| Author | Message | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1331 Registered: 3-2005 |
Hi everyone, I just got home from the opening night of our FAF reunion. What a great night! We had a wonderful reception with an attractive spread of food, and great coffee. We needed it--it was cold. But the Holy Spirit was present to warm our hearts, and the gospel was preached with power. The praise and worship music was splendid. Truly the Spirit of the Lord was in this place. It was great to meet some of you who post here including Chris Lee, Diana, Snowboardingmom, Ric_b and Raven, and Freeatlast. God is truly sovereign. He has worked many miracles in so many lives. Richard and Colleen have done a tremendous job and our thanks to Trinity Evangelical Free Church and a truly courageous pastor Gary to be such gracious hosts. Soli Deo Gloria (the clarion call of the Reformation-To God alone be the glory) certainly applies to the celebration of grace we had tonight. Stan | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1332 Registered: 3-2005 |
I forgot to mention Seeker777, it was great to see you Richard, and sorry if I left out anyone else. Stan | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 120 Registered: 12-2004 |
Stan, I hope you all recognize that this weekend is challenging those of us absent from the session. Please pray that we might not succumb to envy, jealousy, or resentment. May God bless, Randy | ||
| Jackob Registered user Username: Jackob Post Number: 100 Registered: 7-2005 |
Dear Stan, Thank you vey much for the information given about FAF meeting. I pry especially for the saturday afternoon meeting when adventists are invited. I also pray for Holy Spirit to unite all of you in Truth, in Jesus, and the adventist who will be present see the glory of the everlasting gospel through your joy in the Lord. May they sense also the present of the Holy Spirit. I'm happy to hear that the FAF meeting openend so well. God bless you and the entire meeting attendants. | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1334 Registered: 3-2005 |
I am sorry to make folks feel jealous Randy, but I just returned from another just glorious day of praise, worship, and fellowship. I met some other posters here including Cy and Patria. I was touched by the outpouring of love and genuine joy expressed today. To see some of the seniors who had been steeped in Adventism for so many years, and have come to know the joy and freedom in the Lord, my, these ladies could not stop talking about this joy in one breakout session today. It made my day just to see the expressions on their faces--a joy that can only come from knowing Jesus! We thrilled to hear some very inspiring testimonies from Chris Lee, Ric_b and Raven, Patria, and Dr. Drew. Next was a very rousing roundtable with the three pastors Mark Martin, Greg Taylor, and Dale Ratzlaff who could not contain their enthusiasm either. Then there was a whole row of some combative questioners who wanted to challenge the panel by arguing the Sabbath, and some in this group were quite vocal. Let's all pray that the Holy Spirit might remove the veil that is covering their spiritual eyes. This weekend continues to be a continual work of grace. Richard, Colleen, the pastors, and all of the hospitable staff of Trinity EV Free all deserve our thanks for their great effort! To God be the Glory, Stan | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 122 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thank-you Stan for the update. The envy was only for the fellowship missed, and the opportunity to witness history. I appreciate your willingness to keep us posted, and can feel the joy you experienced through your words. Randy | ||
| Cy Registered user Username: Cy Post Number: 42 Registered: 1-2005 |
The FAF Conference has been all that I hoped it would be! I've enjoyed meeting so many fellow formers who have been freed from their slavery to the law, listening to the leaders discussing the aspects of this journey (dealing with family, handling the attacks, answering questions about the Sabbath, and living in the Spirit), the good food and the friendly host church. I definitely feel it was worth the trip, and I pray that it was a blessing to those to attended and to everyone that we touch with our lives. This single most significant thing I felt I learned yesterday was in the talk by Elizabeth Inrig: in her introduction to Bible study, I learned the distinction between deductive Bible study (choosing a point and finding texts to support it) versus inductive Bible study (reviewing the Bible and understanding what point the Bible is making). When starting my journey to meeting Christ and exiting the SDA church 13 years ago, I now know that I intuitively switched from deductive to inductive Bible study, and, to quite Robert Frost, "that has made all the difference." If there is interest, I hope to share more information from the conference for those who couldn't attend. In Christ, Guy | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 431 Registered: 7-2004  |
I can only echo what Cy has said about what a great blessing the entire conference was. But I'm not sure that I can pick the single most significant thing. For all of you that I finally met, it was great. The chance to talk face-to-face with people you only "know" by their posts is wonderful. I am already looking forward to a 2nd annual weekend. | ||
| Jackob Registered user Username: Jackob Post Number: 101 Registered: 7-2005 |
