Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.
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Luke 15: 1 – 10
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Proverbs 8: 1 – 21
Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:
“To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.”
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you from the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
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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?
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photo credit – Brian – Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR
“I’ll Fly Away” was one of my favorites as a child. I haven’t heard it in a lot of years. They did an excellent job and it truly touched my heart. What a glorious time awaits beyond this world!!
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“Narrow Is The Way ~ Have You REALLY Found It?”
I discussed what happened at my NAR church several times earlier here. Earlier this year, I had a beautiful lady reach out to me and ask if she could include my story in the booklet she was putting together:
“Narrow Is The Way ~ Have You REALLY Found It?”
It has nine peoples stories of their abuse and/or exits from their church. The booklet is available now on her website and will be on Amazon later this month. I hope my part of the booklet will help one person not go thru what I experienced.
http://www.soundwordministry.org/store/p5/Booklet_–Narrow_is_the_Way–_Have_You_REALLY_Found_it%3F.html
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Angie – I apologize, but I had to look up New Apostolic Reformation because I’m not familiar with the denomination (but I remember your story, just not that you were a part of that denomination). I did not realize that this was a movement based off of C. Peter Wagner. I recognize his name and think I maybe read one of his books a way long time ago. Bethel Church in Redding, CA is NAR and Tony Miano publicly accuses them of heresy. Sounds like an interesting book.
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Oh, that’s great, Angie. I’m glad you were able to share your story. I will take a look at it. I, too, hope that your experience will help others who may have gotten caught up in this movement to gain clarity, and hopefully leave it’s destructive clutches.
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Kathi, now this is how our Haystack Rock should be used!
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Preach it, Aretha! (One of my favorite songs.)
Woo hoo!
Dancin’ here. Thank you Kathi and SSB!
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I need help. There are more burdens and worries in my life than I can list here, and I just had the rug pulled out from under me yesterday regarding a financial situation I was counting on. I was already not able to make ends meet, so the news I received was devastating.
I just read about these abusive men leading the church, and get discouraged tot he point of despair sometimes. Where does someone like me go when the usual avenues for help have been taken? The church? It’s one big PTSD trigger at this point, and I have virtually zero faith that my kids and I wouldn’t end up re-traumatized, anyway.
I can’t even pray anymore. I don’t know who I’m supposed to be praying to, or what I’m supposed to be praying about. I mean, I know all the Christiany answers, but they aren’t meaning anything to me. They’ve all been scraped away, and I’m just bloody and raw.
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Kathi,
I put the Aretha song link over at The Wartburg Watch with a friendly warning:
move the furniture, take off your shoes, and DANCE!
Folks over there loved it.
Hugs and thanks,
Velour
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Velour – That entire Aretha album is wonderful!
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