Ice: 'A spiritual battle' [Archive]

Nytepassion

03-06-2006, 03:04 PM

Quote: Billy Ray Harvill, the 46-year-old pastor of the church, says he doesn’t turn people away because they are still using. Harvill discourages use, of course, but he says he would rather have them here. Personally, I think this is the way it should be .. I don't think people should be turned away from churches because they use or are homeless so on and so forth ...

When Jesus died on the cross he died for the addict as well ..

When I first started my journey on my spiritual awakening ... I was an alcoholic/addict I had also done some pretty heavy "sinning" in my life as an addict. Quietly inside myself I was afraid that I would be judged by man and deemed a bad seed once they found out my life story, but me being a full believer in "If you wanna get well You Gotta lay all your uglies out on the table" no matter how painful they are or how dark they are .. If you keep them secret/hidden then you are only hurting yourself .. It you lay it out .. the ugliness loses its power and you begin your journey of "TRUE HEALING" any way .. when I first started going to church I knew right away I had found what it was that I needed in my life .. and as I began to fellowship with others and revealed "ME" I was surprised that no one reacted like I had thought they would. I thought I would be judged "I mean I laid out who and what I have been and was at that time" the pastors wife didn't bat an eye .. she totally related to a lot of things I shared with her.

For the first time in my life I felt accepted. I felt like I had a place. I didn't get told go away .. get it together ... then come back at a different time when you've cleaned yourself up a bit. For the first time in my life I had been accepted for who I had been and who I was right then and there. What that spoke to my heart was Jesus accepted me just the way I was... (that means so much to me to this day)

I think the church should accept people for who and what they are ... with the knowledge "Jesus died for each and everyone of us and the sins of the world" I believe people shouldn't be turned away, but welcomed in ... with the attitude Jesus says come as you are ... if there are changes that need to be made .. The Lord will make those changes in HIS TIME NOT OURS. I have great respect for Billy Ray Harvill, the 46-year-old pastor of the church ...

You know as for spiritual battle .. I know about the battle between good and evil ... I cannot say that I do not believe that there is a spiritual war going on ... because I do .. but I do believe that a person has to be open to hearing about it ... and I don't use it as an approach to discourage meth use .. Personally that is me, but if I were a pastor then I'd be in more of a position where it wouldn't be a turn off to people if I were to talk about it.

I will tell you that I believe whole heartedly that meth is the 'devils whore' and mulitudes follow her down the path of destruction so faithfully that some even lose thier lives to her.

I know for myself I was "Delivered" from my addiction the moment that my ready and sincere heart truly cried out to God in prayer. I give God all the Glory, Honor and Praise for my sobriety ...

There are a lot of addicts and nonaddicts alike that have a problem with God. I am not one of them *although at one time I was*. I don't will not debate my beliefs .. nor will I change them ... not that anyone is asking me to :p

I know me and I know if I was near this church I'd definitly be there to fight the good fight not only reaching out to pull addicts from the pit, but to reap as many souls for Christ as I could.

Passion