| Author | Message | ||
| Gary Mayo |
Lynn: No apology needed. I serfed into <Deleted>'s site one day and the usual banner had been replaced with an extremely obese woman in a pool or lake or ocean, breaking the surface of the water like a whale and the caption read "There she blows". From that day on, I knew life on the net, sharing the Gospel, would be a challenge. My site has also been the focus of such attacks, but thank God, seldom has these attacks done any lasting damage. I do often change pass words, and I try to keep mirror sites available in case of emergencies. I just placed a mirror site this week because of tampering of "Mindless Adventism", a site of mine. | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Dear Gary, You are right. At least in part. For my part, here's what I think: "All of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, "'Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.' "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 'Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.'" 1 Peter 3:8-14, NIV. Grace and peace always, Jude | ||
| Gary Mayo |
J the O: Thank you for those wonderful words, however, let's flip the coin: If I am correct, in part, that implies I am incorrect, in part. I would say we share the same love of the Gospel, we share the same desire to squash the lies of Adventism, yet we seem distant from each other. Why is that? Is the distance because we first met when I shouted a warning, or because you listened to the rumor mill? I am a published author of many Web pages, I fill thousands of computer screens all over the world every month with the warning of the SDA cult machine, so my views are widely known by many. I answer hundreds of e-mails every month from people desiring to escape cults, or help loved ones escape. If you spend a little time with me or reading my Web sites, you soon realize I am out-spoken and not shy. How is it I am missing the mark? Please help me realize how I let you down. I do not care to exchange private E-mail, please do it here in the open. If I am in need of reproof, this should be a good forum for such. I am not a proud man, I enjoy learning and becoming a better person, so let me have it with both barrels, if need be. I have enjoyed reading your posts, and I think I recognize your style from other forums under other names, no? Again, thanks for your warm welcome. Gary. P.S My trade mark signature does not work on Discus. I like to end each post with a three piece picture of a fish built with < symbols back to back. I do wish someone would fix this! | ||
| Lynn W |
Thanks Jude, I've used these to start a collection of wholesome speach verses. And I'll add Eph 4:29-32 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Dear Gary, I have welcomed you with open arms into this website. My fingers are not crossed. Nor do I have my hands behind my back. It's not my website any more than it is anyone else's. So my welcome is no more "official" than anyone else's. True trust, however, can only be earned. People must earn my trust. Conversely, I expect to earn other people's trust. Including yours. If your behavior -- words and actions -- from here onward demonstrate you to be honest and trustworthy, you will win my trust. No question. If not, then not. The rumor mill has nothing to do with it. I'm giving you a chance. Again, speaking only for myself, I remain, Jude the Obscure | ||
| Colleentinker |
I praise God for this website. I praise him that he protects it and that his Spirit is present. Ióand I know others as wellópray daily that God will protect this site from deceivers, from confusion, from divisiveness and from a critical spirit. I also pray that God will send people to this site who need to be here, and that he will bless each one who comes. This site is dedicated to God and exists to glorify Jesus. It also exists to be a place of truth. FormerAdventist.com is in his hands. My prayer is if anyone comes here with an agenda or anger or defensiveness, he or she will be touched by the love of God and the grace of Jesus and be willing to look squarely at the hidden hurts or resentments that drive him or her. Remember, God wastes nothing and redeems everything! I know that not all the people who post on this site are former Adventists; some are still Adventist. We welcome you; we just want you to remember the forum policy which Jude quoted above. This is not a site for arguing; it's a site for growing. As always, I pray for us all! | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Thanks, Colleen, and I praise God for you and your expressed faith as well. -Jude | ||
| Gary Mayo |
J the O and others: There is a computer program that blends the works of different writerís to look for similarities; and I think it would be fun to use it on your above posts directed at me and see if the words you extend to me are at all like the words Paul or Peter or Jesus extends to us. What do you think? I did do a complete search of the New Testament of the word "chance" and came up with only two verses - I will quote them for you now in KJV: Lk:10:31: And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 1Cor:15:37: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: Did Paul desire to earn trust? Did he desire that people "take a chance" on him? I only came here in recent weeks because a concerned friend e-mailed me, telling me you folks may be listening and heeding the flurries of a former comrade, and that kind person thought I should know about it. I noticed you counciled that person they were borderline on slander, and you were correct. I have no desire to earn your trust, as I only trust God. People are important, and I do have real friends, but "Internet personalities" with C.B handles are only worth the physical weight of their electronic transmissions. I put my faith in things I can touch and feel, like the indwelling Spirit of God. If my warnings have helped some here from being hurt, like I was hurt, and like many on <Deleted>'s site were hurt, I am pleased I got involved. I have no desire or burden to preach doctrines here because this Web site does have the correct message of the Gospel. Keep up the good fruits! Like the Bible says, "Let no man spoil your faith with philosophizing or high sounding nonsense". | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Gary, You said your middle name was Lee. But you're not the Lee whose posts were removed a few weeks back? | ||
