Born Again Christians Thread-No Bashing please

[Tasha+Scott]

Hi, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! We definitely did! We have been to and hosted several family get-togethers in the past week and we had a lot of fun! Of course we were also exhausted after it was all over, lol, but it was so worth it. This was Kylie's 1st Christmas and it was a very good one. She made out with lots of clothes and toys and enjoyed seeing all of our families. She is such a happy, sweet child and is always ready with a smile! God surely blessed us when he gave us her!

Anyway, yesterday after a breakfast and gift exchange with the ILs dh, dd, and I went back to the church I was raving about last week. The nursery wasn't open due to a lot of people being gone during Christmas (although the preacher had hoped to have atleast 100 people there and we had 108 so it was still a nice turnout!) so we took Kylie in the sanctuary with us. She was very well behaved but did start talking very loudly a few times. Thankfully this church and its members are just absolutely wonderful and noone seemed to mind! They knew we had no choice but to bring her in there with us and all that turned to see which baby was so noisy (Kylie likes to talk, what can I say?) simply smiled at her and then turned their attention back to the preacher. Anyway, I LOVE this church! It was another wonderful sermon and it left me wanting more!

I can honestly say I have never been to a church that made me feel quite this way. I think we've found our church. I am still a little gun-shy to join so fast due to past church experiences though. We are going to go a few more times before we join but at this point it's safe to say this is the one and we will definitely be joining soon! I didn't even know they had churches as interesting and passion-filled as this one. You can see how much these people love God just by talking to them or watching them! Their were teenagers crying and lifting their hands in prayer. That is a rare thing these days. I am just in awe at how wonderful this church is and how fast we have grown to love it! I owe my best friend for letting us know about this church!

It was really nice going on Christmas too b/c it helped to keep things in perspective and remember the real meaning of Christmas. While others would gripe about the "crummy" presents they got I felt content and happy in every way despite any of the gifts. I knew no matter what type of material things I received this Christmas that I had already received 4 things that money will never be able to buy and nothing else will ever measure up to: 1) The birth of our Saviour and his dying for us! 2) Finding a new church and rediscovering my Christianity (I never lost it of course but I feel closer to God than ever now!) a week before Christmas! 3) The birth of my amazing dd! 4) A wonderful dh who is also a Christian. Now tell me, what material or monetary item could ever be better?

But if you want to get into material/monetary possessions, some of those were nice as well. I got a devotional Bible I have wanted for a long time, some nice clothes that I can wear to church as well as anywhere else, and money that will help with bills and a little left to maybe splurge. This was an amazing Christmas in sooo many ways! I hope all of yours was just as great! Now that it is over I will say...Happy New Year everyone!

 

[luvthatduke]

Once again, Tasha, I smiled throughout your post!
What a gift the Lord has given you and your family this year,
one that will last forever! I'm so happy for all of you,
it is so clear that the Holy Spirit is working mightily in your heart!

Talking Hands, I'm so sorry, somehow I missed your post,
I hope everything went well for you yesterday and the Lord will
bring complete healing to you.

We had a very nice Christmas weekend, having lunch and
birthday cake for Jesus at my mom's on Saturday,
seeing Christmas lights, and celebrating Christmas yesterday
with my mom, her brother, his GF, and my husband's boss
(who's single and has no family nearby) at our home - it was fun!

I really, really hate to talk about this in the midst of our Christmas
posts, but it's very bad and is an immediate prayer request re: my sister.
If you recall, she did get her DH's ashes directly at the crematory,
she has all the sealed, official certificates (but no death cert, yet), etc.
Today she gets a call from the "bad guy" and he leaves a message saying,
"I've been thinking about you and feel so bad you're going through this,
I have your husband's ashes and want to give them to you,
you can come by and pick them up whenever you want,
I also sent you a magazine article about grieving, and hope it helps you."
Now, this is just plain nuts!
He is apparently so stupid that he didn't even call the crematory,
he has no clue that she already has the real ashes!
This call just happened this afternoon, and literally sent her into
hysterics, screaming and crying on the phone.
She said she would go to the authorities tonight,
namely the coroner's office which is close to her home
and the only law enforcement that knows most of what's gone on.
The local PD's sergeant was supposed to come by her house over
one week ago, but has never done that nor contacted her again.
She told me tonight that she got the feeling at that time
that because the other families didn't go after the creep,
than they were hoping she wouldn't involve them (law enforcement) either.

We are frightened for her and Mikey.
This idiot is bound to do anything if he's pulling this garbage!
In DSis' words, "What did he do, clean out his fireplace or something?
Is that what he's going to hand me if I go there?"

Again, I'm sorry to have to post this, but our family dearly
appreciates your prayers!

 

[Tasha+Scott]

luvthatduke~ OMGosh! I just caught up on this thread and I am sooo sorry for what your sister and her poor little ds and the rest of your family are going through! That is one of the most awful things I have heard about in a long time! And now the guy is telling her he has her dh's ashes? I am wondering what he possibly thinks he has to gain by any of this craziness! I would suggest she stay FAR away from this nut and definitely contact the authorities! That is just scary and nuts! I will pray that things improve soon so that she and Mikey may move on with their lives and go through the grieving process in peace!

