PDA

View Full Version : Thank You My Friends At AFF...


AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 11:48 AM
I want to say a very sincere Thank You to all of you here on AFF for your patience, advice and prayers for me since I came aboard a couple of months ago.

When I first stumbled across this forum, it was by accident really. I'm an ex-UPCer and (I don't mean that in a derogatory sense by any means) when I first arrived here I honestly did not think of myself as being bitter or hostile toward the UPC organization. However, I found myself lashing out and just being downright rude and crude toward those of you who are and toward the organization in general. One person who really tried to talk to me and in a spirit of love, help me to see my bitterness, was Brother Rico. Anyway, I pushed the issue until I finally spent a week in Banland.

During that time, I really had time to meditate on where I was at and the Lord convicted me deeply of my issues with somethings that happened way back when and I surrendered all of that to Him.

My point in this note though is that I just want to thank you all for putting up with me and if you prayed for me, thank you. It has certainly helped me recognize how wrong I was and give it to the Lord and I want to sincerely say to each of you that I love you in Christ and regardless of any differences that we may have, if you are His, then I consider you my brothers and sisters in Him.

May God's abundant grace and blessings rest upon every aspect of each one of your lives and ministry.

Pastor Robbie

rgcraig
07-24-2008, 11:54 AM
Awesome!

Looking in a mirror is one of the hardest things to do!

DividedThigh
07-24-2008, 11:55 AM
god bless you bro, always on your side to strengthen my brother, keep posting you are needed, dt

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 11:55 AM
Awesome!

Looking in a mirror is one of the hardest things to do!

Yes it is, but the Lord's mirror always shows us ourselves in the light of truth!

Tyk
07-24-2008, 11:56 AM
Awesome!

Looking in a mirror is one of the hardest things to do!

No kidding :(

I like those mirrors that only show other failing when I look at it!

hehe - of course not really.

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 11:56 AM
god bless you bro, always on your side to strengthen my brother, keep posting you are needed, dt

Thanks DT, I don't plan on going anywhere. I love it around here. You're all a great group of God's people.

Pro31:28
07-24-2008, 11:57 AM
I want to say a very sincere Thank You to all of you here on AFF for your patience, advice and prayers for me since I came aboard a couple of months ago.

When I first stumbled across this forum, it was by accident really. I'm an ex-UPCer and (I don't mean that in a derogatory sense by any means) when I first arrived here I honestly did not think of myself as being bitter or hostile toward the UPC organization. However, I found myself lashing out and just being downright rude and crude toward those of you who are and toward the organization in general. One person who really tried to talk to me and in a spirit of love, help me to see my bitterness, was Brother Rico. Anyway, I pushed the issue until I finally spent a week in Banland.

During that time, I really had time to meditate on where I was at and the Lord convicted me deeply of my issues with somethings that happened way back when and I surrendered all of that to Him.

My point in this note though is that I just want to thank you all for putting up with me and if you prayed for me, thank you. It has certainly helped me recognize how wrong I was and give it to the Lord and I want to sincerely say to each of you that I love you in Christ and regardless of any differences that we may have, if you are His, then I consider you my brothers and sisters in Him.

May God's abundant grace and blessings rest upon every aspect of each one of your lives and ministry.

Pastor Robbie

:friend:friend:friend

Michael Phelps
07-24-2008, 11:57 AM
I want to say a very sincere Thank You to all of you here on AFF for your patience, advice and prayers for me since I came aboard a couple of months ago.

When I first stumbled across this forum, it was by accident really. I'm an ex-UPCer and (I don't mean that in a derogatory sense by any means) when I first arrived here I honestly did not think of myself as being bitter or hostile toward the UPC organization. However, I found myself lashing out and just being downright rude and crude toward those of you who are and toward the organization in general. One person who really tried to talk to me and in a spirit of love, help me to see my bitterness, was Brother Rico. Anyway, I pushed the issue until I finally spent a week in Banland.

