Just questioning, and please, try to hear my heart in this... I have a seen a few things on here that I felt were a little odd. For example, userA writes, "OM(takes God's name in vain), this or that happened!" Or userB writes something about verbal retaliation. Both have Bible verses in their signature, and nice frilly phrases about the golden rule. These are both purely fictional, by the way. Any similarities to real users are purely coincidental. Anyway, I just have to say that I find this sad. I realize that this is a public board, and that anyone can post, but I have to say that it is dissapointing to see people who claim to love the Lord, yet show Him so little respect. Maybe it has a lot to do with the fact that I really hate lip service myself, but I really don't think God likes it either. I also believe in a healthy dose of the fear of (respect for) the Lord. I guess I am hoping for a place that I can come to, and not have to worry about filtering the trash. We have to be constantly guarding our hearts from the things of this world, and I am wondering why people who claim to be Christians (ie: Christ-like) are speaking in the same angry and disprespectful manner as everyone else? Yes, I understand that everyone is in a differant level of growth. I know that God loves where we are, and is patient for us to become who He made us to be. I just feel a sense of urgency, in that there is so much to decieve us in this day and age, that we don't have time to take our time. It is time to wake up! I think we spend so much time asking, "Where is the line?" or, "How far am I allowed to go?" that we lose sight of the fact that the goal as Christians is not to walk as close to the line as we can, but to see it and run the other way. We are supposed to set ourselves apart and be holy. I am not in anyway trying to elevate myself, because I will be the first to admit that I am not perfect in any sense of the word. I guess this is just a challenge to all of us who are Christians (me included) to really learn what it means to be an embassador for Christ. Lets be a city set on a hill...:angel: Peace... Trish
I can appreciate what you're saying as it applies to those who claim to be Christians on this board. However, this board isn't for Christians only; it's open for people of any religious or secular persuasion. I do recall seeing some posts recently that were written by people who claim to be Christians [I say "claim" as I obviously don't personally know anyone on this board and have to take everyone at their word-- as they must do for me], and I was taken aback at the tone and language used. Personally, I found them to be very sad testimonies to the non-Christians among us. I simply quit reading one thread because the language and tone was just too offensive for me. And that's the thing. If you don't like what someone is saying, then don't read it. If you think it's offensive, report it and see if the moderator agrees. If you feel like your sister or brother in Christ could use some encouragement in being a light on a hill, then privately message them about it. And it certainly never hurts any of us who profess to be followers of Christ to be reminded that people are watching how we react to things, and this being a public board, we should be even more mindful of our words.
I'm an imperfect Christian and will continue to make mistakes till the day I meet him. Then I will be perfect! Until then, don't judge me, lest you be judged. Gentle reminders to help me in my walk? YES! But making me feel bad for what you think is over the line? Not cool. Especially because MOST folks don't know that they are crossing the line.... That's what makes this board awesome, moreso than the usual "Christian" boards on the net? I am allowed to be imperfect. I wear nothing but skirts, but I do not go around trying to figure out how people who do not wear skirts get off.....
First of all, many people, myself included, post here to vent. I've known some moms here who have flat out said things like "I'm saying this here because I'd never actually say it and I have to get it off my chest." Yes, these moms are Christians, but they are still humans with human emotions and thoughts. Often times it's helpful to vent, rant, and rave in the confines of this board so as not to really express these things to the people they would be directed at. Second, even the Christians among us are all in different places in our walks with the Lord. We can not presume that all should achieve the same level of "perfection". You seem to acknowledge that in your OP, but quickly dismiss it. Unfortunately, we won't all be on the same level until we reach Heaven. That is just going to be a fact no matter what group of Christians we mingle with. Third, "OMG" also stands for "oh my goodness". The Lord, in His perfect wisdom, convicts each of us differently. I'm not saying we can't call a spade a spade, but things that you've been convicted on are not the same as those things that I've been convicted on, and visa versa. For example, recently one of our posters was convicted to wear skirts/dresses when out in public. She could easily have made a big deal out of it and called out the rest of us Ladies who still wear pants. However, she did not. She expressed her own joy at having God challenge and grow her, but stopped long before righteous indignation. Many of us celebrated with her. Not once did I feel convicted by her calling. As I said, we all won't agree on what that "line" is until we are in Heaven. So until then, please be patient with the rest of us.
