WAY OT - Some thoughts to comfort His children

Disclaimer:

If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this post be allowed to remain.

My fellow photographers,

While words of comfort are hard to come by in this hour, we must keep in mind that God is still on his throne and has his hand in all of this.

Many may grieve in their hearts and ask "How can God allow this to happen?" Who can know what the purposes are behind events such as these? However, God gives us assurance when he moved the writer of Proberbs to pen these words" Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge God, and he will direct your paths.

For sure, this event can't help but to serve as a spiritual wake-up call for America and the world. At the pinnacle of Solomon's success and the completion and dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, God offered cautionary words to the son of David recorded in the 2nd book of Chronicles, the 7th chapter, 14th verse. I encourage you to find a Bible and read it. This chapter provides us with some solutions to the tragedies we face every day.

The temptation among many Americans will be to lash out with anger and violence against members of the Islamic faith in your community. While as an American and U.S. combat veteran, anger rages in my flesh, my spirit says "Be still...and know that I am God."

Remember that revenge is the Lords, prayer is ours. God taught us to pray for our enemies and love them. This is exactly the opposite of what they would do. Your witness will glorify God.

Please search your own hearts and keep the families of the victims in your prayers. May God bless America & May God bless and keep you all.

In Christ's name,
Stew

Thank you Stew, and God bless you..

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

My fellow photographers,

While words of comfort are hard to come by in this hour, we must
keep in mind that God is still on his throne and has his hand in
all of this.

Many may grieve in their hearts and ask "How can God allow this to
happen?" Who can know what the purposes are behind events such as
these? However, God gives us assurance when he moved the writer of
Proberbs to pen these words" Lean not on your own understanding,
but in all your ways acknowledge God, and he will direct your paths.

For sure, this event can't help but to serve as a spiritual wake-up
call for America and the world. At the pinnacle of Solomon's
success and the completion and dedication of the Temple in
Jerusalem, God offered cautionary words to the son of David
recorded in the 2nd book of Chronicles, the 7th chapter, 14th
verse. I encourage you to find a Bible and read it. This chapter
provides us with some solutions to the tragedies we face every day.

The temptation among many Americans will be to lash out with anger
and violence against members of the Islamic faith in your
community. While as an American and U.S. combat veteran, anger
rages in my flesh, my spirit says "Be still...and know that I am
God."

Remember that revenge is the Lords, prayer is ours. God taught us
to pray for our enemies and love them. This is exactly the
opposite of what they would do. Your witness will glorify God.

Please search your own hearts and keep the families of the victims
in your prayers. May God bless America & May God bless and keep you
all.

In Christ's name,
Stew

Click to expand...

Stew,

Surely you have the spirit of the Lord in your heart. As the world gets more complicated and our lives become chaos, it is only when we turn our burdens over to the Lord will we find real peace.

God bless bless the United States of America and God bless you,

Dean

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

My fellow photographers,

While words of comfort are hard to come by in this hour, we must
keep in mind that God is still on his throne and has his hand in
all of this.

Many may grieve in their hearts and ask "How can God allow this to
happen?" Who can know what the purposes are behind events such as
these? However, God gives us assurance when he moved the writer of
Proberbs to pen these words" Lean not on your own understanding,
but in all your ways acknowledge God, and he will direct your paths.

For sure, this event can't help but to serve as a spiritual wake-up
call for America and the world. At the pinnacle of Solomon's
success and the completion and dedication of the Temple in
Jerusalem, God offered cautionary words to the son of David
recorded in the 2nd book of Chronicles, the 7th chapter, 14th
verse. I encourage you to find a Bible and read it. This chapter
provides us with some solutions to the tragedies we face every day.

The temptation among many Americans will be to lash out with anger
and violence against members of the Islamic faith in your
community. While as an American and U.S. combat veteran, anger
rages in my flesh, my spirit says "Be still...and know that I am
God."

Remember that revenge is the Lords, prayer is ours. God taught us
to pray for our enemies and love them. This is exactly the
opposite of what they would do. Your witness will glorify God.

Please search your own hearts and keep the families of the victims
in your prayers. May God bless America & May God bless and keep you
all.

In Christ's name,
Stew

Click to expand...

