Welcome!!

Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for starting this blog. I think it's going to be a great one!

I feel the same about so many of the churches we've been to as well. We spent many years at the Baptist church in Waterloo, Ontario. They had a lot of rules that I thought were not necessary, but not really offensive in any way. My feeling was that we're never going to agree entirely with everyone in any organization, so we should try to get along as best we can. My big beef came though when they had a meeting to tell us that women should not seek any education, but instead should just be happy to stay at home with children. What bothered me most was that the women in the congregation were sitting there writing down notes about this. Actually I wanted to stay at home with my kids, but I believe that God gave many women the ability to learn and to be professionals. This, I did find offensive, because of the story of the talents. If God gives a woman a talent for learning and she refuses to use it, isn't that like throwing this gift back in God's face and telling Him that we know best what we should do and not Him?? We left that church and started going to the Mennonite Brethern, which was the exact opposite as far as education went. I think everyone there was a professional, yet they didn't make me feel left out because I didn't have the education that others did. The Brethern in Christ church was sort of in the middle and I think we would have continuted there except that we moved to Florida.
They were so sincere. The pastor asked me if my kids would sing at a service at a government run old age home. I said, of course we would. He cautioned us that it was a very unpleasant place and it really warmed my heart when I saw how sad a place it was, yet this man preached there every week! That kind of dedication was so moving!

Ok now, I've monopolized the comments section (sorry ) That's one good thing about blogs, if people get bored, they don't have to finish reading!!!!!

Thanks again Cheryl for starting this.

Wow..Thanks Lois for all of that.
I think everyone has similar experiences. I have to get off the puter now so hubby can do some banking. Anyhow..I'll check back tomorrow and hopefully get a discussion in the forums going. If you think of something..feel free!

Looking back over what I wrote, I didn't mean to bash the Baptist church. I think the leadership at the time was what was behind that particular thought process and it was not really representative of the Baptist church in general.

I hear you...I understand that. I was part of numerous denomonations..and each has it's ups and downs. It's like you said...the leadership..it's always people related...power, pride...hurt..goes down the line.

Amazing my mother and I were discussing this yesterday, sitting on her bed, she had the bible open and we were talking about how she feels that she 'failed' us in some way! Feelings would get hurt in church and then she felt it necessary to leave the church to find another.

She explained that instead of getting her feelings hurt and leaving the church, she should have went to the pastor and explained to him what she felt WITHOUT having the fear of rejection! Right? So fear of 'speaking' up is holding so many back....

I think that is a huge issue..it's a fear of man. It's division in the church. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
And that is the biggest weapon that is being used in against the church right now.
We are supposed to walk in love at all times, and this is where we have failed each other.
But I think we are coming into an age where the Church is waking up and beginning to walk in that Divine Love we were intended to walk in.
There is only one way to do that however..and that is through Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Anyhow...can you tell this is a passion of mine?

My experience with Baptist churches has been mostly positive. The leadership of the last two Baptist churches have been outstanding from a pastoral perspective. No matter where you are, you are dealing with people. I like to gravitate to those who have an active relationship with their heavenly Father in Christ. So my question is: Do you know your Father? (more on that in the forum )

Nice :yes:

send me an invite?

Hi,

My name is Christy and I thought I had found the perfect church, they were kind, considerate, lots of praise singing. I loved it. I belonged to the women's bible study on Tuesdays and also the garden club to help beautify the church. I was suppose to help with the vacation bible school this week and then during one of the women's bible studies, I had a seizure.

Now, this is something I told the pastor and many of the women I had. I have seizures and two brain tumors. So I expected them to understand. I got a call telling me I could not come to vacation bible school, that I would scare the children. I can understand that a seizure would scare someone, but I feel like it was unchristian-like for these people to say it like that (that I would scare the children) and also something I looked so forward to for weeks, to not have found something for me to do, away from the kids. I mentioned earlier before the seizure about taking pictures and making the church an album. When I brought that back up, the woman I was speaking with told me I could come for 1 hr. a day at different times to catch different events, but that I had to come with my mother.

I decided to drop the whole vacation bible school thing.

Now I feel like I can't even return to the church.

I listen faithfully to Joel Olsteen. I really enjoy him. I guess I will go back to just listening to him or try to find another church. I didn't expect to be judged like this.

Any thoughts on the matter?

P.S. Please send me an invite. Thanks.

you were right not to argue with them.

i would have been tempted to say all kinds of things.

it stinks though. i wish i had been there when 'they' decided that. i would have set them straight.

Thank you for saying that. I thought at first I was just being selfish and paranoid because of my condition.

