Check in thread (6)

[pete56]

Kay Facebook is telling me your pics are not available.

Is that because I am not one of your friends?

P

 

[pete56]

YEAH...it worked Jennie

Now...quick question...

How many of us are on Facebook?

Well I am!

 

[kayd1966]

yup...I'm still working on the album but will post the link again later.

 

[free4all]

Y'all get to bed.


Except you, Pete.

 

[free4all]

Oh yeh, forgot Jenny lives on the other side of the world, too. She can stay up with Pete.

 

[kayd1966]

Pete;

I've been following this CF thing but not close enough. Sorry I haven't commented much. I have voted though.

When I read your posts, I kept thinking that this isn't a comfortable situation for anyone...especially for the Christian mods. Being uncomfortable is definately one way we grow...BUT being uncomfortable doesn't mean we need to conform.

I guess this has been my biggest struggle with the changes. I feel like CF has become just another forum. There is no distiction, and I'm beginning to feel like the vision to unite Christians worldwide is not the focus anymore.

Uniting Christians for fellowship, prayer and worship was the focus and the open forums was outreach. The leadership has shifted and lost sight of what is of God and is conforming to the ways of the World.

I really struggle with, how can this be of God???

 

[Jenniewren]

Kay I agree Keep on praying xxx

CF logs me out everytime I try to post photos that way.

Hooray some pictures worked on facebucket or whatever it is!!!!!

Wayne, I am not going to bed yet as it is 4pm here lol.

Pete, Broken Hill is in Western NSW. It is desert, but fairly big town because of silver and mineral mining. Vvery interesting to visit, but I would not want to live there.

 

[kayd1966]

Jill: how are you? Parents?

 

[pete56]

Pete;

I've been following this CF thing but not close enough. Sorry I haven't commented much. I have voted though.

When I read your posts, I kept thinking that this isn't a comfortable situation for anyone...especially for the Christian mods. Being uncomfortable is definately one way we grow...BUT being uncomfortable doesn't mean we need to conform.

I guess this has been my biggest struggle with the changes. I feel like CF has become just another forum. There is no distiction, and I'm beginning to feel like the vision to unite Christians worldwide is not the focus anymore.

Uniting Christians for fellowship, prayer and worship was the focus and the open forums was outreach. The leadership has shifted and lost sight of what is of God and is conforming to the ways of the World.

I really struggle with, how can this be of God???

Kay

You have managed to encapsulate my feelings exactly in just one simple post! Thank you!

I wish there were more people here that can see what you are saying!

We can have a more inclusive and open site here but that should not mean abandoning our stated goal of Uniting All Christians.

I find itodd that we have moved in less than one month, from a Christian website that is reaching out to non Christians from a secure base, whilst promoting a unification of the brethren in a safe environment where we can air our views and differences without having to justify our statements to an unbelieving world audience, to this fiasco that is becoming a wrestling match for the control of the site and does nothing to edify or support a large part of the community.

Ah well, I guess we in UY will have one advantage over the rest of the community - we already know what it is like to co-exist with non believers!

I hope your move plans are going well, and whilst I have not commented before, i have been praying for you in this!

Take care

Pete

 

[hugnluvable]

Woooooo! Just got back from ONE AMAZING week from being on a team at New Wine (Christian Camping/Conference thingy...) God was totally AWESOME and He totally proved that you can't outgive the giver - no matter how hard you try you will just receive and receive and receive! I can honestly say God has changed me this week... I actually let go and gave Him EVERYTHING I had - my feelings, worries - everything, and don't want to take them back! And I just want to keep on giving my whole life to Him!

Pete ever noticed it when I got back.... he hit the car into a wall when I was away and there is a huge dent and the wing mirror has fallen off! But rather than have a massive panic/scream/rant/fit.... I just laughed it off and had no anger about it whatsoever - it was as if I hit a wall before I started ranting and it made me think twice!

Well... it looks like you guys have been busy.... I'm just having a read....

Will chat soon

Erica
xxx

 

[pete56]

Erica

I am envious!

