Why some brethren are EMBRACED at SI

TMK and Bearmaster

I have been thinking for sometime now, how much I apperciate the ability that these two have in not being offended.
You can disagree with them and even after a strongly heated arguement by the next subject : there is no malice no resentment, no trying to get even, no avoidance etc. from them.

I apperciate your encouraging words

RE: /// Amazing! You really do put love first in your posts and I can so sense your love for the brethren in your responses that you seem reluctant, at times, to disagree with them.///

I wish that where the case but it simply is not.

To often I have let my passion's and offence's take over my post and ruined relationships on SI.

But thank you in that I feel uplifted and encouraged and strengthened by your comments

Bear is one of the earliest posters I remember when I joined SI.

We don't see eye to eye on everything but I greatly admire your consistency, your love for the persecuted church, your humility and reminding us all the time that it's all about Him.

You even got a great song stuck in my head-Just give me Jesus.

Marc-- you and I often rankle each other (nor sure if rankle is a word) but I know you are a smart guy who knows his stuff. You make me think and rethink-- which is always a good thing.

You come on strong but that is probably just your passion. Keep it coming.

I have always been blessed by all of your posts. Your heart comes through loud and clear. I suspect out real life personalities are similar.

I am so glad you are a part of the forum.

Your goodness and devotion is threatening to me because it shines light on places in me that I do not want to look.

You do a great job moderating this forum in a humble and Christ-honoring way, and I appreciate all you do. I cringe sometimes when I know that you have to deal with some unsavory behavior but you always do it well.

Wouldn't it be awesome if there was no unsavory behavior on a Christian forum? It would make your job easier.

PP- I so appreciate you because I usually agree with you! :)

Now there are a few areas where we disagree but we can always agree to disagree without getting nasty. You have shifted my thinking in certain areas and that takes some doing.

Dont ever stop your quirky way of posting. We need some quirkiness- but there is always depth to your quirkiness and sometimes I have to read it twice to get the depth of it.

I am glad you joined the forum!

Forrest-

Dude you are another guy that is threatening to me. I sense you are a pretty young guy but I could be wrong- in any event I can tell you are sold out to the Lord and I appreciate everything you type.

I might push back a little sometime, but it is only in the interest of discussion and perhaps learning from each other. Keep the good stuff coming.

Mark- you are another guy I really appreciate because I agree with you 95% of the time. Love your sense of humor and your straight talking. You bring a good degree of moderation to the forum, and I can tell you are devoted to the Lord.

Frank-

I know I irritate you sometimes but that is only because out of self defense I push back on some of your posts. Its that light shining on corruption thing.

You are a true prophetic voice on the forum and I take every word you type seriously. I am so thankful you are part of this forum.

Travis-

Always the voice of reason. Always very thoughtful and if truth be told I can hardly bring myself to ever disagree with you, even if I do- which is rare. The way you post reflects time spent with Him.

Elizabeth-

There is a scene in one of the Lord of the Rings movies where Galadriel, a high elf with extreme goodness and power, walks past some of the members of the fellowship of the ring and they have to look down as she passes because her goodness is so strong.

Anyways, that is sort of how I feel when I read your posts.

TMK,
You bout make me cry.

I appreciate your kindness.

I, too, appreciate your post,and see your great desire for the things
of The Lord in your posts,...

Blessings to you,

--------------------
elizabeth

Re: Greg,

I Sooooo appreciate you,Greg,..for having this web-site,and allowing us to come here and talk about the things pertaining to and concerning the kingdom of God,...hoping to encourage us all IN HIM.
Or someone, somewhere, who have not heard.

Greg, I know your work is not easy,....decisions that you must make,according to The Lord' will,...the long wait,...long suffering,...and knowing that it must be His will.
Thank you.

And:
Brandy, ...I know you must be of GREAT encouragement to your husband. WHAT A BLESSING !
The Lord bless you, and your family....also appreciated many times the
the things you had to say,....much wisdom The Lord has given you.

