David, thanks for your response and for the candid nature in which you wrote it. I will be preparing a reply; however not tonight, as I want to address one of your points in detail. The wind is supposed to blow really hard tomorrow; if it does, I will be home and can work on it then.
Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 8:37 AM Subject: [TruthTalk] Off Topic > Bill Taylor wrote: > > David, quite often people say things with which I disagree, > > but I do not take issue with them on every occasion that > > this happens. > > Same here. I walk by this rule. On this forum, however, I am more likely > to discuss minute differences because that is what this forum is best suited > for. I do not look for fellowship or friends through email. I look to have > scholarly discussions about truth, especially with people who I would > probably never be friends with (like Pagan Wolf), and also with people who I > would be very friendly with, but probably would not be found ministering > unto the Lord with (like Dave Hansen). > > Bill Taylor wrote: > > What is it that would make you think we > > don't know you? > > Because of the misunderstandings of my message that you guys express in your > posts, and your general rejection of me based upon false ideas of what I am > trying to communicate. Invariably, the subject we discuss is dismissed and > put in place of it is the process of maligning my character or calling into > question my own perceived place in the body of Christ. Either that, or > there is just some emotional reaction of just ceasing communication. And, > of course, all of this is all my fault from the perspective of you guys > because I don't try and chitchat in a way that establishes some kind of > superficial sense of trust between us. Despite your words of theology to > the contrary, it seems very clear that if I don't play the worldly game of > being friendly and loyal to you first and then discussing any differences in > a very polite way, you cut off relationship with me. What you don't realize > is that from my perspective, this system of relationships that you guys are > trying to pull me into is something I consider very ungodly. I strongly > believe that I have a duty to seek the honor that comes from God alone and > not the honor that comes from men. This does not mean that I consider > relationships unimportant. It simply means that I have a different > perspective of the right kind of relationships and how they are forged. > > John Smithson in the not too distant past has expressed some idea that my > life is characterized by rejection from nearly everyone and he has used that > erroneous perspective as some kind of leverage to try and get me to hear him > concerning the idea that I am communicating all wrong. The fact that I am > accepted by many and have many very long term friends and that I am > appreciated by so many makes such statements by him kind of hollow in my > ears. I know that he simply does not know me and speaks from his own > misperceptions about me and my life, partly because email can never fully > express who I am. Is it any wonder that I conclude that he simply does not > know me? His perception of me is based entirely upon misunderstanding my > words, just as an atheist might read the Bible and reject God based upon his > misunderstandings of what is written there. > > I ought to point out, however, that I do not consider that those on > TruthTalk who do understand many of my messages really know me. For > example, although Izzy seems to have been tutored by the same teacher as me, > I would not say that we really know each other. I have met her on several > occasions, but our contact has been so limited that I do not believe we > really know each other. I think the same way about Terry. I don't know > anybody on the list who "knows me" except maybe my oldest daughter who might > be joining the list after her final exams end. :-) I have been discussing > some of the topics with her and she seems very interested in participating > if she can make the time for it. > > Peace be with you. > David Miller. > > p.s. It is interesting to me that I have much more profound differences > with someone like Dave Hansen, who is a Mormon, yet our discussions have > always been very amiable and interesting. He has caused me to read more > books and has provoked me to more study than almost anyone else on the list. > Although his participation has been somewhat limited in recent times, > perhaps we should look to Dave Hansen as an example of how to communicate > via this forum. :-) > > > ---------- > "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org > > If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. > > ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
