| Author |
Message |
Jeremy
Registered user
Username: Jeremy
Post Number: 1083
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 2:48 pm: |     |
Hi Toria, welcome to the forum! We're glad you've joined us here.
Don't let anyone try to tell you that your physical problems are affecting your discernment. Adventists say that you have to have good physical health and the "right diet" in order to understand the truth. But God's Word says that spiritual truth is spiritually discerned:
quote:"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV.)
This means that the Holy Spirit (Who indwells those of us who have been born again through faith in Jesus) teaches our spirit, which has been brought to life eternal by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3, 6, 15). We don't have to depend on this old, sick physical body in order to understand the truth--the Holy Spirit speaks directly to our spirit and we can know the truth and the truth will set us free, as Jesus said!
"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." (Romans 8:15-16 NIV.)
Praise God!
Jeremy
(Message edited by Jeremy on February 13, 2006) |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 2306
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 6:03 pm: | |
Dear Toria,
Welcome to FAF. My prayers are with you and I am hopping angry at that pastor. The way I feel right now, is that if it was me, I would write him a polite letter again, asking that my name be removed from the church book and that I have all I can read in reading the Bible as I want only answers from the Bible. I would say I want you to remove my name at the next church board meeting and I expect a letter saying this has been done. I would sent it registered with a return request, so you would know he got it. Then I would send a copy of the letter to each board member.
I am so angry at that pastor. How dare he think you cannot think at this time. As Jeremy said, spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
Father in Heaven, You are the Everlasting God. Please be with Toria at this time. Give her the clarity of mind she needs and help her with this pastor who is being not very nice.
Hold Toria in your awesome hands as she goes through this illness.
Thank you for bringing her here and allowing us to pray for her.
As always, You are so AWESOME.
Diana |
Belvalew
Registered user
Username: Belvalew
Post Number: 947
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 9:01 pm: | |
Welcome Toria, and I agree totally with Diana. Don't let them get away with bullying you just because you are ill. You can depend on our prayers as you cooperate with your doctor's treatments. May the grace of God be with you, and may you ever be aware of his presence. God will give you healing! The timing is His, the glory is His, and the blessing is yours.
Belva |
Toria
Registered user
Username: Toria
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 6:44 am: | |
Hi again
Thank you all for your welcome, words of encouragement and prayers. I came across this site some time ago while searching for information on SDAism, by following a link from another site. Whenever I became overwhelmed I would often return here to read the posts. You all seem to care so much about everyone.
It took me a long time to write my letter to the pastor (copy to the board), as I did not want to hurt anyone's feelings. I finally realized that if I wanted to follow Jesus in truth, I had to let go of what I had come to know was false. After the letters were in the mail I felt such a weight removed from my heart. When I got the pastor's e-mail, I felt the weight return.
After thinking and praying about it, and reading your comments, I know I do not have to accept this. It possibly is a form of bullying. I have made it quite clear in my letter that from now on for me it will be The Bible only. They will have to accept that.
As you are praying for me, I will tell you a little about my medical situation. I have advanced ovarian cancer which has pretty well taken over my bowels and has now moved into the lymp nodes close to my spine. I am fortunate in that I have a great medical team looking after me at the cancer center where I get my treatments. This however was a burden I did not think I could carry, so in the beginning I gave it to God and left it with Him. Since I did that I have had a strange sense of peace. I do not know if he will give me 10 weeks or 20 years. I do know that I am greatful for each new day.
Dear Diana, do not be angry at the pastor. He is a die-hard EGW fan(atic), and probably thinks he is trying to save me. Rather pray for him.
I wrote this before, but must have done something wrong as it did not post. Hopefully it won't show up twice on the board.
God Bless you all
toria |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 3401
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 11:36 am: | |
Dear Toria, thank you for sharing a bit about your condition. Do you have family with you?
Our prayers will continue for you.
Colleen |
Toria
Registered user
Username: Toria
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 1:18 pm: | |
yes Colleen, I have my husband, son/daughter-in-law, twin grandsons (3years) and some of my siblings live in the area. My family is made up of non-believers and/or catholics. None of them are really comfortable discussing religious topics. I try to show by example what Jesus is doing in my life. And I pray that one day they will open their hearts to Him as well.
toria |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 2311
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 6:44 pm: | |
Toria,
When I said I was angry at the pastor, I also knew I had to turn it over to God and I have. I do pray for him along with all the other SDAs.
Thanks for telling us more about yourself. I am so glad you have family and children with you.
My prayers are with you and your family and for that pastor, that he, too, will come to know Jesus Christ.
