Question ? When does a hobby become a sinful obsession .

[WaterHound]

Ouch ! Careful Waterhound ! Why won't I ask that question on the other forums , because I want to live , lol , seriously . I don't think we will ever see a metal detecting addiction support forum , and Who would take me seriously at a N A. Or AA addictions meeting . BUT ! I confess that for the past year or two I've spent way to much time in the water digging junk hoping to find a nother gold ring , leaving my loving patient wife behind for whole days. She does not share my enthusiasm , and has said she would rather have me at home than the gold I bring home. Then theirs the money spent on gas and equipment , let's be honest guys , if someone wants the latest detectors and accessories it can be very costly, and if your family's not part of it , very selfish, on my part, yes I've got OCD. That's the truth , and yes metal detecting is better than gambling , drugs , or pornoraphy . To a Christian it should be . SO WHEN DOES THE MADNESS STOP , when it becomes a hobby again , and doesn't cause others in my family to suffer from my absence or puts a strain on finances or tithing . And this summer if God allows it I want to make my detecting trips a family picnic time of fishing and detecting , because I really love my wife and want to be with her and Jesus my real treasures .

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

I think if it becomes an Idol to a person. Like some people put their job before God and family. Or money, sports, etc etc…….. Certainly I think the Lord wants us to enjoy hobbies, even if the rest of the family isn't there. Now if that is all we do and spend hardly any time with the family then maybe we have crossed a line. I love the hobby but not as much as my Lord. He has allowed me to use the hobby as a ministry.

 

[WaterHound]

Very good mike, that's the truth, that's what the Lord has put on my heart, metal. Detecting would be a great ministry , for kids or adults , God bless you in it.

 

[steve in so la]

s

 

[Missouri Ma Betty22]

I know I was out MD'ing by myself or with others a lot but this was mostly after divorced and saved in the 90's until 2006 when my brother came to live with me, so being very ill and me not well ,also, we stopped and spent the time with each other until his death in 2009! I wrote poems for Jesus in the '80,s and studied the Bible for 20 plus years after saved and baptized in the Holy Ghost! So being by myself most of the time I could go detecting and learn God's Holy Word at my own pace! Actually I did more praying back then than I do now--would pray every morning and be at work by 8 AM --worked for a few years after the divorce and also before going out digging for the coins and etc> I only bought one detector myself in 1994, which I used until I couldn't go hunting any longer--2006! I enjoyed it and talking to God and being out in His world around me!

PPL would ask me questions about my detecting but back then I was shy in witnessing unlike now I am too bold on FB! I lived my life for Jesus; so hopefully, they saw Jesus within me! But do you know sinners won't stay near a Spirit-filled Christian and we don't even have to say anything, the same as Christians know the godly Spirits indwelling us! Yes, I can say I did detect too much but I wasn't out drinking, partying, stealing, robbing and God only knows what else if I hadn't been in church before truly saved!!! But to answer your question WaterHound--divide your time between wife, family and your job, if working, with wife getting your real attention more so than detecting, as a divorce is terrible and harms each other and the children--mine has never healed and we divorced in 1988, but he left the home in 1986 to live with and be with the woman he preferred rather than me and NO metal-detecting didn't break us up, as it was his adultery and his lies, we had already quit MD-ing together before he filed for divorce--it was my depression and sickness that I was suffering from the loss of both parents ( 3 months apart) in 1984 and of his hatred in how he treated me while depressed and tried to kill myself by taking anti-depressants! So please LOVE your wife and give her the time and attention she needs--discuss it with her and make arrangements for detecting accordingly making a compromise in what she needs and that seems to be YOU! Also, pray about it and God may provide a good way for both your wife and detecting! God Bless! Ma

 

[WaterHound]

