No controversy?

[Chet]

Was I surprised that my previous posts didn't prompt some controversy and discussion. Maybe the list has died, Jonathan?

To further prompt possible discussion, Cherie & I met with our stake president today, attending his ward so we could meet with him right after sacrament. As expected, he asked us to give the ward another chance and to see things in a different light -- but he did so in such a way that I think we can do both. He also suggested we might become temple workers, which would please us to no end! I can't stand as much as I used to (stupid knee! and stupid vertigo also!) but there are chairs in the temple, and floors where there are no chairs. There's still plenty a bald old cripple can do.

despite the fact that nothing has changed, it seems as if a LOT of things are changed. He left us with his blessing (or we left him, and he gave us his blessing as we left) and I think we can face our depressing ward next week.

Now we have to face our daughter and her husband next week, and tell them that while they were on vacation, Cherie broke their garage door. Gulp!
-
*jeep! and God Bless
  --Grandpa Chet, MM, DM 

"Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul."

--Mind Over Matter, mentalism and developing your hunches, from Richard Osterlind at http://osterlindpublications.com/

[Jonathan Scott]

On Aug 8, 2011, at 6:32 AM, Chet wrote:

Was I surprised that my previous posts didn't prompt some controversy and discussion. Maybe the list has died, Jonathan?

I've actually put some thought into this.  I don't think the list died.  I think the list is just dormant right now.  Bro. Redelfs list was where we all met.  Because they had a lot of members, there was always a lot of discussion.  We don't have nearly the same number of members, so it's much harder to keep a conversation going.  Before, as I would write a book, I would post the chapters here, one by one, and that gave the list some traffic and an occasional conversation.  With my book "A Few Thoughts" though I made the decision to not post the chapters publicly.  I did try to make money from that book and I still am.  Since then, I haven't written anything else that I felt would be appropriate to this list.  Anyway, I'm busy everyday writing.  But, I'm not sharing like I used to.  This hurts the list as well.  Once I'm done with my current book I plan to Do an "In My Own Words" version of the book of Ezekiel.  This will be hard, but it will also be something that I can share here.  Perhaps this will reinvigorate the list a little.

For the record, if everyone was fed up with this list, they all would have unsubscribed at some point.  Because everyone is choosing to stay on board, even though, there is hardly any traffic at all, suggests to me that people still feel a need to be here...even if the list is quiet.  I can't speak for everyone.  I don't know their reasons.  All I know is the main reason why I made the group.  Perhaps it's the main reason why people choose to stay.

We're not political first here.  We are faith first here.  It seemed like on the previous list, there were so many of the members who used religion as a storefront almost to spend their days howling and barking about politics and politics alone.  I even remember some of the stalwart members criticizing things that past prophets had done there.  It was a place believers could enjoy, but it was tainted.

If we had more members, more people would speak.  There would be more conversation.  I'm sorry there isn't.  It's not something I can fix.

To further prompt possible discussion, Cherie & I met with our stake president today, attending his ward so we could meet with him right after sacrament. As expected, he asked us to give the ward another chance and to see things in a different light -- but he did so in such a way that I think we can do both. He also suggested we might become temple workers, which would please us to no end! I can't stand as much as I used to (stupid knee! and stupid vertigo also!) but there are chairs in the temple, and floors where there are no chairs. There's still plenty a bald old cripple can do.

despite the fact that nothing has changed, it seems as if a LOT of things are changed. He left us with his blessing (or we left him, and he gave us his blessing as we left) and I think we can face our depressing ward next week.

Now we have to face our daughter and her husband next week, and tell them that while they were on vacation, Cherie broke their garage door. Gulp!
-
*jeep! and God Bless
  --Grandpa Chet, MM, DM 

Good.  I'm glad you found something valuable to do.  My personal opinion is that people are wired to be that way.  We all have a need to be needed.  I'm glad you found a place where you can work.

Honestly speaking, this topic and the one you spoke about at the beginning of your e-mail are pretty similar.  If you don't like a place, you can either leave, or you can find a way to pitch in and make it better.  I can't do all of the talking here.  I just can't.

Perhaps if more people contributed and more people told their friends about this place, the list would become a place we could all enjoy more.

It's up to you all to choose whether you want to leave or contribute more or keep the list dormant.  I don't think I'll choose to kill the list.  I think I need it, even if I'm not using it much right now.