I pray you find the place of stability and balance that will satisfy your soul!
Ouch. That stung a little
Of course, my skin is a little thin and sensitive right now, as I have had many bombs tossed at me over the past couple days.
So as I am feeling a little drained, I am going to cheat a little and cut and paste something that I wrote in the Obey them thread yesterday, I think it addresses the pendulum thing fairly well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michlow
Thank you Felicity. I believe that too. Yes, I have issues, lots of them! And I avoided dealing with them for a very very long time. They started to surface when I originally found FCF, some of you might remember that. And then, I got tired of the dealing with it. I thought if I could just squish myself back into the same mindset that I had when I was first saved. When I believed everything I was told, and did everything I was told, and didn't question anything. Well, then I would be happy and comfortable again.
Guess how well that worked? I really tried, but I couldn't silence the questions or the doubts. It was on New Year's day when it came to a head. I was sitting on my bed, with my Bible, just kinda thumbing through. And of a sudden all the questions, all the apparent contradictions all the things that didn't make sense came boiling to the surface. And I just started to cry and said "God, I really don't think its supposed to be so hard! Why do we make it so hard? Nothing makes sense anymore and I can't stand it!"
And I prayed for a while I had a realization. I didn't care about standards, I didn't care about church or its programs, or tithing, or the role of women, or even doctrine. Because all of that junk had completely clouded my view of Jesus, and I didn't even know who he was anymore. Was he the harsh judge that was just waiting for me to show I wasn't "holy" enough so he could smite me? Was he the one that demanded absolute perfection? The one for whom nothing was ever enough?
At that moment, I made a New year's resolution, that the rest of that stuff could go in the garbage for all I cared. All I wanted to know is "Who is Jesus?"
So for right now, Yes, I do think that the rest of that stuff is unimportant. All that matters is my quest to find out Who He is. After that...well...who knows...
Oooh....going all WWOD and pulling out the big words
Seriously, I used to feel soooooo much pressure in that area. I would meet someone, a lost someone, and my immediate thoughts would be, OK, this person is LOST. I need to get them saved. Repent, Baptized, and filled with the Holy Ghost, and living right. Immediately, I would invite them to church or try to get them in a Bible study.
Not exactly bad, except that people always seemed to sense that my only goal was to save their soul, and people don't much appreciate that.
I guess now, I just try to be their friend, and try to show them Jesus, because if they are not interested in Him, how to be saved is a moot point.
I would love to agree with you Mich, but then people will try to counsel me too... so I will just repeat the mantra that you should be in church, girl! 17.5 times a week!
I would love to agree with you Mich, but then people will try to counsel me too... so I will just repeat the mantra that you should be in church, girl! 17.5 times a week!
BRAD!!!!!!!!!!
It's good to see you!
I was just thinking about you the other day, wondering what you were up to.
As for agreeing with me, well, if you agree with me, on top of Coop sticking up for me a few times, well I think my reputation will be COMPLETELY destroyed!
I was just thinking about you the other day, wondering what you were up to.
As for agreeing with me, well, if you agree with me, on top of Coop sticking up for me a few times, well I think my reputation will be COMPLETELY destroyed!
lol, I've only made one serious post here, and it got zero responses, so I think they mostly ignore me now unless I am just being my witty and charming self. I am trying not to post on any of the threads where people are showing their "Savonarola" spirit.
lol, I've only made one serious post here, and it got zero responses, so I think they mostly ignore me now unless I am just being my witty and charming self. I am trying not to post on any of the threads where people are showing their "Savonarola" spirit.
Hey, thanks for helping me learn something new today. I had to look up "savonarola", but found it quite educational! Feel free to check out the "obey them that rule??" thread, as I could use some help from a fellow rebel
Hey, thanks for helping me learn something new today. I had to look up "savonarola", but found it quite educational! Feel free to check out the "obey them that rule??" thread, as I could use some help from a fellow rebel
I ran across him a couple of years ago and found some parallels that were astonishing. I'll stay out of your other thread, because I don't think I can play nice anymore... but trust, me I read every word in every thread like that...
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