| Author |
Message |
Sabra
| | Posted on Thursday, November 01, 2001 - 3:38 pm: |     |
I would totally agree that salvation and love should be our main focus. That's why Paul said to preach no other gospel, to not be carried away like children with every wicked wind of doctrine. It is most definately NOT required for salvation to speak in a prayer language. Like I said Dennis, just pray about it and the Holy Spirit will not lead you in the wrong way. As I said, I felt exactly as you do. We are here to share our opinions and grow from them so I appreciate your thought and I do see where some put too much emphasis on "spiritual gifts and signs"
I'd like to share with all of you two wonderful, miraculous healings: A girl at work had a tumor, is 5 months pregnant and couldn't have surgery until the baby is born. I prayed for her and the Lord has healed! She went to the Dr. and they couldn't find any evidence of the tumor. Praise the Lord! Also, a woman in church has been struggling with breast cancer and we have been praying for her for a couple of months. Each time she goes to the Dr. the report is better and this last time she went they said the Tumor had shrunk to almost nothing! Glory to God!
I am meeting with the SDA preacher in about an hour. Pray for me!!!!!!! I have full confidence in the Lord.
God Bless you all,
Sabra |
Colleentinker
| | Posted on Thursday, November 01, 2001 - 4:49 pm: | |
Sabra, how did your meeting with the SDA pastor go?
I haven't been able to really read the website for a couple of days, but I really appreciate the thread above.
Doug, the first thing Richard and I did was to resign from church offices. We knew we were on our way out, but we were praying to know how and when. (We were enmeshed pretty deeply with our clients, etc.) God distinctly opened doors one at a time. The church office was first, and we knew that our resignation confirmed our path out. Every few months there was another open door for us to walk through, and God took us out on his timetable and in his way with absolute confidence poured into our hearts that he was giving us a new life!
I want to confirm Lydell's experience of KNOWING God in a way that is deep and personal and incredibly different from an intellectual assent. Increasingly I see Him and experience him in my work and in the peace and completion he brings me when I'm overwhelmed with more to do than can humanly be done in the time allotted. I praise him for how he continues to open the scriptures to me and reveals himself and truth to me when I study. I am deeply grateful for the way he confirms spiritual insights through fellow believers. I am still overwhelmed with the reality that I actually love Jesus. That was always a concept that made me feel guilty and confused in my past. How does one LOVE Jesus?
Now I Know! He loves me, and I experience his love, and I love him. That is not an intellectual concept. That is deep and real. Worship and praise have come alive for me. I can actually sing praises to God and cry instead of standing stiffly and proudly because I understand that praise songs are musically inferior to classical, serious music. (My head as well as my heart have come to agree that praise music is legitimate music, and it has opened a whole new experience to me. I am embarrassed that I felt so superior for so many years!)
I am grateful that the Holy Spirit convicts me and teaches me about things in my life and memories that God wants to heal and redeem.
I am so thankful that God gives us the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He will, and I pray that I will be receptive and open to the gifts He gives me.
I praise him for his faithfulness and his love!
Colleen |
Sabra
| | Posted on Thursday, November 01, 2001 - 7:07 pm: | |
Colleen,
I think the visit went well. I was praying so hard! I feel he is a fairminded man who understands grace (somewhat more than most SDA's)
and said he respected my conviction and did not share in the belief that other faiths will not be in heaven but instead that a persons convictions will be considered faithful by God. Of course we disagreed on some key issues. But since I understand that Sunday didn't replace Saturday that arguement went nowhere. I explained that the Sabbath (as I understand it) became a permanent institution of rest. Is that what you all understand? Well, I wasn't nervous. "The Spirit of the Lord has annointed me to preach the gospel to the poor." Praise the Lord, hallelujah!
Thanks for asking :)
Sabra |
Dennis
| | Posted on Thursday, November 01, 2001 - 9:07 pm: | |
In India, there is a caste system. There are not just the "haves" and the "have-nots," but there are the "almost-haves" and the "mid-haves" and the definite "never-will-haves." The system determines every part of a person's life--economic, social, political, educational, and every other sphere.
In some churches, there is an invisible caste system. There are those who claim to have the sign gift of tongues and those who do not. That is totally unscriptural. When people say the "haves" have spoken in tongues and the "have-nots" have not spoken in tongues, they set up a harmful division between Spirit-filled believers.
How would an earthly father feel if the children in the family were constantly arguing about which child always got the best gifts from Dad? Suppose the children squabbled, and one pointed to a shiny new bike and stuck his chin up indignantly, boasting, "See, Dad loves me more than he loves you because I got the best gift."