Guy, I expect more information from everyone willing to share more information about the meeting. I'm especially concerned about what pastors said about dealing with family, handling the attacks,etc. Also, if you can give more details about inductive versus deductive bile study, feel free. I'm thankfull for anybody who can share some information from this meeting. I'm happy, very happy to hear that the meeting was all what someone hope to be. Also, I'm curios about the adventist who attend, and their reaction to the meeting, to the atmosphere and if they continue the dialogue after the meeting. To God be the glory for this wonderfull meeting! | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 595 Registered: 4-2000  |
Colleen, Guy, Stan, and others, Please feel free to give any additional information and assessment of this first FAF weekend conference. Dennis Fischer | ||
| Anotherseeker Registered user Username: Anotherseeker Post Number: 46 Registered: 8-2005 |
I also felt a tinge of NON-MAILICIOUS jealousy!{haha} My real emotion is that i am DELIGHTED and EXCITED that you were all able to assemble together for this weekend. I would LOVE to be able to see the names on this forum face to face. If it is Gods will in the future....so be it!! I will also be awaiting EVERY detail about the weekend and am also interested in the response of the Adventists. I would love to know how many came and what the overiding emotion was amongst them. DENNIS..... i would just like to add that after reading your story about how you left the Adventist Church the other night i was VERY TROUBLED but in a good way i guess Your story alerted me to the fact that i had ASSUMED that the righteous checking the books in heaven was in the Bible!! I was SO DISTURBED when i had a quick look at Revelation and to my HORROR and distress found that this was something that had been sewn into my Spirit DECEPTIVELY without me knowing!! What a great story to share with Adventists questioning the church. I thank God for leading me to the story part of the site as i ALWAYS come straight to the forum. When i first came on the site last Summer i ALWAYS read the stories but i was just led to take a look to see if there were any new ones or read some i had not read before. | ||
| Jlonberg Registered user Username: Jlonberg Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2006  |
My first post to the list just had to come today. I have been reading and thinking and praying for several months. I attended the very special weekend and have been truly blessed. It was a real treat to meet several whom I have only met on this site. So nice to put a face with a name. I'm sure others will explain better than I can just how much this weekend has ment. While I have been in transition for years, this weekend was my "turning point". In His Love, John | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 123 Registered: 12-2004 |
Welcome John, It is great to have you here. We look forward to hearing your story, when you are comfortable sharing it. For now we are just happy to have you be a part of the family. As you know there is no judgement here, just opportunity for sharing and growth. Welcome again, Randy | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 597 Registered: 4-2000 |
John, A hearty, warm welcome to you! Truly, our Lord knows the precise moment to call us into His wonderful family. You have come to the right place. We look forward to getting to know you. Dennis Fischer | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 411 Registered: 8-2004  |
Welcome John! I look forward to hearing more of your story, and more about the weekend! Blessings, Mary | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2319 Registered: 3-2004  |
I just wrote a long paragraph about this weekend and lost it because my computer disconnected. I am too tired to repeat it, as I just got home from So Cal, FAF Reunion, about 45 minutes ago. Stan told me he started this thread and I just had to see it. It was so good meeting all of you that post here and those who just lurk and read. When I am not so tired I will rewrite my paragraph. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3414 Registered: 12-2003  |
John, Welcome! I am moved to read your post, and we are so happy you are part of FAF! Richard and I are WEARY today, but in a really good way! I can't get over how God worked in orchestrating this entire weekend. Having Mark Martin, Dale Ratzlaff, and Greg Taylor all there together was remarkable. Their presentations dovetailed wonderfully. Friday evening began with registration, snacks, and getting acquainted. Elizabeth Inrig had volunteered to head the hospitality committee, and I heard comments about people's surprise that the women at Trinity would orchestrate the whole food/hospitality "thing" when they had no personal connection with FAF. But that's the body of Christ! Elizabeth had decorated the fellowship room with round tables which had blue cloths covered by off-white lace cloths and irises in the center of the tables. She and her team kept snacks, water, and coffee available throughout the entire conference. Friday evening began with worship led by Scott and Sharon Strum. Scott is a member of the elder board at Trinity church; they were never SDA, but they both went to LLU School of Medicine, and Scott works at Loma Linda. They had a small band including Scott on the guitar, two high school twin sisters who played bass and percussion, and our son Roy on the piano. The worship was powerfulóSharon (the leader) had spent days praying over what songs to include, and she used "All I Once