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I've been struggling a bit with how to reply to this. I feel like this thread has drastically polarized people, but I'm sitting somewhere in the middle.
Immediately upon seeing Blain's threads I did think something similar to the thread title. There was a follow up to them saying something along the lines of "now CC is a more positive place." This struck me as really odd, as it didn't seem to be true. Several months ago there was a long thread in which you were to compliment the person who posted before you. I followed that thread for quite some time, but it was often awkward and ended up quite circular/repetitive. Compliments are exceedingly beneficial and we are called to support and encourage our brothers and sisters. In that, though, we do have to be careful. It is easy to belittle or discourage others if we go about it blindly.
I have great respect and admiration for many people on the forums and I am quick to tell them. The people whom I know well enough to truly compliment have all been complimented by me on several occasions. I try to focus on trying to help my brothers and sisters personally understand how I see them; how I see Christ in them. Publicly, though, is a whole different story. As SeatBelt has so astutely recognized, attempts at public 'encouragement' can result in much more harm than good.
I'm drawn to the opposing side as well, though. It seems that SeatBelt fell for the same trap as Blain. His intentions were lost because his thoughts were shared too publicly. And yes, Blain's intentions probably were pure. Not everything "good" is actually righteous.
So out of all of this, I'm left thinking... Be careful when posting threads about a specific person; your opinion of them(good or bad). Personal relationships by committee always seem to end up in trouble.
Immediately upon seeing Blain's threads I did think something similar to the thread title. There was a follow up to them saying something along the lines of "now CC is a more positive place." This struck me as really odd, as it didn't seem to be true. Several months ago there was a long thread in which you were to compliment the person who posted before you. I followed that thread for quite some time, but it was often awkward and ended up quite circular/repetitive. Compliments are exceedingly beneficial and we are called to support and encourage our brothers and sisters. In that, though, we do have to be careful. It is easy to belittle or discourage others if we go about it blindly.
I have great respect and admiration for many people on the forums and I am quick to tell them. The people whom I know well enough to truly compliment have all been complimented by me on several occasions. I try to focus on trying to help my brothers and sisters personally understand how I see them; how I see Christ in them. Publicly, though, is a whole different story. As SeatBelt has so astutely recognized, attempts at public 'encouragement' can result in much more harm than good.
I'm drawn to the opposing side as well, though. It seems that SeatBelt fell for the same trap as Blain. His intentions were lost because his thoughts were shared too publicly. And yes, Blain's intentions probably were pure. Not everything "good" is actually righteous.
So out of all of this, I'm left thinking... Be careful when posting threads about a specific person; your opinion of them(good or bad). Personal relationships by committee always seem to end up in trouble.
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I know Blain's intentions were pure, but yea... #11 (others will feel left out)
I was actually hoping that no one would start a thread about me because 1) I barely post anymore and no longer feel connected here (no longer part of the 'in crowd', so to speak), and 2) I am a very private individual and the last thing I want is to call a bunch of attention to myself, but a part of me wanted very much for someone to make me a thread because this place has been such a part of my life for the last 4 years and it would certainly be like sticking the knife in further and twisting it if no one made a thread for me.
So I just really wish this appreciation fad had not started at all, or at least had been handled differently. I am grateful to the person who made my thread and to those who replied to it, but I think the idea of making appreciation threads is not a good one.
I was actually hoping that no one would start a thread about me because 1) I barely post anymore and no longer feel connected here (no longer part of the 'in crowd', so to speak), and 2) I am a very private individual and the last thing I want is to call a bunch of attention to myself, but a part of me wanted very much for someone to make me a thread because this place has been such a part of my life for the last 4 years and it would certainly be like sticking the knife in further and twisting it if no one made a thread for me.
So I just really wish this appreciation fad had not started at all, or at least had been handled differently. I am grateful to the person who made my thread and to those who replied to it, but I think the idea of making appreciation threads is not a good one.
