Thanks for your thoughts...Its not that we've been 'down-and-out' for 7 years...we have moved on some-what. My wife went into the medical field and has a very good job now, I went back to college and finished my degree in 2005 and I have worked for a couple of non-profits since then. I was just sharing some struggles that we'd gone through and the doubts and lack of understanding that we still have about our place in ministry...our place in the world. (I am simplifying a very complicated/convoluted issue our group of issues...there is much more to this than a chat can handle) Suffice it to say that we have been hurt tremendously and still have trouble understanding why/what/where and how...but we still believe He is in control and His plans are for good not for harm.

Thanks for the clarification...I do believe there is a great deal we can learn from each other. I have been in the preaching/teaching arena and found it a very lonely place and a place where I was always under the microscope or in the fish bowl...never really able to be who I was created to be, only what I was expected to be. I admit, I am new to this whole online community thing but as I read and follow what you all are doing, I must admit that I feel something I haven't felt in quite a while. Perhaps I'm sensing a genuineness and acceptance that ought to be present in the local church but has gotten lost or crowded out by expectations/traditions.

Will keep following...one step at a time, as far as my lamp shines.

-erk

Good comment...I too have concerns about where the authority is if so many are sharing opinions. Conversation is great and sharing ideas is great..."as iron sharpens iron"...we can arrive at a common ground of understanding. Perhaps the correct line of thought is that each and every comment ought to be measured against and corroborated by the Word...kind of like 'taking every thought captive'.

But as in life, everyone has their own slant on things and no one has a corner on the truth except for Truth Himself...that is where we should look.