Held Dear" (or "Knowing You, Jesus") as the weekend theme song. All three pastors spokeóDale led by setting the stage with establishing Jesus is God's Word (communication) with us (John 1:1-3), Jesus is God's best communication to us (Hebrews 1:1-2), and Jesus surpasses the Law and the Prophets (Mark 2:9-13). Then he walked through the Road to Emmaus story in Luke 24 and drew many lessons from it re: Jesus' interaction/communication with us including His being with us even when we don't recognize His presence, His bringing Scripture alive to us, etc. Greg Taylor followed with a fascinating discussion based on Romans 7 of his previous "spiritual bigamy" of which he was guilty when he tried to be married to both the law and grace at the same time. He had to let the law die so he would not be living in spiritual adultery. Mark Martin ended Friday evening with a powerful talk on the security of our salvation. Saturday morning Elizabeth et al served the continental breakfast at 7:45: bagels/cream cheese, granola snacks, fruit salad-- 8:30 was the devotional time. After worship Gary Inrig, Trinity's senior pastor, gave a devotional talk on the revelation and supremacy of Jesus as the fulfillment of all the OT symbols using Hebrews as his text. It was moving and inisghtful, and his talk echoed the inisghts Dale, Greg, and Mark had presented the night before but from a different "angle". We were asked if we had "briefed" him before about what to talk about; we had not. He mentioned that as he had been praying about what to say, this Hebrews-based message had been what was impressed in his mind. Besides the uplifting of Jesus, the amazing thing about his talk was his mostly unintentional "unpacking" of all our SDA "sanctuary language" by showing how Jesus has surpassed and fulfilled it all. Elizabeth Inrig next led an hour-long workshop on inductive Bible study, but time prevented her from getting deeply into the methods of Bible study. She did an overview of how the Bible hangs together, how it is self-authenticating, that it is historical and must be read in the context of human history that includes nations, events, races, and culture. She also pointed out that the first 11 chapters of the Bible are about the establishment of the nations; the rest of the OT is about the nation of Israel, and the NT is, again about the nations. She made an amazing point when someone raised the question of thought vs. verbal. She explained how, based on the fact that "all Scripture is God-breathed," we know that God was in charge of the words of Scripture. She said that just as Jesus is both human and God in a hypostatic union we cannot explain, so God's word is both a human and a divine reality, and we cannot explain exactly how it "works", but we know it is reliable and true. The rest of Saturday involved breakout discussion sessions. Mark Martin facilitated one on honoring God when faced with persecution, Dale Ratzlaff led "Everything you ever wanted to know about the Sabbath", Greg Taylor directed discussions on living by the Spirit and how to know we are "hearing" God's will for us. Leslie Martin had sessions about healing from parental rejection and told about her father disowning her and her children when she left SDAism--and how he apologized on his death bed. Kenneth and Jan Brantley facilitated discussions on living with Adventist family members. Lunch was turkey wraps, vegetarian subs, fruit, fresh veggies, and ice cream bars and cookies. Dinner was a catered Mexican meal featuring chicken and cheese enchiladas, beans, rice, chips, and salsa--followed by cheesecakes. The evening meeting had wonderful stories by Chris Lee, Rick and Sheryl Barker, Patria Rector, and Geoff Drew. They were all different from each other, but they all had a similar theme: finding and knowing Jesus has dissolved the confusion and depression of their past, and while sadness and greif and difficulties may continue, there is hope and resolution and joy in KNOWING they belong to Jesus and have peace that transcends trauma and resolves dissonance. Mark, Greg, and Dale did an interview-style presentation which allowed them to discuss their unique experiences which led them to leave Adventism and to address the theological issues they faced. They also discussed how the New Covenant resolved their unresolvable questions, and Mark talked about his church in Phoenix and how God has blessed them far beyond his imaginings. They took questions from the audience--there was a small but vocal "contingent" that came determined to engage in Sabbath debate; the three pastors handled them extremely graciously and clearly, but--as we all know--when one is veiled and unwilling to "see", even rational, Biblical answers do not resolve the questions. One attendee spoke to me in the hallway and made such a profound comment. This woman has been "out" over 10 years and is herself well-versed in human dynamics; she is a therapist by profession. She said to me that the reason those who have left and found Jesus find themselves in unresolvable conflict with those who have stayed and remain committed to Adventism is that the conflict is actually "kingdom against kingdom". It is not merely a matter of a disagreement; it is light against dark. She is so right. We really don't know how many Adentists attended Saturday evening. There were quite a few people there whom we didn't know, but whether or not they were all Adventist, we really don't know. I do know there was on senior pastor of a fairly large and "evangelical" Adventist local church there, and he was