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27th July 2009, 09:24 AM
|  | Veteran
43    
 | | Join Date: 10th December 2007 Location: Kentucky
Posts: 1,144
Blessings: 49,943 My Mood 
Reps: 4,313,981 (power: 4,319) | | | The nothing .... I am here. This helps. I will be still and know that God is God.
__________________
Ring the bells that still can ring;
Forget your perfect offering.
There's a crack in everything,
That's how The Light shines through.
~adapted from Leonard Cohen |
27th July 2009, 11:05 AM
| | Newbie
  
| | Join Date: 12th May 2009
Posts: 198
Blessings: 47,154 My Mood 
Reps: 9,512,678,619,294,536 (power: 9,512,678,619,297) | | Originally Posted by EyezOFire  When you leave the church system, there is a period of nothingness. Dont be scared by it, dont try to run from it. But rather embrace it. This nothingness is something that every believer who has left must face. No great "callings" no "spiritual ambitions" no activity, just you, God, your family, and the day before you. The menial things in which often get overlooked in the believers life because of ministry or various church activity. And yet... While there is nothing, something is actually taking place. Huge chunks of Religion, misconceptions about God, Bad Theology are being purged from deep within. You find that you begin to see who God really is, you see Jesus more clearly. The scales have fallen off the eyes. Many people are reluctant to go into that place of nothingness because you face what you really believe, you face things that are deep down inside of you. By embracing the nothing you actually get closer to God or should I say you realize how close He is to you. I'm not sure I can ramble on too much about all of this because I dont have many words to describe it. Remember the Movie the Never Ending Story how the nothing was destroying the world in the book. It's very similar how the Lord sends the nothing to destroy the world in which you used to walk in, all the while recreating a whole knew whole reality rooted in His very being and in His love.
Thank you. This is a great post.  |
17th November 2009, 11:00 AM
|  | Erkamka na Adonai
 
| | Join Date: 20th April 2009 Location: Shetland Islands, Scotland
Posts: 230
Blessings: 161,792 My Mood 
Reps: 640,180,888,870 (power: 640,180,891) | | | I just met up with the Nothing.
We left church 4 weeks or so ago, and the fuss and 'to-do' surrounding that has lasted til now.
I have been here before, but had forgotten this part, when you fear it's all sliding away.
Thanks for the encouragement!
By the way, does anyone know the link for an e-book that I found here once, about a guy called Joel (I think) who meets a man he thinks is the Apostle John at the worst moment of his life? |
20th November 2009, 02:10 AM
| | Senior Member
56  
| | Join Date: 9th October 2009 Location: Rogue River, Oregon
Posts: 636
Blessings: 25,326,431 My Mood 
Reps: 400,546,320,683,932,352 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by mercyreigns I just met up with the Nothing.
We left church 4 weeks or so ago, and the fuss and 'to-do' surrounding that has lasted til now.
I have been here before, but had forgotten this part, when you fear it's all sliding away.
Thanks for the encouragement!
By the way, does anyone know the link for an e-book that I found here once, about a guy called Joel (I think) who meets a man he thinks is the Apostle John at the worst moment of his life?
Hi Mercy,
I have been reading this thread and appreciating the kindred spirits as folks have related being separated out of their long time Church homes. It has been about 27 years since I was first "released". Since then I've drawn and been drawn so much closer to Jesus that I've come to know Him in a more personal intimate way than any Church system could have ever assisted me with. Personal study and prayer is authentic in a way that a "church" system could never cultivate within an individual. I've found that the "Church" is truly comprised of those individuals out there like me, who Love the Lord with all they have, and who have no institution or physical house of worship that has to be scheduled into their calendar.
May you be Blessed Mercy, and those of you out there who are one in Christ with me, even though you seem alone, you are not 
Blessings to all,
Son of Israel |
20th November 2009, 03:46 PM
| | When I awake I am still with You
 
| | Join Date: 4th March 2004 Location: Somewhere
Posts: 11,853
Blessings: 1,009,977
Reps: 48,115,991,515,050,112 (power: 48,115,991,515,069) | | Originally Posted by mercyreigns I just met up with the Nothing.
We left church 4 weeks or so ago, and the fuss and 'to-do' surrounding that has lasted til now.
I have been here before, but had forgotten this part, when you fear it's all sliding away.
Thanks for the encouragement!
By the way, does anyone know the link for an e-book that I found here once, about a guy called Joel (I think) who meets a man he thinks is the Apostle John at the worst moment of his life?
You'll be ok. But yes, it's a bit like those dreams where you're sliding rapidly into nothing, then you wake up before hitting the bottom!
The book...
"So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore"
Order if you want a hard copy, or just read it free online.
So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore
The podcasts on here are a good companion for the "out of religious boxes" journey too...
The God Journey - Podcast, Blog, Forum
Blessings on your way, stay in touch!
__________________
I lay myself in God's hands.
I'm His problem, not the other way around.
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Asaph
|
21st November 2009, 10:17 AM
| | Erkamka na Adonai
| | Join Date: 20th April 2009 Location: Shetland Islands, Scotland
Posts: 230
Blessings: 161,792 My Mood
Reps: 640,180,888,870 (power: 640,180,891) | | | Oh yes that's the book I was looking for, Thank's Sue.
I'm going to bookmark it so I don't lose it again, I was so touched by it when I read it before.
I will speak to you soon. |
24th November 2009, 07:54 PM
|  | χάρις~ because of Grace
 
| | Join Date: 17th August 2009
Posts: 5,037
Blessings: 3,070,492,363 My Mood
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,784) | | Originally Posted by EyezOFire When you leave the church system, there is a period of nothingness. Dont be scared by it, dont try to run from it. But rather embrace it. This nothingness is something that every believer who has left must face. No great "callings" no "spiritual ambitions" no activity, just you, God, your family, and the day before you. The menial things in which often get overlooked in the believers life because of ministry or various church activity. And yet... While there is nothing, something is actually taking place. Huge chunks of Religion, misconceptions about God, Bad Theology are being purged from deep within. You find that you begin to see who God really is, you see Jesus more clearly. The scales have fallen off the eyes. Many people are reluctant to go into that place of nothingness because you face what you really believe, you face things that are deep down inside of you. By embracing the nothing you actually get closer to God or should I say you realize how close He is to you. I'm not sure I can ramble on too much about all of this because I dont have many words to describe it. Remember the Movie the Never Ending Story how the nothing was destroying the world in the book. It's very similar how the Lord sends the nothing to destroy the world in which you used to walk in, all the while recreating a whole knew whole reality rooted in His very being and in His love.
Thank you for these encouraging thoughts. In my time of 'nothingness',
I've found that even listening to daily radio or TV broadcasts can interfere
with what the Holy Spirit is teaching me personally, if I'm not careful to set
aside time to hear from Him first.
__________________ It is said of Jesus, 'He found His rest in loving you...'
~*~
Our rest is complete~ Jesus' strength is made perfect
in my weakness.
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~*~
|
24th November 2009, 08:08 PM
| | Regular Member
28
| | Join Date: 16th July 2004
Posts: 468
Blessings: 61,045
Reps: 27,093,503,533,044 (power: 27,093,503,541) | | | Just in case it hasn't been said:
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
And concerning ambitions not related to the gospel:
Philippians 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
But if you have been a Christian for some time you probably already knew that. | | |
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