Posted by Sunny on June 23, 2000 at 12:36:49:
In Reply to: OK posted by PSteven on June 23, 2000 at 09:46:46:
: : I got a little weirded out yesterday. Things seem to get hostile with all the hate talk. I don't consider hate a Christian value. But I'm a little over sensitive these days so I decided maybe I over reacted. I've been through a very hard time, having suffered a very painful loss. Actually that difficult time is what led me to the message board but I felt I didn't much response or comfort from my first post except of course the obvious. To give it over to God which I already know. What I was seeking was some advice about how to handle the hurt one can't help feeling in a the face of huge dissapointment, even as they await God's plan and to be given an understanding of that plan. I began to feel that if a person is not already in the 'group' here it might be very hard to be allowed in. Because of this I let that go and tried just chatting, trying to meet new Christian friends, etc. But all the talk of hate didn't seem very Christian to me so I logged off for the day. I came back because my first impression was that you were all a very loving family. Then I looked at some of the pictures and realize you all seem to be in my age group and extreemly cool, with all the medieval stuff, the goth stuff, all things I love. Oh, and the medieval wedding! Beautiful! I dont know, you just seemed to be exactly what I was looking for (even if you are far away) and totally unable to find in my hometown. Dedication to a Christian life, and yet youthful and fun, loving to one another, and extreemly cool. As I previously mentioned, I did wonder if that love is reserved only for your immediate group and not for strangers. I'd to think that isn't the case.
: : I have to admit I can't help but be curious what all that stuff about Jennifer and giveawayboy's (Bill is it?) bad person in Georgia and how one person could make people hate an entire state. It just doesnt seem logical but I know I dont have all the facts. I was temped to take it to their personal email but felt that might be rude without an invitation to do so, maybe I'm too Southern? :-p Can any of you help me understand?
:
: I can explain, Sunny. You're reading way too much into it. With Bill (*giveaway boy*) and I, "hating" Georgia is a joke, and more than that, it's a SONG. About Bill, he used to live there and is glad to have moved on to where he is now (Boulder, Colorado). He doesn't maliciously hate Georgia. Nor do I. Here's the story: I had a wierd run in with some security guards who were looking for trouble one night, and decided to harass me. Bill "rescued" me, and my wife and I and my drummer Dave stayed at his house that night. That night I wrote a song which my band played in our live set after that, and was probably one of our best songs. It was called "I hate Georgia". The song was a spoof basically, but the whole bridge section was about God's faithfulness in trying situations, and trusting him in the painful times.
: Speaking of which, I don't know exactly what you expected when you posted the first time, but I'm sorry if you were disappointed. The exhortation to trust God is not trite or irrelevant, and if it seems like just merely the "obvious" to you, that is so sad. Faith is the key to all comfort in pain, and to all understanding of God's plan. It is a gift that God gives to those who diligently seek after it. I have a been a Christian for 26 years now (since I was 19) and NOTHING is more relevant than that. Delight yourself in the Lord. Commit your way to him. Read Psalm 37.
: If you felt unnaccepted, again I'm sorry. But I really think it's just your imagination. Because from what I can see, you were accepted quickly and completely, and everyone likes you. Including me. :-)
: Part of the reason we can have so much FUN as Christians is because we're learning to lighten up. We don't judge each other's spiritual condition all the time like the Pharisees in a lot of churches. God is quite able to keep us all sanctified and grounded in His love. When you start believing that, you can lighten up a lot. :-) If you're looking for the model Christians who just exude pious spirituality all the time, we aren't them. We're just normal everyday people who are tired of trying to live up to others' "holy" standards. But we love each other and we love Jesus. And you are completely welcome here. Please don't leave. :-(
: Pastor Steve
Thank you so much. I understand much better now. Jennifer and Bill have different reasons to "hate" Georgia. But it's a joke so every one plays with it. Now I get it. I'm sorry you had a bad experience in Georgia. What part of Georgia was it? Just curious.
There was something else that you said I wanted to speak to.
"Speaking of which, I don't know exactly what you expected when you posted the first time, but I'm sorry if you were disappointed. The exhortation to trust God is not trite or irrelevant, and if it seems like just merely the "obvious" to you, that is so sad. "
PLEASE don't misunderstand what I meant when I used the word "obvious". I said that because to me to give your problems to the Lord is simply a given, hence I used that word. I KNOW that I have to put them ALL into his hands and TRUST HIM to do His will and can only pray that I will understand his decisions, timing and plan for me/us. And if I can't understand it right away have the faith that He knows what he's doing whether we do or not. In this we receive our comfort if only we can accept it.
I guess what I was hoping for was that maybe someone else might have been in the same or a similar situation and might wish to relate some of their experiences, coping mechanisms, etc. I posted about that, did you see it?
Thank you again for your kindness.