Is deeper fellowship possible on CF?

[Norman70]

After a few weeks in hospital at the age of 76 I found myself praying to God constantly. I am at home now but my medical condition is little changed, I am being looked after by my wife. In my prayers I ask God to give her strength, and also ask Him what I should do.
I can read, write and talk, little else apart from toileting myself, bathing and dressing, and joining my wife for meals in my wheelchair.
I came to CF for Christian fellowship and hopefully spiritual growth. Is this going to be possible if we are a worldwide community of believers but mostly total strangers? Is Matthew 8 applicable, where Jesus talks about how to work with a brother with whom we have a disagreement?

 

[redleghunter]

After a few weeks in hospital at the age of 76 I found myself praying to God constantly. I am at home now but my medical condition is little changed, I am being looked after by my wife. In my prayers I ask God to give her strength, and also ask Him what I should do.
I can read, write and talk, little else apart from toileting myself, bathing and dressing, and joining my wife for meals in my wheelchair.
I came to CF for Christian fellowship and hopefully spiritual growth. Is this going to be possible if we are a worldwide community of believers but mostly total strangers? Is Matthew 8 applicable, where Jesus talks about how to work with a brother with whom we have a disagreement?

Hi Norman and once again welcome to CF.

You can get and give a lot here on CF. I would still recommend you try to contact a local church which can minister to you and your wife. I know of many local churches which have strong ministries for couples with your needs. I’m sure there are some near you. I can assist in helping searching for some. If you want you can PM me.

Some even have services broadcast on Facebook or via website.

 

[Sabertooth]

Just like in a physical church, you will find people that you have more in common with than others. That's just 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 in play.

 

[Norman70]

Thank you for your post, redleghunter. I need to ask, is sending you a PM the same as opening a conversation here?

 

[W2L]

After a few weeks in hospital at the age of 76 I found myself praying to God constantly. I am at home now but my medical condition is little changed, I am being looked after by my wife. In my prayers I ask God to give her strength, and also ask Him what I should do.
I can read, write and talk, little else apart from toileting myself, bathing and dressing, and joining my wife for meals in my wheelchair.
I came to CF for Christian fellowship and hopefully spiritual growth. Is this going to be possible if we are a worldwide community of believers but mostly total strangers? Is Matthew 8 applicable, where Jesus talks about how to work with a brother with whom we have a disagreement?

You mean Matthew 18. Im not sure if that can be done online. However i think deeper fellowship is very possible online. Every encounter is a chance to bless and be blessed. These forums are tough, but if we can find our way to follow the Lord thru them we will find blessing.

 

[redleghunter]

Thank you for your post, redleghunter. I need to ask, is sending you a PM the same as opening a conversation here?

If you click on my avatar it will give you an option to send me a private message.

 

[maintenance man]

I came to CF for Christian fellowship and hopefully spiritual growth. Is this going to be possible if we are a worldwide community of believers but mostly total strangers?

I experience honest Christian fellowship here every day - it's not the same as the fellowship I have with my friends at church - but I certainly feel our common bond.

I feel a real connection to God when so many people take the time to read long posts about the problem someone is having and immediately do their best to help or encourage.

Serving God is about serving others and that happens here minute-by-minute.

Yes, there are many different points of view here - but I think we are all attempting to move closer to God. That common goal provides me with a real sense of fellowship.

 

[Norman70]

Thank you to all posters for your responses so far. To pursue my interest for starting this thread, it appears that I need to choose an appropriate forum to discuss particular issues. I guess the moderators will advise me, therefore I open a ticket?
In this way I will gain the deeper fellowship for which I am searching? Both my wife and myself are reluctant to ask a local church to minister to us. We have already tried several. We welcome the Jehovah's Witnesses, we have had visits by the SDA, a local small church whose minister holds his services in a school, and a home church which turned out to be cultish!
My wife and myself will continue to pray to God, read the Bible, and sing hymns. Where two are gathered, Jesus too will be with us.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Thank you to all posters for your responses so far. To pursue my interest for starting this thread, it appears that I need to choose an appropriate forum to discuss particular issues. I guess the moderators will advise me, therefore I open a ticket?

You are welcome to open a Support Ticket if you are unsure on something for the forum. It is not a requirement in general before opening threads though. A helpful tip is reading the stickied Statement of Purpose in each sub-forum, and it tells the guidelines for each area if you need clarification.

Welcome to CF and I hope you enjoy your time here.

 

[Sabertooth]

the Jehovah's Witnesses,...