Stew ... I am not so much offended by this as I pity you ... and I pity all of you that in a time of personal crisis can only find an online forum on photography as an outlet. Have none of you that feel so compelled to post this type of thing in a forum have any family ... friends ... co-workers? Do you have a pastor, a priest, a rabbi? I just don't understand this kind of thing ... it is not only totally inapproriate .. it is absolutely pitiful. This is a forum on digital photography. It is not a counselling service, it is not a church, it is not where you should be coming for comfort. Last night someone came unglued because someone else posted images of the World Trade Center and made comment if perhaps they had been taken with an E10. There was nothing at all wrong with that comment ... this is after all a forum on the E10. What was inappropriate was the guy that became unhinged over it. You folks that are turning this forum into a prayer meeting need to turn your computer off and go seek solace where it is more appropriate ... your family, your friends, your paster, priest, rabbi.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

Click to expand...

Poster,

You have a right to your opinion and how you choose to share. Perhaps others do too? I know at times like this some would like to control how others feel. Perhaps this is a time when a little tolerance could be shared to allow others to share how they feel it is appropriate.

Thanks for listening
Brent

poster said:

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I respect your opinion, Brent ... and you should respect mine. I think my post is most tolerant and understanding. The point is ... turn to the most appropriate people for solace ... your family, your friends, your rabbi. They are there to help you and they ... especially your family and friends ... may need you as much as you need them. They defintely do not need you sitting in front of a computer seeking comfort when they are right there to help you.

Brent Lossing said:

You have a right to your opinion and how you choose to share.
Perhaps others do too? I know at times like this some would like
to control how others feel. Perhaps this is a time when a little
tolerance could be shared to allow others to share how they feel it
is appropriate.

Thanks for listening
Brent

poster said:

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

god bless stew. i admire poster for his comments and i'm not offended by anyone.

please note that this is a digital forum, e-10 specifically, and this forum is INTERNATIONAL. not everyone has the same religious views or tolerance for other religions as most AMERICANS. i don't think it is right for us americans to expect EVERYONE in the international community to feel sorry for us. heck it would not have happened in the first place if everyone feels sorry for us and share the same religious and political views. using this international forum for prayings and getting sympathies is not appropriate. no one has ever us AMERICANS to feel sorry for them for what happened in their countries, have they, in this forum? sure many will pray for us and feel our pains, but not everyone, and we should not expect everyone to do so.

let's take care of it ourselves and ask for no sympathies. we have plenty of churches and crisis and counseling centers in our country. what we need now, more than anything, is blood for our victims. for those that do live in american and want to help, please make a blood donation, any little bit would help.

i apologize for borring everyone, specially the ones that have no interests in what happened in new york, and that's ok if you have no interests in new york and came to this forum only for digital photography and the e-10.

joel.

Brent Lossing said:

You have a right to your opinion and how you choose to share.
Perhaps others do too? I know at times like this some would like
to control how others feel. Perhaps this is a time when a little
tolerance could be shared to allow others to share how they feel it
is appropriate.

Thanks for listening
Brent

poster said:

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Poster: You are very wrong. An event of this magnitude crosses all boundary lines. To say a person cannot post here or in any other defined forum is ill conceived and self centered. You do not know if there were people here that were effected or involved. There are no walls for this kind of attack on human beings. Your type of thinking cannot be tolerated, we need to reach out to people with encouragement and words of comfort no matter where they are. Whether your words are from a faith based motive or a love based motive, to say those are inappropriate shows your immaturaty towards the importance of human suffering at this level.

Phil also made a comment on the opening page of his forum. Phil has set a good example for us. We can acknowledge the trama or a world impacting catasrophy.

Stew: i have one more scripture to ad:

"Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain."

Pete

Poster,

Please take a moment--or two--to think about two things. First, many of the people blieve that they are "friends" through this forum. Second, like so many of the threads on this forum, "you" chose which ones to look at and respond to.

I am reasonably confident that you do not read "every" thread that comes up, because you decide which ones might be to your liking, and which ones would not.

