Recent content by daffers234

I know how you feel because I have gone through much of the same sorts of things myself. A couple of years ago I went through what one might call a "desert experience." I describe it best by saying I felt like a tree or plant that had gone dormant. The desire for God was still there, but I was...

Hi and welcome! :)

Sounds like you're taking the right steps. I went through a rough spiritual patch myself that really improved when I began being deliberate about my relationship with God, and I am sure it will help you, now that you are taking the same steps. I would encourage you to do the following: 1. Read...

I'm 33 and I think my life would have been viewed as better several years ago when I was on my own and such. I went back to school, got myself in some debt and am back living with my folks until I can get a better career and move on. I've always had trouble with cars (which tend to fry/break...

Anybody out there a fan of Australian football? I have been a fan for a year or two now. I like Adelaide, but they are not playing well this year - no hope for the Grand Championship, I suppose! I'm not a sports person and footy is the only sport I truly enjoy following. If you are a fan...

Hi, and welcome! :)

Hi all, thanks for your input. Sounds like if it was spiritual abuse, it was unintentional. There WAS a lot of emotional abuse, way more besides just the topic I mentioned, and I am glad to be out of there. I'll move forward with my help now :)

Hmm ... I'll take a look at that book. It looks helpful. Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes, yes to everything you said. I spent about a year not attending anywhere and then found a new church. Actually I went through much of what you went through when I began attending a new small-group through that current church. (I don't want to derail everything with a dog discussion here, but...

Well, yeah ... but I was so mentally broken down by that point that I thought the pastor was perfectly within his rights to grab me and shove me. He did not injure me, but grabbing and shoving is still considered physical assault. I know that now.

Heh ... well, I was reluctant to post it right off. But I will tell you now. I do ask that you do not judge me too harshly, and I will try my best to be honest without being a jerk. The pastor said, hands-down, that personal pets go to heaven. He was referring specifically to dogs. I am not a...

Hi again! The public domain site with my photos is: https://morguefile.com/creative/daffers234 I hope you enjoy them! They are a mix of many subjects. If you'd like to see more specific/sorted items from some school projects, go here: http://thaddeusstevensgraphics.com/dstoltzfus/ I have...

Thanks ... what you've said makes a lot of sense. The pastor told me all the time how he was proud of me, but his actions said otherwise. The abuse was very subtle and came on slowly and thus I didn't realize it until he physically pushed me. (He would have said he was "leading" me to my car...

It does to some extent. The pastor was more oblique. He was quite open to saying that some folks believe different things that don't necessarily matter (i.e. was Jesus born in a cave or a wooden stable?) and that they're still saved. But he was really firm on some things where I disagreed and...

I live in the "Amish Country." We were the capital of Pennsylvania from 1799 to 1812, and the capital of the U.S. for a whole day! (Sep 27, 1777). We have a real cannonade for the 1812 Overture on the Fourth of July.