John16- Agree with lilyka!!! Toxic!!!
I sorry about my post earlier. I was up with baby all night and feeling really down. Thanks for the kind words. I think that i just don't have many friends and that is just the way it is.
I hope the you ladies are my friends.
HEY! Just something interesting TODAY on the Hebrew calendar (Tammuz 9) Nebuchadnezzar broke through the wall of Jerusalem at the height of famine (Jer. 39:2; 52:6)
Hey can I join? I am looking for some other MDC conversation besides cervical mucus and TTC haha. (although we are TTC)
I have been having difficulties in finding real close friends, too. We have plenty of couples that we plan stuff with but I have no real confidants besides DH and DD.
I am 25 and rural, SAHM, faithful, and pretty conservative all the way around and as our 1.5 year old getting more attentive to details in people's behavior I am finding myself more attentive in my friends behaviors. Also, just logistically and being busy in general makes it hard to spend time with everyone as much as I would like. We are/will be homeschooling and DD is an only child right now so I have been worrying more lately about us becoming hermits out here.
Anyway, recently have gotten library cards and have been venturing there once a week and today I got a book called "Caesar and Christ". I have always wondered what happened in history between Christ dying and countries and governments of the world coming about. When we went to the library today I didn't really have any genre or title or author in mind and actually just decided to go to the farthest back wall and silently prayed for God to send me to a book and I ended up at this one, which I thought was really cool. I saw the title and thought, "Oh yeah! Who knew there was a whole book on that?!" It is a 700 + page book and I would normally NEVER attempt to read something that long because I can never sit still long enough to actually read-a-book.
Anyway, I thought I would jump in tonite. Off to attempt to read.....
`Ugh, i got so fired up about the whole adultery thing that I forgot to commiserate on the friend thing. I am really struggling. I meet most people at work and cannot trust them (I have already been written up for things I have said to co-workers. Fairly benign things at that.) Also at the end of the day work is about all we have in common. I don't go to bars, I don't have a husband to complain about (and if I did I would just be to darn thankful to complain. It is amazing how much divorce can give you perspective). People at church are hardly better. it is a small parish and there is one person who drives me crazy (one person out of 4 women my age with kids) and I just cannot subject myself to her judgments. Which pushes me out from the rest of the group. I just happened to be online the same time as the new girl and she must think I am a lunatic. i felt like i was the desperate weird kid. Who knows, maybe she is as lonely as I am. :) She doesn't seem to be hiding from me and I always take that as a good sign. Of course she lives a couple of hours from here. Why is it so hard to make friends in my neighborhood? (well, probably because 90% of the people in my neighborhood are weirdos or criminals) I feel like I am in such a weird place. I am a single working mother but I hate every minute of all of it so I don't really fit in with the ladies who own that. But I also feel really excluded from my old group of stay at home homeschooling friends who continued procreating and have small children still. i am just not there and not likely to return. And no one seems to understand my life paralysis that keeps me from moving forward into something that makes me happy because the only thing I am passionate about is mothering and being a kick butt house wife and no one is hiring for that, there is no class I can take, no resume builders. And i can't even do that in my spare time because work just really gets in the way. Just waiting and praying. I can't have people over because my house is always a mess and I have animals (i did not realize how much that would limit me socially) but really people who will come and hang out at my house while I keep doing laundry or pretend to be a good mom. And I am pretty low maintenance. one friend like that and I am good to go. Problem then is that all my eggs are in one basket. So when I had a friend like that I did not need anyone else. And he was such a good balance for me. He dragged me out, helped me do my chores LOL and it was a really great year. but then he moved and now I have no one. I am pretty sure my boyfriend doesn't even really like me. I know the whole long distance thing is hard. I know if we lived in the same city it would be a lot easier. I prefer the company of men which also complicates things. But i need women friends too i think.
So there is my little rant....pity party...whatever. We need to all pray for each other to have some meaningful friendships.
Welcome, sounds like you're a great friend. I don't know if she'll do it or not, but there's books by Christian authors. Probably can get audio books too if she's not a reader. In her position, she will probably resent it though. I'm thinking in particular of Gary Chapman's books. One in particular, Desperate Marriages: Moving Toward Hope and Healing In Your Relationship. Just searching his name on Amazon came up with a few titles that could be applicable though. I have read a couple of his books and listen to his weekend radio show. The stuff he says really makes sense. Esp the fact that love waxes and wains. "In Love" only lasts, on average, 2 yrs. Then you have to love on purpose.
