Why are people on this site so rude?

I disagree. He's never met me or spoken with me and knows nothing about me.

I messaged him and asked him why he thumbs-downed my posts and told him it seemed immature for him to do so.

Perhaps I can share another element of my walk, brother, for wisdom - and in doing so I hope to be able to demonstrate why I spoke of you not having been in the gutter. Though I did of course read your correction - atheism and sometime disobedience.

The gutter brother is not as we often imagine it to mean. For some the gutter is so appalling that they literally cry continuously and grieve always and shrink back from sin as though from their executioner -and yet they falter and fall into their own vomit.

Many years ago I was blessed to be part of a street team preaching the gospel. My calling is prophetic and so when I preach I find that I often cause a commotion - either in unbelievers or wrongly in backslidden believers if I am a fool. The unbelievers often suddenly start to exhibit demonic traits and threaten death or smash bottles over the heads of those poor evangelist I preach with - who never cause such a commotion.

But I have seen another reality also. This reality is one you are going to have to learn in wisdom because your ministry in service is in a nation that has not hidden the gospel under a bushel - yet has caused many children to stumble into appalling sin - even in the churches - before they fell away into the gutter.

One time when I was preaching there was no outward commotion - rather there was an inward commotion being stirred up in a man who was clearly homeless, a drinker and a man who was in rags. I watched him as I was preaching to the whosoever and discerned that he was both disturbed and at the same time sobered and restrained by an inner knowledge which I could not see. It was his heart that had gripped him and so when I finished preaching I approached him to see what the Lord would do. As soon as he opened his mouth to speak I knew that he was born again. So I called him brother and then asked him what had happened to him.

He had been in seminary to prepare for the pastoral ministry and in his church his own pastor caused him to stumble. Over a very quick period he was so grieved that he could not believe himself fit for seminary and fell away. He quickly began drinking again and became homeless and hopeless. When I met him preaching he had been on the streets for six months.

Because he was a drunkard I shared my own testimony and then told him that the Lord had required me to be tea total because in my flesh I did not know how to moderate drink if I was anxious or else distressed. We parted and he was extremely uplifted. The Lord clearly worked in his heart and gave him what his pastor could not give him. Unconditional love and acceptance in Christ. That was on the Saturday morning.

On Wednesday I was in a public house having lunch and for he first time in many years decided to have a half pint of beer. When I ordered it the Lord spoke to me and reminded me about the brother on Saturday. I ignored the wisdom and took my meal and my beer and sat down. Almost immediately the brother came into this same public house and seeing my beer he almost stumbled backwards and then fled the pub. I never saw him again and looked for him every Saturday for months afterwards.

I foolishly mistook the Lord's hand for a wretched brother - for liberty. Some brethren will question every precept and every desire and every thought you can have which you disclose because you desire to be obedient. And there is nothing you can do about it.

When you said, "He totally lived up to his name on this thread" you were simply speaking about an emoji - and not about words. Yet even the smallest thing can become a basis for others to correct you even when you didn't actually say anything about words.

So when I said previously, "You are clean not only because you are washed in the blood but also because you didn't fall into the gutter in the first place." I was offering you prophetic wisdom because in your work many of the people you will be serving are not blind to Christ as we imagine them to be when we believe we have the authority to tell others to repent - before we see that they already have a mustard seed of faith from their childhoods. Those in that condition need to see an upright man who never did fall into the gutter. Shalom brother.

I went through the most challenging time in my life over the past two years. I literally lost my wife, kids, career, was put in jail, put on court supervision, couldn't return to my church, kicked out of my own home that was in my name, and much more - all because I threw my wife's phone during an argument. She got an order of protection against me which I violated by texting her that I loved her and missed her (hence jail and court supervision.) I had never physically assaulted this woman in my life. The state told me I was to have no contact with my wife for two years because of that text message. I could not understand why she wanted to destroy my life when I had done so much for her and my stepchildren. I never even got to say goodbye to them - it was as though my wife and kids left for the evening and died in a car wreck and there wasn't even a funeral. She filed for divorce while we separated, and she drug that out for 14 months. She basically abandoned my daughter as well and waited 18 months before she even came and told my daughter she was sorry for leaving without saying goodbye.

