I have a bit of a painful announcement to make (at least for me it's painful):

From now on, unless there are changes in my financial situation, I will not be able to spend as much time as I have been spending on the forum (unless there are emergencies). Unfortunately, this probably won't leave me much time to give Chizuk to everyone like before and I will need to answer only the most urgent posts. However, if I see that I have accomplished enough work for the day, I may allow myself more time. (If anyone sees an urgent post that I missed, such as a newbie calling out for help or a question that needs serious thought, or anything that sounds urgent -please send me an e-mail). I will continue to try and answer anyone that contacts me by e-mail to eyes.guard@gmail.com

Before you judge me, please read the posts below:

Boruch Posted:
I have become totally addicted to these forums in the past 7 days. Unlike addiction to pornography to which abstinence is the only right answer -- fortunately with addiction to these forums, moderation is the right answer. So whereas I could never and would never schedule chas vesholom an hour of pornography a day (especially since I am very capable of stopping entirely) I intend with Hashem's help to deliberately schedule from tomorrow on between 21:30 and 22:30 UTC/GMT daily for posting on these forums.

A reply to Boruch:

"Snax" once posted:
"I have a new addiction. The GUE forum! There is so much chizzuk on the boards. I get the chizzuk from your and all comments posted there. I have seen major improvement since I joined the forum and hope to join the hotline this coming week. Together we are stronger and will be able to overcome our Yetzer Hora. I think guardureyes has a great zechus as people can share their thoughts anonymously. Even people that want to give chizzuk and cannot do it openly, can give out all they have on the forum."

To tell you the truth Baruch, there's nothing wrong with "addiction" per say. I believe that many of our Gedolim were, le'havdil, literally addicted to learning Torah. It was their life-line, their breath, and it was also their "high", in a sense. Halevai we could learn such addictions! The forum here is a good thing. And if it isn't taking away from your Torah learning, davening, family time or job responsibilities, I would tell you that there is nothing wrong with becoming addicted to it. Every post here is a smack in the yetzer Hara's face. I assume though, that it probably does take away from other priorities in your life and that is why you have decided moderation. If that is the case, you are doing the right step.

Your post made me realize that I too have become too addicted to the forum. I know how important it is for me to give everyone Chizuk here, but it really is taking it's toll. My work is suffering a lot, and as a result my finances are suffering. Even my family is suffering. I have less time for my children and my wife often claims that I'm not emotionally available to her. On the other hand, how can I stop rallying the troops, offering advice and updating the charts? So many people are holding on by their finger nails... So I think i will need to take Boruch's example. Moderation is the only answer. I hope everyone on the forum will be able to forgive me.

B"H the forum has grown in leaps and bounds in the past few weeks alone. That is also one of the reasons it is becoming overwhelming for me. But on the good side, there are now so many people who are offering so much great Chizuk. The forum is begining to breath on its own and support itself. Ish Es Rei'eihu Ya'azoru, Ule'achiv Yomar Chazak!. So maybe it is indeed time for me to let go a little and start making limits for myself as well.

While we are on the subject, let me just mention a few of our great Chizuk posters on this forum, to show them how much Hakaros Hatov we all have for them: Elya, Battleworn, Mevakesh, "Me" (not me :-), Jack ... I will need you guys even more now, since I will have to be cutting back a bit.

And everybody, PLEASE, keep posting your daily logs, struggles and Chizuk. We need you ALL. Together, we are a powerful force against the Yetzer Hara!

I am impressed, Boruch, by your ability to take a decision and translate it into Ma'aseh. In these type of things, it's not enough to "want", we have to "DO". That being said, let me define my cut-backs right now on this post. I will bl"n spend no more than a half an hour on the forum in the morning and a half an hour in the evening. (Don't forget, the Chizuk e-mails still need to go out each day and personal e-mails that we get still need to be answered as much as possible. Not to mention updating the "Wall of Honor" chart and the website with new stories, tips, Q&A, etc... )

I ask everyone's forgiveness for this step. Maybe one day we'll have some big sponsors supporting the GUE network that will allow me to spend full time on it. I truly would like to. Not just for the sake of the forum, but there is SO much that needs to be done. We need to network with Frum organizations and find creative ways of spreading the word to all Yidden that there is hope and there is help. Also, a whole new more modern website is now under development (at www.guardYourEyes.org). It will IY"H be a dynamic, blog style website, with RSS feeds and all the modern gadgets. But I just have no time to develop it now.. And I would like very much to write up e-books (PDF files for download) with all the info people need when starting out on the the journey. Not to mention, publishing a real book on the subject one day. There's just SO much that needs to be done in this area.

