AnnieCarvalho

After reading the Prayer for Veterans today, I thought I'd share an experience I had this morning.
 
I was out around 5 am doing some errands and stopped for breakfast.
It was so early, the only people there were myself and 3 policemen.
As I was eating, the 3 policeman finished up and got ready to leave.
 
My grandfather and stepfather were policemen.
My other stepfather (after the first one died) was Chief of Police.
I have great respect for the police.
 
I stopped them and thanked them for all they do for us.
I was delighted by the smiles on their faces as I shook hands with all three.
One commented it was nice to be appreciated.
 
I realize there are a few bad cops out there, but I truly believe most of them are in it for the right reasons.
And it's a difficult job.
 
So I guess I'd say, while you're thanking Veterans, maybe thank any person in uniform, including Police, Sheriff, Firefighters EMTs, Nurses, and CNAs, etc. 
 
I appreciate their service as well.

Dang. Annie has me pegged. One of the mean girls, smoothing down my hair in front of a mirror.
 
How did she know?
 
In any case, it's nice to have Annie here to inform me of these things. estradling, it looks like you and I should be taking "nice girl" lessons from Annie. Now quit smoothing down your hair and pay attention.

Nope. 
I'm being serious.
I'm in disbelief.
 
:::::Edited for a REALLY snarky comment I wanted to make but thought better of::::

I think in a few of these posts Vort is being snarky, and perfectly well understands where the other person is coming from, while still expressing Vort's disagreement.

You can find a few bad apples in any group in life: doctors, teachers, ward members, etc. I would never let a few taint a great group like first responders. Good job thanking them for their service, I appreciate them as well. The cops in our town are on a waving basis as you pass them, pretty cool. (either waving or flagging me down as I zoom by?)

I was about to say and EMT's and such too. But there it is.   

I would like to add lifeguards, and search and rescue. Also first responders 

After reading the Prayer for Veterans today, I thought I'd share an experience I had this morning.
 
I was out around 5 am doing some errands and stopped for breakfast.
It was so early, the only people there were myself and 3 policemen.
As I was eating, the 3 policeman finished up and got ready to leave.
 
My grandfather and stepfather were policemen.
My other stepfather (after the first one died) was Chief of Police.
I have great respect for the police.
 
I stopped them and thanked them for all they do for us.
I was delighted by the smiles on their faces as I shook hands with all three.
One commented it was nice to be appreciated.
 
I realize there are a few bad cops out there, but I truly believe most of them are in it for the right reasons.
And it's a difficult job.
 
So I guess I'd say, while you're thanking Veterans, maybe thank any person in uniform, including Police, Sheriff, Firefighters EMTs, Nurses, and CNAs, etc. 
 
I appreciate their service as well.

After reading the Prayer for Veterans today, I thought I'd share an experience I had this morning.
 
I was out around 5 am doing some errands and stopped for breakfast.
It was so early, the only people there were myself and 3 policemen.
As I was eating, the 3 policeman finished up and got ready to leave.
 
My grandfather and stepfather were policemen.
My other stepfather (after the first one died) was Chief of Police.
I have great respect for the police.
 
I stopped them and thanked them for all they do for us.
I was delighted by the smiles on their faces as I shook hands with all three.
One commented it was nice to be appreciated.
 
I realize there are a few bad cops out there, but I truly believe most of them are in it for the right reasons.
And it's a difficult job.
 
So I guess I'd say, while you're thanking Veterans, maybe thank any person in uniform, including Police, Sheriff, Firefighters EMTs, Nurses, and CNAs, etc. 
 
I appreciate their service as well.

After reading the Prayer for Veterans today, I thought I'd share an experience I had this morning.
 
I was out around 5 am doing some errands and stopped for breakfast.
It was so early, the only people there were myself and 3 policemen.
As I was eating, the 3 policeman finished up and got ready to leave.
 
My grandfather and stepfather were policemen.
My other stepfather (after the first one died) was Chief of Police.
I have great respect for the police.
 
I stopped them and thanked them for all they do for us.
I was delighted by the smiles on their faces as I shook hands with all three.
One commented it was nice to be appreciated.
 
I realize there are a few bad cops out there, but I truly believe most of them are in it for the right reasons.
And it's a difficult job.
 
So I guess I'd say, while you're thanking Veterans, maybe thank any person in uniform, including Police, Sheriff, Firefighters EMTs, Nurses, and CNAs, etc. 
 
I appreciate their service as well.

Prayer to Honor Veterans
 
Preparatory comments: 
 
In the Old Testament book of Joshua (1:9) we read God’s charge to the people of Israel, who were about to face many battles, as they entered the Promised Land: 
 
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." 
 
And then, in the New Testament book of John (15:13), Jesus offers a bit of wisdom that ought to shine honor on every veteran. 
 
He said: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
 
Let us pray: 
 
LORD, the military personnel serving today, and those veterans we honor on this day, they have been—and are—strong and courageous.  They have loved, not only their friends, but their country—and even those our nation seeks to protect in far-away lands.
 
