***
Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.
***
And then, as they stood with folded wings, there was a voice from above the dome over their heads. Above the dome there was something that looked like a throne, sky-blue like a sapphire, with a humanlike figure towering above the throne. From what I could see, from the waist up he looked like burnished bronze and from the waist down like a blazing fire. Brightness everywhere! The way a rainbow springs out of the sky on a rainy day—that’s what it was like. It turned out to be the Glory of God!
When I saw all this, I fell to my knees, my face to the ground. Then I heard a voice. Ezekiel 1:26-28
***
***
Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?
***
photo credit: Joel, taken at Easter Sunrise service
Spiritual Sounding Board 
It’s not often these days that I feel like raising my hands in worship. I did with the Revelation Song. Thanks for sharing that.
LikeLike
BTDT, I read that the verses I quoted were instrumental in the composing of the song.
LikeLike
What a beautiful song. It made me pause and really center on Jesus. Thank you JA
LikeLike
I hope it’s ok for me to post this here. I don’t have many people I can talk about this with, and it’s tearing me apart.
14 years ago, I was just coming out of 18 years of unhealthy churches in Texas, where I grew up, and had moved to California. I was angry, fearful, bitter, and unwilling to give church another try. I was still a Christian, and attending a Christian school, but hated church. I found a truly wonderful Episcopal/Anglican church, and began to bloom. I had friends, a second family, and a truly wonderful priest. He taught compassionately and consistently about love, faithfulness, fighting the good fight, standing for what was right even when it meant standing alone, etc. He taught me everything I knew about faithfulness to the church body even when it hurt. He was my priest, my confessor, and my friend.
Then, 2 years ago, during his retirement party, he took me aside and told me that he was leaving his wife to marry a woman less than half his age (easily young enough to be his daughter), a young woman who had been my housemate. I’d known they were spending a lot of time together, and thought it might not be wise, but I thought it was a surrogate father/daughter situation. The man I’d trusted so much had not only developed and actively pursued an emotional affair, but had done so with a woman half his age, whom he knew to have father issues, while being in a position of authority over her AND being married.
I can’t seem to get over this. I’m angry, and bitter, and so very, very done with church. I served on the church board for almost four years, two of which were after the retirement, and I’ve seen and experienced so much fallout from it. I finally resigned for my own mental and emotional health, but it may be too late. I haven’t gone to Mass in about a month; I just can’t deal with it anymore. My faith is in tatters; I don’t know who to trust, and it feels like everyone has been lying to me. I feel like I’m over-reacting, but I can’t seem to react any other way.
LikeLike
Joi
Thank you for posting. So sorry to hear about what you’ve gone through. This is as good a place to post as any and many at SSB will understand. And, I do NOT think you are “over-reacting” at all. This betrayal sucketh…
Betrayal, from someone you trust, admired, is difficult to understand.
After this happened a couple of times with different pastors…
I wound up NO longer believing in my own discernment, judgement.
I understand – When you say…
“I’m angry, and bitter, and so very, very done with church.”
I was the same way some 20 years ago, when a pastor, who had become a good friend, was spending a little to much time with a young women, and people were talking. When I spoke to him about that relationship, and some debatable theology he was now teaching, I became the problem, I became the enemy, NOT to be trusted any more.
I was flipping out. My whole world, everything being turned up-side down.
It’s a longer story, over a couple of years, but…
Eventually he moved and started another ministry. The new pastor, who was also a friend, eventually took a turn for the worst and I asked hard questions again. And again I became the enemy. This time it was my time to go…
Vent, scream, curse, all you like…
“My faith is in tatters; I don’t know who to trust,
and it feels like everyone has been lying to me.”
Sounds to me like you have excellent discernment.
And you might NOT believe this now – BUT…
You are in an excellent place. – Because…
There is only “ONE” Shepherd you can trust…
{{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}
Jer 50:6
“My people” hath been “lost sheep:”
**THEIR shepherds** have caused them to *go astray,*
1 Pet 2:25
For ye were as *sheep going astray;*
BUT are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
{{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}
LikeLike
Joi, I understand your frustration! Maybe the way we do church isn’t healthy? After attending church since birth, I quit going several years ago in my early fifties. I understand that all humans sin and fall short, but pastors and elders are called to a higher standard. Yet, like many men in positions of power, pastors seem to allow their egos to overpower their good judgement. Your young friend will end up being badly hurt, when she realizes all she has given up to take care of an older man who needs constant admiration.
I wonder if many enter the ministry to fix their own problems and instead end up hurting others. (This happens often in the world of counseling) Perhaps one day, we will figure a way to recognize the type of person who is able to serve as a pastor and
not be seduced by the power and admiration that can destroy people’s spiritual and emotion well being. Until such a time, I am trying to keep my focus on God and my own behavior. I am sorry for your pain from past and present experiences. Even with your sorrow God is with you. We can’t control other’s bad behavior, but we can still commit to trying work on ourselves in a way that reflects the love of God. There are no easy answers. Ann
LikeLike