Changing Denominations

[Pressing-On]

Rhoni,
Just getting around to posting this. I had you on my mind Wednesday night driving to church.

I left home February of my Senior year being that I had enough credits to graduate at that point. I came back in May to participate in the graduation ceremonies. Other than that, through the years, I have rarely gone back to the place where I grew up. So many things and people I never wanted to see again.

This past Saturday my husband and I drove down for my niece's wedding. I saw so many people that were a part of my life growing up, people I graduated with, my father's family, etc.

Wednesday night on the way to church the thought rushed over me that I had walked away from the very people that loved me the most. I'm not saying it was all bad to walk away. It was necessary, at that time, for me to go away and find my own life.

Now that time and circumstance has taken place - I have changed, some of the people have changed, and I feel like everything I felt was lost had been put back to rights. I feel really happy after all these years.

Just wanted to share that with you!

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Rhoni,
Just getting around to posting this. I had you on my mind Wednesday night driving to church.

I left home February of my Senior year being that I had enough credits to graduate at that point. I came back in May to participate in the graduation ceremonies. Other than that, through the years, I have rarely gone back to the place where I grew up. So many things and people I never wanted to see again.

This past Saturday my husband and I drove down for my niece's wedding. I saw so many people that were a part of my life growing up, people I graduated with, my father's family, etc.

Wednesday night on the way to church the thought rushed over me that I had walked away from the very people that loved me the most. I'm not saying it was all bad to walk away. It was necessary, at that time, for me to go away and find my own life.

Now that time and circumstance has taken place - I have changed, some of the people have changed, and I feel like everything I felt was lost had been put back to rights. I feel really happy after all these years.

Just wanted to share that with you!

Very good perspective PO!

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Rhoni,
Just getting around to posting this. I had you on my mind Wednesday night driving to church.

I left home February of my Senior year being that I had enough credits to graduate at that point. I came back in May to participate in the graduation ceremonies. Other than that, through the years, I have rarely gone back to the place where I grew up. So many things and people I never wanted to see again.

This past Saturday my husband and I drove down for my niece's wedding. I saw so many people that were a part of my life growing up, people I graduated with, my father's family, etc.

Wednesday night on the way to church the thought rushed over me that I had walked away from the very people that loved me the most. I'm not saying it was all bad to walk away. It was necessary, at that time, for me to go away and find my own life.

Now that time and circumstance has taken place - I have changed, some of the people have changed, and I feel like everything I felt was lost had been put back to rights. I feel really happy after all these years.

Just wanted to share that with you!

Originally Posted by Ron

Very good perspective PO!

Dear PO & Ron,
I have made peace with my past UPCI roots and I am fine with all that. It was James Griffin, I think, who stated that this was not a past issue nor was it with UPCI.

An evangelist who withdrew from UPCI two years ago began a church under another organizational umbrella. The church was 1 mile from where I was living. When I refused to sign a document of affirmation to support, obey, and honor the Pastor without questioning...he told the lady I was living with to ask me to leave as I had a contentious spirit [because I would not sign that document]. The lady was a new convert and you know how they are - they worship the Pastor they come to know Christ under, and think they are God. I not only was alienated from the church but asked to leave the home that I had just moved into in December.

It is just my thought...who is going to make up the difference in her mortgage now that i am leaving? I am sure that Pastor won't be paying it. The only reason I moved in with her was to help her out financially and to get away from the apt. I lived in as I had been broken into twice.

As it is...I am glad to be gone from that church as God knew I couldn't take that. I am also in the process of buying a home closer to my job and God is taking care of me.

The funny thing is that I was accused of being "legalistic" by this new convert...LOL. she doesn't understand...yet.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Dear PO & Ron,
I have made peace with my past UPCI roots and I am fine with all that. It was James Griffin, I think, who stated that this was not a past issue nor was it with UPCI.

An evangelist who withdrew from UPCI two years ago began a church under another organizational umbrella. The church was 1 mile from where I was living. When I refused to sign a document of affirmation to support, obey, and honor the Pastor without questioning...he told the lady I was living with to ask me to leave as I had a contentious spirit [because I would not sign that document]. The lady was a new convert and you know how they are - they worship the Pastor they come to know Christ under, and think they are God. I not only was alienated from the church but asked to leave the home that I had just moved into in December.

It is just my thought...who is going to make up the difference in her mortgage now that i am leaving? I am sure that Pastor won't be paying it. The only reason I moved in with her was to help her out financially and to get away from the apt. I lived in as I had been broken into twice.

As it is...I am glad to be gone from that church as God knew I couldn't take that. I am also in the process of buying a home closer to my job and God is taking care of me.

The funny thing is that I was accused of being "legalistic" by this new convert...LOL. she doesn't understand...yet.

Blessings, Rhoni

Well, that wasn't the point I was making. It had nothing to do with church. Just a thought of how I've changed and come full circle being happier at this point in my life.

I was just wanting to share that with you.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Well, that wasn't the point I was making. It had nothing to do with church. Just a thought of how I've changed and come full circle being happier at this point in my life.

I was just wanting to share that with you.

PO,

I apologize if I misunderstood you. It appearred that you were stating, you had mellowed with age, and remembered the good times with friends and associates of your upbringing [UPCI]. You also enjoyed some reconcilliation with those people.

I do appreciate you sharing it with me...you know I appreciate you.

*hugs*
Rhoni

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

PO,

I apologize if I misunderstood you. It appearred that you were stating, you had mellowed with age, and remembered the good times with friends and associates of your upbringing [UPCI]. You also enjoyed some reconcilliation with those people.

I do appreciate you sharing it with me...you know I appreciate you.

