Dotsie,
I'm Anglican. And no, not everyone attended - we advertised the workshop, it was held at a retreat center, and we had people from other churches attend too - so it was a very nice mix actually.

Those of us who attended from my church agreed at the end of the weekend to have a further "meeting" with our Pastor at a later date, to discuss the weekend, our spiritual gifts, how we were currently serving in the church, how that matched our gifts, and any ideas of where we could perhaps be better suited to serve - thats where the newsletter came in to play for me, with my later meeting with my Pastor...

Hello...your stories of your faith walk have been fascinating! My paternal great-grandpa was a Methodist minister who took the Gospel to Webster County, WV in the mid-late 1800's. On Mom's side, her Daddy was a circuit rider preacher of the Pentacostal faith. I can remember going with him to his little country churches where he would preach his heart out for an hour or so. When the folks would take up offering, he would, many times, be paid in eggs or a ham. What an privilege to have such memories and come from such sturdy stock.

I was raised in the church and have many lovely memories of Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and church camp. When I entered my early twenties I got "too big for my britches" (as the saying goes) and wandered away from church, God and all that "stuff". I spent too many years floundering and wasted so much precious time on nothing that mattered at all...then or now. Those are some of the biggest regrets of my life...wasted time, energy, efforts, resources, relationships, etc.

When in my late thirties, I made a deliberate decision to return to the fold and gave over my life to Christ. He has restored, in ways I could never have imagined, those wasted years. I've had to re-imagine my life and the way I've looked at it...the loss of never having had children but in "adopting" other people as "my" children, as an example.

I have strong Christian based beliefs upon which my life is based. If others share those beliefs -fine. If they don't, that's fine as well. My friends are Christian and non-Christian alike. I base friendship upon how I am treated not whether they share my faith.

I've been in churches where good works constituted entry to heaven. And, I've been in churches where God's grace and faith was the ticket. I suppose I'm pretty much fundamental in what I believe. I believe that if one accepts Christ as their Savior and turns over their life to Him...they are going to heaven. Beyond that I don't have a problem with almost anyone, including snake handlers, which we have in our County :>) YIKES! They believe handling snakes is a sign of their faith (as in Acts). I believe handling snakes will, sooner or later, get them a LOT closer to God! (I just tried to add a smiley face and it stuck its tongue out at me! Is that "God" speaking???) <ggg>

God is good and His mercy is a mystery. I mean, we (the human race) are still here, aren't we? How many of us have *that* kind of patience, to let folks like "us" still procreate. I'm not sure but I think maybe I would have been fed up a few centuries ago.

I love practicing my Christian faith. I love the successes and the failures and the incomprehensible love God has for me...make that ME!!! While we were yet sinners...who, but GOD, could come up with *that* plan? I sure couldn't and can't think of a single friend who could have either.

No other god has as much to offer me. No other faith can fill the longing within me. The only thing that bothers me about the whole business is...would I be this strong about my faith if I were at the business end of being persecuted for my faith? I sincerely hope to never have that question put to me. I mean, I've failed Him so frequently for so little; I'm not sure I would pass a greater test.

Foremost in my mind are God's great grace and mercy...gifts of unimaginable size. I am so very thankful.

Sandra

Sandra, you mentioned wandering for a bit and not doing curch. I did the same and am so grateful for the turn of events that brought me back. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> Reminds me of Lynn's quote about hard times not being bad. In retrospect, I always find that to be true!

There are times I wonder where I'd be without my faith. Can't quite imagine that now that I've been back for twenty years. Wow, didn't realize it had been that long since I continued the interrupted journey from childhood.

Reflecting on the before and after wandering stage, I must say mine are very different faiths. The God of my childhood was a very judgemental God. I was more afraid of than in love with Him.

My new God that I found through Jesus Christ is a God of love, forgiveness and compassion...a true friend who will never leave me! Now that's a comfort! It's nice to know I share it with so many in these forums, my sisters in Christ.

Sandra you wrote:
"The only thing that bothers me about the whole business is...would I be this strong about my faith if I were at the business end of being persecuted for my faith? I sincerely hope to never have that question put to me. I mean, I've failed Him so frequently for so little; I'm not sure I would pass a greater test."

I often wonder about that myself these days...especially when I read about someone else being so strong in faith despite persecution...I wonder what I would do......maybe that is why it is important to remember to pray for faith as well, not just take it for granted that we have it but pray that it be strengthened and grow?

Well...it's tough being honest. I've found a lot of people just don't want honesty...not really. What they want is the "concept" of honesty, but when the talk turns totally honest...people get uncomfortable.

