| Author | Message | ||
| Praisegod Registered user Username: Praisegod Post Number: 322 Registered: 3-2004  |
Yes, learning to truly respond to the Holy Spirit was a new thing as I was being drawn out of Adventism. I was raised to show no emotion in church and that God wanted us to us our minds only. I know of two people who were gifted with tongues (as a prayer language) when still SDA who did not even believe in it. God used it as the way to get the attention of one who then started delving into the word and processed completely out. The other one is still in the SDA church because her husband is a conference official. She's several states away from me now so I don't know if it's still happening, but she used to attend Sunday churches to find true grace and proper teaching as well as being totally involved in Adventism. Praise God... | ||
| Bob Registered user Username: Bob Post Number: 285 Registered: 7-2000  |
Last weekend, one of the pastors at my church was speaking about worship, and the role of the Spirit in worship. He said, "Visitors to our church may wonder why we sometimes lift our arms toward heaven as we worship. Look at children who are still toddlers. What do they do when they come to their parents? They lift their arms. They are saying, "pick me up!" That is what we are saying when we raise our arms to God. We are saying "Pick me up, Daddy! Take me in your arms.'" That explanation moved me deeply. Bob | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1570 Registered: 3-2004  |
As a kid in SDA schools, especially during the weeks of prayer in academy, I would really feel sinful and cry and walk forward when the pastor asked. Then, no one counseled with those of us who walked forward. It got so I did not like emotion connected with religion in any way. I learned to keep a poker face when things got emotional in church, when I did go. It was not until I did not rejoin the SDA church and studied the beliefs of it and found Jesus, that I can get emotional about Jesus. Bob, I like that lifting our arms to God, like a child and saying "Daddy, pick me up." It reminds me of me when I get up in the morning and rush into God's presence and thank Him for the evenings sleep. I feel like a child rushing into my parents bedroom and jumping on my Dad to tell him I love him. I am getting more comfortable about being emotional about beautiful music that speaks of God and other things that remind me of God, His greatness and goodness. He is so truly awesome. Diana | ||
| Heretic Registered user Username: Heretic Post Number: 108 Registered: 2-2005 |
Bob, I have never heard it expressed that way, but, "Wow!", what an awesome way to illustrate the point! Kinda like "Abba, Father, lift me into your presence." Pardon the colloquialism but that is just "way to cool!" Thanks for sharing that. Richard, I really appreciate your thoughts on encountering God in our worship. Having been conditioned to be very reserved during worship, being more expressive is something that will have to come over time in me, I think. I used to roll my eyes a little at folks who would stand up and raise their hands (when I'd visit a Celebration or non-SDA congregation) but now my attitude has done a 180. I have found myself moved to the point of almost raising my hands a time or two during our search for possible new churches but I'm just not there, yet. It's not like it's a goal of mine or anything but I do feel the Holy Spirit more than I ever did before...either during a praise-filled service or even when listening to Christian music at home. The Spirit is so powerful I've just never seen it before. Heretic | ||
| Lindylou Registered user Username: Lindylou Post Number: 58 Registered: 1-2005 |
Wow, guys! You give my cynical heart hope that the male creature IS capable of being vulnerable and open to God's spirit in an emotional way! How wonderful to hear of your experiences. This kind of man is foreign to me. You have given me hope that my daughters CAN find a man who is Christ-filled and vulnerable.  | ||
| Lydell Registered user Username: Lydell Post Number: 685 Registered: 7-2000 |
Heretic, many! people could identify with your feeling hesitant to try raising your hands in worship! It is incredibly hard to set aside our "dignity" and do this for the first few times. I fought it myself. While the analogy of a child raising hands to his Father is certainly applicable, there is another that fits at other times. That is when hands are raised to say, "I give up!" That fits with worship too. "I surrender" is also a part of worship. It's not me, it's all about Him and His power and glory and sovereignty. Lindylou, my 25 year old son is a passionate worshipper. So is his best friend (who was actually saved during the middle of a worship service.....the presence of God was so strong that he simply could no longer question whether God was real). I've known several other truly fine young men who were sincere worshippers. Oh yes girlfriend, there are MANY young men who are both Christ-filled and very open. | ||
| Bob Registered user Username: Bob Post Number: 286 Registered: 7-2000 |
Lydell, thank you for adding that explanation. I did not mean to imply that raising one's hands has only one meaning. Bob | ||
| Lydell Registered user Username: Lydell Post Number: 686 Registered: 7-2000 |
Yep, figured you didn't Bob. Hope everyone has had a blessed day. We still find ourselves coming up on Saturday and letting out a deep sigh of relief that we are no longer tied there. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2055 Registered: 12-2003  |
Yes, Lydell--I still revel in taking care of the roses or going to Costco on Saturdays! Talk of your sighs of relief...! (And please, don't anyone read this as a statement that I gave up Sabbath because I wanted to "sin" or to indulge myself. I've just found such great freedom and deep joy from knowing Jesus every day instead of meeting Him in some sort of special way on Sabbath.) Colleen | ||
| Carol_2 Registered user Username: Carol_2 Post Number: 326 Registered: 2-2002  |
Oh yes Lindylou.....at my church also you will see many, many men, young and old, raising their hands in praise. It touches my heart most when I see the young couples, boyfriends/girlfriends and newly marrieds with the man raising his arms, looking heavenward, praising the Lord. Talk about melting me! If I were a young unmarried woman, seeing a man like that would attract me to him more than anything else! Also, as some of you have mentioned, I too am not yet comfortable raising my hands. I actually have once or twice, and I don't want to do it just to be doing it......but sometimes I am so overwhelmed by God's Spirit and the music and all, I really want to do it, but that little bit of SDA baggage I'm still carrying makes me feel uncomfortable. I long for the day when I can raise my arms with none of the SDA garbage in my head. Love you all, Carol | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2057 Registered: 12-2003 |
