[You Were There]

Bep,
Brother, I thank you for not being afraid to share blunt truth. I appreciate it greatly (In fact, I actually hate it when people sugar-coat things. XD And people hate the fact that I don't. I just state fact as I see it. :p)

Dreamweaver,
Thankyou for the Scriptures brother. To read what God has to say is always an encouragement in times like this.

Update:
Alright. I have a bit of an update again, though not so much in regard to Holli or her situation as to myself.

The more I learn of God, the more I am convinced He has a sense of humor (And I think perhaps that is why we are given one as well, just one more way we are made in His image).

I walked into the church this morning with my heart heavily burdened by this. In fact, so spiritually and emotionally exhausted was I by this struggle that it was hard for me to get up this morning. (There were other issues too, but they did not weigh as heavily on me.) I have felt a burden for Holli as long as I have known her, and it is my belief that such can only come from God, as all I have ever truly wished for her was that she would know Him.

Yet this morning, as the service began, the first words out of the pastor's mouth were: "I know that we all come this morning with burdens upon our hearts, but we come this morning to cast all our cares upon God..." And so he led us into prayer.

Today, our last Sunday at this church, also happened to be the date of a concert by the Christian group: Calling Levi. The words of the songs they chose were unbelievably uplifting, and one in particular reminded me of something that had always known, and yet I think much as I believed it, I needed to be encouraged by a reminder of it. I post the words to that song here rather than the music section because I believe that in my case they relate to this specific topic...

You Were There
by Ben Glover

I wonder how it must have felt
When David stood to face Goliath on a hill
I imagine that he shook with all his might
Until You took his hand and held on tight
'Cause You were there, You were there
In the midst of danger's snare
You were there, You were there always
You were there when the hardest fight
Seemed so far out of reach
Oh You were there, You were always there
You were always there

So there he stood upon that hill
Abraham with knife in hand was poised to kill
But God in all His sovreignty had bigger plans
And just in time You brought a lamb
'Cause You were there, You were there
In the midst of the unclear
You were there, You were there always
You were there when obedience
Seemed not to make sense
You were there, You were always there
You were always there

So haven't I learned that my ways
Aren't as high as Yours are
And You alone keep the universe
From crumbling into dust.
You are God and though we would
Not have understood You
There you were hanging blameless on a cross
You would rather die than leave us in the dark
Every moment, every planned coincidence
Just all makes sense with Your last breath
You were there, You were there
During history's darkest hour
You were there, You were there always
You were the Victor and the King
You were the power in David's sling
You were the calm of Abraham
You are the God who understands
You are the strength when we have none
You are the living, Holy One
You were, You are and You wil always be
The Risen Lamb of God

=========================

Amen to those words. I always knew, always believed that God was and is there, even when I cannot be, and though she does not believe, I know that He is with Holli, guiding her life just as He guides mine (And I believe this to be truth for all uneblelievers, as one cannot even come to God without His drawing)... I think perhaps I just needed to hear it from someone else. Like everyone else, I needed to be reminded, and so my spirits lift again, my soul refreshed... And for that at least, I know I can praise God!

I don't think it is. Keep in mind, Pastor Roger that this was a primary, meaning that Republicans only voted in the republican races and Democrats only voted in the democratic races. A large percent of Conneticut, in fact, I would venture to say the majority of Conneticut is independent, meaning that the largest portion of the state has not yet had a chance to vote. It was therefore a fringe group of democrats, the michael moores and the moveon.org fringe that booted Joe Lieberman out of power, and they celebrate as though they've won the election.

However, I think their celebration is premature. Joe Lieberman is now running as an independent. As the Republican candidate in that area has no chance as things stand right now, my guess is that many conservative/republican votes will go to Lieberman, as well as much of the independent and some of the democratic vote. In the end, I think Lieberman will hold onto his seat, and the democrats will push themselves further into obscurity.

Bep,
Heh... No need to appologize. I'm a bit old-fasioned myself in that regard, and I make not appologies for it.

However, I'm not sure whether you misread, so I just want to be sure. Holli is NOT a Christian (though Kevin is SUPPOSEDLY). In fact, it was only a few months ago that she went from being completely atheistic to agnostic (partially because of God's use of my prayers).

I have spoken to her many times of the potential consequences of her actions. She says that she knows of them but is willing to risk them. She is, sadly, blinded.

That is why I am hoping that Robin will be able to reach her as someone who once was in that exact situation...

Anyway, I thank you for your input.

