So sometimes the best thing to do is just get quiet and give it some time, think, set it before God, and come back at it later when I've got some perspective.

You're taking all the fun out of getting to post in the carnal Smoky Backroom.

But...you speak the truth.

945 posted on 04/30/2015 6:32:37 AM PDT by Resettozero

I think Mary, the mother of Jesus was just another sinner, saved exactly the same way the rest of us are.
Hateful HERETIC!!!

Heat the oil 3 times hotter!

I suppose it is possible, that by asserting that Mary was a sinner, saved by grace, kind of goes against the grain with some, but such is life. Do you think that really qualifies me as a hateful heretic? 😃😀😄🇵🇭😂😱 Being called a hateful heretic is mild compared to some of the things I have been called. 🙉🙊🙈😟😏😙 I just take it is stride, and keep preaching. 😎👌😅😇

946 posted on 04/30/2015 6:56:35 AM PDT by Mark17 (The love of God, how rich and pure, how measureless and strong. It shall forever more endure.)

I know posts from you and others will be respectful, kind, and caring. Of course, it may be my age! Unfortunately, I can not say the same about most Catholic posters. They are arrogant, unkind, and, for them, it is their way or no way. Thanks.

947 posted on 04/30/2015 7:36:57 AM PDT by MamaB

I LOVE that woman!

There IS hope for the Black Community!

(I'd MUCH rather it had been his DAD that clobbered him; but I'll take what we can!)

I agree; having the father yank him on out of there would have been awesome, and I'd like to think he was absent because he was working one of his three jobs to keep his wife and kids cared for, but regardless, I also liked the story because it stood for life, not abortion.

She's one strong mama (and she raised a respectful [at least to her] kid); God love her!

948 posted on 04/30/2015 8:03:49 AM PDT by mlizzy ("Tell your troubles to Jesus," my wisecracking father used to say, and now I do.......at adoration.)

To: Resettozero; boatbums; Brian Kopp DPM; onyx; Grateful2God

I now know from your posts that you are a bitter roman catholic female who has a dog.

We actually have two dogs, two cats, and a turtle. So you can put that away in your memory bank if you like.

I don't wish to respond to the rest of your post. This is not about ME, this is about the health of the RELIGION FORUM.

I started counting (on paper) the people who were similarly discourage.......but I ran out of ink.

One is even a veteran, who is an atheist! And the OP of this post is NOT Roman Catholic. Please read and you will hear.

In the meantime, maybe I can get boatbums to run my PR. :)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/3263766/posts?page=728#728

949 posted on 04/30/2015 8:15:24 AM PDT by mlizzy ("Tell your troubles to Jesus," my wisecracking father used to say, and now I do.......at adoration.)

To: Springfield Reformer; Brian Kopp DPM; onyx; Grateful2God

Which is why when I see one of these personal fights developing, I try to steer clear of it. No one comes out of those with anything useful. I'd love it if someday we could self-moderate. I never use the abuse button when I experience a personal attack. I go into this assuming that attacks will happen, and I've already worked out, at least in theory, what I will do when it does. First, I make a judgment call. Is this an attack that does so much injury to the Gospel that I should respond? Or is it just an expression of frustration on their part that would be so obvious to the average reader that I really don't need to respond. In effect they've conceded my point because they stopped using real ammo and are resorting to spitwads. At that point, I am better of if I just walk away.

This be true, but so many have left Free Republic because they don't want to "walk away." They like discoursing about faith, and quite possibly, have nothing else to do with their day (i.e. no job, no family that needs caring for, they are disabled, their spouse has passed on, they are retired and maybe lonely, not well, etc. and so on).

As far as self-moderating, that was Brian Kopp's idea, too, earlier in the thread; place everyone in a division of the Smoky Back Room [there's no moderation here] for religion discussions.

And if you take notice, there is some civil [touching] discourse between Roman Catholics and NCCs currently going on, only a few commentaries up in the thread. Does a heart good to read them, imo.

950 posted on 04/30/2015 8:40:29 AM PDT by mlizzy ("Tell your troubles to Jesus," my wisecracking father used to say, and now I do.......at adoration.)

Jesus was walking along one day, when He came upon a group of people surrounding a lady of ill repute. It was obvious that the crowd was preparing to stone her, so Jesus made His now-famous statement, "Let the person who has no sin cast the first stone."

The crowd was shamed and one by one began to turn away. All of a sudden, a lovely little woman made her way through the crowd. Finally getting to the front, she tossed a pebble towards the woman.