During that time, I really had time to meditate on where I was at and the Lord convicted me deeply of my issues with somethings that happened way back when and I surrendered all of that to Him.

My point in this note though is that I just want to thank you all for putting up with me and if you prayed for me, thank you. It has certainly helped me recognize how wrong I was and give it to the Lord and I want to sincerely say to each of you that I love you in Christ and regardless of any differences that we may have, if you are His, then I consider you my brothers and sisters in Him.

May God's abundant grace and blessings rest upon every aspect of each one of your lives and ministry.

Pastor Robbie

Thanks for your honesty and transparency. This is what this forum should be all about!

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 11:57 AM
No kidding :(

I like those mirrors that only show other failing when I look at it!

hehe - of course not really.

It's not nearly as painful to look at, is it?

Ferd
07-24-2008, 12:00 PM
it must be appolgies are cathartic day.


nice.....


they are too. Im glad you found something that has helped you deal with you. We all need those from time to time.

God bless you and Im glad you are here!

Rico
07-24-2008, 12:42 PM
Brother, I am glad you have decided to stay with us and were able to let go of that bitterness. Now...............................about that one step thing.................................:D

Cindy
07-24-2008, 12:55 PM
Welcome back, and may God bless you abundantly.

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 01:57 PM
Brother, I am glad you have decided to stay with us and were able to let go of that bitterness. Now...............................about that one step thing.................................:D

Repent and Believe? TWO!!!:friend

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 01:58 PM
Welcome back, and may God bless you abundantly.

Thank you so much and He has!!!

Monkeyman
07-24-2008, 02:07 PM
Now go shave so I can fellowship you...I'm UPC











:) J/k about that first part!

Rico
07-24-2008, 02:35 PM
Repent and Believe? TWO!!!:friend

Hehehehehe! Actually, there are a lot of steps involved. First, ya gotta hear, then ya gotta believe, then ya gotta repent, followed with baptism, infilling of HG, and then ya gotta stick with it til ya die. So, let's see: there are 6 steps involved! :D

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 02:49 PM
Hehehehehe! Actually, there are a lot of steps involved. First, ya gotta hear, then ya gotta believe, then ya gotta repent, followed with baptism, infilling of HG, and then ya gotta stick with it til ya die. So, let's see: there are 6 steps involved! :D

I'm in serious trouble then. Man, I was born and raised in southern Louisiana and I just can't count that high... :bigbaby

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 02:50 PM
Now go shave so I can fellowship you...I'm UPC











:) J/k about that first part!


Listen here MonkeyMan, every monkey I know has facial hair. :ursofunny

Rico
07-24-2008, 02:56 PM
Listen here MonkeyMan, every monkey I know has facial hair. :ursofunny

Exactly how many monkeys do you know?

Cindy
07-24-2008, 02:58 PM
Exactly how many monkeys do you know?

:ursofunny

He said he was raised in Southern Louisiana, they eat monkeys there I heard. :D

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 03:25 PM
:ursofunny

He said he was raised in Southern Louisiana, they eat monkeys there I heard. :D

You've got that right!!!

I don't know what y'all do in your part of the country, but where I come from if a man is driving home and sees some roadkill drying out on the road in the hot South Louisiana sunshine, we just call home to our wife and say, "Honey, put on a pot of rice. I'm bringing supper home!" Nothing goes to waste in south Louisiana! NOTHING!!! :club

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 03:26 PM
Exactly how many monkeys do you know?

:ursofunny:ursofunny:ursofunny:ursofunny

Cindy
07-24-2008, 03:31 PM
You've got that right!!!

I don't know what y'all do in your part of the country, but where I come from if a man is driving home and sees some roadkill drying out on the road in the hot South Louisiana sunshine, we just call home to our wife and say, "Honey, put on a pot of rice. I'm bringing supper home!" Nothing goes to waste in south Louisiana! NOTHING!!! :club

:snapout
Dude, roadkill is God's way of feeding the buzzards.:tease

Rhoni
07-24-2008, 03:41 PM
I want to say a very sincere Thank You to all of you here on AFF for your patience, advice and prayers for me since I came aboard a couple of months ago.