Diana |
Toria
Registered user
Username: Toria
Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 5:25 am: | |
Diana, I know you were praying for the pastor before I asked you to, and for me as well. From reading the posts I often read your prayers for all SDA's. I do not always express myself as good as I wish. Sorry.
I live with my husband, my other family are within an hour's drive. They give me much support with my fight against cancer. It is in my spiritual journey that I sometimes feel so alone. It was while searching for people to fellowship and worship our God with that I got hooked into the SDA church. I'm finding it's not so easy to be free from them. I got another e-mail, this one with the first chapter of the book he wants me to read, with instructions to pay close attention to certain pages. Anyway.... I really do not have the energy to deal with all that right now. I wish you well with your surgery tomorrow. I pray that all goes well for you.
toria |
Lisa_boyldavis
Registered user
Username: Lisa_boyldavis
Post Number: 157
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:56 am: | |
Dear Toria,
There were many excuses why it took my husband and I so long to leave Adventism. It mostly had to do with emotional ties. I see how obedient you are to the Lord even in the midst of terrible physical challenges and I am CHALLANGED to allow God to be strong for me and for ALL THOSE SDA's sitting on the fence for the same reason.... it takes too much effort. Praise God that He is using your example to encourage others to follow Christ no matter what. Of course you could have made the excuse that you really needed the fellowship and support at this time, but choose to obey instead, and that speaks LOUDLY to me and my lazy heart.
Thank you for your witness.
Lisa
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Lynne
Registered user
Username: Lynne
Post Number: 295
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 11:55 am: | |
Toria,
I'm glad you are sharing here. You are very much in my prayers. Prayers do work! I too have a big Catholic family. I'm related to Catholics and unbelievers (ex-Catholic). Is your husband Christian or his he Catholic or a non-believer? I'm sure no matter what, he is supporting you.
But I was wondering if you are in contact with any local evangelical churches so they can pray for you and visit you. The board here is good, but, I think in your situation, there are many Christians near you that would want to pray for you also and give you some encouragement. I have a friend nearby that had a similar health situation and the ladies in a nearby Methodist church just really helped her and her family so much.
If you don't have the energy, perhaps you could ask your husband to call nearby churches. A nearby traditional lutheran, methodist, baptist, pentecostal, nondenomination church, I'm sure would have some sort of assistance. I don't think you should be without that personal touch of other Christian women right now. If you don't have anyone to help you with this or don't have the strength to do it yourself, I would be glad to give you my email through Colleen so I could help you make phone calls for local help. You are very much in a time of need and I know that Christs love is wrapped around and in you, but you need other people as well.
I too sent a letter asking for my name to be removed from the books and got a letter back from the pastor. He stated he wanted to discuss doctrine, which I stated in the letter I would not do. So he said he would submit the letter to the board and I never heard anything back. I haven't called or followed up. I might send a follow up letter soon. But when I expressed frustration over it to my new pastor, he just said, consider it done. Don't worry about it. If your heart isn't there, if you don't want to be there, consider yourself out of it. I think they keep people on the books to inflate the membership numbers.
But the most important thing now is your overall health. So I would say, don't worry about the adventists now, it doesn't seem that they are showing any concern for you.
Please let Colleen know if you need any help with researching local churches and I will pray for you.
Lynne
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Jeremy
Registered user
Username: Jeremy
Post Number: 1092
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 12:33 pm: | |
Yes, I agree that they seem to like to keep people on the books to inflate their membership numbers. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Ellen White and D.M. Canright are still members! ;-)
Jeremy |
Raven
Registered user
Username: Raven
Post Number: 376
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 1:58 pm: | |
When we requested our membership to be removed from the SDA church, we did receive a reply that said it was done. That was over a year ago, and we still regularly receive SDA junk mail. In the mail yesterday, we received a letter from the LLU health study wanting us to participate and it said "Dear Church Member." It just made me wonder if our names are completely off the records. Is it possible to be off the local church records but still be in the conference records? Oh well, I consider it a done deal. |
Toria
Registered user
Username: Toria
Post Number: 6
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 3:07 pm: | |
Lynne
Thank you for your concern. My husband is a non-believer. He thinks Darwin had it right. But yes, he does support me and my right to believe what I will.
I have not tried to contact other churches. The SDA experience is still a little raw. Also, I am only home for a few days. The cancer center is a few hundred miles from here and I must return there by the weekend. Will probably be away for a few weeks. There is a chapel at the hospital where they hold a non-denominational service each day & I take advantage of that whenever possible. I'm ok. I should be finished treatments towards the end of March. After that I will see about maby checking out other churches. I feel a bit hesitant about that. The SDA's came across as "Bible only" devout christians. I was so easily fooled.
