A little heads up for newcomers

[OldDad]

We love having new people join the Grace Centered Message Board - I post this to provide a little guidance and help some folks manage their expectations.

First off, if you haven't done it yet, go read the forum rules... CLICK HERE!  This will save you a lot of confusion and misunderstandings...

Secondly, if you didn't just go read the forum rules - go do it NOW.  CLICK HERE!  This will save you a lot of confusion and misunderstandings...

Some folks come here for fellowship, and there is a lot of that - I've met some great people, including some I consider friends here.  BUT keep in mind, this is a discussion board and you are going to encounter folks you agree with and disagree with.  Personally, I usually learn more from those I disagree with.  I just don't want folks to think we all hold hands and sing "Kumbayah" all day.

Some threads, particularly in Theology and Politics, can get very heated and even a little rancorous.  That DOESN'T mean we're bad Christians or that we don't love each other.  As noted above, this is a discussion forum and we're large enough to have an extremely diverse membership with the accompanying diversity of opinion.  Again a personal example, I'm so politically conservative I make Ronald Reagan look like Hillary Clinton - but I frequently disagree with what conservatives on this board say and the way they say it.

Bottom line is to know ahead of time that there is vigorous debate here, and "if you can't stand the heat" stick to the lighter threads.

This next point will save newcomers more frustration than anything else I know of - Don't try to "fix" this board.  I've been a member for 7 years, the boards been around for 8 or 9.  I've seen a constant parade of people who have decided their online mission is to get us straightened out - on baptism, the end times, politics, evolution and creation, what to eat, what to wear, what to drink, or not drink, musical instruments in church, house church vs. "institutional" church, women in ministry, abortion, television, R rated movies, Easter observances, etc., etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseum...  Folks blow in with the "correct view" on whatever, then bellow, berate, and bash for a hundred or two hundred (or four or five or...) posts and then they decide to "shake the dust" and quit - - always leaving a nasty "bye-bye" post as a lovely parting gift.

There is no more unity of opinions, perspectives, or positions on this board than there is on the street.  You're not going to "bring us all around" to your point of view.  State your views in your posts, then be prepared to have your views challenged, argued, debunked, and poo-poo'd.  Defend your view.  Accept that some will like what you say, others will not, you'll persuade some and not others.  And let that be enough for you.

I sincerely hope that all our new folks have a long and happy experience here, that they make new friends and learn to appreciate the wonderfully diverse community that the GC board is.

[walker starr]

   well said!

[jmwe29]

Hi!  I just found this site a few minutes ago with a Google search for Christian forums, and this is the first posting I've read.  Well stated!  And I am continually amazed that you would have to tell Christians that they have to walk in love!  The one commandment we have, to love the Lord and one another, and you have to remind people to behave themselves.  One preacher once said he asked God what the biggest problem was in the Church.  He said, Your dogged determination to correct one another.

My whole reason to find Christian forums is to find a way to eventually get some traffic to some Squidoo.com webpages I've constructed with the Word on various topics- faith, the goodness of God, etc.  Looking for suggestions, criticisms, etc to make them as good as I can to do my bit to get the Word online.  I see I need to make a bunch of posts first, so here I am.

Doing my best to walk in love!

[larry2]

Dear jmwe29, If I'm not mistaken, from what I've read in Wikipedia, Squidoo is a profit making spamming operation even having problems with Google. Am I wrong?

In Jesus' name - larry2

[jmwe29]

Hmm, I hadn't heard that.  Problems with Google?  How do you mean?  I was using it because it's a free site to make your own pages; there are quite a few Christian pages there at Squidoo and Christian groups.  Do you think this is something to avoid?

[larry2]

Dear jmwe29 - I have no idea but what Wikapedia reported on them. I'll attempt tp get in again and maybe I can make my own judgement - thanks

In Jesus' name - larry2

[Johnb]

I may not be able to fix the board but I think I can get Old Dad straightened out.

[JohnDB]

I can see that there is going to be a small bit of name confusion coming...

[OldDad]

I can see that there is going to be a small bit of name confusion coming...

Seniority guides "naming rights"

[Elaine]

   well said!

I'll say. 

[walker starr]

     

       Now Walker says welcome, We like it here you will too.

[renewed mind]

Cool, glad I read this, totally agree. We are all different in this world and have different opinions and yes, very well said!

[cherina]

Well, I heard about this site from a different site.  I`m glad to be here. 

[cherina]

BTW Old Dad,  very good points you made.   It`s a good thing that this forum isn`t all about singing kumbya only.     I`m also new, but old at another dying forum.    So, what does "manna" mean by our names?  I tried to find the doo~da`s to this forum, but havent. 

[janine]

Have you found the do-da's yet?

The manna is a way to encourage people.  If you read a post you especially like, or if someone posts about a touogh time they are having, you may give manna to that person.  The system only lets you give it so often.

