Sounding Board
1. Music
a. A thin board forming the upper portion of the resonant chamber in an instrument, such as a violin or piano, and serving to increase resonance.b. A structure placed behind or over a podium or platform to reflect music or a speaker’s voice to an audience. Also called soundboard.
2. A person or group whose reactions to an idea, opinion, or point of view serve as a measure of its effectiveness or acceptability.
3. A device or means serving to spread or popularize an idea or a point of view.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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When I was trying to find a name for the blog, I wanted something to signify that this blog was not going to be all about me, but about us and voicing our experiences. I love group interaction. I’ve been honored to share quite a few personal stories from some of you. Many time I will make new posts out of your comments. Some of you have sent e-mails with ideas or concerns which have resulted in blog posts. Thank you!
I’d like to try something new and open this blog post for anything you would like to discuss. In our spiritually abusive churches, our communication was sometimes squelched. That’s not happening here. Your voice counts. What is on your heart?
You’ve got the floor – it’s all yours!
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Spiritual Sounding Board 
Walked a portion of the Pittsburgh Marathon route this morning passing through Shadyside along Walnut Street where all the “beautiful people”—as I call them—hang out. I was simply awe-struck at how perfectly beautiful their big and little dogs were. These hairy creatures actually appeared better-groomed than myself!
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Yesterday I was sent a link to a youtube video that had just been posted of a young man named Joel Marius who spoke from his heart on how his eyes are now being opened to the manipulation and Christian witchcraft going on by the twisted leaders of the institutional church. It’s a powerful video that made me cry. So I posted it at SpAu and provided a partial transcript of Joel’s thoughts. I commend it to you. This guy really brings it home!
Keep Your Religion: I Don’t Want It!
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David, I saw that video and could really appreciate the heart from which Joel spoke. Some people will be offended by his words. I appreciated his transparency. A lot of us who have had negative church experiences are looking for something more authentic.
My favorite part was watching his face
as he discussed Jesus. His face really lit up. In fact, I think many would be naturally drawn to the Jesus they see in him. Yea, he’s the real deal.
Thanks, David.
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A friend of mine posted this verse on her Facebook wall this morning and I needed to read it. Maybe someone else will be encouraged by it:
Romans 15:12-13 NLT
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. …
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Yes, JA, I noticed that too. As Joel was expressing his love for Jesus his face
utterly SHINED!
He ends his video by saying—I’m going after seeing the realms of His glory and seeing Him face to face.
It’s obvious Joel has spent time with the Glorious One!
Romans 15:13 makes for a wonderful benediction!
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Something Joel expressed really registered with me. He said, I’m done with Christians preaching a message that’s not setting people free.
That’s the nub of it for me, as I see it.
The Bible says, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men—the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5).
Yet we have a pervasive class of pastors and elders assuming mediating positions that essentially come in-between (and even against) God and His people.
Instrumentally—these pastors are not in the business of freeing people or empowering them with such things as a voice, but making them their slaves, dependent, subservient and dumb.
For instance, Mark Driscoll is the Master and celebrity Idol of his Mars Hill House of Bondage. And I’m amazed at all the dumb sheep who worship and follow him.
Driscoll’s buddy, James MacDonald, appears to be also a Master of an ever-growing House of Bondage. I’ve just recently discovered James MacDonald’s explosive franchise of Harvest Bible Chapels that appear to be operating under the Moses principle of church governance. These are not proper Houses of God. And these men seem to be serving only themselves—not God, and certainly not God’s people.
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I got free from the bondage of legalism back in the 1980s when I listened to a tape by Peter Lord (Turkeys and Eagles) addressing a group of Southern Baptist pastors. For the first time in my life, someone called me the rightness of Christ. Never had been told that before. I was the one that crawled around in the slime pit and and was ever looking for approval from God. Try as I would, I could and would never obtain the approval and and acceptance of God. Peter Lord told me something that I never heard before, that I already had the total acceptance of God through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I was set free that day and I see that this young man in the video has been set free also. I can now do all the things God wants me to do, not because I have to do them for His acceptance but because I now have a love relationship that allows me to do them just for love. As Joel has been set free from religion, I have also. Its about God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Joel and I have a relationship with them that is not constrained by religion or other people. I can love the unlovely, pray for them and help those in need without worrying what the system thinks.
My mind goes to the song, “Oh How I Love Jesus” and that kind of sums it up for me and I would bet for Joel as well.
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I’m in love with a man—he said.
Like you said, Jimmydee, it’s about a love relationship that empowers us to be perfect expressions of God’s own loving purposes.
We are lovers, in love with God and His people!
Love—the most powerful force in the universe. .