Thank you all so much ,for confirming what the Lord is telling me. Sister ma betty, your testimony is heart wrenchingly beauityful, if that's OK to put it that way, GOD has sure helped you through so much, my wife and l are going to a church of god, they believe in the baptism of the holy spirit like what happened to you. Plus they have the gift of tongues . My wife and I were scared off many times but come back each time because the spirit draws us and these christians have the lives and fruits of the spirit .and preach the full gospel of belief ,repentance , and soul winning , through the holy spirits power. They dress modestly , they love the lord. Their different from the big side show type pentecostal groups.from Benny hinn, snake handlers, prosperity gospel, or the whole church gets slain in the spirit with tounges and shaking. That's a bit scary . But we believe this church of god is really spirit filled. Even if we are not yet, so we are trying to have a open mind to what GOD has going on .please pray for us . Waterhound

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

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[WaterHound]

Thanks mike, lately my wife and I have been missing the old hymns, we might share one at church . Dint mean any harm on my last post, God has alot going on and it's scary to fall in the hands and spirit of the lord.

 

[Missouri Ma Betty22]

Thank you, WaterHound, and YES, God has brought me a long way even with all the hurts of my childhood and going with grandma, mom and my brother, Cliff, (Everett) in a wagon to a small country church helped God to work in my life and to never completely let me go astray! You are on the right path and the Holy Spirit was all over me when I read your post--a Full Gospel church is the right one to attend and was like the small Pentecostal Church I attended with my brother and his wife!--Larry and I had always been to Baptist Churches but were not saved--Prayers were prayed for both of us and Glory and praises to God, our Heavenly Father, Who hears and answers prayers of the faithful and righteous saints, we found Jesus and His merciful forgiveness! Larry didn't have the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and because of Clinical Depression, which is a curse on mom's side of the family, he was reading and studying two Bibles but still went outside and committed suicide--So sad and yet I know he loved the Lord but being so hurt from many things that happened to him then, he just didn't have God's Holy Ghost power to fight the good fight of faith, which we all need to endure and overcome all things, for satan never ends his spiritual fighting to get us back on his demonic and evil side of life where darkness dwells! I have the gifts of the Spirit but haven't used them in quite sometime for I haven't been to a Spirit filled pastor and church congregation since moving and becoming so ill plus a Compression Fracture in my lower Lumbar that is better but still painful with weak legs I am unable to walk upright like I should and FALL very easily!

Satan will probably do his best to knock you down to stop attending a Spirit-Filled Gospel church but don't let him and continue to go and worship our blessed Savior, Jesus, for in Him, only, is our victory for eternal life in God's beautiful golden and peaceful new Jerusalem city! The sinful world is waxing worse & worse, but stand firm on your faith in Jesus and don't allow satan or his demons to take one inch of holy ground from you and your wife, then OH How Blessed you both will be--not free from worldly problems but in Jesus' strength and true freedom we all can endure and overcome all things until mortal death or Jesus catches us up on our Resurrection Day! AMEN God Bless! Ma

 

[WaterHound]

God bless you sister ma betty, for such encouragement to my wife and me. When you said many people can't stand to be near a spirit filled Christian is so true, light and darkness have no fellowship. Several times when I tried to witness to someone they almost begged me not to , I wish I would not have ,it got ugly. They really have to be open to the spirit and the word. Is that what why the bible says don't cast your pearls means ?

 

[Missouri Ma Betty22]

I think so, for our faith in our perfect and pure Lord Jesus Christ is so beautiful, it is like casting our pearls before demons or anyone who is not open to receiving the Holy Spiritual truth of the Gospel of Jesus-who will turn and rend us with their anger and cursing! Satan's spirits within aren't receptive to God's goodness until through salvation prayers they are ready to hear and see His Holy truth and at the appointed time God will work His miracle in them and save their soul by their willing repentance of all sins--that is why we must yield our all to Jesus, for He knows everything about us anyway, but wants us to cry out to Him and be set free from those sins by our repenting of everyone of them! There is no forgiveness without repentance!!