God bless,
------------------
elizabeth

I love and appreciate ALL of you, new and older.

The wisdom of the elder,the zeal of the young, all is required.

Let us endeavor to provoke one another to love and good works, all the more as The Day of His appearing draws near.

Bless you all,

I was humbled and encouraged by your words, brother. And your humble and loving (courageous) spirit to so comfort and encourage the brethren. May the Lord add a double blessing in your spirit.

(P.S: I'm 31...is that still "younger"?)

Your humbled and grateful brother,

I appreciate everyone even though I don't know all of you. Many posts by many of you on many subjects have been very powerful and even convicting. I defintely appreciate the sisters who post here and push brothers hard as far as true spirituality goes. Not that true spirituality is limited to brothers though.

I have a very definite interest in eschatology and being honest have felt very vexed at most of those threads because I believe even it can be discussed in humility and civility. Time and time again I asked that if anyone wanted to be uncivil then please refrain from any comments. But not! I don't think it's hard to be civil at all but I hope I'm not patting myself on the back as one who is always civil. I wasn't too soft as maybe I should have been at certain posters who I saw as chronically rude thread ruiners and who began to purposefully make knowingly false accusations against others they resent. This behavior grinded on me very much as it set itself itself against everything the forum was meant to be. But I need to release it. Apologies to all if I have offended in any way. Remember those commercials where some type of new air freshner is applied and people walk into a room and there is a lovely scent and atmosphere and everyone takes a deep breath and grins. Kind of feels like that around here right now.

The moderator Greg we have is truly a model for us all in my opinion.

Blessings and prayers for all of you. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Let us rejoice and be glad in that!

"Doc"

David-

Don't stop posting about what you think is important. We CAN discuss such things civilly- the test is whether we will.

I have learned much from your perspectives and you have rekindled my interest in end times things where I had kind of given up on it.

You always post with humility and you clearly know your stuff. Wayyyy more than I know mine!

Tim-

I sense we are something of a kindred spirit. At minimum we're both lawyers!

I appreciate your zeal (or sadness) for the Church, what it could be and what it has become.

You know just when to lighten things up and you give a fair hearing to both sides of an argument. Any judgeships in your future?

I do not get to post very often. My life is so busy between my job, church leadership responsibilities, family, etc.. But I am so thankful for the effect that this forum has had on my own walk with God. I am constantly challenged to go back to the word and really study to be sure I am grounded in the truth. Todd, thank you for the kind words.

I am glad that in essentials we can have unity, on non-essentials liberty, and I hope in all things charity.

This forum is a blessing. I absolutely love the body of Christ.

/Don't stop posting about what you think is important. We CAN discuss such things civilly- the test is whether we will.

I have learned much from your perspectives and you have rekindled my interest in end times things where I had kind of given up on it.

You always post with humility and you clearly know your stuff. Wayyyy more than I know mine!/

Thank you bro. That's a bit of balm to my soul. Sincerely. I believe as you that civility is possible we just have to want to do it.

In eschatology, some of the best advice I got was to find out WHAT the Day of the Lord is and WHEN it occurs because all roads lead to it. It was the hub around which OT eschatology was centered and this approaching Day of the Lord formed the backdrop of NT eschatology. But nuf for now. It's for another thread maybe sometime in the future. For now, I'm just enjoying the sweet fresh air on the forum.

Thank you again.

I love all y'all. :) Esp. Fletcher because I know he probably talks like I do. :) (RTR JFW.)

Seriously, you guys are superstars to me. There are some that I interact with more than others but that doesn't mean your heart and your words matter less.

TMK, I've interacted more with you directly than, I think, I have with anyone. I appreciate you and love you and your heart for God. We do think a lot alike. So many times I'll be reading through a thread and I'll want to say something and then I'll see one of your posts and go, "Well, there. Todd said that already." You are a kind man and I'm sure the folks who know you personally would all line up to say I don't know the half of it.

