Starting Off

This week, after much soul searching I've made the decision to formally withdraw from membership in a church I worked in for almost
5 years and then continued to attend following.

The details don't matter and I'm not interesting in venting publically so I won't.

At this point I'm simply looking to recenter on a personal walk with Christ and to find others of a similar mind and direction. I'm no longer interested in sitting in an audience watching others perform and deciding who is good enough to perform in their game. I've been on both sides.

One burns you out and the other leaves you passively living your spiritual life out through others.

There's something wrong with that whole system.

I don't know what lies ahead. I suspect it will not be easy.

Regardless, onward and upward.

Tags: Love, greater, is, of, part, the, truth.

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Comment by Marion Clark Ingram on April 23, 2009 at 7:24pm: Bart, you are blessed because it is always a marvelous adventure ( the ups and downs) to follow the leading of the Spirit of God. Stay in His flow, even with the uncertainties, because it is ultimately better than being stagnant. Sometimes, Father has to get our attention through "holy indignation." Be blessed and encouraged on your journey because your spirit is about to be renewed and refreshed by just "being" in the Lord.

Blessings!
Marion

Comment by Carolyn on May 13, 2009 at 7:09am: Bart, Reading your notes and dialogs on this site has been interesting.. and I am reminded of myself. Its got to be a work of evil to keep believers boxed up where they have no effectiveness on this world. I think that these times require more real impact from those who live in the power and grace of God. .

Right now is a very vulnerable time for you. While you are hurting, the Holy Spirit himself will do the healing and open up the vision that he has for you. However, there will be some who come alongside with friendly loving sounding words, and they will lead you away, to divert you from that path and from the faith that is in your heart.

Your faith, what you know of Jesus and the work of God, is probably not wrong. It has lead you out of the IC, and you are finding a good result already. But, that doesn't mean that everything you know is wrong. I sometimes use the term about throwing out the baby with the bathwater, to describe what can happen when we leave off something we have believed and practised.

It would be wise to ask in depth questions about the faith of those who dialog with you on this site. Marion, who commented above, has an active vibrant faith and is a real blessing. She sees the manifestation of the kingdom of God in her everyday life, so that he is real in more than just a subjective way. She is a blessing.

But there are others who dialog quite heavily on this site who have said that they have not limited themselves to Christianity because God is in everything, and such, who will try to take away the foundation of the faith that you do have. You won't know it until you start asking what they really believe.

God speaks to your heart the words written there that sound like heaven. The ones that spoke to you from the pages of your Bible. Do you remember? Keep to the sound of his word, and he will keep you. May you be blessed in your walk..with peace.. . Carolyn

As you go ahead, please do remember that in every situation, since you belong to Jesus, there were things that you will keep that are good and are from Him.

Comment by Bart Breen on May 13, 2009 at 7:59am: Carolyn,

Thanks very much for the encouragement and advice. I'm grateful for both.

blessings,

bart

Starting Off

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