It's my first day here and I will probably be scanning the forums to see what is being discussed here.
I already see two catagories that grabbed my interest, (Home churches and 7th day Sabbath).
I am relatively new to these subjects so forgive my ignorance. I am currently reading "Pagan Christianity" by Frank Viola/George Barna. I hope some of you have read this book and can help me understand some areas.
Having been through many beliefs, (Armanianism, Calvinism, Pentacostalism, Historic Baptist, Messianic, Charasmaticism, Rastafarianism... just kidding on that last one...lol), I am now back to square one. I sat aside man's doctrines and started something that I have never done before. I opened the bible and began to read, from the beginning, no jumping around, not worrying about something that I don't understand at the moment, just reading. For the pure pleasure of engrossing myself in the Word. When ever some doctrine filtered into my mind, I would stop and pray that the Spirit would help me through this and have me see His truth. Amazing things started to happen! LOL
Anyway, I shall continue with this as I peruse this forum. I may have a question for time to time, please treat me as a babe. But I have been crawling and drinking milk for far too long.
And Welcome to the exact same place I have come to... starting all over again! I really like the term "pagan christianity" but I have not read the book. Do you mind telling me a little about it?
Are you Irish? In 1993 I traveled to Ireland with a group called Teen Missions. It was really beautiful there!
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Indeed, Paddy, you will find kindred spirits here -I was "born" catholic, raised methodist, saved baptist, filled pentecostal... and with a few other stops along the way ( I was offered ordination in a Japanese fellowship, but didn't pursue it) here we are -- "The Kingdom of God is Within Me". What a long, strange trip it's been!
Welcome, and blessings, and be sure and give us an overview of your current daily life, and your transition from Buildings to Life.
Thanks for responding. It's always nice to be greeted and made welcome, and yes, I do feel like I am starting "all over again".
The book, "Pagan Christianity" came to me by way of another forum I belong to called Prophecy News Watch. Their focus is on current world events in relation to eschatology which has always been an interest for me. The book though is quite interesting. It looks at how the early church operated and by what means it came to be what it is today. When reading books like this, whenever they quote scripture, I always check them and do the research and so far, I have found nothing that I disagree with. I knew of Constantine, but never really studied him and was quite shocked at what I found out. And to also find out that he was responsible for much of what the church is today and his background, I began to understand why I felt things I did while in an institutional church.
I ordered a copy for my sister from amazon.com and I believe I got a used copy for 9.00, (including shipping), if you want to check it out. the authors are list in my initial post. And from perusing this forum, I see that some are already familiar with George Barna here and like his works. So I guess I am in good company here.
Yes, I am very Irish, although I was born in America and have lived here all my life. I would have liked to have visited Ireland, but alas, finances never made it possible. I do have another place I would rather visit though and you can probably guess that it is Israel, for the obvious reasons...lol.
Finances probably wont allow that either but, hey, you never know what God has in mind. And I will get to see the New Jerusalem anyway one day.
Guess I had better tell you something about myself too. I live in Arizona. I am male, 55, been married 36 years in November. I have two grown daughters who have blessed me with four grandchildren. I currently am on my first read through the entire bible, (I figured it was about time since I got saved in 1983)...lol. I love to read other things as well but I rarely get the time.
I have a forum of my own, well 2 actually, but one is now the archive for the newer one. I hesitate to talk about it in here though as I am not sure of this forums rules on that. This is actually the third and fourth in a row, but in the first two, I found myself "unequally yoked" with atheist's, and all kinds of other folks that caused alot of problems so I struck out on my own. They all started out as a focus on Islam, but God has lead me down many other path's since then. It is now a news and information forum for all all world events pertaining to prophecy. I don't allow anyone under the age of 18 in there because of the nature of the news today, it seems we are quite close to "the times of Noah". Most of those that belong to it are "watchers". We share what we know and learn and prepare.
I sometimes feel like the long-haired guy standing on the street with the sandwich board proclaiming "THE END IS NEAR"...LOL.
Anyway, this is getting quite long and I do have to respong to Laurie ann's post as well.
You sound alot like me running through the "gamut" of religions. As for my current daily life, I get up and pray and read some in the bible. The rest is pretty much the same as everyone else's. Some of what I do during the day is decribed in my post to Matthew. The forum takes some of my time every day except Saturday.
