| Author |
Message |
Violet (Violet)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 10, 2002 - 5:29 pm: |     |
Hi, guys, I have not written in a while. I have finally found a church I really enjoy after looking for over a year. It is a Christian Church. I went to a new Bible study class last Wed. night. We met in the church library. Guess what was glaring at me? The set of bible stories. I about fell out of my chair. My question. We have only been apart of this church for about a month. We are not members, just very interested in it. Do I say something to to children's pastor or not? This is a good size church, probably 700-900 attend three services every Sunday. If so what do I say. I am sure it is probably that someone donated the books and they are just not aware. Help!! |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 10, 2002 - 7:25 pm: | |
Violet, Yes, I think you should say something to the pastor. First, pray that God will give you the words and the opportunity to speak the truth and that he will prepare the time and the pastor's heaert to hear.
He needs to know what he's dealing with. Also, you can refer him to this website and to Dale Ratzlaff's website (www.ratzlaf.com) if he wants further info. You can also let us know if you want some materials for him, or you can contact Dale Ratzlaff. Dale has a booklet designed for evangelical pastors called "The Truth About the Seventh-day Adventist Truth".
Ask God for guidance. You might find that you'lll have chances to speak to the head pastor as well.
I'll pray that you'll know what to do and that you'll rest in Christ and that you'll have his wisdom and words.
Colleen |
Sabra (Sabra)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 10, 2002 - 8:28 pm: | |
Violet,
You don't have to get any further than Chapter one of the first book where it starts talking about Adam and Eve celebrating the first Sabbath. Your church probably hasn't even read the books. I feel you have to inform them.
Lorin, I had all of those books, the original ones from my childhood, after reading the first chapter of the first book to my kids, not even finishing it, I threw them away. My feeling was that if it wasn't truth, it couldn't be of God. There are plenty of children Bible stories out there that are biblical. Pray about it. I feel for you all that have SDA family near by, influencing your children. Mine is about 700 miles away, and I think it is supposed to be that way for now. Kids can get so confused. I'll have to face the grandparents visits soon enough and I hope I have prepared my children for that by then! Lots of prayers!
Sabra |
Violet (Violet)
| | Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 5:38 pm: | |
Thank you for the words of support. I knew I had to speak to the pastor about the books. I guess I was just afraid of being labled a trouble maker by bringing something like this up. Guess I am still a little gun shy after the way the Adventist treated me when I brought up objections.
I know this is different, but it is still hard.
Do you know of some specific parts I could point out to the paster. Like the sabbath conversation in the garden of Eden. |
Violet (Violet)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 6:39 pm: | |
Ok guys, I am now in panic made. The Lord will not let this one slide. I went into Bible class tonight and looked at those Bible story books. There was another thick book on its side, you could not read the title. I felt a twing of familiarity just looking at the edge of the cover and the sides of the pages. I leaned forward and my heart lept into my throat, my stomach seized, and tears of anger came to my eyes. It was a gift edition copy of the Desire of Ages. This put me in full gear. Tomorrow I will be bringing this to the attenion of the pastor. They can blow me off if they want but I will go out kicking on this matter!!! |
Lydell (Lydell)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 7:27 am: | |
Violet, I'm so happy you are getting involved and planning to speak out. Undoubtedly the Lord had you sit in that particular spot just so that you WOULD see the titles so that you could educate the pastor. So I hope you aren't stressing too much any more over speaking to him.
I'm happy too that you are choosing to speak to him at a time other than at a service. I'm realizing more all the time, in working with our pastor, that folks make a mistake when they attempt to bring some detail to the attention of their pastor either directly before or after a service. The poor guys simply have to be too focused on too many matters at hand to give attention to peripheral details, no matter how important they may be.
Hope you let us know how it goes. |
Lydell (Lydell)
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 8:04 am: | |
Well now....I have been going to a Quilt Guild meeting in town for about 4 months now. Haven't really wanted to do it. I LOVE quilting!! But the meetings are at night, I'm always tired, and it's about a half hour drive to get there. Still, I've felt like the Lord was telling me that I am to keep going. But why? What's the purpose? I was asking Him that on the way last night.
After the meeting, held at a Baptist church, we were shown into the church library to view a quilt that some of the ladies in the church had made for a missionary family. As we were standing there talking, I happened to look around at the book shelves, and lo and behold, there was a set of the Bible Story books. sheesh! Then a bit later as I was turning to point out this problem to a woman who I know to be a church member my eyes happened to fall on a copy of Desire of Ages. Okay....so now I know at least one of the reasons why I am to keep going to these meetings. How about that! |
Violet (Violet)
| | Posted on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 1:16 pm: | |
It's amazing how things happen. I tried to schedule an appointment with one of the ministers today, but none could see me. I have put this in the Lord's hands that He will present the right paster and the right time to approach the subject. As I have thought this over I think I will approach it from the angle of we are searching for just the right church and we fell in love with this one because it seemed so grace and spirit filled, but when I saw those books I just had to ask someone in authority if this was someone the church supported or was this just a gift and they did not know what they had (an evil serpent waiting to bite the life blood of the next victim), anyway I'll be more discreate than that, but you get my drift. I fully believe the Lord will handle it.
