Christ_empowered
Member
I'm 34. I came to genuinely, truly believe upon Him 6 years ago. Right away, I started shedding people I thought were friends. Thing is...
on a good day, most of them were really 'friendly acquaintances.' nothing wrong with that, I guess, just...not -true- friends. Plus...from what I've read of other people's experiences, this happens...this 'friend-shedding' or what have you.
the other thing in my situation...in addition to my conversion and growing faith in Christ...is His work in my life. I'm stigmatized, ridiculed in the community...there, but; nah, not really...and yet: His work in my life has been nothing short of miraculous. Where before I was an "over the hill flamer," I had health problems that were never treated, my (loving, kind, long suffering) parents were never going to forgive me for squandering my youth+their resources...
now, I'm quite healthy, not a flamer, not "over the hill" (at 34, I look about 29...not "the fountain of youth," but...ummm...I'll take it, thanks), and my now "well-to-do" (a former psychiatrist's term, btw) parents have forgiven me and we're growing closer...
oh, and I had 'too much psychiatric treatment' (read: brain damage, in all the wrong places) written all over me, and now I'm normal and my intelligence has been restored unto me...
so, there's that, too. again; nothing against the 'people from back then,' but "God's work in this world is -always- met with opposition," and His work in my life...
means the world to me, to my parents, even to some other family members, but the 'friendly acquaintances' ? Yeah, nothin' doing.
I'm finally at this point...where I can pray for the people 'from back then,' because they need Jesus, too. I cut ties with one...I knew him way back, we used to smoke weed and such together, blah blah blah...now he's been out of college, with his BA, and reality has hit. Cool in HS, hipster in college, barely scraping by these days, and...that's increasingly common, because of economic conditions in these United States. And one 'friend' who was thru with me, once I started talking about being healed and such...
she's doing quite well, actually. masters degree, lives in the UK with her husband, has a child. and yet...
there, too, one sees that 'reality hits' and/or 'life happened;' now, they have the mortgage, the kid, the career concerns, 'should i get the phd?,' etc. etc. etc....
and i pray for her, her husband, and their daughter, too. oh, and...
when I was 19, I dated this dude who was 27/28. Not too bad, in terms of age differences (for the gay community, that is...), but...he was from a well-established, rich family in another part of the state. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, all hopped up on Rx uppers and downers, lonely, etc. at 19, but...
his rich, private school friends -loathed- me. so, one day, I got curious. I knew he'd moved to the EU, to do his art and be with his long term boyfriend. so, I went to The Google, typed in his name, and...
an obituary popped up. blah. not too, too long ago...2017, 2018 I think. the funeral was held in another part of the state, so I guess he came home and then...well, died, obviously. :-(
Kinda rambling. The people 'from back then' are people, too, and they need Jesus, some of them may very well need miracles, too...restoration, reconciliation, purpose...Jesus and His work in their lives, basically. and so...
yeah. yeah. I kinda took over the prayer section, and sorry to keep it up, but...well, the 1 friend/'friendly acquaintance' who has kept in touch with me over all these years...
she's now 'well-adjusted,' good career prospects, urban, sophisticated, etc. but its thru fancy new therapy and a prominent psychiatrist and 'progressive, gay-affirming churches,' and...
? I'm glad she's in a good career, but its kind like...when we talk, she's gone. good employee, the right degrees, upwardly mobile, and...
everybody needs Jesus, basically. Thanks.
on a good day, most of them were really 'friendly acquaintances.' nothing wrong with that, I guess, just...not -true- friends. Plus...from what I've read of other people's experiences, this happens...this 'friend-shedding' or what have you.
the other thing in my situation...in addition to my conversion and growing faith in Christ...is His work in my life. I'm stigmatized, ridiculed in the community...there, but; nah, not really...and yet: His work in my life has been nothing short of miraculous. Where before I was an "over the hill flamer," I had health problems that were never treated, my (loving, kind, long suffering) parents were never going to forgive me for squandering my youth+their resources...
now, I'm quite healthy, not a flamer, not "over the hill" (at 34, I look about 29...not "the fountain of youth," but...ummm...I'll take it, thanks), and my now "well-to-do" (a former psychiatrist's term, btw) parents have forgiven me and we're growing closer...
oh, and I had 'too much psychiatric treatment' (read: brain damage, in all the wrong places) written all over me, and now I'm normal and my intelligence has been restored unto me...
so, there's that, too. again; nothing against the 'people from back then,' but "God's work in this world is -always- met with opposition," and His work in my life...
means the world to me, to my parents, even to some other family members, but the 'friendly acquaintances' ? Yeah, nothin' doing.
I'm finally at this point...where I can pray for the people 'from back then,' because they need Jesus, too. I cut ties with one...I knew him way back, we used to smoke weed and such together, blah blah blah...now he's been out of college, with his BA, and reality has hit. Cool in HS, hipster in college, barely scraping by these days, and...that's increasingly common, because of economic conditions in these United States. And one 'friend' who was thru with me, once I started talking about being healed and such...
she's doing quite well, actually. masters degree, lives in the UK with her husband, has a child. and yet...
there, too, one sees that 'reality hits' and/or 'life happened;' now, they have the mortgage, the kid, the career concerns, 'should i get the phd?,' etc. etc. etc....
and i pray for her, her husband, and their daughter, too. oh, and...
when I was 19, I dated this dude who was 27/28. Not too bad, in terms of age differences (for the gay community, that is...), but...he was from a well-established, rich family in another part of the state. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, all hopped up on Rx uppers and downers, lonely, etc. at 19, but...
his rich, private school friends -loathed- me. so, one day, I got curious. I knew he'd moved to the EU, to do his art and be with his long term boyfriend. so, I went to The Google, typed in his name, and...
an obituary popped up. blah. not too, too long ago...2017, 2018 I think. the funeral was held in another part of the state, so I guess he came home and then...well, died, obviously. :-(
Kinda rambling. The people 'from back then' are people, too, and they need Jesus, some of them may very well need miracles, too...restoration, reconciliation, purpose...Jesus and His work in their lives, basically. and so...
yeah. yeah. I kinda took over the prayer section, and sorry to keep it up, but...well, the 1 friend/'friendly acquaintance' who has kept in touch with me over all these years...
she's now 'well-adjusted,' good career prospects, urban, sophisticated, etc. but its thru fancy new therapy and a prominent psychiatrist and 'progressive, gay-affirming churches,' and...
? I'm glad she's in a good career, but its kind like...when we talk, she's gone. good employee, the right degrees, upwardly mobile, and...
everybody needs Jesus, basically. Thanks.