Over the course of the last three weeks, I have been attemting to observe the last day sabbath. This has been a chore so far as the rest of my family doesn't understand as yet. My wife loves it...lol, (No cooking or cleaning). We aren't trying to follow the Rabbinical laws on this though as I don't think Christians should. But we do try to keep it as a day of rest, and in that rest, focus on God and what He would have us do. Jesus provided us several examples of this in the N.T.. No weedeating, repairing cars, painting though, which I like...lol.
I have found that by doing this, the rest of the week seems to be less stressful, and flow along alot smoother. Not to mention the relation building with God that goes on on the Sabbath. No t.v., no computer, just Him *sighs*
I found your signature to be funny as that is what my wife says as well.
Well, I hope that answers your questions, I have to get to work around here or wife will think I am goofing off.
Peace be with you Laurie All Praise to Yah Paddy
P.S. I just got a reply from a gentleman that is with a local home church here. Praise God! He is inviting me to call him and join his assembly. I cannot wait to see what this is like.
I will welcome you too! What great first posts you have written! It fills me with joy to hear you are focusing yourself anew on reading the Bible- and that God is revealing Himself to you in new and fresh ways! I look forward to hearing more of what you are learning for sure!
I haven't read Pagan christianity, but have heard of it- maybe I will pick it up! I became interested in the way the early church met- and my husband and I (and our 4 kids) got involved in home church about 2 years ago. It has been a great 2 years! I am growing in my relationship with the Lord, am reading the Word with fresh eyes, and have seen the Lord use me in neighbors lives more than ever before which has been so exciting (I think mainly due to the fact that I have more time to hang out with them now that I am not so busy helping run church programs ). I was raised Methodist, saved in college through a non-denominational group called the Navigators, and been involved in both non-denominational, and babtist churchs until the before mentioned 2 yrs ago.
Thanks for responding. It's always nice to be greeted and made welcome, and yes, I do feel like I am starting "all over again".
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I just missed your reply. I'm pretty much the "blabber mouth" on here!
quote:The book, "Pagan Christianity" came to me...
I did a lot of Googling after I wrote that, and I think I'm pretty much living what he wrote about. The trouble I'm having is finding a home church that isn't really just a small "institutionalized church" in someone's house. You know; sing, listen to teaching, sing, fellowship for a few minutes, go home. Duty done.
quote: Yes, I am very Irish, although I was born in America and have lived here all my life. I would have liked to have visited Ireland, but alas, finances never made it possible.
IF you don't mind suffering through the realm of heck, (one level above hell) then Teen Missions is the way I got over there. You can go for free ...if you're willing to head-lead a team of crazy teens! You can co-lead for airfare.
quote:I do have another place I would rather visit though and you can probably guess that it is Israel, for the obvious reasons...lol.
My folks have always wanted to do that. They finally went a year or two ago, and I think it really blessed them.
I'm pretty much a home body. I'm a stay at home dad and everything! I've been all over, but it was never my idea!!!
quote:Guess I had better tell you something about myself too. I live in Arizona. I am male, 55, been married 36 years in November. I have two grown daughters who have blessed me with four grandchildren.
Thanks for telling me about yourself and your family! My parents married "late" (they were in their late twenties). I carried the tradition even further by staying single until I was 36. My wife and I now have two children. We have a daughter that is here with us, and then another child in heaven that we lost to a miscarriage just a few months ago. That was really hard!
quote:I have a forum of my own, well 2 actually, but one is now the archive for the newer one. I hesitate to talk about it in here though as I am not sure of this forums rules on that.
Wow, about to get booted your first week!!! JUST KIDDING! As far as I can tell, D. Anderson doesn't have a jealous bone in his body! The "unequally yoked" thing is really big for me too. I have really enjoyed being here, and being able to learn, share, and heal with like minded folk. I'm still pretty beat up... anger and all of that.
quote:...it seems we are quite close to "the times of Noah". Most of those that belong to it are "watchers". We share what we know and learn and prepare.
Are you familiar with Rick Joyner? I have only heard that term used in his writings.
quote:I sometimes feel like the long-haired guy standing on the street with the sandwich board proclaiming "THE END IS NEAR"...LOL.
The "crying in the wilderness" bit? From my experience, you had better get used to that!
Sorry, took me a while to respond as I have been quite busy. We attended an "organic" church yesterday. They described it as a home church in a public setting. And it was exactly as you described above, an "institutional church" disguised and a home/organic church. *sigh*.
