General Chat

We're you not happy with my answer John?
You did ask and I replied, thought you meant
anyone not just Errol.

Emma

Still enjoy reading this thread Cynthia :-)

John I think the answer is that yes, most people do mind you asking. I have enjoyed this thread, it has given me things to think about and reminded me of things I may have forgotten. But you are spoiling it now that you have brought your political rantings on here.

john what on earth has Margaret Thatcher got to do with this thread?

I feel you were quite forceful in your question and would love to know why you are so angry with life, people etc

Being vindictive on another thread is in the eye of the beholder. I would say I was making realistic points. She (Lady T) had her good points and her bad points. And she was a respected Prime Minister. The thread was never meant to be pro-Mrs T, as I understood Errol's OP's.

And to say that anybody who has an anti-Thatcher view is vindictive might not be right. She caused a lot of division whilst in power, a lot of division since and will continue to be a controversial figure in history.

How I react to her as a person is very different to my anger for her actions in her political life. So I can pray for her family and an uplifting funeral on Wednesday.

I was not demanding any answers, Errol? I was asking you politely if you minded me asking in my first question. You only had to say "yes, I do mind you asking". No problem.

John, you really do push me sometimes!


Rather than it being 'rude' to ask that question, it is rather 'insensitive'.

If you have really been reading this thread, you could not help but notice that most (but not all) of the other folk who post on here have already stated that they are not particularly interested in religion or have lapsed in their faith, but that they enjoy a chat about such things now and then.


Personally, I don't give a toss as to whether or not the people who post on here have a faith or not - as long as they don't mind me talking through things and the tone remains pleasant.


Being 'holy' on one thread and vindictive on another, does not fool me - nor does it fool the others who pop in here.

John take a step back and consider what you say - if you are indeed a christian then you would surely look inwardly before so openly criticising others outwardly and demanding answers.

My answer to that question John is that
my religion along with my politics are my
business, no one else would be interested,
don't feel I need to shout them from the roof tops.

Emma :-)

Yes. Thanks for that ( I think), Errol . But what is answer to my question please?

John you really must be the most thick skinned, unchristian, self-contradictory, self-centred person I have ever encountered. It is people like you that show why the church is in decline and highlight the few wonderful people like Cynthia

It is very nice to see a lot of people posting today. Would it be rude of me to ask if you are a member of any church? If you are, it would be nice if you could write a little about that, about why and when you became a Christian.

Humility? Learn John, learn!

Probably enough quotes for one day John.

Cynthia you have nothing to worry about Johns' random ill thought out ramblings say far more about him than he imagines. Sometimes I find his comments amusing and contradictory and other times he is patronisng beyond belief, He seems to enjoy making a fool of himself, or perhaps it is the attention he enjoys.

Cynthia :-D :-D :-D

That hit home. I too love Proverbs

A brother (or sister) offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle (Prov 18 v 19)

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility (Prov 18 verse 12)

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies (Prov 31 v 10) :-) :-)

Oh dear!


I have to admit that I am finding some of John's comments extremely exasperating in the extreme this week and it's causing some tension within me as to how to react.

My human self really wants to give him a jolly good 'rattling' and tell him to 'get over yourself'. My spiritual side, however, is feel rather sorry for him because I know the Christian path can be a rocky road to travel.

So that leaves me...........where?


John, if you say your heart was changed 30 years ago, then surely you have learned some self-control re your short-temper? I would have hoped that, in that time, you would have put the past behind you and moved into your new life in Christ.


As for your admitting to being a waffler, the thought of the dangers of the rashly spoken words came to mind.

I rarely quote scripture because I know a lot of folk find it off-putting but have to admit to having a fondness for Proverbs.......


Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.


Proverbs 17:14
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.


Proverbs 17:27-28
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.


Proverbs 18:2
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.


Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.



Those are very wise words indeed.

Hypocrisy hypocrisy hypocrisy.
I was labelled a hypocrit by our self-styled pope and yet I think he needs to look to himself!
Enough of that though - I hope Cynthia brings the thread back around with her genuine and lovely posts

I am not upset, even though you have ignored my question. John, I think that sometimes you make a comment, such as the one about 'speaking correctly' without thinking about what you really mean, and then cannot give an answer when asked. I am still curious but will not press, as this is essentially a thread for talking about religion :-)

John you often post about services you have "lead". But there are times when I feel that maybe the minister allows you to sit at the back with your laptop.

Errol and lilybids. Last thing I want to do is upset anybody on this thread.

I have never written about any church service I have been involved in without being involved in it (very often leading it). Surely you are not suggesting I am making it up. I attend chapel an average of twice every Sunday and attend a couple of midweeks every week. Over 30 years of that very willing commitment to my Lord.

And I love to hear of what has happened in other places of worship and hopefully my own experiences are of some interest too. The reason I do it is because the church that Cynthia attends is C of E and about 200 congregation. My chapels are all smaller than that and there is a spread of congregations. And three different denominations (URC, Methodist and Welsh Annibynwyr (Independents)). It would be nice, I think, if anyone from a Catholic tradition or Scottish Presbyterian tradition also contributed what had happened in their worship.

Tomorrow I am in a little village near Merthyr Tydfil that knows more about coal tragedies than almost anywhere. And we will pray for the family of Lady Thatcher and pray that funeral next Wednesday is respectful and meets the wishes of her family. And next week another mining village up near Heads of Valleys road. Very hard lives, but very happy faces. Love to worship with both congregations - they both give me such a lift.

John you often come across as a bit of a fraud. For example, you posted relatively recently pontificating about what happened in chapel that morning and yet we could all read posts from you that had been written at exactly the same time you were supposedly in chapel.
I sincerely hope I have got you wrong but that sort of thing does not exactly aid your crusade.
On a lighter note, I think that Cynthia is the most genuine, level headed, sensible and mild mannered prson on these boards!