<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE>John 3:16 and Donald Duck on the Pianotech = list.</TITLE> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2614.3500" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#f0e8d8> <DIV>Dear Martin,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So, let me get this straight: any time = that someone shares their thoughts or feelings or beliefs, you feel "pressured" to = accept them? Sad. You do not understand the Christian's heart. You can accept = or reject totally. That is all up to you. As it is the piano tuner's desire to = tune pianos, so it is the Christian's desire to share the promise and hope of = the Gospel. That's all. You have free will. Accepting a free gift IS = about the hardest thing there is to do. God loves you. That is unchangeable. Go in = peace.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Robin</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: = 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black">From: <A href="mailto:vanbrussel@EURONET.NL" title=vanbrussel@EURONET.NL>vanbrussel</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">To: <A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title=pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Sent: Thursday, December 14, = 2000 4:23 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Subject: John 3:16 and Donald = Duck on the Pianotech list.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> From: vanbrussel <<A = href="mailto:vanbrussel@euronet.nl">vanbrussel@euronet.nl</A>> <B= >Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 22:53:25 +0100 To: <<A = href="mailto:DGPEAKE@aol.com">DGPEAKE@aol.com</A>> Subject: John 3:16 on the Pianotech list. </BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE>Christopher Witmer, in a recent post, = quoted John 3:16; "For God so loved the world that = He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not = perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the = world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be = saved." -- John 3:16-17 <BLOCKQUOTE> And then (another pianotech subscriber) : Why = does this upset you so much? Are you under conviction? Read the verse = again, insert your name instead of "the world" and see how it applies to = your life. </BLOCKQUOTE> Well Sir / Madam, I will try to explain to = you why, yes.... it bothers me : In this opening sentence actually = lies the cause and the answer (of my being bothered): In the first = place, I thought I am/was a subscriber to a so called 'pianotech list', a = forum for piano technicians (and not specificly 'religious only' piano technicians). When I subscribed, I did so, because it said = nowhere that one had to be a piano tech AND be a member of any religion or church. By getting e-mail on that very pianotech list with = religious material  like, : quote : "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever = believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For = God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that = the world through Him might be saved." -- John 3:16-17 " unquote. I am puzzled = and annoyed. Why puzzled? Because, as I said before, I wanted = to be a subscriber to a 'pianotech related' list without sermons or any kind = of religious influence. And why annoyed? Because I feel = pressured to accept YOUR vision, YOUR way of living, YOUR philosophy. You = probably did not ask yourself (in this case) whether I had the WISH and NEED = to accept YOUR way, YOUR phantasies. Furthermore: Suppose = I am a believer in 'Deity' Donald Duck...(and please, do take my words seriously) How would YOU personally react to my asking you to = accept 'HIS' (Donald Duck's words? How would YOU personally react to my = asking you to "insert your name instead of "the world" and see how it applies = to your life" ("For God so loved the world that He gave His = only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but = have everlasting life. ).   You would probably feel = very much insulted and you would considder it blasfemy (and on top of = that....on the pianotech list!) So, 'my point' is : Maybe I believe = in Donald Duck? Maybe I believe in Allah? Maybe I believe in = Buddha? Maybe I believe in the Thora? Maybe I believe NOTHING? I = <<<<  try to have respect for others by (on a public forum like the pianotech list) not openly push forward MY religious believe or opinion. If I would do so anyway, it would actually show my = contempt for the ideas of other persons, my personal criticism of what another = human being might feel privately in relation to religion, philosophy, or = whatever way of life. I did never want to write this letter in the = first place, it did not even come up into my mind! It shows, that by = provoking subscribers of this list with YOUR religious ideas, you FORCE and = BOTHER other persons with something private THEY never asked = for. And that is exactly what I have against anybody, who forces his will upon = me...and I don't care whether it is political, religious, or Donald = Duck! May 'any' force be with you anyway.........because I wish no harm upon = you and forgive you. I just wanted to make this clear! Martin van Brussel PS. As = I am still a subscriber to the Pianotech list, and as this all came into = the world because a religious subscriber of said list wanted his = personal religious opinion in public, I feel it necessary to make a statement = (I will however not disclose your personal name, out of respect). If = other religious subscribers (on the list) then find it necessary to use = the pianotech list as a battleground for their personal pyilosophical beliefs, I will happily unsubscribe and switch over = to a more neutral territory. At least I know where I stand then. </BLOCKQUOTE> </BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>