Breck

**********

poster said:

Stew ... I am not so much offended by this as I pity you ... and I
pity all of you that in a time of personal crisis can only find an
online forum on photography as an outlet. Have none of you that
feel so compelled to post this type of thing in a forum have any

family ... friends* ... co-workers? Do you have a pastor, a priest,
a rabbi? I just don't understand this kind of thing ... it is not
only totally inapproriate .. it is absolutely pitiful. This is a
forum on digital photography. It is not a counselling service, it
is not a church, it is not where you should be coming for comfort.
Last night someone came unglued because someone else posted images
of the World Trade Center and made comment if perhaps they had been
taken with an E10. There was nothing at all wrong with that
comment ... this is after all a forum on the E10. What was
inappropriate was the guy that became unhinged over it. You folks
that are turning this forum into a prayer meeting need to turn your
computer off and go seek solace where it is more appropriate ...
your family, your friends, your paster, priest, rabbi.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

Apologies to Stew, and everyone else. this is addressed to "poster".....

I am sorry, but right now I have no tolerance for YOU. you have come to this forum only a short time ago and been belligerent and antagonistic towards anyone who disagrees with you. Yesterday morning I could not reach my daughter, or anyone else in NYC. The computer was the ONLY way there was or could be any contact. I found great comfort in everyone's messages of support, particularly those specifically addressed to me. You don't think that's appropriate? You, then are the one who should be pitied. How dare you complain about people expressing messages of prayers and compassion! I am extremely angered by your arrogant post. To use your own words to me in another thread, DON'T BOTHER to respond as I think the majority of people here will not agree with you.

poster said:

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Amen!

May God bless you and may God bless this country.

It is a battle of 'good' vs 'evil'---there is no doubt.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15
Ephesians 6:12

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?version=NIV&passage

In His name,
Breck

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

My fellow photographers,

While words of comfort are hard to come by in this hour, we must
keep in mind that God is still on his throne and has his hand in
all of this.

Many may grieve in their hearts and ask "How can God allow this to
happen?" Who can know what the purposes are behind events such as
these? However, God gives us assurance when he moved the writer of
Proberbs to pen these words" Lean not on your own understanding,
but in all your ways acknowledge God, and he will direct your paths.

For sure, this event can't help but to serve as a spiritual wake-up
call for America and the world. At the pinnacle of Solomon's
success and the completion and dedication of the Temple in
Jerusalem, God offered cautionary words to the son of David
recorded in the 2nd book of Chronicles, the 7th chapter, 14th
verse. I encourage you to find a Bible and read it. This chapter
provides us with some solutions to the tragedies we face every day.

The temptation among many Americans will be to lash out with anger
and violence against members of the Islamic faith in your
community. While as an American and U.S. combat veteran, anger
rages in my flesh, my spirit says "Be still...and know that I am
God."

Remember that revenge is the Lords, prayer is ours. God taught us
to pray for our enemies and love them. This is exactly the
opposite of what they would do. Your witness will glorify God.

Please search your own hearts and keep the families of the victims
in your prayers. May God bless America & May God bless and keep you
all.

In Christ's name,
Stew

Click to expand...

Peter Gregg said:

Poster: You are very wrong

Click to expand...

I AM WRONG??? I am wrong to suggest that you should turn to your family, your friends, your religious council for solace in time of need rather than the arificiality of a "chat room." Peter ... you and everyone that disagree with that need to seach help. That type of thinking ... turning to the cyberworld rather than the "real" world is breaking up relationships all over this planet. But hey ... you are entitled to your opinion ... no matter how misguided.

I'm not looking for an argument, but I feel I must say something as well.

Poster,

There are people who contribute to this forum, who are seemingly not so removed from their emotions as you, that feel they speak with friends and even family of a sort here... Would you deny them the ability to post their feelings here as they would share them in person, if possible? Please don't start the inappropriateness stuff, in light of a terrible tragedy one does not quote Robert's Rules of Order. One commiserates, or has the good sense to keep one's trap shut, it's simple courtesy.

What exactly is so special about you that you feel qualifies you to sit in judgement of others simply being human? Give this some careful thought and consider your own actions and your motivations, and try looking at the larger picture. Which is more important? That a forum stay strictly on topic or that the people who frequent that forum and are the living embodiment of what's behind it interact and help if they can? You don't just read words in a forum, you see a glimmer inside people's "souls" in what they write and how, and even why sometimes. Perhaps you'd be better to remember that the next time you start typing. Perhaps we all would.

