Glad to becoming finally free!

[pianoman1]

Well, here goes nothing. LOL.  I"m from Farmington, MO or typically considered the Lead Belt Area. I have been married 25 years this Sept to my wonderful wife, have three amazing step children and 4 grandchildren in whom my life is being greatly enriched everyday. I have spent the last 22 years serving as Worship and Drama Minister at a few churches in the area, starting with "Charismatic, Word" Churches and eventually ended up with my last stint serving at a Southern Baptist Church.  That all ended when I volunteered to fill in for the Pastor on a Wednesday night service and was informed that I could not do that because I had been married before.  Something in my head sort of shorted out because I wondered why I was capable to sit and stand on the same platform as the pastor, lead the people into the very presence of God through worship and song, present plays and dramas on that same platform, but was not worthy to stand behind that pulpit and lead a Wednesday night service that consisted of 5 general type people over 45, one snaggle-toothed elder woman, and a couple of kids who only came with grandma and grandpa. I resigned that position and somewhat totally dropped out of the organized church system.  I would still occasionally get invited to various churches in the area to do a gospel and praise and worship concert, but no involvement and really no desire too.  I began to get kind of nervous with God and told him that he was "going to have to get me involved in church somewhere" because people where I would be invited to minister in song would always ask me "where are you attending church, David" and I had no answer to give them. God then spoke to my heart and answered that he had shut me down for a reason in my area of ministry because he was going to strip me of all religion".  I actually couldnt believe what I was hearing but I was so excited that God was still doing a work in me in spite of my hurts, anger and bitterness toward the church system as a whole.  I was reading the word one day, and a scripture literally jumped off the page to me. It was the one where so death was passed to all because of one man, Adam, then because of the death of one man Jesus then life is given to all. (my interpretation in short).  I called a friend of mine that was a good friend to Gary Amirault and he later dropped by my house with a stack of CD's from a UR Conference in Arkansas in either 2004, or 05, The book Hope Beyond Hell and another one on the lie of Eternal Torment and my journey was on so fast, my head was still swimming.  I've been thru this thing about 6 months now, and ever scrambling for new material to read and study.  I still have so many questions just regarding life and everyday living and what has changed since grabbing hold of this new revelation through the Holy Spirit.  I am soooo free inside, I love getting into the word and learning all over again, and many times finding a precious new nugget of gold in the word, that I've never seen before ever.  My life has changed, my wife is changing too and I have this small circle of friends that I share with and they are begging me to start a new place of gatherings.  I have so much to learn before any of that begins, so I just keep on praising and thanking God everyday for his love and Mercy and wonderful grace. It is so wonderful, I cant say enough. So now I hope to meet other on here with whom I can share and ask questions about how to do this thing right being rooted and grounded and not just some other thing like name it claim it, positive thinking, praying an hour everyday, tithing until we cant afford our bills in order to be blessed by God end quote, like it was a few years ago in our Charismatic circles.  Thank God the work has already been done and we are blessed with all spiritual blessings thru Christ Jesus.  Thanks for letting me air LOL

[WhiteWings]

That was a lenghty nothing pianoman :boogie:
:welcome: :newb:

[jabcat]

Hey David.  Welcome, glad you're here  :dsunny:

[Molly]

For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

--Heb 4:3


:welcome: :newb:

[lomarah]

Welcome pianoman! I came out of the church as well and God is also bringing me out of the bitterness that I have had toward them for all of the hurt they had caused me. It really isn't their fault - they are as blind as I was just a few short years ago. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."  :HeartThrob:

He loves me though I deserve nothing but condemnation. And abiding in that love is how I am able to love them as well.  :cloud9:

Be blessed here!

[anna274]

What a gracious, loving, merciful Father we have; He is continually bringing us through a lot of NOTHING (experiences).....

Col 1:13  (Amp)

[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.