I've Started Writing
 

Well, I've started writing the book I've had in the back of my mind for a number of years. It is the experiences of my life....first being raised as a Catholic, drinking and partying, meeting my husband, getting into first the charismatic church and then the UPC, getting into the ministry, staying there and assisting for a number of years, going into Home Missions, pastoring an established work, the horrifying experiences we had there, and, finally, leaving,

We have been out of the UPC for 6 years now. My how time flies. I could not even sit down and start before this without getting way too emotional. Now, it's just flying out. I have written 11 chapters in a brief period. I am writing about Home Missions now. I am not sure how I will do when I start writing about the established pastorate.

Anyway, just saying I'm finally writing it, if anyone is interested.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

:thumbsup

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Glad you are coming to terms with your past and are able to write about your experiences. Naturally, I am interested but would have to read your book (And I will want to do just that!) to comment further.

You understand, I am sure, that many will not share your enthusiasm with what you are writing. Your experience will resonate with some who left abusive situations - and some of those UPC, and it may even resonate with some who still are a part of UPC. I am truly sorry you were hurt so. It's indeed sad you had such a negative experience while so many others have been blessed and found the Lord in the midst of programs such as Home Missions and the United Pentecostal Church.

Let me know when the book is available, please.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

One of the biggest issues I've had with writing it is knowing that some people will not share the enthusiasm that I am writing it. But, I am not writing it to bash anybody. I am writing it to tell my truth, my journey.

I have been writing it in such a way to explain it to people of all perspectives. For example, I am explaining things in detail in case people in my family were to read it. I am not sure if people raised in fundamentalist churches can understand how odd and strange fundamentalism is to people not raised in it. So, I am writing it partially to try and explain my journey to them. I am also writing it to explain my journey out to those who are still in etc.

So, I have the first draft of 11 chapters done. The third part (part about the established church) is going to be the most difficult emotionally. I wrote a few times a week to a friend of mine back then, telling him and his wife everything that was going on, both as a way to let off steam and to compare notes as he and his wife were making their own journey out of an Apostolic organization at the same time we were. I saved all those emails, so I should have a written journey of it. I have put it out of my mind a lot and not sure how fast I can look at all that junk and feel like I still have my head screwed on straight!! LOL! Anyway, after I write the whole thing, I want to go back through in segments and add things. I intend to document it very well. I have a lot of footnotes already from UPC authors concerning doctrines the UPC espouses and why.

So, anyway, I suspect it will take me a number of months, but I will let you know when it is finis! Thanks for your interest!

Re: I've Started Writing
 

ILG, are you now critical of upc standards? what is your view of the upc? what kind of church do you now attend?

Re: I've Started Writing
 

I have been critical of UPC standards for 10 years. I have a negative view of the UPC. I do not currently attend church at all.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

are you going to write about upc criticisms in your book? do you mind airing them here in this thread or can you direct me to a thread where you did? i'm interested in hearing them, i'm former upc, i may go back unless i find another apostolic church. i may visit an apostolic assembly in the near future. i don't agree with standards either but i can tolerate them i think.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Could you explain this statement a little further? I've been trying to understand the real difference between fundamentalist churches and non-fundy.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Will this book help to lead lost souls to repentance, water baptism in Jesus name, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost?

Re: I've Started Writing
 

http://everything2.com/title/The+dif...ist+Christians

That's a pretty decent explanation of the difference between fundamentalism and evangelicalism.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

ILG, I look forward to reading your book. :) Please post when it's finished and available so I can get a copy!

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Words spoken or written, flowing from within, is very telling. For from the abundance of
the heart, the mouth speaketh.

Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable
in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer".

This is not addressed to any one person. This applies to me, you or anyone. Words flowing
from within gives a clear picture of what's in our heart!

Falla39

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Glad to hear it, ILG! I'd like to read it too, once it's finished. Should be a very interesting book! :thumbsup

Re: I've Started Writing
 

I would like to read it.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

I can't answer that, kclee. Only ILG knows - and even she doesn't really know. But when I first started reading this thread, my thought all the way through has been that if the book is written in the right spirit (and I think ILG will do that), then people who are in positions of power in the church (in any church - not just the UPC), should be able to read this book and see where they themselves might be making some mistakes. As much as we would like to think it, the church is not perfect :( but if we could read the mistakes of others and learn from them, then we could better ourselves.

God bless you as you write this very difficult book, ILG. I am anxious to read it.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

It will be a book about my experiences and since many of them are negative, it could be viewed as a critique by the reader. My goal is not to criticize but to tell the truth as I see it.

