Hi it's Allison...I'm glad you're praying for me, and it's working although not I think in the way you're intending. Sometimes God answers prayers in unexpected ways. Maybe part of His answering is for me to see what you've written here. It hurts me Sarah. A LOT to hear this exaggeration of my beliefs. Have you really heard what I'm saying?? Or simply lumped me together with the "crazy" christians who think everyone's going to hell. I have NEVER said that we have to follow everything the Bible says in order to get to Heaven, I believe that is only you interpreting it that way. Just because I believe there are principles that God has set up and revealed to us through his servants' writings in the Bible and through Jesus that we ought to follow in order to serve Him, does not mean that I believe anyone who makes a mistake or falls into sin is going to hell. That is a DISGUSTING exaggeration of what I think. I do believe that people who are not saved, forgiven of their sins through Christ, would not die and go to Heaven. That is the only time I will say that someone is going to Hell, and I even hate to admit that that is what I believe, because that means people I love might not be spending eternity with God. And even then, I won't ever try to judge a person, because only God ultimately decides and knows their heart. Who knows, the most unlikely person could believe that Christ is their savior. I would not like to be a hidden servant of God though. I will not hide my beliefs simply because they imply that there is a one way to God and that that is through Christ, and that there are right ways of living (although if we falter in those we will be forgiven, yet we should still attempt). So when I see someone who seems not to understand God as I do, I feel that I should explain myself to them and explain salvation through Christ if the opportunity arises to share that. Of course I would like them to accept that, but that is their choice. I am still a sinful being as is everyone, even if I do attempt to follow God's will and instruction for my life. The difference between me and a nonChristian is simply that they have not found the truth in being saved by Christ. Whether you and Brian or me and Andrew are right in our beliefs on how Christians are called to live does not matter if in our hearts we truly believe that it is by the sacrifice of Christ that we are saved and we are seeking after God and pursuing a relationship with Him. God forgives our mistakes, and I thank Him for that. He forgives our overzealousness, our underzealousness or whatever type of Christian that we are. But the Bible does make a distinction between those who are luke warm and on fire. The seeds that are planted on rough soil and don't yield much crop and those in the fertile soil that produces a great crop. And that is the point of debating with you guys on these issues. Are we to attempt to compromise what has been the position of the most evangelical christians in order to make disagreement among family and friends more bearable?? We are called to spread the good news, not to figure out how to interpret the little details of the Bible so that we have trouble even following the example given to us for how to live. When arguing gets us nowhere, perhaps we should rely on what has been passed on as a Christian handbook, guidelines, whatever for 2000 and more years. Maybe we should trust the historical information that supports the Bible, and not worry that a few out of many arguments SUGGEST that the bible COULD be wrong on some points. It could just as well be right as wrong, and I'm more willing to risk the chance that it might be wrong than to risk the chance that I had truth right in front of my face and I didn't trust it, and the arguments and evidence if you really look at them, seem to show that chances are more that the Bible is right.
Sarah please really look at Andrew's arguments. And realize that he comes from generations of strong christians. While our family is from generations of christians, that was not very present in our upbringing
(not that it was a bad one by any means) and I'm not sure it was in Brian's either. We didn't have discussions about the Bible or religion. We didn't really know (or I didn't) what Christianity really was until middle/high school, whereas Andrew's known all his life and had a lot more time to gather information and question and grow than we have. And he has done all those things, more than I think several Christians raised Christian have. The point I'm making here is that the way we think is influenced by worldly views more easily than someone who has had a strong foundation for their faith all their life. Honestly Andrew has challenged me in a lot of ways, in particular to be strong in what I believe and not suppress the truth that I know simply to keep people from getting upset by what you say. I feel I've had to do that a lot around Dad, Anna more recently, and lots of my friends. I've felt I had to tone down the strength in my faith so that I'm not rejected or misunderstood. This got longer than I thought and it'll go on a little longer, but please take this as an answer to prayer. That I am not "conflicted in what I believe," that I'm very confident that God is leading me through all of this, and no matter how hard it is to keep going and keep trying to understand where you're coming from, He gives me and Andrew the will to. I also don't want to attempt to prove everything in the Bible as fact, that is impossible maybe, but I will struggle as many christians in the past have done to trust it despite how easily we might say well we can't prove it all so we dont have to trust it all. The fact is the Bible has been proven to be right and continues to be proven right on many issues (by concrete evidence) that at first people thought it was wrong about, so just because we can't prove aspects of the Bible completely, why not trust a reliable source?
I'll end by saying I don't doubt that you guys pray. But I just challenge you to make sure you're not looking for specific answers, that you're praying that He will do more than perhaps correct me and Andrew, but perhaps correct you and Brian also. So that we can be brothers and sisters in Christ who agree on big issues and can fight for God together. Supporting each other and perhaps saving our family. I want to be able to say to you that I believe Dad and Anna need a relationship with God through Christ without you thinking I'm being judgmental or close-minded or something, because that's what I get when I talk to them. And as of now I don't know if that's your reaction to me saying that although I almost know it would be Dad and Anna's and I have a feeling it would be yours and also Brians. But please correct me if I'm wrong. And I'm just thinking that if we don't live lives that are compatable what will Anna and Dad think...they'll have more reason to see that Christianity is "just another way" or that "that's true for them" but no...it's true for us all...what's true is true and that's all there is to it. No one person knows all that is true, but we can certainly find truth if we look hard enough.
 

Allison, I will always love you regardless if we don't agree on everything. I don't want to write anymore specifically. I am sorry I "hurt" you, but you want to know what I think and so here you go. Don't ask me things if you're afraid of getting your feelings "hurt." I do love you, but like you said sometimes the truth is hard. I don't want to push you away, but you may go away, I don't know. I'd rather stick to things we can agree on...babies are important...and at the moment, mine needs me more than I need to talk to you right now. Je t'aime toujours!!!
 

Just a thought...avoiding the problem does not solve the problem. so at least plan on trying to resolve the problem some day.