Well, first of all that is a boastful, prideful attitude implying that gifts are earned by being the favorite. Second, it says little about the father's discernment in giving gifts to his children.
How do we think the heavenly Father feels when He loves all His children with perfect love, and then they squabble over who has the best gifts from Him? And even more divisive are some in the family of God who boast because they think they have earned some wonderful gift. Or that they have at least favored status.
Sounds Adventistic, doesn't it? Akin to having an "exclusive franchise" or being the "remnant" again. Most of us are definitely certain that the gifts of "apostle" (Mormon teaching) and "prophet" (Adventist teaching) are not given in this church age. Why are we so certain? Christians today do not get their spiritual knowledge IMMEDIATELY from the Holy Spirit, but MEDIATELY through the Spirit teaching the Word. With the apostles, the prophets had a foundational ministry in the early Church and they are not needed today (Eph. 2:20). Gifts are not toys to play with. They are tools to build with. And if they are not used in love, they become weapons to fight with, which is what happened in the Corinthian Church (I Cor. 12-14).
If I live for signs, I am a spiritual babe. Yes, I believe He heals and does miracles today, but they are not for a sign. He does them out of love for His children. I fear that tongues is sometimes a strong and successful substitute for coming to the Cross. Galatians 2:20 tells of our being crucified with Christ. Romans 6-8 tells me how to have victory over sin. A person can speak in tongues and not have victory over sin and be crucified with Christ. Tongues cannot be sought as a spiritual high. It is not the ultimate experience. The ultimate of the Christian life is "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (Phil. 3:10). It is not anybody's prerogative to claim the Father has a caste system of "haves" and "have-nots." We might. He doesn't.
In God's wonderful family,
Dennis J. Fischer |
Sabra
| | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 6:00 am: | |
Dennis,
You are talking about speaking in tongues in the church which was my first concern when I presented the question. You're right, some people will try to out-do the next and some will boast, I would say they are not filled with the right spirit. I would rather no one speak in the church unless there was a definate interpreter there to let the rest of us know what is being said, and this happens. The private prayer language is not going to edify anyone except the person that is praying and therefore it should be done in the prayer closet. If you've ever prayed for a really long time with a burden on your heart at some point you feel a deeper, closer more profound presence of God. Maybe you get goosebumps, maybe you speak in a language you've never spoken in before. If you're not open to it, God is not going to try to confuse you with it. I think if the strict guidelines in 1 Cor. were more strictly adhered to God would speak to His people more. He has the same power He had 2000 years ago. The miracles haven't ceased, only the BELIEVERS. We somehow feel in this day and age that God is way up there somewhere and can't inter-act with us. He is very much there as he was in Paul's day, problem is, not many people are truly walking in the spirit, denying the flesh and crucified in Christ. Our agenda is too full to include God in a deep, complete way. The healings....some are for love for His children, mostly I think they are for the unbeliever to lead them to Christ. Unbelievers need more "sight" and believers just have the faith that God will take care of us and whatever happens will be His will. If you don't believe in it, there's no problem with that as far as salvation goes. If we all try harder to walk in the Spirit and crucify the flesh daily I think we will experience things we can't with a fleshly mind. The Father's ways are not our ways and we can't confine Him to our earthly thinking.
I hope I'm not coming across as "I'm right and you're wrong" you have valid points and only personal experience can alter that.
Unity in brothers for the purpose of spreading the gospel. That is the point, the rest is extra!
Sabra |
Lydell
| | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 10:36 am: | |
Dennis said: "In some churches, there is an invisible caste system."
Absolutely there is. But Dennis, it isn't like that in every church where the gifts are in operation! There are plenty of churches that have a balanced view of the gifts, in particular tongues since that is our subject here. There are plenty of churches that teach that gifts are given to ALL believers and will show up when they are needed. But, at the same time we are told to earnestly desire the gifts, and we don't have because we don't ask.
>"See, Dad loves me more than he loves you >because I got the best gift."
And what do we say of a child who carries that attitude? That they aren't a part of the family? Or do we say that this kid has some stuff to learn, beginning with dumping his pride?
All of us are still learning and growing. That includes those who have been given spiritual gifts. It doesn't substitute for salvation nor does it substitute for getting victory over sin, as you pointed out. It also doesn't substitute for maturity. However, the Lord in His mercy, still gives out the gifts. If we look at immature believers, we'll throw out the whole thing...not just gifts, but salvation as well. People are people: immature, prideful, imperfect there's no doubt at all about that.
