I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

You know, today I have been overwhelmed with a love for my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I say that realizing that I take the risk of appearing smarmy and rosey eyed. I remember a time about three or four years ago when I pretty much held the church in disdain and thought it was useless. I've changed my mind. I agree with Bill Hybels, the church is the hope of world through Christ. Even with all it's pimples and it's bad breath the church is the bride of Christ and it's a great place to call home. I love the people of God and I'm thankful for all of them. Even the ones that I disagree with and the ones that anger me beyond measure. God is good.

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

You need to quit that!.........:D
God bless you brother. You just might be a keeper.

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

Wow I left to go to the mall and come back and some are well.. tearing others apart on one thread and all lovey on another I am so confused!!!!!!!!!


Going back to my happy place (on the short bus!!)

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

A PO MO...thank you for your words...blessings to you.

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

??? I'm not sure what you mean by "tearing others apart". People can disagree and still love each other. I guess I'm thankful because it wasn't too long ago that in a heated discussion I would have really lost my cool and ripped into my opponent hard. But now, I don't and it's because I have respect for others opinions even if I disagree with them. I'm sorry if you feel I've been offensive.

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

Bless you brother. Thinking of the childrens song "If we all pull together". Praying for that!

BTW ..I've been doing some business things so not sure what AG was referring to.
Blessings to all

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

Oh no no .... NOT you!!! Its another thread totally... I was just laughing at the MPD on this forum... LOL... here we have you being all nice and well.. Christlike and then we have others on another thread telling someone they are making things up and being very unchristlike... I am happy to see this thread... sorry for the misunderstand!!:friend

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

If we all pull together together together if we all pull together I cant remember more! LOL :)

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

Ok. I almost got my feelers hurt. I'm very sensitive. Ask your friend Diz.

What's MPD?

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

LOL.... I iz sowwy I dint want to hert no ones feelers!!! Fergib me?!?!

MPD.... Multiple... Personality.... Disorder.... AKA... Apostolic.... Friends.... Forum :ursofunny:ursofunny

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

Sniff. Ok. Sniff. :friend :tissue
:ursofunny

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

:gaga ....so that's what i've got wrong with me

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

I could have told you that..................:gaga

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

APOMO, sometimes on here you have to walk softly and carry a BIG stick........:thwak

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

Beautiful!!!

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

MoPo,

These posts are the ones that make me smile! I know we can be a dysfunctional group of people, but when someone that hasn't "been around" in a while comes here and finds friendship and acceptance where they are I feel we have a purpose!

Love ya man!

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

:friend Bless you Bro.

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

Can you imagine what a force we could be for Christ if we would all work together...

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

ALL the voices in our heads can't be wrong..............:D
The short bus should be filling up fast..............:gaga

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

Confession is good for the soul. I like for my soul to experience goodness so I'll confess again.

This board has helped me with my attitude toward so-called "holiness" people in general, and UPC people in particular. I used to come on these boards several years ago and pretty much felt out of place as I felt I was one of the lone liberals Nemos in a sea of conservative sharks. The sharks would generally try to remember that fish are their friends, but more often than not they'd forget the kindness motto and surrender to their religious addiction and attempt to devour the fish. That's one reason I left for awhile. I got tired of the intellectual dishonesty and the hypocrisy and the meanness.

However, coming back now several years later I like the difference that I see and it has been helpful to me. Helpful in the sense that I realize how much more comfortable in my own skin I have become evidenced by how I fail to get all lathered up about most stuff, 'holiness' issues specifically. I have my hot button or two, but for the most part I can just chill and be calm and appreciate the good things.

But mainly, being here has changed my attitude toward you all because I realize that there are many more moderate to liberal voices in your world that speak my language. That encourages me, and in some senses validates my point of view on some things. It also convicts me as I realize how I have been prejudiced when I see my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord, who happen to look a certain way, at the store or wherever and I tend to avoid them and/or think snide thoughts because I unfairly categorized them in the 'stupid' category. That's not right, it's wrong and sinful on my part. Being here I have been reminded again of all the good things about my past. But I'm also instructed on the truth that there is alot of stuff going on in people's hearts and brains that I can agree with if I'll just look past the outward 'holiness' appearance and give them a chance to show themselves. Some of the 'holinesss' people on this board would have made me go down another aisle if I'd seen them at Wal-Mart instead of saying 'hello' and stopping to engage in conversation. That's my loss. I hope to turn it around and owe my limited re-experience here to that epiphany.

I guess I knew all this intellectually, but it finally made the short trip to my heart. And I'm thankful.

As for all the liberals on here that don't look like 'holiness' people. Well you're going to hell. TIC! :)

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

I appreciate your comments. Not just on this thread but on all threads...

Re: I love everybody...even, er, especially you.
 

So happy to hear this!

I know the forum has changed from what it was a year ago, but I still feel very strongly that there's a purpose for us all being here!