When I first stumbled across this forum, it was by accident really. I'm an ex-UPCer and (I don't mean that in a derogatory sense by any means) when I first arrived here I honestly did not think of myself as being bitter or hostile toward the UPC organization. However, I found myself lashing out and just being downright rude and crude toward those of you who are and toward the organization in general. One person who really tried to talk to me and in a spirit of love, help me to see my bitterness, was Brother Rico. Anyway, I pushed the issue until I finally spent a week in Banland.

During that time, I really had time to meditate on where I was at and the Lord convicted me deeply of my issues with somethings that happened way back when and I surrendered all of that to Him.

My point in this note though is that I just want to thank you all for putting up with me and if you prayed for me, thank you. It has certainly helped me recognize how wrong I was and give it to the Lord and I want to sincerely say to each of you that I love you in Christ and regardless of any differences that we may have, if you are His, then I consider you my brothers and sisters in Him.

May God's abundant grace and blessings rest upon every aspect of each one of your lives and ministry.

Pastor Robbie

Pastor Robbie,

So glad you are here. It is very 'eye-opening' for sure to read what you posted and say, "Where did that come from, I thought I was over that". This forum is good for many things, and soul-searching is just one.

Blessings,
Rhoni

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 03:54 PM
:snapout
Dude, roadkill is God's way of feeding the buzzards.:tease

And us crazy cajuns! :evilglee

Ron
07-24-2008, 03:56 PM
I want to say a very sincere Thank You to all of you here on AFF for your patience, advice and prayers for me since I came aboard a couple of months ago.

When I first stumbled across this forum, it was by accident really. I'm an ex-UPCer and (I don't mean that in a derogatory sense by any means) when I first arrived here I honestly did not think of myself as being bitter or hostile toward the UPC organization. However, I found myself lashing out and just being downright rude and crude toward those of you who are and toward the organization in general. One person who really tried to talk to me and in a spirit of love, help me to see my bitterness, was Brother Rico. Anyway, I pushed the issue until I finally spent a week in Banland.

During that time, I really had time to meditate on where I was at and the Lord convicted me deeply of my issues with somethings that happened way back when and I surrendered all of that to Him.

My point in this note though is that I just want to thank you all for putting up with me and if you prayed for me, thank you. It has certainly helped me recognize how wrong I was and give it to the Lord and I want to sincerely say to each of you that I love you in Christ and regardless of any differences that we may have, if you are His, then I consider you my brothers and sisters in Him.

May God's abundant grace and blessings rest upon every aspect of each one of your lives and ministry.

Pastor Robbie

Good to have you hear Abundant Grace!

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 03:56 PM
Pastor Robbie,

So glad you are here. It is very 'eye-opening' for sure to read what you posted and say, "Where did that come from, I thought I was over that". This forum is good for many things, and soul-searching is just one.

Blessings,
Rhoni

Rhoni,
Thanks for your kindness and it's great to be here. God bless you as well!

tstew
07-24-2008, 03:56 PM
God Bless you bro. I know that I have had to do a bit of soul-searching myself. It seems that it is very easy to use the magnifying glasses, binoculars, microscopes, and telescopes...and very difficult to use the mirror. Oh me!

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 03:56 PM
Good to have you hear Abundant Grace!

Ron,
thank you as well, my brother and God bless you!

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 03:59 PM
God Bless you bro. I know that I have had to do a bit of soul-searching myself. It seems that it is very easy to use the magnifying glasses, binoculars, microscopes, and telescopes...and very difficult to use the mirror. Oh me!

You're so right. However, when the magnifying glasses and binoculars, microscopes and telescopes are suddenly yanked out of your hands, then you can finally see the mirror. I thank God for His Abundant Grace in my life that continues working always. God Bless!