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wow, I'm really sorry guys. I knew that it might make some people uncomfortable and maybe there are certain people we should not make encouragment threads about. But me always being the optimistic and always seeing the bright side I knew that if someone who thought little of themselves or didn't really think they were touching the lives of others saw just how much of a blessing they really are on others they would open their eyes and have a breath of life in them.
There is a negative side to everything, there is always going to be something someone doesn't like. Now i made the threads but i never said anyone had to respond if they didn't want to. you shouldn't feel bad or guilty by not responding.
Now let me tell you what i saw when everyone posted. I saw a much needed love that this world doesn't see that often. Paul and the apostles often preached how we should encourage love and strengthen each other, and I saw this in all these threads. I actually felt everyone pulling together and making each other strong, I saw everyone becoming a true family of christ. It's easy to say we christians are a family of christ, but not until you see the evidence does it really sink in.
When i saw all the threads and all the wonderful things everyone was saying about each other i thought to myself( This is what a being a true family is about) Now think about this, what if someone who isn't a christian or someone who just came to the site saw these threads. how do you think their view of people might change? Think also about this, did you know that without even knowing it all of you have impacted people and given them hope and have shown them what love is really about?
sure there are all those things you said about me, but have you thought about all the good things that have come from it? Maybe it's worth it, and i am willing to take the risk because It was never about me. I do not intend to leave anyone out, i work as fast as i can but i know the impact these threads have made on people and I know their hearts have been touched.
If you don't want a thread to be made about you please do not hesitate to tell me
There is a negative side to everything, there is always going to be something someone doesn't like. Now i made the threads but i never said anyone had to respond if they didn't want to. you shouldn't feel bad or guilty by not responding.
Now let me tell you what i saw when everyone posted. I saw a much needed love that this world doesn't see that often. Paul and the apostles often preached how we should encourage love and strengthen each other, and I saw this in all these threads. I actually felt everyone pulling together and making each other strong, I saw everyone becoming a true family of christ. It's easy to say we christians are a family of christ, but not until you see the evidence does it really sink in.
When i saw all the threads and all the wonderful things everyone was saying about each other i thought to myself( This is what a being a true family is about) Now think about this, what if someone who isn't a christian or someone who just came to the site saw these threads. how do you think their view of people might change? Think also about this, did you know that without even knowing it all of you have impacted people and given them hope and have shown them what love is really about?
sure there are all those things you said about me, but have you thought about all the good things that have come from it? Maybe it's worth it, and i am willing to take the risk because It was never about me. I do not intend to leave anyone out, i work as fast as i can but i know the impact these threads have made on people and I know their hearts have been touched.
If you don't want a thread to be made about you please do not hesitate to tell me
This thread is a bit depressing. :/
For the record, I am very thankful for the love and positivity that Blain brings to the forums. No one doubts how pure his intentions are. Thank you, Blain. You are a blessing. *hugs*
And Seatbelt, I don't think you're a jerk. I can tell that your intentions behind your post are born out of love and consideration for others. That is good and right. You brought up good points.
All of that said, this thread feels depressing because it feels like positivity/encouragement is being attacked (though I know it's really not). At the very least, I am thankful for everyone here who has good intentions. May we eventually figure out how to bless and encourage one another without stepping on so many toes.
To anyone who IS in the mood for an encouraging word today... Jesus loves you, and so do lots of people on this forum.
For the record, I am very thankful for the love and positivity that Blain brings to the forums. No one doubts how pure his intentions are. Thank you, Blain. You are a blessing. *hugs*
And Seatbelt, I don't think you're a jerk. I can tell that your intentions behind your post are born out of love and consideration for others. That is good and right. You brought up good points.
All of that said, this thread feels depressing because it feels like positivity/encouragement is being attacked (though I know it's really not). At the very least, I am thankful for everyone here who has good intentions. May we eventually figure out how to bless and encourage one another without stepping on so many toes.
