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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">----- Original Message ----<BR>From: Timothy Butler <tbutler@ofb.biz><BR>To: A Christian virtual Free Software and Linux Users Group. <christiansource@ofb.biz><BR>Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 8:50:24 AM<BR>Subject: Re: [CS-FSLUG] Administrative note: A Christian community is shutting down.<BR><BR>Just a note: since this reply is a bit long. I have one proposed <BR>solution, noting another mailing list, at the bottom. Scroll down to <BR>that part if you don't have time to read the whole thing.<BR><BR>David McGlone said:<BR><BR>> Well the way I look at it, if God didn't intend it, it would have <BR>> never been brought<BR>> to our attention in the first place.<BR><BR> I think we have to be discerning about that. We often hear ideas in <BR>ministry related areas that sound good but are not.<BR><BR>> They
may or may not be spiritually dead, but if they are that is more<BR>> reason to invite them here.<BR> <BR> Those that are not, of course, can join already.<BR><BR>> PS: I am just expressing my thoughts. I am in no way trying to <BR>> push the issue or cause<BR>> any grief to anyone. I will wholeheartedly support any decision the <BR>> list makes.<BR><BR> You're fine.<BR><BR> Here's the big question, though: let's say we open up the doors <BR>completely and, per your suggestion, do not require those people to <BR>adhere to our statement of faith (regardless of whether they agree <BR>with it or not). Some will join purely to stir up controversy. That's <BR>a given. Others will join not so much to do that, but will have no <BR>inclination to act differently on here than any other user group. <BR>Now, the question is
simple: in such a case, it is very conceivable <BR>that the majority of members would eventually be non-Christians and <BR>in such a case would this list have any reason for existing? That is, <BR>would it really be any different from other similar, secular mailing <BR>lists at that point? I tend to think not.</DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"><BR> The one possible way to let everyone in while preserving CS's <BR>character is to ask all who join to respect our statement of faith, <BR>whether they hold it or not (e.g. what I believe Ed meant by <BR>associate members). They could come on, hopefully see a positive <BR>witness, perhaps we could even have respectful conversations about <BR>faith. But, the list would stay much the same. I think if we simply <BR>open the floodgates, however, it would soon be no different than a <BR>non-Christian list, since it would become precisely that.<BR><BR> Incidentally, for those who would like to be a positive witness on a <BR>non-Christian, general technology -- with ample OT -- discussion <BR>list, consider joining another Open for Business hosted list that <BR>several of us are
on: OFB Cafe -- <A href="http://www.ofb.biz/mailman/listinfo/" target=_blank>http://www.ofb.biz/mailman/listinfo/</A> <BR><A href="http://cafe_ofb.biz/" target=_blank>cafe_ofb.biz</A> . It's a good list that I've been trying to revive and <BR>it has some good Christian and non-Christian folks on it. <BR>Realistically, it might be better to leave this list as is, and <BR>invite non-believers to join that list, particularly if many of us <BR>were over there too. This would mirror the modus operandi of Christ, <BR>as Ed noted, in having both open and closed times.<BR><BR>I understand now. My whole thought process was that if we got a few that</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">didn't care, the ones that didn't abide by the statement of faith or believe like we do,</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">it would be an oppertunity to help these individuals. I also have to remember, some people</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">are beyond help. I know it sounds mean, but it is true. I realized this just now when I thought about</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">how I worked so hard to help a drug addict, let him live with me, took him to church with me for months</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">and finally helped him get saved, yet after moving on in his life, he's back to his same ways. Although he has been</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">doing without the drugs, his lifestyle will most likely get him mixed up with them again.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">I pray all the time that it doesn't happen.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">Anyway, I am ranting. I absolutely see your point. I think all this was the side of me that</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">cares too much for people and wants to help anyone I can without even thinking whether it's even possible.</DIV><BR></DIV></div></body></html>