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=> Introductions, Announcements, and More of Ray's Teachings => Topic started by: HopeImChosen on August 30, 2007, 07:59:45 PM
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Greetings Forum,
My name is Derrick and this is my first day on the forum(At least as a member, I've been lurking as a guest for a year or two)and I truly enjoy Ray's teachings, and the comments and responses to questions that have flooded my mind.
Just a brief(I hope) intro of me. Back in 2005, I did a google search on tithing and lo and behold, I see these words "Tithing is Unscriptural.." I don't know why I couldn't resist clicking on that link, as I was totally fed up with people coming up with their nonsensical(So I thought)theories against tithing, and I thought I had read everyone of them. Well, it must have been that God right then and there opened my eyes, as I could not resist the fact that this man was right, and had the scriptures to prove it. He helped shake me loose of that oft-used scripture in Malachi that is used to beat people into submission when it comes to tithing.
Well, from there I went to the story of the rich man & Lazarus, and literally had tears rolling down my eyes, as I had FINALLY gotten the truth of that parable! It was something I could not at all dispute, and it so resonated in my soul, that I began to really doubt this thing called "hell", and was rejoicing that my dear Grandfather, Uncles, and several other relatives and friends were NOT roasting in hell.
Oh what great news this gospel truly is. The first several days after stumbling onto Ray's site, I think I slept an average of 4 hours a night, as I was enthralled in the Lake of Fire series. I left my church, much to the dismay of my mom and several friends(I'd been a menber there since 1979), who claim that I "backslid." I have NO desire to go back to that mess. So here I am, hoping to find fellowship with like-minded people, and learn more and more of the scriptures. Sorry this turned out to be so long, but I wanted to tell you how thankful I am to be here, and I hope to one day meet you all at a conference.
God bless you,
Derrick AKA "D"
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A BIG HEARTY WELCOME TO YA DERRICK!
Having been reading BT for about as long as you, I'M ALSO A FELLOW RAY "RESONATOR" Ha... and boy, it makes the SOUL FEEL GOOD! I joined the forum in June.
I'm glad you're here by the favor of God!
Grace us with YOUSELF forthwith! :):D:) Speak up and let it rip! :D;);D
Share and grow with us,
In Christian love,
Janice
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z3/jbirdowens/Star.jpg)
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Welcome to the forum Derrick.
It's always a delight to hear about the impact "spiritual sight" has had on the lives of those who come to BT.com. The Lord has provided us a place to fellowship and I am glad you decided to join in.
Rene'
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Hi Derrick,
Welcome to you. :)
Lisa
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Hi Derrick and WELCOME to the forum!
I'm pretty new myself but it didn't take me long to jump right in. I haven't read the Lazarus/Rich Man segment yet, but I think I will do that tomorrow. There is SO much and I only started about 6 weeks ago. Today I listened to Ray's audio on Saved By Grace (on the audio page) and it was excellent and gave me a better understanding of an ingrained belief that was hard to let go of :)
Welcome Welcome Welcome
What took you so long? ;)
Dawn
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;D I couldn't help but read your post w/ a big smile on my face. It was so similar to my experience. No sleep-I had tunnel vision-I wanted to read it all NOW!! Dawn, hurry up and read Lazarus. Changed my life forever!!! :D
Welcome Derrrick "D" and hope you join right in!!!
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Ok Gena
I got a date with Laz tomorrow!
:D
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Hi Derrick,
Welcome to the forum!!!
Glad you're here.
Hope to hear more from you.
:)
Peace and Love
Iris
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Hi Derrick,
I am glad that you have joined us here :)
This truly is a place that God has blessed us to have, for fellowship and discussion. I hope you will share with us and if you have any questions I'm sure someone here can help you with an answer.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
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Hi D...
Welcome and so good to have you.
Sue Ann
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Hello D
I live in South Africa and I believe we have already met in Spirit and in Truth. It is like that with the brethren here who know the Word of God and can communicate in the Heavenly language of His Word and His Truths that bind us together in mutual Love for HIM.
I am happy you are no longer lurking!
Peace to you
Arcturus :)
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Hello
Thank you for the wonderful welcome. I already feel as if I'm among family.
To answer your question Dawn, what took me so long was that I'm one extremely shy guy, and it just took me a little while to feel comfortable and get a grasp of the things I've learned. But I feel as though I've gotten to know so many of you just by reading several of your comments.
I'm so looking forward to growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. I may be coming here to ask several questions that I've been accumulating over the past few months, and this seems to be the best place to do that.
Thank you all once again for the welcome
D
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Hi D
I know what you mean by shyness. I'm surprised that I jumped right in. But now that I'm here, I feel sorely lacking when compared to all these other wonderful people. I find myself in awe at times reading their posts. I did discover E-Sword and realized that I can put notes in there along with the scripture. I love it! I am learning, not just from BT but this forum also. Its like BT has the meat, and here in this forum you see REAL people with real problems, real questions. This is where that meat is applied so I absolutely love it, even if I do feel a bit like a "little sister" who hangs onto her older brother/sister, in awe of their wisdom and hoping someday to have a little of it myself. :)
And finally, as far as "what took you so long," I was joking. You got here right on time! Enjoy!