Why let the actions of people get in the way of receiving good things that the Lord has for us? We know from Luke that if we ask for the Holy Spirit, we get the Holy Spirit. No fear is needed that we might get a "false gift". If our hearts are genuinely after Him then if we are acting goofy, being prideful or whatever sooner or later He will bring us back in line, teaching us how to use the gift that is given.
>If I live for signs, I am a spiritual babe.
Agreed! The focus always needs to be that the gifts are given for the purpose of ministry, of building up the church. Occassionally, as has already been pointed out that is building up the individual believer who has the gift, far more often it is to touch someone who is deeply in need.
By the way, Dennis, according to several passages, the things that Christ and the apostles did were done for "a sign". It's no different today. Sometimes it is to authenticate the message or messanger. For example, there are times when the Lord heals or maybe something unknown by anyone but the person being prayed for is revealed to the one who is praying for them. Suddenly a light goes on in the mind of the person who was receiving prayer, "Oh, God loves me personally! What you have been preaching must be true!"
Oh Dennis, I am one of many who don't believe that the gift of apostle and prophet were only for the past. Those are still at work in the church today as well.
Look Dennis, none of us have the desire to argue with you, and we certainly aren't putting you down or putting ourselves on some kind of pedestal or something. What we are trying to do is challenge your thinking.
What we are saying to you is this: whatever our interpretation of scripture has been in the past, there is no getting around the fact that the Lord IS working through spiritual gifts in the church today. The results of that working are lives changed, people brought into the kingdom, burdens laid aside, old soul hurts being healed, and people radically falling in love with their Lord. That is simply not the kind of works satan does. (Remember the scripture says that satan works miracles to deceive even the elect "if it were possible". Satan's works result in lives trashed, not lives on fire for God!)
You noted above that you believe that the Lord still heals and does miracles. How does He do them? Just boom, out of the blue there they are? Or does he often do that work through the hands and/or prayers of His children? If He does that using the vehicle of the hands of His children, then can't you see that there must be some spiritual gift at work to do that?
Look, none of us are trying to tell you that this power to heal, or the language of tongues, is coming from some power or wisdom or ability of the individual. It is ALL God's power. We are just acting with delegated authority, just as the traffic cop who holds up his hand has the power to stop traffic. It isn't his power that stops the semis. It is the delegated authority of the state that stops the traffic. |
Sammi
| | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 4:28 pm: | |
ok, i'm changing the subject a minute, i've been unable to get on-line for a few days, and wanted to back up some to doug's predicament with his kids. just want you to know doug that i can definitely relate to your situation. my daughter is 16, and when we first began attending a different church she loved it, even said she'd rather go there than her sda church (we attended both churches for 2-3 months.) however, as time passed and reality set in that we were really doing this (leaving sda-ism) it began to get scary for her. she went to our church school K-8, although for high school attends a private, non-SDA school, and feels safe at the sda church and has friends there. it's hard now, she doesn't want to leave her friends. as i've said before on this forum, i belonged to a non-typical sda church in that it was very Christ-centered, in some ways i felt like i could have stayed in that church with my different beliefs, but knew i was being hypocritical in doing so. anyway, as i said, now that reality has set in, it's become traumatic for my daughter in much the same way it was for me. she fears losing her friends, and i've had to warn her she may lose some. i told her she could still go to the sda church if she wanted, for the time being, but am questioning that now. i think she will be surprised at reactions and questions she will get. because of her job schedule she can't always go to the church we attend on sunday (they meet sunday afternoon as they rent a church and can't meet sunday morning) so i thought it would be ok to let her attend either saturday or sunday. anyway, now she's less excited about going to the other church, it's starting to scare her a little as they're much more expressive than anything she's ever experienced. i mean there are many, many teens with their hands raised singing their hearts out, whereas she's accustomed to a youth group that you can't get to sing whatsoever or express any kind of excitement for Jesus. anyway, i guess i'm all over the place with this, but just wanted doug to know i can relate and am trying to figure it all out too. Lydell, i appreciated your comments also, and agree but feel like i've already told her one thing, she's already worried about the whole thing and angsting over missing and losing her friends, i'm afraid if i push too much the other way she'll close her mind to the new church entirely. it's really an awesome church and packed, literally packed, with high school and college age on fire Christian kids, which of course i'm thrilled about, and wanting my daughter to embrace. pls keep us in your prayers. this experience is painful, hard, stressful, etc., but at the same time i know i'm growing closer to my Savior and King through it all. He is teaching me to trust in Him, only Him, no person, no thing, no system, nothing, nada, zilch! for that i'm so very thankful, and let me say again that i appreciate all of you on this forum and this ministry richard and colleen have. have a great weekend everyone. love and prayers to all, Sammi (Carol) |
Doug222
| | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 5:12 pm: | |
Sammi,
Thanks for your input. You hit my concerns on the head. I realize that I am the parent, and I can put my foot down and say you're going whether you like it or not. BUt, I also know how important the social ties are to teenagers. If I force them out of their comfort zone, I am afraid of pushing them away, rather than drawing them toward the liberty that is found in the Gospel. This is why I proposed dealing with them in a manner similar to the way God deals with me. He provides options, but he doesn't force his way. I am not so much concerned about my 13 year old. I think he is more likely to comply with my wishes desires. On the other hand, my sixteen year old, who is approaching adulthood anyway, is a different story. If I take away her friends, I fear rebellion (not overtly).
