new person here

[Anneli]

Hi, I am Ann from Cincinnati. When I have more time I will post more about myself. Thanks for this website.

[jabcat]

Hi, please do...Welcome!

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Hi Ann from Cincinnati.....welcome.......

[Taffy]

Welcome and Hi A :icon_flower:

:icon_flower:

[Nathan]

 :welcome: to the family!!

[Redlettervoice]

.
Hello Ann, that's my friend's name on here, "and" my sister's
name.  You must be NICE! ha

Glad you're here.  Please say more.

[WhiteWings]

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[Anneli]

Thank you all for the warm reply. I'm thankful to have found this site. I am currently in a depression now- have lost my job (on unemployment), having to try to figure out where my older son's college tuition is going to come from (husband has a good job but it isn't enough, and we are trying to work with the Financial Aid office). I have great swaths of time alone at home.
I have been a Christian a long time and have recently begun thinking of UR. I guess until my children questioned and did not believe in traditional Christianity, at least for now, it has sent me in a tailspin, as you can imagine. I love nothing more than my boys and imagining a Heaven at total peace and rest with Him is difficult if they are not with me. This whole heaven/hell thing had my older son turned off to Christianity. My younger son is somewhat open but also questions the "why would God send people to hell for not believing in Him, what kind of God is that?" These are deep questions and I think there are actually a lot of closet universalists in a lot of churches out there. I have been an emotional wreck over this. I just want them to believe but the only way I think they will is if they believe in UR...
I just got off the phone with my brother who is a very strong Christian who says these things he can't really answer, either. He thinks of the lost as being in a sort of version of a secular society, and just being totally apart from God, but doesn't know if there is a point after death in which they can return, but tells me not to worry about it, let God worry about it. But I need to know. I really want to believe in the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Please tell me Paul was a universalist...
Thanks,
Ann

[Nathan]

May I be the first to share with you that God is bringing a paradigm shift to your household.  This is a great thing.  I feel your frustration and vulnerability in your post.  But know that your kids are fine . . . this isn't saying we can do whatever we want and not have consequences . .but I seriously feel that your kids are not walking away from God.  They simply rejecting the church's image of God.  And that's a good thing.  You will soon find the great majority of people here at tent have rejected the same image as well.

But even better, I rejected the traditional thinking church's image of God "because" I have found and experienced the true image . . .it was in me all along, but it was covered up with all the religious noise that I embraced.  Now, this isn't meant to be a church bashing post, it's just meant to share the idea that the church is very necessary for the infants and adolescents . . .but it's the mature that find they've outgrown the church.

I would still embrace it if it wasn't so brittle in it's boundaries.  I believe we're to live in freedom of Christ . . .freedom to mess up, freedom to fess up . . without intimidation or condemnation . . .give that job back to the holy Spirit.  Just know that your kids still have the love of the true God in them . . .their minds just haven't comprehended that yet.

[Raggedy Anne]

Hi Anne -

I don't read all the threads here regularly, so I just now noticed you being new.

Welcome -

Anne2 :bigGrin:

[Redlettervoice]

Anne #1

So help me God, I am beginning to believe I know the
PURPOSE of "kids."  ..........

Makes mothers seek God.  :love1:

[Raggedy Anne]

Anne #1

So help me God, I am beginning to believe I know the
PURPOSE of "kids."  ..........

Makes mothers seek God.  :love1:

Hey, are you calling me a kid?    :gangel:  Just kiddin'.  I know what you mean.   Nothing can worry me more than my kids.

Anne