Speaking of which. If anyone knows of any "well-off" Tzadikim that understand the grave and pressing need for this work in today's world and could be potential sponsors to our network, please, either let me know, or speak to them for us. GUE today is like diamonds scattered in the sand. It has HUGE potential for helping thousands of Yidden in this most vital area (Yesod - the FOUNDATION of Yiddishkeit). If people knew what a Zechus they could have in supporting this work, in helping us spread the word and expand our activities, if they would know how much Teshuva is happening (and would happen ten-fold through their donations), if they would know how much closer we all here are bringing Moshiach, people would be snatching up the opportunity like diamonds... Unfortunately though, Shechnita Be'afra. Maybe one day Hashem will allow me to dedicate my entire life to this worthy cause. I should only be found worthy for this great honor.

This is sad but necessary. Hopefully sometime in the near future someone will realize how amazing this site is and make a generous donation. GUE, you have my word that if I strike it rich you're gonna get a nice chunk of change (and if I don't, you will get whatever I can spare). This site must keep growing!!

Guard, it's painful news for all of us (at least for me it is) but I totally understand.  I wish you lots of success and remember that as soon as you strike it rich your back on this forum full time.  Don't fall in to the money addiction!! 8)

Reb Guard,

   Firstly I am not totally maskim to this change,and you cannot say that I do not understand financial pressure.

The truth is, and I am really looking for the truth,

If you knew, if you could see the unbelievable Olam Habah that is waiting for you. An Olam habah, a place that even the Malachei Hashareis can't imagine,... would you say "I don't have enough time for my own finances"? You Guard have undertaken an unbelievable chiddush in Klal Yisroel, single handedly. I saw in the Heileger Sefer Tahara Hakodesh, (or it could have been Shomer Emunim), that very very few people are zocheh to be called "M'zakeh Es Harabim".   To be M'zakeh es Harabim has unbelievable reward, and there is no question that you are doing it. I saw in L'Kutei Halachos that when one does this type of aveira and falls down, he pulls down with him all of the thousands, and thousands of neshamos that are connected to him. And, you Guard, who have earned the respect and leadership of this forum...YOU who have become literally the captain of the ship, (the Rav Chovel),  for just one word you type on your keyboard, you will be affecting literally thousands and thousands of miriads of neshamos. This is being M'zakeh Es Harabim on the highest of all levels.
    You are very intelligent, we have read your posts, and there is no question that you will YES agree, that if you could see your Schar.......you would wear rags, and eat bread crumbs B'simcha G'dolah!!!!  Our problem is always that we don't see, but you know what I am talking about, and you yourself would write the same words to someone else. Don't be an Anov. You understand this sickness, the extent of this aveira, and therefore....we can all understand what will be the extent of the schar for those, ESPECIALLY you, who are doing the chiddush of rectifying it. Do you really believe that you will not have a place somehwere that is at the very least CONNECTED to the same place as Yosef HATZADIK???!!!

I believe that this MUST be one of the big Y"H's, (Hamenuvals, i.e. the Rosh of all of the Klipot has come down in person in order to TRY to put a stop to what you are doing. KNOW, that if you are shaking the heavens with your work, you better believe you are also shaking the olam Haklipot as well, and.....they are NOT happy about this!!!!!

Reb Guard. please have your Eishes Chayil read my post.You and your wife are connected by the same neshoma. Your neshoma and her neshoma are ONE. Therefore, all of the Schar that you WILL receive, she will ALSO receive it as well .Why, because it has to be this way. This how Hashem created us. Just like when a women works in order to help her husband learn. She will also receive schar for his learning.

So in order to be Misakem:

1) your Schar, if you only knew........you would surely find another way. You would look at every possible, and every  available way to keep yourself at the helm. This is only a test of mr. Menuval. This is one of his nuclear type arsenol... (He is now going for the leader of the entire group. This is cutting edge proof that he is REALLY frightened.

2) Your Eishes Chayil is your partner in all that you do. She surely will want to work together with you, and YES figure out a plan on how to completely pull the carpet out from underneath the smelly feet of the menuval......the one who is behind this new change, (there is no doubt about this) we have learned to recognize his movements.

3) You CAN work together with your wife, (we know that it is not easy) but, you can figure out a way to keep the flame burning, and even to increase it's heat.

  WE must work this out. Hashem said that the menuval has permission to strike at our heels, our feet. But now, he is going for the head. We must not allow him to do it....

Wow "Me", your answer caught me by surprise. I am speechless. I must say that I actually posed this question to my spiritual mentor (my Rebbe) as well as to Rabbi Twerski in the past. My Rebbe told me that family and job indeed come first but that I should continue to spend as much time as I can on this, since it is very important. Rabbi Twerski told me that I should be doing this like "Maaser" - a tenth of my time... But until now, I just couldn't. I felt too much responsibility and I've been spending more than three quarters of my time on GUE for already over a year. Not just on the forum, but on the website, the two daily Chizuk e-mails, answering e-mails, advertising, networking with others, updating the chart, making partners, and now learning how to start a new more modern website as well... So I was hoping that at least on the forum, now that it is growing and becoming more and more self-sustaining, that I could "let go" a little. Especially with all the great Chizuk that people like you ("Me") offer on the forum ever since it started about 6 months ago!