I appreciate your kind words.



Christy

Hi Christy!

Welcome...
I sent you an invite! You can thank SpicyFlier aka Henry..since he is more diligent at checking this than I am!

I have to say...it was wrong of the church to cut you from the VBS due to your condition.
Maybe it would have been a good lesson in how to pray for someone when they are struggling.

But like Scott said, ArtMan,
You did the right thing.
Forgive them, they know not what they do. Unfortunately they are human..as we all are.
Don't let that stop you from worshipping! You can still go to church, head held high. Bless you.

Thank you for that comment and I appreciate the invite to your group. I look forward to the forums.

Thanks again and have a nice day and thank aka Henry for me.



Christy

You are very welcome.

That is terrible! I would have had some things to say to them too. I agree with Cheryl, it was very wrong of them to do that. If it were my kid's VBS, I would much rather the children be taught about medical conditions such as this and how they could pray for you. You sound like someone who could contribute so much both to VBS and with your photography. Don't give up, there is a church somewhere that will appreciate you.

Thanks cakkleberrylane,

I apppreciate your comments and when I return from the retreat I took at my Dad's house, I am going to look for a church that will accept me.

Thanks again for those kind words. I have a lot to offer a church and I know that there is one out there for me.

Dear DuckyChickenLady, dear greathoneybear, dear all commentators:
First of all I kindly ask to connive at my may be bad english.

I'm really estonished about how many christian blogs one can find on my opera. I appreciate that.
DDuckyChickenLady, just for the record:
Nowhere in the bible is written, that Jesus went to hell for three days. How did you come to this conclusion ?
There is no doubt that Jesus overcame death and hell but was he in hell ? The bible doesn't say anything about where he was during the time he was "dead". I would appreciate you giving me a text passage.
greathoneybear:
The problem of all the churches is that they don't know what to do with sick and ill people. They claim to be Jesus' disciples and never talk about the following problem:
Didn't Jesus say that those who will follow him will do even greater deeds then he did (and he awoke or aroused dead people and opened the eyes of the blind)?
Didn't Paul write that there will be different gifts in a church community, like pastors, prophets, healers, teachers and so on. But where are they ? And what do the members of a church do when they get ill ? They attend the profane doctors instead of going to the elders so they would pray upon (over?) them so that they would get healed and their sins would be forgiven. There is no such thing in most churches and where you find it there is no healing at all. But nobody asks himself why this is so.
There is many strange things going on in churches all over the world and most of it is kind of hypocrit.
Let me ask:
- where are the teachers ?
- where are the prophets ?
- where are the healers ?
I wish you from the bottom of my heart that you will get healed, really, but ask yourself if the church you have been in was really the right one. For sure you find good and blessed people everywhere in the churches because god doesn't leave alone his few sheep but one has to evaluate a church only and only by means of judging wether they follow all the laws of god (of course not because they are laws but because they love god) and act on them.
Simply to tell you you couldn't come anymore was a big sin.
Peace and love from the creator of the universe to all of you,
Anodyne

p.s. what might interest all of you (not yet finished):
http://my.opera.com/therealanodyne/blog/show.dml/4130072

Hi there...
Your english is quite good!
Anyhow..I came to the conclusion that Jesus went to hell for 3 days...
Because firstly, he was separated from the Father, He took on Himself all of our sins---where does a sinner go when they die?
To hell. Jesus became sin, so that we might become the Righteousness of God. He went to hell to disarm the devil...he made a public display of him. Colossians 2:11-15
He became the perfect sacrifice. All sin was put on Jesus. He paid for it...he needed to go to hell to accomplish that.

Jesus is coming back soon! He is getting ready to rapture His Church. Get ready...the teachers are manifesting. The prophets as are the Healers in Jesus' name.
And yes, Greater Works are being done...and greater yet as the day approaches.
I apologize for the short reply...I am on my way out.

Blessings.. ~Cheryl

Cheryl, no reason to apologize.
I must think and (read) about what you are saying about Jesus having been in hell for three days.
Yes he said on the cross, father why did you leave me.
But if the reason he went to hell was that he took all our sins upon himself, then he took them and could not get loose from hell. So either he took our sins in the sense of having to die without taking them literally and then the devil could not hold him or he took them literally and couldn't come loose then in hell. I can't come along with this. But I will think and read to get clarification.
The teachers are manifesting ?, the prophets and healers ?, where are they ?
Anodyne

I am no Bible Scholar...I am learning & growing too.
But what I do know I will try & share.
Isaiah 53:12 is worth reading...Jesus Himself said he fulfilled that in Luke 22:37.

