| Author | Message | ||
| Rossbondreturns Registered user Username: Rossbondreturns Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2009 |
Allow me to introduce myself… My name is Ross Cooper, I am a Former Adventist, 3rd generation Pastors’ kid (U.K.: Bolton, Preston That I remember) (U.S. Mentone) and (Northern Ireland: Belfast, Larne, and sometimes Bainbridge) who for the past year or so thought that his sign up on this board had been lost in the shuffle. However at least my dawning realization that I had in fact been signed up was light years faster than my slow, not to mention painful path of detachment from Adventism. As of today I am the only member of my family to successfully jettison the main engines of Adventism, switch over to the Bible Alone and its clear instructions and carefully over a long period of time dock with the Space Station Salvation. Which of course happened by Grace through Faith. My brother went from Adventist to a self-proclaimed atheist, while my Mum, Dad and Sister all remain in the Adventist Church. My Dad has been supportive of me in my entire walk and has always encouraged me to follow the Holy Spirit. I am a father of 4, one who never saw the outside of his mothers’ womb, sometimes I’m jealous of him. On the other hand I have great things to look forward to in Heaven, including a reunion with a son who only ever heard my voice. (Knowing God’s sense of humor I’ll probably discover…it’s a girl!). I’m separated from my wife and not divorced because I have faith that God can fix what I so careless shattered through my hidden sins. It makes me overjoyed that in the last year and a half I’ve gone from full of sin to full of Him. I finally made that connection between His Holy Spirit living in me and me getting out of the way and giving my life over to Him. The results speak for themselves; I now cannot help but share my faith with whoever wants to hear. Since I gave up my life for His I’ve always had enough and never too much, I’m homeless (staying in a guest house) reaching out to the homeless community in Redlands California. On top of that I’m pastoring if you will a great many people through my blog that you can find in my profile. And for two years I was a pastor within the online community known as Secondlife sharing God’s saving Grace with people I’m pretty certain weren’t mutants, zombies and vampires (I preached in fantasy locations). Everything I do is what God does through me, I do my best to keep out of the way and not mess things up. But mess things up I do, but now I go to God as my Father and not as some kind of unapproachable figure. I hope that I have not bored you, because I could go on much longer, PK’s get 45 mins right? In Christ, Ross | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 1190 Registered: 3-2009 |
Welcome to the forum Ross. Hec | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 8371 Registered: 3-2004  |
Welcome Ross, It sounds like you have had quite a journey with Jesus. Welcome to FAF. Do you go to the Friday night Bible studies at Trinity Evangelical Free Church, Resevoir Road, on Friday evening with Colleen and Richard and a bunch of other formers??? I am so glad your Dad encouraged you. And I will pray for you and your wife. Our awesome God has brought you to a very supportive place. You are in a good place here. Diana L | ||
| Rossbondreturns Registered user Username: Rossbondreturns Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2009 |
Flyinglady- I went to my first FAF meeting on Friday and it felt like I had made it home. While my Christian friends know me...only Former Adventists truly understand where I'm coming from. I found these boards quite a while back and I read everything I could being a nonmember at the time. The community certainly helped me before they even knew I existed. Also thanks Hec for your warm welcome. Ross (Message edited by RossBondReturns on July 26, 2010) | ||
| Patallen Registered user Username: Patallen Post Number: 18 Registered: 7-2010  |
Welcome to the forum Ross! Pat | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 549 Registered: 1-2006  |
Welcome Ross! Glad for the leading of the Lord in your life! I've been blessed here. I'm deeply thankful for this group of friends. I hope the same for you. Bob | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 3289 Registered: 10-2004  |
Ross, welcome to the forum! Glad to have you here. Jeremy | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 550 Registered: 1-2006 |