Heydave is probably the first brother who engaged me in conversation after I first joined the forum. We've talked about praying for one another on various occasions. The challenges you face in the UK and regarding fellowship are near to my heart and I don't forget it. You're a sweetheart of a brother and I appreciate you and I love you.

Blaine is one of the only folks here (along with Awakened, whom I've met on the phone) (and Sree and Renee and Forrest Head being the only ones I've met in person) that I've either talked to directly or met personally. Blaine and I have talked on the phone one on one and via email a few times. I love you and your vision and passion for God's lambs in oppressed places. I am working on the thing I've shared with you about, and I will be leaning on your heart and your ear for the Spirit as I continue. I thank you for the time you take for me.

Frank and I don't interact much, but your words interact with me more than you realize. I read you and your love for Jesus. I appreciate and value your whole humble way. Love you and the ministry that you do here.

Lysa, you come in loaded for bear. I imagine you're a hoot in person. You don't push but you don't back down. Your are hard after the Lord, it seems to me. That's tenacity and you are gentle and you are a reason I enjoy being part of this forum.

Awakened, I'm watching you, bro. :) You drop in and say little gems and I snatch 'em. Love your heart, too. I'd hoped you'd get to be in Atlanta at the regional meeting in June and I know you wanted to. Still want to meet you.

JFW --- you, brother, are breath of clean air. Patient and kind all the time. Super nice guy and your words always point us back to the love of Jesus. There's a reward in there somewhere for that. Love you, fellow Alabamian!!

I can't list everybody whose words register in my spirit so often. And, you guys do. StirItUp, brother, you are a long way from where I sit on the planet but I ask God to anoint you where you are and to uphold you with His right hand as He promises He will. Docs, I think you may be who I want to be when I grow up. :) I love your mind, bro. Jesus-thinking just jumps out of your posts. Neil, you keep the faith, brother. You just do and I appreciate the Lord's work in you.

Greg, my brother, it goes without saying that we are indebted to you. I know that you and brothers like Paul West and Jeremy221 and others whose names I don't even know have labored and prayed and believed and made SI a real joy for the rest of us. A resource and more than a resource. And, I appreciate the counsel you give here. Too often for you, I'm sure, it is redirection when things go askew. But, anybody who has digested any of the spirit of the Principles book and follows the heart of what SI is here to be and do knows that you guys are much, much beyond refereeing us. You guys are sort of like pastors in a way that is peculiar to our time with the internet and all. Love you and pray for you.

I have come to love all of you. I always feel a keen sense of loss when someone leaves the forum.

I don't post often, mostly because of a busy life that doesn't allow time for thoughtful posts. Also, though, I am in a hard season of life, and can't handle being thrown into an emotional tailspin when contention arises.

Please know that though I don't consider myself to be a super prayer warrior, I do stop and pray every time I see a prayer request come thru. I am not always able to post that I am praying, but I do pray.

I am so very grateful for this site and my remnant brothers and sisters who continue to challenge me to a holy and set apart life unto Jesus. God bless you all!!

Thank you Tim!

Love and appreciate you and this whole online community of faith!

I hope I can meet some of you precious saints one day, but if not, I know where we will meet......at Jesus feet!

God bless,

Lisa-

You always stir up my charismatic side that I am always tempted to discard. I really appreciate that because we need to have a charismatic side.

And of course you crack me up on a fairly regular basis. I am always curious to read your posts.

Dave-

We also have not agreed on every point but I miss you when you post less often. You always make good arguments and I have learned much from your perspectives. You are a smart guy who speaks his mind plainly, and I like that.

William-

So glad you joined the forum. Your posts are approved by heaven and constantly remind me what is truly important.. As Tozer says, for the Christian Jesus Christ is first and everything else is last.

God: "He is a member here right?"