Cindy
07-24-2008, 05:00 PM
And us crazy cajuns! :evilglee

Well I didn't want to pick on any ethnic group...........:aaa

CC1
07-24-2008, 05:44 PM
Awesome!

Looking in a mirror is one of the hardest things to do!

Especially when you are as fat as I am.

CC1
07-24-2008, 05:46 PM
I'm in serious trouble then. Man, I was born and raised in southern Louisiana and I just can't count that high... :bigbaby

AbundantGreasyGrace,

I went to High School in Natchitoches, Louisisna. Not Southern La. but not too far away.

Thanks for this thread. I appreciate your initial post. Hopefully it will speak to others who might be harboring unaknowledged bitterness or resentment.

Rico
07-24-2008, 06:15 PM
Especially when you are as fat as I am.

Just buy two and put them together. That should help! :D

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 08:32 PM
AbundantGreasyGrace,

I went to High School in Natchitoches, Louisisna. Not Southern La. but not too far away.

Thanks for this thread. I appreciate your initial post. Hopefully it will speak to others who might be harboring unaknowledged bitterness or resentment.

LOL...

His Grace is Abundant, but Not greasy... I haven't heard that term in a while.

I used to preach in Natchitoches for Brother Whitehead. Been a few years ago. As a matter of fact, the first message that I ever preached was in his church. Great fireworks show there at Christmas time and great meat pies too! :evilglee

CC1
07-24-2008, 09:03 PM
LOL...

His Grace is Abundant, but Not greasy... I haven't heard that term in a while.

I used to preach in Natchitoches for Brother Whitehead. Been a few years ago. As a matter of fact, the first message that I ever preached was in his church. Great fireworks show there at Christmas time and great meat pies too! :evilglee

You are much younger than me. I graduated from HS there class of 77. I moved back for a couple of years after Bible College then moved in March 83 just a few weeks after Gaylon Allen came to pastor there. I don't know Pastor Whitehead although I think I did visit once after he became pastor.

You are right that the Christmas lights are awesome and the meat pies.

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 09:22 PM
You are much younger than me. I graduated from HS there class of 77. I moved back for a couple of years after Bible College then moved in March 83 just a few weeks after Gaylon Allen came to pastor there. I don't know Pastor Whitehead although I think I did visit once after he became pastor.

You are right that the Christmas lights are awesome and the meat pies.

Brother Gayln Allen... My pastor in Westlake when he passed away back in '99. As a matter of fact, I was singing in the choir at his funeral and have the video in my cabinet still. I loved that man like my own family. He was an awesome pastor in Westlake and that church has never been the same. I still miss him tremendously. Wow, it's a small world after all!

CC1
07-24-2008, 09:38 PM
Brother Gayln Allen... My pastor in Westlake when he passed away back in '99. As a matter of fact, I was singing in the choir at his funeral and have the video in my cabinet still. I loved that man like my own family. He was an awesome pastor in Westlake and that church has never been the same. I still miss him tremendously. Wow, it's a small world after all!


Sister Allen / Craft and TLC sat with me and my wife at TLC's granddaughters wedding here in Nashville about 1 1/2 years ago and I reminded her that she had been my pastors wife for a week or two! I remember them bringing a really nice door hanger flower arrangement to the hospital when my daughter was born which really impressed me because they knew that we were moving just as they were coming to pastor but made that gesture anyway.

AbundantGrace
07-24-2008, 09:45 PM
Sister Allen / Craft and TLC sat with me and my wife at TLC's granddaughters wedding here in Nashville about 1 1/2 years ago and I reminded her that she had been my pastors wife for a week or two! I remember them bringing a really nice door hanger flower arrangement to the hospital when my daughter was born which really impressed me because they knew that we were moving just as they were coming to pastor but made that gesture anyway.

Yes, that's just the kind of people they were. They were just genuine and they really cared. He knew how to reach people that nobody else seemed to be able to do. I really, really miss him and her both. Just wonderful people. Thank God for allowing them to pass my way. They made an eternal impact. Thanks for the memories!