A struggle to understand and believe

[D. Allan]

every day!

Once does it. Like Jesus told Peter. He'd alreadly been washed all over. He just needed a touch up, as we all do now and then from walking the dusty roads.

I think thats what you believe too.

[Gerr]

Quote:

And does His soap make you smell good or leave you stinking as before?

Does one shower per week keep you smelling good all week?

But a daily shower should, don't you think?

Gerry

[D. Allan]

Daily, yes. And more often when things get really hot! :)

[Guest]

What I meant by a show or farse is that I have learned the Adventist doctrines which i believe in and cherish. However I have my doubts. Everyone talks about consecration, and they talk about how " consecrated so and so is and so on. When I see these people and the way they treat others and behave, I think to myself i dont care to be consecrated, I just want to be me! I dont want to wear the suit and tie to church because its what the good adventist does, or because it was suggested to me. I want to wear it because I feel God has put it in my heart to do so, I dont want stand up at the pulpit and feel like I have to say a prayer in front of my bretheren that is full of fancy complicated words, i just want to talk to God like he is my best friend and not feel like an idiot about it because it wasnt long enough or elequent enough. I am simple minded, I am not very intelligent, I like things simple. I think that some adventist have made christianity and God complicated to understand. I am also confused about the inequalities I see among the diffrent races in church. I visited a particular church once and at the door I was greeted and told that the hispanic churh was meetiing in the basement, this was disapointing becuase I am not hispanic, I am all American but I just look Hispanic. I didnt even ask where the Hispanic church was, Why was I redirected to the Hispanic church in the basement, then in the parking lot I was approached and politely asked not to park on the main parking lot again, the Spanish church members need to park on the Dirt lot or the side streets. WOW! I thought segregation ended decades before I was born. Things like this make me angry and upset, I am a total failure as a Christian because God asks me to love my enemies, but sometimes its easier to love my enemies than my brothers in Christ. SO, I sit there as a hypocrite every sabbath, not necessarily liking what I see or here but pretending to so that I am not frowned upon, after all I think I am kind of sensetive, a bad quality to have perhaphs but I do what ever it takes to keep my neck above the water. But i am getting tired. And I keep saying to myself I am just like them, I here in the house of the lord, thats where i need to be, with my God. Just like Noahs ark, even though it stunk, if you jumped off you drowned. Thanks for all the prayers folks and the advise, it is appreciated.

Seth

P.s sorry if I have offended anyone!

[fun2believe]

No offnese taken. You can't offend God, he loves you no matter what.

[fun2believe]

And don't worry about meeting anyone's standard's or doctrines. None of that matters. There is not anyone one this earth that can judge you in the eyes of God. God does not look to us for our judgement skills or assessments, or rules, or doctrines. He and He alone will make the judgement's of souls. You need only to ask God to be your saviour, and all the rest will fall into place. All the rest is just fluff. Human's being the imperfect beings that they are, that's all, nothing more, nothing less.

[fun2believe]

You don't have to quote any bible verses. You don't have to have any snazzy prayers. You don't have to wear a suit and tye to church. You don't even have to go to church. All God asks is that you take Him as your saviour. Everything after that is taken care of by Him. He'll lead you, and direct your life in ways you can never imagine. Church is a human process, a proces that's as flawed as were are, since we created it. When we commune with God, that is "church". You are already there, you just have to realize what a wonderful opportunity you have. Just accept Him.