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Denisegilmore
Posted on Thursday, December 28, 2000 - 9:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello everyone,
I began this thread because of a few things that are taking place in my life that I consider to be obnoxious.

1. When a person enters my home and they know that I make a life of study of God and His Words, and they then begin to complain about the many Bibles in my home that are laying around.

2. When a person begins to converse with me, knowing full well, that I am going to talk about God, then dare to complain because that's who I talk about.

3. When someone comes to a religious site on the forum and starts criticizing the people on the forum for their beliefs.

4. When a religious person asks me to go to Church every single week, and every single week, I say no, they dare to treat me badly.

5. When a person comes into my home, knowing that I WILL talk about God, and then deliberately sets out to use God's name in a vulgar fashion or insist that I do not talk of God.

6. When I am in Church (very rare), and the 'Church people' get irritated with me for talking about God.

7. When someone approaches me to talk about God, then gets angry at me because I have different beliefs than they do about God.

8. When Pastors, Deacons, Elders, Pew Sitters and so on try imposing their restrictive man made rules and regulations on me.

9. When same Pastors, Deacons, Elders, Pew Sitters have the nerve to actually get angry and call me names in the Church, because I will NOT obey their man made rules and regulations.

10. When same Pastors, Deacons, Elders, Pew Sitters literally tell me, not ask me, but tell me not to speak of what I believe or for that matter, not to point out Scripture refuting their heresy.

These are all obnoxious people to me. If they enter my teepee, they will hear about God and I will open my Bible and I am considered obnoxious for doing what I do and being who I am and believing what I believe.

Not only are they obnoxious, but they are the very persons that I believe satan uses to try to get me to either change my views or lighten up on my beliefs or compromise or just plain shut me up.

In all this, I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me. We fight not against flesh and blood, remember?

I am considered obnoxious because I refuse to be a clone and I use what brains I have left. There may not be many brains cells left but there is enough to know how obnoxious some people's children can be and will be.

Others who are considered obnoxious to me are those smug, pious, sanctimonious such and suchs, who consider themselves better than me in any way, shape or form. I am ridding my life of such trash and am forever grateful for the choice to do so.

Others who are obnoxious to me are the ones that have big words in their vocabulary but no common sense as to whom to use these big words on. Some of us out here do not know what those words mean nor could we ever get anywhere in the philosophical world. Not that I would wish to as that is simply book knowledge that is often held above others as a hammer.

I use down to earth words and am sure than any idiot can figure out what I am saying. This way, I am not 'one upping myself' as some scholars do, nor am I intimidating others with words that they do not understand nor philosophical reasoning that cannot be understood either by most people.

The supposed "Christians" that enter my home are getting a clue that I'm not tolerating anymore nonsense or judgement from them. I simply don't answer my door or my phone and can have peace at last.

When I feel up to engaging in spiritual warfare, all I have to do is begin chatting with those that claim to be Christians but have not Love.

I've been witnessing alot of hate and I hate the hate. So, for that, I suppose I'm guilty of hating too. But we are to hate the evil and I do.

These 'supposed Christians' that are more worried about their pocketbooks and oh yes, let's not forget the orphans in another country that cannot stop the bleeding of a dying person who is bleeding to death, because they are fearful that their pocketbooks will be touched via lawsuit. These are NOT Christians. They are HYPOCRITS.

Just thoughts, been thinking and seeing a little too much perhaps. Still, I look forward to Jesus's Coming and this keeps me in pretty good spirits.

Maybe I spend too much time alone now or maybe I am just being me, which is a good thing. Just ask me!

Maybe I have spent far too much time on others and not enough time to sort all this out or perhaps, what I'm seeing and speaking is truth. Who can know. Nobody really knows me except God.

Well, hoping to hear from others tonight on this forum and looking forward to tomorrow night at FAF meeting and New years eve get-together. Although I may have just lost my mind in the last few months. Who can know? Thoughts.

Now, I will go out and look at the stars for awhile and then once again, check this forum for any messages.


God Bless all, including me,
Denise
Colleentinker
Posted on Thursday, December 28, 2000 - 10:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Denise, I certainly understand how you feel. Richard was just commenting yesterday that Jesus came to bring not peace, but a sword. The gospel is the great divide among humans.

We're looking forward to seeing you this weekend!

Love,
Colleen
Maryann
Posted on Thursday, December 28, 2000 - 11:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'll see you earlier tomorrow;-) My friend and I should you see about 4 pm or so.

Clive's 'puter got exploded, but, got mine going after 4 months;-)))))))))

Look for e-mail.

