Hi to my Forum Friends,
Last week, Vic began a discussion titled "Atheists, Freethinkers Blasphemy Rights Day" and in his initial post, Vic copied from the article he was bringing to our attention, "Friday is International Blasphemy Rights Day, a day for atheists, freethinkers, and others to celebrate the right to criticize, satirize, and reject religious superstition. International Blasphemy Rights Day takes place every September 30th. The purpose of this event is to support free speech and to oppose any resolutions or laws that discourage or inhibit free speech of any kind."
And, I jokingly responded to Vic, "Thanks for the info. But, are you sure you have not confused the dates? I would have sworn the day is APRIL 1ST."
And, of course this drew stones of dissent from some of my atheist Friends.
Later, Chick jumped into the fracas, telling me, "Bill, if we all posted (all) the word-twisting and posts where you have insinuated things about people on here, the forum would crash. Now, you can bash me along with Jenn and accuse me of starting a spitting contest. I have called you several times on the fact that you have twisted my words or insinuated things I didn't say. I've seen you do the same things to others. When someone mentions it, you refuse to answer and run off to start another topic. You are a Christian pretending coward that won't stand up to your many lies."
It is always easy to accuse another of a wrong -- WHEN you conveniently never produce proof. Chick, I could say that you are an 8 foot tall, 600 pound, green monster. But, if I cannot produce proof of that -- I am only spitting into the wind -- and would be presenting false testimony. So, I do not write such a thing. Huffing and puffing and making loud accusations -- is just that -- loud noise; nothing more.
Then, you tell me, "We can give all your Forum Friends a rest and move on to more productive discussions??? Gosh, thank you, Bill, for giving us your permission. Exactly who is it that calls it a spitting contest when we're having a discussion that doesn't fit your criteria?"
Kind of bitter, aren't you? Why do I sometimes call a discussion a "spitting contest" and move on? Well, when a discussion is begun, especially one with a Christian theme -- immediately the atheists and their bedfellows will start chatting about wine, motor cycles, and a hundred other mundane subjects -- to distract readers from the main Christian theme. When that happens, I move on.
Other times, people will get into nasty arguments, throwing demeaning comments at one another. Since I have no interest in personal feuds -- when that happens, I will move on.
As I have often said, my main purpose of being on the Religion Forum is to share the truth from God's Word -- not to throw spit balls at someone. So, when the spit balls start flying, I leave and begin another Christian discussion -- realizing that within ten posts or less it, too, will be hijacked.
Next, you declare, "You have fooled some people on here, but you for sure don't fool me, and you will not fool God when you stand before him!"
First, no one can fool God; no sense trying. But, Chick, you have stated a major truth -- we will ALL stand before God in judgment; the believer at the Believers' Judgment, a judgment of rewards or lack of rewards in heaven. The non-believers will stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment, definitely a judgment of punishment -- for, by the time a person is standing before Christ at this judgment -- the person has died.
A person, until he/she breathes that last breath -- can ask Jesus Christ to be his/her personal Lord and Savior. Once that last breath has passed -- there is no second chance. And, this is why the Great White Throne Judgment is a judgment of punishment; for the person has allowed that last opportunity for eternal life with Christ -- to slip away.
But, regarding fooling each other, Abraham Lincoln said it well, "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."
Chick, there were times when I was fooled by you; for there were times, in years past, when I thought you and I could find some common ground. But, in the last year, I have seen more and more bitterness creeping into all your responses to me.
Honestly, I have wondered about that -- but, the only answer I can find is that possibly my consistent stance on Christian issues makes you very uncomfortable. Chick, I would love to be your Friend. But, I will not compromise my Christian faith, nor my Christian beliefs, to be Friends with you or anyone.
That train of thought brings to mind a situation which happened to me in the mid-1960s. I worked for a computer company in Palo Alto and was dating a girl in our office. She told me that the following weekend she was going to Los Angeles with a girl friend for the wedding of a mutual friend. I had no reason to doubt her and saw no problem. Totally unexpected and by accident, I discovered that she was really going to Fresno to see an old boy friend.
When I called her into my office and quietly asked her if she was really going to Fresno to see Vance -- she exploded. How dare I accuse her! How dare I question her! How dare I not believe her! So, I told her, "Okay, if I am wrong, I apologize. Not a problem.''
That evening, at her apartment, we were talking and she sheepishly told me that I had been right -- that she really had planned to go to Fresno. I did not get angry. I merely told her, "I will leave that up to you. But, if you go, when you return from Fresno; I do not want to date you again." Not angry, not mad, just -- that's the way it is: Vance -- or me. You decide.
And, that is the way it is with God. He gives everyone the "free will" to choose. And, then He quietly tells us, "YOU choose if you want to spend eternity with Me in heaven -- or if you want to spend eternity in hell. It is YOUR choice. YOU decide!"
So, Chick, does my telling you that the Bible teaches that we must all make that decision, heaven or hell -- make you feel that I am attacking you or being nasty to you? If so, you must realize that it is not ME telling you that -- it is God, in His Written Word, the Bible. He gives you "free will" -- and then puts the burden on your shoulders to choose: heaven or hell.
You tell me, "If I felt like it, and didn't have more important things coming against me right now than you -- I would find some of those post to show you."
Okay, whenever you are ready.
Then, you accuse me, "You act like you despise Jenn, and come against her every chance you get. That is so Christian of you!! She has more decency, love, and compassion in her little finger than you have in your whole body."
Once again, if you consider my telling Jennifer the truth from God's Word -- to be attacking her; then, I suppose you are right. For when Jennifer demeans God, Christians, Jesus Christ, the Bible, and anything and everything which relates to Christianity -- I will show her where she is wrong. You call that attacking Jennifer because she is an atheist. I call that shining the Light of God's Word into the darkness of atheism.
You tell me, "You make me sick!! Now run to the mods and keep trying to have me banned. Yes, I know all about that, and you're a liar if you say you haven't! Ok, you can run start another topic now, AFTER you report me to the mods AGAIN!!"
First of all, I personally do not want to see you banned. I want you to stay on the Religion Forum. Why? Because I sincerely pray that something someone will write in a message on the Religion Forum will plant a seed of belief in your heart -- that the Holy Spirit will harvest into salvation for you. With all my heart, I want to meet you in heaven.
Second, no one can be banned from expressing personal dislike for another -- in terms of stomach cramps or diarrhea. There have been members banned for using the "F" word and such on the Forum. Rightfully so. This public forum is no place for such crude and lewd street language.
Third, I have reported several members, males to the best of my knowledge and memory, for using such crude language -- or for making personal attacks against an ethnic group, etc.
However, I do not recall ever seeing you do any of this. I have seen you get angry; I have seen you using nasty, cutting remarks; I have seen you make false accusations. But, I have not seen you use crude or lewd street language, nor have I seen you attack anyone's family or any ethnic group. Personally, I think you have too much class to do that.
Finally, you tell me, "Yes, I know all about that, and you're a liar if you say you haven't!"
Chick, there is no way that you, I, or anyone else can know who has complained to the Mods -- unless we admit it on the forum. So, when you tell me that you KNOW that I have reported you to the Mods -- that cannot be true. First, it is not true that I have ever reported you to the Mods. And, second, it cannot be true that you could even know this IF I had reported you. That, my Friend, is a false accusation.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
