I more than anyone was glad to see the original RITAN back! I missed the personal interactions, fellowship and family atmosphere. As this was the lifeblood of RITA and RITAN! The safety and privacy that was present surpassed other sites and was the biggest draw to our site. That said, it seems to me that we are a house divided, what with RITAN on facebook. All but for the sake of a larger venue and dealing with unscreened personal agenda's the activity and involvement of the old RITAN, suffers greatly, IMHO! Ongoing and vibrant threads seem to have vanished! The level of inactivity speaks volumes. Do we need both RITAN and Facebook?! I think that some soul searching to answer this question is needed. Presence or personality! Then is RITAN dead, or is Facebook the future of this God inspired site?! I think that an online discussion with all the Mods and family of RITAN needs to take place. Which is better managed? Which best fulfills this sites original calling? Which venue inspires and accommodates personal growth? Were both venues to glorify God, I would be in favor of keeping them both running. But then the greatest question becomes which ministers to the Lord's heart, not the greatest number of people?! Looking forward to active, honest and thorough feedback! TR Hi TR, it's just Dan, not Mod Dan. Although my memory can become faulty as any codger's can, even sometimes revisionist, my fervor for this site has changed from what it was since I joined in 2012. And it's nobody's fault. And it's not necessarily dilution between sister type activities, in my opinion. I posit that for me Rapture-expectations burnout started in the Fall of 2015. I don't think I'm alone in that. I used to learn new things every day that were associate with end-times, including some really far out and unimaginable mind-blowing facts about the world. Now pretty much everything new to others is passe' or even trite in our context. Our phrases and assertions that used to inspire us and others are still appropriate, but over used. Look at a long string of different people on the FB RITA site simply saying "Amen" after an assertion about Jesus' certain coming to deal with evil. I also guess I'm still hurting because Jesus didn't come yet, TR. I do want to say that one reason I am not posting on Rapture forums anywhere is that I applied and in April was accepted as an Online Missionary for Campus Crusade for Christ's messaging system branded as GodLife.com. Since April I have almost 2,000 souls I have responded to through the message tracking system. And surprisingly, most of those concerns aren't about end times. Each day seems to have enough trouble of its own for many of these inquirers. My focus has shifted from here. This isn't all I have to say, TR, but these are some primary personal items. Gotta go. Again for many who did not have home churches or regular fellowship, RITAN was often described as being their church family. I for one encourage more people, more threads, more feed back and more interaction and lighthearted banter. Wanting this site to be thought of again as a church family. While the two sites running in opposition to one another has divided not only the family but also the apparent distribution, involvement and input of the Mods. This does not seem to be a healthy outcrop of bringing RITAN back to the family! As this was seemingly the reason for it's rebirth! As I understand, the rules of this forum were designed to steer all who participated, in a unified and temporate manner. Keeping our agenda focused, and for the rooting out of personal and extreme agenda's. With safety and respect, individual expression was tolerated and endorsed. I now wonder if we haven't lost our focus? I am looking forward to achieving this again! TR Thanks Dan, and every blessing in those new endeavors! If you feel the need for any further discussions on a personal level I believe that you might have access to my E-mail address. If not I would be happy to accommodate. TR I hear you brother! Indeed we are weary and somewhat jaded. I just hope to keep my personal resolve as intact as possible. With Rapture expectation levels riding the roller coaster as long as it has, it does wear and takes it toll. All the more reason for a website which also acts as a home and a church. To continue to lift the weak. We must all follow His leading in our lives especially with regards to calling, gifting and ministry! Be blessed and thanks for all that you do! TR Hi TR. I want to choose my words carefully in this response. It is not my desire to unnecessarily hurt or discourage anyone. For me personally, I don't know how anyone who participated on this site 3 or 4 years ago could not notice a huge difference in what takes place here today. Clearly, the Facebook site, which is robust and a blessing, has had its impact on the ability of this site to regain what we once had here. I check Facebook RITA pretty much daily as a reader, even though I do not have a Facebook account. There are many times