Hello from England

[SandyB]

Hello,  My name is Sandy.  I live in England on the North West Coast (the Irish Sea is at the top of my road).  I am here because I really need irrefutable evidence to back up my belief that there is no eternal hell. I have felt this for years and this belief has kept me from going to my church for a few years.  I do not feel that I can worship with Christians who can sing quite happily about consigning the majority of the world to eternal torture.  My husband and adult children are all typical evangelical Christians with a belief in Hell so it is difficult to talk to them about it.  I get the distinct feeling that they think I am a bit loopy, or have been 'got at' by the Jehovah's witnesses :sigh:  Never mind,  I still love them to bits. :HeartThrob:

Sandy  <><

[B_T]

Hi there,

I'm Svetlio from Bulgaria and I have the same problem - nobody understands my thoughts about hell and even my girlfriend rejects Universalism- but she loves me despite this :)

If you read the articles here you'll understand that Everlasting torment is an unbiblical doctrine. You're English - that's great, because you will be able to find Bible translations that don't teach eternal torment.

[Nathan]

Welcome to the board.  I can relate with you . . . we all seem to have personal sacrifices we must endure when we elect to be led by Spirit rather than religion.  I am a heretic in my own denomination.  If they only knew what I preach . .but the congregation has embraced it and as a result, I'm between the two.

At any rate, I would like to encourage you to keep relationships your priority over doctrinal beleifs.  I truly believe that's why Jesus did all that he did, to restore our relationship with the Father and to show us how to have relationships with one another in spite of our differences.  There are those that will become offended due to where you now are in Christ, but let the decision to severe the relationship with you be theirs and not yours.  I'm a firm believer that God calls us where we are so that we remain there and be His light to those already around us rather than us separate from our friends and families thinking that is what "calling out" means. 

Just some thoughts to ponder.

Blessings

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Welcome....our precious Taffy here is Welsh.....he'll be coming along to welcome you shortly, I imagine......Blessings.....

[jabcat]

Welcome...the British are coming, the British are coming!..one if by land, two if by sea!    :laughing7:.  Glad you are here  :thumbsup:.  God's blessing, James.

[ScarletWren]

Welcome Sandy,

Just know you're not alone in being 'different' from most in Christianity.  It is a bit disappointing at first when your family doesn't receive your newfound freedom with open arms. My sisters think I'm weird but they haven't excommunicated me; we don't live close anyway so when we do get together we don't want there to be strife.  Their initial reaction was who did I think I was to make the opinions of all those previous hellfire teachers and their beloved teachers all wrong.  

But I can never go back or pretend that I have.  It's great to find people who share a knowledge of God's complete and all-sufficent love to His creation, even tho we have differences on other doctrines.  Makes life interesting, lol

Looking forward to seeing your coments in the forum, Sandy.

[Taffy]

Hi Sandy

Welcome  , :icon_flower:
North west  , Cumbria too far Up?  Blackpool area Maybe?

Im Taffy From the Forest of Dean but Hail from Cardiff

Jump aboard Matey , good to have you here :icon_flower:

[SandyB]

Hello Friends,  Thank you for the warm welcome and encouraging comments.  It's such a relief to know there are other people who feel the same  way.

Taffy,  You were right.  It's Blackpool.  :bigGrin:

[Taffy]

Hello Friends,  Thank you for the warm welcome and encouraging comments.  It's such a relief to know there are other people who feel the same  way.

Taffy,  You were right.  It's Blackpool.  :bigGrin:

The Home of the Tangerines , :icon_flower:

Havent been to Blackpool for a few years  , stayed at Merton Mere a few times, Holidays with the Family...

Its Nice to Meet you Sandy  :icon_flower:  :icon_flower:

[Doc]

Hello,  My name is Sandy.  I live in England on the North West Coast (the Irish Sea is at the top of my road).  I am here because I really need irrefutable evidence to back up my belief that there is no eternal hell. I have felt this for years and this belief has kept me from going to my church for a few years.  I do not feel that I can worship with Christians who can sing quite happily about consigning the majority of the world to eternal torture.  My husband and adult children are all typical evangelical Christians with a belief in Hell so it is difficult to talk to them about it.  I get the distinct feeling that they think I am a bit loopy, or have been 'got at' by the Jehovah's witnesses :sigh:  Never mind,  I still love them to bits. :HeartThrob:

Sandy  <><

:welcome:

Welcome to the board.  I can relate with you . . . we all seem to have personal sacrifices we must endure when we elect to be led by Spirit rather than religion.  I am a heretic in my own denomination.  If they only knew what I preach . .but the congregation has embraced it and as a result, I'm between the two.

At any rate, I would like to encourage you to keep relationships your priority over doctrinal beleifs.  I truly believe that's why Jesus did all that he did, to restore our relationship with the Father and to show us how to have relationships with one another in spite of our differences.  There are those that will become offended due to where you now are in Christ, but let the decision to severe the relationship with you be theirs and not yours.  I'm a firm believer that God calls us where we are so that we remain there and be His light to those already around us rather than us separate from our friends and families thinking that is what "calling out" means.

