| Author | Message | ||
| Insearchof Registered user Username: Insearchof Post Number: 58 Registered: 8-2005 |
Well, tonight I am meeting with the Pastor and Elders of the SDA church that I have been a member of for a long time. They asked to meet with me because they are concerned about my lack of involvment in the church the past several months. Since I was the Head Elder for quite a while before I really began reading the book of Hebrews and discovered the 'truth' about 1844, they want to find out whats up.... If you would, please say a prayer that things go well (considering). My main objective is not to loose my temper or say anything in such a way as to have the Elders loose theirs. Pray mostly for God's blessing. There is much that I am still conflicted about regardidng SDAism, I certainly don't have all the answers, but I do know enough to know that this meeting will be a watershed event for all of us. Thanks! InSearchOf | ||
| Snowboardingmom Registered user Username: Snowboardingmom Post Number: 74 Registered: 11-2005 |
InSearchOf, I'll definitely be praying for you! God will provide you with the words and the wisdom you need. He will bless you. Grace | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 481 Registered: 1-2003  |
InSearchOf, you will be in my prayers, that the words spoken will be clear and the Holy Spirit might open the hearts off all who are there. Richard rtruitt@mac.com | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3853 Registered: 12-2003  |
Insearof, praying that you will be filled with God's authority and wisdom and courage, and that you will have His words and the He will be glorified. Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2495 Registered: 3-2004  |
Insearchof, Here is my prayer for you and the meeting with the elders: Father in Heaven, You are the Almighty. Be with Insearchof as he meets with the elders. Rom. 10:11 says, ".....anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." So I know God, you will be with this person as they witness before the elders. May your name be honored and glorified. As always God, You are awesome. Thank you. Diana | ||
| Lisa_boyldavis Registered user Username: Lisa_boyldavis Post Number: 196 Registered: 3-2005 |
Dear God, Insearchof is now speaking with Adventists about the truth you have opened his heart and mind to. God, make the truth come to life before these people. Send the Power of your Spirit into the room and empower Insearchof with boldness and truth he's never before spoken. Protect him from Elijah like depression after he's done his Mt. Carmel for you. Take away his fears and doubts and embolden Him for your Truth. In the Name of you Son Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. Lisa | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1598 Registered: 3-2005 |
Insearchof, I am praying that the meeting went well tonight. Stan | ||
| Patriar Registered user Username: Patriar Post Number: 274 Registered: 3-2005 |
Insearchof: I am praying... Patria | ||
| Lisa_boyldavis Registered user Username: Lisa_boyldavis Post Number: 199 Registered: 3-2005 |
Would love to know how the meeting went. Lisa | ||
| Insearchof Registered user Username: Insearchof Post Number: 59 Registered: 8-2005 |
Well, all things considered, the meeting went well. There was a good spirit, no one got angry and lost their temper. The concern was to know 'where my wife and I were headed'. They wanted to hear from me what the issues were. Oddly enough, there seemed to be little surprise or even concern that I felt there was no Biblical support for 1844. There was concern over my statement that I did not believe that keeping the Sabbath had any bearing on salvation. One elder even said that if I was not keeping the Sabbath when Jesus returned that I would not enter heaven. Believe it or not, that did not upset me. I know where he was coming from since not long ago I was there, too. They are obviously concerned since I am a SS teacher and have a large class. I restated my desire not to make waves and told them I would have to resign at the end of this quarter since the lessons for next quarter deal with 1844 and the IJ and I could not teach that the way they wanted. I think we all understood that my wife and I are on the way out and it is best to let us go quietly over the next few months. They want to provide a sounding board for me so that I have someone to talk to, but I don't see that as possible since it would decend into defending traditional SDA belief. It is sad to leave after all these years. I still go every week eventhough I don't really feel any joy in it. Hard to do something new, I guess. I know it will hurt and confuse people that we have know for so long, but there is so much more to experience somewhere else. I want to thank all of you