I have spoken a lot over the years about my views but not so much over the last couple of years. You might find some of them written under my username if you looked.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

I was raised Catholic and, as a lay person in the Catholic church, it was definitely non-fundamentalist. Non-fundamentalists have a different view of the Bible. The Bible is revered but it is not followed literally the way fundamentalists do. Fundamentalist churches take the Bible very literally although they interpret it differently. For example, some fundamentalist churches may be KJV only and some may not be. Some may demand baptism by immersion and some may not. There are fundamentalist Baptist churches and evangelical churches and pentecostal churches.

Wikipedia:
[B]Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines typically in reaction against the theology of Modernism.[1][2][3] The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the Protestant community of the United States in the early part of the 20th century, and that had its roots in the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy of that time.
The term has since been generalized to mean strong adherence to any set of beliefs in the face of criticism or unpopularity (see Establishment), but has by and large retained religious connotations. Historically, for some constituencies fundamentalism connotes an attachment to a set of irreducible beliefs.[4]

Re: I've Started Writing
 

It will be a book about my experiences. How the reader choses to interpret those experiences will be up to them. I will say both good and bad things about my experiences and people who espouse them. It will not be, however, a book that is carte blanche pro-UPC.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Thanks for asking! It's nice to know people are interested!

Re: I've Started Writing
 

That's true. What will be flowing from my heart is my true story. I believe that what is acceptable in the sight of God is the truth.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Thanks Mary and Sis. A! Now, I am encouraged to write!

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Thanks Margies3. Pray for me as I try to write all of this in the right spirit. I know that some will find fault, no matter what spirit I write it in because they are afraid. Pray that God will help me remember to have compassion rather than anger.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

ILG,
I would also like to have a copy of your book. And may the LORD anoint your mind
and your pen, as you write your book.

Falla39

Re: I've Started Writing
 

So in your book, which things will you discuss - what about fundamentalism will you need to explain to your family?

Re: I've Started Writing
 

It's your story whether others like it or not. I'm interested to read it.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

im very interested. exspecially your thoughts from charasmatic to upc, then back out.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Thanks, Falla. I'm not sure how I will go about trying to publish it yet. Of course, it would be nice if a large publisher would pick it up. :) But I am not sure they would be interested. I will probably try that route first though. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Everything. They really don't know anything about it. I don't think they even know what born again really means. They won't understand the different types of baptism. Speaking in tongues will be as foreign as it comes. Honestly, they are at a very basic level as there was no real discussion about my beliefs beyond the very, very basics. They didn't want to discuss it, so I didn't. My mother is Catholic and my sister, brother and Dad don't attend church.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Well, I wrote the first draft of another chapter today. Took all day, and I've got a long way to go. I really appreciate knowing the interest. Thanks.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

ILG,

You may know this already, but CreateSpace is an Amazon company that prints on demand. I published a book about Guatemala this year through them, and the quality is good. In the event that a publisher doesn´t pick it up, that could work out for you.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

your in the same shoes im in. I find my self back in a upci, but i tolerate the standards. brought my daughter in pants to a upci sponsored event saturday, and of course i have facial hair, which is actually not uncommon. you just cant preach with hair on your face in the pullpit, or sing, or play instruments or even get on the platform with facial hair.

i would love to see some reform, i just dont think it will ever happen.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Thanks for the tip. I don't know anything about publishing so any pointers will be a help.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Just let me know when you get that to that point if you need help.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

I don't think it will either unless it happens very, very slowly. For me, I was to your place at one point......I believed UPC three step salvation at the time but not standards. However, my husband was the pastor. I respected his position and did not do anything except become a little more liberal (for example, I started wearing a wedding ring with his permission). I was ready to stay in the UPC if he chose to and live standards out of respect for the culture but I did not believe in them. We eventually left, however and left the ministry altogether and now do not even attend church.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Thanks! I went out to your site about your book and like what I see! I see you can publish a few ways.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

me and my wife had this discussion. we said we will probably never find a church that believes like we do. and though i go to a upc i could easily go to a trinitarian pentacostal and fill right at home.

I just want to be in a atmosphere were the Spirit of God will move. I hope you and your husband seek out fellowship at least and look for that as well.

regardless if its a 3 step 1 step charastmatic upc or whatever.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

You were pretty much hard core UC me thinks.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

I hope you do publish, and I would like to read it.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Ya, I was posse-ish back in the olden days like my pastor taught me to be.

Re: I've Started Writing
 

Thanks, Cindy!:highfive