:):):)...........Maryann
Denisegilmore
Posted on Friday, December 29, 2000 - 1:48 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dear Colleen,
And a Sword He did bring. A Sword that divides. I use His Mighty Sword, His Word, as my strength, my Peace from Him, as my Shield, as my Fortress and as my Defender against the wiles of the evil ones.

Oh yes, a Mighty Sword that will silence the clang, clang of the empty cymbols that try to drown me with their noise. A Sword that prevents the poisonous vipers from hindering me, or the fangs of the beast to rob me of His Blood.

We have a great future to look ahead to and we have a war to fight while on this battlefield, called life. But in this battlefield, His Sword gives us Rest, Assurance, Peace, Joy, Love, and much much more.

We are MORE than conquerors in Christ Jesus, who gives us the grace to make this life, one of beauty, through the smoke, one of cheer, through the chaos. He gives us eternal life and we are given a Sword to wield in His name, For He is our Sword, His Word is our Sword.

I rest in comfort, through the turmoil.

Praise be to our GOD! Bless the Lord, oh my soul.

God Bless you my friend,
Denise, your sister in Christ Jesus
Denisegilmore
Posted on Friday, December 29, 2000 - 1:56 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello Maryann,
I sent an email to you but my computer went on the blink and is still acting up. My letters on the screen are huge! Hmmmmm, strange. Still, I was able to get back online once again, after praying to our Lord that He help me figure out how to get back online. As I type, many of my letters are also doubling up. It will be remedied, this I believe.

Tomorrow, Richard said that he will drive me there if his jeep is up and running. I will let you know via email, providing my computer is working or I will call you.

If you don't hear from me, please call me.

Looking forward to meeting your friend and to seeing all my now adopted family at the meeting.

God Bless you Maryann, the goodhearted,
Denise, your sister in Jesus, our Messiah
Cindy
Posted on Friday, December 29, 2000 - 7:05 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Denise, when I began reading the beginning of this thread, it reminded me of the movie entitled "10 Things I Hate about You". :-)) (You started your list of 10 points with "a few things that are taking place in my life that I consider to be obnoxious.")

Maybe I'm reading you wrong out here in cyberspace; but I sense your anger and even a rather paranoid feeling against many of those you come in contact with. (Not just noted in this post above, but in others recently too.)

I do think we need to vent our feelings to heal...:-)) A support group of friends is wonderful; I have missed mine a lot since leaving them on the East Coast a few months ago...:-((

Now I would encourage you to...

RELAX even more in God's Grace!

Of course!... there IS a spiritual warfare going on; but "the battle is the Lord's." He alone will fight for us and give us that PEACE of mind we so desperately need. (Myself defintely included in what I write!)

We need the emotional sobriety and sanity!! that comes from trusting and focusing on Jesus... and of letting God take care of others!

I realize that there is a fine balance on what we can do and what God alone can do.

Yet He IS sufficient!

He calls us to follow Him alone!

And I think he wants us to have a inner joy and peace in the midst of the turmoil around us.

I like what G.K. Chesterton wrote of the virtues of love and forgiveness that Christ calls us to join Him in:

"LOVE means TO LOVE THE UNLOVABLE, or it is no virtue at all...

FORGIVING means TO PARDON THAT WHICH IS UNPARDONABLE, or it is no virtue at all...

and to HOPE means HOPING WHEN THINGS ARE HOPELESS, OR IT IS NO VIRTUE AT ALL."

Only Christ can perfectly love, forgive, and hope! I know you have been through a lot of horrible situations, Denise. Perhaps more than I.

And yet, I know firsthand the anger, resentment, bitterness, and despair that eats at my soul when I don't keep giving these emotions back to God...

A favorite text that I often repeat when I don't feel the truth of it at all!! :-)) is:

"REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS. Again, I say, REJOICE! Let your GENTLENESS by evident to all. THE LORD IS NEAR. Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in EVERYTHING, by PRAYER and PETITION, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to GOD. And the PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, will guard your HEARTS and your MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS." Phillipians 4:4-7.

Grace always,
Cindy
Patti
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 3:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well said, as usual, Cindy.
Where would any of us be if God had not died for the obnoxious?

Obnoxiously yours,
Patti
Denisegilmore
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 4:17 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello Cindy,
I read this above post of yours and will agree that there is some anger still inside me. But this anger comes out only when pushed to the point of people expecting me to repeat the same insane thinking as they.

