* quiet * I'm sorry to see you go, Brendan. May you always go where God wants you best. I hope you have many good adventures.

Are you leaving or just abdicating? Because your post makes it sound like you're never going to see us again.

)':

I think was a very mature move. Love you dude, and totally support you. Can I drive up to D.C. from Lynchburg and huggle you this fall?

*feels like he should say something* *has no idea of what to say* *decides to try anyway*

I still don't know you very well, but from what I've seen and heard from other people, well, HW is losing a good bit. And that's all I can figure out how to say. In any case, I hope whatever other things you put your time into instead go well for you. Well, okay, and the rest of it too. Anyway. Shutting up now before I say something stupid.

We'll miss you, Brendan, though I'm glad you're not leaving entirely.

*Smiles* You never say anything stupid, Arien. I am glad you put your thoughts down.

Brendan, we shall miss you; as I said the other day you have to follow where you believe God is leading you. I respect your decision to step down since that is what you feel is right. *Hugs*

I'm going to miss seeing you getting involved in our leadership discussions, but hope we still get to see you around the forums some.

*Is very very very sad* *Has no words*

Indeed.

It's our hope in Christ that someday there will be no more trouble, no more goodbyes, no more hurt... someday.

I admire you for this, and stand by you in some ways.

I'm proud of you for stepping out and pursuing all God has in store for you, brother. You know I support you in this.

Now that I have found my words, I hope you all will bear with me in speaking them, as this could get rather long.

Friends, fellow citizens of Holy Worlds, and dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I joined Holy Worlds back in what I assume was nearly the end of the 'good old days' as Brendan has termed them. Even so, I miss those days as much as he does. They were good days, filled with good discussions, good ideas, good projects, and most importantly, good people.

Now, many of these people no longer visit our fair realm. There are new faces flooding the forum, discussion topics have changed, and much of what was no longer is. Does this mean that Holy Worlds has lost it's 'shine'? (Since Brendan used the term tarnish..) Has Holy Worlds gone bad? I should say not! If this was the implication, I must beg to differ.

Every community, whether online or no, must undergo changes. As the earth has its seasons, so anything in this world must change, and once it does, you cannot go back. Holy Worlds has changed, and will continue to change in the future. This is not a bad thing, just as Summer fading to Autumn is not bad. Every season in life has its difficulties and its sorrows, it is true, but each also has its joys, accomplishments, and lessons.

It has been said that you cannot plow a straight furrow if you are looking behind. I think this is true when it comes to a writer's forum, as well as anything else. We can't dwell on the Good Old Days and expect to move forward. We should not forget them, certainly. But this, the 'new days' are what's happening now. If we look back wishing we could return to the Good Old Days, we will miss what God has in store for us in these New Days. There will be new people, new discussions, new projects, new ideas. Let's stop fretting about the Good Old Days and make the New Days good as well.

With all that being said, I do not grudge Brendan his decision. It is his alone to make, and he must do as he feels right. Heaven forbid that I should judge him for that! Rather, I support it. Brendan, you have been a good friend, and a dear brother throughout my years on Holy Worlds. I hate to see you go. May God ever be your light and your guide as you travel the road of life, and may you always seek His glorious will above all else; because, in the end, nothing else is worth seeking without it. May you always remember us who have been your friends, and remember that we will always be glad to have you visit us when you have the time.

God bless you, man. *Blinks tears* *Hugs* *Smiles a little*

Thankyou, Calista.... That is what I believe too–but I couldn't say it so well. * smiles at neighbor *

*Smiles happily through the tears* Calista my dearest, you said that exactly right. *Hugs* I love how you mentioned seasons of change - because that is exactly what we are going through. I do not believe Holy Worlds has become tarnished, or something bad at all.

I think things are just changing from the way we remember, and that scares some people. I believe that this is a time for new things, for new leaders, and for change. I think we should embrace it, not shy away as if something bad is coming, but run into the storm fully believing that all this change is going to bring about good. I know some people find it scary or disconcerting that our old leaders are all slowly disappearing, but whist it is sad and we will miss them, I think it presents a time for new leaders to arise, for new ideas. It's sad of course that they are leaving, but I don't think we should view it as a bad thing. For a long time now a lot of our Leaders have been busy with real life, they have been moving on from Holy Worlds gradually. They have been around, but they have not been active - or as active as they once were. That is how I feel anyway; this is just a time when we need to readjust, realise this is a time for new blood, new leaders and change. Not bad change, not bad days, but new days, and good changes.


Anyway, I 100% agree with every thing you said, Calista. *Smiles*

And I agree %100 with you, Elanor dear. I think that for some of the leaders, the "old days" of HW were where they shone, and it's now time for new members to step up and shine in this new stage. Just as its true that there are seasons for different things, there are also seasons for people, and I believe strongly that for some of us, the season in which HW is a big part of people's lives has come to an end, and a new season has begun. I am hopeful that HW's new season will become a good one, and I am excited for Brendan's new one.