Umm, NO! It is not wrong. These relationships are death and anything it touches withers and dies. And who is she to feel justified? What about his wife? What about his family? What is his excuse? And if she feels ok treating others this way it is only a matter of time before you fall victim to her selfishness and greed,. go ahead and be there for her when and if the shit hits the fan (although my ex and his lover were together for 10 freaking years! but they did not live in the same town so it took reality time to catch up). But I would be careful to keep her at a cordial distance. Sometimes all it takes is someone firmly and repeatedly saying, this is not ok and i will not be a party to it. But I would accept nothing less than true repentance. not just break up self pity. She is a human wrecking ball leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. She needs to admit what she did was wrong on every level. not just be glad it is over. Otherwise it will just happen again.
Sorry you went through that pain too! : ( I think you've got great advice too. Really sounds like my SIL. She was raised better, but chose a really bad and abusive guy. She sneaked around with him for a long time before moving in, getting pregnant, then marrying him. He was in jail a lot. Then before they were divorced, she was sneaking around with a friend of his. Now they ran off and got married. Okay Einstein. Whatever. She's really taking a risk, esp with her little ones.
Hey can I join? I am looking for some other MDC conversation besides cervical mucus and TTC haha. (although we are TTC)
I have been having difficulties in finding real close friends, too. We have plenty of couples that we plan stuff with but I have no real confidants besides DH and DD.
I am 25 and rural, SAHM, faithful, and pretty conservative all the way around and as our 1.5 year old getting more attentive to details in people's behavior I am finding myself more attentive in my friends behaviors. Also, just logistically and being busy in general makes it hard to spend time with everyone as much as I would like. We are/will be homeschooling and DD is an only child right now so I have been worrying more lately about us becoming hermits out here.
Anyway, recently have gotten library cards and have been venturing there once a week and today I got a book called "Caesar and Christ". I have always wondered what happened in history between Christ dying and countries and governments of the world coming about. When we went to the library today I didn't really have any genre or title or author in mind and actually just decided to go to the farthest back wall and silently prayed for God to send me to a book and I ended up at this one, which I thought was really cool. I saw the title and thought, "Oh yeah! Who knew there was a whole book on that?!" It is a 700 + page book and I would normally NEVER attempt to read something that long because I can never sit still long enough to actually read-a-book.
Anyway, I thought I would jump in tonite. Off to attempt to read.....
I was reading alot. Now with a 2 month old I'm taking a break.
HEY! Just something interesting TODAY on the Hebrew calendar (Tammuz 9) Nebuchadnezzar broke through the wall of Jerusalem at the height of famine (Jer. 39:2; 52:6)
That's cool. :)
John16- Agree with lilyka!!! Toxic!!!
I hope the you ladies are my friends.
I don't know you well enough to say friend per se, BUT I do hope to get to know you better and be friends, as well as other ladies here. :) I have ppl I've only met online I consider dear friends now. 
Hey can I join? I am looking for some other MDC conversation besides cervical mucus and TTC haha. (although we are TTC)
I have been having difficulties in finding real close friends, too. We have plenty of couples that we plan stuff with but I have no real confidants besides DH and DD.
I am 25 and rural, SAHM, faithful, and pretty conservative all the way around and as our 1.5 year old getting more attentive to details in people's behavior I am finding myself more attentive in my friends behaviors. Also, just logistically and being busy in general makes it hard to spend time with everyone as much as I would like. We are/will be homeschooling and DD is an only child right now so I have been worrying more lately about us becoming hermits out here.
Anyway, recently have gotten library cards and have been venturing there once a week and today I got a book called "Caesar and Christ". I have always wondered what happened in history between Christ dying and countries and governments of the world coming about. When we went to the library today I didn't really have any genre or title or author in mind and actually just decided to go to the farthest back wall and silently prayed for God to send me to a book and I ended up at this one, which I thought was really cool. I saw the title and thought, "Oh yeah! Who knew there was a whole book on that?!" It is a 700 + page book and I would normally NEVER attempt to read something that long because I can never sit still long enough to actually read-a-book.
Anyway, I thought I would jump in tonite. Off to attempt to read.....
Not sure how I missed your post before??? One day I'll wake up and realize how much I am my Mother. 
You sound like me only younger. I'm 32, rural, working on the first babe and beside hubby and his sisters (ranging in age from 12-41) I don't have a lot of friends. Part of it is we don't have a church home. First time in my life for that. Hubby's so sick of the legalism at the churches around here, even though their doctrine's generally good, he comes home more frustrated than ever. SO it's best for us not to go for now. We'd both love to go, but ya. We just have our own devotions, and together, and are constantly debating/discussing the Bible, listening to Christian radio and sermons. It's been a growing for me!
