AmyR

Thank you so much!! nebula you hit head on the nail. From the atmosphere at the two churches to the procedure and questions that I have asked myself to prayer. Being so young in my faith, it is comforting and helpful to gain insight from other christians. Thanks and God Bless You all!! Amy

I'm a fairly new christian (2 yrs) and of more pentacostal/charsimatic doctrine. Well, God has taken me on a path to graduate school 1700 miles away from family, friends, and a good church. For perspective, this graduate program is ~5 yrs. Right now, I'm struggling with finding a church in my new area. To complicate things more, God has lead me that the church that was my home last summer when here for an internship will not be my church home. There are 2 solid churchs that I'm now considering after having been to services, read through statements of faith, talked to pastors, meet with people in the church, and prayer. However, there has come a point of contention. The church that I feel God is leading me to is not along the same lines in regards to the doctrine of the Holy Sprit and the other church is. In taking to a spiritual leading in the church, there is a significant amount of contention among the members of that church on the matters of the holy spirit. The current stance that they have is the be lead by and grown with the holy spirit but not a filling of the holy spirit. In every other way, they are a solid church. Is it not God who is leading me to a church that doesn't completely align with all of my doctrine beliefs? The other church is right on in this matter and it would be completely comfortable for me to attend church there. Right now, I'm having a difficult time deceifering desires of the flesh and God's will for me. There has be constant prayer on this matter since I found out that this is where my path was taking me. The area that I'm in is definitely a college area seiged by Satan's grip. Is God leading me to this church to help them deal with matters of the holy spirit or is the devil leading me into spiritual turmoil? Any advice or suggestions on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and God Bless you all!! Amy

Devoted, I would agree with a lot of what was said. To many times as Christians, we take our disagreement with this topic to a discriminatory extreme. Continue to love your son no matter what choice he makes because ultimately it will be up to him. It will be your greatest tool in helping to deliver your son from Satan's grip. The fact that you love him just as Jesus loves him will help him realize what he is missing. Love, prayer, faith, and grace are some of the most powerful gifts that have been given to us by Jesus's death. He will be delivered from this sin but it may not be in the near future. Try not to put a resentment or a guilt trip on him but remind him that God love's him no matter what he has done and that Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins. On another note, the public school situation may not be all that bad. A lot depends on where you are. Public schools in the area of the country were I'm from are 9 times out of 10 better than the private schools in the area and typically have an extremely conservatory nature. Just be sure to take an interest in how your son is doing by talking to his teachers and counselors early on when they can still do something to help rather than waiting until the end of the term or later on when they have less time to affect him. I will continue to pray for you, your son, and anyone that God brings into his life. Amy

Maybe positive people are difficult to get along because they have something that you subconsciously strive for?? Positive happy go lucky people have just as many negative things in their life and they just choose to deal with or hide them differently. ~A smiling person~