Pastor Roger, I was told by the recruiter that the average ASVAB score now is around thirty. X.X America's getting stupider by the year it seems. XD

I haven't seen any threads really dealing with this (if I missed anything, I'd appreciate direction to it. )

So... I'm just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on the victory of Ned Lamont in Conneticut.

Haha! I think I like PR's best! XD

And yeah, I took the ASVAB when I first began working my way toward the armed services. My score was like... An eighty-three? Something close to that. XD

Thanks for all your prayers everyone, and I have a bit up an update. It's not much, but it's something. I've been in contact with Robin (wayfarer), and she advised me to have Holli contact her, as she's been through much of the same situation herself... More than once. After some argument, I believe I've succeeded in convincing Holli to at least contact her to see what she has to say.

Pray that God will use Robin's lips and her heart to help lead Holli in the right direction.

We're still deep in the mud. I trust God. I know He will work this out for His glory and for all our good in the end, but I am not ashamed to admit I cannot see how. My sight is far too limited, so pray for continued endurence and sanity on my part.

(And does anyone have any Scriptures that could help me in this? Encouragement? ))

Okay, I know with the big prayer requests I've given, my life probably seems pretty stormy right now, and in some ways it is, but in all this, I know I should not forget to be thankful for what God has given me...

I'm assuming you've read the topic I posted today about Holli, but I should not forget to mention how in spite of all that is happening with her, God has used an evil situation to bring something WONDERFUL into my life.

The friend I mentioned in the other thread (Holli's friend), a girl named Mallory and I have been talking ever since things really started back in February. Now, yesterday, August 11, marked the ONE MONTH anniversary for the two of us. Yes, God has brought Mallory and her love into my life. I am a lone wolf no more.

Mallory is sixteen and she lives three hours away, but we have shared things with one another that probably only God knew about previously... That is how close we are. I know she is unsure of some things about Christ, but I am praying God will use me and our relationship in that respect, but for the mere fact that we are together, I must offer God the highest of praise!

Alright, the story is too long for me to really explain here, so as best I can, I'll summarize.

I think I've told everyone here about my friend, a girl by the name of Holli, and how I've been praying for almost the past year or two that God would use circumstances and people in her life to draw her to him...

Holli is eighteen now, like me, and has been through things in the past year or two that I will not state here out of courtesy to her, but that have left her VERY emotionally damaged. VERY damaged, and I fear these events have also impared her judgement.

It was about a year ago that she met a man (about her age) named Kevin and the two began a relationship together (Bearing in mind that this was THREE DAYS after a break-up with the boyfriend to whom she lost her virginity. X.X). Although I did not know much about him (Kevin) at first (though I'll admit I was somewhat jealous in the beginning as I had feelings for her that were unreciprocated), as I began to learn more about him and his character, I found an increasing dislike of him. In time, he has managed to manipulate (and yes, I mean manipulate, even though she would say otherwise) her into taking such extreme measures as breaking off most all contact with her friends (myself, and at least one other she considered a sister) and fostering hostility toward her parents, her mother in particular. She later rescinded her decision to break off ALL contact with us (Thank God, quite literally), instead merely communicating with us through message board posts (which still caused her to drift away somewhat).

The other changes I've noted in Holli since meeting Kevin are not for the better by any means, as one of the primary problems, I think is that her life seems to revolve around him and nothing else. In the past, she has threatened to leave her home and move in with him simply out of spite for her mother, though this has always been rescinded later. I had known they planned to move in together for awhile, and while I still felt this to be downright dangerous (and immoral, but as she is not a Christian, she will not listen to me when I state this as a reason for not doing so), I took some small solace in the fact that she now had her family behind her... Now, this third time she has talked about this... Well... I'll just post the message here. These are her words.

