| Author | Message | ||
| Lindylou Registered user Username: Lindylou Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2005 |
Hello everyone, I'm a bit nervous as I write this post - I'm not sure why - but I've been "listening" in for a few weeks and just now have the opportunity to join your discussions. I learned about this forum thru an email from Colleen , who also directed me to meet up with one of your own - "Dd". "Dd" and I live in the same area and it was so wonderful to meet - to connect with someone else who is on this amazing journey of finding the real truth - the simple truth of God's amazing love and redemption through His Son, Jesus. A little background on myself: You will find the story familiar! I was raised 4th generation SDA - with a parent who dedicated his life to the SDA church with his career. The SDA fishbowl was my existance - one that I never fully accepted in my heart. Always there were questions within me - the exclusivity bothered me - as well as the reading the Bible thru the eyes of EGW. I saw so much hypocrisy in an organization that prided itself on being the church of the last days and having the "truth" that all men should come to accept so that they could be saved. I led a sheltered life - like many of you were descibing in your last thread of posts. It was "us" vs. "the world". I eventually got myself into some very fanatical stuff - in the late 80's - deliverance ministry coupled with the receiving of "messages" from God that fortold of the soon end of the world..ect... On rebound from that mess - my husband and I and young daughter went as "missionaries" to a little island over seas. It was there that I was exposed to other Christians who were on fire for God - but who were not SDA's. It was an eye-opener. And the beginning of my way out. To make a long story short - my mom eventually gave up the SDA faith completely when she was "born again" in Christ - and over the last 10 years or so -with her influence - I have been on a slow journey out of the SDA church. One baby step at a time. (My dad is still deeply entrenched - and who can blame him - he gave his whole life to the organization - it pays his health bills and retirement.) Just recently, I realized that I needed to stop trying to walk the fence. I've been playing the hokie pokie with the SDA church - and had recently just had one foot in. But I can see it is time to make the big leap and shake it all off! So I am happy to have found you all - to connect with others in this "outing". It can be a lonely place. The old tape recordings of the past keep whispering in the ear, long past the time of turning away from them. So thank you for your wonderful insights and encourging words to each other. I have been blessed even as a person with her eye to the keyhole! I am happy to be opening this new door and meeting you in a more personal way. Sincerely, lindylou | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 276 Registered: 5-2002 |
Oh thank God for bringing you here! Welcome! | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1419 Registered: 11-2002 |
Dear Lindylou, I am Susan_2 and it is nice to meet you. It is always interesting to me when reading the stories that are shared on here just how similiar our upbringings were. I often think, "is---- (fill in name) related to me? That story sounds familiar. Then I remember the story sounds familiar because grwing up SDA we all do come from the same lineage. | ||
| Carol_2 Registered user Username: Carol_2 Post Number: 240 Registered: 2-2002 |
A warm welcome Lindylou! We look forward to hearing more from you.....are you a writer? I enjoy the way you say things. I am Carol, a former for over three years now. This forum has and continues to be an incredible blessing to me, and I know you will find this to be true for you also. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 967 Registered: 3-2004 |
Lindlylou, welcome to the FAF. I am so glad you have been watching through the key hole and decided to open the door and come in. I am a former of only one year. It was a year ago this month that I decided not to rejoin the SDA church. You will find the journey interesting, frustrating when it comes to SDA friends and relatives, but the good thing about this journey is that God is leading us and we do not have to do it alone. We have each other on this forum. I, also, like the way you use words. You will find, as all of us have, that we have an awesome God. Diana | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 11 Registered: 12-2004 |
Welcome! If you are like the rest of us in transition many challenges lie ahead. Many of us would like to just walk away.The frustration and angst is dealing with the collateral damage to our spouses,children,and parents who are not in the same book let alone the same page we are.There is no quick easy answer for them, and how could there be if it has taken hundreds of hours and months of study for me to get to this new understanding of God's untainted plan. Hopefully we can allow the Holy Spirit to impress truth on the minds of our loved one though us.Again welcome to the loving family at FAF.Like you many of us are new here and still trying to find our way. Randy | ||
| Lindylou Registered user Username: Lindylou Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2005 |
Oh, dear. I think I posted my introduction twice because I wasn't sure it took the first time. Sorry! Thanks for the welcome. It will be fun to join the discussions - once I figure how to do it properly! | ||
| Thomas1 Registered user Username: Thomas1 Post Number: 160 Registered: 4-2002 |
Hi Lindylou As one who has been "out" for more than 20 years, I welcome you to the world of following ONLY Jesus. Fix your eyes on Him and never look back. It really is more free on this side of the fence. In Jesus <>< Thomas | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 296 Registered: 4-2000 |
Lindylou, A hearty FAF welcome! I too am delighted that you opened the door and came in. Let us not forget to pray for those still peering through the keyhole. I wholeheartedly concur with Thomas' testimony, "It really is more free on this side of the fence." And all the formers said, "AMEN." Dennis Fischer | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1327 Registered: 12-2003 |
Amen! I just welcomed you on another thread, Linda, but welcome again! Once you walk into this freedom in Jesus and shed the entanglement of Adventism, you'll feel as if you're waking up in a whole new world! Freedom in Jesus alone is the most astonishing thing I've ever experienced. Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 969 Registered: 3-2004 |
I will second when Colleen said above. The freedom we have is Christ is so good. No more being concerned about what I eat, wear, do and how I act. I just ask God to fill me with the Holy Spirit every day and every day I rest in Christ. There is such a freedom in doing that. Every day God shows me how awesome He is. Diana | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 326 Registered: 7-2004 |
I already said it...I'll say it again...HELLO to my LindyLou GIRLFRIEND!!! |