Dawn :)
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Hi Derrick,
Welcome! I'm glad too that you are no longer just lurking and have joined in.
Ursula
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Welcome Derrick,
I am a "newbie" too, although I've known about BT for about two years now. I guess Ray's teaching on tithing was what got it all started for me, too. It is nice to know that the Gospel really is GOOD NEWS ;D
I am not afraid to share this one! No brag, I am just excited about it. I have also noticed that I am looking at people a little bit differently, as "people who are being reconciled to God", like myself instead of "the enemy", or "the lost". The fact that my wife Mary will eventually share in the Kingdom of God puts a big smile on my Face ;D
Ciao
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Welcome aboard Derrick
Everyone here at BT is on the same road, We are all learning ans sharing
(http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage33/1.gif)
Beloved
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Hey! Welcum!! D,
Glad GOD has shakn abit of ur shyness 4 U 2 Post, may HE BLESS U in much abundance ma Brother, Im a shy dude ma self :) Well 2 a point :), so glad U hav shared & look 4ward 2 hearing more frm U, LOVE & Peace 2 U...
muchLOVE!! Pera
ps. Im frm Palmerston North, New Zealand, BlesSuP!!...
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Dear Hope Im Chosen
I am so sorry that you feel you had to leave. This can be a lonely walk. There are a lot of different people that come to this site.
For awhile everytime I posted...the thread suddenly died. Perhap it was co-incidnetal perhaps it was not. No one ever seem to answer my posts. (Gina was kind to help me out when I mentioned it to her). :D
You also have to be willing to be critizied and many people's feelings are hurt when their posts are challenged. We are all here to exhort each other and to learn.
Remember we are told to always to send out out our Valentines....even.... if we never get one back.
Christ loved all...yet ALL.... forsook Him.
Beloved
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Hi Beloved,
I didn't know you were feeling like that. Funny, because I think that about my posts. I start to think, man, I must come across as really juvenile or foolish or something because the post just dies. I really need to pay more attention to other people's posts now. Sometimes I don't comment either because I don't feel qualified, or I'm feeling down, or I'm overwhelmed, or whatever. Sometimes too, the overall feeling in the forum is negative or cold, but this passes and things tend to pick up.
So persevere, and so will I. I'm glad you said something about this. I think your posts are great, and just think of all the people out there and in here you are blessing.
I like what you said about the Valentines. (http://www.kolobok.us/smiles/artists/connie/connie_49.gif)
Love,
Ursula
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I guess I missed something. Don't know why he left. Hopefully he will still be at Ray's site.
Ursula & Beloved, I still feel that way, when I see gmik all the way down the side-boy I can stop a thread! Ha.
I am glad this gets brought up every so often, so newbies and others see we are all in this together and it is not personal.
Ursula I cracked up at the "speaking to my computer", yes I remember those days.
My computer has been sick. My son in law de fragged it ??? and spybotted it etc etc and hopefully it is ok. I did have some trouble posting a minute ago-it just quit and went to my desktop! So maybe this will get posted.
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Hi Beloved - so glad you posted your thoughts on this. I went through some hurt feelings last week and thought "here we go again" -- not that anyone said anything wrong, just that I posted a prayer request and after a full 24 hours, not one response. So I got into a pity party, removed the request and thought about not coming here anymore. This was a "feeling" I had so many times in churches, like no one knew I existed.
But then....I said to myself -- "oh Dawn, quit being a baby" LOL And I got over it, knowing that it WASN'T anything personal. I think God put this situation in front of me as a test.
I'm a little tentative on posting, although I do like to send messages of encouragement or welcomes, etc. I know the time for getting deeper will come.
I'm not sure what happened to Derrick/Im Am Chosen???? I thought he just joined and now he's gone, so I'm confused as well Ursula. I loved your statement:
Remember we are told to always to send out out our Valentines....even.... if we never get one back.
That's something I have to remind myself of often.
Anyhoo, I know I'm supposed to be here and I'm thankful to those loving people who have made me feel a part of something!
Much Love,
Dawn
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Well, this is very interesting.
There should be a section on "my feelings are hurt" or "why is everyone ignoring me?!" Because no one knows what is going on with the one that's hurt and at least we can get some support and encouragement when we need it.
Dawn, I don't know why you didn't get any responses to your prayer request. I didn't see that post. I'm really glad you didn't leave though. People like Derrick leave and the rest of us don't know why. It can be discouraging. The Valentine comment was Beloved's, but I will keep it in mind now too.
Gena, you're funny! Even you, of all people thinking you are a thread stopper! Sheesh! You are an example to us all of true perseverence. :)
Love,
Ursula
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Hi Dawn,
Sorry I didn't see your post about the prayer request. I guess what happened to you happened to Derrick also, perhaps a few times, and this is too bad; I feel bad about it.