 
Because our veterans and military pledge and risk their lives—because they love so sacrificially—we honor them today.  They may not seek public accolades.  They may not even fully recognize just how much they gave and risked.  You do.  You see all. 
 
So, honor our veterans today:  First, by protecting our men and woman who continue to serve in dangerous places today. 
 
Then, by providing blessing to our veterans. 
Bring peace to their hearts and minds. 
Drive away all anxiety and distress. 
Provide for their families. 
Heal their bodies. 
And, would you plant within them a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction? 
 
Military service is never clean, neat and easy.  Pain, frustration, and uncertainty are abundant.  Heal all of that—and bestow upon our veterans honor—honor for all they risked, and for signing up to defend us when they did not have to.
 
GOD, honor our veterans today …  In Your most holy name, amen.

handbook 2: as referenced from 19.1.1:
Although service in Church callings requires sacrifice, it should not compromise a member’s ability to fulfill family and employment responsibilities (see 17.2.1). Before calling a married person to an assignment that requires a significant time commitment, Church leaders consider the effect of the calling on the marriage and family.
 
 17.2.1 Family Circumstances When extending callings, scheduling leadership meetings, and planning activities, leaders consider the family circumstances of members. Church service and participation always entail a measure of sacrifice. However, strong families are vital to the Church, and members should not be asked to make excessive family sacrifices to serve or to support programs or activities.
One family circumstance to consider is the Church calling(s) held by a member’s husband or wife. Individual families should not be overburdened with Church responsibilities. Another circumstance to consider is the overall time demands that members face in supporting their families and taking care of other personal matters. In some areas of the world, members of necessity work two or three jobs. These are legitimate considerations for leaders to weigh in extending callings, scheduling leadership meetings, and planning activities.
 
 

Sounds like your branch president/presidency need to read the handbook.  They are out of line making someone feel guilty, and discounting their feelings of being overwhelmed.  

That might be one meaning which the Church has "grafted on," but the Oxford English and other dictionaries define "humility"  as the quality or state of being humble, the quality of not thinking that you are better than other people
 
(As in Jesus' humble birth)

I read quite a few of them.

'In The Fen Country'
 

Just for the record, I'm the only one who can "bull"y on this site. I am the resident cow (I have horns, so many mistake me for a bull).

Yes, and I imagine there will be many self-righteous people who are gobsmacked to find out they've been tossed out with the tares! 

Bottom line is it's done.
I am sure it was not an easy decision to come to.
I am sure much prayer and contemplation and discussion went into it.
 
You have to either accept the Church and the decision, 
or gather your chicks and leave.
There ARE other churches that are more accepting to gay members.
If people don't like the rules, just like in the Boy Scouts, they have the option to join a different club.
 
No need to lose any more sleep over it, really.
Just watch and wait and see where it goes from here.
I imagine all the drama will die down - or I guess I hope it will.

I'd say the vast majority... I've heard of a few special circumstances, but only a few.

No, I don't believe that.
There is a difference between bullying and disagreeing.
People can disagree in a kind and respectful manner.

At funerals we talk about seeing our dearly departed again.  It may also be that many expect to live with their family in heaven.  Yet, there is that scripture where Jesus says we'll be like the angels, not marrying or giving in marriage.  So, the traditional belief is different.  Yet, I'd never say that we will have less love for our families in heaven--nor that we will fail to enjoy seeing them again, immensely. 

What is interesting to me about your list of 6 things is how often these points of doctrine were believed to have happened in the ancient world. For example, Zoroaster, Baal, Alexander the Great Hercules among others.

We all have different personalities. As mentioned, communication via text is not as easy to pick up on those personality characteristics that affect the way you communicate. I read someone's post with a general idea of what this person sounds like (so yes, I've given you all personal voices in my head when I read your posts---totally not weird...) based on what I've picked up about this person. But I don't truly know what any of you are like (besides what you've stated on this forum). So we have a tendency to misread, misunderstand, and mistranslate communication via text, which is not as prominent in communication in person (but still possible). 
 
We also don't trip over our words or say "um, ah, uh" like we do in typical communication. We get time to think out our responses and correct any errors. 
 
I feel like I was going to get at some grand point but now I've forgotten and am going to leave it at that. Main point: communication via text has it's downfalls!

Sorry if any of my big-letter posts offended.
They were either because 
1) they were cut and pasted and I can't figure out how to delete the original text formatting  
or
2) I am old and can't see very well. The larger letters are easier for me to read.

Very likely... Also note that in the real world face to face... people who regularly miss various social cues while interacting with other people are commonly said to have a social disorders of some kind.  Yet on the internet we try to have social interactions in a medium that strips away a lot of the various social cues we use in real life, and then we wonder why people misunderstand us. 
 
Perhaps understanding that, we would be more likely realize that our reactions need to adjust accordingly