Bless you Sister, do give us more details!

Pete

 

[kayd1966]

Pete...that's exactly it. Its amazing to me that we have a whole sub-forum regarding the whole issue of being unequally yoked. I think we've been pretty clear on the subject over the years. We've also been very clear that CF has provided a safe haven to vent, cry out for help, support, encourage and in general, walk with each other on this lonely road. So to have CF turn and CHOOSE to walk this road...blows me away.

Instead of doing Wiki and all the polls, they should have spent a day reading our forum.

I'm not sure what stage we are at now in this switch over...and I'm not sure who is make the final decisions...do you know?

 

[WashedClean]

Jill: how are you? Parents?

Thanks for asking Kay... and congrats on the move! I can't believe how quickly that happened, especially since you're technically in another country.

They have left my Dad alone the last two days to let his throat try to heal up and the swelling to come down. The Ear/Nose/Throat specialist does not want to do a trache if he can help it. They will probably just leave him in a twilight sleep with the ventilator this weekend and try to remove it on Monday. I'm going in a few minutes to pick-up my Mom and visit Dad. Thanks to all for your continued prayers.

There is one more situation that I need prayers for. I've been trying to find time to post about it because it's a long story, but I'll try and just simplify it for now...

On Wednesday, I had a rough day. This was the last time they tried to take out the tube and I could hear my Dad trying to breathe and I lost it and broke down on the phone with my Mom. Anyway, my sister called about a 1/2 hour later to find out what's going on with my Dad. She's 15 years older than me, but we are close, and she's a strong Christian. She has two boys who are 28 and almost 25. Ten years ago she went through a rough divorce after almost 28 years of marriage. Their father basically has not been involved in their lives for 10 years.

The younger one had a rough time adjusting, but with my sister's love and support, he managed to graduate high school and get a 4 year degree in finance. He worked as a loan officer in a bank for a couple of years and then took a job at a financial firm about 6 months ago. A couple of weeks ago they announced they were moving to Cincinnati (from CT). He did not want to relocate, so he quit in anger without waiting to see if they would offer him any kind of severance. So getting back to my sister, she calls me on Wednesday at work after I had my breakdown. During this situation with my Dad, she's been in the process of moving to a smaller condo, which is about an hour away from where I live. So she's asking me about Dad and I tell her what happened. Then all of a sudden she breaks down and proceeds to tell me that her youngest son has been addicted to cocaine for 10 years and she just found out a couple of weeks ago. He had just signed a lease a few months ago for an apartment that's $1200/month and now he has no job. He owes her tens of thousands of dollars, plus the same amount in credit cards. In fact, his minimum monthly payment is $1,000/month. The whole time she's crying because she doesn't know what to do. I've seen my sister go through hell and back multiple times in her life and rarely does she break down like this. She's extremely strong in her faith. So, since Wednesday she's gotten her strength back a little bit, but she needs to distance herself from her son because he sucks the life and cash right out of her. His father really needs to get a clue and get involved, but my sister doesn't even have his phone number since he moved to FL a couple of years ago.

So much for making this story short. Please pray that he will get a job, help for his drug problem (my sister insists he's only a recreational user, but I doubt he can stop on his own), and pray that his depression will subside. He has no health insurance and really should be on anti-depressants. He thinks God is for weak people, but he's seen his mother's faith in action. Please pray for his salvation as well.

I'm not comfortable posting his first name here, so PM me if you want it. My sister is extremely private and was even a little upset with me that I told my husband about this. I just know we need as many prayers as possible right now.

I have to run to the hospital now, but I'll be back later. Thanks so much.

Love,
Jill

 

[pete56]

Pete...that's exactly it. Its amazing to me that we have a whole sub-forum regarding the whole issue of being unequally yoked. I think we've been pretty clear on the subject over the years. We've also been very clear that CF has provided a safe haven to vent, cry out for help, support, encourage and in general, walk with each other on this lonely road. So to have CF turn and CHOOSE to walk this road...blows me away.

