| Author |
Message |
Pw
Registered user
Username: Pw
Post Number: 134
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 6:14 am: |     |
Reading Melissa's quote above, it's easy to see that anything that the SDA claims the Catholic Church orginated is something they will make a big issue about. They claim the Catholic Church changed the sabbath from Saturday to Sunday and started holidays like Easter and Christmas in order to keep their pagan holidays only to incorporate Christianity into the mix. However when it comes to the bibical issues like grace and salvation, those are topics that hardly get any teachings because it's not what EGW felt "enlightened" about. I think I can see why the SDA church is losing membership in the U.S. so quickly, they are still living in the Dark Ages when it comes to rules and regulations. |
Raven
Registered user
Username: Raven
Post Number: 37
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 7:04 am: | |
Talking about living in the Dark Ages regarding rules and regulations, my husband, Ric_b, came across an interesting website the other day. The web address is listed below, and it is a letter from Charles Finney dated 1840, and it sounds eerily like EGW's strange, extremist lifestyle views. So much for getting these ideas directly from God!
http://www.charlesgfinney.com/1840OE/40%20lets_art/400812_parents_1.htm
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Madelia
Registered user
Username: Madelia
Post Number: 85
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 8:20 am: | |
Oh, Melissa, I can sympathize with you!! Any weird quote from EGW I've shown to Sam, my husband, he has a defense.
BTW, I heard a good quote in my women's Bible study yesterday. "We shouldn't focus on what we don't do, but what we do do". In other words, don't focus on what we don't do as Christians (eg, drink alcohol, run around with the wrong crowd), but on what we are doing for the Lord |
Melissa
Registered user
Username: Melissa
Post Number: 473
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 8:40 am: | |
when I first encountered EGW, I was reading her website. I was using some of their canned searches and reading stuff. I copy/pasted several pages of the more laughable quotes and gave them to him. He didn't know where I got it and said where did you get that junk. I said it was EGW quotes and I got it off her website. Then the tune turned quickly. My favorite is still listening to him tell me "studies" have proven that between meal snacks cause disease and death. The stomach doesn't get a chance to rest ... blah blah blah. it's the only muscle (if that's what it is) I know that gets weaker with use. All in defense of Ellen. |
Vchowdhury1
Registered user
Username: Vchowdhury1
Post Number: 25
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 9:51 am: | |
Melissa, I had to chuckle at your post. Your husband sounds like my dad who is a staunch sda or " egw cheerleader"(that's what I call him). If you show him some outrageous quote by egw but not tell him where it came from, he'll call it "crazy" or "junk". But when you tell him that its a quote from egw, all of a sudden his attitude changes. He'll say, "well, you have to put the quote in perspective..." or "maybe she was misquoted or taken out of context..." or (here's my favorite excuse)"...but of course, we have to take her era or her times in consideration...". I would also like to ask everyone to pray for me. I grew up in the sda church, (I left almost 4 years ago). I find myself still very bitter against the sda church. While growing up, I missed out on life because my parents were strict sda. I couldn't do anything! No music, hardly any socializing, no meat eating, no jewelry, no slacks, no non-sda friends, no movies, etc, etc,. And now,because of me (probably as a result of hearing me talk against the sda church with friends), my 11 year old son is very bitter against the sda church. When I have something to do or some place to go on Saturdays, and I ask my parents to keep him for that day, of course he would have to go to the sda church with them, he throws a massive "fit"! I didn't realize how bad my opinions are affecting him. I need to get past this bitterness. Any suggestions? Also, again, please pray for me. |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 679
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 9:56 am: | |
Melissa, the craziness of the stomach needing to rest has impacted me recently. I don't know why that old wives' tale exalted to near doctrine through "the pen of inspiration" (wow, remember hearing that phrase in sermons?!) hung on in the back of my mind for years. The scientific defense for the belief was a man who lived in the mid-19th century who had some sort of wound in his abdomen through which the stomach could be seen. It would turn red (blood present when working) as it digested, and after it emptied, the color would pale while it waited for the next meal. Somehow people became convinced the stomach needed to "rest" based on those observations.
Many people actually do much better eating many small meals a day, and there's no modern evidence to show that the stomach benefits from "rest". Contuous nibbling, of course, suppresses appetite and quite possibly could lead to inadeuqte nutrition or excessive intake of empty calories, but those issues are not stomach issues.
