Why aren't there more people posting?
 

Apostolics used to be all over the net on discussion forums. You couldn't go to a Christian or theology/debate forum and not run into at least one or two oneness Pentecostals on there stirring things up. There used to be NUMEROUS OP discussion boards, forums, etc.

Now? There's AFF, with hundreds of 'members' and only about 20 people or so bother to post (if that). Sometimes the General Discussion forum will go almost all day without a single post.

And other forums? Practically non existent. If you 'google' or 'bing' search for OP forums using any combination of terms you want... pretty much this is it.

Awhile back it was said 'they are all on Fakebook'. But, that platform is not conducive to actual DISCUSSIONS. It's like Twitter - it's not a discussion forum. All of a sudden, all the OPs in the entire world just decided they don't care about DISCUSSIONS anymore? They all just suddenly decided they'd rather tweet and 'like' useless fluff 'posts' that provide no opportunity for actual discussion?

Doesn't make sense to me.

All those people who USED to be involved in discussions - Higher Fire, FCF, nFCF, AFF, and numerous Delphi forums, numerous proboards, etc etc... they all just decided en masse all of a sudden to go totally blonde and reduce all apostolic discussion to 'My cat farted today, yay! Subscribe and like!'

I mean, for reals?

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

No blonde cats were harmed in the production of this thread, by the way.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

Ha. There is obviously a rejection of the Est'd church going on here, if 67 million have left the rolls, and i think that is just a reflection. With so many pastors mirroring politicians, and even going back and forth between the two, i think reflecting upon the phenom in this light goes toward an explanation there. It seems to have given rise to many pastors who get it, and seek to actually serve, and are forming churches that reflect this, or attempt to anyway.

At the same time i am seeing a rise in manifestations of the Spirit in the street, so to speak. Or i might just be paying more attention to them, i'm not sure, but i notice many more overt little gestures, and less competition in formerly competitive areas.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

The forum died December 9, 2013.

Thus it is written, thus it was done.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

:lol not sure what happened then?

i note readership here is somewhere in the hood of x10-x1000 of postings, so this may be a reflection of the Church, also. Yes, a few of those are bots, but a snapshot http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/online.php reveals that # to be minuscule at any one time, even if it is repeating. So if even half of the hits are bots, you still gotta big number of seekers.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

another way to see it is that believers seek peace, but posting is confrontational; who wants to have some post of theirs, that perhaps reflects the Spirit and came from the heart, be misdirected by some bombast who just happens to possess better sophistry or whatever? Some guy like me, maybe. It is just easier to refrain, and seek one's personal convictions in the posts of others who might reflect them.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

You are EXACTLY right. You said it better than I could have. Thank you.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

ha well ty, but i suggest that seed of LOVE JESUS does not make a tree to the extent that that is followed. I have only my narrow view, that may have resonated with you in that moment, but does not accurately reflect LOVE JESUS at all points, as you are the only one who can do that, and you might be the only one to reach someone else lurking and looking for answers, or even be the one to affirm another poster who feels overwhelmed and on the verge of no longer posting.

it is common to consider that somehow the reply of a bombast might negate your post's meaning or something, because it opposes yours; but see that you do not read posts as a 3rd party in this manner--you take some from here, and some from there. Even if it is never said, many, many people will read the reply of the bombast to your post with the same or a similar opinion to yours.

i would even go so far as to say that it matters little what you say, as far as grammatical perfection or whatever--or even doctrinal perfection--because while we like to imagine that we are channeling Christ, and opposing someone else that we perceive as not doing so, in reality Christ is reflected in the margins, by a reader, reading both sides. Truth is manifested by being challenged.

I get away with some ridiculous untruths here--which i don't employ often, but now and then--simply because no one challenges them, and the thread often dies and i forget to go fix them :lol i've actually quit doing that because it seems i was getting too much respect! And trust me i am still the same guy who feels offended at a pointed ripost; i doubt that ever goes away. i would much rather be offended than dead.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

AFF was preached against at that one big UPC conference that one time.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

And forums in general have been preached against... in local churches everywhere.

Don't ask questions, ever.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

If memory is right, a certain ex-poster was also mentioned at the UPC conference.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

:)

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

They really are all on Facebook

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

:lol scary

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

And that's what I don't understand. Not that they are all on Facebook, but that OPs around the world have almost wholesale abandoned discussion forums. Makes no sense.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

They may have abandoned more than just that. :(

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

Hmmm...

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

ya, or they may have overcome! surely some of both, and a bell-curve.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

I spend more time on Paltalk because I being a slow typer prefer a voice over a text chat. If I stop by and find a topic that interests me I will stick around.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

hmm, i can see the advantages, you get to hear inflection, etc. How does it deal with a group? There is some procedure for who has the floor, i take it?