Pat Hi! Glad you are here! What a journey it's been for all of us. Hoping the same blessings for you as I hope for myself. It's been almost six years since I formally left adventism. The Lord has carried me thru some serious storms, but the little boat hasn't sunk yet! Bob | ||
| Rossbondreturns Registered user Username: Rossbondreturns Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2009 |
Pat Bobj and Jeremy- Thanks for the welcome. The only smart way to live life...is to invite in the God who calms the storms. Ross | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 1738 Registered: 6-2006  |
Hi Ross! I'm a "never-been", married into a great big, active SDA family. My hubby is a "Badventist". Glad to have you along. I look forward to reading more from you!  Leigh Anne | ||
| Yenc Registered user Username: Yenc Post Number: 244 Registered: 6-2008 |
Hi, Ross! We're practically neighbors! I'm in Reche Canyon, in "much-less-than-extravagant" housing. But God has been so good to me, too. I've had some "challenges" but only spent 3 nights and days sleeping on the mean streets of Riverside without a roof/walls/floor shelter; I didn't even have a blanket until God miraculously gave me one! The other street people I met showed me amazing kindness and compassion, sharing food, etc. Now I look at that experience as part of my "education," as God was working to draw me back to Himself. The fact is that He loves us enough to go to whatever lengths are necessary to get our attention, to get us off whatever wrong path we got ourselves on! Welcome! | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 1324 Registered: 7-2007 |
Welcome Ross! | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2213 Registered: 5-2007  |
Ross, Welcome aboard. I for one enjoy your 'turn of the King's English'. As it is with Yen, I to know what it means to not have a roof over me but in God's mercy, all that I and my wife require is fully met and more so by the Lord. Fearless Phil | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 860 Registered: 2-2008  |
Welcome Ross! It's always amazing to see how God works and draws us to Him. He's amazing! Glad to have you posting here on the forum! vivian p.s. Yenc, I drove through Reche Canyon every day for 3-4 years while I was living at Colton and working in Moreno Valley. Beautiful drive! | ||
| Rossbondreturns Registered user Username: Rossbondreturns Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2009 |
Thanks for your welcomes everyone. Can't wait to exchange knowledge with you all. Ross | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 11479 Registered: 12-2003  |
Ross, welcome! I'm glad you made it "here", and we're all delighted to have you with us at FAF on Fridays. Yes, we do need each other as we process out of our mutual blindness. It's good to get to know you! Colleen | ||
| Yenc Registered user Username: Yenc Post Number: 246 Registered: 6-2008 |
Vivian, You risked your life 2X/day, you mean! It's indeed beautiful, but people drive like they're crazy! Passing on curves, crossing the double yellow to pass, risking hitting our wild burros, etc. I leave the Cyn as seldom as possible! Thirty years ago I used to visit a friend out here, always thinking how I'd love to live out here. Then 3 or 4 years ago, I needed to move out of Riverside, and I "reminded" God how much I love Reche Cyn. He had this place waiting just for me--truly an amazing providential event! Yen | ||
| Surfy Registered user Username: Surfy Post Number: 671 Registered: 11-2007 |
Ross, welcome. We are neighbors. Looking forward to meeting you sometime at Friday night study. Surfy | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 862 Registered: 2-2008 |
Yen, haha! I drove through there back between 86-90 when there was hardly any traffic or homes in the canyon and I just had to watch out for horses. I did carpool one day with the other hygienist to work. She flossed her teeth and drove with her knees through that canyon... I never did that again!! Beautiful that you have the chance to live there Yen! vivian | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 901 Registered: 1-2003  |
Ross, I also wish to welcome you. I'm a neighbor though not as close as some of the others. I live with my new wife of one year on the Western edge of Riverside just before Corona. (I attend church out in Corona) Send me your email address if you feel comfortable doing it. rtruitt@mac.com , | ||
| Joyfulheart Registered user Username: Joyfulheart Post Number: 742 Registered: 10-2006 |
Hi Ross! I'm not a neighbor, but a sister in Christ. Praise the Lord for the work He has done in your life bringing you to the truth and rest in Jesus alone. Looking forward to getting to know you! Joyfulheart |