| Gary Mayo |
J the O: As I said, I am not aware that any of my posts were removed, as I have not posted anything that required such. What was removed? I noticed a few references to someone posting under the label "156" that was removed, but that was not me, and I did not see or read the posts. I read your warnings to someone that you alerted to be careful claiming EGW to be gay. Thank you for such, as that is not necessary to do to discredit EGW's gift to the Church. That information is interesting, but we have chosen not to place such references to the matter on our web sites. The SDA-EGW Historical Society . | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Gary, Here is one such post under the name "Lee," which I believe you said was your middle name: * * * * * * * * * * * By Lee on Friday, January 21, 2000 - 07:05 am: Hello Patti: Maybe you could be more spacific about what you are running away from. Often times the demons we see in others, are inside us. Let's share. Talk to us. * * * * * * * * * * * Did you post this, Gary? Jude | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Gary, here is another post under the name "Lee"? Are you the one who posted it? * * * * * * * * * * * By Lee on Friday, January 21, 2000 - 09:36 am: Patti: 1:Tell us more about grace and forgiveness. 2:What does it mean to you? 3:How long out of Adventism are you? 4:Is your family SDA? * * * * * * * * * * * Jude | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Gary, here is a third posting under the name "Lee." * * * * * * * * * * * By Lee on Friday, January 21, 2000 - 01:21 pm: Jude Maybe you perceived something I missed. Patti came in here and said she wanted to talk, so I asked the questions I thought was germane to someone just leaving Adventism. You speak as one having authority: Do you know something I do not? That is always possible. Perhaps you have something better to say or ask. I thought it would have been rude to ignore her, or gush all over her like a long lost relative. I asked her the same questions that everyone faces when they leave a cultic religious system of blaspheme. Perhaps you are correct, if you are saying that we should not reach out to someone. However, I pray you are not. * * * * * * * * * * * Did you post it? Jude | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Gary, Here is a fourth posting under the name "Lee." * * * * * * * * * * * By lee on Saturday, January 22, 2000 - 06:49 am: Hello Bruce: I am a former SDA, out some 20 years. I refer to SDA'ism as a cult - plain and simple. They hide their true intent, until the dammage is done. They have harmed the lives of hundreds of millions of people over the past 150 years, and destroyed the immage of Christ everywhere they go. I am married, 2 kids, 3 dogs, mortgage, truck payment, chiped tooth, Christian (not in that order). * * * * * * * * * * Is it yours? Jude | ||
| Gary Mayo |
Right down to the chipped tooth. Want a picture? | ||
| Gary Mayo |
Looking back over your tone and your questions, I feel like answering you like Jesus answered his accusers: "You say that I am". | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Thanks Gary Lee, for your answers. In one of your posts you volunteteered the following: "I noticed a few references to someone posting under the label '156' that was removed, but that was not me, and I did not see or read the posts." Isn't that correct? -Jude | ||
| Gary Mayo |
Do you mean "Is that correct"? 100% correct! It is hard to give a complete answer, to your structured question. I hope I make my answer clear. I am not 156. My guess (and it is just a guess)is that 156 is a banned member of <Deleted>'s forum, maybe a fellow named Rob. Rob was prone to post things that required deleting, from time to time, like the day he encouraged a person to kill himself, not long ago. I am not 156, I am not Rob, and have NEVER posted as such! I have been quite patient with your probing questions. Now it's my turn. Have you ever posted under the following names: Patti, Page, Ralph, Lizzie Borden? I am starting to think so. Cool my fears, please. | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Gary, No, none of the above. I do want to thank you for your patience and forbearance, though. And to leave you in peace with the words of Jesus. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." Matthew 16:24-28, NIV. This I quote truly, Gary, for I have not yet tasted death and yet I have seen him coming "in his Father's glory with his angels" -- in this respect: "Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, "Here it is," or "There it is," because the kingdom of God is within you.'" Luke 17:20,21, NIV. And since there are not two kingdoms of heaven or of God, but one and only one, I welcome you -- not to this website -- but to his both-now-and-future kingdom of heaven as a fellow subject. May you live and move and have your being in him, Jude |