I read recently about people who say they like change and even welcome it into their lives. What the article (or story or whatever it was) said was that actually people like change WHEN THEY CONTROL IT. That was a lightbulb moment for me because I've always been one of those who "liked change". I now realize that I've liked change when I controlled what the change was...totally different thing. When God sends me change, I can sometimes take a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g t-i-m-e to accept it.

Do I really want stronger faith? Um...yes, if the price isn't too great. So, do I pray for greater faith? Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

What I pray for, mostly, is for God to give me the strength to do the work He sets before me.

I wandered away from my faith and God for many years before deciding I really could NOT do this life thing on my own. I made so many bad decisions, so many bad mistakes but wouldn't change what I've learned for anything. I've met folks who were brought up like I was (in the church) and who never left. They have absolutely NO idea what's it's like living a non-Christian life. They simply cannot relate to people who are hurting by drugs or alcohol or lots of other "stuff".

I was in a women's seminiar once and the speaker told us a story of how she had been a prostitute (for men or wome...didn't matter as long as they had the $$$), living on the streets of NYC, had a drug addiction, alcohol problem and I forget what else. She met a street missionary who told her the Gospel of Jesus and she accepted Christ as her Lord. BUT, for the next six months she continued her old lifestyle. Why? Because no one told her she needed to get into a church, get off the street, change her ways, etc. She simply didn't know to change.

Her question to the group was, "If I had died in those first six months...would I have gone to heaven or hell?"

From some of the responses she got, it makes me glad God is in charge!

It takes ALL of us to do what God wants done. We each have a mission, we each have talents, we each have a job in His kingdom.

I just realized I'm rambling...sorry.

ramble away, you make some very good points, good food for thought!

Re: liking change when you control the change - never heard it expressed like that before, but I can see how that is true, especially for me. I could handle job loss, etc when I felt I had some control over my future - there is so much more stress when a major life change occurs that you feel you have no control over - takes a lot deeper trust in God for the outcome doesn't it?

Seems like control is just a perception. Even when I think I'm in control, I don't really have the power to exercise it. Power seems to come from giving up control.

Does that make sense?

smile

Evie and Sandra, your posts remind me of a Women Of Faith COnference I attended a couple years ago.

Talk about how far you would go to stand up for your faith...Heather Mercer and Dana Curry spoke at this conference. They're the two young gals who were taken hostage in Afghanistan for teaching Christianity to women and children. DOn't know if you recall but it was shortly before the Sept. 11th attacks. They were being held by the Taliban with Afghanistan women. They were rescued after over 100 days in prison. Riveting story to lsiten to them share how they whispered songs and verses, and prayers in spite of their capture. Tremendous faith. I sat there wondering if I would have had the courage, and if I would have even gone in the first place. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

I like to take myself off the hook by saying, different gifts, different ministry. Cop-out?

Their book is Prisoners of Hope. Still haven't read it, but this reminds me it's one I want to read.

Lisa Beamer was also at that conference. She was unbelievable. Well, because of her faith, I did believe her! I got her book at the conference and devoured it within days. WONDERFUL and full of such inspiration.

I guess I could relate to her more than the girls. Losing a husband and having three kids to raise is something I still fear.

God give us strength to do your will no matter what it is or where we are....right? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

*Life* is just a perception...albeit a very real one! I think Albert Einstein said that.

Women of Faith - thanks for reminding me I haven't visited their website for a while. It's a great website, full of wonderful information. I especially love the "chumminess" feel to it.

Barbara Johnson's news is sad, we need to keep her in our prayers. I really have enjoyed her books over the years.

I think I'll try to find Prisoner's of Hope. If the local library doesn't have it, I'll have to wait until we visit a "big city" bookstore. Also the Beamer book. They both sound great.

God does give us strength; bless His name!

I was raised so Catholic.Uncle a priest,cousin a nun,Catholic school all the way through college.
In a nut shell I left for a Charismatic church in my 20's. It was good and the word of God came alive for me.It lasted for a couple years but I didn't like the "classes" I saw in the church.
Most of all I missed receiving communion when I went to church.I believe the water and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ.I believe this because the Bible says-"This is my body, this is my blood" ,not this is a sumbol of My body- or this represents My blood.
So I returned to the Eucharist and some quiet.
It is good,it is home, but the Word isn't on fire.
So I thank God for my personal relationship with Jesus Christ because He is my friend. He knows when I love Him .He knows when I'm mad at Him.It is solid at times and tenuous at times but the only constant in my life.
Church rules-any rules-were never very big with me,but friendship is.So my faith is in that relationship I have with Christ.