Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
STG, of course, we are contemporaries, having crossed paths back in Columbus. I'm not sure if you remember Phil Comfort or not, but one of my distinct memories from those early days (I first met the saints in June 1973), was their intense desire to firstly "come back to the pure word of God," and secondly to focus solely on "Christ, only Christ." This struggle, by all the members, brought much blessing.
In a sense, this was my "foundation" in the Recovery. These two in tandem were, in essence, the "Recovery" as it was presented to me. As a former Catholic I was constantly becoming aware of how much tradition had replaced the basic message of His word. It seemed that each discovery was so liberating, releasing me from the bondage of the traditions of men. I even loved the bright lights in the meeting hall since that freed me from the tradition of worshiping God in the darkness of the Catholic church.
Sure, there was lots of "background noise" in those early days, like the ground of oneness and some minister out in Anaheim. But, how things have changed! "Christ, only Christ," got replaced with "Lee, only Lee." "Coming back to the pure word of God," got replaced by "laboring into the 'interpreted word' of the ministry." How could this have happened? Was no one paying attention?
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Of course I remember Phil Comfort and his brother! There was still a good focus on Christ, I think, in Columbus in those days . . . (I left Columbus in 88, and the LC there a little earlier)
These days I've really been aware of a couple prayers I prayed when he saved me off the street, way back in 74. He reminds me of these two prayers frequently and I distinctly remember both. One was, "Lord, take me to be with those that love you the way I do." His first step was to almost immediately transport me 2000 miles away from Ohio to the LC in Berkeley. Then in the early 80s, he led me and my new wife to LCs in Ohio (she loved the gatherings!). Then in the late 90s He led me here to the Scottsdale group.
He has always been faithful to that prayer! Praise Him! Praise Him!