#1...noone has ever said they were perfect, only Christian. #2...how do you know someone wasn't typing OMG as meaning it to be "Oh My Gosh" or "Oh My Goodness"??? I do that all the time because I say "Oh My Gosh" and "Oh My Goodness" a lot, and I don't see anything wrong with it. Don't assume just because they type OMG that it only means Oh My God. #3...ditto to what Jen all said. #4...ditto also to what Amie said. We are real women (some men, if they're out there), with real emotions. We vent, we cry, we whine...it's reality. For some people, this is the only place they can do that.
Hey Trish! By the way I forgot to mention: WELCOME to the board! This one rocks! I have been here about two years and I have learned WAY more than just homeschooling stuff! So stick around and try us out. This is, in my opinion, of course, the BEST board out there! So grab a cup of something and kick up your feet for a while and stick around for a while.... we're pretty nice.
I have to agree. This is the one place I feel comfortable being myself, where I don't feel judged, and where I feel like I can talk about the Lord with all my heart. Not that I don't other places, but when you are dealing with boards with many non-believers you usually have to word things in a way as not to offend people. Here, I don't have to do that, and I feel like I am accepted for who I am. There may be a spat or two here and there, but that's normal, and it is nothing like on other boards because we resolve things with the love of Christ around us. :angel: This board is about as low-key as they come.
I agree I think there are many different people here who are in differnt places with their walk with God. I will use myself as an example. I have really struggled the last year with my faith to the point where I have my husband teach Bible during homeschooling. It does not matter why, but you cant always be a city on a hill, people are real, and have real lives and have feet made of clay and are not always perfect in their faith. Life dont always go perfect and some struggle to overcome the hand they were delt. I dont think there should be a "line." People are imperfect and thats just a fact of life. Myself I dont go around looking for the speck in someones elses eye because I am still trying to remove the log in mine. That takes up enough of my time, I dont have time to look critically at other people.
OMG: means Oh my Gosh! I ditto what my other friends say in their posts. If you feel this board isn't a place for you and that you can find a board that have perfect humans on it, then please feel free to move on. May God bless you!
This reminds me of a recent conversation I had with DH. When we were out shopping recently, they had the little sticky Christian fish that you can put on your car. He always wants me to get one for our van. I always tell him I just can't put one on there because I'd feel guilty as I speed by folks (above the posted speed limit) with it on the back. It's bad enough I do it with VA homeschool license plates that say "Education Begins at Home" across the bottom. Obviously, I should just NOT speed but I'm realistic enough to know that I will now and in the future.
I really try not to speed but sometimes I look down and notice that I am speeding Now I really try hard not to speed because my husband put custom bronze star licence plates with half of our last name written on them so everyone knows its us lol. Speeding isnt a habit of mine, its more absent mindedness, I dont realize I am doing it.
I used to speed before we had kids. I would always be in a hurry to go nowhere! :lol: I got pulled over going 90 in a 55! :shock: I felt so terrible when the officer read me the riot act. He told me that I was selfish and selfish to those who were carrying their precious cargo! He also told me he knows who I am now and if he sees my black Vette breaking the law again, he won't be so nice next time. He was really nice, wrote me up for less so he didn't have to arrest me. I paid my fine and the insurance company found out right away. Uggh! A huge surcharge every month for 2 years and then I was able to ask that my error be removed. That all cost us a bundle. To this day, I have learned my lesson and I don't speed anymore.
I have noticed it too, but then usually I just stay away. Usually, it's not the person venting, it's the responses to it. There was a recent thread where people were going to teach non- hs'ers manners. Don't remember why but remember shaking my head at some of the responses. There was another thread where I had to look up "bfh" and was shocked at what it stood for. Fortunately there are others who stay away from those threads and offer wonderful help and advice. I love how Jackie insists that we get our DH's involved. I don't think the OP was asking for perfection, just restraint and putting God first before responding.
Maybe I'm naive, but I have no idea what "bfh" means. I know what "tfs" stands for, but just like "omg", it could also stand for something else, like "totally flippin sweet".
