Introduction
Introduction Statistics Contact Development Disclaimer Help
Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
https://unitedindiversity.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
Return to: Our Latest Secular Posts
*****************************************************
#Post#: 2191--------------------------------------------------
Confusion
By: Mike Waters Date: August 5, 2025, 3:55 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Both Sides Now
Song by Joni Mitchell
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and they snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show
And you leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It's love's illusions that I recall
I really don't know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say, "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way
Oh, but now old friends they're acting strange
And they shake their heads and they tell me that I've changed
Well something's lost, but something's gained
In living every day
I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all[/center]
#Post#: 2193--------------------------------------------------
Re: Confusion
By: Mike Waters Date: August 5, 2025, 5:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I picked that song to kick off what feels like an epic day for
me.
[center]New every morning is thy love
Our wakening and uprising prove
From sleep and darkness safely brought
Restored to life and power and thought[/center]
Notwithstanding my uncertainty about the 'power' bit, hereon I
plunge into the 'Thought'
And it takes me back to my earliest 'Forum' days and all the
water that has subsequently passed under the bridge of life
(subject to my failing memory).
It all began in "UK Christian Forum" of which Patsy Middleton
was its 'King Pin' moderator, and where I first encountered the
'Alexander' family.
It was based on acquiescence to its Statement of Faith which was
a copy of that used by the 'Evangelical Alliance'.
Typically I bulked at acquiescing to any thing that was 'man
made' and presented as being of Divine authority, which led me
being banned, and thereon to my trail though other forums (most
of which led to me being banned).
I can't be sure of the sequence, but amongst many others it
principally involved 'Faith. org.' where I First encountered
Kerry, and 'True to Oneself', where I first encountered Amadeus.
Thereafter I sought what I thought would reconcile all
Theological controversies by starting my own forums where the
only acquiescence was to acknowledge that no member should claim
the sole right to 'absolute truth' and that each should accept
that others might at least be partially 'right'.
But here I am in the final days of my life, questioning whether
I even had the right to insist on any chosen 'acquiescence'.
But I value the journey, which has been so instrumental in
gradually shaping my trust in God.
I am left with my one and only remaining 'hope' being summed up
in the words of the Hymnist "NOTHING in my hand in bring, solely
in thy Cross I cling"
And by 'NOTHING' I mean absolutely no theology whatsoever,
except that of the 'Cross'
#Post#: 2194--------------------------------------------------
Re: Confusion
By: Mike Waters Date: August 5, 2025, 5:47 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I am now so old and feeble that I am wondering whether this
Thread might be my final 'Swan Son'
I really wish that I were no long the 'owner/originator' of a
Christian forum but I don't know how to relieve myself of that
burden, other than by making sure that I never act as if I were.
God grant that the forum may continue as it is, or either grow
or dwindle, at the will of its membership, regardless of me.
God bless you all, and lead you aright.
Mike.
#Post#: 2195--------------------------------------------------
Re: Confusion
By: Pat Date: August 5, 2025, 6:32 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Hi Mike, thank you for all your efforts over the years on
various sites. If you feel you can't go on then do what's best
for yourself and don't worry about the site. Rest yourself,
retire gracefully and enjoy your resting. xx
#Post#: 2196--------------------------------------------------
Re: Confusion
By: Mike Waters Date: August 5, 2025, 6:52 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Pat link=topic=72.msg2195#msg2195 date=1754393555]
Hi Mike, thank you for all your efforts over the years on
various sites. If you feel you can't go on then do what's best
for yourself and don't worry about the site. Rest yourself,
retire gracefully and enjoy your resting. xx
[/quote]
Thanks so much and Bless you Pat.
I doubt that I shall cease 'reading' the posts, and may even
reply to the non Theological stuff.
#Post#: 2197--------------------------------------------------
Re: Confusion
By: Dave Date: August 5, 2025, 11:05 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Come off it Mike, last 'post'(no pun intended) hasn't sounded,
you've been fading ever since I came on but fading is common to
all, today Helen and I tied the knot, 'as it were'64 years ago,
at a country church with a 800 year old Yew tree that had been
fading for centuries.
I can pen this 'as all my yesterdays seem so far away' as the
song says; but yesterday as we are dog sitting the my daughters
dog and I had proofed the yard, and it was sunny we both went
out in the yard with the dog, braving the mosquito's Helen in
thick socks and me in a very upscale pair of slip on (I use the
term lightly) thinking carefully as I use the word 'stupid' as
they are so wooly my dabs barely get in, after all the garden
frivolity I go to open the screen door which has a self locking
device and Lo locked!!!
Because I had changed from shorts to longs I had no keys on me,
our daughters house is like Fort Knox, no entry windows and a
front keyed entry pad, of which Helen had the number but not the
sequence, after about seven times around the house it and it was
still standing as locked as before, my daughter being in
Anacortes Washington, and our granddaughters living miles away
and me in my wretched 'slip ons' and Helen after about 30 mins
had me banging on neighbours doors but as it's a long weekend
most were away or didn't want to be disturbed because she
feeling dehydrated, even though Canada has a good track record
on deaths by dehydration. The dog was going nutty as it hasn't
been fed; oh I did offer Helen water by garden hose which she
declined.
Finally I raised our next door neighbour and they took Helen in
and fed and watered her, the husband did have my son in laws
number on his phone but all we got was "leave a message and I
will get back to you"
does anyone else have moments of unchristian thoughts at
times????
Finally the next doors got a hold of my daughter and she gave
Helen the key number to the pad, the moral being, you only get
in with the right number.
We will now keep a multitude of keys in strategic outdoor
hideaways.