Anyway, off that. I homeschool my 3 teen SILs (16, 14, 12) and plan to do the same with our babes. We were recently called hermits by one of hubby's cousins. It's bc over Memorial Day, we had an impromptu family gathering here (hubby's immediate family only). The cousin was trying to invite his family of 6 over and he's not really on my favorite's list right now bc he's so NOSEY and GOSSIPY. He said we're hermits when we said no he can't come. Lol Seriously. He just wants to see me to see if I am really pregnant or not. He's not sure if he believes it or not and we're not announcing it to hubby's family till AFTER the baby's here for various really annoying reasons. So ya, hermits. I was thinking of growing a white beard and sitting on the porch with a gun. 
Sounds like a neat book! I love to read, just don't have as much time as I used to for it.
So there is my little rant....pity party...whatever. We need to all pray for each other to have some meaningful friendships.
Too right!
Oh my gosh! I did it. I sent in my financial paperwork (Glory to God I qualify for the full amount of the Pell Grant and possibly the next level of need based grants. I could have all of my tuition covered!) and filled out my application, including a declared major. (Dietetics - Registered Dietitian and then when I am done I will take my lactation consulting boards). I crunched the numbers and if everything goes as planned I should graduate with minimal debt (less than $10,000, possibly none.) Expected start date is 2013. I will spend the fall semester paying off my car and credit card and studying for couple of CLEP tests. Each one I pass saves me $700.
I haven't felt this optimistic about life in a very long time. Praise God for hope and a future!!
Oh my gosh! I did it. I sent in my financial paperwork (Glory to God I qualify for the full amount of the Pell Grant and possibly the next level of need based grants. I could have all of my tuition covered!) and filled out my application, including a declared major. (Dietetics - Registered Dietitian and then when I am done I will take my lactation consulting boards). I crunched the numbers and if everything goes as planned I should graduate with minimal debt (less than $10,000, possibly none.) Expected start date is 2013. I will spend the fall semester paying off my car and credit card and studying for couple of CLEP tests. Each one I pass saves me $700.
I haven't felt this optimistic about life in a very long time. Praise God for hope and a future!!
Way to go!
Awesome Lilyka!
I have very few friends too Naz and sadly none of them are Christian. I feel more and more segregated from the women in my church and I'm not sure why. It must just be my flesh talking but I feel like I should keep away from them.
Awesome Lilyka!
I have very few friends too Naz and sadly none of them are Christian. I feel more and more segregated from the women in my church and I'm not sure why. It must just be my flesh talking but I feel like I should keep away from them.
I'm so mad that you should feel that way. Jesus is so missing from the church. 
Summer 
JOY
So true, there's too much religion and not enough relationship in the church today. Just ALL OF US, keep growing into the ones God wants us to be. We're accountable to God, and I don't think He'll take the excuse of our church or friends, or lack thereof. Easier said than done, but good challenge to live by, I think.
I asked this over in religious studies and did really get to much response. What do you ladies think about the 6 24hr days of creation? Ken Ham says that if you don't believe it you are in SIN.
The way I see it is this...God lives outside of time. So until God made TIME did he wait around for 24hrs to do the next thing? God said Let there be and it happen. Does that even "take TIME" I would think that anything that the Lord wants to have happen would take less then a second. (I don't in anyway believe in millions or billions of years)
AND why does this really matter? People are going to have so many reasons to NOT believe Jesus is God. RIGHT? The biggest sin is SELF. We need to die to self and live as Messiah.
Sorry! The adult Sunday school is taking a Ken Ham class. I'm just so sick of going to church and not learning how to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus the Messiah. Why do we need to learn about science, money, politics, or anything else that it not even the Bible. I'm going to write a letter to the elders. I know they will not EVEN get what I'm trying to say BUT it will get it off my mind.
OK you can go back to your coffee.....
OH!!! I ask because one of the best teacher in the church said that until God made time it was not a 24hr day. (I believe this before he said it) Then I say something in the same line of thinking and I get told OFF again. The teacher was made to step down. Another reason to write a letter!!!!!!
I have been to some bad churchs but this one takes the CAKE.
Do think I should write a letter??? After what happen the last time I was going to leave it along....now I don't want to.
I asked this over in religious studies and did really get to much response. What do you ladies think about the 6 24hr days of creation? Ken Ham says that if you don't believe it you are in SIN.