for your prayers. The meeting really was friendly and non-confrontational. These are good men doing what they feel is right based on their understanding of the Bible. Although I no longer agree with them, I still respect them and appreciate their concern for me and my family. I do what to thank OnTheBeam (that is the screen name on CARM) for sending me the books by Dal Ratzlaff, Mark Martin and Greg Taylor as well as the DVD. I read them. My wife read them. Eventhough I started studying my way out first, my wife sat down and read Galatians after watching the DVD. She mentioned how differently the Bible reads once the EGW glasses are removed. God has truly blessed us in that there is no contention or arguement over giving up SDA doctrine. So far, we are on the same page in our overall understanding of key issues (well, I am probably more Calvinistic in my theology than she is, but nothing major). We still have a long way to go, so keep us in your prayers. I have learned quite a bit from spending time here, and for that I thank you all. In Christ, InSearchOf | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2502 Registered: 3-2004 |
InSearchOf, God answered your and our prayers by keeping everything non confrontational. He gave you the words to say. Because of your leaving, others will know why and start studying for themselves. I will continue to pray for you and your wife. Isn't God awesome. Diana | ||
| Bobalou Registered user Username: Bobalou Post Number: 37 Registered: 2-2005 |
Hi Insearchof, Oh how I thanked the Holy Spirit when I read your posts. I have been praying for you and your wife. Joy, Joy. I know that when we first corresponded you were in the valley of decision. It is so great that you have seen the Light of the simple plan of Salvation. I am glad that you didn't have a bad experience with the brethren. This shows their Christianity too. My hope is that many more will understand your reason for leaving. The courage it took to make that decision and do as you and your wife are doing. Have you found a group of believers to worship with? It is important, but not something you must do immediatly. It took me almost 3 years before I had the urge to fellowship. When it happened I knew my Spiritual healing was complete and I needed others to worship with. Some time we would love to meet you and your wife personally. We all live in TN and not so very far from one another. Your friend in Jesus, onthebeam | ||
| Cw Registered user Username: Cw Post Number: 35 Registered: 4-2006  |
InSearchOf, it sounds like you have the right attitude toward the Elders. My prayers are you will continue in that. As hard as it must be to leave tha church, God will be with you every step of the way out. My prayer is also that you and your wife will find the right church for your family quickly. CW | ||
| Insearchof Registered user Username: Insearchof Post Number: 61 Registered: 8-2005 |
Thanks all for your kind replys and thoughts. Bob, in answer to your question, we have been attending Messianic Jewish church here in town and will likely be more regular. We are currently still attending the SDA church here for the most part, but over the course of time that will be less and less. We actually did attend an Evangelical church on Easter Sunday. That was a new experience for our entire family. The people were great, the service was OK. It was Reformed (good for me!), but I plan on trying out a few other churches in the area. It will likely be some time before we totally commit to any one church. The MJ congregation would like for us to join them but as much as I love the Rabbi (I believe that he is very gifted in many areas and from what the members tell us he truly loves his flock), I don't know that we are ready to join them. Funny thing. I have not had a call for a few months from anyone at the SDA church I attend, but since the meeting I have had two phone calls with requests that I be open to study with the pastor and elders. They do want to meet with me in the next few weeks to try and find something for me to do so that I stay active and involved. I think it is time to just begin to bow out gracefully. It is sooner that I might have planned it, but God has His own timetable. Keep us in your prayers. InSearchOf | ||
| Bobalou Registered user Username: Bobalou Post Number: 38 Registered: 2-2005 |