Mike and you think you have problems!!!!!!!!!
#Post#: 2201--------------------------------------------------
Re: Confusion
By: Helen Date: August 5, 2025, 6:17 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Mike Waters link=topic=72.msg2194#msg2194
date=1754390865]
I am now so old and feeble that I am wondering whether this
Thread might be my final 'Swan Son'
I really wish that I were no long the 'owner/originator' of a
Christian forum but I don't know how to relieve myself of that
burden, other than by making sure that I never act as if I were.
God grant that the forum may continue as it is, or either grow
or dwindle, at the will of its membership, regardless of me.
God bless you all, and lead you aright.
Mike.
[/quote]
Hi there Mike.
Yes, I count my blessing in meeting you all on Terry�s UK
Christian Forum.
That was my very first entrance into �forum life �.
It showed me that having Christian friends was indeed really
possible ..I remember one night when I couldn�t sleep and was
stressing over something �that you and Kerry posted back and
forth to me for about an hour. It encouraged , strengthened and
lifted me!
So even though we�ve had our ups, together and differences
together over the decades , I couldn�t to both pass friends who
have helped me along the way.
Neil was the one who got on UKCF �I�m forever grateful .
Kerry I know is younger , but I believe we will all be together
soon. Neil is getting ready to turn 90. I as you know have some
compromised organs that are wearing out! I have a feeling that
I will beat him to the Gate.
Talking of the gate , Neil got me reading the book � Imagine
Heaven � . It�s not the best book I�ve read on the afterlife. I
liked �Left for Dead � better ( if I remember rightly. )
This � Imagine Heaven � is interviews world wide , age wide from
7 - 90 etc different cultures and beliefs. About 2,000 different
interviews .
As you know I am not a believer in eternal Hell. To me it�s
ridiculous that the Words says that God is not willing for any
to perish , then turn round and say 92% of mankind are going to
hell!
If anything, this book did comfort me in that none of the
unbelievers who went down and not up�mentioned flames . They did
mention icy cold , and blacker than black , and being pushed ,
pulled , bitten and mistreated by demons � one atheist said that
during all the abuse he heard a voice say �pray� . Being an
atheist he knew no prayers !! So all he could do was to sing the
American national anthem�he said relief started coming�so he
sung the only other thing he knew ..The Battle Hymn Of The
Republic. Final he heard his own voice yell out �God save me �.
Immediately he was out of the cold and dark and into the light�
so many similar stories of those who �died� as unbelievers .
It reminds me of the song about the children of Israel and the
plague of locusts -� He just made them willing to go, he just
made them willing to go , He didn�t make them go against their
will, but He just made them willing to go.� ;D
� Every every knee shall bow , and every tongue shall confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord �
God always wins !!
Looking forward to a face-to-face Mike, �see you at the Gate .
#Post#: 2202--------------------------------------------------
Re: Confusion
By: Mike Waters Date: August 5, 2025, 9:58 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Your memory leaves me dumbfounded (whoever originated that
word), but it saves me from OMG, good gracious, good heavens
etc.
Also I had completely forgotten the name of the guy who ran
UKCF.
And that reminds me that the first forum I started was Christian
Faith and Fellowship forum, and how I fell for the promise of
one member who reckoned he could quickly get us up to the top of
the 'search engine ratings', and ended up by effective
'stealing' the forum from me in the process. (I was so 'green'
in those early days). And now I remember that his 'right hand'
partner. was called Pia.
Also you remind me of all the Theological specialities that we
wrestled with (Universal Reconciliation, Sonship, extreme
Calvinism, Ultra Dispensationalism etc).
Plus of course my 'Darkened Glass', 'The Gift and the Prize
underpinning Selective Rapture', leading to my 'escape' from
theology as I settled for 'Nothing in my Hand I bring, simply to
Thy Cross I cling'.
What a journey that has been .... at the end of it all I reckon
that I have barely learned enough to enable me to start again,
(Re-incarnation eh??)
So much Love XXXX
#Post#: 2203--------------------------------------------------
Re: Confusion
By: Helen Date: August 5, 2025, 10:39 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Just rest and try to sleep as it will soon be �getting up time
there in UK , bed time for us.
I lied , because as soon as you mention the guy who ran UKCW , I
remember I was wrong , his name wasn�t Terry , but *Trevor �it
suddenly came to me. His surname was on the end of my tongue ,
but I can�t grab it�
Your very first breakaway �forum � after Trevor disbanded his (
remember he got married and said it took too much of his time )
You started a kind of Blog Page , which was very hard to
navigate , Pat and Rita will remember it .
After that you launched your first Creataform I think.
I remember the incident where the guy took the forum�but it
wasn�t that first one that you tried..you�d had a couple of
tries before that happened .
No regrets Mike, good days �and it was really good for all of us
�we all grew up a bit, and tried to learn how to disagree
agreeably �I believe we finally mastered that part anyway.
😊
� We�ll talk it over , in the by and by �� x
#Post#: 2204--------------------------------------------------
Re: Confusion
By: Rita Date: August 6, 2025, 2:10 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I use to love UKCW - I believe that was my first Christian forum
experience����have had some contact with Patsy from time to
time, but not recently.
Sorry to hear how you are feeling Mike, I guess we have to
adjust to so many different things as we get older. Life
changes, but equally life goes on. You don�t have to hand the
forum over as such, it�s small and I think will take care of
itself.
So go with the flow as you will have bad days and good days and
on those good days you may feel like posting xxxx
*****************************************************
Next Page
You are viewing proxied material from gopher.createaforum.com. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.