Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt
Dear Mom (Thankful Jane),
I'm reading what bookworm and Hope said that they originally gave themselves to. This goes to one of the core things I have thought about a lot. I don't want to say what I am thinking without further clarifying what this "ideal" / "vision" was in all of you guys minds.
So, can you describe in more detail what was the "ideal" / "vision" you gave yourself to?
Matt
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Hi Matt,
Here's waving at ya! I'm going to jump in..because I had a 'spiritual vision' when I came into the church-life I want to share w/everyone.
I got saved in January '75. One might say I came off the streets. I had been a party girl, living a hippie-like life.
I got saved on a Monday morning at work through some LC brethren. After work, I went to a sisters/family house for dinner & introduction to the new life I had found. Tuesday night, I went to a corporate prayer meeting & got water baptized. Wednesday was some other type of meeting. Thursday, I went door knocking with the sisters to invite them for Saturday evening's 'love feast', Friday night..first MESSAGE at the meeting hall.
I spent the night/weekend with the sisters. Sunday evening, I moved in with the sisters/family.
I had not seen the 'vision' of the church...just jumped into it head first.
It was a loving environment but was BOOT CAMP for me!! ARRGHH!! It was HARD!! I couldn't say anything without everyone 'calling on the Name of the Lord'. OHHHHHH Lord JESUS.' You know the routine.
But I loved the LORD and was grateful for giving me a way out of the way I was living. However....I was now entering a social life I was not accustomed to, with complete strangers and sometimes, frankly, I was scared.
I had a lot to learn. I had a lot of growing up to do.....spiritually and emotionally.
4 months later, I went to my first 'Young People's conference' in LA I think.
It was on Daniel. It was totally wayyyy over my head! But it was joyous & everyone was excited.
It was a 4 day conference and I recall something happening to me at the last day of the conference. I SAW with my spiritual eyes 'the church'. Something clicked inside of me.
Was I being brainwashed? I don't know. I don't think so. I truly believe it was a spiritual vision God gave me. I don't know how else to describe it.
At that point, I 'fell in love' with Christ ......and the church. I enjoyed picking up people for meetings, preparing dinners, cleaning and arranging, fellowshipping, praying with the saints, going to meetings...going out on the gospel...etc... Remember. I was in SAN DIEGO. It was a good church life there.
But it wasn't to last.
Perhaps that is why I still feel connected in some peculiar way to the saints in this forum.
I absolutely don't want anything to do with the LC messages/jargon/lingo/ but I can't seem to break completely away from my former LC connection..even if it's not part of my life at all...except when I come here.