I was brought up as a Christian, went ot a (loosely based) Christian primary school an attended church a few times throughout my life but by no means regularly (I'm nearly 20).
Does anybody have any recommendations for books on Christianity (partic C of E), songs, TV shows, films etc? Or,, like, when we were young we wwere all given Children's bibles which were easy to read. I don't have the attention span at the moment to read the full bible but does anybody have any recommendations for children's bibles/easy to read versions? Or versions I can read online?
Taraxacum, there's www.biblegateway.com which has tons of different translations online for free :)
I'm not good with deep, hard-hitting stuff, especially when I feel down, but something I love is to listen to worship music. There's absolutely loads around, too, which is helpful, and even if I have it on in the background it's speaking truth over myself and sometimes calms me down, too.
By the way, I found this song today (my boss told me to listen to it). Thought it might encourage y'all to be who you are :)
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNKj0fbMiU"]Philippa Hanna - I Am Amazing - YouTube[/ame] (is catchy, too :P)
I have been a Christian for 56 years. I feel as if I'm now losing my faith. I do not wish to be alive.
i dont know waht to say as i feel the same way, other than im sorry youre feelin this way and wish i could take it from you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Taraxacum
I was brought up as a Christian, went ot a (loosely based) Christian primary school an attended church a few times throughout my life but by no means regularly (I'm nearly 20).
Does anybody have any recommendations for books on Christianity (partic C of E), songs, TV shows, films etc? Or,, like, when we were young we wwere all given Children's bibles which were easy to read. I don't have the attention span at the moment to read the full bible but does anybody have any recommendations for children's bibles/easy to read versions? Or versions I can read online?
Thank you <3
biblestudytools.com is also a good resourse. as for physical bibles, the Life Application Study Bible has historical/cultural notes and practical applications, its very good for the most part and i think avaliable in multiple translations. the easiest translations are The Message, The New International Version, and the New Living Translation. None of the translations are perfect. Music...Hillsong is among the most famous for praise and worship...for other songs, theres tons of bands. Switchfoot is my favorite. hope thats of some help.
Every day the world is made a chance to change but i feel the same.
And I wonder why would i wait till i die to come alive?"
All alone the way she feels
Left alone to deal with all the pain-drenched sorrow relief
Hi,
So I haven't posted in here for over a year but I'm needing a bit of advice. (sorry for the massive rant)
Basically I was introduced to christianity a few years ago and had a really good relationship with God. When I became homeless I moved into supported accomidation and a couple from church took me in and through them my realationship with God grew. Then when I became ill I moved out leaving only a note saying why. They were so lovely about it and still seem to really care even though I was an absolute bitch.
I was then admitted to hospital and throughout the time I was there church wrote to me and were really supportive, but still I blamed God for putting me there. I hated him for not helping me. I hated him for letting the things that happened in my past to happen if that makes sense. In my last hospital before I was disscharged I met the social worker who was a strong christian and he showed me that it wasn't God's fault and even when I couldn't see it he was there. And yes I now believe this and it gave me hope. Something I thought I'd lost.
Anyway now I'm out I'm really struggling with going back to church. I've seen my youth worker a few times and told her about how my relationship with God and how it changed throughout my hospital stay.
Anyway long story short I'm yet to go back to church as I'm worried that A) People will judge me for being in hospital and ask too many questions. B) I'm worried they'll judge me for losing faith and hating God even though I'm now trying to rebuild my trust and relationship with him. And C) The guilt of being so horrible to the couple I lived with even though they still seem to really care. I don't desever their support. There is also the fact that one of the girls from my school goes there and was really horrible when she found out about what was happening.
Sorry for the massive rant but I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to manage all the feelings and how to start going back to church (as I really want to) without having massive anxiety attacks. I've tried going
back a few times but have backed out of going.
Sorry for all this I'm not sure if I even deserve the support after everything that's happened but would really like some advice on how to get back into church. Sorry if this makes no sense.
My love and prayers are with you all.
I will love myself despite the ease with which I lean toward the opposite.
Taraxacum, there's www.biblegateway.com which has tons of different translations online for free :)
I'm not good with deep, hard-hitting stuff, especially when I feel down, but something I love is to listen to worship music. There's absolutely loads around, too, which is helpful, and even if I have it on in the background it's speaking truth over myself and sometimes calms me down, too.
By the way, I found this song today (my boss told me to listen to it). Thought it might encourage y'all to be who you are :)
Well truth is a) You don't need church per se b) if the Christians at church were good ones they won't judge you c) hating anything block you off from God.