It is true that all things work together, you never know when, how or why, but they seem to. Praise Jesus for that.
Vi |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 6:50 am: | |
You're right, Violet. God will give you the time and the words, and he will give you the authority to say them. Wow, Lydell--same thing, different place! I have been praying that the truth of Adventism will become known.
I was talking to our youth pastor about an editing project the other day, and he made this comment: God will not be mocked. The context of our conversation was a bit different, but the application here is equally good. I also like another sentence I've heard from our women's ministry leader: God will not allow someone to sin successfully forever. I believe God brings light to people so they can carry the light to others, and he has put you, Violet and Lydell, in a position to shine the light of truth by his power into these situations.
I will pray for you both to know what to say and when to say it, and I'll pray for God to prepare the hearts of the pastors.
Praise Jesus for truth!
Colleen |
Violet (Violet)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 17, 2002 - 4:19 pm: | |
The Lord is really showing Himself in amazing ways. The pastor's topic this morning was on how we need to be a church that accepts people where they are and how they are. He used the texts on the accused adultress.
What a place to start a conversation with the paster about Ellen White and Aventism. They are definalty anything but total acceptance at where you are. |
Violet (Violet)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 1:53 pm: | |
I met with the main pastor today. Funny thing is he was able to see me the day after I received Dale Ratlaff book the truth about Adventist truth. So I had a copy to give to the paster. It went really well. He was the typical "heard something about Adventists but not much" he had no idea about Ellen White or her books. He was very open and at the end asked me if he had someone else come to him with legalistic struggles would I share with them, and he gave me a big hug.
I am so glad I went, although I cried most of the way through. Telling my story helps in the healing process.
He didn't say if he would remove the books or not, I told him I was not there to twist his arm or tell him what to do, that only the Holy Spirit could tell him that. I was only there to share my knowledge of the subject. It will be interesting to find out if the books are still there next week.
Vi |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 10:26 pm: | |
Violet, I am thanking God for being with you and for giving you an opportunity to tell your story to someone who took you seriously. I think it's really significant that he asked if you would be willing to help if others had problems with legalism. God really is redeeming your past and using it to proclaim the truth!
Isn't he awesome?!
Colleen |
Sherry2 (Sherry2)
| | Posted on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 1:27 pm: | |
Keep sharing Violet. It something so many people do not recognize because they're not educated about SDAism.
I was sickened today to walk into Meijer grocery store (This is a huge chain of grocery stores similar to Walmarts, Prevo's...incase you don't know) and where they have that display for placing ads or those magazine brochures for like "Cat Fancy", "Dog Fancy", etc. were brochures for "Signs" and a booklet on "The Forgotten Commandment" put out by the Sheltons of 3ABN....I don't know of any religion in North America more committed to converting everyone to their denominational view of the "Truth" then SDA's. JW's may be aggressive door-to-door, but I still have not seen them in every day living like going to the Doctor's office and running into the Bible story books, going to a grocery store, finding brochures for the next Revelation seminar in our mail. I mean, I find this utterly amazing. Well anyhow, I took them and trashed them. Now I feel like I need to drive around GR from store to store and look for this stuff. |
Violet (Violet)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 6:12 am: | |
I went to church last night and the Bible story books and the DOA was still there. I felt a little put out, but knew the Lord was in control. As four of us ladies started to walk out the leader asked if anyone would like to be the church librarian. We all three had such a work load there was no way. So she said "well I was the librarian for 3 years, we could just meet on a Saturday afternoon and sort through all of this stuff and trash what doesn't need to be here". I readily agreed to help.
I am sooooo excited to see where the Lord is going to take this. It has me on pins and needles waiting to see how He will shine His light.
He is so great! |
Sherry2 (Sherry2)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 10:37 am: | |
That is very cool!! You'll get to be part of the "pitching" team and send those books right on out!! How amazing is that. Neat. God is good.  |
Violet (Violet)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 6:15 am: | |
Sherry, its kind of funny, I'm not trying to get the books thrown out per say, but more hoping they will be a conversation starter about grace v. legalism. Who knows God may leave them therr to open up conversations in the future with others struggling. I just can't wait to see what He has in mind. |
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