Over the past month or so things seem to be drying up a little on our forum, wouldn't you agree.It would be sad if Cal called it a day and closed the site, well it would be for me and I am sure the same for other's too.
I have been greatly helped in understanding of the JW doctrine, and have been greatly blessed by all your answers to my questions, and by reading your questions and learning from the answers given. As one who has never come under the authority of the watch tower org. I feel part of this community of ex.JW and others on this site.

This is one of my favorite hymns, I usually sing it to myself when the dark clouds come over head.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Refrain


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John,

I believe that many members of this forum want to share, discuss and reply, but may not have the time. Real life can take away our time for the LORD and for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Meanwhile the forum will continue. If Cal plans to remove it, you will see everyone will return to this forum clamoring, "Please don't!"

So meanwhile, we are to be patient while we count our blessings.

Batty

Well just so you folks know I just paid for another year so we are good till June 2010 and I will most likely renew it then. I have not been posting much I know, I think I have my fingers in too many pies.

Good evening everyone,
I to have been helped by many folks on this board, but I don't think it's any secret that my main goal was to try and get my wife to see the truth. Well I've all but given up on that and I'm struggling just to study the Word. I do read it daily, pray, but its like its forced. Sorry, haven't posted in a long time and there I go whining.

Hope all is well with everyone.

I have been away for a long time and just happened to take a look tonight. I have to admit, when I first signed up on this forum, the format was different and the site seemed much more active. I noticed a big change when the format was changed, not nearly as much activity and I gave up after a while. I will say that I liked the old format better and found it to be much more inviting. Sorry, but I just had to comment on this when I saw John bring it up.

I would love to see this forum come back to life again.

Take care,

Wendy (NowImFree)

In case some people don't remember, the old format flashed forum conversation subjects on the home page and invited people to participate. It really captured people's interest. To give you an idea, during that time after I joined in 2007, some months there were 5 times or more as many posts as now. I really noticed things slowing down after the format change. If you look back at the forum history in 07 and compare it to now, you will see a big difference in participation and I noticed it with the change in the website.

I would hate to see this site die so that is why I am being brutally honest about this.

Wendy

Hi NowImFree,

There has been a big drop in forum participation and it concerns me greatly. I am now sure what feature you are speaking of could it be "View active topics"? Or are you speaking of the portal we had? I just can't remember.

Hi Cal,

I think it may have been the portal, that sounds familiar. The subject topics for the forum would all be moving on the main webpage, kind of scrolling I think. Was that the portal? Anyway, I liked it because you could always see what people were talking about just by looking at the main screen. It really drew people, I know it did me. I remember noticing once the format changed and that was gone, it seemed like things started slowing down.

I hope this information helps and thank you for listening.

Take care,

Wendy

OK, that was a modification I found that let the top 20 posts scroll on the home page. Unfortunately the folks who wrote that mod did not revise it for the new version. I will check maybe they have something similar available. In the mean time try "View active topics" it does the same thing but it takes you to a new page and it does not scroll.