tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802896743878321184.post7320346177122731979..comments2023-08-19T01:00:21.479-07:00Comments on Love. Learning. Liberty.: Teachers: Public and Sunday schoolshadowspringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172112981244682382noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802896743878321184.post-82311083380654584842010-05-29T21:42:23.752-07:002010-05-29T21:42:23.752-07:00I love that story, Shadowspring, especially about ...I love that story, Shadowspring, especially about the Gus the Ghost bit... I'm always nervous about reading that type of story to children, but in your case God really used it.<br /><br />I used to teach SS when I was an older teenager - I was asked to do it, said I would consider it, and then it was announced that I was going to take over the kindergarten class. Oh well! I was a lousy teacher, IMO, never taking enough time to study the lesson or pray for the kids before Sundays, but I did TRY to keep the kids involved and interested and help them be kind to each other. I'll never forget the day I had 4 children and we had been doing the Christmas story. I was working up to telling the Gospel story again and the kids were coloring at the table. I quietly talked to one child again and went over what we had just learned about recieving Jesus - she was from a Christian home so probably had already prayed the prayer, but the other 3 had unchurched parents and I wanted to talk to each child separately - but I asked her if she had recieved Jesus ever and she said no, and I asked if she wanted to and she said yes. I was thrilled and started praying with her in a repeat after me way - this was all going on quietly, but all 3 of the others just voluntarily prayed with us! It is a thrill even thinking about it now. :-D<br /><br />Have any of you ladies ever read Too Small to Ignore by Wess Stafford, president of Compassion? It is a wonderful book!<br /><br />LAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802896743878321184.post-2187117851710526742010-05-29T12:42:54.501-07:002010-05-29T12:42:54.501-07:00What an awesome story shadowspring!
Mara: You go...What an awesome story shadowspring!<br /><br />Mara: You go GIRL!Hannah Thomashttp://www.eaandfaith.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802896743878321184.post-64306371396819863852010-05-29T06:42:48.656-07:002010-05-29T06:42:48.656-07:00I also had some good early Sunday School teachers....I also had some good early Sunday School teachers. Your Charismatic testimony in no way puts me off.<br /><br />I also am furious with those who paint God to be something He is not. The hatred and self-righteousness they have in their own hearts they have projected on God forgetting that, As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than ours.<br /><br />In fact, it was seeing women being browbeaten by "wives submit" and preachers sending women back to abusive husbands and the church taking the stance of, "You are abused? Oh, well, stinks to be you." Their haughty "I didn't say it, God did. So obey or burn," attitude finally pushed me over the edge and I had to speak out.<br /><br />My God is not a, "Stinks to be you" God. Nor is He an "Obey [abusive husbands, fathers, and/or church leadership] or burn" God. He's not that way to anyone, including women and children.<br /><br />He is abounding in lovingkindness and tendermercies. He is near to the broken-hearted and His ear is attentive to their prayers.<br />May those who paint God to be an abusive father repent and flee the judgement they place themselves under.Mara Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16385458933795539928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802896743878321184.post-85921755368351158042010-05-29T05:28:22.497-07:002010-05-29T05:28:22.497-07:00My heart is grieved for my twin sister, you and al...My heart is grieved for my twin sister, you and all the QF daughters I have been reading from lately. It is a crime the guilt, shame and fear that teachers loaded on your tender hearts. May God forgive them. I can't. That is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, in my opinion. <br /><br />Though I know on at least one occasion I used good old-fashioned guilt and manipulation to try to browbeat an audience into a religious response. May God forgive me! I did it because of pride, foolish spiritual pride, and I am without excuse. <br /><br />Thank God it was not with a young crowd. I was preaching to the choir, so to speak, and a small adult choir at that. <br /><br />I am reminded of the first verse in Romans chapter 2, how we are all guilty of the sins we see in others, to some extent. May I "do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your (my)God" today.<br /><br />Be little today, self. He must increase, I must decrease. Peace to you Sandra! =)shadowspringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15172112981244682382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802896743878321184.post-85037382391249951592010-05-28T15:06:24.468-07:002010-05-28T15:06:24.468-07:00As I am processing through my pain and fear that w...As I am processing through my pain and fear that were the result of my fundy evangelical upbringing, it is great to hear a story of someone for whom the traditional Sunday School stories actually produced the response the storytellers were hoping: an experience of a loving God who cares deeply for every hurting soul. <br /><br />My understanding of the Christian God as taught by Sunday School was much more like your sisters'. It was only after I left Christianity and began to commit to the God I found in my mystic experiences that I could understand God as Love.<br /><br />It has been a challenge in my return to Christianity this last year to reconcile the loving God I came to trust as a heathen and the God I used to believe was Christian. Thanks for sharing your story--it helps a lot to see an instance when the institution of Christianity actually worked as advertised.Sandra Keehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16979912092987681396noreply@blogger.com