That's all I have to say, I hope some of it gets past the barriers and strikes home.

Thank you all. Not for coming to my "side" re: my post, but simply for your comments.

I posted because from the time the E-10 became the big news in November of last year, I have frequented this forum. Though I have never met any of you face-to-face, I would consider many of you friends and would gladly sit down for a cup of "joe" or a meal to discuss whatever comes into conversation.

That being said: Were we to actually meet at, say a coffee shop or some type of social mixer of sorts, I'm sure most of you would not hesitate to talk about your kids or grandkids...maybe that really neat bed-and breakfast you found or a trip you took this summer. If one of you had lost a loved one to illness or accident and shared that with the group, I venture to guess that we wouldn't hesitate to stray from the topic of photography and comfort you.

If this is the only venue by which our friendship is exercised, then it becomes logical that the same fluctuations in topics should take place online. I don't know about you folks, but I see this as not just a users forum but as a community of sorts. Don't you?

Sure, we don't always agree on everything. But the common thread (E-10) which has brought us together has, by default, made us part of one another's lives.

In regards to seeking pastoral care, Mr. Poster: My comments weren't meant to replace pastoral counselling. That is VERY hard to do via the Internet & best left to face-to-face. However, as a trained member of my church's family deacon ministry, I wanted to reach out with comfort and compassion to my circle of friends. I have counselled and ministered to people who have lost loved ones and I wanted to offer this small bit of comfort and encouragement to my friends here.

If you do not consider yourself a friend, your logical choice would have been to ignore this posting. After all, I do see that there are still several postings which focus on the E-10 and its use. You may not share my beliefs, but a little love goes a long way, you know. Try it sometime.

Stew

poster said:

Peter Gregg said:

Poster: You are very wrong

Click to expand...

I AM WRONG??? I am wrong to suggest that you should turn to your
family, your friends, your religious council for solace in time of
need rather than the arificiality of a "chat room." Peter ... you
and everyone that disagree with that need to seach help. That type
of thinking ... turning to the cyberworld rather than the "real"
world is breaking up relationships all over this planet. But hey
... you are entitled to your opinion ... no matter how misguided.

Click to expand...

I think you are wrong to suggest that people do not have relationships outside, for instance, this forum. I have the same group of friends, etc., I have always had--as most probably do. However, those relationships have been widened as I've made friends, developed relationships with people on the net over the last 7+ years. I suspect this is true of most people. I think the whole idea of relationships being broken because of the net is terrifically overhyped. If anything, it has helped me keep friends that I may have lost because we are not geographically close any longer, but because of email, we have maintained our long friendships and when we see each other in real time can continue together easily. I also don't think people are coming here for help but to share an event that has shaken our country(US) and much of the world. The net has broadened my respect and my knowledge of many cultures and to share this sadness with everyone is not dysfunctional as you purport. I'm sure everyone has shared, talked about, gotten help, etc.---from real time folks--but this forum, like many others, is an extension of our world nowadays.

Diane

Brian Mackey said:

Thank you Stew, and God bless you..
Stew. I thank you.

Click to expand...

Rudy Rodriguez

Brian Mackey said:

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

My fellow photographers,

While words of comfort are hard to come by in this hour, we must
keep in mind that God is still on his throne and has his hand in
all of this.

Many may grieve in their hearts and ask "How can God allow this to
happen?" Who can know what the purposes are behind events such as
these? However, God gives us assurance when he moved the writer of
Proberbs to pen these words" Lean not on your own understanding,
but in all your ways acknowledge God, and he will direct your paths.

For sure, this event can't help but to serve as a spiritual wake-up
call for America and the world. At the pinnacle of Solomon's
success and the completion and dedication of the Temple in
Jerusalem, God offered cautionary words to the son of David
recorded in the 2nd book of Chronicles, the 7th chapter, 14th
verse. I encourage you to find a Bible and read it. This chapter
provides us with some solutions to the tragedies we face every day.

The temptation among many Americans will be to lash out with anger
and violence against members of the Islamic faith in your
community. While as an American and U.S. combat veteran, anger
rages in my flesh, my spirit says "Be still...and know that I am
God."