Anyway, thanks for the advice from both you and Lydell. Doug |
Lydell
| | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 6:05 pm: | |
Carol, try to find anyway you possibly can to get your daughter into contact with the kids from the new church to help her get to know them. |
Colleentinker
| | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 11:51 pm: | |
I agree, Lydell. I certainly understand your not wanting to force the issue with your 16-year-olds, Carol and Doug, but the warmth and reality among teens who love Jesus is powerful and compelling. They need to discover the love and freedom of Jesus, and Sabbath School almost certainly will not reveal those things to them.
I will join you both, Carol and Doug, in praying that God will speak to your kids' hearts, and that He will provide a way for you to get them into fellowship with Christian teens without creating animosity between you. God is calling your kids to himself, too.
Another prayer I pray for my boys (and which God has and continues to answer) is that He will send the people into their lives that they need in order to grow and become whole.
Praising God for how he loves our kids as well as us,
Colleen |
Sabra
| | Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 6:45 am: | |
Carol and Doug, The devil tries everyway he can to discourage us in this revelation. Believe me! My husband was hospitalized for an infection in his leg right after we started going to another church and his truck transmission went out and we have had one stroke of bad luck after another. We haven't been strapped for cash in a LONG time but now we're PO FOLKS! I know the Lord will see us through and as long as we have food and shelter were fine. Just realize that this discouragement comes from Satan and stay strong in your faith.
If we are changing the subject can we talk about the rapture? I know a lot of you believe in it and I've been shown the scripture as to why, but I am finding a lot more scripture that seems to point me to a mid-tribulation rapture. I would love to have a confidence in a pre-tribulation rapture. Any views?
Sabra |
Joni
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 3:35 am: | |
Dear Carol and Doug,
May I add my comments to the above wonderful advice?
Just recently we started attending a different church. My son, 12 years old, did not like it. He complained every Sunday when it is time to go.
I added him to my prayer list and asked God to soften his heart and help me to find ways to encourage him and to be quiet when needed. Sometimes silence is golden.
I saw his view and really felt for him. A few times he asked to stay home and read the Bible ourselves. We did. Doing this was not my first choice, but I was impressed to follow him in this.
It took a few months and he stopped complaining. Slowly his heart is being softened. We still have a bit to go, but now we are able to go to church without the complaining.
I believe that God hears our prayers. He is still on my prayer list and I continue to pray for him.
Now he attends the youth cell group on Thursday evening and I am seeing such a difference in him.
Pray and Pray. It releases God to act. It took the burden off me. My son is God's and I released him to God.
I know the circumstances may be different. I do realize that you are praying. Some how to me to write it down and to be specific and work on one thing at a time truly helps. My husband has been changed also, and he now says "Look Out" when I say I have something written on my prayer list.
