| Author | Message | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 320 Registered: 12-2004 |
This year the the Church I have been attending is putting on a wonderful presentation as they have For many years. As this is my second Christmas free from the bondage of our forefathers, it is with great joy that I anticipate the wonderful Christmas Production that hundreds have been preparing for months. At Trinity Baptist in Kelowna BC we will be having 5 services to accommodate the 10-12,000 who will attend. I have taken it on as a opportunity to invite my dear Adventist friends and family to this presentation. So far I have written 25 personal cards inviting then to a Lively, Joyful Celebration of the birth of our Saviour. I have about 10 more cards to do tomorrow. Please pray as I hand deliver these tomorrow that the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of those who need to see the Joy and Excitement that Christanity can be. One of the services is conveniently on Dec 23 at 6pm and I noted that some could actually call this a "VESPERS" and get away with it. I hope the SDA Pastor at least sees the humor in it. THese folks are all dear souls and friends of mine and I am giving the Holy Spirit the opportunity to breakdown some barriers. If only one person comes away with a blessing and a new and broader understanding of theGreater Body of Christ,my time and effort will be more than compensated. I only want someone in bondage to sense the spiritual freedom I have found. May God draw near to the 35 families who receive this invitation. Lord thy will be done. Your prayers for this endeavor are solicited and appreciated, Randy | ||
| Aliza Registered user Username: Aliza Post Number: 137 Registered: 8-2006 |
Go for it! Looking back, I see that all such Christmas programs that I attended while SDA did plant seeds of cognitive dissonance that I pushed down for a long time. Last Saturday night I attended a Christmas program put on by a very small church. I was wondering how they were going to pull something off given the small size of the congregation. Actually, they were extremely competent musicians. They chose to modernize the Christmas story in order to view it as more meaningful to someone unchurched. But the big thing was the absolute joy that radiated from the choir and those involved. That glow of passionate love for Jesus was primarily missing from all the SDA programs I've ever attended. The place was packed out for both times they had the program. Then they fed people afterwards in order to meet the community. This program will have a lot of seeds planted as a result of their faithful ministry. Wow, Randy, 10-12k. That's just so great! I pray that those you've contacted are drawn by the Holy Spirit to attend. Aliza | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 261 Registered: 9-2006  |
could someone give me a rundown on what you mean by cognitive dissonance I have heard the term used may times on here but haven't the foggiest of what you mean by it. Thanks. River | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 678 Registered: 7-2004  |
Maybe someone can give a better definition, but to me cognitive dissonance is "things not adding up" and yet the person who believes contradictory information has a hard time putting their finger on what the problem is. A concrete example is that for many of us, we knew (maybe heard/suspected are better words than knew) for years that we were saved by faith alone, and yet we thought we had to keep the Sabbath too, or we knew that somehow didn't quite fit with the traditional SDA Investigative Judgment doctrine. | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 623 Registered: 1-2003  |
River, I'm sure others will give you a better definition but for me it means: The pieces of the "picture" are not fitting together harmoniously. IE: The pieces of my spiritual "picture" learned as an SDA do not fit what I'm learning as I study scripture and learn from those in the "Christian Church" I'm exposed to in the REAL world. [lack of mental harmony]  In Him, Richard rtruitt@mac.com | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 262 Registered: 9-2006 |
well, hey Raven, thanks for clewing me in now I know what I had a case of ever since I started trying to figure out Advent-ism, least I know its not chicken pox or dementia or other onsets of the creeping crud. Right now by node id till topped up an i'm goig to ged a glass of wader, take an adperin and cadd myself in the mornig. Riber | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 263 Registered: 9-2006 |
Back atcha Richard, thanks. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 264 Registered: 9-2006 |
Randyg, I will certainly keep your congregation in my prayers, there were one or two people who came to Christ through our program this year. we have a small congregation in a small community. River | ||
| Stevendi Registered user Username: Stevendi Post Number: 22 Registered: 10-2006 |