The way I see it is this...God lives outside of time. So until God made TIME did he wait around for 24hrs to do the next thing? God said Let there be and it happen. Does that even "take TIME" I would think that anything that the Lord wants to have happen would take less then a second. (I don't in anyway believe in millions or billions of years)
AND why does this really matter? People are going to have so many reasons to NOT believe Jesus is God. RIGHT? The biggest sin is SELF. We need to die to self and live as Messiah.
Sorry! The adult Sunday school is taking a Ken Ham class. I'm just so sick of going to church and not learning how to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus the Messiah. Why do we need to learn about science, money, politics, or anything else that it not even the Bible. I'm going to write a letter to the elders. I know they will not EVEN get what I'm trying to say BUT it will get it off my mind.
OK you can go back to your coffee.....
OH!!! I ask because one of the best teacher in the church said that until God made time it was not a 24hr day. (I believe this before he said it) Then I say something in the same line of thinking and I get told OFF again. The teacher was made to step down. Another reason to write a letter!!!!!!
I have been to some bad churchs but this one takes the CAKE.
Do think I should write a letter??? After what happen the last time I was going to leave it along....now I don't want to.
Deep questions! My hubby would be a good one to answer you but let me blunder through it the way I see it. :)
Why do we need to learn about science, money, politics, or anything else that it not even the Bible
Science, money and politics (to a lesser degree of the three) are in the Bible. There is a LOT of science in the Bible and as time goes on, science catches up to the Bible. There are about 250 verses in the Bible on money. And as I said, politics are the lesser discussed of the three, but they are in there.
What do you ladies think about the 6 24hr days of creation?
I believe that since that's what God said, that's what God meant. If you look at the meanings of the words, it indicates strongly one day. God said "...the first day.", "... the second day." etc. How many THE first days could there be? There was THE first day I was married. Only one day, not that whole honeymoon week, not a month, not a year, just that day. Only that day.
God lives outside of time. So until God made TIME did he wait around for 24hrs to do the next thing? God said Let there be and it happen. Does that even "take TIME" I would think that anything that the Lord wants to have happen would take less then a second. (I don't in anyway believe in millions or billions of years)
Well, I believe that's what He did. Why? I don't know. I can speculate since He didn't say. It's dangerous to say emphatically what God doesn't clarify. God is outside of our time domain. He isn't bound by time. That's one reason He told Moses, "I AM", and Jesus said that "before David, I AM." He existed always, He will exist always. That has always made my brain hurt! Maybe we'll understand in Heaven, but now, whew, hard to even remotely comprehend. I guess that's why He's god and I'm not.
Yes, it would take less than a second. I assume. It's outside of time. There was no time till He said so, and one day there will be time no more. I think one reason He might have done that is to teach us moderation, just like He took a day of rest. What? God rested? Yes. I think it was just as the way Jesus lived on Earth, the way God gives us mercy and grace. It's to show us more of Himself and how He wants us to be becoming.
AND why does this really matter? People are going to have so many reasons to NOT believe Jesus is God. RIGHT? The biggest sin is SELF. We need to die to self and live as Messiah.
It does matter because it's in the Bible. Every verse from Gen-Rev is important. People will have reasons to reject Jesus, but I know ppl who are scientifically minded and have studied things like this and come to faith in Christ because of it. People will bring up questions - sometimes really stupid ones - when they are searching for God. We are mandated to have an answer for them. Blowing them off is not going to help them. It will just push them away. Questions aren't always a challenge to what you're saying. Just like teens, they're trying to find WHY it's relevant and WHY what you say is true. If ppl are discussing it in the marketplace of ideas around us, it's relevant. Esp when it's in the Bible. We're commanded to know the Bible, not just the New Testament, or about only Jesus. He was there in the Beginning (John 1) and Created all things. It is learning about Him! :) {I'm just so sick of going to church and not learning how to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus the Messiah.}
The teacher was made to step down. Another reason to write a letter!!!!!!
I guess I'd have had to been there to see the whole conversation, sounds like he either likes to debate like much of my husband's family or he misunderstood. If he's stepped down, why write a letter? Maybe I missed something? Trying to hurry bc I need to start supper.
I have been to some bad churches but this one takes the CAKE.
Well that's not cool. Maybe you need to find another? We don't go bc hubby is fed up with the legalism even though overall the doctrine is sound. We do our devotions and listen to sermons, discuss the Bible and so forth here. Happens a LOT when the family gets together too. One day we might find something great, then we'll go and I'd love it bc I miss it. Been in church since I was 6 weeks old. But this is a new time of learning for me.