I was delivered from drugs and alcohol 18 years ago. I believed I had every reason to relapse because of what I went through. I chose to stay sober and faithful to my wife. I wore my ring the entire time we were separated and prayed with absolute faith that God would restore our marriage. It didn't happen. But, I believe because of my faithfulness and my commitment to honor Christ and His commands no matter what the world threw at me, He has blessed me with this opportunity to help others. He has put it in my heart to do a ministry on a greater level than anything I have done before. A brother from my old church told me if I could accomplish what I intend to do, it would be "monumental." All the land and all the money is the Lord's anyway. I believe it is definitely going to happen.

If people are doing drugs, they will be removed from the land for a period of time. If they repent and want to come back, we'll let them try again (because Jesus would).

It is my understand that the topic of orange is taboo.

I went through the most challenging time in my life over the past two years. I literally lost my wife, kids, career, was put in jail, put on court supervision, couldn't return to my church, kicked out of my own home that was in my name, and much more - all because I threw my wife's phone during an argument. She got an order of protection against me which I violated by texting her that I loved her and missed her (hence jail and court supervision.) I had never physically assaulted this woman in my life. The state told me I was to have no contact with my wife for two years because of that text message. I could not understand why she wanted to destroy my life when I had done so much for her and my stepchildren. I never even got to say goodbye to them - it was as though my wife and kids left for the evening and died in a car wreck and there wasn't even a funeral. She filed for divorce while we separated, and she drug that out for 14 months. She basically abandoned my daughter as well and waited 18 months before she even came and told my daughter she was sorry for leaving without saying goodbye.

I was delivered from drugs and alcohol 18 years ago. I believed I had every reason to relapse because of what I went through. I chose to stay sober and faithful to my wife. I wore my ring the entire time we were separated and prayed with absolute faith that God would restore our marriage. It didn't happen. But, I believe because of my faithfulness and my commitment to honor Christ and His commands no matter what the world threw at me, He has blessed me with this opportunity to help others. He has put it in my heart to do a ministry on a greater level than anything I have done before. A brother from my old church told me if I could accomplish what I intend to do, it would be "monumental." All the land and all the money is the Lord's anyway. I believe it is definitely going to happen.

I went through the most challenging time in my life over the past two years. I literally lost my wife, kids, career, was put in jail, put on court supervision, couldn't return to my church, kicked out of my own home that was in my name, and much more - all because I threw my wife's phone during an argument. She got an order of protection against me which I violated by texting her that I loved her and missed her (hence jail and court supervision.) I had never physically assaulted this woman in my life. The state told me I was to have no contact with my wife for two years because of that text message. I could not understand why she wanted to destroy my life when I had done so much for her and my stepchildren. I never even got to say goodbye to them - it was as though my wife and kids left for the evening and died in a car wreck and there wasn't even a funeral. She filed for divorce while we separated, and she drug that out for 14 months. She basically abandoned my daughter as well and waited 18 months before she even came and told my daughter she was sorry for leaving without saying goodbye.

I was delivered from drugs and alcohol 18 years ago. I believed I had every reason to relapse because of what I went through. I chose to stay sober and faithful to my wife. I wore my ring the entire time we were separated and prayed with absolute faith that God would restore our marriage. It didn't happen. But, I believe because of my faithfulness and my commitment to honor Christ and His commands no matter what the world threw at me, He has blessed me with this opportunity to help others. He has put it in my heart to do a ministry on a greater level than anything I have done before. A brother from my old church told me if I could accomplish what I intend to do, it would be "monumental." All the land and all the money is the Lord's anyway. I believe it is definitely going to happen.

what about oranges?
or orange juice?
Is that why we don't see blue orange kitty cat lady around much these days?
What's wrong with orange?

Well for what it may be worth to you brother I believe that you will be just fine. My email is [email protected]. Our IT assets are in Switzerland. I'm in the UK but have been preparing a mission station in the north of England for the last ten years. It's been a very expensive business. I took the decision not to ask for financial support from the outset. In fact we don't even have a bank account and we don't have a collection plate and we don't even have the means to allow anyone to pay for a cup of coffee. But we do have considerable resource and all of that is in the hands of two families who funded the entire project unconditionally from the outset.