Remember that revenge is the Lords, prayer is ours. God taught us
to pray for our enemies and love them. This is exactly the
opposite of what they would do. Your witness will glorify God.

Please search your own hearts and keep the families of the victims
in your prayers. May God bless America & May God bless and keep you
all.

In Christ's name,
Stew

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Hi Poster,

Normally I would agree with your view 100%!!!!!

I don't like to see people bring in their religious or political views or opinions in forums or public that are not intended for it. Nothing sounds more primitive then prayers or using a crisis to drag their god in the spot light and so forth. I am just as put off when I see political leaders suddenly act like little school boys bowing their heads in prayer. I thought we had separated church from state?

BUT in such a horrific time as this, I'm willing to tolerate such talk because I know we all share in disbelief and frustration, and we all need to vent in some way. If some take comfort in believing in gods, so be it. I wish them the best too.

Take Care,
Jim K

poster said:

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

This is not written to offend.

I am deeply saddened/sickened and my heart does go out to all those involved over in the USA. Such an act of mean cowardness is beyond believe, however religous "believes" are at the root of most conflicts, as this thread shows example of.

My words to the anyone in the USA are stay strong and "believe" in yourself.

And if anyone wants to know yes I am atheist, but respect others thoughts and opinions.

Best Regards

Steve

Thanks Stew....

John

(and I believe today, this is very ON topic. This forum is about more than cameras....)

Stew said:

Disclaimer:
If you are offended by the following, I regret that I cannot offer
an apology. Rather than flaming me, I encourage you to deeply
search your heart and ask why you are offended. While I know Phil
has ultimate control over this forum, I respectfully ask that this
post be allowed to remain.

My fellow photographers,

While words of comfort are hard to come by in this hour, we must
keep in mind that God is still on his throne and has his hand in
all of this.

Many may grieve in their hearts and ask "How can God allow this to
happen?" Who can know what the purposes are behind events such as
these? However, God gives us assurance when he moved the writer of
Proberbs to pen these words" Lean not on your own understanding,
but in all your ways acknowledge God, and he will direct your paths.

For sure, this event can't help but to serve as a spiritual wake-up
call for America and the world. At the pinnacle of Solomon's
success and the completion and dedication of the Temple in
Jerusalem, God offered cautionary words to the son of David
recorded in the 2nd book of Chronicles, the 7th chapter, 14th
verse. I encourage you to find a Bible and read it. This chapter
provides us with some solutions to the tragedies we face every day.

The temptation among many Americans will be to lash out with anger
and violence against members of the Islamic faith in your
community. While as an American and U.S. combat veteran, anger
rages in my flesh, my spirit says "Be still...and know that I am
God."

Remember that revenge is the Lords, prayer is ours. God taught us
to pray for our enemies and love them. This is exactly the
opposite of what they would do. Your witness will glorify God.

Please search your own hearts and keep the families of the victims
in your prayers. May God bless America & May God bless and keep you
all.

In Christ's name,
Stew

Click to expand...

that this thread, like so many others has been "Hijacked" by those whose lives revolve ONLY around the almighty E-10. Posters comments were heartless enough in itself (if you don't like this thread, go read another!!), but you, Joel are apparently even more heartless and uncaring:

Joel wrote:
heck it would not

Joel Batts said:

have happened in the first place if everyone feels sorry for us and
share the same religious and political views. using this
international forum for prayings and getting sympathies is not
appropriate. no one has ever us AMERICANS to feel sorry for them
for what happened in their countries, have they, in this forum?
sure many will pray for us and feel our pains, but not everyone,
and we should not expect everyone to do so.

Click to expand...

Joel Batts said:

i apologize for borring everyone, specially the ones that have no
interests in what happened in new york

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NO INTERTEST in what happened in New York????!! How absolutely arrogant and cruel!! That you could have "no interest" in the loss of thousands of lives??? That you could have "no interest" in an attack on the U.S.??? From your broken English and your comments, I presume that you are NOT American, even though you use the term "us americans".

Both you and Poster are the ones to be pitied; not because you have no belief in a "god", but that you value no one but yourselves.

I'm not going to say what I'd REALLY like to tell you two, but suffice it to say that there are other countries around the world that would welcome you with open arms.

John Stacy - Citizen of the World and a proud American