very gracious and stayed almost until the evening ended (it actually went until 10:00). He stayed until about halfway through the Q & A, so he listened to all that Mark, Greg and Dale said. I know of several other Adventists who were also there, but I do not know how they reacted. We gave out and collected response cards, but we got very few back--and only one from an Adventistóand that Adventist is barely an Adventist but is a Christ-follower who is open to Jesus. We know that many people were praying for the weekend; Mark's whole church has been praying, and during their 6;00 service last night they prayed for our evening service. Many people at Trinity including the staff were praying for the weekend, and I know we here were praying. The most wonderful thing about the weekend for me was the palpable presence of the Holy Spirit. There was a warmth, a sense of love, of unity in Jesus, of powerful praise and worship, of God's word being made clear to us, and of God's power and presence at work in all the presentations and also in our fellowship. God was present with us, and Richard and I both have a sense of this entire weekend being God's idea carried out at exactly His time and in His way. He is sovereign over all, and I praise Him for revealing Himself and for blessing us this weekend. I praise Him also for whatever seeds may have been planted last night about which I might never know. I thank Him that He is teaching me to be obedient to Him even when I cannot clearly see how or why He is working. God is awesome, and the I praise Him for giving us the Lord Jesus and for transforming us by His Spirit. Colleen | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3415 Registered: 12-2003 |
I didn't mention how incredible Mark and Leslie Martin were in their support of this whole weekend. They not only came themselves, but they brought three people with them who helped with many details including book sales and other behind the scenes details. Mark moderated the Saturday night "interview" with Greg and Dale, and he set the tone for that discussion and gave the call at the end of the meeting. Mark also communicated with me and the other two pastors before the weekend, helping us solidify the "shape" of Saturday evening. We owe a debt of gratitude to Mark and Leslie for their personal investment of energy and vulnerability in this weekend. We also are indebted to Greg for coming all the way from Maryland at a busy time for himóhe leaves soon for another trip to Africa to consult with the former Adventist pastors there. Dale and Carolyn have also been nearly buried in a vairety of intense issues, but God granted them some major resolutions to several things that nearly prevented them from attending. We are thankful to all of them, and we thank God for these men who have each been obedient to Him and have thus powerfully aided most of us in our discovery of the gospel. Colleen | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 124 Registered: 12-2004 |
Thank-you Colleen | ||
| Patriar Registered user Username: Patriar Post Number: 212 Registered: 3-2005 |
Well, we literally JUST got home and are completely amazed at how wonderful this weekend was. I had my hopes high and the entire weekend far exceeded them. The presence of the Holy Spirit was profound. My husband and I left there anticipating the next one! If you were praying for this weekend,THANK YOU and your prayers were answered! God worked in so many wonderful ways. At the meeting Saturday night, there was a group of rather beligerent question"ers" but what was so incredible was that as they asked their questions, the room was filled with such a sense of peace; the Holy Spirit was so palpable at that moment. As Colleen pointed out, darkness hates the light. I pray that they will come to see the light and love it as we do. We were touched by the sincerity of Pastors Taylor, Ratzlaff and Martin. Every one of them had tears in their eyes and voices as they recounted the grace experiences they've had. It was powerful. I've been just plain giddy to have met so many people who have been such a major part of our support group out of Adventism. Brian (freeatlast), Cy (I didn't know that was you, Guy!), Stan, Rick and Sheryl, Colleen and Richard, and of course the pastors and there were so many others. Stan, I too was struck by the many 'mature' folks that were there. It thrilled my soul to see that they have found their joy in Jesus. So many have lived years and years in the bondage of leagalism. What a blessing! Pastor and Mrs. Inrig were wonderful! What a blessing. They are so passionate about the Word and reading it for what it says even if it doesn't agree with my pre-conceived notions. What a testimony to all Christians, not just Adventists! I agree Guy, that Elizabeth Inrig's presentation on inductive/deductive Bible study was really good. How blessed we are to be studying the Bible for what it says. That brings me to another highlight of my weekend: Jan Brantley pointed out that we can come out of Adventism with a sense of "OK...NOW I'm right" and be closed to new Truth as He would reveal it to us. She was pointing out the significance of always seeking God's Truth. There's no way to thank Trinity church for the time and energy they put into this weekend. I must put a plug in for Roy Tinker! What a great pianist! We really enjoyed his part in the music...and all of the other musicians as well. If you weren't able to make it this year, never fear...join me in begging Colleen and Richard to plan another FAF weekend for next year!  Patria |