God bless you all,
Joni |
Sammi
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 5:41 am: | |
Thanks Joni, Sabra, Colleen, Lydell, Doug & all! I appreciate your concerns and advice so much. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. I know what you mean, Joni, about your prayer list. I have a friend who is an incredible "prayer warrior" - it's the same with her, when you ask her to pray about something it's almost a bit scary and you think, as your husband says, "Look Out!" Thanks again all! Carol |
Sammi
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 6:06 am: | |
My husband and I just watched D. James Kennedy and he spoke about the 4th commandment, Constantine, etc.. My husband was born & raised Baptist, and in some ways kept the Sabbath on Sunday - not nearly to the extent as SDAs do though. My husband has always had great respect for Kennedy but also feels there is a great deal of liberty in Christ, and we're not bound to any day, but again he was sort of brought up to keep Sunday the way Kennedy talked about this morning. After watching this program, Kennedy seems to attach a large amount of the same stuff to Sunday that SDAs attach to Saturday. The question my husband is asking is who really has the truth? Is there anybody that really preaches the truth? Are we, like those of us on this forum who are understanding Sabbath as a continual rest in Jesus, the only group who are understanding it this way? - Who understands the truth like the apostles understood it? Where do we go for that kind of understanding and truth (church-wise.) Are we "special" now in some way because of our new understanding? There is great danger in thinking that way. (I'm trying to paraphrase what my husband is saying to me.) It's strange, my husband and I talked about this very subject yesterday, and he commented this morning that he thought I was the one on this journey, but now feels like he (my husband) is on the same journey of understanding "Sabbath." I personally was somewhat upset after listening to Kennedy. It was almost like he contradicted himself in explaining how Constantine didn't "change" the Sabbath - merely allowed a way for freedom to "keep" it, but that it had been observed on the 1st day since the early church anyway. At first this really drew my interest, then he proceeded to talk about the importance of "keeping" Sunday, which is upsetting to me. I too wonder, where do you go to find believers who don't attach importance to any particular day? Sammi (Carol) |
Richardtinker
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 8:21 am: | |
Carol, when we started going to church on Sunday, I was worried that the church we went to (Evangelical Free) saw Sunday like you heard D. James Kennedy present it.
I think it was the second or third Sunday that we noticed that the construction of the new ministry center building continued right through the weekend, including during church on Sunday!
Since then we have become aware that legalism is a problem that snakes it way through most denominations and churches.
Part of our calling as Christians who understand the New Covenant is to share our insight with our fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Our own pastors have been influenced in the way they see the law since we have had our FAF group in our church.
Why don't we write to D. James Kennedy. If someone finds his email address, please post it.
In Sabbath rest every day,
Richard |
In_his_service
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 10:31 am: | |
If you read an in depth history of the early church, you will find that the Gentile Christian believers DID place a great significance on the worship of the church on "The Lord's Day". But not in the way of the Jewish Sabbath or the SDA traditions. It was not believed to be a command of God, but enjoyed as a joyous respectful celebration of the events that occured on that day. This day (Sunday) brought the ressurection of their Savior, His first and second recorded visits to the apostles as a group, and seven weeks later, the birth of the Christian church by the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. You can find clear reference to the special significance being placed on this day of worship by the early Christians in historic writings at least as early as the time of St John and if you read in this light, you find evidence in the book of Acts, as well. It was not thought of as a "command" or a requirement of salvation, or a special "mark" of believership. It was CELEBRATED and kept as a time of joy and fellowship by early believers in their worship service, referred to as "The Breaking of Bread".
Never in those days were the terms "The lord's Day" and "The Sabbath " mixed or confused as being the same. The Sabbath was believed a requirement for Jews, under Old Covanent Law. It was never believed to be binding on gentiles. The Lord's Day was a celebration enjoyed by the Christian Church by CHOICE in honor of the event around which they based their total existance, belief, and worship. This same event we celebrate as the cornerstone of the Gospel, the Resurection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was entirely in keeping with the Christian freedom enjoyed by believers under the new covanent.
When the Adventist say that "the Pope" or the "Catholic Church" (meaning the Roman Catholic church) or Constantine changed the sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, they are in great error. History clearly shows that the early gentile church celebrated their worship on Sunday for centuries BEFORE Constantine, or any time when the Bishop of Rome claimed the title of "Pope". Literally going back to the beginning of Christianity in gentile culture.
Please forgive the rambling, but I have done a great deal of study in early Christian Church history. It is rather a passion of mine. We can learn so much and gain so much insight into the beliefs we hold so dear, when we look to the time of the Apostles and the beginnings of our faith.
Hope this sheds some light
In his Grip
<><
Thomas |
Lydell
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 1:01 pm: | |
Sammi, I think you are going to find that far more Christians never place any importance whatsoever on the day they worship. Most Christians just show up whenever the doors are open, not just Sunday, but many times during the rest of the week as well. |
Dennis
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 5:57 pm: | |
Thomas,
Your comments are historically-correct and excellent. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Dennis J. Fischer |
Bob
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2001 - 6:58 pm: | |
From listening to his weekly sermons, I have the distinct impression that D. James Kennedy is a strong Christian Reconstructionist. One of his ministries is "The Center For Reclaiming America," Its stated goal is "to restore virtue to American culture." Kennedy seems to favor political enforcement of Christian values. It is not surprising, then, that he would preach about Sunday observance as something America "ought to do."