He had to be released since the devil had nothing on Him.
He didn't actually commit any sin, He chose to become sin...He was Pure..and the devil couldn't convict Him. It was then He was able to disarm, to conquer hell.
It all began in the old testament, the old covenant---with the sacrifice of unblemished lambs--and other animals.
Jesus was compared to a spotless Lamb. But His sacrifice was Once for all!

That's why He said in Matthew 16:18 "on this rock--(the rock being the revelation/understanding that Jesus is the Son of God)--I will build My Church and the gates of Hades/Hell shall not be victorious against it!"
I know this strongly in my spirit. I will try to make it clearer if you want.

Father, I pray that you give Anodyne a true understanding of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, and how he disarmed the devil....and how You raised Him up on the 3rd day--Victorious over sin & death! I pray that as he seeks for Truth...that you would show it/Him to him. Jesus is the Way, the Truth & the Life! in Jesus' name...

It is my prayer, Anodyne, that as Jesus declared we were to lay hands on the sick & see them recover, that I would be used in this way...as well as countless other Christians.
The Church is waking up! She is taking Her place.
And the gates of hell will not prevail against her!
Bless you.

I believe that hell and the devil will not prevail.
I also understand the relation between the old testament sacrifices and Jesus but that was not the question. The question for me was and is: Did Jesus go to hell. And why, by the way, for three days ? If he was without any sin and he surely was, the devil had to give him free immediately.
However, this is not so important and I don't want to bother you any longer with this. It just attracted my attention when you stated that somewhere in your blog.
And certainly I'm not a teacher, so before I say something wrong or even unsettle you, we stop the discussion about that topic.
By the way: are you baptized and if yes, would you tell me how, I mean in which manner ?
Would be interesting to know.
The eternal peace of god be in your heart,
Anodyne

my two cents...

jesus was the 'new man'. he chose not to be deceived.... ever. it is almost impossible to be a true christian in our time.

but not because we don't wish to be pure in heart, but because, as he said many times... we are asleep.
the enormous question is how to awaken.

pardon me for butting in.

I_Art_Man:
No problem at all.
I think some are awake already, but to follow Jesus in an outright way would cause you to live completely out of society and you would even not know how and where to live and what to eat.
The depression, the oppression, the suppression is already far too big.
That's what I see.
Anodyne

yes. i am searching for a way in life which can harmonize the extremes. without a need to know more. to simplify in the sense of listening to a quiet voice. awareness of what is right now. i am trying to understand conscience.

I_ArtMan:
To listen to what is right now, is a good thought
and what is right now is different for everyone.
Anodyne

Hi Scott!

Jesus, thank God for Him!! , was Baptised by John the Baptist, and the Holy Spirit of God filled Him...or else He couldn't have lived sinless. He was in flesh like we are in flesh form.
We too, with the Holy Spirit indwelling us, can live as Jesus did. And yes, without sin. (not that I have arrived yet! )
There is an important step before that however, and that is
giving your life to Jesus. Serving God. Acknowledging that you are a sinner, and that you believe He died for your sins.
Simply put...and by faith receive salvation!
And you can hear that inner voice, that voice of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said...My sheep know my voice, another voice they will not follow.
He is the Way, the Truth & the Life. No one comes to God but through Him.
That is the way to salvation, to real peace, joy, love, and a CLEAN conscience.
God said, 'Be still (cease striving), and know that I am God.'
There is comfort in that!

(oh no, I don't have the desire to 'preach' at all! )
I'll stop now. I just have such a heart for people. I know that's the Spirit of God.... Be Blessed Scott...& Anodyne...and I pray you find the Way!
ps...Anodyne...
to follow Jesus, doesn't mean we have to be out of society...Jesus said, we are 'in the world' just that we are not to be 'of the world', meaning, not to do the things the world is doing.
I am following Jesus, I read my Bible..I get understanding by the Holy Spirit...and I choose to believe what the Bible says is true.
I believe that people can be Healed from every disease, and affliction in the name of Jesus. I believe that we can hear God's voice every single day of our lives. & most importantly I believe that God loves us soooo much. We can't really even understand with our minds just how much!
If we did...we would ALL be serving Him.
Oh boy...has the church gone wrong for centuries. But I praise God, the church of Jesus Christ is waking up!
& Soon, & very soon...we are going to see Him. Jesus is coming again.
(sheesh...I'll stop now.) Bless you!

Originally posted by DuckyChickenLady:

ps...Anodyne...
to follow Jesus, doesn't mean we have to be out of society...Jesus said, we are 'in the world' just that we are not to be 'of the world', meaning, not to do the things the world is doing.