I have staunch SDA relatives who eat strictly by the clock. Meals, beginning with breakfast, must be no less than four and no more than five hours apart. If they go visiting, they have to plan their meals so their meal out falls within the regulation time frame. Breakfast, therefore, must be timed so lunch can be on schedule and dinner likewise on schedule. Further, they have to know what time dinner (or lunch) will be served when they go out so they can schedule their days' meals.
This requirement becomes especially difficult at holiday meals when my relative inexperience sometimes miscalculates the time the turkey will be done. Of course, they don't eat the turkey, but dinner usually waits until the turkey is done. I always serve fruit, crackers and cheese, etc. before the meal so people can nibble while they wait. In the case of said relatives, however, the same rule that governs the space between meals also governs whether or not they can nibble. If the meal is late, they may be extremely hungry, but it would be wrong for them to eat between meals, so they can't eat fruit or take any morsel of food or drink other than water until the food is served. If they did nibble, that snack would become their meal, and when the real meal would be served 30 minutes to an hour or so later, they would be constrained not to eat the real meal because they had eaten the snack at mealtime.
I try hard to get everything done on time, but sometimes I fail, and there is no shortage of heavy disapproval and hunger headaches coming on, etc. And all because of Ellen.
Sigh.
Colleen |
Dd
Registered user
Username: Dd
Post Number: 128
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 11:22 am: | |
Vch, Been there! Bitterness is so easy to hang on to. And I think it is well deserved in our case against Adventism. It was a complete brainwashing. Not only do we have to deal with the anger of being so manipulated, we also have to deal with all the snide comments, the behind-the-back jabs, the insults...the list goes on...
My all time favorite Bible character (besides Jesus!) is Joesph...if there ever was a man that deserved to be bitter and anger it is him. He was dealt so many hardships that he really had no control over (I do think his brother's anger towards him, that initially triggered his first blow, may have resulted from his irritating, spoiled little brother antics - thanks to his dysfunctional father playing favorites!). For some reason Joesph did not show any bitterness. It seems that time after time, after each blow he was dealt, he picked himself up and became a better man because of it. I have to believe he had anger and bitterness, like we all do after we experience a blow we didn't deserve, it was just that he found an inner-strength that allowed him to move on.
I think Joesph is a wonderful example of God's promises that He will make up or restore our "wasted years" (see Joel 2:25-27. Also look at the life of Paul and how God gave him back for the years he lived his zealous, legalistic life - 1 Tim. 1:13,14). I also love the promise of Hebrews 9:14,15. God will cleanse our conscience from those years of legalistic dead works to serving God because He is the mediator of our New Covenant with Him!
I have to look back and still give God praise for those manipulative, drudgery, dark, joyless years because without those years I would not see His amazing Grace in all it's glory in my life today. Romans 8:28...All things DO work for my good!
You're in my prayers, Vch. Keep holding on! |
Pw
Registered user
Username: Pw
Post Number: 135
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 1:40 pm: | |
I think EGW would have had a fit if she saw how the SDA's gorge themselves on those pot luck dinner gatherings after their services. If snacking was so bad for the body then why did I see so many people munching down cookies, cakes and pies at these functions. Boy, talk about eating your own words. |
Vchowdhury1
Registered user
Username: Vchowdhury1
Post Number: 26
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 2:06 pm: | |
Dd, thank you. |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 553
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 6:31 pm: | |
Vchowdhury,
I found a wonderful way to get rid of bitterness in my life. I write God a letter, telling Him exactly how I feel about what ever is causing the bitterness. I do not sugar coat anything because God knows what I am thinking. After I write the letter I read it to a good friend and talk about what ever I wrote about. Then I shred or burn it. It works for me and many other people I know
who have used this method. Just keep giving that bitterness to God. He knows how to handle it because He is so awesome.
Diana |
Susan_2
Registered user
Username: Susan_2
Post Number: 918
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 7:44 pm: | |
Colleen, I have sda kin similiar to yours. However, in fairness I would like to say that sda's don't have the handle on food weirdness. Hippies do. I know a lot of hippies and every one of them has some sort of weird belief about some sort of food. My cousins daughter was diagnosed with Crones Disease while at a SDA boarding school. She was found to get very ill at the ingestation of all grains. Well that pretty much whacked out the standard sda diet. She was told by her doctors that she had to eat meat. It turned into a big deal at the school. Finily she was allowed to have a small refridgerator in her dorm room to keep her meat in and she could eat the meat in her room but was not allowed to have it in the cafeteria with the rest of her meal. I always thought she only got those concessions because her dad was on the school board. I think if it had been any other kid the family would have been told no meat or get out. |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 682
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 9:06 am: | |
Vchowdhury, the best definition of forgiveness that I ever heard came from a wonderful Christian counselor who was in our family's life several years ago. She said, forgiveness does not mean forgiving and forgetting. Sometimes you must remember in order to protect yourself from further hurt. But it does mean giving up to God your right to get even. God says He will take that burden; it is too big for you, and if you carry it, it will kill you. But God promised that vengeance and justice are His, and He will mete out what must be meted out. We can trust Him with all the sin and abuse perpetrated against us.