To anyone who IS in the mood for an encouraging word today... Jesus loves you, and so do lots of people on this forum.
He's just keepin it real! In times of extreme frustration I sometimes find myself saying (inwardly) "it's a good thing Jesus loves you because right now I sure don't".
Not the most Christlike response... but I feel like there's a potential country song somewhere in there.
also, my apologies for derailing. I'm done, promise.
Not the most Christlike response... but I feel like there's a potential country song somewhere in there.
also, my apologies for derailing. I'm done, promise.
S
I think all that participated in Blain's positivity movement were likely doing so with their hearts in the right place. One or two of the responses here... well, a skilled surgeon may be able to put your heart back where it should be.
I jumped in, too. I think Many of us did. We're lemmings, and it was like cats following someone with a cordless electric can opener... "ooooh a thread... I should Post on it." I think the same has happened here.
Some of you will rebel against me and start new threads, revive old ones, or keep alive the ones that are still going. Others will rebel against that and avoid such things like the plague of your choosing. We're all rebels of some sort. At some point this will all come back around again, with a new Blain, a new SeatBelt, and a new You.
History repeats itself. We are doomed to fail. Christ saves us anyway.
Wow, that's like a whole year of college - physics, economics, history, Biblical studies, and phys ed... all rolled into 12 little words.
An unnamed CC member pointed out to me that all the people that thought the threads were a great idea were people that had threads started about them. I've not fact checked that, but that does bring us back to point #11.
Some have privately told me how they felt about the threads started about them, or not started about them. Some have privately expressed to me regrets for their posts. I even anticipate that soemone may wish to retract anything nice they may have said on the thread about me. Which brings me to the thread about me... The thread about me did make me feel a little awkward. But I wasn't avoiding CC because of it. I avoid CC for nothing (though some of you may now have me on "ignore" to avoid me). Work is crazy busy and there are some things in my real life I've been trying to avoid that I must attend to. Also, never expect me to be on CC much on a Friday night. I have standing Friday night plans.
As much as I would not like to admit it, publicly or to myself and God alone, I am one of those "odd numbers people" who doesn't do so well with compliments. (If you got lost there, go back and read the odd numbered items from the post at the start of this thread.) I am better at giving compliments than getting them. I did feel a little thrown into the hot tub, and felt defensive about what people were saying about me, even if it was nice!
I posted this thread publicly for a reason, or reasons, but will leave it up to the reader to discern and decide. After all, many of you seem to already be presuming to know what my reasons or motives were.
My favorite of all of this was:
Please forgive me, Lightning, for singling you out for reply. You made several excellent points in your post, only part of these I have quoted. Lighning, you Definitely missed part of what I was after. However, you, in fact, seemed to get more of my intentions than others did, whether you realized it or not.
As Lighning said, I myself Believe that Blain's intentions were pure. If I were to be posting to a thread complimenting Blain, I feel that I could in clean conscience say that he is an un-jaded man full of pure motives, intentions, and ideals. I mean that not as a double egdged sword, either. It is an admirable set of traits. He, and you, may not have gotten this out of any of what has been said, but I kinna like the kid.
I had thought through starting this thread since yesterday afternoon, even before I had noticed a thread started about me.
I did not think it was "Conflict" enough to need the Matthew 18 model when I started this thread. It seems, however, that some of you are more conflicted about it than I. Was I a jerk about it some? Yes. Was Jesus a jerk to the money changers he drove out of the temple? Yes. Am I Jesus? Man, I sure hope not or we're all up a paddle without a creek. (much more painful than the other way about)
I've got a long list of things to accomplish before bedtime tonight, so if I'm not on here replying to ever word said, just know that it means I don't hate you so much to feel the need to be up in anyone's grill. In fact, I have no hatred or malice for anyone here. I realize that may be news to you, though.
