I probably should ask this over at the CS forum but I just was going over the threads over there and noticed that Hoot's thread asking about other Christians is gone. Did they censor it by removing it completely? Anyone know what's going on?

-- Deena in GA (dsmj55@aol.com), June 20, 2001

Answers

Hey Deena! YES!!!! I WAS AND AM CENSORED!!!! Too much Christianity according to Ken and Dave!! I am invited to continue posting there if I don't promote my Faith. I'm so mad I could bite nails right now. I don't know why I can't promote Jesus Christ on there when pagens, heathens and witches can promote their beliefs.

I'm turning this over to Jesus Christ and will await an answer before posting on the cs forum again. Please join in with me, in prayer, for His will to be done. Thanks Y'all. Ole hoot. Matt.24:44

-- hoot---the censored!!!! (hoot@pcinetwork.com), June 20, 2001.

I mailed Hoot and asked him to please post his material that was censured for us to read, as I missed the original before it was yanked. I will refrain from any further comment until I have read just what was so offensive.

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), June 20, 2001.

Gee, I didn't realize they had sunk so low to not even let you acknowledge that you are a Christian! I did ask the question over there but so far have not received a reply from TPTB. Let's join Hoot in praying over this situation.

-- Deena in GA (dsmj55@aol.com), June 20, 2001.

Hoot, I am so sorry that had to happen to you. When I first started there I told the Lord and myself I would stay there until they wouldn't let me talk about Jesus anymore. I am so blessed that God kept the door open as long has he did. You and I and many others had a real opportunity to spread the gospel of Christ. I feel like we are missionaries being thrown out of a country. I guess we can be thankful we were not beaten or killed as so many foreign missionaries are being done today. Like the one who recently was taken captive and had his head lopped off by terrorists. God has blessed us with a forum to witness where all they can do is remove us. I thought about going over there and posting a bible verse on every thread and at least make them work to quiet the cause of Christ, but God's Word says "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will Repay". It is so sad to me that the repayment for rejection of God will be eternal damnation. Ultimately those over there who don't know him will pay a higher price than I could ever mete out. I am glad to leave the responsibility to our Lord Jesus Christ who knows the hearts of men. God bless you brother!

Romans 12 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

1Corinthians 1:10-15 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

2 Timothy 4 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littleBit@compworldnet.com), June 20, 2001.

Hey Deena, they zapped your post, too!

-- Chamoisee (chamoisee@yahoo.com), June 20, 2001.

Yep, I just went to check on it and it's gone too. I actually like Little Bit's idea of posting scripture over there, or maybe some of us should go over there every day and give them the addy for this forum. I don't know, but like I told Hoot, I know we're in the last days and should expect things like this but it still makes me mad! It's sad because Hoot has such a special way of connecting with people which is probably why they got rid of him! Anyway, Hoot, please keep posting here.

-- Deena in GA (dsmj55@aol.com), June 20, 2001.

I tried telling folks they were still welcome to come over here and discuss Christianity, but they zapped that,too. I can't understand why people are putting up with this! Why don't more of them leave? Doesn't anybody complain to Dave? (Would he listen? Probably not.) It's not like Ken is the United States Government that has to be bowed down to and worshipped!!!!

-- Chamoisee (chamoisee@yahoo.com), June 20, 2001.

Folks are "putting up" with the censorship because the posts get deleted so quickly that most people never saw it to begin with ..nobody knows it was deleted unless they are also on this forum or Christian Homsteader's forum....Attaching biblical messages to present topics may make some folks feel as if they are doing something positive, but I would strongly caution against that type of response. Non-Christians would love the opportunity to prove that we are a group of mean-spirited folks who react like small children when we cannot get our own way..it defeats the purpose and gives shame to the messenger..Picture Jesus at the keyboard..what would HE do???? I cannot see my Lord and Savior with an attitude of "I'll show them"! I read the coolest thing yesterday in one of Alabama's small town newspapers..it seems a youth group leader invited his class to draw pictures of folks who made them angry that week, and then gave out darts to the kids...the kids were told to tack their drawings up on the newly papered bulletin board and then take turns tossing the darts at them...there were drawings representing little bratty brothers and sisters, mean teachers, false friends, ex-boyfriends and girlfriends, and even some parents! The kids all laughed and had fun tossing darts at all those folks who had made them angry that week. The group leader then removed the drawings from the board, and then took off the new paper to reveal a huge picture of Christ which had been underneath...the picture was now full of holes everywhere from the darts thrown in releasing anger...the article said the room got so quiet you could hear the gentle sobs of the young folks as they instantly got the message.."Whatsoever you do to these, you do to Me".....so, to want to retaliate against those who would deny Christ is natural..sin is the natural state of us all, eh? But how much more to be like Jesus is it to wait and pray and see what He would have us all do, so that indeed, the Glory of His name shines forth, not just the anger of His people...some points to ponder from here...God bless.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), June 20, 2001.

