Anniversary...

[David Flick]

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Today marks the 15th Anniversary of BaptistLife.Com and the BaptistLife.Com Discussion Forums. I'll not comment on the history, but for those who may be interested, here the last BL.Com Anniversary thread that was celebrated. We haven't celebrated our anniversary since 2011...

I find it difficult to believe that we have been discussing and debating with each other for 15 years. The regular logon paticipants are relatively few (15-25). I haven't checked to see how many regually read the forums, but I suspect that it is probably quite a few more than those numbers.

The regular participants are a unique bunch. We have debated, argued, cussed and discussed near 'bout a gazillion topics. There is one factor that stands out as strong. The whole bunch of us are phenomenally opinionated. I don't know that I've ever encountered a group of friends who hold such strong opinions about our favored topics. Yet in all of our debating and arguing we have remained brothers and sisters in Christ. We are Liberals, Moderates, Conservatives, Fundamentalists, and every other spot on the continuum. I don't suppose there will ever come a time when we will all agree precisely on every topic, be it doctrine, theology, politics, denominational politics, or yes, even global warming , but we will remain friends through it all.

Here's BIG THANKS to Bruce for creating and maintaining BaptistLife.Com. Without him, we wouldn't be the friendly, fussing, debating, arguing bunch that we are.

Happy 15th Anniversary to us all! And God Bless us everyone...

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[Dave Roberts]

It has been a fun ride!

[Neil Heath]

Well said, David! Thanks for bringing this milestone to our attention! May there be many more.

[Tim Bonney]

Thanks David for sharing this with us!

[Bruce Gourley]

David, thanks for reminding us of the anniversary date and for serving as our unofficial site historian. Time does fly, does it not? In 2000 many of the popular internet sites of today did not exist, probably none of us had smart phones, many of us were in different ministry positions, and a few of our early regulars have, sadly, passed away. In addition to the many good friendships that have come about because of the forums, the conversations herein have been a learning experience for me.

Finally, my personal thanks to all who are a part of the BL.com family. It is one place, of which there are so few these days, where Baptists of all stripes can regularly talk and sharply debate and yet remain friends.

[KeithE]

Just as long as it is not 18 years, 3 months.

[David Flick]

Just as long as it is not 18 years, 3 months.

[William Thornton]

Yeah...

I'm just glad David focuses his stuff on GW now. In the early days he regularly whacked me.

I'm sorry I haven't traveled around to visit the brethren since semi-retirement.

For years BL (and the earlier SBC Net) was about the only regular channel for frequent, in-depth interaction for single staff pastors like me. A monthly or even weekly minister's conference was and still is inadequate.

BL is far less Southern Baptist and somewhat less Baptist now than earlier, the former for obvious reasons, the latter an unexpected development. Both make it more profitable. I often get weary with my SBC colleagues elsewhere.

[Tim Bonney]

I know I've been asked why I stick around here now that I'm no longer a Baptist. Honestly the best answer is that I find friends here and that I can still have a good discussion with people who really do think about what they believe.

[Dave Roberts]

I agree with Tim. It's not because all of you agree with me. It's because you made me feel welcome when I arrived and offered some meat on occasion for discussion, not just the fluff of many sites or the one track minds of some spots.

[KeithE]

For me it is place to express myself and urges me on to study matters more thoroughly.

[Dave Roberts]

I appreciate being questioned at times because some of them actually make me think. After all, I have never learned much from people who agree with whatever I say.

[Stephen Fox]

If not for bl.com I might still be a member of Collinsvile Baptist church. That said I told the shooger booger what Thornton said a few days ago here on this board. She got a laugh out of it.

[William Thornton]

If not for bl.com I might still be a member of Collinsvile Baptist church. That said I told the shooger booger what Thornton said a few days ago here on this board. She got a laugh out of it.

OK, Stephen, what bit of wisdom did I dispense?

[Joseph Patrick]

From Joseph Patrick...aka Gerry Milligan

David, thank you for this reminder of Baptist Life's importance to me. While I used a pseudonym out of fear of what the IMB might think of my offerings, I do appreciate that I could interact with so many.

Grace and Peace

[David Flick]

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Tomorrow marks the 16th Anniversary of the first post on the BaptistLife.Com Discussion Forums. Rather than recount the history here, readers can read the posts in this thread. Following that, readers can go to the top of this thread and continue reading...

Happy Anniversary everyone!

[Dave Roberts]

Tempus fugit, and I don't.

[Ed Pettibone]

I hope some of you will be at the CBF Assembly in June, I haven't seen any of this bunch since Trudy and I had breakfast with Neal at an I-Hop in Macon last year. I thought we might get to meet Sandy back in January, however when we got to the Pittsburgh area, we where working at getting further east to out run a snow storm.

[William Thornton]

...one of the great joys in my life of the last 16 years. I'm better informed, better equipped bothtemperamentally and factually, to converse with those who disagree with me, and a better Christian and Baptist as a result of my friends here.

Maybe this is the year I make the grand trek to visit some of the brethren.

[James]

Thank you everyone for sharing and debating various issues with me. I know I sort of dropped out for a while, but I should be more active now. The first reason I dropped out had to do with health. I have had more and more general problems as my back got worse. Then there was the pain. Every time it got better it wound up getting worse. When it got to the point that I was taking six vicodin per day with to kill the pain no other chemical choice or surgery, I finally chose surgery. I spent a week in rehab. I learned more about love, patience and humility and the difference between true and false modesty in one week (at age 73) then I had in the previous 72 years put together. My body and mind are slowly coming awake now after 10 years of narcotics and I think I might enjoy life again. Part of the enjoyment, I hope will be getting reacquainted with all of you. So thanks for reminding me that underneath all the opinions and bluster, we are all God's children.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

[Tim Bonney]

I've found this forum to be a generally open and tolerant crowd. After all you tolerate me.

[William Thornton]

I've found this forum to be a generally open and tolerant crowd. After all you tolerate me.

You're still on probation....

[Tim Bonney]

I've found this forum to be a generally open and tolerant crowd. After all you tolerate me.

You're still on probation....

ROTFL! Wow, the Methodists only kept on probationary membership for two years.

[David Flick]

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FWIW: Today, March 13, 2017, is the 17th Anniversary of the founding of the BaptistLife website and Discussion Forums.

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[Dave Roberts]

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FWIW: Today, March 13, 2017, is the 17th Anniversary of the founding of the BaptistLife website and Discussion Forums.

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And we are still at it. Wow!