River, The classic analogy for cognitive dissonance I had in college classes was the smoker who, well aware of the dangerous outcome of his/her behavior, continues to "wallow" in the pleasures of the vice. Years ago, as a smoking respiratory therapist who lost many patient friends to it, I finally got fed up with the incongruity of it all (not to mention the hyprocrisy) and made changes to a better lifestyle. Okay, I can't resist: I used to work very hard to "keep" saturday as a required day of rest in order to feel accepted by a Savior who died that I might live without religious addiction. About 2 years ago, I made changes to a better spiritual life. Steve | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 76 Registered: 1-2006  |
This sounds like a praise session getting started! I spent years struggling with "cognitive dissonance" BUT. . . Praise God! So thankful for the Lord Jesus!! Bob | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 328 Registered: 12-2004 |
Dear friends, I would like to thank you for your prayers regarding the invitations I sent out to friends and family inviting them to the Trinity Baptist Christmas Eve program. My family and I attended the first presentation on Saturday night the 23rd, and from where I sat, I saw 22 of my Adventist friends and family who accepted my invitation, and there might have been a few more in the balcony. I received a call from some dear friends that made it to one of the programs on the 24th. What a wonderful program it was, and I emailed Tim the pastor, and thanked him for his wonderful presentation of the Gospel and the kind and welcoming atmosphere his church provided. It was a joy to share my worship experience with my friends who have been wondering whatever happened to that guy when he left Adventism. God does break down barriers, and the Holy Spirit can impress on people's heart that some stereotypes so long held are manmade, and not of God. I believe that everybody who left that service was moved by the joy and authenticity found there. I praise God for His goodness tonight. Randy | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 427 Registered: 4-2006  |
Randy, Great! | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 79 Registered: 1-2006 |
Praise the Lord, Randy! Yes, God does break down barriers. Thanks for sharing. Bob | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3191 Registered: 3-2004  |
Randyg, Praise God that your SDA friends went to the Christmas program. I have put and your friends on my prayer list. Thanks for sharing. Diana | ||
| Qweary Registered user Username: Qweary Post Number: 20 Registered: 3-2004 |
Am breaking in and hoping to snag Randyg's attention. I saw that you are in Kelowna, BC? My nephew is a former SDA and a dentist there. I think he would be interested in my posting on a FAFForum. We used to have some discussions when I was teaching in SDA schools. (in fact, he was in one of my elementary classes in his third year.) Wish he could find it in his heart to bring his sweet family to JESUS! My brother (a strong SDA)just had a stroke in Will's home and has gone home to CA. Am praying earnestly that this experience will help both families to turn to our Savior ALL the way!! If you, Randyg, do happen to meet him. pass on my love in your own Spirit-led way. I hesitate to give out his name, but if you would ask Colleen to give you my EMail address,I'm sure she would. His last initial is Ga. God bless you!!! and all the posters on this FAFForum!!! Am lurking mostly and am encouraged by your "holy boldness!" Am getting closer and closer to taking that final step of total freedom. 6 generations of strong SDAism are hard to cut off. FAMILY PRIDE is at stake!! Help! Haven't attended a SDA church for 12 years, (it helps to live FAR away from everybody!!)but have been urged to go with a former PUC classmate (who moved close by)to hear another PUCite give a talk about his missionary experiences. I KNOW why they are asking us!!! Pray for us! (Praise Jesus!) Love y'all already!!! Qweary (80 yrs young) | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3203 Registered: 3-2004 |
Qweary, you and your family are on my prayer list. God is doing awesome things in all our lives, some of which we can see and lots that we cannot. He does answer our prayers though. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5156 Registered: 12-2003  |
Dear Qweary, I love seeing you here! Praying for you... Colleen | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 336 Registered: 12-2004 |
Dear Qweary, I would love to hear from you. You can reach me at bflatbrass@hotmail.com. Feel free to contact me directly. Randy Gerber | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 775 Registered: 7-2004 |
Dear Qweary, What a sweet spirit you have. I will be praying for you and for your family. God is using you in a mighty way, I am sure, through your love for Jesus. When the time is right for you to walk away, you will know because of the peace He will give you. It is unmistakeable. Everything is always in His timing. I will also be praying for Randy that he will be given the opportunity to touch the life of your nephew. Denise |