About my membership... I will also consider it a done deal. They have my letter.
Jeremy, I like your sense of humor.
Blessings to all
toria |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 2313
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 6:08 pm: | |
My youngest sister has not lived in Bellflower, CA for about 25 years. I get mail at my address, I bought her old house, still from the SDA church where she last had membership. So, yes, the SDA church does keep names on. The last mail I received from them, I returned to them saying "no one by this name at this address". Maybe the mail will stop.
Diana |
Lisa_boyldavis
Registered user
Username: Lisa_boyldavis
Post Number: 159
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 6:20 pm: | |
Dear Diane,
Are you a pilot? I just wondered when I saw the flying lady name. My husband is, and I go with him... just private pilot. He took our daughter to Victoria (about 30 min flight from the airport)... the one place in the country that it's much cheaper to fly then take a ferry... Off the subject.
Lisa
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Honestwitness
Registered user
Username: Honestwitness
Post Number: 28
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:03 pm: | |
I was surprised when my former church removed my name so quickly, after only one letter from me. Maybe it's because my husband is an elder and he convinced them I really do not believe SDA doctrine. Also, I had told him I may visit the church with him once in a while, but I just didn't feel right about doing so, until my membership was officially canceled. I told him I felt I would be living a lie.
Before the church officially removed my name, I had decided that, if it took them a long time to get around to removing my name, I would write letters to the pastor and the board every month, prior to each board meeting, reminding them of my request and giving my differing views on a few points of doctrine. I would even say in the letters that I interpreted their delay as a signal they wanted to receive more explanations from me on the particular doctrines I found to be in error.
I never had a chance to do that, because they removed my name so quickly. Now that my name is off the books, I don't feel it's right to bombard them with letters.
I don't know if you have the strength to write another letter, Toria, but this strategy might be one to consider, if you do have the strength.
This group is my main fellowship for now. I've been visiting various churches and Bible studies, but no one understands what I've gone through like this group does. I keep coming back time after time for more nips of the sweet nectar I find here.
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Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 3407
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:43 pm: | |
I think you're right, Raven. I don't think our local church sent our names to the conference; we still get the union paper and various other mailings including the monthly Adventist World.
Toria, will you be away until the end of your treatments?
Colleen |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 2317
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:45 pm: | |
Lisa,
I have over 60+ hours flying time as a student pilot. I do not have my pilots license because my son needed help with college and I was the only one to help him. Then I got sick with chronic fatigue syndrome, my son went active duty Air Force, got married, they had a baby and now my money goes to flying to see my grandson and his parents. I do not regret any of the money I spent on the flying lessons. It was worth every penny. I fly whenever I can.
So I call myself Flyinglady.
Sorry, this is off the subject, but I had to answer her question.
Diana |
Lynne
Registered user
Username: Lynne
Post Number: 300
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 10:12 pm: | |
Toria,
I will pray for you and for your husband. I know what you mean about thinking adventists were "bible only" devout christians. I came into the church with that idea and considered their logic for health and other things as just something they did, like other christians that built hospitals. That was about 20 years ago.
It shook my faith in trusting what others say, and I still get flashbacks in a real church because there are so many similarities. I just need to stay connected with Jesus.
Every day I'm praying, reading the bible and listening to Christian music. That is what has helped me with getting Adventism out of my mind. This forum has helped me a lot also. Healing does take time.
Lynne
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Toria
Registered user
Username: Toria
Post Number: 7
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 5:27 am: | |
Honestwitness - I like your 'monthly letter' idea and will use it if I need to. I will only do that if they keep trying to save this lost sheep. I got a call from one of the elders. She hopes it was nothing she said that made me leave the church. She is also very concerned now for my spiritual well being.
I have not been a member very long compared to most of you, only six years. Still went through the feelings of shame, anger and a whole range of other emotions. I thank God for getting me out when He did.
I followed Diana's advice and wrote the pastor, not a letter, but an e-mail telling him (in truth) that I have all I can read right now in reading the Bible. All is quite since then. I am studying the book of Romans, with the help of commentaries and dictionaries downloaded from E-sword.
Colleen, I hope to be able to come home for a weekend sometime during my treatments. Probably one of the more difficult things about all this is being away from home and family. However, my best friend lives in the area of the hospital and she comes to be with me during my treatments, so I am not alone there. God always provides.
Blessings to all
toria |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 3410
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 6:18 pm: | |
Toria, I'll be continuing to pray for you.
Colleen |
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