I am not a politically correct person as you have probably already guessed and so I dare to say, that I do have angry moments. Infact, I don't know of anyone who doesn't. Ghandi probably did too and so did Mother Theresa I'm sure. I'm a human being.

But as to your reading into my posts "paranoia", you are way off base with this observation and so I thought I would correct you publically. As it was in public that you stated your observations, one of them being "paranoid."

You also mentioned that you have noticed this in recent posts of mine. I would like for you to name these posts, infact, post them (in their entirety).

I have a life here in California that may differ from your life. I have different people in my life than you have in your life. How would you know or dare to even suggest that what I write, and it's truth that I write, is paranoid? Especially not knowing or even witnessing my world?

Webster's define "paranoid" as such:

1. Relating to, typical of, or afflicted with paranoia.
2. Showing behavior suggestive of paranoia.
noun-One afflicted with paranoia.

Webster's definition of "paranoia":

1. Greek, MADNESS< paranoos, demented: para, beyond + nous, mind.]
A nondegenerative, limited, usu. chronic psychosis marked by delusions of persecution or of grandeur, strenously defended by the patient with apparent logic and reason.

Do you really see these signs in my posts? And how do you know that they are paranoid behavior or real life situations? You don't.

I can only say that I will pray that your heart see into my posts, exactly what my posts are saying. Not some nonsense of MADNESS. As I am the one living my life and unless you have walked or are walking in my moccasins, please don't label me.

It may be that there is a form of insanity in us all. How do we know?

Now here's a definition of "paranoid", that I will use or add to the Websters:
1. A hightened state of reality.

God Bless you with assurance that I've not lost my mind YET. Remember, there is always a YET for us all.

In His Name,
your sister (a pretty sane one at that), Denise
Max
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 5:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Quarreling as free-grace believers is not --
repeat not -- evidence that we have not been
born again from above. It is evidence that we
are still spiritual infants. The Corinthians were
quarreling, yet Paul still called them members
of ìGodís church,î ìsanctified[!]î, and ìbrothers
[including sisters]î in Christ. (1 Corinthians
1:2 & 1:10.)

As neonates in Christ they couldnít be weaned
yet to solid food, but still had to be breastfed.
Hear Paul:

NIV 1 Corinthians 3:2ÝI gave you milk, not solid
food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed,
you are still not ready.

Hear Apollos (or whoever wrote Hebrews):

NIV Hebrews 5:12,13ÝIn fact, though by this
time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you the elementary truths of
God's word all over again. You need milk, not
solid food!ÝAnyone who lives on milk, being
still an infant, is not acquainted with the
teaching about righteousness.

And hear Peter:

NIV 1 Peter 2:2ÝLike newborn babies, crave
pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow
up in your salvation....

Max of the Cross
Max
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 5:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes, Christ died for the obnoxious, but not to
keep them in an obnoxious state.
Cindy
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 5:44 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Denise, Please forgive me; I shouldn't have used the word paranoia. You are right. I don't really know your circumstances and I probably came across as one of those smug, pious types you wrote about above:

"Others who are considered obnoxious to me are those smug, pious, sanctimonious such and suchs, who consider themselves better than me in any way, shape or form. I am ridding my life of such trash and am forever grateful for the choice to do so."

As far as sanity (or madness) goes, I honestly feel that I, myself, need that emotional sanity very much!! Only by realizing and resting in God's GRACE every day, can I love even myself... and/or, other people.

Again, I am sorry...

Grace always,
Cindy
Max
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 6:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Notice in the "milk" texts above that Scripture
seems to be implying that since neonates in
Christ are not ready yet to be weaned to solid
food -- "the teaching about righteousness" --
they shouldn't yet be trying to teach other
people how to behave.

Not that they're not saved and have everlasting
life already. Obviously they did, else Paul
wouldnít have called them sanctified brothers
in Godís church.

But Paul says that quarreling spiritual infants
need someone "to teach you the elementary
truths of God's word all over again."

And this means, as Peter says, they should
crave pure spiritual milk. Not solid food yet.
Consider, humanly speaking, of your sweet
baby trying to tell you how to get dressed for
work in the morning or how to drive your car
safely. They don't know enough about it
themselves to teach others how to behave yet.

Not that theyíre not going to grow up in
salvation someday and maybe become
professional teachers.

But not just yet.

Letís all think prayerfully about these texts.

Max of the Cross
Denisegilmore
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 7:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello Cindy,
In God's Word there are many passages about forgiveness and forgiving etc.