Thank you for always giving brother Greg the discernment, patience and grace to moderate these forums. Brother Greg, I have never seen any Mod on any forum that demonstrates the grace the love and the patience you have shown here in my past 10 years here. I Love Brother Greg because he has never changed in his passion to see to it, that SI will always be a peaceful and Christ like place to come, with your hurts or concerns or prayers, or just an awesome place to worship the King. To me personally, SI has become a part of my family of places to worship. I feel Brother Greg realizes, that all the time he spends on everything he does for SI, is not his time, but God's time, and he uses God's time very wisely. I know I have tested your patience at times in the past 10 years, but you given me a long enough rope, to see me through in my own little "different" way to express myself. Thanks for being patient enough with me to see through some of my posts, to see my heart. To God be the Glory on everything that comes from SI.
God Bless!
Brother Bill

I enjoy all of your posts. Tis a good place to frequent. Thanks to all for your love you put into this site.

I've been reading through these off and on all day (I have to keep my phone in a locker at work, so that deters me from posting, thank goodness right?? :) !!).

I was registered yrs ago on other christian discussion sites but none hold a candle (for me) to sermonindex. Thank you Greg so much for your dedication and the other moderators (past and current), who have a passion to keep this us focused on Christ and a site for intelligent Godly conversation.

There is NOT one person that I've conversed with on here that I would turn down an opportunity to break bread with you, I just think that would be so very cool to meet face to face! One day we will! (edit: After the tribulation, of course! LOLOLOL I could NOT resist, please forgive me!)

God is good and I thank Him for leading me to this site with ALL OF YOU!! What a family!!! :)

God bless,
Lisa

Ro 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One mind, Oh what Grace is given.

Who's mind are we all speaking from to each other?

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Ro 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Sounds like the mind is winning. You all sound the same.
What a blessing. Tears of Joy and love for each other is the mind of Christ.

I would like to include my Love for you all. No division in Love 1 Cor: 13 Agape.

In Christ: Phillip

I want to acknowledge special encouragement from bro Caleb. He calls me or texts me about once every other month and it halts me that a brother across the nation from me takes the time to pray for me and check on me and share a fee moments about family. He is a very very busy guy and his thoughtfulness is a testimony to his having "bowels of mercy" as Paul called it.

Love you bro !

TMK, your far too gracious! I appreciate your honesty and consistency.
Tim, thanks, I appreciate your prayers and openess of your posts.

Many others (most all) i appeciate the posts even if I don't comment.

I miss Oracio, who has taken a break, even though we had quite a disagreement on one subject, we had most things in common. ( may be he will read this).

Brothergary, I love your heart and straight speaking posts. I can live with the spelling :)

I don't want to be a serial poster, as I need to give time and attention to other commitments, home, family, etc. I should only post if I have something worthwhile to contribute, but I don't always live up to that ideal! :).

Thank you Todd and bless you...and may our posts always bear the stamp of heaven, even as our souls do.

Blessings,

Thanks heydave, Your also one of the strait talkers, that I appreciate in the fourm ,and can say amen to,in my heart ,,

To be honest I don't realy like naming names in case I forget to include, some ,but for me bar a few posters , I am edified, and regard most everyone's contributions as vital to spirit of this forum........

Well, I'm new here, so I don't know almost anyone personally...

But as a lurker and avid reader of the forum, I have really been blessed and edified by the brothers and sisters on here. I think we should take a moment to appreciate what a wonderful place sermonindex is. Someone called it an oasis, and I feel that comparison is merited. Now there are problems once in a while, but I do not know another place where such grace, wisdom, love and unity abounds between brothers and sisters that have such different backgrounds!

I've really been blessed by pretty much all the posters on the forum, but if I should name names, I'd like to mention Oracio, forrests, appolus and of course brother Greg. Also a lot of love to sherri (I should write to you again!) for wanting to come in contact and help a young sister out. I've also been extremely blessed by ginnyrose and her godly conduct and wisdom. Sister Katina, you're new here like me, but I already love your enthusiasm and joy! Each one of your posts screams with exuberance and happiness and it really brings a smile to my face. :)

Blessings and joy in our Lord Jesus Christ to everybody!

