Changing Denominations

[Falla39]

I'm reminded of the chorus of an old song from many years ago.

Where could I go, Oh, where could I go;
Needing a refuge for my soul.
Needing a friend to save me in the end,
Where could I go but to the Lord.

There have been times I have gone through
difficult situations and there have been hurts,
wounds and distress. But I learned after awhile
that there was only One who could work out
every problem, heal every wound, take away
the pain and could fill my heart and soul with HIS
love and peace. Even toward those who had inflicted
the wounds, caused the pain. He worked out the
problems and relieved my distress. Jesus took it all away
and I could easily pray for those who had caused the pain.
I could love as He loved, even after some time, even forget
it ever happened. And when painful situations came their
way, I could pray with love and compassion for them. Only
because of His love, mercy and grace.

He was wounded for my transgressions. He was bruised
for my iniquities, The chastisement of our peace was
upon Him and and with His stripes we are healed.
He bore my sorrow in His own body on the tree (Calvary).

He paid the price for these things. He can take care of
them because He took the pain for us. He paid it all, all
to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washes white
as snow.

But we have to give it to Him and allow Him to do the
settling, the judging. He judges righteously, in mercy. He is the
One who said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain
(it will be there for you, when we need it.) mercy. And we ALL
need HIS mercy. If we haven't yet felt our need of His mercy,
never fear, we will.

Take your burdens (whatever they consist of), your sorrow, your
pain. hurts, wounds to Him and Him alone. Take them to the LORD
and LEAVE them there.

Blessings,

Falla39

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Michlow

I won an Award? Me????

I feel like Sally Fields at the Oscars

"You Like me! You really like me!"

Don't be real impressed there's something in there about manure! LOL!

[TRFrance]

Wow.
I tried to read through the whole thread, but just couldnt even bring myself to finish it.

There's a lot of sadness and bitterness reflected in some of these posts.
Quite unfortunate.

[Apprehended]

You picked a fine time to leave me Lucielle, four little young 'un and the cotton in the field.

[James Griffin]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Old habits are difficult to break. You have to replace them with good ones. I am working on that. How about a 6 month sabbatical?

Rhoni

Probably a good idea sis.

If I had the money I can think of a few people I would fly to a common place for a foot washing and communion service.

There is an underlying assumption that she is referring to a UPCI church, in fact it was independent.

The "practice" she referred to had nothing to do with standards.

And she is not rehashing the past, it is something that happened last week.

Unfortunately, for better or worse some consider this place family and throw it out there.

I am actually proud of her for NOT going into the details...

Rhoni, I am only addressing this once in public and then will try to keep it to phone and email...

Good thoughts, wrong media.

You have friends, good friends who will do their best to be there for you.

I am glad you have discovered transparency, but even so time and place.

Will be in prayer for your healing and search for guidance and direction.

[Neck]

Originally Posted by 2020Vision

Well maybe we need to do a better job because they can't explain Gen 1:2, which by the way is a Scripture a Trinitarian theologian would never use to explain the trinity.

My father graduated from Zion bible college after 1 year. Because he was teaching the teachers.

It was not until my dad talked to a rabbi in New York that he understood the original Hebrew.

The local AOG church uses that passage in their track.

"The Oneness heracy".

My dad whille debating himself on the oneness and trinity uses the scripture and explains how trinty preachers make a mistake using the scripture.

Every ongoing debate I have engaged with a trinitarian uses it...

So I am not clear of your position on them not using it...

I am out of this thread.

[Sister Alvear]

´For some reason I feel very sad...

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

It is time. I have tried, tried, fought it and fought it but kept doing the same things over and over again. I am no longer Pentecostal/Apostolic. A good friend told me, not too long ago in fact, that I should join a Methodist church and forget about it. Well, a Methodist I am not, but I am now officially..."A Christian".

Blessings, Rhoni

Welcome to the club, Rhoni.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

There are multiple reasons why. I choose to look at things progressionally. God leads us to higher levels of revelation in him as we mature in relationship with God.

I am a very difficult person to change but when you have banged your head against a wall for several decades then it is time to listen to God and change.

If you want more specific than that you might look around you and the saints that go to your church and see how much is just "fitting into the societal structure" and what is truly of God.

Blessings, Rhoni

Rhoni,

It's a very, very difficult thing to do. Don't beat yourself up for banging your head on the wall. It's what you have been taught to do and retraining may take a lifetime.

[JaneEyre]

I may be too tired to express this clearly but here goes…How I see Rhoni:

Rhoni is honest enough to admit that she doesn’t have it all figured out and she’s still trying to figure out how she fits into the body of Christ. (Sometimes she even questions if Jesus Christ still cares about her and if she is still in the body of Christ.) Coming here to express those feelings seems like an injudicious decision to us…. To Rhoni, it is one of her ways of crying out for help. That transparency she’s always exhibiting allows others to see her pain, along with her frustrations and acrid feelings at times. Most of all we see her spiritual scars but we can’t see or ever know all of the true causes of those. At times she picks at them and they continue to bleed. We don’t know how hard it was and is for her to heal. There are days that she feels that being attacked, being recognized by others, any type of acknowledgment of being can be better than no one reaching out to her.

She wants answers in situations to which sometimes the answer is that there is no answer – at least not one in the realm we can understand. Rhoni is truly a SEEKER. Whether we agree with her about everything or not, we must agree she’s not content to be a non-Seeker. Are we told to seek? God’s not worried about our questions. He has the answers because He is the answer. How can He feel anything but delight when we work to seek out our own soul’s salvation as he commanded? That’s not an option. We were given minds to use them. Not to be clones.

Look at John the Baptist when he was thrown into prison he sent disciples to ask, “Art thou the Christ or do we look for another?” …What if some of Jesus’ followers had been the ones who had thrown John into prison? Wouldn’t it have made the hurt even greater? Sometimes it is those who are our own “brothers and sisters” who throw us into prison merely because they have been given the charge and are trying to please others. Sometimes we put ourselves into prison and blame others. (Not referring to Rhoni in the latter sentence.)

Peter questioned. Mary and Martha questioned…. Thomas questioned – but he changed his mind when he saw the scars. That’s one thing I’ve taught myself to say, “Look at the scars”…. Jesus’ scars were made for me and they were made for you, Rhoni and Lady Coonskinner and all of us!…. Those that Jesus loved and gave Himself for put those scars there.

People will give us “the scars” but looking at the scars of Jesus will give us the remembrance that He suffered, died, arose and continues to forgive. What kind of scars did Jesus have emotionally? They must have been greater than any scars that could be seen in His hands and feet. Even in His humanity, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God why has thou forsaken Me?” Somehow we must love those who don’t love us back. All of us are abrasive at times. All of us say things we wish we had not said. In the finality of our lives we realize it’s all about Love and Forgiveness. God grant us the ability to love as never before. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Both versions sound good to me!

If I have offended anyone, forgive me. Let's pray for each other.