5 Things AFF Doesn't Know About Me!

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Margies3

ILG, I think there is alot that could be learned by alot of us from reading your post. For those in positions of authority especially, I would hope that they would read and feel your pain and understand that there are changes that could be made to prevent this from happening to someone else. I appreciate your courage in sharing this with all of us. I feel sure that it was not an easy thing to re-live as you were writing it.

Thanks, Margie. No, it isn't easy to share, but I do hope that it does help somebody. I think probably because of my childhood, I was consistently looking for compassion from someone in authority and I never did find it. The lesson I learned was: quit looking. I'm sorry to all those that think I'm just being negative. Spilling my guts here always leaves me open to criticism of some type. I did write the negative stuff because I think that is what needs to be focused on.

[rgcraig]

ILG,

You will never know who might be reading this and realize they aren't out there by themselves.

[ILG]

Good things to add:

I directed a number of kids plays in the first church I was at and we had a great time!

I developed in vocals quite a bit there and in preaching and so did my husband.

I learned to play the piano.

My pastor steered me away from home-schooling for which I am glad.

We got some great houses there, the first one our pastor pointed out to us as a repo and we took it from there. God really blessed us with both houses.

I had a nice cleaning job that paid well. My husband's job paid relatively well.

When we were in Home Missions, we had our own businesses and we got a house on some acreage and that was a dream come true!

My kids are good kids. They need socialization but they are good kids.

My husband has a great job now. I have a good one.

God helped us out financially many times.

I saw many miracles similar to the roses and building ones.

A guy that owned a trailer sales place sold us a double-wide at cost simply because we pastored!

A couple pastors gave us some pews.

Some people from our old church painted our sign.

We have a couple of UPC pastor friends that are near and dear to our hearts and went through a lot of stuff with us.

My old pastor did help us during the lawsuit with some dealings with the district.

There!

[ILG]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

ILG,

You will never know who might be reading this and realize they aren't out there by themselves.

Thanks Renda. That is what I want to do....let people know they are not alone. Just as I ministered to those in my first church, who I didn't want them to feel alone, I don't want others to feel alone. And I also want the authorities to know and understand that not everyone has a support base just because they are doing God's work. Mostly, I think people who come in from the outside do not have a support base and if someone doesn't fill in that gap, it just never gets filled. Then, every single thing that goes haywire feels much worse than it may have otherwise, because there is no one to talk to to get advice from or tell you that things will be okay.

So, things get lodged there inside, and it gets even worse when those you should be able to talk to encourage you to deny what is happening to you and put on a good show so no one has to look at the mess. So, perhaps I am too passionate sometimes about pointing out the mess, but somebody has to do it because those going through it most often have no voice and those who are not going through it don't need one. It's being in pain and having no voice that hurts the most and believe me, they are out there. Home Missionaries have repeatedly told me these same stories over and over. And then, the last church we were at, I look at as sort of a fluke, with all the strange pieces of a puzzle all fitting together in a warped and wierd sort of way. I don't view the last church that we were at as normacly in the UPC. I think it was just tragic and there are some churches like that but not most.

[Blubayou]

ILG- I really enjoyed reading your story- I am sorry for rough times you had in the UPC- I can relate to many of your experiences, some of them I have lived through, some I have lived through with friend of mine. I guess the one thought I had while reading your story is that our service is unto the Lord- our rewards will come from Him not man. I know that the UPC is a political organization- I have struggled with that- but any human organization will be political- I think you were very idealistic and were not prepared to deal with the politics of the organization. Not an accusation, just an observation.
As a result of another thread you started, I have been studying generational sins, and what the Bible says about it. One thing I have discovered is that forgiveness is a major key to breaking the chains of generational sins. I do know there is great liberty in forgiveness.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Blubayou

ILG- I really enjoyed reading your story- I am sorry for rough times you had in the UPC- I can relate to many of your experiences, some of them I have lived through, some I have lived through with friend of mine. I guess the one thought I had while reading your story is that our service is unto the Lord- our rewards will come from Him not man. I know that the UPC is a political organization- I have struggled with that- but any human organization will be political- I think you were very idealistic and were not prepared to deal with the politics of the organization. Not an accusation, just an observation.
As a result of another thread you started, I have been studying generational sins, and what the Bible says about it. One thing I have discovered is that forgiveness is a major key to breaking the chains of generational sins. I do know there is great liberty in forgiveness.

I have no doubt that this it true. Having come from a dysfunctional background and being told that this was it! This is what I was looking for! I think that idealism was painted into my brain only to have reality take it away. I watched people explain every sin away that was committed by their UPC relatives but mine were still all going to hell and they're relatives were not. It was very hypocritical. Please understand, I am not saying all UPC people are bad by any means. There are many wonderful UPC people who really love God. But this was my experience.

[Pressing-On]

Thanks for sharing, ILG!! Brings back a lot of memories for me over the past 23 years! I wanted to put out a lengthy piece by comparison, but it's over and I don't want to think about it anymore. In every horrible situation, God came to me and gave me a scripture or song for direction and hope. I learned more about how HE protects me and that I will not fear what man will do unto me.

I learned that His written Word means what it says and it is very powerful. I wanted to go point by point and then show what He taught me in every situation, but I just don't want to look back anymore.

One scripture He gave me to stand on in a horrible church situation in Psalms - "He has showed me his marvelous kindness in a strong city"!

When He brings deliverance - He brings it!!!! I stand amazed at His power - His mercy and forgiveness - His still small voice that makes us strong!!!

I am honored and blessed that He chose to pull me out of the world and dwell in me.

[Pressing-On]

I have danced in Mexico.

If the screen on my cell phone isn't clean, probably from hand lotion, and I don't have a handkerchief in my purse to clean it - I lick the screen and wipe it on my skirt!

[StillStanding]

I had a friend who sent me this quote, which I think applies:

"One should absorb the colour of life, but one should never remember the details. Details are always vulgar." -Oscar Wilde

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Mr. Steinway

I had a friend who sent me this quote, which I think applies:

"One should absorb the colour of life, but one should never remember the details. Details are always vulgar." -Oscar Wilde

Ain't that the truth. LOL.

LW called me a "sadist" when I tried out for the chorale in 1978.