Neil:

What can I say? just this,that God gave me a special place in my little "repaired" heart for understanding you probably better than most here. In a way, we have traveled down a lot of the same roads together,this is probably why we have a greater understanding of each other. We go way back on SI, and brother it just seems from the beginning, God had us on the same flight together, and what an awesome flight it's been. We both pop in and out here, but I'm always grateful just to read your posts. I know at times I post a lot of humor, and sometimes my timing is not good, but I feel God brings me here with my humor, to keep the some posts that are free-falling rapidly, from crashing hard to the ground. Sometimes I ask myself before I start typing out my humor, when is humor not good in such an angry world.

Neil, thanks for always understanding me, even when I know many others don't, not many Christians have a great sense of humor, but God gave me my humor, and he leads me to were I need to drop my next line. Yes, we have traveled some of the same roads in life, and like you, mine have been quite bumpy,some mountainous, some with bridges out, and had to swim to the other side, but Brother, we're still here for a reason. We will never figure everything out, this is why God gave us a finite mind, he don't expect us to, what he expects us to do is just Love one another, I truly believe, this is what God is most passionate about. Neil, I've never personally met you, but it seems I've known you my whole life.
Love You!
Brother Bill

I've been thinking of you lately and hoping things have been well with you. Blessings to you is basically all I wanted to say.

Thank you,

"Doc"

What a beauty this is! It's like a fresh wind has blown through this forum. Having been a member here for a few years I've seen many come and go and have seen the ups and downs but mostly been greatly encouraged here by the posts and sermons. I must admit though that recently was getting discouraged at the goings on, great to see this turnaround.

Not sure how many of you remember Mike Balog, posted here as CRSSCHK years ago, well that brother's zeal, openness, and honesty was a real blessing to me, if you're lurking at all Mike, would sure love to hear from you again.

To all posters, old and new; Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

In Christ,

You're right Gary probably shouldn't go name by name because it's not possible to remember everyone off the top of your head- so I guess I'll need to add to this thread as I remember.

Man I really appreciate your conviction and knowledge. We disagree on a prime theological point but who cares. I still learn from your posts and sometimes you almost convince me.

And don't ever use spell check. I am so used to it now that it's like I have learned a new language, and it wouldn't be a Gary post if everything was spelled right!

You are very intriguing to me- the stories of your background and about where you are currently living and your winter preparations etc. I hope you are recovering well from your recent issues so you can get out there and cut a few more cords of wood.

Often your posts keep me off balance likely because they push me out of my comfort zone. That's a great ministry to perform.

Holy Desperation was also one of the first sermons I ever listed to online- off the Fire on the Altar website. I will always hold that site in the highest esteem because the sermons and compilations there sparked personal revival for my wife and I about 11 years ago. That was well before I knew about sermonindex.

I wish you would post a tad more often than you do. But I know you only post when the HS tells you to; an example we should all follow.

Tmk your scence of humour is allways a refreshing addition to sermon index,very enjoyable ,adds balance,

It's great that brothers can differ on major theoligical stances,and still enjoy company, a good example of being a follower of the Christian way ...

I hope that never changes with us , that's more important ,then convincing someone of our theoligical conviction, but saying that I respect your passions..

Sad part about this is I am using spell check....

I, too, miss Mike Balog. He was always quick to call out posters on 'spiritual pride'. This was the first time I heard the term/concept. Yes, miss him. What happened to him?

Then there was Pastorfrin-God bless him. A military veteran who suffered from PTSD but found victory. He is one of the fortunate who went to meet his maker. Spiritual giant. God bless him.

Sandra

There is one poster I failed to mention...he inadvertently taught me how to or how not to post on Internet forums. K loved to debate, disagreed with posters readily and sometimes Greg had to referee...What I learned is to discuss ideas but do not get personal- attacking people who disagree with you. In time I learned to like K -he could disagree vehemently with you but did not get mad or stay mad long. Powerful lesson in posting on forums like this.

Greg, bet you did not expect to read this? :-)

Sandra