[ampaterry]

Sometimes on this forum we have differences of opinion.
Sometimes (not often!) they get a bit heated -

We would all find more serenity in life if we could simply do away with comparisons and envy. God made us diverse, and, in God's eyes at least, our diversity lacks hierarchy. As it says in the song "Some Children," God makes of us a blend of differences: different people thinking in harmony. Each one is vital, but only if they follow their calling and aren't fighting against the others for control. We should treasure our diversity rather than stifle it.

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 (GWT); "For example, the body is one unit and yet has many parts. As all the parts form one body, so it is with Christ. By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether we are Jewish or Greek, slave or free, God gave all of us one Spirit to drink.

“As you know, the human body is not made up of only one part, but of many parts. Suppose a foot says, "I'm not a hand, so I'm not part of the body!" Would that mean it's no longer part of the body? Or suppose an ear says, "I'm not an eye, so I'm not a part of the body!" Would that mean it's no longer part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell? So God put each and every part of the body together as he wanted it. How could it be a body if it only had one part? So there are many parts but one body.

“An eye can't say to a hand, "I don't need you!" Or again, the head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you!" The opposite is true. The parts of the body that we think are weaker are the ones we really need. The parts of the body that we think are less honorable are the ones we give special honor. So our unpresentable parts are made more presentable. However, our presentable parts don't need this kind of treatment. God has put the body together and given special honor to the part that doesn't have it. God's purpose was that the body should not be divided but rather that all of its parts should feel the same concern for each other. If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts share its suffering. If one part is praised, all the others share in its happiness.”

Everyone is VITAL! You may think your little toe is un-important – but if you drop a brick on it, you will find out exactly how much a part of your body it is, and how much it’s well-being means to the rest of you! And that is the way it is here. Everyone - from Sam to Glocknut - is a vital part of this forum. When we lose a part for any reason whatsoever, we are diminished by that.

God bless each one of you -