My boyfriend and I have been together for almost a year now, I know not long to be considering moving in together, but my mother and I have been coming to too many disagreements lately over things that I should be able to do or decide myself (I am 18.). I know there'll be some,"You're still awfully young." and some,"Think this through, don't make mistakes." but for months I've been thinking about it, and so has he. Truthfully, we're both sick of my mother holding me back, and she does. It's not a matter of that she's my mom and she wants to protect me, it's that she wants her babysitter/dishwasher to stay around forever. Proof: she's told me to my face. Many times she's said to me,"I need my babysitter." or, "I need my dishwasher." That's all I am to her, her free babysitter and dishwasher. Of course all she does is nitpick at the laundry, yell at my sisters, and sleep. That's all she really does besides the obvious shopping.
My boyfriend's parents said they don't care if I move in with them and my mom said,"You're welcome to move out whenever you want, but you're on your own so think long and hard about it." I've told her before that we were thinking of getting a place together lately and she said,"Well let's get your hopechest started, then." in a supporting tone. Well, I have to choose between the one I love and my family. Hard decision and my bf and I have talked it over. Okay, only a year together, but sometimes you just know. My aunt and uncle knew eachother for a week before getting married and they're still together and happy. I had to make a choice, and I choose him and we're in this together. If we do this we know there's no way out, but that's how sure of our relationship we are. We've gone through quite a few nearly disastrous fights, but we worked them out, so I think we can do this. I'm not imagining a fairytale, either, I know it'll be tough starting out but he's got a good job with outstanding insurances and great pay and he's going to go to college for Engineering when he saves up enough money. I don't yet have a job but I'm cracking down now and will more if we do this. I signed up at an employment agency yesterday and have 3 newspaper ad cut outs in my pocket right now plus a few other apps. out. We had to make a decision, and we chose eachother, otherwise I probably would end up living with my mom my whole life and being her free dishwasher and babysitter. He's looking through the ads for houses/apartments for rent right now and he says we'll know by tomorrow night if we're getting one or not. If it's a go, I don't know when I'll be able to come back. I have a computer, but don't know when we'll get internet.

Brothers and sisters, it takes allot to get me truly concerned, especially in situations like this that are now so common... But now not only is she making an immoral decision, she is attaching the very danger to it I'd hoped she would avoid and burning bridges behind her, cutting herself off from her family and (at least temporarily)her friends... Because of what has happened to her in the past, I am DEEPLY, DEEPLY concerned for her wellbeing... Afraid that if things go badly as I know they will (This is not mere speculation. This is from experience in knowing her, knowing her boyfriend's nature, and knowing how the world works), she will fall and not have anyone to help her up... She will be destroyed.

Dear friends, my brothers and sisters, I wish I could be there to take the bullet for her. I wish I could be there to snap her out of this. I wish she would even listen to me, but I know now it is out of my hands...

Please, pray fervorently for her. Pray that God would watch over her and use whatever happens to draw her to Himself. I feel more desperate for prayer now than ever in the past, and I am deeply thankful that God is always listening. But the words fail me now just as they did last time... So pray for me too, for my sanity and strength to deal with whatever this time brings.

I thank all of you... (And any advice or insight you can offer would be DEEPLY appreciated right about now. I'm at my wits' end)

I was/am homeschooled from the fifth grade onward (I'm finishing up this year). Speaking from experience, I know the quality of education a homeschooler usually receives, and it disturbs me that now not only is the GOVERNMENT trying to regulate the education of children... Something which should be the parent's primary responsibility anyway... But the U.N. is sticking its nose into matters where it DOES NOT BELONG! The U.N. was originally put together as a means to foster peace between governments (A task at which it has failed miserably, as only for THREE WEEKS since its founding has the U.N. managed to prevent war), but it seems to me the U.N. is drawing FAR too much power to itself. It has NO business running families' lives! (Anyone got an angry emote I can use? This is an issue where I feel REALLY strongly)

[BINGO!!!]

Dreamweaver... To quote your last post:

BINGO!!!

Ugh... Lovely.

Seems ACLU are preachers of tollerence for all... Except Christians.

Hmm... Several things here.

First, the term isn't specific to the administration. It was in fact invented by conservative commentators.

Secondly, it seems to me CAIR is as bad in terms of political correct goose-stepping as is the ACLU.

Thirdly, I have studied Islam, and the term "Islamo-fascism" fits FAR better than most muslims know or would like to admit. However, I primarily use the term to refer to the specific ideollogy, and not the religion.

This is NOT a good idea on the Israeli PMs part... YOU CANNOT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS! That's all I'll say on that for now.

Amen, PR. And let me add that in the end, Christ will restore all things, and we will have bodies perfect as his glorified body. The only wounds we bear witness to in heaven will be the holes in his hands and in his side, and those to bear testimony of what He did for us.

I personally believe you will give more an account for taking care of and for the actions of your body than for what happens to it after you are dead. As pastor Roger said, we are bodies of dust (and water, I'll add. XD), and after we die, those members you speak of will return to dust anyhow.

EDIT: Commrade, let me also add that if God is calling someone home, there is nothing that we as humans can do about it. In the end, doctors are tools of bodily healing as much as we are God's tools of spiritual healing. The work, in the end, is of God, and not of us.