Anyone still continually committing sin, willfully, are not saved but fooled by the LIAR Satan, the devil, who is the father of lies from the beginning! Now, if we should sin (because we are human) we go quickly right then and ask God's forgiveness, Who is quick to forgive us our transgressions, just like our loved ones and friends that we offend at the time of hurting and being angry--to wait causes more hurting and angriness--that is why we are to never go to bed angry--but we do don't we as satan works his evilness within us? Keep on, keepin' on going to church, praying, serving, worshiping in song and praise--I love the old time hymns for I was raised hearing and singing them most of my life! Love you both in Jesus name, Bro WaterHound! Find those goodies when God allows you time to go fishing for them and also do some fishing for lost and/or hurting souls for God's Kingdom when the opportunity arises by His grace! John 3:16 God Bless! Ma

 

[C.J.M.]

Good mercy as i look around and see this world changing so fast and its all for the worse.Its not safe to step out at night ,there are more evil people doing the devils work.As an ex-police officer i remember the night shift hours the people of the night come out to roam all night and do evil then sleep all day.I pray the LORD will come soon and take us home.

 

[slingshot]

Take it from me- a once avid golfer who lost his family. I don't even play anymore!! PLENTY of time for detecting AFTER Family Time. Think of it this way- the sites you hunt need time to refill, so enjoy your most precious gift- God's quiver, during that time. There' s the story of the man whom God allowed to take one item he most cherished to Heaven with him. As he entered the Gates, word had spread and everyone was curious. He proudly obliged and everyone broke out in laughter when he opened the huge trunk of gold!! "What's so funny?", he asked. "You brought pavement!!", they replied.
For the record, if you make more time for your family, they will gladly reciprocate.
Almost forgot. When she asks why you're spending more time with her, don't forget to mention you found what was most important- and hopefully you mean it!

 

[WaterHound]

brother slingshot ,thanks for your helpful advise , and I need io give the swim holes a break to fill up , while I'm spending time with my real treasure my pretty wife . And appreciating her more each day. God bless you and your family as well.

 

[Missouri Ma Betty22]

Thank you, slingshot, for that testimony and advise for WaterHound and for those who spend more time in their hobbies than they do with loved ones--May God Bless and give you joy unspeakable full of God's glory! God can bless you in a miraculous way to gain back your family or with another one per His okay in your doing so! I know I am where God can use me, as I wrote Christian poems for many, many years which are a witness to our Savior and Lord Jesus and God's Holy Written Word!

I've worked on a farm from a young child, than after graduating high school and then off and on during our 30 year marriage while raising children and keeping a clean house and etc.; so now I am resting this tired 82 year young body while living with my 11 year younger sister , who is a twin, whom I helped take care of and her brother until I left home! They were in first grade during my Senior year! So you can probably say, I have taken care of children most of my life for I watched and cared for grandchildren, too, so their mother could work! Sorry for all this yacky writing but I really find it difficult to stop once I get started; so please forgive me everyone if I make myself a nuisance! God Bless and protect and provide for His own! Amen! Ma

 

[WaterHound]

Not a nuisance ma betty , your a blessing to us all ,so is slingshot that was the first thing I heard from him and it was truth given in love, I will pray for him a family again so he can be loved and love back , and if you share what's on you heart who's to complain ? It all has been heart warming and heart plowing .

 

[Missouri Ma Betty22]

Thank you WH and that is what I want to be used of God to help others because others have sure helped me to get through some very difficult times==We either get better or bitter and yielding to Jesus and God's Word is always better to overcome being bitter which is not always easy that's why we must stay in prayer and with Jesus and keep washed in the precious blood of the Lamb! Amen! Ma

 

[Leslie(nova scotia)]

n/t

 

[Missouri Ma Betty22]

Hi, Leslie, Sir Digaholic, I don't think Waterhound is with us any more & don't know why as he hasn't posted for awhile now! But sure do miss his posts!! He was going to travel with his wife; so maybe that is what he is doing & MD'ing, too! Hopefully he will check in & explain why he left & isn't with the CMD Forum now? I remember the photo of all those rings you found forming a long necklace around your neck! Enjoy detecting but do remember to study God's Holy Word, Pray & love Jesus! Ma