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Letters December 17, 2007 Last week's
cover really resonated with a lot of people. And
it got me to thinking. Through my son's school I have gotten to be friends with
quite a few people that I would have never known had it not been for my
involvement in his school. As a result of these friendships there has been a
group develop--12 moms who meet once a month for lunch. We talk, laugh, discuss
school, teachers, assignments, and boring girl stuff. During our November lunch we were talking about clothes and
one of the moms who happens to be rail-thin was talking about her difficulties
in finding clothes to fit. We just looked at her and finally one of the moms
made a comment like, “Yeah, riiight!” The rail-thin mom had this look on her
face of pure frustration and hurt that we couldn't understand. All that said, sometimes we look at people and think they
don't have to worry about this or that--we judge them in essence. We deduce that
since they are rail thin, they have all the advantages we don't have and that is
not always the case. If we looked at people more with Jesus' eyes, we might not
be so quick to judge others--period! Merry Christmas from the staff of 90&9.com. We're taking next
week off and will return New Year's Eve, so please enjoy the extra articles in
this issue. Re: “On
Homosexuality” We need to draw a line between accepting homosexuals and
accepting their sin. There is a way to do that. I have learned, because my
brother is one. For years, he hated the fact that I was serving Messiah. I know
what it is to Him in the fellowship of His suffering. I accept him as my brother
and he now accepts the choices that I have made in my life. It took a touch from the Holy Ghost for me to lay down my
anger for all that he did to me. He would tell me that I should not believe
anything people in Church say because their ideas came from man, and he would
get fighting mad if he saw me pray and say, “There is no Holy Ghost!” I write
those words and tremble as I do so. I was just a teenager then and didn't have
much wisdom, so I'd pray all the harder. Therefore, I bore consequences that
were not easy to deal with. Name Withheld by Request, USA Re: “Anorexia:
Taking a U-Turn on a Dead-end Road” I believe it is admirable for a woman to share such a personal
and revealing experience. I pray that her testimony is able to reach someone who
could be facing some of the same challenges. I think it is a wonderful testimony of God's life-changing
work in an individual's life. To God be the Glory. Jeff Krugh, Ohio Re: “Anorexia” I would love to hear more of Rachel's story. I have a relative who is in exactly the same position, with
the exception of backsliding--she is heavily involved in music in our District
and is a great lady, but is about 5 foot and 90 pounds. Our family realizes
that there is more to anorexia than just eating--or not, but how do you give
someone help who continues to deny her problem? We've prayed, talked with her,
her pastor's wife (who by the way is about the same size, and in my opinion also
deals with anorexia), her husband--nothing seems to help. The bad part is that
she has a young daughter who is beginning to control her own life by refusing to
eat. Any further tips or Apostolic help groups would be appreciated. Name Withheld, Wisconsin Re: “Anorexia:
Taking the U-Turn on a Dead-end Road” Bravo! Thanks for your transparency. Cara Davis, Florida Re: “Anorexia:
Taking the U-Turn on a Dead-end Road” Very well written! This is going to touch more lives than you
can possibly imagine. You have been through a lot and come a long way since the
first day we met. A full recovery from this disease is possible because with
God all things are possible to them that believe. The road to a full recovery
is going to be long and strenuous but it is going to be well worth the travel.
Don't ever give up or stop believing in yourself or looking to God to help you
through it. You have the ability to accomplish anything you set your mind to.
I love you and am continually praying for you. Tina Dillon, Ohio Re: “The
Quality Man” Thank you for helping me understand what my husband needs from
me. J. Palmer, Indiana Re: “Anorexia:
Taking the U-turn on a Dead-end Road” If I were in counsel with anyone who had an anorexic problem I
would eventually ask them some gut level questions for the sake of beginning
with an honesty platform. No one can successfully go forward if they are lying
to themselves in any form. I would ask them, “Are you the victim of an overbearing parent
with unrealistic perfectionistic expectations or are you just wanting to be
noticed due to narcissism?” From a spiritual perspective, a gut-level honest
answer at this point would allow us direction on how to proceed. The challenge
in growth is to become a blessing and a stepping stone to others. For the sake of brevity, I will focus on the spiritual
perspective that one must understand with spiritual facts of what the Lord has
done for the anorexic. This is with the premise that they truly have a totally
dominated negative self image from unrealistic expectations imposed on them from
adults, parents, or otherwise. Two wonderful truths to lay to the foundation: Justification
by faith and the love of God. In justification by faith the Lord inputs His
righteousness to us completely. We cannot add to it or take away. Harsh
legalism, parents never satisfied, and any other form of unbalanced distortions
of truth cause people to have false guilt. False guilt has nothing to do with
real guilt. False guilt makes you feel “negative” when nothing has been done.
Trace for yourselves where the roots began and ask the Holy Ghost to anoint its
elimination. Second, God is Love. He has the ability to have supernatural
patience or longsuffering with us for an entire life while His supreme
intelligence and compassion works with us as individuals. If you make a mistake,
repent quick, forgive yourself after confessing it to Him. Ask the Holy Ghost
within to anoint your mind to the next level to forgive yourself if this is your
weakness. Fallen Lucifer accuses and distorts the beauty of the Lord to us the
same way he distorted His beauty to one third of angels who swallowed that lie.
We are “perfect” or complete in Him and He is working with us
all the way to the end. The more that you see His beauty and His Person you
will delight in doing whatever He asks for internal holiness leading to
external. To see yourself as He sees you will set you free from
distorted negative viewpoints and transform you into one that has a balanced and
joyous one. Victory is ours! Stephen Forkum, Arkansas (Editor's Note: Please remember to keep your letters to 350ish
words or we will edit them down. We're thrilled to receive article submissions
that are over 350 words.) © 2007, ninetyandnine.com
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