We definatly will InSearchOf. Another funny thing, when I decided I could no longer attend the Adventist church I, too, looked up the Messianic church in Knoxville. They have a web site and so I went through their tenents on line. Sabbath was still my belief and my wife wasn't on the same page as I was. I thought this might be a good compromise. A statement about keeping the OC feast days like Passover stopped me in my tracks. They said that not all those attending kept those days, but it still gave me signals. Would I be kind of an outcast if I didn't go along with the group? Why would they keep Passover when we have the Lord's Supper? I needed more information, so I never did attend a service. In the mean time I started studying the Covenants. The first book Dale Ratzlaf wrote concerning the covenants was Sabbath in Crisis. A former Adventist friend in Washington, DC gave it to me, what a blessing that was. Dale has a fabulous study on the covenants. As I stated in my last post, I didn't attend any church for almost 3 years. I was content to study and sort things out on my own. I had recently retired and was building our retirement home. I had plenty of time to do a lot of thinking and praying here in the mountains. My wife was in Ohio caring for our grandkids. This was just what I needed. Now I am sure that Jesus never intended that we should get caught up in OC rituals. We are free indeed. My wife and I are on the same page now and we are truly enjoying the fellowship in the small Methodist congregation near our home. (26 miles) We gladly make the trek to church most times twice a week. We are not members, but they still have us on committies. They are so non judgemental. It was had to believe at first. I could go on and on about them, but I won't bore you with it. I do hope and pray that the Elders will have soft hearts when you get together. No one bothered to come and visit us. I wrote my letter of resignation and haven't heard from them since. Good news though. We attended Alumni last week-end where my wife taught and our kids went to school. Three alumni came up to me and told me they knew me from FAF or other sites. Another one said she is studying and knows all is not well in the church. The three are either out or searching. They all need our prayers. Take care, keep lookin up and stay on the Beam. | ||
| Catalyst Registered user Username: Catalyst Post Number: 126 Registered: 6-2005 |
InSearchOf - While we found the Messianic congregations to have wonderful music and the Davidic dancing was nice, we found that they have some real "different" end time beliefs about the Temple and Jerusalem. Before you get into this too deep, check out how they think the world will end. How they think that this all will happen "may" make EGW look easy for you. <grin> | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3864 Registered: 12-2003 |
InsearchOf, Thank God! He is clearly moving you and your wife toward Him and away from the veil of deception. As you said, you wouldn't have planned the timing this way, but God has His own timetable. That is so true, and when you say "Yes" to Him as He beckons, you will continue to grow in depth and confidence and knowledge of His will. I am so happy to read your posts! God will guide you to the church where He knows already that you need to grow. He is faithful! Colleen | ||
| Windmotion Registered user Username: Windmotion Post Number: 295 Registered: 6-2001  |
Bob, are you free methodist? I also attend a methodist church and am a member as well. However, I do not think of myself as a "methodist" per se, i just like the church. Openly, Hannah | ||
| Bobalou Registered user Username: Bobalou Post Number: 39 Registered: 2-2005 |
HI Windmotion, I attend the United Methodist Church. Prior to becoming an Adventist I was a member of the Methodist church. They united with the Evangelical United Brethren in the 60's I believe. I have heard that not all UM's congregations are equal. We live in the South and most people are very conservative. I tend to be so too, so we have a nice fit. After being part of legalism this is a breath of fresh air. | ||
| Insearchof Registered user Username: Insearchof Post Number: 62 Registered: 8-2005 |
Bob and Cat, I hear you on your concerns regarding MJs. While we do enjoy aspects of the worship and find the Rabbi to be a true man of God, this is strictly a stop along the way to where we are supposed to be. The folks there are really nice, but there are things we are just not comfortable with... We will keep you posted! InSearchOf | ||
| 91steps Registered user Username: 91steps Post Number: 42 Registered: 8-2005 |
InSearchOf, I am glad things turned out the way they did for you. Make sure when you resign that your name is removed from the books. I attended a very small SDA Church and was on the Board after being a member for 3 years. When I started to search the roster I noticed names of members that I had never seen. Once I started to research them I found out several folks had died BEFORE I joined the church!!! The pastor kept the names on the books to "pad" them so the Conference wouldn't close the church!!!! That really frosted me and got me into hot water when I brought that info up in a board meeting. |
