| Author |
Message |
Skeeter
Registered user
Username: Skeeter
Post Number: 816
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, July 01, 2010 - 9:52 pm: |     |
I dont think it was wrong for Ramone to share his plans with us.
I just misunderstood what his purpose was in going. I thought he was going back in as a member of the organization to be with them and I was frightened for him.
If Ramone is strong enough in his faith to go in and minister to his local SDA church and not get sucked back in to their belief system, then I pray he will be a blessing there and used by God to reach many souls.:-)
Francie |
River
Registered user
Username: River
Post Number: 6396
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 6:33 am: | |
I didn't mean to communicate that it was wrong! I meant to communicate that it just probably was not advisable to do so.
I think even Ramone would be inclined to agree with that right now.
Hec is just being obtuse. Well you want obtuse? What's Ramones message going to be a month from now?
"Come on back in kids, the waters fine?"
I mean thats just great!
Ahh...whats the use?
R |
Skeeter
Registered user
Username: Skeeter
Post Number: 817
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 10:36 am: | |
River: "What's Ramones message going to be a month from now?
"Come on back in kids, the waters fine?"
I certainly hope not ! The "water" of Adventism is as murky as the oil filled gulf ! Gets thicker and more toxic the closer you get !
I think probably MOST of us "formers" are NOT strong enough (or maybe just havent figured out how to do it without endangering ourselves or our families)to go back in and minister to SDA's in their own surroundings. I personally havent even had much luck trying to share with them one on one outside of their "stick church" :-(
I wish Ramone all the best in this, and hope God will lead and protect him as well as using him to reach others for the truth.
I am just afraid that most of them will see it as him sending a mixed message... kinda like ... 'I left, but I'm back because you are my "family".' and take it as an opportunity to try and get to him instead of him getting to them. I pray that does not happen.
Personally.. I never learned to swim. If I saw someone drowning it would do no good for me to jump in and try to save them, as I would end up grabbing hold of them and we would both drown.
I could only help them by standing at the edge and throwing them a life preserver and hope they are able (and willing) to grab hold of it.
I cant think of any other way to explain it.:-/
Francie |
Hec
Registered user
Username: Hec
Post Number: 1106
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 12:44 pm: | |
obtuse
adj. slow, foolish, stupid; blunt;
Yep, that's me.
Hec |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 11359
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 2:15 pm: | |
Hec, no, not even close! Ha!
I understand River's caution in that if I am certain the Holy Spirit is leading me to do something that I believe will be misunderstood or opposed by most of the people I know, it's better for me just to do it than to be hit with doubt. I can be pretty vulnerable to other people's doubts and negative reactions. So, I sometimes have to do what I know I have to do without telling people first.
Colleen
(Message edited by Colleentinker on July 02, 2010) |
River
Registered user
Username: River
Post Number: 6397
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 7:47 pm: | |
Hec,
I apologize for that buddy, I was wrong is saying such a thing. I offer no excuse for it.
River |
River
Registered user
Username: River
Post Number: 6398
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 8:02 pm: | |
I went down to the river'
to regain my cool'
I jumped in the river like a doggone fool'
I looked around, but it was too late'
The river was frozen'
All I did was skate'
 River |
River
Registered user
Username: River
Post Number: 6399
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 8:15 pm: | |
A white man drifted out onto the prairie to save the Indians.
He saw smoke signals rising from one hill top, looked and saw smoke signals rising from another hill top.
Thought he, "I shall do the same!" So he built up a fire and flapped his blanket up and down and the smoke went puffing up into the air.
About an hour later a whole bunch of Indians swooped down upon him, tie his hands behind him and drug him to their lodges.
The put him in a big iron pot of water, and the women started throwing in vegetables.
Said one Indian to the other, "This fool said to eat him, but I not sure he fit to eat."
Said the other, "Me not sure either, his smoke look funny!"
The moral? Be sure you send the right signal when you enter strange territory, other wise you may just be flapping your blanket.
River |
Skeeter
Registered user
Username: Skeeter
Post Number: 819
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 10:08 pm: | |
or get eaten for dinner...... |
Seekr777
Registered user
Username: Seekr777
Post Number: 891
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 03, 2010 - 3:49 am: | |
River,
"Well you want obtuse? What's Ramones message going to be a month from now?
"Come on back in kids, the waters fine?""
Just wondering if you really feel that is what Ramone's message is going to be, because to me that is what you seem to be inferring? I don't see that is his heart at all. Maybe I've missed something but I've never seen him waver from simply pointing othesr to Christ and Christ alone.
Richard |
River
Registered user
Username: River
Post Number: 6402
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, July 03, 2010 - 6:34 am: | |
Richard,
You asked me how I feel so I am going to tell you.
No, I do not believe that is what Ramones message is going to be a month from now or a year from now.
I think I made it clear in a previous post that Ramone doesn't know what his job will involve, if in fact the Holy Spirit is leading him, but it won't be as simple as he wrote. But maybe I didn't write it, I have written so many post concerning this and wiped them out, so I may not have.
But for three years I have tried to send out the message that Adventism is not something to go out and participate in every once in a while when you feel like.
I feel that Ramone made a mistake by posting the last paragraph of his post.
I just went back and reread that last paragraph, and it is just as upsetting to me as the last time I read it.
I very strongly feel that the last thing these new ones who are struggling to make their way out of Adventism need to hear is that it is safe to go back and sit in those church services.
They have a long way to go, and I want to make sure they have a chance to get their sea legs under them, and I feel very strongly they should stay out of Adventist churches, until at least they gather strength.
I am not worried about Ramone, it's these new ones that I am concerned with, they are not out of the woods yet, they need to nurse off the milk of the word until they are able to eat the meat of the word, and the last thing they need is to go sit and hear Adventist garbage.
Richard, I am very sympathetic to the new ones who come on here pouring their hearts out, Ramone wants to feel the Adventists burdens, well I already feel the burdens of the new ones, and it weighs heavy on my soul, and I don’t have a great amount of sympathy for the Adventists who would try to draw them back by scaring them, or preaching garbage to them, and I don’t have a whole lot of sympathy with their relatives who would trouble them.
I am far more than sympathetic to those like Cordurb, who are caught in the middle of a crap storm, I cried until there was just no more tears when I heard the story of a man who lost his wife and kids, and had to go on by himself, because she divorced him for his following of the Holy Spirit out of Adventism.
There are some serious issues going on on this forum, and I feel that the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts and lives of these ones, and he’s doing it not because of us, but in spite of us.
Its just best not to ask me how I feel, because I feel something that is deeper than I can describe, and it runs to the very bottom of my soul.
River |
Seekr777
Registered user
Username: Seekr777
Post Number: 892
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 03, 2010 - 9:06 am: | |
River thanks for your response back. You clarified some things for me that help Me understand your heart.
Resting in Him,
Richard |
Hec
Registered user
Username: Hec
Post Number: 1109
Registered: 3-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, July 03, 2010 - 2:45 pm: | |
Hey, River,
I'm OK. I can take it. I still love you my pal.
Hec |
Agapetos
Registered user
Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 2038
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, June 18, 2011 - 2:03 am: | |
Wooooooow, did I miss a lot here! I want to laugh, but... I can't.
Ok, update time, then, 'cause there's just no way I can respond to all that's been written here.
I visited off and on for a few months whenever I had a Saturday off. I work in a wedding ministry on weekends, so it's rare that I have a Saturday morning free enough to go visit my old church.
Going back there was interesting because it's almost completely changed. A few of the people I knew are still there, but most are newer. There are many Africans, actually. It's a kind of stopping-place, I think, for many people. They come through Osaka, look for a local Adventist church, attend while they're here, and then they move on. So there's always a lot of introductions and people who don't really know each other, even each others' names.
Of course, as a result things don't get really deep, even by Adventist terms. They simply don't have time to. I quickly learned that sitting through the worship service was something I'd rather not do. It's just too tiring. Sabbath School is the logical time to "talk" to people, but it's at a really ungodly hour of the morning! (haha)
So I went to Sabbath School a few times, but it's not what it used to be when I was a missionary there. My roommate and I were good California-trained Adventists (lol), meaning that we preferred discussion instead of doing the quarterly by rote. Even when my roommate did try to introduce the quarterly, we didn't stick to it strongly at all or feel bad about not sticking to it. But now... now it's all quarterly and no time for much else. A few of the revolving discussions crop up, like sanctification, other churches, trying to somehow say it's all righteousness by faith and yet hold onto the SDA stuff. Etc. You know how it is.
So even during Sabbath School and the occasional worship service I sat through, I prayed and painted pictures. Of course at times I was screaming inside because of the things being said. But when I prayed, I knew it wasn't the time for me to speak out about things. Which is another reason I started painting then... it was a real cry inside of, "GODDDDD!!!!!!!" Etc.
I got to talk to a few people here and there, but again, there is very little time. If I stayed through worship service and hung around for potluck (or noodles) upstairs, then there was a little more chance to talk and listen, but it's again not quite easy. That's okay. There were some good connections made.
I haven't been back in awhile mainly because of scheduling. At one or two points when there were open Saturdays, I prayed but God said "Not this time." But I know it's not finished, and He's telling me there will be times again in the future.
Bless you all in His love!
Ramone |
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