I don't know what to say. I guess I will have to think it over more. Thank you very much though, for all your warm compliments. I want you to be with me in the next world. You will have also a big Chelek in the Ziukui Harabim through all your Chizuk posts. I could never do it without you, battleworn, Mevakesh and Elya.

Reb Guard,

We also know that when we ask a Shaila, the Rav will answer in the "responsible" way, and yes....responsibly speaking, your family does come first. This is how he must answer  the question that YOU asked.

But, to be Moser Nefesh, this is something that only you and your Rebbetzin can work out TOGETHER. You have no chiuv to ask a Rav, "can we be moser nefesh etc..."

  This is surely the work of the Menuval, and we must, all of us together some how work out a plan. Just as a plan was worked out on how to add women to the forum.  Here to, we must NOT let the menuval be matzliach.

One last point.  The idea is that "we" (our family comes first) so you can give masser to the tzibur etc.  The fact is that you ARE doing this for you and your family. For some reason, now in the end of days, we always think in terms of the gashmios as being for "me and my family".  What about a mitzva of this magnitude, creating for me and my family who are involved in this mitzvah, my ETERNAL parnassa. Anyway, the reality is that we are all here for our Nitzchius.  Am I really giving to the tzibur and NOT myself....?

Me, are you trying to get me back for asking YOU to show messiras nefesh in the not so distant past?  ;D

;D

But really. This is of a very very serious nature. You are literally the only one who is actually causing a change concerning the "Yesod".  The Yesod, this means that the entire creation was for this mitzvah. This is the Yesod-the foundation that the entire creation rests upon. Just as we see in the very first word in the Torah  בראשית 
ברית אש

You have literally made changes in the Yesod.

Guard, Yes, you have an obligation to take care of your family. And, we know that when a man is Motzei Shza'l, each drop is a neshoma that follows the man to the kever. I saw somewhere, that if the person really has charata on what he did, these neshomas are more understanding that he tried etc, and have less desire to "give it to him". But just imagine, YOU, just for one xtra push of a key on your keyboard, you are mechazek someone to hold bach even just 1 drop, let alone hundreds, which is hundreds of thousands of neshomos that have been saved from the klipot. You do KNOW that after 120, these neshomos will come to your aid, because it was YOU who had a direct hand in saving them from the Klipot. Millions, and billions of Neshomos following Reb Guard in order to ..........give eidos that he deserves only the best place. And, as i said before, this will absolutely be shared with your Rebettzin.  Chazak!

Dear Guard,

A true tzadik b'seiser. Thanks for all.

Much haztlocha,

One of your chassidim!

Will all of the miriads of saved  neshomos from each and every drop and drop, be any less of  one one  your "chassidim"?

Rebbe actually you can not visualize the effect you have on our lives.
Take myself as an example, and I think many more will join in my story.

Since I joined the forum my life has simply CHANGED for the better
Like a turtle slowly (actually rapidly) emerging from his shell.
Starting to live a lively life, a life of control and reason.
To understand myself, and the others around me.
I opened my eyes, grasped my deterring situation, and made a swift U-turn.

WOW!! One hundred twenty five days.
125 days ago I joined the forum
125 days ago I was reborn
Right, I consider myself an infant of 4 months old.

I watch my soul growing daily, as a kid would regularly appraise his height.
My Davening has not been with such devotion for a very long time.
The learning has become superior, since the tranquility of my conscious.

I observe my social life advancing, like a professional PR entering a club.
My kith and kin have never been closer to me, then the last few months.
My friends encircle me, as bees would surround their comb
The list goes on and on…………………..

Do you really want to drop me?
Go ahead brother do it now! 

I may not be able to express it as well as MDM, but the effect that you've had on my life is no less; maybe more!

MDM, never never will I drop you! If I had come down to this world just for you, it would have validated my entire existence! Chas Veshalom. I am not talking about dropping anyone. I am here, I'm not going anywhere Tzadikim and Kedoshim. I am only saying that I may not be posting replies to every post on the forum like before. I will be looking for those who need advice and Chizuk the most, and answer them. Also, there are some people on this forum that I just feel so much love for that I won't be able to hold back from answering. Ano-nymous, beHoly, Jack, Me, Battleworn, and you, MDM are DEFINITELY one of them  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D  :D

Guard, I only started posting to the forum a little over a month ago, and I have been clean for this whole time.  The impact you have had through this board and your chizuk emails cannot be calculated by any human.  There are lives being saved here.  Whatever amount of time you can spend on this is time well spent, and an investment in olam haba.  At the same time, we have to live in this world, and the Torah was given for us to live by.  What the balance is, I do not know, but I am confident that in your davening and your speaking to your rabbeim, you will find the right balance.