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The Doctrine of Eternal Damnation

Replied Oct. 16, 2008

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My Testimony:

I would like to share a quiet testimony on suffering,
I was raised in an alcoholic home and was physically and emotionally abused, witnessed the repeated beatings of my mother, abuses towards pets, suffered the constant tyranny of evil, all throughout my childhood, beyond what most people could imagine.

I went from my childhood to young adulthood and spent 10 years under the iron fist of the Herbert W. Armstrong cult, 10 years of suffering spiritual abuse, only I didn’t know it then and experienced the repercussions only after I got out of that cult, another 10 years of suffering a floundering about without an identity and reeling from the lies I had believed.

Then I suffered another great blow, (probably worse than the child abuse) which shall remain nameless to protect the forgiven.

God was with me the whole time, and not once through all of the suffering did I blame Him or ask why, and that isn’t to cast me into a self-righteous light but to show the magnitude of God’s grace in my heart, He never allowed me to hate or blame Him for my suffering and for that I am deeply thankful.

And now to the crux of the testimony:

I testify before you, as one who has suffered through much abuse, that none of it, not the punches, the slaps, the knocking out of my teeth, the humilitation, the lies, the manipulation, the sight of my mother’s bloody and broken body, the oppressive responsibility of protecting my younger siblings, the betrayals, the living on the street, the suicide attempt, the loss of a church family, the loss of a false identity, none of it compares to the suffering I feel when I am separated from God, and when I am not in obedience to Him, that is when I am separated. I would gladly suffer all of it again rather than be separated from my Saviour. My hope is firmly planted in Jesus Christ, alone. He is the one who died for my sins and for yours. If you believe and trust in Christ’s shed blood then you will have the same hope and assurance

James 1:2-12

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits. Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

How would you describe yourself theologically?

I was in the Herbert W. Armstrong cult for 10 years in my 20's, been a bit church phobic since then. Theologically, I probably have a lot to learn.

Who is the greatest theologian in the last 2000 years? (Besides Biblical People!)

Oswald Chambers

What is your web-address?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tegraham/

Terri's Blog

The Ghosts On My Window

The Ghosts On My Window

It happened about two weeks ago. I was sitting in my office and all was quiet
I heard a big crash as if one of the neighbor children had thrown a hard packed snowball at the window. I went to investigate, walking over to the large picture window in the
living room that faces my side yard. Everything seemed in order, the birds were
busy at the feeder, sun bright on… Continue

Posted on October 30, 2008 at 8:31pm — 1 Comment

Christian Art?

This is a new piece I created. Some have called it disturbing, some have called it beautiful, I think it is both. Christ was "gutted" so that we may have the guts to follow Him.

Posted on October 22, 2008 at 3:30pm — 10 Comments

In The Hall of Veterans ( a poem)

In The Hall of Veterans

Yes, I saw her, old soldier
pretty young thing
she came round the corner
like a little spring bunny
and was suddenly confronted
with the sight of you.

Her soft opal eyes averted
when she saw your white pelican face
with its toothless grin, gaping open
as if she might drop a dozen
minnows in your hungry mouth.

She didn’t study your pale cellophane
face or the way you slumped in your wheelchair
as if your spine were made of rubber.
She didn’t see your avid feet clad in… Continue

Posted on July 12, 2008 at 6:47am —

Men of Fiction

"If any man could disprove the doctrines of the gospel, he should then sit down and weep to think they were not true, it would be the most dreadful calamity that could happen to the world, to have a glimpse of such truths, and then for them to melt away in the thin air of fiction, as having no substantiality in them." Jonathon Edwards

Men of Fiction

Today’s “Tower of Babel” is the myriad belief systems built upon foundations of feelings, rather than the foundation of God’s holy word. “Spiritu… Continue

Posted on July 5, 2008 at 8:04pm — 2 Comments

Outside The Camp

Outside The Camp Heb 12:11-15

The Jewish high priest brings the blood of the animals into the Most Holy Place to offer it as a sacrifice for sins; but the bodies of the animals are burned outside the camp. For this reason Jesus also died outside the city, in order to purify the people from sin with his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp and share his shame. For there is no permanent city for us here on earth; we are looking for the city which is to come. Let us, then, alway… Continue

Posted on June 8, 2008 at 7:46pm —

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At 5:09pm on January 10, 2009, Dr Mike said…: Thank you, Terri, for sharing your history. A responsive chord sounded somewhere in me as I read it. Maybe from clients' stories, maybe from my own inner story.

I'm not sure I've climbed as far out of the hole, but that's fine: Christ has always been with me in the coldness and darkness of the hole, even as he is present in the warm light of day.

At 5:37pm on October 15, 2008, Jack said…: Terri; yes, UAW and gm were the flintite's big and little gods, and the people are still dreaming that UAW can force GM to re-open factories. Most of my relatives are still there. I left in '90, whem I retired. Jack

At 5:43pm on October 12, 2008, Jack said…: Terri; I was born and raised in Flint, Mi. Jack, the geezer

At 7:10pm on July 7, 2008, Nicole said…: Wow Girl! You have quite the testimony! I love your obvious delight in our Savior, through it all! You will be a pleasure to get to know!

At 8:03pm on July 5, 2008, Vince said…: Thanks for dropping by, I would imagine that it would be somewhat difficult to get a feel for the depth of ones relationship with Christ from a web page.

I really like Oswald Chambers as well :)

At 4:39pm on June 6, 2008, sung cha said…: Just saying hi! Hey, I like Oswald Chambers quite a bit. I teach classes in scientific evidences for a Creator. If you have any questions or inputs, I look forward to them.