CCUno,
I'm speaking to you as a man and not Admin in this post.
Okay, you didn't get it.
That is not what I was saying.
I am not trying to run you off. (lol) I haven't been offended. I just was more angry than anything. (lol)
I respect you, CC1. I love you like I do everyone else I've been posting with for so long. How could I not love you? Let me count the ways...... (lol)
YES, things have been eating my craw since the first time you talked about the stringy haired women on AFF. I would forgive you and then you would do it again and I had to start all over again. (lol)
What I would do is picture walking into Southside and eating sausage (you) and pork steaks (me) and then I thought - I could like him, I'm sure. (lol)
Integrity goes a lot deeper, IMO, than posting words of your opinion. I can't say that I questioned your integrity, just your choice of words. It's like you weren't really thinking that there are some women that don't want to cut their hair, dye their hair, could care less about jewelry and don't like to wear pants, so some of the standards are a non-issue.
Some of us have been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and threw it away. There are some of us that those things DO NOT work for us anymore. We don't like feeling pressured to pick those things up again. Things that felt like chains of acceptance to the world around our neck. You may not understand that. I've lived on both sides of the fence for the same amount of time in my life. I don't want the side I came from.
When I see our women praying, crying and seeking God with all their hearts - you make me angry when you call them - stringy haired women.
I don't have words enough to convey how I feel. It's too large. Now, I will agree with you that stupid things have been said and stupid things have been enforced, but I've seen stupid things in other denominations.
When I left the Catholic Church I attended the Baptist Church. The singles program just needed some liquor and then we would be in a bar. They got together played Elvis and other secular music. Me coming from a bar found that a little strange. I thought you left such music behind. Music that effected you in certain ways. Perhaps it was just me and something God didn't want for me. There are things I can't do or I will go backward. I could elaborate on that, but I won't. A dog returning to it's vomit.
CC1, you are a great person. For the most part I like you. I'm just saying it isn't right of anyone to rag the appearance of the women.
You mentioned once that they had no natural beauty and needed some enhancement. How is that your right, as a man, to pressure women in that way? We have enough pressure without men making us feel that we can't be accepted unless we do some "work".
It's like running through a chorus line to see who is accepted. How does that make a woman feel? I say find who pleases you and leave the others alone. God will find someone to love each and every women. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
If God led me to this organization when I cried out that I needed Him, why are you asking me to leave? I can't leave. I have to follow Him wherever He goes and wherever He takes me. He hasn't opened another door in 22 years, I kinda took that as a hint.
Don't think I haven't gone through a time of testing. I certainly have, but I looked around and met people who didn't have anything better to offer me. I looked around and didn't see another path that was stronger and so I decided to stay where I was. I think that's how many in the UPC view things. If you have something better, give it to me. Many don't see it in their locality, IMO.
I do see some mistakes. One would be
Deut 22:5, which has nothing to do with pants. "wear" in that passage is a very strong definition and has been overlooked as a basic meaning. It is not basic and is never used again in the entire OT. I attribute that to not sufficient study.
When I was a new convert the Lord showed me strongly how important it was that I would study on my own. The first thing he showed me was "touch not thine anointed". He showed me that it meant every saint of God.
Like the Catholic Church I have seen the same teaching - follow the leader and don't question. I've me pastor's wives who would say, "Well, I don't know, you'll have to ask my husband." I was astonished by that. I have seen some things changing and I attribute that to God building His church. He isn't going to leave a hungry heart in the dark.
Anyway, again, I think you are a great person, with great wit, good stories. I've just been angry at you from time to time as an Apostolic woman. I usually forgive you, though.
Does any of this make any sense to you?
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