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Link to the sermon of “Turkeys and Eagles” that I heard”
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/eagles-and-turkeys-maurice-mccarthy-sermon-on-finding-fulfillment-53630.asp
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JimmyDee said:
Woohoo!! Beautiful, JimmyDee. What a testimony. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
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Lots of my mind. However, hard to write, because I have a significant amount of pain in upper rt. abdomen. Went to Dr yesterday, didn’t learn much, will have scan in the morning. ( I’m thinking possibly a hernia)
Thanks David for posting! Joel is a delight, love, love, love real people.
Read that sermon on Eagles and Turkeys and smacked myself in the head. Why did I listen to those turkeys jerks for so many years- they tried to clip my wings.
I keep thinking about what Sgmnot (a plaintiff’s mom) wrote on May 1, 2013 @ 6:34 AM (Read more of her comment on a Note of gratitude & support thread)
“To Katie and Eagle and all the Katie-s and Eagle-s out there: This is us, all standing up against evil, this is grassroots, a ground-swell, you, me, literally across the country and around the world — taking a stand against spiritual tyranny, which has disguised itself as Christian, named itself as “better than you” and attempted to squash us by various abuses.”
We are part of this revolution! So this song came to mind:
That eagle is fierce in you tube video. As y’all know here, the Solution is Jesus!
Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’
Into the future
I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till I’m free
Oh, Lord, through the revolution
Feed the babies
Who don’t have enough to eat
Shoe the children
With no shoes on their feet
House the people
Livin’ in the street
Oh, oh, there’s a solution
I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till I’m free
Fly through the revolution
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Meant to mention what those turkeys fed me sounded just like what the turkeys ate in that sermon. s***
And a quick note- I have come so far from the days when my kids begged me to let them listen to oldies on the radio when I was carting them back & forth from Lansing Christian School. Because only Christian radio was approved by the turkeys.
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There she is! I thought of you—Gail—when I posted Joel’s video here. Nice to see you.
Great Sgmnot comment!
reminds me of this George Orwell quote:
In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
Y’all backing Phil Mickelson this afternoon, Sis?
So sorry for your pain, I pray you’ll soon find relief.
David
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Gail: Because only Christian radio was approved by the turkeys.
Haha. 🙂 It’s nice to be free, huh?
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Hi David,
My hubby is rooting for Phil, I would too, if I wasn’t in bed. Good to see you too!
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Haha. 🙂 It’s nice to be free, huh?
Yup, in the arena of music & movies, dancing, and a good brew now & then. O, this also: it doesn’t bother me when people use colorful language either… hmm maybe you are on to something Julie Anne ( : free!
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re Golf.
young Derek Ernst comes out of nowhere and wins the tournament playoff. His first words to the camera just moments ago were most beautiful.
He said—I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
pretty cool . . he’s won me as a fan. .
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Julie Anne wrote: “When I was trying to find a name for the blog, I wanted something to signify that this blog was not going to be all about me, but about us and voicing our experiences.” REMARKABLE HEART J.A.
I would like to ask you to take a bow, But, that is corny, and not what you are looking for or why you offer us this space to gather together. You just made my heart clap when I read the above words. Some blogs are a monologue and that is OK I learn from them, but it is cool to have a dialogue.
And the kindness that you extended to me the other day when I was so far down in the pit is helping me to slowly to climb out.
David said: “He said—I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
pretty cool . . he’s won me as a fan. .”
Count me in as a member in Derek’s fan club too!
P.S. THIS from David: reminds me of this George Orwell quote:
In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
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I spent much of the morning and a portion of the early afternoon in front of my house cheering and clapping and encouraging hundreds of marathoners as they ran by. My voice is a bit hoarse, and my hands are nearly blistered. But let me stand again and applaud our beloved Julie Anne for the good race she is running and for all her righteous work—both visible and hidden—that she is doing for the kingdom of heaven.
You are a champion Julie Anne—Keep on healing and helping and fighting the good fight!
Sacred Gail, please consider keeping us informed (either here or privately via email) on your pain situation. Good or bad, I’d like to know how you’re doing.
You’re presently in my prayers.
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We’re not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we’re to drive a spoke into the wheel itself. -Bonhoeffer
http://watchkeep.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-tale-of-two-jacks.html
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Thank you, Amy, for defending survivors of church sex abuse and blasting the bullhorn against it. I greatly respect and appreciate what you do!
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Thank YOU Julie Ann! You are testament to God’s faithfulness in answer to my prayer for years for Him to shine His light of truth, move the mountains of silence, darkness, lies & deceit, and set all the captives free.
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Doc suspects I cracked a rib. Takes about 6 weeks to heal. Thanks for the prayers!
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