Wise words from Lesly, thankyou. She's right, lead by example and don't respond in kind. Not near as fun of course, but much wiser;-)

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), June 20, 2001.

Here is my recent private e-mail from Ken and my reponse.

What brought this one? Dave deleted Hoot's post (and yours) and Dave does happen to own the forum. We discussed Hoot's, but it was Dave's call. It has been indicated on the forum my duties as housekeeper have been expanded to include some discretion in deleting posts which appear to be no- brainers. I still usually bring borderline ones to Dave's review such as the one on Social Security. He said it was my call and it has stayed.

Ken Scharabok

All I know Ken, that all of a sudden Christian Posts are being thrown off the forum. From my view this didn't start until changes started being made to the forum. That pretty much started with you and with Dave taking over. I find it really hard to believe Dave is staying by the computer all the time removing posts, with all his other responsibilities. My post was off of there within seconds of it being posted. All I know is that if Countryside keeps this up they will lose subscribers. The whole thing breaks my heart. I never minded sitting by while all kinds of people from variant faiths and beliefs wrote in to CS. We had a really great thing going there, but now it is all gone. Suddenly the place we worked so hard to make a great place for discussion for all of us, is being run into the ground. Now everyone is expected to leave who they are at the door and I for one won't do it. Hoots post should not have been removed. Hoot is a good man and a valuable contributor to countryside forum. For this to be done to him is just plain wrong, for he doesn't deserve it. When I came there I decided that as long as I could be who I was, I would stay there. But first and foremost I am a Christian! You take that away and I'm not much of anything. I will not leave my faith at the door of anyplace I go, because to do so would mean leaving everything I hold dear. A lot of Christians read the mag, and pay these people for their magazines, but now we are being told that our opinions and thoughts are not important or valued. This whole thing is a travesty. I am sorry if I accused you unjustly, but you have to admit it has been a world of difference since you took over the cleanup. Now its not just cleanup, it is cleanout. Now I fully recognize that CS mag is as much in responsibility as you are for allowing this to happen, but nevertheless Joel was right about the fact that CSforum was fixing to start censoring. The man hit the nail on the head. This is Dave's mag and His forum. He has a right to do with it what he will, but I don't have to sit by and not say anything. I don't have to support this action, and I certainly don't have to recommend this mag to my friends. If he wants to censor, then the mag will have to pay the price of subscribers and good will. I am sorry if this upsets you, but I just don't see any way around it . The path has been chosen, not by me, but by CS. I really have always enjoyed the mag and the forum. I have always enjoyed and read your articles, and had anyone told me a year ago we would be exchanging this e-mail, I would have called them a liar. I have always respected your opinion on a variety of subjects, and have enjoyed your commentary and common sense. I am really sorry our paths must part with this blight hanging over it, but there is no help for it unless attitudes change over at the forum. God Bless You and I forgive you for any part you may have had in this mess. If you had no part then I apologize for my wrong assumptions. Little Bit farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littleBit@compworldnet.com), June 20, 2001.

"I don't know why I can't promote Jesus Christ on there..."

For the same reason that liberals are allowed to post their horse manure and thats allowed to stay. Its part of Daves new business strategy, to appeal to a larger audience. Im guessing but Ive seen it before. Did you see the Social Security thread? Its entirely innocuous yet Ken the Robocop decided that it should be considered for deletion by the Uber-censor.

-- William in Wi (gnarledmaw@lycos.com), June 20, 2001.

"For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish, foolishness." The unregenerate and unrepentant can't tolerate having their need for a Savior exclaimed.

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), June 20, 2001.

Well I finially made it to this forum,I posted homesteaders indignation, on country side, about hoot getting deleated, I got lots of great replys, and some not so great. I opened a can of worms, but I love worms!!!I don"t know why he didn"t deleat me, I Prayed that they couldn"t touch it, I believe thats why. We have got to keep sticking up for our christian beliefs. I"m glad I found you all. Love Irene

-- Irene from texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), June 21, 2001.

Hoot -

So sorry to hear of this... Wonder what's going on in their heads??!!

You know me, and what I am, but I ALWAYS found all of your posts to be inspirational, informative and quite intelligent. People should just leave you alone!!! Even if I don't always respond, I want you to know that I take great delight in reading all your posts -

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), June 22, 2001.

God bless you, Hoot, for contending for the faith. Welcome to "Freedom" forum. You are welcome and encouraged to post here. As for Countryside and their forum do what I did: cancel your subscription to their liberal rag and take their forum off your "Favorite Places"--in short, don't let the screen door hit you in the behind. Then to make a wrong right, take the money you would have spent on Commieside, and buy a three year subscription to "Backwoods Home" (www.backwoodshome.com or phone 800-835- 2418).

Thank you, Hoot, for all your stories and comments. In honor of you I end this post with my first "Hoot" style scripture reference. Second Kings 9:30-37.

-- Rags in Alabama (RaggedReb@aol.com), June 23, 2001.