I remember the first time I saw my older son raise his hands during worship a couple of years ago. It was quite overwhelming, and I felt such gratitude to God. But I still struggle with feelings of self-consciousness--a ridiculous feeling, because people around me are raising their hands, an no one thinks they're odd! Colleen | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1827 Registered: 11-2002 |
Back to the topic of prayer. I don't have my Strong's handy so I cannot give the book, chapter and verses however, in numerous places especially towards the beginning of the OT the called of God ask God to send His vengengence upon their enemies. Then we get to the NT and Jesus says to pray for those who persucaste you and to do good to those who are out to harm you. Now, I tend to be a more middle-of-the-road type on this. Take our War on Terrorism. Although I am not an avowed pacificist and I do believe there is such a thing as 'just war' I also believe in doing the right thing by our enemies once we have convinced them our way is the right way. Like, in WW2 after we crushed Japan and Germany we totally built those countries up again and they wouldn't be the successful countries they are now if it weren't for the goodwill of America. The US could have blasted them to smitherenes and then turned its back on those nations. The US did not do that, thus we followed the NT command of Jesus to do good to those who persucate us. The same seems to be obivious with how the US is dealing with the war on terrorism. I think I have it right about merging those two concepts. Comments? | ||
| Heretic Registered user Username: Heretic Post Number: 110 Registered: 2-2005 |
Susan, This may not be the complete low-down on the situation, but it will give you somewhere to start. David Dennis was in charge of the GC auditing service when he discovered Falkenberg's financial indescretions. A smear campaign ensued against Mr. Dennis and he lost his job over it. Check it out: http://truthorfables.com/david_dennis.htm Heretic | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1575 Registered: 3-2004 |
The following was written my our Colleen and is just one article I have found so far about Robert Folkenberg.. Diana http://www.atoday.com/magazine/archive/1999/janfeb1999/news/FolkenbergResigns.shtml | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 259 Registered: 7-2004  |
Personally I probably over-think and over-analyze raising my hands in worship. I would probably feel odd (doing something different generally makes me uncomfortable for at least a little while). But plenty of people around me are, so I shouldn't feel odd. In fact, I feel a little odd that I don't. But I wouldn't want to raise my hands just so I didn't feel odd (or so I "fit in" better). So instead of going with the flow and letting whatever will happen, happen I over think it to a state of paralysis. | ||
| Dane Registered user Username: Dane Post Number: 109 Registered: 4-2004 |
I have to share what has happened to me recently regarding worship. I have always had a serious personality. I'm very analytical and always demand close reasoning. Like many of you, I've always been suspicious of those who show "excess emotion" during worship. The last few months, I've been doing a lot of extra reading and study. I've especially been concentrating on studying spiritual growth. Besides the Bible, I've read Dallas Willard, Andrew Murray, Robert Foster, Francis Schaefer and several others. Above all, I have prayed, and prayed, and prayed. I slowly came to see certain things in a new light. A few weeks ago, I realized that something really significant was occuring in my life. I had a stronger trust and peace in Jesus. And, dare I say it, I was EXCITED. If you knew me you would understand that I have a hard time getting excited about anything. Anyway, two weekends ago, Promise Keepers was here in Fort Wayne, and I went with a group of guys from our church. It was wonderful. Suddenly everything fell into place. During one of the Saturday praise sessions, I found that I could not keep my hands down. I had never done this before, but I felt as if someone was pulling my hands to heaven. It felt like the most natural thing to do. I now understand that worship is done not just with the mind, but with the whole person. For me worship will never be the same again. Dane | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 472 Registered: 7-2004 |
Dane, Your story gave me goose-bumps. Thank you for sharing. | ||
| Heretic Registered user Username: Heretic Post Number: 112 Registered: 2-2005 |
Wow! How did my above post wind up on this thread? I guess I wasn't paying attention earlier. Sorry, I'll go move it to it's rightful place. Heretic | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2059 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dane, thanks for sharing your story. It's wonderful! Colleen | ||
| Foreverscout Registered user Username: Foreverscout Post Number: 51 Registered: 3-2005 |
I have found that my walk with the Lord in the last six months has grown especially tight and during this time, my emotions have seem to run closer to the surface. During Worship services I find myself really getting into the music and coming almost pretty close to dancing on some of the songs. I have stopped myself from this and from raising my hands in praise because I know my poor teenage daughter would be mortified. But this last Sunday she was not with me and nothing could keep my hands down, it was almost as if they were helium filled! The song was going all through me and tears were rolling down my cheeks, I could really feel His presence, it was all JOY! THAT was true worship for me. It's a Lutheran Church, the worship leaders often raise their hands in praise and worship, and a few others, but 95% don't. I don't mind if everyone there thinks I'm weird, afterall, I thought that it was at one time, but I came around and they will too someday. But should I hold back on these feelings just because I make my 17yr old daughter feel uncomfortable? We joked about it once together, I told her, Gosh you are more of an old Lutheran than I am. The funny thing is, in this church at least, they know it about themselves. Foreverscout |
