| Author | Message | ||
| Bruceh |
DJ I have to agree with the others you need to find some good Christians to fellowship with that are not SDA's. Remember Jesus always sent his disciples out in Two's, God made us to be social and not to be lone rangers if you wnat to be a lone ranger you are easy pickings for the Devil and his crew. Remember as Iron sharpens Iron so does one man shapen another. Bruce Heinrich BH | ||
| Maryann |
Hi David, Could you tell me what your view on the different Bible translations are? You mentioned something in passing on it but were not clear on your stand. Maryann | ||
| Colleentinker |
Just a thought, djó Showing people that they have been misled about scripture is not worship. It may be teaching, it may be mentoring, it may even just be critical. But it's not worship. Worship is personally praising God, our Savior, and personally expressing homage, gratitude, and love to him. Also, in a group of believers, our fellowship does not depend upon our social skills. In a group of believers, fellowship is a product of the Holy Spirit. I think, dj, that you crave interaction with people, but you have a healthy dose of cynicism and anger that get in your way when you don't want them to. I'm going to pray that God will bring you to (or bring to you) some true believers who will, in person, mediate Christ's love and acceptance to you. When we discover how profound Jesus' love and forgiveness are, we are never the same again. When we finally experience Jesus, we finally have a safe place to take our anger and cynicism and fear. Praying for you, Colleen | ||
| Maryann |
Hi David, Would you by any chance be from the So. Calif. area? Maryann | ||
| Jtree |
DJ, when you went to church, did you focus on people or God? Seems you focused on people that is why you don't go to church now? Just curious. | ||
| Djconklin |
Maryann, >Would you by any chance be from the So. Calif. area? Thankfully, no. I'm in/from St. Paul, MN. | ||
| Djconklin |
Joshua, >when you went to church, did you focus on people or God? Seems you focused on people that is why you don't go to church now? Just curious. I find that the Christian religion is a religion of relationship--part of which is dealing with our fellow human beings which as I have already said I'm not only not gifted in but am very "weak" or handicapped in. | ||
| Patti |
And what's wrong with being in So. Cal.? Granted it is not as good as being in So. Texas, :) but what is so horrible about it??? | ||
| Djconklin |
Patti, >And what's wrong with being in So. Cal.? Granted it is not as good as being in So. Texas, :) but what is so horrible about it??? Tongue in cheek dear. | ||
| Patti |
You didn't answer the question, David... :) | ||
| Cindy |
Hey, Is that my problem?... I was born and lived in Southern California my first 17 years! :-)) But now I'm safely on the other side of the country!! DjConklin (David), you intrigue me. Sometimes I'm a little confused at what you post, too! But... I think, like Colleen wrote above, that fellowship in a group of believers does not depend on our social skills, but on the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us! We are all EQUAL under the Cross and we NEED each other! The freedom Christ has given me by His Free Gift of Grace is a great confidence booster, a place in my spirit where I can relax and be myself!, whether I feel weak or not. In fact, I know my strength comes from Him! I've mentioned before that I tend to despair many times, but I have learned to run to prayer, scripture, family, and friends! Today I've needed to do all of these! Flesh and blood believing friends are invaluable. I pray you will find a group you will feel comfortable with--a group of Christ-centered believers... who you need, and who need you!! Ten years is a long time. But in the meantime, I'm glad you're still communicating with us here... I read a wonderful Psalm this evening, 94:17-19... "Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death When I said, 'My foot is slipping,' Your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." May the JOY of THE LORD be YOUR STRENGTH!! Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Colleentinker |
I'm still praying for you, David! Colleen | ||
| Patti |
In defense of David, I find fulfilling fellowship online, on this forum and on a couple of others and with my family and email friends. Attending a formal church service is not mandated by Scripture. | ||
| Colleentinker |
You're right, Pattióit's not mandated by scripture. But scriputre does say not to forsake assembling yourselves together. As good as virtual conversation is (I also benefit a lot from this forum!), it's not truly assembling together. Jesus can touch us anywhere, even on line, but the personal interaction between true believers is even more impacting and building. I think many of us needed to go through a period of "self church". We did home church with our neighbors for two years as we transitioned out of Adventism. But we finally found a congregation, and when we did, we knew it was time to become involved with others besides ourselves. Lydell has pointed out the dangers of "self-churching" in other posts; I believe that we need to ask God to show us where to worship and when he wants us to find a congregation. He truly knows what we need, and when we decide to trust him, he shows us convincingly what his will is. And being in his will brings peace and a sense of certainty. There's just nothing like knowing there are certain people who know you who are praying for you and yours! Even though we pray for each other online, it's also powerful when you can see the other person's eyes and know that you're being honest with one another. So I'm still praying for you, David! Colleen | ||
