Thanks, appreciate the evenhanded and wisdom filled response. Indeed, we are all seemingly holding our collective breath. Again, it is with the utmost love and respect that I try to engage on this site, and try to be obedient to the Lord's leading. I will never claim any special gifting from the Lord, but rather try and be an encouragement however I can. As stated before, I believe that through our interactions we are indeed forging eternal friendships here in this realm. That will give us blessed memories in the next realm! TR Hello All; Big time, very long-time lurker here. I've lurked many years on the old site and was so excited when this site was re-birthed. This is a great thread and so many comments that resonate with me; I'm driven to participate in this topic. I am not a Facebook fan so although I glance at the Ritan FB page, the format is not my thing. There have been many recent events that caused me to rush to this site, only to find no posting on the topic, when at one time, (as was previously mentioned), I would have learned about it here first. With that said, I'm old enough to realize that if everyone (I'm talking to myself here) waits for "someone else" to initiate or respond to a post, there wouldn't be a site. "Build it, and they will come" comes to mind. I think this site will thrive again! I think the momentum was lost after the original RITAN site closed. The people who enjoy Facebook gravitated to the new FB site; but there were lots of people who don't do facebook. I felt like I was hanging in the balance. Prophetic things were happening and I felt so frustrated not having an outlet of like-minded thinkers to tap into for their perspectives/opinions. I LOVE bible prophecy and bible archaeology. I have no one in my circle of friends or family who share these interests.........except you. I have learned so much from this site; more than I could have ever imagined. So, I will make an effort to step out of from behind the curtain and participate. I'm up for adoption! I'm no scholar; I'm not a minister; I'm just a God- fearing women with an insatiable desire to learn and grow in all things GOD, in these very difficult and incredible times in which we live. Seeking Illumination, that is exactly how forums like this one grow to be the way the old Rita/Ritan was. Members just like you and me and all those who are active here, who are not professed experts but professed lovers of Jesus Christ, wanting to participate in a community of like-minded thinkers. The beauty of a community like this is the ability to share our thoughts and events without having to be an expert or feeling like there will be some blowback if we didn't say something just right. So many people in this community have gentle spirits and kindness dwelling in their hearts. Those of us who moderate this site try to do so with gentleness and kindness always remembering that we are serving Jesus in what we do. While I have not seen this new iteration of Ritan meet the level of the older sites I also know it takes time to get enough people to critical mass and we just haven't reached that point yet, so I am very, VERY happy when people like you are coming out of lurking and into participation. It truly is people just like you who make this forum work. Thanks for joining. Love your heart! TR Tender Reed- just wanted to add- and I speak for the others also I believe- that we so appreciate your commitment, energy and enthusiasm to this site- and if the site gets a fire burning with lots of new and engaging threads- I am sure you will be the happy instigator!! :heart:
