| Author | Message | ||
| Benevento Registered user Username: Benevento Post Number: 67 Registered: 4-2005 |
Proclamiation came today, and inspite of all the errands I had to do today I read Dr McBride's article. I will save it for a reference. How true we think we have conquered one step and it comes back again later. I had decided it would always be that way. I think I am through mourning my husbands death and at times I am overcome with a sadness and lonliness, I want to shout does anyone else feel like this? And I know they do--I will re-read it many times--and watch for the warning signs!! I still look forward to the rest of the magazine but this was so helpful. Peggy | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2061 Registered: 3-2004  |
Benevento, There are the stages of grief that one goes through, whether it is a death, divorce or leaving familiar territory, like leaving the SDA church. They are not nice even stages where one runs into the other. One jumps back and forth between the various states even with acceptance. Just keep close to God. Jesus is holding you in His awesome arms and will not drop you. Diana | ||
| Benevento Registered user Username: Benevento Post Number: 69 Registered: 4-2005 |
I agree,Diana, I think we all go through the stages of grief, and that was why I thought it was like a divorce, as opposed to a death. With death it is over and you come to realize it, but with a divorce the other party (the church) is still there. I don't think I have had as traumatic a time as some, but it is traumatic for all of us. but I do think the "guideposts" in the article were so helpful, to remind us its normal to grieve. We all resist change, even when it is a good change and I am so thankful to have found the joy, freedom and peace that God has led me into. But this website does ease the pain of change. Thank you all. I have been attending a church where some people have left other Evangical churches to come to this one mostly because of the activity here, there is something for everyone todo, they didn't change their beliefs, and I thought very few of them understand the kind of change we have made to attend and worship at a church like this.I met one couple who knew about the SDA church and felt it was unBiblical, but most of them think of it as another evangical church, and don't really know. One more reason this website is so helpful! | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 110 Registered: 10-2005 |
I just got the Proclamation! today. There are not too many things that I read entirely that come in the mail, but this I've started to read and will complete it today. It is very encouraging. God is Good! | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2078 Registered: 11-2002 |
My son recently was released from the state prison. He has paroled to my home until he gets on his feet and can get his own place. While in prison I was having Proclamation! sent to him. The new issue of Proclamation! came in my mail last week and he was driving the car and I was sitting next to him in the front passanger seat completely absorbed in reading my beloved magazine. My son looks over at me reading the magazine and says, "Oh, that's that 'lets punk over the Adventists magazine'." He went on to tell me he has seen all sorts of lowlifes and no-goods during his years of being locked up and he just doesn't see the big deal if the Adventist church is wrong or right or any other church for that matter. If someone wants to believe in a doorknob and that belief gives that person a better life so he stays on the right side of the law then so what? At least it is being a positive force in that persons life. Of all my children this is the one who actually attends church the most of any of them and honestly reads the Bible more than any of the others so I know he has the book-learning of the Bible down. He honestly, truly actually likes attending church. He honestly, truly doesn't see the big deal if this detail or that detail of understanding of truth is right or wrong. His belief is if the belief causes the person to have a more positive outlook on like and a better life than the person would have without that belief then it is a good belief. So, Colleen, he's out now. You can take him off the Proclamation! mailing list. I, on the otherhand, totally devour each and every issue of Proclamation! I have every issue ever put out all nice and neet in binders. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2086 Registered: 3-2004 |
Susan, I will pray for this son of yours. I will pray that the Holy Spirit open his eyes and teach him. Take care Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3050 Registered: 12-2003  |
Praying also, Susan. I'll remove his name from the list! Colleen | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 519 Registered: 4-2000  |
Colleen, The latest issue of Proclamation magazine arrived today in our mailbox. It is outstanding in format and content as always. The reason that I am mentioning the arrival of Proclamation here in Nebraska today, is so that you are aware of the mailing timeframe in different postal zones. Dennis Fischer | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2092 Registered: 3-2004 |
I received my Proclamation this weekend. I have not had the time to sit down and read it through, as that is what I usually do. I cannot just read one article and leave the rest. Again, it is well done with God centered articles. Thank you Colleen and Richard. God is surely using you. Diana | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 595 Registered: 7-2004 |
Colleen, This is the first issue that my husband has actually sat down and read for himself (usually I am reading out loud and exclaiming, "WOW! Listen to this....!"). He loved it, especially the articles from Dr. Stanley Rouhe (whom he remembered from LL) and Greg Taylor. It means so much to me to be sharing "my" magazine with him! Thanks so much! It is a huge encouragement to know others who are on the same journey that we remember from our SDA past. My husband kept saying, "We are the pioneers, Denise!" I really enjoyed "How to Leave a Church and Survive the Wilderness." Leaving the comfort of belonging and acceptance is difficult and Dr. McBride had some excellent insight and valuable suggestions in surviving the traumatic transition. I would highly recommend this article to those who are just in the beginning stages of leaving Adventism. Thanks, again, to Colleen and Richard for their time and efforts in making Proclamation such an outstanding ministry. Denise | ||
| Brian3 Registered user Username: Brian3 Post Number: 24 Registered: 8-2005 |
Have the PDF versions gone out in email? | ||
| Brian3 Registered user Username: Brian3 Post Number: 25 Registered: 8-2005 |
Nevermind. I had a senior moment. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3057 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thank you for letting us know of the arrival, Dennis, Diana, Denise, and others earlier. Denise, to hear of your husband "owning" the leaving and seeing it as pioneering is nothing short of a miracle. Praise God! Colleen | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 85 Registered: 12-2004 |
People with Proclamation, You folks are again stirring covetousness feelings in me. Apparently, the Dogsled Express has not crossed north of the 49th yet. I wlll just have to be patient, and alas keep the coffeepot hot, tend the fire, fasten my parka, brave the northern tundra, keep my eyes focused on the horizon, and get my horn out of cold storage. I dare say we will hear about the Second Coming 2 weeks late because the mail will be stuck at the border. Impatiently, Randy | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 86 Registered: 12-2004 |
Denise, Hi again, Which one of the Huttons did you marry? As I recall their were/are/is 2-3 of them. Related to Ilo? Its a long time ago, Randy We will be seeing Bill and Bonnie over Christmas. | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 597 Registered: 7-2004 |
Randy, I am married to Ilo's middle son, Greg. I would love to spend some time sharing stories with you. Colleen has my email address if you are interested in corresponding (formeradventist@yahoo.com - I think???). Your friend in Christ, Denise | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1084 Registered: 3-2005 |
Denise, as i said on another thread, the story of Dr. Stanley Rouhe is truly a miracle. He was one of my teachers at Loma Linda med school, and I would never have believed that he would be writing an article in proclamation. God's miraculous saving grace never ceases to amaze me. Stan | ||
| Insearchof Registered user Username: Insearchof Post Number: 41 Registered: 8-2005 |
I suppose I will wait patiently for the new issue of Proclamation...actually, it will be my first 'offical' issue. I live in the country - others refer to it as 'geographically undesireable', so it may take an extra week to get here... InSearchOf | ||
| Dennisrainwater Registered user Username: Dennisrainwater Post Number: 126 Registered: 8-2000 |
We are "Rurally Challenged", too ;-) I can't wait till I find our copy in our ice-encrusted mailbox! (It's awfully cold and crunchy back here in the Carolinas today!) Den <>< | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 801 Registered: 7-2004 |
Dennis, I live in the highly populated San Francisco Bay Area, and my Proclamation didn't arrive until yesterday. I've finally accepted the fact that people on here will be talking about current issues for almost two weeks before I can get my hands on my own copy. Belva | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 89 Registered: 12-2004 |
FINALLY my copy arrived today. Thank-you Colleen for the hard work you and your staff have put into this issue and ministry. I have found all the articles to be spot on and extremely relevant. And thank-you for getting it here before Christmas as we will be having many guests, and you can bet that many discussions will materialize over the next couple of weeks regarding my spiritual walk. Kindest regards, Randy | ||
| Mrsbrian3 Registered user Username: Mrsbrian3 Post Number: 28 Registered: 8-2005 |
For those of us who don't have the fruit of patience, we subscribe to the e-mail version. We've had ours since late November. Thanks for that PDF version!!! Kim | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 605 Registered: 7-2004 |
Randy, I am really impressed with you and your ability to share confidently with your family. My family (my parents and my in-laws) chose to ignore our spiritual walks. They never ask any questions and whenever we begin to talk about our love for Jesus or make comments of the happenings at our church (Sunday), there is a literal "twitch" of those in the room. This last weekend we were at a funeral for a beloved cousin. The day following the service we were all together letting the kids play together. When someone (who has never been SDA) found out we are no longer SDA they exclaimed loudly, "What?! You don't go to church on Saturday anymore?!!" As we began to explain our difficult but wonderful journey of accepting the New Covenant and our grasp of Jesus' grace (without mentioning any SDA doctrine), the SDAs in the room slowly slipped out of the room! We have left our copies of Proclamation out when SDA family have been over to visit - it has been almost comical to watch their reaction. You would think it was a Playboy magazine the way they quickly look elsewhere when they realize what the magazine is!!  Does anyone else's family do this, too? How do you handle it? It seems best to us to not preach but maybe that is just the "chicken" in us? We have told several families we are happy to share with them where we are spiritually but nobody has ever asked. We know we are discussed at great length because of some of the comments the cousins make to our kids and things others in the community have mentioned. It's a real dilemna for us...should we write a long letter and explain or just continue in our walk of faith? Randy, you and your family will be in my prayers as you all get together to celebrate during this remarkable season. Denise | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3101 Registered: 12-2003 |
Oh, Dd--I understand! Richard's family does the "look away" thing and some of them change the subject if spiritual issues come up. Others goad him/us into conversations and then argue. (I know, we're responsible when we take the bait!) Some of his relatives asked to be removed from the Proclamation list; others receive it but never mention it. There seems to be a decided "hardening" in some, but I know that God is sovereign even over them. The most amazing thing (although I do understand where they're coming from) is their resistance to talking about Jesus and salvation, or if they do, it's all in slick phrases that sound orthodox but underneath you KNOW what they really mean, and it isn't Biblical. One particularly hostile relative said to me recently, "Oh, I pray for the Holy Spirit to teach me and to guide me into truth. if I were wrong, I WOULD want to know!" I replied, "How would you know if you were wrong?" Silence. Sigh. Colleen | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 90 Registered: 12-2004 |
Denise and Colleen, I suspect that some of my enthusiasm and lack of timidity is borne of my naivety(ouch). As I mentioned to someone dear to me, "you don't argue about Good News, you only share it". I will trust that the Holy Spirit will guide my answers, just as I trust the Holy Spirit will prompt pertinent and relevant questions. I can understand that doubts will abound regarding my journey, nontheless authenticity and truth will prevail despite the unworthiness of this mouthpiece. May God bless us with answers, Randy | ||
| Carol_2 Registered user Username: Carol_2 Post Number: 386 Registered: 2-2002  |
Well, my Proclamation just arrived (and I'm in the Atlanta suburbs!!!) I'm curious, Colleen, are you being attacked more than usual? The letters to the editor gave me this impression. And I have to tell you, "One of God's Warriors" really creeped me out! God bless you Colleen for all you do, and your husband too. I know you are in all our prayers, but I just ask everyone to make some extra time to pray for Colleen, Richard, and their ministry. Love and prayers, Carol | ||
| Carol_2 Registered user Username: Carol_2 Post Number: 387 Registered: 2-2002 |
P.S. Dr. McBride was actually the pastor at my mother's church, a small congregation in Illinois, across the river from St. Louis. My mother just loved him, and I can specifically remember her telling me when he left the church that he had been deceived by some strange way of thinking. Made it sound almost as if he'd been possessed or something. I didn't realize he was in Rome, Georgia! I'll have to go check out his church sometime. Love you all, Carol | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3119 Registered: 12-2003 |
How interesting, Carol! I think the "attacks" are fairly consistent; occasionally the letters are more vitriolic than other times. I thank all of you for your prayers. Richard commented that he suspected it is peoples' prayers for us that keep us from being "disabled" by some of the open hate--or fear expressed as hate. I thank God for providing people to pray and for sending all of you who have become real sources of encouragement and support and fellowship. God is so faithful to us all! Colleen |