| Maryann |
Hi David, I found that attending a home church when there was an organized church around tended to cocoonize all the participants. It is good to be able to be a bit broader than the livingroom. Outside contact stretches the brain with other peoples input. The same'o, same'o small circle of contacts can really stagnate a person. Even at lunch at work can be a blessing. Some of these people have really off the wall beliefs and others are right on. It all works to round one's understanding and strengthen one's belief. I know people that go to many different churches for the purpose of strengthening their own Biblical beliefs and to share what they have with others. Bottom line; get out of the house and start visiting churches, any gospel church. Go on Wed. Bible studies, then you don't have the Sabbath V Sunday issue staring you in the face! BTW, thanks again for attempting to address most of the questions posed to you!;-)) Maryann | ||
| Delstar |
dj, I relate to you. I truly understand the 'sandpaper'. It makes one very leery of any regular gatherings....and it's not a case of looking at 'people' but that one has become so battered that it becomes hard to hold to anything spiritual. I find that the forums are 'right up my alley'. I can come together at most any time and 'meet' with other believers.....and if you don't think the forums are iron vs iron you have not visited some of the other forums....(some of which, BTW, make note of the fact that there is not the 'sandpaper effect' here on FAF.) I find that for comfort and reassurance, it is good for me to come here and read. I see so many questions answered (before I ask) and I receive reinforcement on many things for which I have already drawn a conclusion based on my interaction with others on other forums. Thank you for those things. The last portion of that verse that speaks of assembling yourselves together says 'for where two or three are gathered together.......' If one has a home or a friendship in which the name of Jesus can be praised, personal reassurances given, I find no need of meeting together in a building with a group of people. I find that the Lord provides, in everyday life, folks with whom to gather in His name. This perhaps would not have been true before the age in electronic communications. Perhaps the most glaring lack would be that of human touch which is so very necessary and which I find to be an element missing in society in general. I feel strongly that the lack of human touch has contributed much to a society in which everyone is lashing out, looking for some kind of acknowledgement, be it bad or good. Don't you notice that satan has worked very hard to eliminate the human touch? Putting it in the secular realm of 'evil'? One may be sued for the innocuous human touch from which we used to garner strength. So dj, consider this a 'hug'. Though I cannot put flesh upon flesh, I hope that my sincere 'human touch' will reach out and envelop you. Jesus IS Enough | ||
| Maryann |
Hi Delstar, I just evaporated a post to you;-( I'll see if I can re-constitute it;-) Thank you for the above and the below post's. It is really encouraging to hear things like that. The Lee Strobel post had been in my head for a few weeks and was difficult for me to post as I type like a snail from a book! I go pretty fast from my head though;-) I guess that is was all in God's timing. If one person can see the cross in that post, it is all worth it;-)) Now, for all you LURKERS out there: Your contributions would really be great!;-) I figure this forum is like a giant buffet and the more dishes put out the more benefit and enjoyment there is for all. Everyone of you have a great story I'm sure. Some of you would rather not tell your specific stories and that is VERY understandable. That's why you all can use a "screen" name and not give a lot of specifics. If you have a "password" use it! If you don't, get one;-)) Let's make this buffet even better with your dish;-))))) :):):)..........Maryann | ||
| Denisegilmore |
Here's another one of those strange things I learned. This one I must have learned back in the 70s somewhere. I was instructed to 'put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up, you put the lime in the coconut and drink em both together, ya put the lime in the coconut and drink em all up....' Well, it was something to that effect. Cheers! :) Denise ::::mumbling to self..hmmm where did I learn that anyway???:::::: %0) | ||
| Max |
Denise, were you allowed to wear a grass skirt while you were drinking lime+coconut juice out of a coconut shell? | ||
| Denisegilmore |
Max, I didn't ask because I was still into tie-dye..besides, a grass skirt wouldn't have gone with my flask....snicker :) God Bless, Denise |