I'll give you some manna as a welcome!

[cherina]

Have you found the do-da's yet?

The manna is a way to encourage people.  If you read a post you especially like, or if someone posts about a touogh time they are having, you may give manna to that person.  The system only lets you give it so often.

I'll give you some manna as a welcome!

Hi Janine.  Thank you. No, I still haven`t figured the doo~da`s out yet.  How would I give someone a manna, or they me?   Thanks for explaining what it means.

[slide]

Just registered! I was reading today as a guest and got interested, so I joined. Hope I can stay around awhile. I have no intention of changing anyone, I may offer my opinion and I do have some strong ones but I have been around the block long enough to know when to hold'em and when to fold'em.

[Silvia]

What do the stars mean? Are they based on the number of postings, on if I'm a good girl, or what?

[slide]

What do the stars mean? Are they based on the number of postings, on if I'm a good girl, or what?

Hi, I'm new also but on other sites the stars are one for x number of post.

[Elaine]

What do the stars mean? Are they based on the number of postings, on if I'm a good girl, or what?

Yup, number of posts and when you post 50 times you will be able to give Manna.
:)

[Silvia]

What do the stars mean? Are they based on the number of postings, on if I'm a good girl, or what?

Yup, number of posts and when you post 50 times you will be able to give Manna.
:)

Manna...what is it? 

[Elaine]

What do the stars mean? Are they based on the number of postings, on if I'm a good girl, or what?

Yup, number of posts and when you post 50 times you will be able to give Manna.
:)

Manna...what is it? 

Manna is similar to a collection of Gold Stars ---a little pat on the back from the other posters.  However, you could have 50 people give you kudos for something you said and 1 might remember to click and give you Manna ---so most people don't pay much attention to it.?
I would suggest going to that section on FAQ along with the forum rules ---so many people have asked questions ---you will find out alot of technical stuff there, it's fun what you find out -----I'll tell you one neat thing...in the right corner of your post  -if you click "modify" --even weeks later you can change or fix a post of yours, for example.    And as Janine said, The "Preview" button is your friend.
:)Elaine

[Silvia]

What do the stars mean? Are they based on the number of postings, on if I'm a good girl, or what?

Yup, number of posts and when you post 50 times you will be able to give Manna.
:)

Manna...what is it?  

Manna is similar to a collection of Gold Stars ---a little pat on the back from the other posters.  However, you could have 50 people give you kudos for something you said and 1 might remember to click and give you Manna ---so most people don't pay much attention to it.?
I would suggest going to that section on FAQ along with the forum rules ---so many people have asked questions ---you will find out alot of technical stuff there, it's fun what you find out -----I'll tell you one neat thing...in the right corner of your post  -if you click "modify" --even weeks later you can change or fix a post of yours, for example.    And as Janine said, The "Preview" button is your friend.
:)Elaine

Sorry. I was making a pun about the meaning of the word manna. In Hebrew it literally means "what is it".

(yeah, I've read most of the technical stuff - read it about 2 weeks after I'd been here. But somehow I missed the mysterious meaning of the stars!)

[walker starr]

                      BTW  I always sort of consider Manna to be a kind of symbolic kudo.

[monana08]

Thank you for the heads up.  I just joined and am looking forward to participating!    

[harrycrane]

   I have been roaming around the various topics and discussions today.  I'm very impressed as to the variety of issues and topics discussed and the information provided by posters and the varied opinions expressed.

Hank -  NYYfan

[farouk]

H: I guess so...

  I have been roaming around the various topics and discussions today.  I'm very impressed as to the variety of issues and topics discussed and the information provided by posters and the varied opinions expressed.

Hank -  NYYfan

[Elaine]

Am I mistaken ?   Harry Crane from Dexter?

[harrycrane]

I took the name from Harry Chapin's song, "Mail order Annie."

[carol rob]

thanks! im new to this board and that info helped! what i want to ask is if you are in need of some advise regarding a problem with your home church where should i post my questions in order to get the most from this. im  in need some spiritual help here! thanks

[Elaine]

thanks! im new to this board and that info helped! what i want to ask is if you are in need of some advise regarding a problem with your home church where should i post my questions in order to get the most from this. im  in need some spiritual help here! thanks

I've seen many questions about pastors and churches on the General Discussion area with many responses.
Good luck,
:)Elaine

[Gizzy]

OldDad, you have great wisdom that is what's good about forums, most have a lot we can learn from. My mom always said, "It's a good thing we all don't like the same thing or think the same thing."

Gizzy

[mordechai]

Normally, nicely said... I think I stay

[ex cathedra]

yes i agree you will have to learn to  forgive the others .we cant all be as right as me. 

[BroBrent]

I just wonder how old "old Dad" is? I'm sort of old myself. I just like to discuss the word, and am very difficult to persuade about anything. New here, I'll just jump in.
Eph 4:14 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
Tit 1:9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.