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Camping Calendar
Gina:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43822208@N00/5757599893
doug:
Ahhh... those were the days my friend, I thought they'd never end....
What you ask?
Why... Camping's Calendar!
You see... back in the spring of '94 I had a farm auctioneer come out to my place... and with a huge crowd... sold every last thing I owned.... except the clothes I was wearing and a box of family pictures. I kept my property but it was now barren of all material things - farm implements, horse trailer, vehicle, stove, fridge, washer, dryer, clothing, wood working shop, memorabilia, furniture, antiques, everything.... and I mean everything. I "cleaned house". Almost sold my family pictures but someone who bought a "lot" gave the pics back to me. Said they didn't want them. What junk I had left... was burned in a huge bon fire that lit up the night sky. Looked down at my old dirty shoes.... thru those in too. I felt really liberated!
And now you're scratching your heads and asking why I would do a dumb thing like that? Well, you see, I trusted a "man". Very much so. I thought he was "top dog" in spiritual knowledge. I believed his knowledge of the bible was infallible. I thought he was the closest person between God and me on this planet. His name was Harold Camping (of Family Radio fame). Most here have never heard of him, but there are a few on this forum who have.... and have also experienced his teaching.
I was layed off from work for almost a year at that time (was separated and living alone) and instead of looking for an available job, I decided I would live the next few months "free" with the cash from the auction until Jesus would appear from the heavens and "rapture" me on September 7, 1994! My wife at the time had left me because (among other things pertaining to Mr. Camping) I didn't even want to name my child who was going to be born on the 28th of Sept. What would be the point? I asked. At that time I believed in eternal torment forever. I was "heaven" bound and no one was going to stop me. Beulah Land here I come!
Of course September 1994 came and went. And then there were other predictions.... they came and went also. And as the years went by... a couple more.
My separated wife then divorced me around the year 2000 and took our three young children with her. I lost interest in Family Radio and still listened to HC occasionally on a battery operated shortwave radio but I was mostly fellowshiping with the Protestant Reformed Church through literature mailings as there wasn't a church in the area. I regained employment and lived as a "recluse" in an old abandoned trailer on my property in the forest. Nearly 10 years of no electricity, plumbing, running water but did construct myself a nice outhouse! I might be dumb.... but I'm not stupid!! What a "trip" those years were.
But now I have to renig on saying that I am not stupid. I was sucked in again with HC's new end time date of May 21, 2011. That's why I went to Tijuana to have my teeth repaired as to look presentable while passing out "Does God Love You" tracts overseas with Family Radio's Project Jonah. But God most surely intervened this time! Without going into any detail, I met a dear woman child of God who had also been in HC's grips for many years. Through her on line blog site she patiently presented to me correct biblical exegesis of why no one can know the day or hour of Christ's return. I was singing praise from the depth of my heart from that time on... turned off Family Radio and Harold Camping and have never looked back.
On May 21 of last year I was taking in the aroma of the pine forest in my "retreat" laying half naked on an adirondack chair soaking up the warm rays of the sun (Son) while reading a nice adventure novel. May 21 came and went. Along with never, never, ever, ever, ever date setting or putting my trust in a "man" again.
As the old Ricky Nelson song goes..... 'I LEARNED MY LESSON WELL'
Gina:
Wow, that is some story, Doug. (ah, I love that song!)
Well, don't stop there, doug -- I wanna hear how you discovered B-T. Please continue... This is fascinating. Oops! Sorry, I'm veering off topic.
Or am I....
Dave in Tenn:
Hi Doug. I can relate, though not as 'extremely'. I guess I'm just too bland and boring. ;)
He's not the only one convinced he can set dates. I've been hearing them since I was a boy, but was most effected by "The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey (at least the 'version' that was in print in the 70's). We 'studied' it on sunday nights for several weeks. Then there was the Scofield Reference Bible with it's 'prophetic footnotes'. Then we had an 'evangelist' come to preach a 'revival'. He didn't so much set a date...just a year. It was a few years away, but close enough to effect some life decisions that still affect me today.
It's only still been fairly recently that I've come to understand that THEY THEMSELVES are more a fulfillment of prophecy than the the 'prophecies' they claimed to understand.
Gina:
--- Quote ---It's only still been fairly recently that I've come to understand that THEY THEMSELVES are more a fulfillment of prophecy than the the 'prophecies' they claimed to understand.
--- End quote ---
Well put.
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