Lately my time for forum participation is dwindling... not that I have that much time for it anyway... but I have other related activities that are blooming. When I do pop in to the forum, it's been hurriedly and scattered.
So sorry forum sister! I don't know what your request was, but I am surely praying for you in that special regard whatever it was.
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME IN THE DARNED DAY... I'm going to ask God about this. :D
I ask your prayers too! :)
Thanks,
Janice
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Thanks Janice and Ursula,
I sure didn't mean to make anyone feel bad. I thought about not saying anything except the prior comments were kind of similar. One of my big battles has always been having expectations from people and then letting the disappointment turn me into someone I don't like. That's why the Valentine comment (thank you Beloved!!) was very special.
By the way, my prayer request was for "peace" because TOMORROW is my first day as technically unemployed. :o :o LOL But you know, someone, somewhere, was praying because I'm pretty peaceful :D
I'm just in prayer now for "what's next"
I will pray for you Janice for whatever you're in need of.
You all have a blessed week ahead!!
Much Love,
Dawn
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Dawn,
It's good you said something because we can be aware of each other's needs, and sometimes we just don't know what is going on with a particular person. It makes me sad when someone leaves, and it could be because of a little tiny thing that could have been rectified.
Well, congratulations on your time off! Trust that God has the next phase all ready to go, and He has a plan for you. I'll pray that His plan comes into fruition hopefully sooner than later, and that yes, you will have total peace in His sovreignty. Where you are right now is exactly where He wants you to be, so I'm glad you are at peace, and I'll pray that you stay in that peace no matter what! 8)
I'm so glad you are here on the forum!
Love,
Ursula
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I think HopeImChosen did get his feelings hurt, because he did not feel like he was getting adequate responces to his posts. I have seen so many come here and for whatever reason they leave after a while or they could have just stopped posting. It seems we have only a few long time members that can stick it out here. Maybe this is part of enduring ;)
I think getting your feelings hurt has happened to all of us that post here, in one way or another and like Dawn said I think it is a test.
I know sometimes it's hard for me to come up with what I feel is the right reply to a post, so if I don't feel right about it, then I don't respond. I'm not like some here, that have the gift of being articulate and who can just put together really meaningful sounding posts 8)
I have tasted what it's like to stick my foot in my mouth and that doesn't taste good for sure, so I limit my responces to those I feel more confident about.
But I do want to say I read most all the posts and I do apperciate all of your posting. Even when I don't respond I do consider what was said and that does have an effect on me. I think all that post here have much more effect on people than we may realize. Our membership total remains above 300, so we have quite a few reading that never post.
Love to all of my sisters and brothers that post or not, it's all good.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
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Good one Kat and ditto...
and Dawn, here's a quote for you... I'm just not sure who it's from... could very well be Ray...
“We need a spirit of wisdom to trust God that He knows EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING DOWN TO THE VIBRATION OF THE LAST ELECTRON.”
While we're praying for each other, let's include being given His spirit of wisdom to realize this! :) :P ;)
ALSO FOR YOU:
Phil 4: 19 Now my God shall be filling your every need in accord with His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. [CLNT]
With joy,
Janice
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Hello Derrick, Kat, et al !!
Yes, I see what you mean about wondering whether one has come across as "too much" in one's postings in BT Forums.....I too have experienced "wonderings" and much loneliness in the past. However, that very loneliness, I discovered, was God's way of "getting me all to Himself," to teach me important bits of Wisdom throughout my days here on Earth. So I now KNOW how important Solitude IS. That Biblical Scripture, "Draw nigh unto Me, and I WILL draw nigh unto thee," really DOES hold a lot of Truth to it. Loneliness IS quite painful, BUT something WONDERFUL really DOES happen out of it all, and that's why I can just simply sing and dance all over the Universe!! ;-DDD (Biiig Smile! I can't get the BBC's and Smileys to come up on my computer yet, so I have to resort to primitive means of emphasizing things in these BT Forum postings.)
As one Newbie to another, WELCOME, Brother in our Father's Family!!! Can you just hear our Father saying to you, "Come, grow old together with Me, for the BEST is yet to be!" :->
Linda
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Hi Linda,
I was just reading today about lonliness and solitude. Solitude can be a positive experience, as you say God has you all to Himself. It's a time to be with Him and to re-energize.
About those smilies, when you click on a smilie, it doesn't show up on your message, just a symbol shows. What you can do is press the Preview button, and it will show you exactly what your post looks like, smilie and all. I hope this helps. It took me a while to figure that one out! Oh, make sure your curser is where you want the smilie to be. :) :) :)
Kat,
Thanks, it is a learning experience, that's for sure! I guess forums are a fairly new communication tool, and we are all learning all the intricacies of this particular form of communicating with each other.
Janice,
I like that electron quote!
Love,
Ursula