If emotions get too high over what I've said, I can provide you with my address so that you can come burn a cross on my front yard and let off some of that steam. I'd hate for someone to get injured tomorrow in a communion plate passing accident because of unresolved emotions stemming from what I have said.
We're all works in progress, so look for the other thread I am starting.
I jumped in, too. I think Many of us did. We're lemmings, and it was like cats following someone with a cordless electric can opener... "ooooh a thread... I should Post on it." I think the same has happened here.
Some of you will rebel against me and start new threads, revive old ones, or keep alive the ones that are still going. Others will rebel against that and avoid such things like the plague of your choosing. We're all rebels of some sort. At some point this will all come back around again, with a new Blain, a new SeatBelt, and a new You.
History repeats itself. We are doomed to fail. Christ saves us anyway.
Wow, that's like a whole year of college - physics, economics, history, Biblical studies, and phys ed... all rolled into 12 little words.
An unnamed CC member pointed out to me that all the people that thought the threads were a great idea were people that had threads started about them. I've not fact checked that, but that does bring us back to point #11.
Some have privately told me how they felt about the threads started about them, or not started about them. Some have privately expressed to me regrets for their posts. I even anticipate that soemone may wish to retract anything nice they may have said on the thread about me. Which brings me to the thread about me... The thread about me did make me feel a little awkward. But I wasn't avoiding CC because of it. I avoid CC for nothing (though some of you may now have me on "ignore" to avoid me). Work is crazy busy and there are some things in my real life I've been trying to avoid that I must attend to. Also, never expect me to be on CC much on a Friday night. I have standing Friday night plans.
As much as I would not like to admit it, publicly or to myself and God alone, I am one of those "odd numbers people" who doesn't do so well with compliments. (If you got lost there, go back and read the odd numbered items from the post at the start of this thread.) I am better at giving compliments than getting them. I did feel a little thrown into the hot tub, and felt defensive about what people were saying about me, even if it was nice!
I posted this thread publicly for a reason, or reasons, but will leave it up to the reader to discern and decide. After all, many of you seem to already be presuming to know what my reasons or motives were.
My favorite of all of this was:
Please forgive me, Lightning, for singling you out for reply. You made several excellent points in your post, only part of these I have quoted. Lighning, you Definitely missed part of what I was after. However, you, in fact, seemed to get more of my intentions than others did, whether you realized it or not.
As Lighning said, I myself Believe that Blain's intentions were pure. If I were to be posting to a thread complimenting Blain, I feel that I could in clean conscience say that he is an un-jaded man full of pure motives, intentions, and ideals. I mean that not as a double egdged sword, either. It is an admirable set of traits. He, and you, may not have gotten this out of any of what has been said, but I kinna like the kid.
I had thought through starting this thread since yesterday afternoon, even before I had noticed a thread started about me.
I did not think it was "Conflict" enough to need the Matthew 18 model when I started this thread. It seems, however, that some of you are more conflicted about it than I. Was I a jerk about it some? Yes. Was Jesus a jerk to the money changers he drove out of the temple? Yes. Am I Jesus? Man, I sure hope not or we're all up a paddle without a creek. (much more painful than the other way about)
I've got a long list of things to accomplish before bedtime tonight, so if I'm not on here replying to ever word said, just know that it means I don't hate you so much to feel the need to be up in anyone's grill. In fact, I have no hatred or malice for anyone here. I realize that may be news to you, though.
If emotions get too high over what I've said, I can provide you with my address so that you can come burn a cross on my front yard and let off some of that steam.
I'd hate for someone to get injured tomorrow in a communion plate passing accident because of unresolved emotions stemming from what I have said. We're all works in progress, so look for the other thread I am starting.
Yes sir, I was actually really surprised that some were offended by your thread, but since they were, it seemed like it may have been better served as a general discussion of either singling people out, or perhaps about raising an individual up. Either way, you did share many of my own thoughts in this thread.
God bless.
God bless.