If I had a dime...yada, yada, yada. This is becoming depressing. My sister and I went with our spouses and we left and didn't speak for about ten minutes on the way home. Then I said, I will keep looking and everyone nodded in agreement.
I know God wants us somewhere, that's why I am glad that I found like-minded believers here. Helps to keep me sane...lol.
You asked if I knew Rick Joyner, no can't say as I have. The phrase I repeat alot, "times of Noah", is simply because I keep asking myself as I scan the daily news, "just how bad WERE the times of Noah"? We witness the depravity of man daily and each day it boggles the mind. I thank God daily for His saving grace for without it, I would fall in line with the rest of the world.
And I am used the the "crying in the wilderness" thingie...lol. We spend alot of time in a chat room on Paltalk doing exactly that. We do try to warn anyone that will listen but many just write us off as wingnuts...lol.
I did find a chat room today called "Church at Home". They do "home church" in a chat room and everyone contributes as it should be. It comes out of Australia and it is on "Adelaide" time which is one of those weird 1/2 hour time zones. They do studies at different times during the day so people here in the US don't have to get up at 1 am. So far, that is about all I know but here is their web site for you to peruse: http://churchathome-au.com/ I can't tell you much about it as yet because I don't know anything, but I will research them.
Anyway, I am pooped for now and I need some rest, and I see there is another post I got to get to before I get off here.
Ty for your warm welcome. I have loved every moment being in this forum so far. I was getting pretty depressed trying to find people that thought as I do. Many called me a "heretic", (or is that "hairy tick"), for walking away from the church institutions. I didn't condemn them, I just left telling them that I needed "something else", and I didn't even know what 'that' was. I got introduced to home churches by another forum that I frequent. Then someone told me about this forum and here I am.
As you can see from the post above, I am still looking. Until then, I will continue to study at home and with my sister and with online friends until we find a good 'family'.
I am so happy for you that you found one that suited you. I know God will provide for us as well in His time. We will just have to wait for Him.
Sorry, took me a while to respond as I have been quite busy. We attended an "organic" church yesterday. They described it as a home church in a public setting. And it was exactly as you described above, an "institutional church" disguised and a home/organic church. *sigh*.
If I had a dime...yada, yada, yada. This is becoming depressing. My sister and I went with our spouses and we left and didn't speak for about ten minutes on the way home. Then I said, I will keep looking and everyone nodded in agreement.
I know God wants us somewhere, that's why I am glad that I found like-minded believers here. Helps to keep me sane...lol.
Ah ha! We are at the same place, it would seem (the "this is becoming depressing" place). I have found D Anderson, Laurie Ann, and JeanneH to be quite like-minded here. We do not always see exactly eye-to-eye (on everything), but we do have very similar understandings of what The Body of Christ should be about doing ...and it's not "going to church" but being The Church. I also understand that others can be somewhere else "in the amazing maze" of Christianity and be right where The lord wants them to be. I don't think I'm "ahead" of others, but just in a different place.
quote:You asked if I knew Rick Joyner, no can't say as I have. The phrase I repeat alot, "times of Noah"...
No, not that! I mean the "watcher" expression. I have defiantly heard "the times of Noah" expression, and I am quite familiar with that concept. (Matthew 24:37 etc...)
quote:And I am used the the "crying in the wilderness" thingie...lol. We spend alot of time in a chat room on Paltalk doing exactly that. We do try to warn anyone that will listen but many just write us off as wingnuts...lol.
Oh, I thought I kinda cornered the market on that accusation! Thanks for the web addresses. I'll really have to look into those! This is pretty much my "church" as well, having run into IC in the HC myself (maybe the IHC ). May The Lord be with you as you search for a place to fellowship. I think it is quite rare to find what you are looking for, and that's why I'm here!
On your recommendation I recently read Pagan Christianity. I liked it very much! We could take any chapter and have quite an interesting discussion around here about it, don't you think?
One thing that I thought while reading about his descriptions of organic church though, is that someone could think it was something very difficult to achieve. I think we have to remember that simple church is just that- simple! We do need to strive for an atmosphere where each person present can participate (heirarchical structures do so easily creep in), and then we allow the spirit to work through each other as He pleases. I think you have a great start with your sister and your spouses! I think you should be encouraged rather than discouraged right now! I praise God for you!
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I really like the term "pagan christianity" but I have not read the book. Do you mind telling me a little about it? ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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