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

I assume you are talking to me. Yes you can hear everyone talking. Its kinda like the forum here but when you enter a thread/topic room you see the names of everyone who is in that room.

Rooms are created and owned by each individual. Then as people come in generally they are allowed to come to the mic and speak what they think about the topic.

If someone acts up by cussing or breaking the room rules their mic is taken away. This is called a red dot signifying they are not permitted to speak.

Or the person can be banned out of the room. Its a tremendous format. Most of the people are Trins/Evangelicals by far. To me thats ok because Im trying to reach them with more truth.

Many times if you enter someones room and believe and teach different than the room you will be red dotted. I have been a hundred times probably.

One can start their own room and do whatever they want with it. Teach only, discussion, debate whatever the room owner wants. Some rooms only play Christian music. The tricky part is just getting people to come in your room. Kinda like putting a thread on AFF and hoping people will enter. I have had rooms with over 60 people. Yet many times I open a room and no one enters.

When you are in a room and want to talk there is a button to click that raises your hand. This lets the owner/admin know you want to speak. When its your turn there is another click to take the mic. Most rooms allow 3 minutes at a time when other hands are up waiting.

Try it sometime. Paltalk.com

Be advised, when you get registered you will see "categories". There are many of them. Click on Religon/Spirituality. Then click Christianity. There are usually anywhere from 40 to 70 rooms in operation. Not many but a few Apostolics.

Try it sometime. You need a mic and speakers. There are annoying pop ups also. Usually the ad will last about 30 seconds then disappear. I pay a fee of I think 48 dollars per year to get rid of all pop ups. The program is free but much better without the ads.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

cool, ty :)

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

It may seem confusing at first. I myself am very much behind the times in technology and in a few days I got it.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

yeah

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

boy, it's making better sense to me by the minute! :lol

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

Facebook has group pages you can create, which have the features of adding discussion for the group. I haven't joined or even searched for any apostolic/pentecostal groups on there.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

i'm in one, but the forum is not conducive to discussion, for some weird reason. it encourages soundbites rather than discussion.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

Who are you kidding? :heeheehee

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

I don't have a problem with people using FakeBook, but I wouldn't be caught dead on there, personally. I did try creating an account with a fake name, just so I could post comments on the local newspaper website, but FB contacted me (at the spam e-mail account I used), and told me I had to provide a photo ID. I refused, they blocked my account. If they can't know everything about you, they don't want you on there, and I do not trust Zuckerburg with my info.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

I think that people are too busy with social media, whatever form it may be, to actually come here and participate in a discussion any more. Much of what used to be posted here on AFF is actually what consists of social media chatter now, probably. I am not on social media at all, and AFF is one of the very few places on the web I visit, and so I do love what AFF has come to mean in my life.

One thing however that I have noticed is that since our dear Cindy passed, AFF has not been what it once was. She brought a light and life to this place that passed when she did.

I have been so busy with our little homestead the past year that I have not had time to be on here much. It is not because of social media. I don't have time to be online much, and when I do get time, I like to come to AFF and see what is happening, even if I don't have anything to add to the discussion (or time).

My flock of chickens have now reached 25+ and my garden is 70' x 70' this year, and just life in general keeps me busy outdoors or with household chores. :)

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

Ah, so you're prepping for the great tribulation about to be unleashed in November, eh?

:)

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

Ahh... NO! I am raising teenagers... hungry ones, lol! And we give a lot of eggs and produce away. The rest I sell to make a little income. :)

World coming to an end? Tribulation? :blah :blah

No, we are living for the Lord, one day at a time, and come what may, He will take care of us. :)

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

I thought Brother Baxter Jr said we were already in the Tribulation? Also John Hagee said that the rapture will be before August 30th? Because the Antichrist will take his show on the road with Hillary Clinton. Gandalf will fight the dreaded Donald Balrog Trump.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

OK dear brother please send me all your earthly goods, starting with your bank account before august 30th, hurry get an early start. :D

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

They asked for a photo i.d? They have rules against using fake names. The only thing that causes suspicion is when you make it obvious that the name is fake.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

I don't use my real name. I was never asked for my i.d.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

True, my name was "Justa Guest", heh. But yes, they wanted me to submit a photo ID. Still, I don't care enough to have it changed. I only used it to comment on the LJS website, because that's the only option they offer.

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

Should have used Justin Thyme.

Or Sum Gai.

I still haven't figured out what advantage there is to Facebook. Starting to doubt any advantage to any social media or online "interaction" for that matter. Things seemed better when you could only meet the neighbors at special events, when everyone is on their best behavior. But now...


http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards...75_2475621.png

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

Not half as funny as the ones who say the Lord came already in 70ad!:heeheehee

Re: Why aren't there more people posting?
 

well, if you are looking for the Lord's bodily return, then you cannot be the body of the Lord, can you?