So Much Hurt On This Forum

[AreYouReady?]

Ah....but when they do something like mess up someone's hair and pour salt into it...that's not touching God's anointed? They do not stop to think that they are not the only ones that God anoints.

[HolyFire]

If you're baptized in Jesus name and you've been filled with the Holy Spirit, this is for you. You're my brother, my sister...the song is I need you to survive. Video won't imbed...

http://youtu.be/LUUHPDUsLJ0

[The Lemon]

If I were in a Church service and ANY man tried to put his hands on my wife's hair to mess it up or pour something on it...I believe I would show him why I am a brown belt in Karate...

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

"Godbumps" - that is funny! I understand "tongues" exist out side Christianity and perhaps even outside spirituality. Therefore, I have never sought any experience in tongues apart from my relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit, and certainly not apart from sincere repentance and praise to Jesus.
What you describe is scary whether associated with depression or not.

After initial conversion it is not imperative to speak in tongues. I would suggest yielding to the Godbumps by visiting the sick, and comforting the poor and elderly. When I do that I feel great the next day, too!

Yes, what I describe is downright scary and it is what I did all the time in the UPC and it was encouraged by all the preachers. I'm with you. I think visiting the sick, comforting the poor and those things are much more spiritual than any manufactured shouting and speaking in tongues. Now, I know some of the worship is not manufactured because I have experienced that too.....without depression afterwards. However, looking back, I think most of the worship and spiritual experiences I had in the UPC were manufactured....and encouraged to be manufactured. I never thought of it that way before, at least to this extent. Praying should NOT make one feel depressed. It was a literal biological depression that came after the "experience" and stayed until late the next day. If I had believed that the devil has simply "stolen my joy" (like I used to) I would have gone back for more.

Most of the time when I pray and worship now....it is much different than it used to be. I go for a walk in the woods and meditate on God and think of things to be thankful for. I try to be kind to people.....not to get them to come to church and be a "good witness" but simply because it is the right thing to do.

And I am mostly happy most of the time. Much better life, for sure.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

To me, THESE type of men are so whacked that I don't, and never did, consider them a danger. Anyone who does take such a moron seriously is equally whacked -in my humble opinion. At this point I feel that buffoons like this pastor exist only to be mocked, ridiculed, and have flaming bags of dog poo left on their front porch.

Flaming bags of dog poo?? So, how exactly do these flaming bags start on fire?

[ILG]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

yup. Nice signature!

Thank ya!

[ILG]

Here are some of the standard answers given for people who have been hurt and abused. The same old things that numbers of people come out of the woodwork and say anytime there is a thread on hurt:

Don't let a root of bitterness grow.

You are responsible to heal.

Don't keep whining.

Don't nurse your hurt.

Okay, every single time you try and talk about anything of substance when it comes to hurt and spiritual abuse, this is mostly what you get.

This is what I say and this is what I have said to myself over the years:

Your pain is real. Don't let anyone try and make you deny it.

Don't get swept away by scriptural platitudes and remember that it takes time to heal.

You can't force a flower bud to open. It's opens in it's own time and only if it receives the nourishment of rain and sun, intermittently. If it is not fed, it will not blossom and grow and that is not the fault of the flower. Fortunately for us, we are not stationary and can move. If you are not getting fed, go where you are.

Remember to be thankful for what you have.

Sometimes people tell you to not nurse your wounds because what they really want is to sweep things under the rug and not deal with the issues.

That said, it is true that some people will nurse a wound to the extent of using it as a crutch to not do the right thing. Examine yourself and judge yourself in this matter and don't let anyone else do it for you. If you are guilty, deal with it. If not, don't let anyone ever convince you that you are guilty or you just end up back as a victim of abuse all over again. You need to think for YOURSELF. Don't let anyone do your thinking for you.

Remember that people repeat what they hear others say when they don't know the answer.

Know that it does get better in time if you take the right road.

Be gentle on yourself. You are so used to being beat up emotionally and spiritually that you think it is normal. It is not. If it feels wrong, it probably is wrong.

There. There are some real answers from someone who has been there.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

They do because to question anything or criticize is to touch God's anointed.

Lord have mercy! You wouldn't want to touch God's anointed!

[bbyrd009]

Nice. You can force a flower tho, sorry; you might find another analogy.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

Nice. You can force a flower tho, sorry; you might find another analogy.

LOL! Okay.....well if there is a way to force a flower, I am unaware of it. How do you force a flower? Seems to me you just end up pulling petals off and destroying the flower.