Obey Them that Rule???

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

Coop:

You are a great guitar player.

You sing pretty well.

They aren't really my style, but you are a gifted songwriter.

But when it comes to telling me what I really "MEANT [sic]," you don't cut the mustard.

Thanks for playing.

I totally find that awesome you did not want to be UPC and some-one influenced your thinking to go against your better judgment!

There is hope after all.

I have a new found respect for you today.

Originally Posted by Ferd

I am a bit late having had work and such....

but i belive the key word is "submit" thus, you need to find someone you can place confidence in.

this notion that the current church model is the problem, seems to me to be an excuse for not submitting to another human being. I dont understand that.

I disagree. It isn't about whether YOU can place confidence in some local assembly, it's about where GOD commands you to go. You have no say in the matter.

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Actually, I thought perhaps you had mistyped. That was the reason for my "huh". God has never done anything bad to me. When things go badly (and they have many, many times), I don't blame Him. He's the one who has helped me through those times. I can't really even wrap my mind around your thoughts, and I'm not holding your honesty against you. It really just doesn't compute. I was raised by parents who never had it good, who lost people they loved, who went through many painful experiences, who were never rich, and who, so long as they were saved, never held those things against God.

I don't think its good to even voice those kinds of thoughts, but to rather rebuke them, when you feel them rising up within you.

Ok, you added to this after I already replied. You are right, there is no way that you could possibly understand
my thoughts or the hopelessness of my situation.

But I can say this, if God can't handle my honesty. Then he's not God.

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I think this is what has always kept me...because my submission to my elders, to my husband, to my parents, to whomever else...IS ultimately submission to God, since He's the one who set up the "chain of command." !!!!!!

Bingo. We have a winner!

I can look back now and know that there have been times if I had done what I wanted to do, rather than what my pastor or elders advised me to do, I would have likely made shipwreck.

[Theresa]

did someone say submit to our husbands?

oh my word...

lemme off this ride

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Michlow

Then you should be extremely thankful!

Goodness, Michlow. I hope you don't think that my life is a bed of roses. You have no idea. But the truth is, we could all write a long list of hardships. Some more than others.

There is a woman in our church (an older woman), whose husband is suffering from colon cancer (and has been in and out of remission and chemo and radiation, etc, for over two years). Her son died about a year and a half ago from the same type of cancer. Her granddaughter has diabetes and is often sick and in the hospital. Her grandson-in-law died last year from unknown causes. Her first son was killed years back in a motorcycle accident. She herself has been weak, and had trouble with her hip, including surgery (I believe that is accurate). And yet, in all that, she continues to raise her hands in church and thank God for His goodness and she praises Him and testifies about Him at every opportunity. She always has a word of encouragement for me. I have heard her express pain, but never place blame on God for the troubles her family has endured.

This is just one example, but there are so many people who hold fast to God, and simply PUT their trust and faith in Him, no matter what, that it is difficult to comprehend how anyone with less troubles could not do the same. Job said, "Though He SLAY me, YET will I trust in Him." Job was stating his personal CHOICE on the matter.

My father used to read me a children's book called "It Could Be Worse." He read it to me quite often, and he would also read it to folks who came in for "counselling." No matter what happens to us, there is almost always someone else who has had it worse.

Actually you are most likely right. Though I must point out, that I do as much as possible submit to God, even without trusting Him. If you believe that is even possible.

Of course its possible. But I believe that trust is a choice we make, not a feeling we have. I choose to trust God, even when I don't understand Him. That means that I have peace, even when I don't possess happiness, because He's the one directing my steps, and the burden is not on my shoulders.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Michlow

Ok, you added to this after I already replied. You are right, there is no way that you could possibly understand
my thoughts or the hopelessness of my situation.

But I can say this, if God can't handle my honesty. Then he's not God.

Michlow, God can handle anything. It's not about whether He can "handle" your honesty.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Chan

You go to him and discuss it with him.

What a novel idea.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by COOPER

I totally find that awesome you did not want to be UPC and some-one influenced your thinking to go against your better judgment!

There is hope after all.

I have a new found respect for you today.

Cooper, your disrespect and flippance cause you to lack credibility. If you really want to be heard and understood, you should try leaving out the sarcasm and smart-alecky comments every now and then.

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

What a novel idea.

For many, it does seem to be a novel idea.