I joined this site after having heard about it through Jane Mimetes who many know as Sian, Calista and Renna the Blue. I have also heard of Jay and while i'm quite sure he has not been perfect I do believe even where he is now he is a blessing to those he is around and to the people on this site.

I have also found few places on the internet with such a number of people who genuinely care about people and desire to serve others at the expense of themselves. I think the loyalty displayed is the loyalty to each other and the desire to help, bless and encourage each other. This forum is a breath of fresh air and that comes from someone quite new who has not spent years on the forum. I've stayed here because I can see Christ in the interactions of many of the people. Never before have I seen forum threads dedicated to thanking people and encouraging people in such a way. I'm no writer, i'm no intellectual i'm just an ordinary person who enjoys the fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ who despite various doctrinal differences can and do get along very well which is another plus side of the people of Holy Worlds

Brendan, I disagree with your points, although I do not want to overly get into discussion about this here I will briefly.

You accuse people of forgetting their First Love, but really I do not see how you can judge others of this. You can look inside yourself and determine if you have forgotten your First Love, but this isn't something you can judge of others. I believe there are many devout Christians on here who put God before Holy Worlds. I have never ceased to be touched by the gentle, humble and Christlike attitude people on this forum show to each other; that is actually something I've personally noticed a growth of rather than something that is disappearing. Have we really forgotten that Jesus should always come first? I should certainly hope not. Everyone can go through times where they fail and they let worldly pleasures drown them, but how sweet it is to return to the arms of Jesus fully realizing one cannot last a day without communion with Him.

Honestly, I love what Holy Worlds stands for - to me it has been and is a mission field. Do I take it seriously? I hope so. The bible says everything you do, do it as unto the Lord, so it's important to me that if I'm putting my heart into something I give it my all not just a half hearted effort. But yes, humility before God is always important, allowing Him to use us as vessels for His glory.

Psa 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

God has not promised to specifically bless Holy Worlds, at least not to us maybe. But he promises that if we delight ourselves in God what we do shall prosper.

Again, with your fourth point, is this just a feeling you have or have you definitively seen it happening? I personally do not see people rooting for Holy Worlds. I.....just feel like you're doling out a lot of harsh judgements here on people, I mean if we disagree with your personal conviction that does not mean that we do not have an honest desire to submit to what God wills. I have, amongst others, prayed alot over the future of Holy Worlds, and I am following where I believe God is leading me.

Supporting Jay through troubles does Not mean that we have thrown Christ off the bus, Brendan. *Smiles* I'm really not getting why you think we have done so. The bible tells us to minister to those in prison, which I believe is what we have done; although this has been a hard time for many of us wondering where we are heading, I firmly believe that God can use tough situations to make us stronger in Him, trusting in Him more and more.

Whilst I respect your decision to leave, I do not agree with the thoughts you have made towards other members of our forum. I think these are things that people can only look inside themselves and ask.

My reasons for supporting you leaving Holy Worlds is because of my desire for you to follow Christ. If we were putting Holy Worlds first wouldn't we be begging you to stay? I think a lot of people's reactions to you leaving has been we will miss you, Holy Worlds will miss you but you have to follow where God leads you first before Holy Worlds. And I believe that shows where our desire lies. Yes we will miss you Brendan and your efforts to the forums will also be missed, but to us it is important that you follow Christ in where you feel He is leading you.


I hope none of this came across as harsh. I am just trying to be honest with you, as you have been with us.

Ow. Disappointed to come back to HW after being gone for a week just to see this. Given my lack of seeing the previous "glory days of HW", along with my lack of not being behind-the-scenes here, I don't completely understand or likewise see the problems you listed, but understand your decision for stepping down.

Here is my response:
http://www.holyworlds.org/fantasy/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=8090&p=183613#p183613

This is the Beginning.

"People come and go" - rightly said. Sometimes Christ's vision for a person takes them different places. I don't think Brendan has done wrongly or been disloyal by making this decision; I support him completely in this. As for being a part of the problem, taking yourself out of the equation can also help you solve it, with God's guidance. Thankyou for the fresh reminder of the purpose of HW, Patrick. But remember God is the one who calls people.

I would like to say that many HW members look at things blindly, mostly because they have never seen both sides of this issue, nor do they know the leaders of HW (admin and Council Members included) or the reasons why so many of them left.

Brendan does know the behind the scenes. Brendan can see many things anyone who has not been white, cannot see.

And if you met Jay after conviction, and did not know him before, as both Brendan and I did intimately, then you have limited understanding of exactly why Brendan feels very betrayed. And he isn't alone, either.

So be careful, those who are quick to judge and feel Brendan has lost zeal.

I think he answered that himself in his other thread

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=8103



Taking stock now and again is a very good thing and the reason for the return is us. Those who have been a blessing and an encouragement to Brendan. Those same people are what makes Holy Worlds great. The people that conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates Christ-likeness and this is what I would encourage every single one of us to strive for. If the members of Holy Worlds remember the ultimate purpose of our lives which is to glorify God by representing Him in all things Holy Worlds will not just continue but thrive and continue to be used by God despite the changes and even the loss of some old friends