If you ask for NO money you will be at fault and if you DO ask for money you will be at fault. That is the time we live in - and I don't mean the world finding fault - I mean the church finding fault. And it has to be said that this is not always in a poor spirit - though it is often mistaken and so it is a burden. I saw the Crow and the Arrow meaning. The work in ministry that I am now in is based on a vision given in 1984. It is entirely to do with the churches. It has little to do with the lost other than to see the church dressed in readiness for the Lord's return. In that meaning the Lord will pour out his Spirit and many will be saved and provoke a godly jealousy in those who already have life yet have been robbed of their rightful inheritance in Christ in their walks due to pastors and elders who have forsaken the narrow way - and yet endlessly claim its meaning to garner money whilst denying the power of the Cross and the Blood for deliverance.

Don't be discouraged, brother, we must all be tested. God Bless

You now have my email address.

With all due respect to you and your desire, this thread is about how we Christians ought to conduct our communications here on Christian Chat. Rules/limits have been set to ensure any form of communication abides within the aims of Christian Chat... and conforms to its goals and strategies. An administrator has outlined the type of topics that oughtn't be discussed.

Irrespective, surely we have to bite our tongue and cut off any temptation to speak rudely to or about anyone.

Regarding your personal situation, I'm deeply saddened to learn of what you have been through, may God bring complete healing to your heart, and comfort and peace.

Your aims to help the homeless and substance addicted are very admirable, and your plans I suspect have merit, and the government of the day should take heed to your concerns. However, having read your descriptions in your comments of your personal trials, and spiritual ups and downs, I doubt that Jesus would be directing you back into the fray that nearly claimed you, no matter how honourable your intentions are. He would be more concerned about securing your personal welfare. He has brought you out of the mire you were once in, He can bring others out too without needlessly putting you at risk. If I could draw a comparison, metaphorically speaking, as a commander I would not send a subordinate back into the fray if he had suffered the multiple woundings that you have... the soldier might appear healed on the outside, but I wouldn't be confident that his emotional strength could withstand the enemy's onslaught. Not only is it likely that soldier will succumb to the enemy's attacks, but he may well cause a weakening or a break in our defences, and consequently threaten the welfare of his fellow soldiers. However, I would certainly make use of his talents in a different capacity, because he would have insights and empathes that, when the time is right, can be put to good use for his benefit, and for the benefit of others. I am a Vietnam Veteran, was in the Infantry, so I may have some insights that are relevant here too.

Thank you. If I had the money, I'd pay for the land myself. In the past, everything I've done for the Lord in ministry was out of my own pocket and at a sacrifice to myself. The only exception being one time my church needed someone for security and they paid me to do it for a few months until I gave the position to a friend that needed money. My preaching, giving, service, etc was all on me. So, I understand and commend your heart and your way of doing things.

I feel, with this particular ministry, it's the church's responsibility to pay for this. I did the math. 10s of millions of dollars into pastor's salaries and no place for the homeless and addicted to find Christian help. I was talking to my atheist brother about it and he said, "Why do you think people don't go to church?" Kind of profound when you think about it. But, instead of chastising the church, I'm going to reach out and get them excited to be a part of this as I want it to be completely volunteer-driven. If we create a local mission field, it will give thousands of local Christians a place to minister to the poor and needy.

I don't get it. We're supposed to be Christians. But I see so much hate and negativity and sarcasm and criticism. What gives?

Have you had time to assess the responses yet? Have you been able to work out a strategy to deal with any terse or rude responses to your posts?

I just hit the ignore button. There are people who have come on here and don’t even know me and accuse me of not having enough faith or acting like I’m atheist. Like really? That’s the definition of judgmental.

As a Christian I have questions and things I simply don’t know. So I ask questions and count on people to graciously provide answers or point me to Scripture. To use that as an opportunity to attack me is truly despicable and I won’t tolerate it. Nothing compels me to associate with individuals who hate me like that.

Personally, I have nothing against orange at all. No, the blue orange kitty cat lady has been scarce. I will not disparage orange juice either. Orange don't seem to rhyme with anything though.

Orange don't seem to rhyme with anything though.

I just hit the ignore button. There are people who have come on here and don’t even know me and accuse me of not having enough faith or acting like I’m atheist. Like really? That’s the definition of judgmental.

As a Christian I have questions and things I simply don’t know. So I ask questions and count on people to graciously provide answers or point me to Scripture. To use that as an opportunity to attack me is truly despicable and I won’t tolerate it. Nothing compels me to associate with individuals who hate me like that.