Re-Re-introducing myself

[Nick Reading]

Hi everyone. I introduced myself fairly recently on here and I thought I would tell a bit more about myself.
First, since my last introduction, I basically ignored this forum, continued in drunkenness and broke my neck behind the wheel. It was just a fracture, I'm not paralyzed or anything, but the car is totalled. My neck is healed. I'm almost 9 months sober at this point and have no intention of going back to the drink. That's recent and I think it's relevant to my character, so there it is.

As for my background in regards to religion, I was raised in a secular home, with a nonpracticing catholic father and nonpracticing protestant mother. When I was in daycare, there was a little girl who told me that I would burn in hell if I didn't accept Jesus as my personal saviour. This was the first I'd ever heard of this and it stuck with me for years. Later, when I was in junior high school (grade 8-9), though it was a public school, there was a christian program within it, called the Logos program. This was the first time I'd ever knowingly met people who didn't believe in evolution, etc. and we traded barbs and then a year or so later, I read a chick's tract telling me that I was going to hell, so I started going to church with those very kids. I was 15 then and I attended a bible study that was basically a high school-university level education in the bible from a protestant perspective.

From there I went back and forth between trying to be a good christian and descending completely into alcoholic degeneracy. Somewhere along the way, I got absolutely obsessed with an extreme hellfire and brimstone website/preacher called A True Church and while looking for counter arguments to that madness, I found Ray's work right around the time he passed. I've now read the entire lake of fire series and I'm quite persuaded that hell is unbliblical.

I'm in the facebook group, where I admit, I've been a bit rude at times. I have all kinds of questions and even though I've read the entire lake of fire series, there's a lot there and I don't remember it all. I'm reading the bible all the way through from the beginning. My faith is extremely weak and I spend most of my time studying the word and asking god for faith, repentance, correction and understanding.

Unlike the last introduction I put on here, I won't be ignoring the responses. I don't want to violate the rules by asking for explanations that are beyond the bounds of ray's teaching, but I do have a couple questions that fall into exactly that category. Is there any way around that?

Thanks and god bless
Nick

[Dave in Tenn]

Hi, Nick.  I'm glad you made it through the wreck, and I hope you were alone in needing to.

I'm going to make a few general comments that sprang to mind on reading. 

Firstly, the "facebook group" is not related to this forum or Bible-Truths.  Last I successfully logged on, they were allowing (if not actively promoting) subjects that were well removed from stuff Ray covered or even much cared about.  I don't know it's current status.  I found myself locked out (on purpose or by accident), and I didn't have any interest in it any longer.  That's been a few years ago, I think, though I'm not good at remembering some things.  Could be I was ruder than you?   

I'm guessing from some of the clues that we are of the same generation.  I'd be disappointed to learn that some details of your introduction were still happening these days, but I could be wrong.  I definitely get the bit about vacillating between trying to be a good christian  and descending completely into degeneracy.  In my case, I for the most part solved that conundrum  by stopping trying to be a good Christian.  It's not that I recommend that, but I'm thankful that the Lord sent me that way.

I don't want to violate the rules by asking for explanations that are beyond the bounds of ray's teaching, but I do have a couple questions that fall into exactly that category. Is there any way around that?

If your questions are "beyond the bounds" by being about topics or subjects that Ray didn't explicitly teach on, then there is likely no real harm in asking them if you are asking in good faith.  I can't promise that you will get satisfactory answers from discussion.  If your questions are "beyond the bounds" by being disagreement (temporary or permanent) then just re-familiarizing yourself with the rules will, I think, inform you about how to proceed, whether you do proceed or don't.  In some respects, discussion about what Ray taught is the point of the forum.  In other respects, it's a sanctuary for those at peace with understanding.  In either case, I'll tell you what I have told dozens and dozens of people over the years:  This forum is moderated.  Fear not.     They're good.

It's nice to meet you.         

[Nick Reading]

Thanks Dave.
First of all, yes, I am the only one who was involved in the car crash. I thank God frequently for that. Secondly, I'm 40. Now to answer the more cryptic query:

I'd be disappointed to learn that some details of your introduction were still happening these days, but I could be wrong.

If you mean debauchery, no. I struggle with smoking cigarettes, but I'm glad to report that I'm doing pretty well in the resentments, lust and honoring my parents departments. I have the occasional bout of worry, but remembering that I'm commanded not to certainly helps.

If you mean I'm still somewhat plagued by the daffy doctrines of a particular group? Yes. I just re-read the rules and maybe a PM would be the best way to discuss them.

-Nick

[Dennis Vogel]

I too use to visit the "Facebook group" from time to time until I was no longer allowed to visit.

The ugly stuff I saw on Facebook makes me appreciate our rules on this forum.

[Dave in Tenn]

No, I was referring to the Chick tracts, mostly.  Those were around when I was a teenager/young adult in the seventies.  I didn't realize they had lasted much past that.

[Porter]

I mean, if you want to compare, I'm one step ahead of you in the smoking department. However, I'm still an alcoholic and always will be as far as I know. I can't have a drink and not want to get drunk, in other words. I hate that, but there's nothing I can do about it. Not only that, but I always USED to say "I don't care", but now I say I care, but I can't do anything about it. Not totally sure if that's enough. I hate myself, and perhaps so will you hate yourself.
As for what you can and cannot say, the mods are fair in every sense of the word. I've talked my fair share of stupidity (as Ray would call it) but they've allowed me thus far. To be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way. My advice would be, let it all out. There's no other way for me to judge you, if that is what you so desire. We are here.
Heb 12:22  Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels in festive gathering,
Heb 12:23  to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to God who is the judge of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,
Heb 12:24  to Jesus (mediator of a new covenant), and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.