Jesus looks over and says, "I really hate it when you do that, Mom."

Our Lady might even smile at that one Elsie. Thanks!

951 posted on 04/30/2015 8:47:45 AM PDT by mlizzy ("Tell your troubles to Jesus," my wisecracking father used to say, and now I do.......at adoration.)

...but so many have left Free Republic because they don't want to "walk away." They like discoursing about faith, and quite possibly, have nothing else to do with their day (i.e. no job, no family that needs caring for, they are disabled, their spouse has passed on, they are retired and maybe lonely, not well, etc. and so on)

Surely God has some other purpose for these RC souls who have departed FR and taken their donations to FR with them. You are implying that posting to other like-minded Catholics was the only reason they were FReepers at all. You cannot know this was always the case with every one of the FR-departed souls.

You seem to have confused Internet forum discourse with getting your own way always.

952 posted on 04/30/2015 8:50:56 AM PDT by Resettozero

Our Lady might even smile at that one Elsie. Thanks!

If...she could hear it.

Mary will be greatly distressed when she rises from the dead at the Resurrection and discovers that prideful men had built a world-wide religion incorporating a pagan goddess bearing Mary’s name and were continuously claiming to drink her son’s literal blood and eat his literal body, although Jesus' blood had been shed previously and His body resurrected and ascended to the right hand of God the Father.

953 posted on 04/30/2015 8:54:33 AM PDT by Resettozero

You are implying that posting to other like-minded Catholics was the only reason they were FReepers at all.

Many who have left [please read the thread] were of different faiths; not RCs. Maybe you should know that I was a Missouri Synod Lutheran for 33 years, and my best friend [in the area] is still my Sunday School teacher. She was the only one who was around to teach me about Jesus. My closest Catholic friend lives in Malta; God love them both.

954 posted on 04/30/2015 8:59:55 AM PDT by mlizzy ("Tell your troubles to Jesus," my wisecracking father used to say, and now I do.......at adoration.)

Many who have left [please read the thread] were of different faiths; not RCs. Maybe you should know that I was a Missouri Synod Lutheran for 33 years.

So, many Protestants have stopped helping fund FR in addition to RCs and atheists. Is this your point in persisting with your complaints here?

955 posted on 04/30/2015 9:10:11 AM PDT by Resettozero

To: Resettozero; WVKayaker; Elsie; onyx; Grateful2God

If...she could hear it.

Mary hears me; and she'd listen to you too.

Here she is in a photograph this winter (from Illinois) with the snow wrapped around her like God. This is the same statue [however, a different image of it] that garnered tens of thousands of hits from the good people of the Philippines.

The commentary left on the post was simple, humble, and of a great faith.

If one would ask them as a group where their strength comes from, they'd say from He who has His arms wrapped around Mary. And if you asked them if they loved Mary, they would say something like, yes, indeed, we love Mama Mary.

956 posted on 04/30/2015 9:31:54 AM PDT by mlizzy ("Tell your troubles to Jesus," my wisecracking father used to say, and now I do.......at adoration.)

Mary hears me; and she'd listen to you too.

This is because you place your faith in the one you call "Mother of God".

Mary the mother of Jesus of Nazareth is still dead. He's risen from the dead. No evidence other than your personal faith that she has.

957 posted on 04/30/2015 9:35:35 AM PDT by Resettozero

No evidence other than your personal faith that she has.

It helps to look at the peoples who show Mary the highest regard. The faithful Philippine peoples, the faithful Mexicans [Our Lady of Guadalupe!!], many in Malta, etc. and so on. The strong faithful in the United States are about too; but they are rarely seen [as a group] unless one takes part in the Sacraments frequently (daily is good:)). Through them [and God] you will eventually find your evidence.

958 posted on 04/30/2015 10:01:52 AM PDT by mlizzy ("Tell your troubles to Jesus," my wisecracking father used to say, and now I do.......at adoration.)

959 posted on 04/30/2015 10:01:52 AM PDT by mlizzy ("Tell your troubles to Jesus," my wisecracking father used to say, and now I do.......at adoration.)

It helps to look at the peoples who show Mary the highest regard.

As you know from closely following the FR RF, the number of people ensnared in an error-filled cult does not prove ANY organization's teachings to be the truth. But it obviously feels good to you and others, even though it is just another a man-constructed false religion that you love and prefer.

960 posted on 04/30/2015 10:08:10 AM PDT by Resettozero

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