That explanation has been extremely helpful to me over the years. Our pastor gave a series on forgiveness several months ago, and he compared unforgivenss or bitterness to a person eating rat poison every day and then waiting for the rats to die. We have to trust God with the transgressions done against us and ask Him to heal our hearts.
My goodness--real trust is always a form of jumping off a cliff, isn't it?
With prayers for you, Vchowdhury,
Colleen |
Doc
Registered user
Username: Doc
Post Number: 108
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 6:14 am: | |
Love the rat poison illustration. I think I'll plagiarise it :-)
Adrian |
Derrell
Registered user
Username: Derrell
Post Number: 29
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 2:50 pm: | |
vchowdhury,
My deepest sympathies. I recently came out of a cult group within the church, and my ex-father-in-law heads it up. When I start to get angry, when I drive past his house, or the compound, I pray for him, my ex-wife, and the others. I thank God for allowing me that experience, and ask him to help me use it in His service. It helps bring peace to me.
I have four children who live with my ex. They don't like the situation, and they see the inconsistencies, and the lies. When they are with me, I pray with them. We have fun going to the movies, playing games, and generally enjoying real life. They always have to go back into the "hole", but they know what real life is, and they can always look forward to the next time with me.
I will keep you and your son in prayer.
DM |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 701
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 4:00 pm: | |
Derrell, it is so good to hear from you again. I've been wondering how you are doing, and I've been praying for you. How old are your children? How often do you see them? I understand the heartache of shared custody--especially when the two environments are really different.
I'm so glad to hear you're out of the chaos you were in. I have just been wondering how you were through the past few months. Do you have a church where you are fellowshipping? How about work?
As you already know, you are welcome here, and you will find sincere support. So glad to hear from you today!
Colleen |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 568
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 5:10 pm: | |
Derrell,
Just want you to know I will pray for you and your children. God is still in charge.
And He is awesome.
Diana |
Derrell
Registered user
Username: Derrell
Post Number: 30
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 10:56 am: | |
Thank you,
My kids are 10, 9, 6, & 5. I have them every other weekend. The community is small and largely controlled by my former father-in-law, but I have to stay here for the sake of the kids.
In hind sight I can see how God plans ahead. People used to sometimes be appalled at all the time that I put into my kid's care. They were all bottle fed, and from the day they were born I had full charge from the minute I got home from work to when I left in the morning. I did all the night feedings and changings, supper, baths, story time, play time, reading, tucking in, breakfast, getting ready for school, etc. Now it is all clear. I was able to form a bond with my kids that few fathers have. We needed that bond, because now, even though we are apart most of the time, My kids and I know and trust each other completely. In their early years we formed a very tight bond that gives me a strong influence in their little lives. I believe that this experience is forming them into people who God will use in a way that wouldn't have been possible otherwise.
Thank you for your prayers, and yes, Diana, God is awesome. There isn't much in the way of employment in this area, so I have started my own marketing & consulting office. I'm starting to scrape in a few dollars, and I believe that God will bless.
DM |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 705
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 4:17 pm: | |
Wow, Derrell, God really was in all that. It's amazing, isn't it, that even in such situations custody can be awarded that ignores the reality of the relationships. It just sickens me when custody is used as a weapon for a parent to win control and power instead of arranging for the emotional and physical well-being of the children.
I've learned, though, that God is sovereign, and he does orchestrate things for our and our kids' good in the long run when we belong to Him and desire His will.
I applaud your staying where you are for their sakes. You and your children will be in my prayers. Ultimately, Truth has the last word.
Colleen |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 570
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 4:53 pm: | |
Derrell,
I will continue to pray for you and your children. When I look back on my life I see where God was leading, not me, and I thought I was doing it. God will triumph. He is so awesome.
Diana |
Tracey
Registered user
Username: Tracey
Post Number: 26
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 10:46 pm: | |
I will keep you and your children in my prayers also.
Tracey |
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