Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Hello, and welcome. We are all here to learn from one another about what we believe and how we came to our beliefs. We all come from interesting backgrounds, so do tell us as much about yourself as you feel comfortable. Please do not use your real names, addresses, and any other information you do not wish to fall into hands that could abuse your rights.

fiatlux

Did you bring this about? If so, good job.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

It was a combined effort, could not have done it without the help of others.

I hope that you have subscribed and will use this area often.

I would ask, can you please help us get the word out?

Thanks

fiatlux

Sure.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Pennylynn

This is a great idea. Many of us who have been here for a while falsely assume that the other people know what our frame of reference is and that assumption often gets in the way of communications. It is also easier to explain yourself once than having to do so numerous times.

I am 71, married to She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO) for 49 years. I grew up in an unloving household, with a father who probably would rather I had never been born. Because I have a double curvature of the spine, I require special shoes to walk normally and obviously am not very athletic. I had a brother who was two years my senior who showed promise as a sports star, so my father pushed him to be perfect in everything, told him that he was not good enough and told me I was useless. When my brother was about 11 he was molested by a neighbor, which lasted for over two years. My father found out and told him he was a "faggot" who wanted this relationship, and was the slime of the earth. In retrospect, I would expect that Brian was just looking for a male role model who would love him as a father figure.. I left home the day I graduated from high school, lived in a one room apartment in a flop house, where the bathroom was down the end of the hall. I worked at odd jobs, mostly manual labor during the days and went to school at night. I had started drinking at 14, and using pot regularly. It wasn't until I was in college that I found out the story behind the hatred and what my father did to Brian. I changed my major from biology to psych at that point hoping to become a psychologist, but ran out of money before attaining that goal. Along the way I met SWMBO in a human and animal behavior class. (She is now a well established dog trainer) Fortunately she was able to see past the screwed up gimp, and helped me put my life together, including a strong belief in Jesus. Her parents were the greatest people and taught me what a family is supposed to be.
I studied techniques to assist children who have been abused, and because of my brother concentrated on man boy molestation. We have been part of a Christian group headed by a psychologist, who work with children helping them grow from victims to survivors. We also train therapy dogs to help work with kids. Since we are officially retired, we do the same work we have always done, on a voluntary basis.
Right now we are working with two boys "Pete" and "David" David ran away from a highly abusive home and ended up with a homosexual couple who used him for child pornography and prostitution, After they were arrested David came into the "system", spent time in psychiatric hospitals before becoming a foster child for a wonderful couple who have done wonders with him. We are "foster grandparents" that the boys can trust and talk to. right now we have two CaneCorso Mastiffs that are therapy dogs, and one Welsh Terrier puppy who will (hopefully) be doing the same work when he learns how to behave.
That's probably more than you ever wanted to know but should explain our obsessions with issues that affect these kids. Because of threats from the LGBTQ activists Christian groups keep their identity secret and their locations private. We have received threats because we dare tell the boys that just because you were molested doesn't mean you are homosexual.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Thank you so very much, from the bottom of my heart for sharing your story. You are a remarkable survivor and as I read your story, I was left feeling so bad for you and your brother. Is he doing okay? Now I feel connected. מי ייתן ואלוהים ימשיך לברך אותך בכל המאמצים שלך! To translate, May God continue to bless you in all your efforts. The translation is exact, but in Hebrew it expresses so much more...

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

No, we finally located him when he needed financial help. He couldn't pay his bills and he had rectal cancer. After many years we found out the whole truth, including Brian's life in the "gay" scene, his drug usage and his attempted suicides. We got him into hospice and stayed by him during his final days. He died in my arms. while he had stopped believing in God, the last short time on earth we were able to pray together and he was holding a cross when he died.

Do not feel bad for me, God gave me SWMBO and my life back, and I am blessed.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

How very sad. But, I hope as you imply, in the end he found peace and perhaps God. I can not help feeling badly for you and your brother, no child should ever be treated as you and he.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

I agree with you but most of the kids we work with have undergone much worse treatment than my brother did, and, in reality, I got off easy, and perhaps it was necessary for me to be ready to do what I do now. the same could be said about the fact that we never were able to have kids. Now there are probably a hundred of "our boys" out there who we have been blessed enough to help go from victim to survivor. That is the way we put it because as long as someone believes himself to be a victim, he will not be able to properly go on with his life.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

I am hoping that others will use this thread so we can all begin to understand other people's frame of reference. Even if you are not interested in someone's religious point of view, their life experiences make them what they are, and knowing that is often helpful in reacting to their statements.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Send PMs to all your friends on OPP and encourage them. I agree, we do need to understand each other and there is no better way than an introduction. When you send your PM ask them to send it to their friends.

Later today, time permitting, I will send a PM to everyone on OPP telling them how to subscribe and see all of the very worthwhile information that is already here and what I hope will be forthcoming.

Hang in there. This section is experiencing growing pains. Nothing of any worth happens in a few days.

WhatIt'sWorth Loc: Methane Sea, Jupiter

I think - no prop - that you are A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW

and have an emotionally-charged testimony here -

and perhaps others - as I have been up to now -
have been reluctant to share our humble stories.

So I won't be humble (that wont be hard)

Raised Methodist - it is known elsewhere on the board that I am from Texas

so I will try to remain within the parameters of this INTRODUCTIONS thread and tell no more than that of 'real info'

I got on message boards in 1999 - under the username "Habakkuk3" because I think the third chapter of Habakkuk has a very encouraging message - but I am not sure that that last part of the book belongs with the first two chapters.

