[CS-FSLUG] Junk mail filters

[Josiah Ritchie]

On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 7:58 PM, Tim Young <Tim.Young at lightsys.org> wrote:

> I filter things the manual way, highlight and press delete. And I do that
> for a specific reason.
>
> I do not often participate in a lot of the discussions that are off topic.
> But I have participated in some. One thing that I realize is that this
> online discussion group is "community" for many on the list. It has been
> around a long time, and while the discussions sometimes get a little
> ferocious, it is often among "friends." I have often prayed for many of the
> people on this list, over things they are going through; part of the
> Christian walk is being vulnerable, and helping each-other grow. And
> sometimes a friend needs to give a listening ear. Or, in some cases, a
> silent > /dev/null.
>
> I realize I would not recognize most people on this list if I walked past
> them, but they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. And it is a community
> that I have chosen to be a part of. Sometimes the croup can be offensive,
> sometimes harsh, and sometimes wrong (in my opinion). But I choose to try to
> love the people at the other end. Even if that simply means ignoring some of
> the flame-wars. I often pray for the people involved, and press delete.
>
> It is not always fun, but every group (church, Bible-study, etc) has
> similar dynamics. Conversations spring up that may not belong, simply
> because it is a community, not just a collection of non-entities. But I am
> glad for the various subject-line tags.


Tim, thanks for the thought to stop and pray before I hit the "archive"
button.

I agree, the community is something that shouldn't get lost in the shuffle.
I don't come here to learn about linux in a Christian environment. Frankly,
I learn a lot more elsewhere because it is specific to the area of open
source that is relevant to me at that moment. I come here because I have
like-minded brothers who I enjoy being around and learning from. Like many
of us, there is certain levels of discussion we ignore. "In real life" I
keep my mouth shut around certain subjects. They are typically the same ones
I ignore here. Every community worth being a part of comes with annoyances.
I'm sure mine are different in this group than some of yours. :) We do have
several points to unite around and that unity is appreciated.

We've lost members in the past over similar times of discussion (US national
elections seem to be a hot time). I promise that if you weather out the PD
talk, it will die down in a month and we'll be back to the community we've
enjoyed together prior to the PD stuff. We truly are Christians first and
can overlook our political differences. I've always been a bit dissappointed
to hear we lost any member, despite the reason. Fortunately some do come
back, like Fred mentioned in his own story a few weeks back.

Each active person here affects the experience a little bit. I don't mean by
the topics and direction of conversation, but in the personality they bring.
We have our imperfections, but what beauty in seeing the body of Christ
gather and function, interact and grow together. Perhaps we're like a
perennial bulb. We have period where we grow and develop beautiful flowers
and then we have times that we die and retreat into the ground, but we
always come back. Seems to me that's just the nature of things.

Yama, I'd hate to lose you from our community. You've been here for years
and flavor the community with your perspective and personality. The first
message from you I found is from 2005. You've been one of us for nearly 3
years. That means, you got in just a year after the last US presidential
election. :-) Hang on with us, it's almost over!

http://www.ofb.biz/pipermail/christiansource_ofb.biz/2005-December/029176.html

How's that "Big life Project" going that you mentioned? The sentiments you
expressed are certainly a growing concern among the mission world in
general. The giant is moving! :-)

Well, I need to go to bed...

JSR/

-- 
Our Mission
Technology and Hospitality for God's Workmen
http://missions.ritchietribe.net
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