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• Intros

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  I hope this group will become active. So I thought to post a little about myself. Much is on my profile, so I won't repeat it all.

  I do not believe I have a single Beverly Lewis book on my physical shelf any longer. But I will admit, she impacted my life in an interesting way. Curious about the Amish I read her books. They were Christian published, clean. and I learned a little about the Amish. But it wasn't enough for me... I went deeper to learn what the Amish believe and why. I had a hard time, not knowing any personally. Well, after much turmoil about one particular issue, I finally discussed this with the only Anabaptist I knew. A Mennonite. He is not the most conservative, but he directed me to an online group that discussed all the issues of the Anabaptist faith.

  Well... we dug into Scripture. We found some should be taken literally and sought new fellowship. Living in a large city, this was not to be found. We moved to join our current church. Our church is not Amish, but holds to many of the traditions. Lordwilling, they will remain. We have the freedom to use or not use the computer. This is why you see me here. ;)

  Many people are enthralled with the Amish and read all the fiction. Nothing wrong with this, but I wonder if it gives a distorted view. Most Amish Are happy in their faith. Their numbers double about every 20 years. The children MUST choose if they want to join the church, or not. It is not forced upon them. Their Anabaptist roots demand this. Faith is not put on them as infants with baptism. They must come to the Lord on their own and then be baptized.

  I see the group has not been active in some time. What is your desire for this group? To discuss "Amish romance" only. I am not sure I would stay around for that. I do enjoy talking about the faith I did not grow up with, but moved into. And yes, it did start with Beverly Lewis... (OK, it started with God! He just happened to use the paperback book to start us on this journey and I give HIM all the praise and honor)

  Patch Dweller started this discussion 3 years ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Patch Dweller 

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  Hey all.

  If anyone decides to make this group active again, leave me a note. I'll come back. I just do not like having groups listed where there is no activity.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Amy F 

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  I don't get on here too often but just wanted to say hi. I just started reading some Beverly Lewis books...finished The Shunning and I'm on The Confession now...almost done with it. I LOVE them! :)

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Marie Anne S 

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  I've been a member of Shelfari for a while but hadn't really done anything with it. Decided to give it another look and check out some groups, but I see this one seems to have died out.

  Any chance for revival?

  I love to read and prefer Christian fiction. I've read so much of it that I have a hard time finding anything decent at my local library that I haven't read already. I love Beverly Lewis and Wanda E. Brunstetter for their books about Amish life, and I'm also a big Karen Kingsbury fan, and others I can' t think of at the moment.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Lori (edited)

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  Well hello! I'm new to Shelfari and usually too busy but I would love to try and keep up with some discussion. I love reading Amish stories. I too love Beverly Lewis' books and I absolutely love the way Cindy Woodsmall writes. If you haven't read any of her books. You must! They are always hard to put down.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Lori (edited)

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  To Intros,
  I wish I had enough time to tell my whole story of how I came to know about the Amish and also reading their books. I love the Amish and respect their faith and I have several Amish friends. Some quite close who have confided in me. I did not understand what they believed in the beginning and as you know if you read the Amish books they live in different districts that are governed by their Bishops and Ministers. I have some Amish friends in Indiana that are very, very happy with their life and their district and church. Their Bishop is more lenient. And then I have a friend in the same town in a different district only 8 or 10 miles away who has been under the ban for a number of years and made to feel like garbage because his wife was dyeing and he and his daughter put a window air conditioning unit in her bedroom for the last couple of months of her life against the Bishops orders. They have eased up on the ban over the years but it is still felt. My heart breaks for him and many, and I mean many of the Amish that live by the church rules instead of God's grace. I have Amish friends that live in Ohio, which when we met had just had a confrontation with their Bishop and Ministers. Believe it or not he was being reprimanded for speaking out about the Bible and God's grace and they didn't want him discussing it with anybody and stirring other people up. So that day he was threatened to be put under the ban if he continued. It wasn't long after that they left the Amish church. They continue to dress plain and attend Minnonite churches. So there are many happy Amish, but there are many sad Amish that live Amish because they will be shunned (depending on their district rules) if they choose to leave the Amish. Even fear they will lose their salvation. Most of them have so much to lose if they choose to leave their church. A lot of pressure there. I'm afraid for them for what some may base their salvation on. Pray for the Amish. Some don't know... Eph 2: 8, 9 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: lest any man should boast.

  Christ came to free us from the law. He wants us to love him. I really don't think God is impressed with how we dress and how perfect we do things. He looks in the heart. THAT is plain and simple. He wants our heart. And whatever we do for Christ, let us do it because of our love for Him and nothing else. May love motivate us not fear.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Pam E 

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  I am new to Shelfari and was trying to find a group. I love reading Amish romance. My favorite authors are Wanda Brunstetter and Kim Saywer. I just finished reading Plain Jayne by Hillary Lodge and it was good. I have noticed there are alot of new authors writing Amish romance. Has anyone read any of these new authors?

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Lori 

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    Hi Pam! I love Amish romance also. I like Wanda Brunstetter and Kim Sawyer too. Great writers! Have you read any of Cindy Woodsmall's books? I would have to say that she along with Beverly Lewis are my favorite writers of Amish love stories. Also Shelley Shepard Grey is a good writer. I haven't read Plain Jayne yet but I'm anxious to get to it. I have a few in a stack that I can't wait to get to but I only read a little every night. Happy Reading!

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Pam E 

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  I have read Cindy Woodsmall. I did like her also. I have not read her newest book.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Angee Dean 

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  I am very new to this whole thing. I enjoy reading, quilting, crochet, spending time with my family. Not always in the order.
  again I am new to this Shelfari. I was in a "party" with Beth Wiseman on facebook when some one said they used this to keep track of the books they read. I have read over 25 books and I dont want to start reading the same ones over. So far I like this.

  I also enjoy meeting new people. As a Photograher I guess that is a given. Like my Dad has always said " you can never have too many friends in this world"

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

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