| Author | Message | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 11158 Registered: 12-2003  |
Tom and Judy Shewmake's story is now online. It's a significant story, with links to studies and websites that, if pursued, will give a person comprehensive exposure to the significant issues regarding Adventism. You may have read it on other websites, but if you haven't, don't miss reading this...it's a great study and story combined! (The html version on this site, for those of you to whom this means something, is fully searchable by Google, so it can be found by people doing "private" online research...) You can read it here: here Colleen | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 462 Registered: 1-2006  |
quoted in Shewmake's story EGW states "…it is impossible for even one soul to be saved without good works." 1SM377 This hardly deserves comment, but I can tell you this theology still thrives in the hearts of people I love. | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 642 Registered: 5-2002 |
An amazing story! And well-documented for any seeking lurker who wishes to follow up. I loved the reference to beliefs built on dead corn stalks! A not-so-subtle reference to Hiram Edson's vision... | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 675 Registered: 12-2007 |
WOW ! I had read their stories before but not all the other information... there is so much I am going to have to print it all out and go through it more slowly...... what an amazing journey :-) | ||
| Cindy Registered user Username: Cindy Post Number: 837 Registered: 7-2000 |
Tom & Judy, You two have put a lot of time & effort into your post; I am in awe of your diligence and work in presenting the sufficiency of Christ alone. May your words be a help to those who are restless... searching for the True Rest found only in Jesus. grace, cindy | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2082 Registered: 5-2007  |
Tom and Judy, I also want to thank you for the work you went into putting together your story. Yesteday I was working on commentary for May 13th concerning the weekly Sabbath and found your section on the Sabbath very helpful. I found your reference of Ray C. Stedman's very appropriate and had already downloaded much of what he had to say about our true Sabbath Rest. Years ago, he was a frequent visiting speaker at our church and I came to realize him to be a great Christ centered scholar. Although he has long since gone to be with the Lord, his online library of sermons is still an excellent resource. Fearless Phil | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 6160 Registered: 9-2006  |
As I read the Shemake’s story, the same old spirit of sadness came over me. Although their story resembles all the rest of the stories of leaving Adventism and finding peace in Jesus, yet the story is new, in that it is the story of finding that peace that passes all understanding. They aptly take responsibility for their previous actions, yet the story does bring a spirit of sadness over me, like every other story I have read. They didn’t put the blame on anyone, and this is commendable. Their story is commendable, and from the heart. I think primarily why these stories bring a spirit of sadness on me is the underlying thread that runs through each of them, for every one of them tell of the years spent in Adventism, being brought up and taught falsely, most from childhood, and this is what makes me sad when I read them, and I have to say it, the uselessness of a life wasted. No man can grieve and be sad in Jesus over his own wasted years, I can’t grieve and be sad over my own wasted years, but I can and do, grieve for others. I oft times wonder why I ever got mixed up in this, wonder if I went wrong some where, and wonder if I have wasted, now, years, then someone writes their story, and I begin to grieve in my spirit and be sad all over again. There is a pulling, a tugging on my heart, in this sadness like no other thing I have ever experienced. A scripture comes to mind, located in Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! I get the sense that Jesus is grieving in his spirit when he says this. There is an old song that goes like this, ‘Wasted years, wasted years, Oh how foolish.’ I get the sense of all this, as this grieving of spirit takes place time and time again. Truthfully, there has been times when I wanted to just walk away and never look back, and there are one or two who wish I had, or would in the near future.  But this is why I can’t. Most times I feel just as useless, and don’t feel that I have done anything for anyone accept create some kind of mess, and I can get up a good case of feeling sorry for myself too, I present my case to God, and he says nothing. Time goes by and then I read another story like this, and the sadness and the grieving begins to take place and it softens me up, and gives me a vague outline of the bigger picture, not quite plain, but just enough to let me know that I have no right to get up a case of feel sorry’s, and it effectively reduces my bowl of worms to nothing. God has his ways of taking our bowl out from under our noses. I can’t see into the future, so all I can do is ask God to guide me along, and I know I am going to goof up, but if I can reduce someone else’s pain by one minute by something I say or do, then it is worth it. People, including Adventist can be antagonistic to me all they want, but it can’t cut its way through this grieving of spirit. There is a reason for this grieving of spirit, and I don’t know what it is, but it is of some value to God, and he alone knows what that is. River | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 686 Registered: 12-2007 |
River, I posted this in another place but after reading your above post.. I felt like maybe it was meant to go here for you instead. Skeeter This was part of "The Daily Spurgeon" in my mailbox this morning. It has a message I needed to hear for encouragement to hang in there.. thought someone here might like this message too. :-) "If you try to be like the bellows to melt these hard hearts, and make them flow into the mould of Christ’s gospel, you must expect to be burned in the fire; and because you encounter a little persecution, or disrespect, or difficulty, do you flee to your chamber and cry, “I will give it up”? Shame upon you; rather redouble your efforts, and pray God to give you a greater blessing by way of success, or if not, greater patience to bear his will." | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 373 Registered: 5-2009 |
River, not long ago I read the very personal and powerful book by Bruce Marchiano (the Christian actor who portrayed Jesus in the "Matthew" movie)...I believe it's called "In the Footsteps of Jesus". It is an amazing book. In it he describes a fraction of a fraction of a second where, as he looked out over the crowd, God let him feel a little bit of the grief that Jesus experienced as He saw His children who would not turn to Him and be saved. Just as if you were calling to your little child, as they ran into the street, and they ignored you, and you saw the car coming...You have a sensitive heart for us. Remember, though, that God can and will redeem these wasted years. I think that in God, they are somehow not wasted, if that makes any sense. We need to remember to encourage each other because we do get tired at times. I know things you have said have blessed me when I've been discouraged I'm glad that you haven't walked away. Skeeter, wonderful quote! Thank you for sharing it. I'll write it down & keep it in my Bible. PS. Everyone out there, read Bruce M's book--then watch the Matthew movie! You won't regret it. | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 374 Registered: 5-2009 |
Tom & Judy--Thank you SO much for your story! It covers every issue. My husband & I were so blessed by it that we stayed up late reading it all. Very powerful and compelling. (I first heard the gospel as a member of the Sonora SDA church up in your neck of the woods.) Welcome to the body of Christ!! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 11170 Registered: 12-2003 |
River, I agree. Thank you for being part of us. Colleen |