Dear Cheryl.
It exactly means to be out of society.
I don't know how you live and it is not my affair.
If we are " in that world" (we certainly are) but should not be "of that world", doesn't "of that world" mean, society ? What else should it mean. Society wants us to take part in all the godless (and definitely bad) things and not only wants us to take part but forces us in many ways. Bawdiness and fornication at every corner, a great great lack of discipline, the force almost everywhere where one could possibly work for ones living, to lie, to betray, not to be honest (and if you are, you got fired), carrying passports with biometric data, with fingerprints, with RFID chips like animals !!
You know, I believe in god, how can I not, I see his creation every day, and I came to believe in Jesus as well, but in the moment I'm on "stand by" because I have to think about many things and make great decisions.
I'm almost convinced that one can in no way be part of the society when following Jesus Christ with all ones heart, this, because of the constraints around you which the devil and his disciples put unto the world to make people slaves not only of man but of the devil, of sin, of evil.
a) passport with RFID, fingerprints, biometric data ?
I say NO !
b) lying for my employer ?
I say NO !
c) having to justify myself, who I am, what I am, why I am for every little reason (and be it to try to rent an appartment)
I say NO !
d) not saying and speaking the truth ?
I say NO !
e) support this fraudulent and deceptive system in any way ?
I say NO !
f) serve the mighty like a stupid monkey ?
I say NO !
g) support all the unwilling and hypocrite people ?, who not do not understand but do not want to understand, who are not blind but want to be blind
I say NO !

You know what I mean ?
Until I found a way how to deal with all this I'm on "stand by" and I will in no way and can't in no way be a part of this dishonest false society nor can I be a part of the big amount of false christian communities and there is a lot of them around.

Sorry for starting it again, I know there is more bitterness and hate then love in my heart in the moment,
but it's the hate of the liars and deceivers and not of the good and the lightfull, so excuse me please.

Anyway I wish you and all who read this
all the peace and love from the heavenly father they wish
Anodyne

p.s. you didn't answer my question about you being baptised or not and if yes, how? If you don't mind you could send me a pm for the answer, I would like to know

Ok..I guess I misunderstood you...yes, what you said is what I agree with!
It sounds like you are so hungry for the Truth.
Jesus said that whosoever hungers & thirsts for righteousness WILL be filled!
You know I understand where you are coming from...I was upset and bitter for a while too.
The change needs to be in You. You need to experience the Love of the Father. How else could Jesus live on this earth?
He spent time in intimate prayer and face to face with God.
There & there only is where change happens. You CAN'T look to 'people' --'people in the church' too... for the Truth. You look to Jesus. He is the Truth.
That's a lesson I learned. I can't get happiness from my husband, or children...though they make me happy. They also can say or do hurtful things, I get my security, love, unconditional acceptance from my heavenly Father.

Before I go too far.... Yes, I was baptized. I was baptized about 16 years ago... water baptized. Is that what you were asking?

And just because society wants you to engage in immorality....doesn't mean you have to. Again, our flesh is weak---and we do things we don't want to do sometimes right?
That is where that intimacy with God comes in. If we have that deep personal relationship with God Almighty, through Jesus...in the Power of the Holy Spirit...we can stand against such temptations. It is possible!

Bless you Anodyne. If you seek the Lord with all your heart, He will SHOW Himself to you! It starts with you!

Dear Cheryl.
Thanks a lot so far.

God bless you too.
Anodyne

just my opinion again... but i would rather be in this world with all its flaws, and in myself with all my flaws, accepting it all as it is, than searching for some saving grace which would exonerate all my supposed errors. i will pay for being alive in my own way. that is the meaning of 'individuality'. also, my opinion... jesus was the first individualist.... and suffered grievously for it. it's a story of just a man. some gospels say he said he was the son of god. some say he said he was the son of man.

i have always loved the story of jesus, since i was little.
his story gives us hope. i mean he is an example of how it's possible to resist temptation. and his openhearted existence.

Hi DuckyChickenLady and art its nice to read through what your all saying.

I believe in the spiritual side not a church, where I come from church is not a good thing it just makes and takes.

As for JC coming back would you? just look what they did to him the last time and not to make fun but if I were him the last thing I'd want to see is a cross bit like wearing a rifle pendant to remind you of Kennedy

wry wit... but i get it.

Hi DuckyChickenLady

Hi Art its real good you pick up so many don't or see it wrong and get offended but I say it in fun, it can take out the sting from what had to be a nightmare.

Your life experiences are like some of my own Art sometimes I think we maybe one in the same mate