About contacting Dr. D. James Kennedy -- following is contact information taken from his church's website. I could not find an email address specifically for him.
E-mail crpc@crpc.org
Internet www.crpc.org
Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church
5555 North Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308-3294
Telephone (954) 771-8840
Fax (954) 771-3187 |
Colleentinker
| | Posted on Monday, November 05, 2001 - 4:37 pm: | |
Thanks, Bob. Your comments re: Kennedy's political agenda give context to his sermon!
Colleen |
Sabra
| | Posted on Monday, November 05, 2001 - 5:35 pm: | |
Thomas,
Can you e-mail me some of your studies showing that the early church worshipped on Sunday before the Pope? This would really help my case! ha!
sabrastone0539@msn.com
Thanks!
Sabra |
Sammi
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2001 - 3:34 am: | |
Thanks Richard and Thomas for your posts. And thanks Bob for sharing an address for Kennedy with me. Thomas, I, like Sabra, have an interest in actually reading for myself some of the studies about the early church and worship. If you don't mind? My e-mail address is sammi852000@yahoo.com - thanks much! Sammi (Carol) |
Loneviking
| | Posted on Monday, November 12, 2001 - 7:33 pm: | |
Carol,
Here is a site where you can read the books for yourself and do your own studies! The site is the 'Christian Classics Ethereal Library' at:
www.ccel.org
May God bless you richly in your studies........... |
Richardhardison
| | Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 6:05 pm: | |
I don't remember much at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library on the sabbath. I do remember an article on the Wesleyan Heritage CD about the sabbath and shows how the day of worship changed from Saturday to Sunday beginning in Apostolic times, as well as pointing out that the Sabbath changed every year with the beginning of the new year. The Jewish calender was not coordinated with the Christian calender until about 400AD. If you wish I'll run down the article as I have the CD and email you a copy. You will need the Adobe Reader which can be obtained from the Adobe website and would be far easier to get there than my emailing it to you (it's quite large, 8mb as I recall).
Richard L. Hardison |
Richardhardison
| | Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 6:07 pm: | |
oops! My email is mrgcoengr@hotmail.com if you want the article.
Richard L. Hardison |
Nate (Nate)
| | Posted on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 1:10 pm: | |
Dear FAF friends. I am glad to have the opportunity to give praise to God for His wonderful goodness to my family and myself. We have just signed a contract with a church in Hagerstown MD. It is a community minded church fully sold out to sharing the good news with unchuirched or church burned people. I will be serving as Pastor for Spiritual Formation. I will be working with the small group development and evangelism. These are two areas of great passion for me, so I am excited. The church is only 15 months old so it is fresh and motivated to serve. Their attendance is already averaging about 220 a Sunday.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers for us during our exit from the SDA church and our waiting period. This was a time of testing for us and one in which we learned an even deeper faith in the one who supplies all our needs and is our truse Sabbath Rest!
By the way, for those who might be living in the Hagerstown area, I do not have my phone set up yet, but you can reach me at this address. GTbb449@peoplepc.com. It would be great to connect.
God bless all of you and thanks again for the prayers and encouragement. We still need prayer for the details of the move, so don't stop the prayers, but we have reason to celebrate God's provision. We know some exciting things will be happening in the H-town area. God doesn't take His children on such a painful and difficult road (ie leaving SDAism, being out of work for 7.5 months and all that these things entail) if He does not plan to use the experience to make a kingdom difference. He prunes in oder that the branches can bear more fruit and bring greater honor to His name.
God bless you all!
In Christ,
Greg Taylor (Nate) |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 09, 2002 - 11:26 am: | |
Greg and Paula, We are thanking God for your new position. Yes, we will continue to pray for your move. And God will redeem this past year of struggle and uncertainty. Isn't it amazing that true Sabbath Rest really does "work" in our most profoundly difficult situations. Living by the Spirit is a completely new way to live.
I am so thankful to Jesus for calling us into his rest!
Colleen and Richard |
Lydell (Lydell)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 7:14 am: | |
Hi Greg, so happy to hear that you have this direction from the Lord. Sounds like a great area for an ex-SDA pastor to be ministering in! Praising God for what he has done for your family, and for the beginning of a new journey for you folks. |
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