Recently I have posted elsewhere as "Anto9us - Singer of Songs" -- Antoninus was a character played by Tony Curtis in the 1959 movie SPARTACUS.

I am a Tenor.

Decades ago - people wanted me, Pavarotti, Carreras, and Placido Domingo to collaborate on a project called THE FOUR TENORS.

The night of the first rehearsal - I had a previous engagement - and THEM SUNNUVAGUNS WENT ON WITHOUT ME !!

Called it "THE THREE TENORS" - perhaps you saw it on TV.

Of course, the above 3 paragraphs are not true. But I am indeed a singer -- and my son is a Music Major at University of Southern Mississippi -- a student of classical guitar.

His greatest hereditary claim-to-fame musically is my Dad (96 - who I take care of now)

Some people think THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU is our State Song -- it is not.

THE EYES OF TEXAS is the FIGHT SONG OF University OF TEXAS LONGHORNS -- The State Song is "TEXAS OUR TEXAS"

TEXAS OUR TEXAS was chosen the State Song in the 30's

-- in a CONTEST where different composers submitted songs which were sung by QUARTETS of outstanding High School singers.

My Dad was in the quartet that sang TEXAS OUR TEXAS -- which won; and became official State Song of Texas.

Of ALMOST comparable hereditary distinction for my son is that a great great great (however many times 'great')
uncle on my ex-wife's side



was Francis Scott Key.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

From one who couldn't carry a tune in a bushel basket, I envy those with musical talent. When I try to sign even the dogs run out of the room, smart dogs that they are!! If I want to listen to something that can carry a tune, I listen to the Carolina Wrens. Particularly those that are nesting on our front porch again.
Glad to know about you, it does help to visualize those with whom I am carrying on a conversation.

dennisimoto Loc: Washington State (West)

Thanks Pennylynn, I'm a male, 70's, half Irish, half Scottish who grew up very Roman Catholic in New England. Massachusetts mostly but Dad was in the Army in 1942 so I and my next youngest sister were born in Burlington, VT. He was a Medical Supply officer having gotten a commission through correspondence courses that he took as an enlisted corporal/sergeant. I did the whole altar boy thing but never quite went whole hog for the church after I learned from the nuns, in 1st grade catechism, that only Catholics go to Heaven. None of my friends at the time were Catholic so what fun was it going to be in Heaven if my buddies weren't with me? Mom's greatest sadness is that all 5 of us kids dropped away from the church in our early to mid teens and none of us have gone back. Maybe I'm cursed with Literalism but I asked the Nuns about Aborigines and others who might never have a chance to learn about Catholicism; what happened to their souls when they died since they hadn't been baptized? "They spend Eternity in Limbo," she said. "What a ripoff," I thought. God creates them then doesn't give them an honest shot at making it to Heaven? What kind of God is that??

So, that's all I know about Faith. Spirituality is a different matter. Spirituality is when the wife & kids are all packed & ready, the car loaded, fishing licenses current, we're in the driveway loading aboard and my sponsor calls & says, "Dennis, just got a call from the 24 hour hotline. A drunk has called and is asking for help." I tell the family it'll be a couple of hours before we start the two week trip to the woods & the lake and they say, "OK Dad, we understand," and they go back in the house to wait for me to come home again. Has to do with being connected, spiritually, to everyone else in the Universe and knowing that if I put everyone else first, I will be the ultimate winner.

Religion I know nothing about except that religious people have done a lot of good in the world simply because whenever people unite to do good things, good things get done. Mainly I think the best explanation of Man's relationship with God was written in a book called, "Mr. God, this is Anna," by Finn. And if more religious leaders would read it there would be a lot less strife on Earth.

mwdegutis Loc: Illinois

This is a VERY good thread to start. Am I religious or spiritual? You tell me. I am a follower of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and believe in the inerrant teachings of the Holy Bible. With that being said, I’ve heard it said that God cannot be found by logical conclusion. I believe this to be an untrue statement. Fortunately, or unfortunately as my wife might say, I am a logical thinking person. I have lived on this planet for just about 58 years and in that time I've had many experiences that have led me to logical conclusions. So with that being said, I’ll provide a chronological 50,000 foot view of my religious and spiritual experience up to now:

• Raised Roman Catholic
• Non-religionist
• Born-again Christian
• Follower of The Urantia Book
• Follower of Conversations With God and other books by Neale Donald Walsch
• Follower of my voice within
• Returned born-again Christian and follower of Jesus

So how have I came “full-circle” with all of this leading me to where I am today? The first time, I may have been a “born-again Christian” but truly didn’t understand it. The second time, after a long journey of over 30 years, it started by me asking Jesus every day during prayer to reform my mind to be like His. Over time, this must have happened because I came to the realization that:

1. I am a sinner – Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
2. As a sinner, I will die – Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. If I believed that Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead to save me from sin and death, I was saved – Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
4. I could receive, in faith through Jesus, His free gift of salvation – Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
5. I needed to repent by turning from my old life of sin to a new life in Jesus – Acts 20:21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

I cannot begin to tell you how free I have became or the changes that have happened to me since praying this and following these steps but with this in mind, I decided to rededicate myself to being a follower of Jesus. Do I have struggles? Of course...but now I have peace of mind. And as Philippians 3:11-13 says, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…”