I Love the UPCI - Page 36

NotforSale · #**351** 08-21-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

Red Paragraph: This is EXACTLY what I've been talking about but so far, you're just not hearing me. You're opposed to it. As a faithful, attending, tithe-paying, enthusiastic support of your local assembly, you are allowed to oppose it. But I wasn't!!! THIS is the side of the UPC that many of us have been crying out about and this is the systematic problem of which I speak. You see, after spending a lifetime in the fellowship, I also was opposed to the Affirmation Statement. You know what it got me??? Lifetime banishment!! As a result of that I and my family LOST EVERYTHING!!!! I even ended up homeless and had to find various people to live with. For you, it's a moral objection. For me??? It was life. And it was the result of a systematic dogma that was WAY out of bounds! Again, you get to stick your head in the sand, occasionally voice your concerns. Me? I also voiced my concerns by not signing something I morally, ethically, and spiritually couldn't sign. And it cost me everything I had.

Mr. Smith, please don't ever leave this Forum. If this place loses candid testimonies such as yours, the galvanized concept of the Apostolic Church will continue.

Saying what you've said is not only of vital necessity because it’s the Truth, but this will help countless people to come forward who are afraid to open up and be honest.

ILG · #**352** 08-21-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

QUOTE=NotforSale;953573ILG, your transparency on this Forum is such a blessing. Those of us, who step out on that limb, take chances.

Thank you NSF. I was quite surprised to be told my transparency is a blessing. I guess in the back of my mind I have believed I must be doing some good, but I have been called so many names and beaten down so much that it makes a person wonder. I have a question for you and anyone else who would care to answer. I have toyed around with writing a book about my experiences. I think it would be worthwhile for some people but I am not sure about the personal cost of writing such a thing. I am not sure I would want to step into that arena. Another part of me keeps thinking about it. I would be interested in your take on such an idea.

Quote:

People try to blend everyone into one pot, saying we all suffer in basically the same way. This is so untrue. I honestly believe that most people within the UPC, and may I reiterate, most, not all, have no idea what goes on in the political realm of our "Religion". This keeps people ignorant and unlearned to the Truth. There are studies that claim the Ministry as the most stressful occupation in this Nation, but people sitting on the pew don't know or understand this.

One time a good friend of mine was stunned when I told him what my wife and I had been through. He said, "I thought the Ministry would be such a peaceful job." I about fell out of my chair. I realized that the mainstay of Church folks have a galvanized view of those who sit on platforms. In fact, this has caused me to be very candid to our Church of who I am and how I suffer. I have made it an absolute conviction to remind the people I am human, and to stop thinking otherwise.

Another big problem is, when a Minister "Falls", or "Backslides", congregations are led to believe things that are smothered with saving the FACE of the UPCI. I have never once heard the UPCI admit error in judgment when dealing with falling brethren. They just kick them while they are down and label them as Heretics, just like the Catholic Church has done throughout the Centuries. It's the only way to keep the "Sheep" calm. If error is admitted, the bottom would fall out, and those in power know this.

We claim we love people, but when Ministers or congregants go through a dark time in their life, the Witch Hunt begins and the innocent are sent to the gallows. Like I've said countless times on this Forum, the UPCI is just another Religion. That's where the buck stops, period. We are no different than any of them. We kill the weak and fail to remember that forgiveness is a far deeper concept with God than what we give Him credit for.

The birthing of our Religious downfall starts here: "We have the TRUTH!" When this becomes the forthright dogma of any Faith, and a great following develops, those in control will do anything but admit "We now know". Just like what happened to Galileo.

Yeah, no one has a corner on the market.

Cindy · #**353** 08-21-2010, 06:27 PM

OOPS, wrong thread.

NotforSale · #**354** 08-21-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Didn't you post that picture? I seem to remember someone doing that. LOL!

Pressing On, every now and then I look at a person's post count.

28,456=about 24 posts a day for the last 3 and a half years!!!

Uh, like, um, WOW!

Pressing-On · #**355** 08-21-2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotforSale

Pressing On, every now and then I look at a person's post count.

28,456=about 24 posts a day for the last 3 and a half years!!!

Uh, like, um, WOW!

Wow is right!!! Fortunately, I'm not long winded like you, so it's easy to put out 24 one or two sentence posts.

NotforSale · #**356** 08-22-2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Wow is right!!! Fortunately, I'm not long winded like you, so it's easy to put out 24 one or two sentence posts.

You know, I thought about that when I was figuring the numbers. If I broke down my posts, I'd be with the big hitters!!

Is there an ALL TIME KING or QUEEN poster on AFF?

Pressing-On · #**357** 08-22-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotforSale

You know, I thought about that when I was figuring the numbers. If I broke down my posts, I'd be with the big hitters!!

Is there an ALL TIME KING or QUEEN poster on AFF?

LOL! Glad you noticed that.

But, seriously, I don't consider anyone a "big hitter" or more important than anyone else. We all have opinions and things we want to share. I never pay attention to someone's post count. I've never seen the importance or significance in it.

Tina · #**358** 08-22-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Wow is right!!! Fortunately, I'm not long winded like you, so it's easy to put out 24 one or two sentence posts.

Especially when someone starts talking about shoes.

NotforSale · #**359** 08-22-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tina

Especially when someone starts talking about shoes.

Tina, we have a woman in our Church who has hundreds of pairs of shoes. I was asking her about this a few weeks ago, and she told me a quick story. Recently, she went to the shoe store and just HAD to have this one pair. She gets the cash together, going to the store, purchasing this something she couldn't live without.

Later, as she was rummaging through her endless supply of shoes, she found, and you might have guessed it, the same pair of shoes she couldn't live without. We enjoyed a pretty good laugh over this one.

Pressing-On · #**360** 08-22-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tina

Especially when someone starts talking about shoes.

LOL! Or posting Christmas decoration image ideas? So bored with that now! Remember that year? Renda said I posted, I think, 5,000 images. LOL! I still don't believe it.

But, really, I never understood what the big deal was on the post count. It's not a big deal to me. I mean, it's not like I'm the governor of any state or getting paid for what I do. LOL!