Talking Hands~ I hope things worked out Sunday and you were able to interpret without any major problems! My next door neighbor is deaf and his wife is an interpreter and also does so at her church (my old church). She teaches ASL as well.

Cristy~ I hope things are getting better for you and your family now and will keep you in my prayers as well.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[Grandma Bear]

Talking Hands I am praying for your healing. Luvthatduck I am praying for wisom and protection over your sister. Has she thought about contacting the
phone company and getting a number change.

 

[luvthatduke]

Thanks Tasha+Scott & Grandma Bear,
I don't think she's thinking about changing her #,
not sure that's a good thing to do as the guy has
already shown up at her door unanounced while
he supposedly was taking care of her DH's body.
She found out that he only lives/works 2 blocks away!
We are definitely telling her to stay as far away as possible,
as her first impulse was to react in anger and rush right over (BAD IDEA!).

She is getting conflicting advice from law enforcement about
who she should talk to - it really does seem like they don't
want to deal with the problem.
Last night she did go to the courthouse, after she found the
Coroner's office closed, and talked with a detective who
said that the guy is known to the police there, they consider
him to be "no good," and they remember when he came to town
about 2 years ago, and when he lost his license with the county
to help people like my sister.
That is, if someone has not made prior arrangements for cremation
or burial, and if they have no immediate means to pay for cremation
or preserving the body, her state contracts with a funeral home in
each county, paying them a minimal amount to at least take care
of the body at the request of the family.
They get no urn, only a plastic box, and there is no funeral, etc.
- they simply take care of the body so that someone
with little money doesn't have to worry about it,
and it also saves the state from having to store bodies.
eta: This is where the Hospice Worker's "encouragement"
comes into play. She never told my sister about the state's
help as I explained above - never told her who was licensed, etc,
and of course my sister had idea that she should even ask about it.
It was the Hospice Worker who called the creep and made the
arrangements - within minutes of the death - to have his company
come and collect the body, allegedly only for transporting the body
and arranging the cremation.

This guy apparently makes very little money now that the state
pulled his license with them a while ago,
and that's where the exortion comes in - telling her the crematory
was storing the body (lie), that they were the ones charging her
$180 per day (lie), and that they wouldn't cremate her DH until
she paid the full "storage" fees up front (lie).

At the 2nd phone call my DSis rec'd from the creep, my gut said
there's more going on than him getting money out of her.
Then, Christmas Eve I read this (warning, extremely gruesome):
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,179612,00.html

I am considering calling her state's Attorney General today or tomorrow,
after finding out if DSis took any action today.
I'm tired of sitting on my hands, but am afraid to botch up the works.

Thanks again for all your prayers & support!

 

[Grandma Bear]

May God give you wisdom! I plead the blood of Jesus and stand in the gap along with the rest of your brothers and sisters that God will remove this man from your sister and your lives. His grace is sufficient and where two or more gather in his name he is present in their midst.HE said what we bind on earth is bound in heaven and what we loose on Earth is loosened in heaven. May peace and grace be given to all of you.

 

[Aidensmom]

Luvthatduke - my prayers continue for this situation. I am still having a really hard time even imagining how anyone could do this!

 

[ead79]

May God give you wisdom! I plead the blood of Jesus and stand in the gap along with the rest of your brothers and sisters that God will remove this man from your sister and your lives. His grace is sufficient and where two or more gather in his name he is present in their midst.HE said what we bind on earth is bound in heaven and what we loose on Earth is loosened in heaven. May peace and grace be given to all of you.

Amen! My prayers are with you as well, luvthatduke.

 

[disneymom3]

luvthatduke--Oh, your poor sister. What a horrible thing for her to have to go through while she is grieving. What a mess. That guy is scaring me. It sounds like he is elevating almost to a level of stalking. I sure wouldn't want him to know where I lived. Prayers for her.

Tasha--you sound exactly like I did when we first starte attending our church! I am so excited for you. It is awesome to find a home to worship in.

Our Christmas was very nice. DH is in the music ministry as I have mentioned so he played and sang at all three Christmas eve services. DD 9 was also in the drama and did a fantastic job. I was so proud of her, I could have cried. Our routine is to then come home, have pizza and birthday cake and the grandparents come over too. Christmas Day we stayed home and just enjoyed relaxing and being with each other. I think it was our best Christmas yet as far as a relaxing fun family day.

Our only spot of concern is this issue with if the church is still the right fit for us. We attend an Evangelical Lutheran church which over the last several months has gotten a lot more evangelical and a lot less Lutheran. Every year on both Easter and Christmas I struggle because the message is never about worship, it is always about conversion. I don't need to be converted, I want to give praise and thanks to God. I really don't think there are all that many people who come ot our church on those two holidays who don't know the story of Jesus at all. Anyway, this is a struggle for us and we are not sure what to do. DH has this next month and a half off, and we may actually go visit some other churches in the area.

