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Author Topic: Simaril  (Read 225 times)

Offline Seagoon

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Simaril
« on: July 26, 2005, 04:27:35 PM »
Simaril,

Just wanted to let you know, my email - and home page - are currently both down. My, wife and I are trying to work out if we can afford the trip and when we might have a window of opportunity. Thanks for making the offer. Margaret and Victor both thought the best part was the mention of 2 dogs!

- SEAGOON
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SEAGOON aka Pastor Andy Webb
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams

Offline GtoRA2

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Simaril
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2005, 04:55:45 PM »
Seagoon
 I emailed you a week or so ago.  Did you get it?
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Offline Seagoon

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Simaril
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2005, 11:28:51 PM »
Hey GTO,

No I didn't, well not until I searched for it that is. Please forgive me, I use Pixbyte to filter my email and occasionally it can be overly aggressive in deciding what is SPAM and what isn't, but because my address is in the clear online I don't really have much choice.

Anyway, thanks for sending that message, I sincerely appreciate it. There have been a couple of times when I have seriously debated leaving the forums, but each of those times I have "coincidentally" received an encouraging message out of the blue, and have ended up saying, "Well apparently this is where I'm supposed to be after all." Kind of like life in Fayetteville in a way.

It was 103 today with a "heat index" (whatever that is) of 110, tried to cut the lawn, almost melted. One of those times your skin tingles immediately to let you know: "HELP! I'm burning you Anglo Idiot. RUN INSIDE NOW!" So in one sense, I'm just not built for this place, but everytime I start seriously thinking about mountains and northern climes, something happens to remind me this is where I'm supposed to be.

Thanks for the message.

- SEAGOON
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SEAGOON aka Pastor Andy Webb
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams

Offline Simaril

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Simaril
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2005, 05:55:49 AM »
Looking forward to hearing from you, Seagoon.

BTW, while you're planning --we'll be away Aug 6-14.
« Last Edit: July 27, 2005, 06:16:43 AM by Simaril »
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Maturity is knowing that I've been an idiot in the past.
Wisdom is realizing I will be an idiot in the future.
Common sense is trying to not be an idiot right now

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Offline GtoRA2

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Simaril
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2005, 08:24:54 PM »
figured the spam checker or something got it... hehe happends to me all the time.
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Offline Lizking

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Simaril
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2005, 08:38:43 PM »
I certainly hope I haven't been one that caused you to consider leaving.  I have nothing but respect for you, such respect that I feel I can ask you hard questions, and you will discuss them on their merits, or lack there-of.  If any of my posts were out of line, I apologize outright.

I do not think this is the case, but text can be misleading so I want you to be sure.
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Offline Seagoon

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Simaril
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2005, 11:28:58 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Lizking
I certainly hope I haven't been one that caused you to consider leaving.  I have nothing but respect for you, such respect that I feel I can ask you hard questions, and you will discuss them on their merits, or lack there-of.  If any of my posts were out of line, I apologize outright.

I do not think this is the case, but text can be misleading so I want you to be sure.


Hi Lizking,

Thanks for the reply. No, you certainly aren't the reason I've considered leaving. And you, and indeed anyone else, should feel free to ask anything you want. I really do have a relatively thick skin, and the day I stop being willing to "give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have... with gentleness and respect" is the day I should also quit the pastorate for good.

I guess there were two reasons I'd considered moving on. The first was the occasional manifestation of a visceral and, to my mind, unreasoning hatred of Christians in general and the church in particular. To be lumped in the same catagory with people who saw off heads and blow up busses can be galling, especially because no one I ever met or read whom I consider to be a brother or sister in Christ has ever advocated anything even remotely like this - quite the opposite in fact. It also has struck me as unjustified given the behavior and writing of the individuals on these boards who have identified themselves as evangelicals, which, not including me I have felt to be respectful, temperate, and reasonable. Please understand, I don't mind answering questions that are pointed or tough, dealing with direct challenges to me or my faith, but how does one answer a stream of invective?

The second reason is that on occasion I get worried about my own replies and the general tenor of my posting. I'm a sinful man, and it would be really easy for me to simply slip into "lets dish it out" mode. I really don't want to be abrasive, or meanspirited, prideful, or angry in my replies, and on more than one occasion I've had erase a post because I've realized I'm going after the man instead of his argument. The Ad Hominem abusive is the easiest and most popular line of argumentation (online especially), but I really don't want to end up adopting it. In short, fear of becoming an online brawler ahs occasionally lead me to ask "should I step out?"

So in the end Liz it has had more to do with knowing my own susceptibility  to temptation than what anyone in particular has said.

- SEAGOON
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SEAGOON aka Pastor Andy Webb
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams

Offline Maverick

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Simaril
« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2005, 09:59:43 AM »
Seagoon,

Remember it isn't the mere avoidance of temptation that indicates strength of character or faith. It's the maintenance of faith in the face of temptation that does that.

Hang around, you're one spot of light in a somewhat dark place here. Like another saying; don't let the bastiges beat ya down.

You can't leave until you find and train your replacement to take over for ya. ;)
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