Hi All
I have silently watched the posts over the last few months not participating because people were getting pretty rough with each other. The other day there was a post suggesting that if anyone believes in a pre-trib rapture, then their belief is like a seed falling on stoney ground and if/when things get bad, their faith will fail. Wow, really? So for me, that presumes I have never been through anything difficult to build my faith. That presumes my faith is not steady and reliable - without ever having met me. That presumes my walk with God is superficial. That presumes pre-trib belief equals weak, unreliable faith. Well I find that judgmental.

I have seen a couple of posts calling people to take care in how they are judging each other. I believe we should not be judging, or condemning or putting down each other. I think we can share our thoughts without insisting that others believe exactly as we do. I think it is fine for you to believe in pre/mid/post trib but to dismiss others faith because of how they see the future playing out - well I was left speechless.

in this vein of thinking, people have been remarking on some math that was presented as unique to this year (age + birth year). Joseph tried to explain this is not a unique occurrence this year and was criticized. I sent in a post that showed that this math works for everyone every year - that there is nothing remarkable about the math. A regular contributor responded challenging that there is indeed something remarkable - and what he finds remarkable is that this year adds to 111. So indeed, the math is not unique to this year, it is the occurrence of 1s that he finds remarkable. Thanks to this poster, I now understand what they find exciting about this - I simply do not share this excitement. As I have always enjoyed this contributor's posts - he has shared some very interesting thoughts and when I see something from him I always read, interested in reading about how he sees the world. Unfortunately on this occasion, his last statement is, "If that is not remarkable to you, I just wonder what is?". I guess he is suggesting I am a person that finds nothing remarkable. First, this assumes I have seen 1s everywhere as others have and therefore am going to feel that seeing this math for this year will strike me as remarkable and if I do not see it this way, then I am what? Well it is not clear, but certainly what is clear is that he finds this remarkable is is dismayed that I do not - worthy of posting a negative judgment.

I really enjoy reading posts that share their thoughts, feelings, dreams, visions but can everyone resist the desire to insist that everyone see things exactly as they do? Just remember the story about several people who got to touch different parts of an elephant and describe it - one said it is like a rope with hair at the end, another said, no not like a rope, it is huge and thick and a tree, solid and immovable. Another disagreed with both and said it is soft and flexible and hollow with air moving through, yet another said it is not like a rope, a tree trunk or a flexible hose, it is flat and thin like a huge leaf...well you get my point. We all see things differently and have a different experience, what we call reality - none of them was wrong and to dismiss each other as wrong and unable to see their truth is unfair and really lacks understanding that there is a BIG picture and none of us know the full picture.

For those of us mathematically inclined it is ok to find nothing remarkable about the math. For those of us seeing 1s everywhere, then it is quite exciting. Neither is wrong in how they feel and see this. It is ok to share viewpoints but I am having trouble with the insistence that everyone share the same reaction and view. And please lets think twice about including a statement that suggest a negative or black mark against you if you do not see things that same way. As Matthew 7:1 says, "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged." Luke 6:37 expands on this and says, "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.". This is pretty strong in stating your condemnation of others will come back at you! In John 8, when the adultress is brought before Jesus to entrap Him, Jesus makes it clear that although the Pharisees "... judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone." So maybe we can all work on sharing our view points without insisting others agree. Perhaps we can refrain from judging others faith based on a widely accepted belief in pre-trib. In John 13, when Jesus was explaining to the disciples that He would not be with them much longer, His instructions were, "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
So in love I request that we love and respect one another - we will all need to love and respect each other in heaven! Lets go easy on each other as a testimony. Remember it is ok to not share the same viewpoint on such insignificant things as seeing 1s and related math. it is ok to believe in a pre trib, mid trib, post trib, or pan trib without losing one's salvation. All these things will not matter 10,000 years from now.
in peace
Vonda