 

[luvthatduke]

Thanks so much, everyone - you truly have no idea
what your prayers & concern mean to me and to my family.

disneymom3, you are right on target about being scared.
After speaking with my mom the day this last call came in,
I told her I understood my sister's anger - of course - but that
the first emotion I felt, and I felt it hard, was fear.

Blessings to all, and especially in the new year!

 

[Goofygirls4God]

I just found you all! I am so blessed to know you are out there. I see this threads been up and running since July. Someone said it was fizzling out. If so, direct me to another thread similar. I have found alot of DISers in Family forum that Homeschool like me...that's been a fun blessing today!
May the Lord fill you today with abundant joy that spills over!
Blessings

 

[Albertan mom]

Welcome!!!

 

[Talking Hands]

Thank you for all the prayers for my ankle. I did interpret Christmas Day and got through it but came home and had to put my ankle up because it really swelled. I am glad though that I didn't bail as we had some deaf visitors as well as our normal group.
THe ankle is slowly getting better. I heal slow due to diabetes and other medical problems.

For those we want to praise and worship on Christmas I know how you feel but I know preachers see it as an opportunity to reach the unsaved. We did 4 congregational songs and a solo. So it was a combination. The preachers sermon was about getting connect with God and not religion with the shepherds as an example. Very interesting.

Oh and Wednesday, we had a Bible Study for the Deaf group at Starbucks. We sat outside and really enjoyed the nice weather while we studied. Had several people staring at us wonder what was being discussed. IF they wanted to join I would have voiced for them but I actually don't think they realized anyone was not deaf.

 

[Grandma Bear]

Talking Hands what a great service you are performing! We all want to hear
God's word and have His word in our hearts to lead and guide us. I will continue to pray for your healing.

 

[luvthatduke]

Welcome Goofygirls4God .
Don't know who told you we were fizzling out,
but there's some loyal ones here who keep
us bumped up, and we always honor prayer requests.
I love the name Scooter in your signature,
is that one of the girls??

Talking Hands, so glad you perservered,
I know the Lord used you as a blessing,
and may He bless you in return.

 

[Grandma Bear]

Welcome Goofy4Girls.We are still going strong and encouraging, sharing and praying for one another.

 

[christiansoldier]

Greetings fellow Christians, I am begining this thread to give Born Again Christians a place to fellowship with each other before and after their trip to Disneyland or Disneyworld. I am hoping the discussion will remain civil and there will be no Bashing of Christianity or Christ as seen on some of the other similar named threads. I received Christ into my heart some thirty years ago but only began my Christian Journey as a born again Christian Last August. I hope this thread will grow and flourish in the coming weeks. I would like to start off the thread with its first discussion. Has anyone read Rick Warrens "Purpose driven life" and would did you think of it? he seems like he has the gift of evangelism to me. what do you think?

Hi everyone !

this thread looked very interesting. as a born again christian, I found all these posts fascinating and thought provoking. seems to have been many ups and downs here and some interesting discussion. perhaps I am mistaken, hey what do I know, but this thread seems to have fizzled down to a small handful of christian women praying together and sharing testimony and fellowship. this accurate ?

 

[ead79]

Welcome Kristie and christiansoldier! Glad to have you join us!

Talking Hands, I’m glad you were able to interpret the Christmas service. I hope your ankle heals very soon!

 

[Grandma Bear]

Christian Soldier Welcome. It's been my experience that the work of the
church is usually done by a few faithful workers, often though not always women. Prayer warriiors in our church are usually women, sadly. The men call the meetings but the women are the ones who turn out. God hears our prayers no matter who is doing the praying and has blessed us greatly.

 

[gr8ful4Him]

Hi everyone
Just thought I'd check in and say Happy New Year. We're getting back into the swing of things again, post holiday. Kinda nice! lol
We were blessed to be able to visit our families during the week we didn't have school. I went to see my uncle Joe. He's in a "rehabilitation" type assisted living home, but I'm not very happy with the place. The one nurse that came in while we were there was pretty much just rude He also didn't get any rehabilitation sessions Sat/Sun/Mon on either holiday weekend, so basically when Tuesday rolled around, he was practically starting over. *sigh* Please continue to pray for his recovery and that they might find another place for him to be transferred to...a place that cares for their patients!
My MIL was doing well. She is preparing to get chemo again starting next week, but she was in good spirits last week. Hopefully, the chemo won't effect her horribly bad like it has in the past.
I unfortunately did not get to see my good friend Julie. She was out of town with her youth group (when we were in town. She's had a few rough days, finding it increasingly harder to breathe. She has been off of both the radiation and chemo for a short time and had a CAT scan done yesterday. She told me that when she starts her chemo up again, they are planning on doubling what she was getting. She also is unable to work anymore and was told to apply for SS Disability I'm going to try to visit her sometime soon...
Talking Hands, I think what you do is an awesome service for the Lord to those unable to hear. My sis has worn hearing aids all of her life, and read lips most of that time. She finally has digital hearing aids and the difference is remarkable. We didn't use sign language in our home, but it is something that I would like to learn. I know "bits and pieces", but not even close to being able to communicate that way. Anyways, I want to thank you for giving your services to those who can't hear.

Hope you are all doing fine.
God bless!