| Author | Message | ||
| Berit Registered user Username: Berit Post Number: 16 Registered: 7-2007 |
Eight years ago I attended the European Bibleschool of Health and Agriculture, our class was made up by 12 students from 7 different countries. This was also the place where I met my Austian husband, by the way. At that time I thought it was wonderful to belong to a world wide church and have "family" all over the world. Now when I look back at it it sometimes puzzeled me how people with the same faith can have so many interpretations of how to keep the sabbath for example. People from one nation said that they did not cook their rice, potatoes or noodles on sabbath, this was cooked on Friday and heated up on Saturday again. Transforming the food from one substance to another was wrong on Sabbath... The same with physical activity, walking and using your God given feet was OK on Sabbath, but not cross country skiing in the forest, because your feet was then cnnected with something man-made!!! BIG SIGH... I guess we all have stories of how adventism is lived different all over the world or in different groups. But that was acctually not my point today. I just thought it would be interesting to see how many nations we are representing here on this forum. Seeing that people from different parts of the world (I hope) have found the way out of legalism and brainwashing would be very encourraging as many of the threads here bring up so much frustration in me.... Lots of love form Norway!! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4191 Registered: 3-2004  |
Berit, Lots of love from Nevada, USA. Diana | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 160 Registered: 5-2007  |
Berit, Greetings from the Puget Sound. While this certainly is part of the USA, it has more in common with Western Canada and the Alaskan Panhandle than anywhere else in the rest of the states. So, I sometimes feel like we are in another country. As for the many interpretations and the working out of our faith, I would offer at least one explanation: We come from many different cultures and "see" things from an accumulation of our past, which for each of us is a unique experience. This is why we need to following the leading of the Holy Spirit and search scripture for God's truth. We need to know what God Word says for ourselves. There is only one gospel and it does not change, but our understanding of it will develop as we grow in our relationship to the Lord. Phil  | ||
| Marysroses Registered user Username: Marysroses Post Number: 127 Registered: 4-2007 |
Hi Berit, I'm from New Mexico, lived here all my life. Thats a southwestern state in the USA, but like Phil said, sometimes I feel like we are in another country. New Mexico was settled by the Spanish in the sixteenth century. English speakers are the newcomers here. We have the oldest church in America, begun in 1610 in Santa Fe. God willing, if I'm granted three more years of life, I will be there for its 400th 'birthday'. The church bell was made in 1350 something in Spain, and came to Mexico by sailing ship and to Santa Fe by oxcart. Stuff like that facinates me, as in most of America, 100 years is 'old'. Adventists here tend to congregate around Albuquerque, and, at least when I was Adventist, they tended to be rather conservative. Nothing much but bible study and naps were allowed on saturday afternoons. Food was cooked the day before. I left the SDA church in 1981. MarysRoses | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1230 Registered: 4-2000  |
I am from Nebraska, USA (part of the Great Plains area)! Some refer to this region as "the bread basket of the world" due to the corn, oat, soybean, and wheat crops that are extensively grown here. Oh yes, a former Governor referred to Nebraska as "the good life." Apparently, he had a good point because Nebraska has been the lifelong home of many centenarians. Nebraska has lots of fresh air and sunshine (sparsely populated in most areas). My wife Sylvia and I officially left Adventism in 2000. Dennis Fischer (Message edited by Dennis on August 25, 2007) | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 161 Registered: 5-2007 |
Berit, I just found and read your story in the "Our Stories" section of this website. Thank you for sharing. Reading your inspiring words was an blessing to me. God is so real. Only the leading of the Holy Spirit could have brought you out of the control that SDA false doctrines had over your life. I would like to share that I grew up near Ellen White's home of Elmshaven and have been in the room where she did her writing. I was already a born-again believer in Jesus Christ when I made my first visit, which may explain what happened at about that time. I started having many nightmares, which until recently, I never associated when having been in her home or anything to do with EGW. Years later, after a time of living a worldly life, I returned to the Lord, did the nightmares finally fade away. Putting it all together, my conclusion is that her words are "doctrines of demons" and they didn't like me being there. For each of us, it is a unique miracle of the Holy Spirit that leads us to the freedom that God's truth brings. May the joy of knowing Jesus Christ always be the center of your life.  Phil | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 436 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi Berit, I was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. I still reside here. Phil is right in saying that my area has much in common with the Puget Sound area where he lives. I have travel that area many times. We will be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, and I suspect your Cross-country ski racers will again be the team to beat. Many national teams have already started and will be training at the Nordic center about 30 miles north of where I live. I left Adventisn in 2005 and continue to marvel at God's goodness for a sinner such as I. I have come to appreciate a greater spiritual journey as I have layed aside beliefs I could not substantiate with Scripture. There is a renewed peace of mind that comes with understanding that the truth we need is solely found in the Bible. There is nothing I can do of my own power that will make me more acceptable to God, other than accepting the gift of Christ's atonement for my sins. My salvation is not dependent on what I eat or drink, what day I worship on as I worship and praise Him everyday. And my salvation does not depend on a denominational affiliation. It only depends on my acceptance of Christ's covering mercy. For that I praise him and am happy to tell the world. Randy | ||
| Toria Registered user Username: Toria Post Number: 190 Registered: 2-2006  |
Hi Berit, Greetings from Newfoundland, Canada. I was born and raised here, and after spending some years travelling/living in other countries returned to where my heart wanted me to live. It is believed that the first Europeans to reach the shores of Canada were a group of Vikings led by Leif Erikson, who started a settlement, which they named Vinland, in northern Newfoundland in 1001 AD. Remnants & artifacts of the settlement still remain. We get many visitors who come to enjoy the icebergs, whales, and the natural beauty of the province itself (which I am told closly resembles that of Norway). I, with God's help and guidance, offically left Adventism in January, 2006. Blessings and love from Newfoundland Toria (Message edited by toria on August 26, 2007) | ||
| Blessed Registered user Username: Blessed Post Number: 81 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi Berit, I am from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I was born and raised here and grew up in an Adventist home (only mother SDA - Dad did not attend church anywhere). Through the influence of a godly friend in High School I accepted Christ as my Saviour and my life has been forever changed. Every day as I read many of the posts I thank the Lord for releasing me from this cult and showing me what grace is all about. The friend in high school that was such an influence in my life now lives in Germany and works at Black Forest Academy which is affiliated with Janz Team Missions. You may be familiar with them and the school. In 2002 my husband and myself had the privilege of going to Germany and visiting with my friend, her husband and children. I love Europe and it was the trip of a lifetime for me. Lord willing we are hoping to go back this next spring. Looking forward to reading more of your posts in the days to come. In Christ Shirley | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4199 Registered: 3-2004 |
Berit, I forgot to put in my post that I live next door to Las Vegas, Nevada. It is called Sin City. There is a saying here that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Our t-shirts for Celebrate Recovery have the welcome to Las Vegas sign on the back and around it is written "What happens in Vegas can change your life". At the CR summit we wore these shirts proudly. So, Welcome to Sin City. What happens here can change your life!!! Diana |