Instead of doing Wiki and all the polls, they should have spent a day reading our forum.

I'm not sure what stage we are at now in this switch over...and I'm not sure who is make the final decisions...do you know?

Kay

Nobody seems to know where this is going!

And what is worse too many of our Christian brothers and sisters are busy building safe enclaves and do not realise that the enemy is taking over the site!

We need to find a way to wake them up and get them to vote and enter the Wiki's otherwise the vociferous few (mostly non Christians will take over here and we will all be looking for a new Christian home!

 

[pete56]

Jill

That is a really tough place!

You, your Dad, your Sister and her son are in my prayers and I will take you all with me to New Wine!

Lord Come and make a difference in these lives!

Amen!!

 

[free4all]

Jill, that's a tough spot for both mom and son to be in. Sounds like he's got some life lessons to learn, but maybe through this he will reconsider his need for God. If he thinks God is only for weak people, then perhaps through this he will be shown how weak he is when it comes to managing his life. I pray his mom will stop helping him out and let him realize the consequences of his actions. I'm sorry if that sounds cruel, but I think that's the quickest way for him to hit bottom and then hopefully choose to look up to God. I have other friends in similar situations. It's hard to see family members make poor decisions. It's hard to step back and let them deal with the consequences, but sometimes that's what is needed.

When it rains, it pours... Keep looking to God for help. Circumstances in your lives have changed, but God hasn't. These are opportunities to reach out to hurting people, namely your Dad and your nephew, but also your Mom and your sister.

Hold on. Praying for you and your family.

 

[free4all]

Welcome back, Erica. Glad you had a great time.

Pete, hope you have a great time at New Wine also, and hope you can get some good rest and renewing.

 

[AbidingInHim]

Jill,

I will definately put it on my prayer list.

How is your sister handling this? Is she willing to take advice? I agree with Wayne, I'm going to pray she will stop enabling him. It would be great is she would read boundries or watch the videos by Dr. Cloud.


May the Lord bless you, your sister and your mother with peace, strength and grace to take you through this trail.

 

[hugnluvable]

Pete - you're going to love it.... if the people on team recieved as much as they did during week A the atmosphere is going to be incredible! Have an awesome time! And next year we can plan which week we go to! lol!

It was an amazing time.... I'm going to be on the same team next year, my first ever New Wine and I was on team and I don't want to experience it doing anything else! I will chat about it later on. There wasn't much intellectual feeding (like sermons etc, I didnt go to the main meetings cus I was youth leading!) but the amount of time God had for me over the past few days has been amazing. What really got me was the fact that I was expecting it all to be really hyped up etc, but I was doing nothing that I didn't see myself doing - it just gave me alot of enocuragement and confidence in being myself and going where God wants me to go. I'll explain more later on...

Erica
xxx

 

[WashedClean]

Sounds like he's got some life lessons to learn,

This is so true... I've thought for a long time that he's been very spoiled and sheltered by my sister. She had a lot of guilt over the divorce, even though it was not her fault.

but maybe through this he will reconsider his need for God. If he thinks God is only for weak people, then perhaps through this he will be shown how weak he is when it comes to managing his life.

Exactly... we are all weak without Christ. I want to shake him and say, "how is it working for you on your own"?

I pray his mom will stop helping him out and let him realize the consequences of his actions. I'm sorry if that sounds cruel, but I think that's the quickest way for him to hit bottom and then hopefully choose to look up to God.

Yes, she realizes that she's enabled him. If you knew the history, you would understand why.

I have other friends in similar situations. It's hard to see family members make poor decisions. It's hard to step back and let them deal with the consequences, but sometimes that's what is needed.

My sister is burned out. She's at a point where she needs a break from him. I think he realizes it's time to grow up.

When it rains, it pours... Keep looking to God for help. Circumstances in your lives have changed, but God hasn't. These are opportunities to reach out to hurting people, namely your Dad and your nephew, but also your Mom and your sister.

Good perspective. Thanks for reminding me.

Hold on. Praying for you and your family.

Thanks