Just some thoughts to ponder.

Blessings

:iagree:


Sandy; there's a great but old book out there online that will help you and those who question you answer the inevitable questions that arise, from the scripture. You'll see Martin mention it from time to time (you'll bump into Martin here on the boards soon):

http://books.google.com/books?id=ol2R_856G0IC&dq=Elhanan+Winchester%27s+The+Universal+Restoration&pg=PP1&ots=fQLU7G3xl_&sig=EK9cJrUItIsCqjd6riQVHdaJ2s4&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPR28,M1

Enjoy.

Hey, we all know how it feels to be pulled out of "The Matrix". Don't worry, you're not the alone here.  :boyheart:

[rosered]

  Welcome to TentMaker  Sandy B
  God bless you .. Rose  :icon_flower:

[Paul Hazelwood]

Welcome

[legoman]

Welcome, I too can relate as none of my family is on board with UR yet, depite my sporadic explanations.

Take it slow and ask God guide you.

Cheers,
Legoman

[Nathan]

One thing I have found out since I openly discuss it in our church services (it's pretty much like tent in that our services are open forum and I pretty much just facilitate . .and of course have a . .um . . "small" amount of input . .if you know what i mean :laughing7:

[JeffA]

Hi SandyB,

Greetings from another Taffy (Brecon, Mid Wales).

[Nathan]

One thing I have found out since I openly discuss it in our church services (it's pretty much like tent in that our services are open forum and I pretty much just facilitate . .and of course have a . .um . . "small" amount of input . .if you know what i mean :laughing7:

Man, I must have really been out of it yesterday . .this makes no sense to me at all and I have no idea where I was intending to go with it. :msealed: :msealed:

[ScarletWren]

lol Nathan, I was wondering what that one thing you found out was.  You didn't seem to explain it in the rest of your post.  So much for that compliment I gave you on your wonderful presentation. 

Just kidding, it happens to all of us, especially when we're tired.  I always read my post before I send it to try to catch the places where I left out words or added some in that didn't fit since your brain goes faster than your fingers.  Sometimes I read it over twice.  But there is always that time that you hit post before you catch everything.

[Nathan]

Yeah, even after reading other responses before it to see what it was that inspired me to post in the first place . . . no help at all.

But there was a thought I did want to add . . .this may have been it . . .who knows . . . but in coming into these spiritual rooms that I've found myself to be in and as I openly share them and let the church ask questions and share what they see as well . . .it's put a bit of a wedge between my parents.  My Mom comes to my church because she's been seeing many of these things for years but Dad wouldn't let her accept them.  Even when I first started sharing, she really backed off . . .only to find out later it was because she knew if she didn't, that Dad would have a "canipshun" (spelled it that way on purpose because I have no idea what the right way was)

My Dad's health has not been good.  He'd caught pnemo . . .namone . . .he got sick and was in the hospital for a spell, then went to a care facility to recoop before finally going back home.  It was during that time that my Mom was able to be herself and it changed her.  When Dad got back home and started going into his routine of how I'm leading people into a cult and what not . .she cut him off and told him that she was literally dying in his church . . . they cut a deal and she comes to mine 3 of the 4 Sundays and all of the Wednesday night studies . .and goes to his on that one Sunday of the 4.  Originally, he was to come to mine once a month as well . ..our communion Sundays consist of potluck . . .I sort of changed how we do communion as well . . .another story. 

But anyway, that worked for about 2 months . .and he quit because he wants to argue every point I make and he knows the church wouldn't appreciate the arguing . .so Mom still comes all the time except that one Sunday . .Dad doesn't come at all and we really don't talk about these types of things any more.  But we still get along wonderfully . .now . .it took a while at first . .but I've learned how to not be offended at rejection by now.

[Taffy]

Hi Jeff..gee matey your up the road from  us... :icon_flower:


Had three yrs caravaning at Brynich between 02-05,,,got to Know Brecon very well...

Come from Cradiff me self, but lived in the Caldicot area during my childhood....

:icon_flower:

[Molly]

Hi Jeff..gee matey your up the road from  us... :icon_flower:


Had three yrs caravaning at Brynich between 02-05,,,got to Know Brecon very well...

Come from Cradiff me self, but lived in the Caldicot area during my childhood....

:icon_flower:

There's three of you? :mshock:

I don't have a signal for that. :sigh:

What kind of person comes from places called Brynich, Blackpool, and Merton Mere?

You sound like something out of the Narnia Chronicles.

Oh--you are!

[Nathan]

Hey Molly . . . now you have "me" laughing out loud!!

All Hail the Narnians!!!! :bowing: :notworthy: :notworthy:

[Taffy]

(http://soleilimg1.free.fr/gifs/animaux/fauves/fauve024.gif)

[Nathan]

(http://soleilimg1.free.fr/gifs/animaux/fauves/fauve024.gif)

That figures . . the lion sleeps.

[Taffy]

yeah..But Only at NIGHT :laughing7:

[Nathan]

yeah..But Only at NIGHT :laughing7:

Can you sing in falcetto?

In the jungle, the mighty jungle the lion sleeps to night . . . .