They are a cult, as well.

 

[Norman70]

Jehovah's Witnesses may well be a cult, Sabertooth, but I prefer to have a group of them coming down my street than a crowd of soccer hooligans. My wife and myself welcome them when we have the time, and then we witness to them rather than they to us. Soccer fans (only a small minority are hooligans) would not be interested at that moment - they want to get to their game!

 

[RickardoHolmes]

Jehovah's Witnesses may well be a cult, Sabertooth, but I prefer to have a group of them coming down my street than a crowd of soccer hooligans. My wife and myself welcome them when we have the time, and then we witness to them rather than they to us. Soccer fans (only a small minority are hooligans) would not be interested at that moment - they want to get to their game!

That is a good analogy.

 

[FanthatSpark]

See Norman? That perception stated above on the thousands of avenues to John 5:40 through John 5:39 is deeper fellowship itself. It maybe that your "God given Wisdom" given as seeds to those that hear/realize after reading that brilliant analogy of LIFE to the seeker no matter their "club/religious" label.

Might be through a seed given... Your need maybe granted .

 

[oxtailsoup]

As far as I am concerned, if you and your wife get together to read the Bible or pray in Jesus’ name, then you constitute a church.

As for a forum constituting a “virtual community,” I think in the early days of the Internet there was a lot of optimism that would happen. Experience has shown that it doesn’t. Human beings need real, in-person connections.

 

[W2L]

As far as I am concerned, if you and your wife get together to read the Bible or pray in Jesus’ name, then you constitute a church.

As for a forum constituting a “virtual community,” I think in the early days of the Internet there was a lot of optimism that would happen. Experience has shown that it doesn’t. Human beings need real, in-person connections.

Some people dont get that even in church.

 

[Norman70]

Thank you oxtailsoup, this is how my wife and myself see it. We are not likely to become connected with any local church. We may attend as visitors if able, but are reluctant to invite anyone into our house.
They either want to proselytise or covet our belongings.
You may not think that the Internet cannot provide deep fellowship but I am going to continue to try. In my time recently in hospital I prayed to God and I believe that this is what He wants me to do.

 

[oxtailsoup]

The technology is certainly there, though I cannot give you any advice on that. I came across an interfaith meditation chapel that meets over the Internet, so I know it is possible. If you are interested in seeing what they do and how they do it, here is their web site: Online Meditation Group Calendar | MC

 

[shout4Lord]

After a few weeks in hospital at the age of 76 I found myself praying to God constantly. I am at home now but my medical condition is little changed, I am being looked after by my wife. In my prayers I ask God to give her strength, and also ask Him what I should do.
I can read, write and talk, little else apart from toileting myself, bathing and dressing, and joining my wife for meals in my wheelchair.
I came to CF for Christian fellowship and hopefully spiritual growth. Is this going to be possible if we are a worldwide community of believers but mostly total strangers? Is Matthew 8 applicable, where Jesus talks about how to work with a brother with whom we have a disagreement?

CF can help you in some way.. but you need some better church where you can found some better fellowship .. pl seek in God.. God bless you

 

[Norman70]

@shout4Lord. Many thanks for your recent response. I have been quite active in one or two other forums here recently, and have therefore had the chance to explore my thoughts with other Christians. I was very helpfully advised by a moderator where to place my posts.
CF is helping both my wife and myself. I share all of my posts with her before I post them, and that is bringing us closer together. We have both always believed our marriage was ordained by God, in our middle age, and only this month have we celebrated our 25th. anniversary! Quietly together, just the two of us and Jesus of course, and now the same is happening as we prepare for Christmas.
Concerning attending a local church, we are not physically able unless we get assistance, and we pray to God for guidance on that.

 

[Southernscotty]

@shout4Lord. Many thanks for your recent response. I have been quite active in one or two other forums here recently, and have therefore had the chance to explore my thoughts with other Christians. I was very helpfully advised by a moderator where to place my posts.
CF is helping both my wife and myself. I share all of my posts with her before I post them, and that is bringing us closer together. We have both always believed our marriage was ordained by God, in our middle age, and only this month have we celebrated our 25th. anniversary! Quietly together, just the two of us and Jesus of course, and now the same is happening as we prepare for Christmas.
Concerning attending a local church, we are not physically able unless we get assistance, and we pray to God for guidance on that.

I am praying for you and your dear wife Norman. I pray that God will send angels in human form to assist and care for you as well as minister to you this holiday season. Merry Christmas dear friend