Do think I should write a letter??? After what happen the last time I was going to leave it alone....now I don't want to.
Sometimes it helps when I'm mad (esp at hubby, lol) to just write something really nasty (the pc is my favorite place) and delete it. Or keep editing it till it's still getting to the point but not hateful. That REALLY calms me down. I have done that so many times, then not sending it. Or if it's edited well, I give it to him. Might be a thought, esp if you think it won't do any good anyway.
Okay, I need to get supper on, he's on his way home. Hang in there Girl! :)
I often think that people spend way too much time thinking about the beginning and the end rather than dealing with their present lives. It is after all more fun to focus on things we cannot know or change than on the state of our own souls, repenting of our real sin, and changing our own hearts. You know, the stuff that takes work and forces us to focus on ourselves in a way that isn't fun. It seems to me the churches I have been at that are most focused on Genesis and Revelations are the ones with the people who dealing with their own lives and their own sin (as a whole) the least.
I do not know how the world was started. it could have been six days or 6000 days or six seconds. When you are God where does the sun rise and set on you? I can see that a six day creation was possible. My mind is open to it. But I just can't be too bothered to pick a side. And certainly cannot make it a point of contention. I have my own past sins to confess and my own end to consider. God will take care of the rest weather i understand it or not. I suppose we will know one day.
I think there is benefit to coming together with other believers to find out how to put Christ's teachings into action in today's world, especially concerning money (debt is a sin. the Bible is clear. I am not judging. I am in debt up to my eyeballs.) and politics and even science (or at least the ethics behind it). But it needs to be done in a way that adheres to church Tradition and Scripture. otherwise i think it is best to leave it as a mystery to be discovered in the next life.
As for Ken Hamm...My in laws get a subscription to the magazine. I always check it out before giving it to the girls. Generally it is benign and presents fun theories. But I am generally at odds with them. They do not consider the Orthodox Christians to be Christians and specifically target us for "saving" in countries that are traditionally Orthodox. They have no respect for the millions of Christians who withstood Islamic and or soviet invasion and occupation. The largest concentration of martyrs ever and a faith the perservered against all odds for thousands of years. Not real Christians my butt. but he is focused on one thing and one thing only.
I don't have time right now but I just want to clarify something. I really do believe the whole Bible. I study OT and NT with Messiah being the point of the WHOLE. To me you can take Messiah out of the old as much as you can not take him out of the new. ALL scripture ponits to Messiah.
Sorry, I had to run mid thought....The creation story has been open to debate since the early church. It is one of those things I think they never spent much time on though. The important thing about that story is God created it all and with order and authority in mind. And we ruined it. which is the opening for the rest of story-redemption and a love that pursued us to the very gates of hell. What if God gave us this story because we could never understand the complexities of how he works. Like I said....there just seems to be so many other things for me to worry about. I fully believe that God was capable of doing stuff in a literal six days. i also think that creation scientist have a lot of good points about a lot of things. If nothing else they present a challenge to accepted theories. I just don't think the creation store and weather or not it is literal six days as we know six days is all that important.
your church. Writing letters will do no good. This church is not a good fit for you. And what if you changed this one thing? what next. This is not the only thing or the worst thing. This is a church that has consistantly been pushing you past the edge of sanity. I have never heard you say one good thing about it (and I am not saying you are a whiner because you are not. You are one of the most positive people I have ever met and i feel if there was something good to be found in this church you would have found it by now. If there was one reason to stay.) Why are you there again? Is it where your husband wants to go? if that is the case time to get serious with prayer and fasting. Pray until it is his idea to go somewhere else. you guys have got to get out of there. It sounds like spiritual death. asking the church to change is not going to work. You must ask God alone to either change the church or to give you freedom to take your leave. And by ask I mean relentless fasting and prayer.
lilyka- Thanks. You are so right.
MrsKoehn- You made me think of something. Was Jesus died for 72hrs? If you look at the Hebrew Calendar He comes into Jerusalem on SUN (10 NISAN) Then that makes 14th on sunset on WED. That would have Jesus on the cross on THUR. Even then he is NOT died for 72hrs. So why is it so imporant to have 24days of creation?
PLEASE I'M not fighting. Most of the Body of Messiah are looking at stuff instead of looking at the simple truth of Yeshua. The real Yeshua. I don't see Ken Ham doing that.
I'm going to leave this alone. I'm just getting myself upset.
Let every person be quick to listen but slow to speak, slow to get angry (James 1:19)
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