God and grace etc etc are not compatible with hate. Hate is a negative energy and bad. If you get filled with it - even if its against yourself and and things you think are bad - the good energy can't get to you and animate your being give you what you need to change (the stuff the bible refers to awkwardly as the "food you know not of" etc etc. You have to watch resentment and hate and regret it even if you cant drop it yet. Nobody gets points for hating their problems. That's a false virtue and ego.
As for church, JC was quite anti-clerical if you read close. It was religious authorities that had him killed. You can go to a church to learn about truth and salvation etc but then you should have it and not need the church. New T says "you shall me made new from within" and "nobody needs to show you whats right because you'll know in your heart etc etc. JC is specifically advocating a direct relationship with you and God without a human holy roller as an intermediary. If you like church go. However it should be a drudgery. NT says "people think they will be heard because of their vain repetitions" and "people think more of their traditions than the truth". There are a lot of phonies in church - dead from the neck up. God is happy if you can see that. You won't explode or anything like that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AardvarkPandaTurtle
Hi,
So I haven't posted in here for over a year but I'm needing a bit of advice. (sorry for the massive rant)
Basically I was introduced to christianity a few years ago and had a really good relationship with God. When I became homeless I moved into supported accomidation and a couple from church took me in and through them my realationship with God grew. Then when I became ill I moved out leaving only a note saying why. They were so lovely about it and still seem to really care even though I was an absolute bitch.
I was then admitted to hospital and throughout the time I was there church wrote to me and were really supportive, but still I blamed God for putting me there. I hated him for not helping me. I hated him for letting the things that happened in my past to happen if that makes sense. In my last hospital before I was disscharged I met the social worker who was a strong christian and he showed me that it wasn't God's fault and even when I couldn't see it he was there. And yes I now believe this and it gave me hope. Something I thought I'd lost.
Anyway now I'm out I'm really struggling with going back to church. I've seen my youth worker a few times and told her about how my relationship with God and how it changed throughout my hospital stay.
Anyway long story short I'm yet to go back to church as I'm worried that A) People will judge me for being in hospital and ask too many questions. B) I'm worried they'll judge me for losing faith and hating God even though I'm now trying to rebuild my trust and relationship with him. And C) The guilt of being so horrible to the couple I lived with even though they still seem to really care. I don't desever their support. There is also the fact that one of the girls from my school goes there and was really horrible when she found out about what was happening.
Sorry for the massive rant but I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to manage all the feelings and how to start going back to church (as I really want to) without having massive anxiety attacks. I've tried going
back a few times but have backed out of going.
Sorry for all this I'm not sure if I even deserve the support after everything that's happened but would really like some advice on how to get back into church. Sorry if this makes no sense.
Feel don't know what going not even sure I believe any more
That happens a lot. Too much misinformation. People think they have to quit this, this, this and that and then be perfect. Fact is the book even tells you "of yourself you can do nothing" - yet people think they have to save themselves and so struggle and beat themselves up, get scared etc etc. Its really doesn't work like that. Its when you stop struggling and trying to save yourself (playing God) that stuff happens.
Look at cutting, smoking, drinking etc - they fill a void for some people -its their crutch. They try to give it up and things get worse. Then when they don't do the things that prop them up they feel bad. What should really happen is a new part of your psyche opens up and you get a new energy flow that's positive. When you have that you dont have an empty part that needs the crutches. Then you give things up without trying - they give you up actually.
Before the new energy comes people need to stop hating things including themselves and their problem. Struggling is will power and thats a mistake that breeds frustration and futility. All you need to do is see the problems honestly without hating them and being gently sorry for them. Being TOO sorry is a way of outshouting conscience. If you are still a "sad gladness" starts to overtake you as your awareness catches up to you (we evade conscience this with escapes, crutches etc). You have a little pain and a little tear and then poof its gone - you feel like a new penny or a kid running barefoot on the beach and the past goes away. Doesn't matter what was there. Benn though it all myself and its not something I just read about or heard about second hand. Took me till about 25 to beign to get it right though
im just feeling really confused and messed up at the momment at having a hard time going back to church after two years i felt reall hurt by these people and know i ont want it to happen again and dont how to explain to peole about my mental health has they seem to not take that in to acount whne they think of me they see the mental health and not the person under enoiugh im want to acpected for me and for me alone not my mental health
if you're unsure about going back to your old church, maybe you could try a different one for a bit. sometimes it helps to be in a new congregation, where people don't know so much about your past... i've often found it best not to explain about my mental health till after i've gotten to know people, so that the know who i am first, and then it can be a side note that i've got ocd
this is my magical medicine cabinet. Left to right they contain: courage, hope, calmness, and strength.
The magical part: They NEVER run out, so borrow some any time you want.