The very first one that came to my mind upon reading your post is Matthew 18:21

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Dear Cindy, there are so many Scriptures about forgiveness that it's fabulous to read! :)

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:5

"If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent-not to put it too severely.

The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him.

Now, instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

I URGE YOU THEREFORE, TO REAFFIRM YOUR LOVE FOR HIM.

The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven-if there was anything to forgive-I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, IN ORDER THAT SATAN MIGHT NOT OUTWIT US. FOR WE ARE UNAWARE OF HIS SCHEMES."

Please do not feel disheartened by my words. I am your sister in our Lord and will remain so. You have given me much inspiration on this forum and alot of insight too. For this I also thank you.

I'm not one to hold a grudge when someone says they are sorry or asks for forgiveness. That would not be me. In the same light, I pray that we remain peaceful as sisters in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. This to me is a blessing.

I would also pray that if I've offended you, that you inform me so that I may correct my mannerisms towards you as well.

And Cindy, I did not have you in my mind when I wrote out the list of 'obnoxious.' I was, at that point, so oddly disturbed with perplexities with regard to people's mannerisms towards God and me.

So, being who I am, I typed them out as is my custom. No offense towards any particular person, just a personal study in written form.

Looking forward to hearing more from you and if ever you would like to email something to me, my address is Lampdot@aol.com

Please feel free to email and I'm sure we can have some wonderful conversations! I would very much enjoy that.

God Bless you sister,
Denise, your sister who plans to spend enternity with you!, In Jesus Christ Name, amen.
Denisegilmore
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 7:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Above post was meant to say 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 not 1 Corinthians.

God Bless all,
Denise
Denisegilmore
Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 7:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello Max,
Those are great Scriptures you are putting up there for all of us. They are a definite read.

I find myself discovering characteristics in myself that need work. These I pray about to our Lord, that He teach me and also that He will put people in my path or life to help teach me. God answers prayer in awesome ways!

Jesus also says this in Luke 6:39-40

"Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
A student is not above his teacher, but EVERYONE WHO IS FULLY TRAINED WILL BE LIKE HIS TEACHER."

God Bless you Max,
your sister, who is still learning, Denise
Max
Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2000 - 12:00 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

And you too, Denise. Missed you at FAF
meeting Friday evening. We all did.
Denisegilmore
Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2000 - 12:24 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello Max,
I too, missed everyone last night! Was tied up and couldn't make it but just sent an email to Richard and Colleen regarding directions for New years eve.

I am very much looking forward to less than 24 hours from now to see everyone.

In the meantime, I am sitting here, relaxing at last, and eating the most delicious chocolate truffles! :) They are nearly all gone now as I did share.

Hoping to hear from anyone, the directions for tomorrow night. Sending the directions via email is most expedient as I could print them out for Richard (my friend that you met) to read and he could drive me there.

So, if Richard or Colleen don't recieve their email, someone please send me directions via email.

Until tomorrow evening, God Bless all,
Denise, your sister throughout eternity, in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Denisegilmore
Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2000 - 3:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, here it is almost 4pm and not a word as to any directions for the new year's eve get-together.

So, my Richard has made plans for us. I will miss everyone tonight and am hoping that you all have a great time!

May the Lord Bless you all with safe passage tonight and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

God Bless us all in the upcoming year,
Denise
Billtwisse
Posted on Monday, January 01, 2001 - 6:29 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

John the Baptist called the Pharisees sons of snakes. Jesus called Herod a fox. Paul told the Judaizers that he wished they would go the whole way and mutilate themselves.

Today's standard of righteousness would cut John, Jesus, and Paul out of the koinonia of saints. How could a true Christian say such unloving things?

--Twisse
Valm
Posted on Monday, January 01, 2001 - 7:57 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bill, I do not know as I was not there. I do know that Herod did some REALLY AWFUL things. The Parisees allegedly did also. I have always felt that sometimes Paul went over the top in expresing himself, and that these things were just that and not a justification to behave poorly. Remember Paul was a human being just like us.

That is a larger concern of mine. I grew up in a family that used certain Biblical texts as justification to behave poorly. And I think we ought to be careful on that account.

This thread is entitled being obnoxious. There might be a difference in being obnoxious and being perceived as so. Only as individuals can we evaluate our behaviour and decide which of the two it might be.

True Christians say such unloving things because true Christians are also sinners and mess up. We are only perfect in Christ Jesus.

Happy New Years Bill. Either you are an early bird or just didn't even go to bed last night. I am the fomrer and am off to work this morning. Take care and God Bless. Your posts always stretch my mind and vocabulary, I will have to look up koinonia.....

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