*hugs*
Rhoni

I can see by some of my posts on this thread, to you, how easy it would be for you to misunderstood what I was saying. That would be a given.

I wanted to share how I was feeling with my husband, but I didn't want to cry on the way to church and walk in looking like we had been fighting or something. LOL! Most importantly, it was much too private and fresh to want to share at the moment.

Anyway, I thought of you in the midst of my musings and that's why I posted what I did. Perhaps it was the Lord's way of showing me that I don't understand everyone and everything. Sometimes our own pain, experiences, mistakes, etc. opens our eyes and hearts to others that are going through things.

I, therefore, apologize for my negative and probably insensitive remarks to you on this thread.

I hope this year to become better at understanding where people are coming from, no matter what words are spoken or what things look like.

God bless - praying for you on your journey.

[Bullwinkle]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Dear PO & Ron,
I have made peace with my past UPCI roots and I am fine with all that. It was James Griffin, I think, who stated that this was not a past issue nor was it with UPCI.

An evangelist who withdrew from UPCI two years ago began a church under another organizational umbrella. The church was 1 mile from where I was living. When I refused to sign a document of affirmation to support, obey, and honor the Pastor without questioning...he told the lady I was living with to ask me to leave as I had a contentious spirit [because I would not sign that document]. The lady was a new convert and you know how they are - they worship the Pastor they come to know Christ under, and think they are God. I not only was alienated from the church but asked to leave the home that I had just moved into in December.

It is just my thought...who is going to make up the difference in her mortgage now that i am leaving? I am sure that Pastor won't be paying it. The only reason I moved in with her was to help her out financially and to get away from the apt. I lived in as I had been broken into twice.

As it is...I am glad to be gone from that church as God knew I couldn't take that. I am also in the process of buying a home closer to my job and God is taking care of me.

The funny thing is that I was accused of being "legalistic" by this new convert...LOL. she doesn't understand...yet.

Blessings, Rhoni

So what you have been trying to say all along is that libs are legalistic authoritarian misogynists?

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Bullwinkle

So what you have been trying to say all along is that libs are legalistic authoritarian misogynists?

Absolutely...now you are hearing me

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Dear PO & Ron,
I have made peace with my past UPCI roots and I am fine with all that. It was James Griffin, I think, who stated that this was not a past issue nor was it with UPCI.

An evangelist who withdrew from UPCI two years ago began a church under another organizational umbrella. The church was 1 mile from where I was living. When I refused to sign a document of affirmation to support, obey, and honor the Pastor without questioning...he told the lady I was living with to ask me to leave as I had a contentious spirit [because I would not sign that document]. The lady was a new convert and you know how they are - they worship the Pastor they come to know Christ under, and think they are God. I not only was alienated from the church but asked to leave the home that I had just moved into in December.

It is just my thought...who is going to make up the difference in her mortgage now that i am leaving? I am sure that Pastor won't be paying it. The only reason I moved in with her was to help her out financially and to get away from the apt. I lived in as I had been broken into twice.

As it is...I am glad to be gone from that church as God knew I couldn't take that. I am also in the process of buying a home closer to my job and God is taking care of me.

The funny thing is that I was accused of being "legalistic" by this new convert...LOL. she doesn't understand...yet.

Blessings, Rhoni

Rhoni, that's what this has been all about?

Listen, I know you are not going to like what I am going to say to you, but surely you are old enough and have enough experience in life to not let things like this blow you out of the water so far. Yes, what he said was wrong. I totally agree with you on that. But consider this. Your friend who you were living with will find out eventually exactly what this guy is. A skunk is a skunk, whether he has on silk pajamas or not. She'll see that. And when she does, she is going to need YOU to be her friend.

The gracious way for you to handle this is for you to calmly point out to her that your years of experience has taught you that this man is way over-board. Let her know that you are sharing that with her because you care about her, not because you want to tear him down. Then if you still need to leave, then leave. But leave on a friendly basis. As adults you can say to your friend that while you don't agree with her bowing to that pastor, it is still her decision. And that if and when the day comes that she decides not to, you will be there for her.

MAYBE God placed you in this woman's home just because He knows that down the road, He will need you to be His arms and feet to this lady. But He won't be able to use you for HIS purposes if you have burned your bridges by throwing a temper fit now.

Sometimes we have to CHOOSE to be the bigger person in order to be in a position for God to be able to use us.

Maybe I'm all wrong on this, but from my outsider's point of view, this is what I'm seeing.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Margies3

Rhoni, that's what this has been all about?

Listen, I know you are not going to like what I am going to say to you, but surely you are old enough and have enough experience in life to not let things like this blow you out of the water so far. Yes, what he said was wrong. I totally agree with you on that. But consider this. Your friend who you were living with will find out eventually exactly what this guy is. A skunk is a skunk, whether he has on silk pajamas or not. She'll see that. And when she does, she is going to need YOU to be her friend.

The gracious way for you to handle this is for you to calmly point out to her that your years of experience has taught you that this man is way over-board. Let her know that you are sharing that with her because you care about her, not because you want to tear him down. Then if you still need to leave, then leave. But leave on a friendly basis. As adults you can say to your friend that while you don't agree with her bowing to that pastor, it is still her decision. And that if and when the day comes that she decides not to, you will be there for her.

MAYBE God placed you in this woman's home just because He knows that down the road, He will need you to be His arms and feet to this lady. But He won't be able to use you for HIS purposes if you have burned your bridges by throwing a temper fit now.

Sometimes we have to CHOOSE to be the bigger person in order to be in a position for God to be able to use us.

Maybe I'm all wrong on this, but from my outsider's point of view, this is what I'm seeing.

That is what "Spiritual Maturity" is all about!
Good post Margie!