that I have longed to jump in with what I sense is a Spirit-prompted insight or encouragement or admonishment. I'm glad to be able to view the posts, as there are many that are very encouraging to me. It's a different crowd and a different dynamic, to be sure. I suspect that most of those former original RITAN members who are actively participating on the Facebook site probably don't have the time and/or desire to fully engage here as well. Honestly, the analogy that comes to my mind in describing my experience on this new RITAN site is a bit like someone who found out he was invited to come home for a family reunion. I was thrilled to receive the invitation and excited to be “coming home”. However, when I got here, the town seemed virtually deserted, and the vast majority of family members have chosen, for whatever reasons, not to attend. I would be a liar if I said that was not disappointing to me, especially as one who has very few family members or friends in this world. Yet, we all have to run our own race as unto our Maker. Even so, I certainly sincerely appreciate the time and effort of those who are responsible for bringing this site back. Perhaps the season and purpose of the original site has been served. The words that came to mind just now (and I admit that this may be more an indication of my mind needing to be more fully renewed rather than evidence of the Spirit) are the lyrics from an old Bonnie Raitt song (and just for the record, I was never a Bonnie Raitt fan and certainly do not endorse her music today): 'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't You can't make your heart feel something it won't Here in the dark, in these final hours I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power But you won't, no you won't 'Cause I can't make you love me, if you don't We obviously cannot make folks come back to RITAN and actively participate. The Lord has to do that by moving on their hearts. So far, if we are being honest, it seems like that has not happened. Maybe the Lord wants to do something different now with this site? I don’t pretend to know that answer. May the will of the Lord be done. Maranatha!!! I agree Watchman35. You may be right about all the concerns you stated. I still find it sad, that something so wonderful and gifted of God has been discarded. Perhaps we won't be here long enough to grieve about it! TR I was thinking about this site a few days ago and believe the Lord has been educating us through it, and equipping His saints to witness to others with what we have learned. I was thinking the more reach the better and that both sites continue to be a blessing. Praying The Lord will continue to bless the sweet fellowship here?? I understand how you are feeling here. RITAN may not ever be what it once was back in 2008-2015. (Interesting that it was 7 years of prosperity.) For everything there is a season. God used RITAN in my life, and in the lives of many members, to draw them to Him. Many from our original group has gone on to do great things for Christ: becoming online missionaries, becoming well-known writers on bible prophecy, and have even found a Godly spouse to spend their lives with. RITAN has done God's work and it still is, but perhaps in a different way. One major point that needs to be made is that the RITAN website was in decline when we moved it to Facebook. The Facebook group is not to blame here. If we shut it down right now, it would not bring very many back here. And I and the Mods have never been driven by numbers. We could have 10 times the members at Facebook RITAN if we so chose, but we vet the members and have questions for prospective members to answer to see if they will fit our group. We have had many join just to ask questions about the rapture and to learn what the Bible has to say about the Pre-trib viewpoint. So even though we may not be able to see God's work, I do believe He uses both venues for His will. After dedicating so many years of my life to RITAN, of course it's hard to see RITAN change, but I and the Mods have dedicated RITAN to God to do as He wishes with it. We have always said that the Holy Spirit is the Head Mod here. And there is really nothing we can do to make RITAN grow. God has to do that work. He has to draw people here. Like it was stated above, it is nobody's fault. Maybe RITAN fulfilled her purpose, but I do believe God still wants her around. He may do a mighty work in RITAN in the future, who knows. All I know is that I need to be obedient. He lined it up so that we can have the RITAN website back. He lines up whatever members we have on Facebook. All we can do is make it available so that can happen. Praying that the Lord will draw former members back and direct new members to the board as well. On a happy note ... based on today’s headline news ... I think our time here is very short because the peace unveiling is coming. Time is literally running out ... they can’t keep putting off the announcement. So get ready ... to fly away! :yahoo:
