Biblical Counseling, Crazy Things Church Leaders Say & Do, Julie Anne's Personal Stories, Mental Health and the Church, Personal Stories, Spiritual Abuse, Suicide

My Personal Mental Health Story: When Christians Say Potentially Harmful Words to Someone in a Mental Health Crisis

***  Mental Health, prayer, Bible, professional counseling, harmful advice *** A friend found this quote and was very disturbed by it. When I saw it, I was equally disturbed...no, make that horrified, because it brought me back to a very difficult time in my life when it was said to me by well-meaning Christians: *** ***… Continue reading My Personal Mental Health Story: When Christians Say Potentially Harmful Words to Someone in a Mental Health Crisis

Abuse Systems and Transformation Tools, Bill Gothard, Doug Phillips & Vision Forum, Failure to Report Crimes, Full-Quiver, Homeschool Movement, IBLP and ATI, Lourdes Torres vs Doug Phillips lawsuit, Mandatory Reporting, Reconstructionist-Dominion Movement, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Abuse, Statute of Limitations

Victim of Bill Gothard’s Teachings Speaks out about Josh Duggar Scandal, Mike Huckabee: Bill Gothard’s Dangerous Agenda and Influence in Political Arena and Society at Large

*** Bill Gothard, Mike Huckabee, Sex Abuse Coverup, Political and Social Influence, and an Agenda *** *** Some may remember Dash's (pseudonym) personal story I posted a while back. Dash was raised with parents who adhered to Bill Gothard's teachings and suffered severe emotional, physical, and spiritual abuse. I covered his story in two articles: Man… Continue reading Victim of Bill Gothard’s Teachings Speaks out about Josh Duggar Scandal, Mike Huckabee: Bill Gothard’s Dangerous Agenda and Influence in Political Arena and Society at Large

Bill Gothard, Failure to Report Crimes, Forgiveness, Homeschool Movement, Mandatory Reporting, Mental Health and the Church, Parenting, Patriarchal-Complementarian Movement, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches

How I Would Have Responded as a Parent to the Josh Duggar Sexual Abuse Scenario

*** This past week has been a whirlwind with the Josh Duggar sex abuse allegations from 12 years that recently surfaced. Josh Duggar is the eldest child of Patriarchical family and model ATI (Bill Gothard's homeschool curricula) family. Josh Duggar and his family star in the popular reality show on TLC, 19 Kids and Counting. As this… Continue reading How I Would Have Responded as a Parent to the Josh Duggar Sexual Abuse Scenario

Church Governance or Policy Issues, Divorce, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Bullies, Wives or (ex) of Pedophiles

Ex-Wife of Pedophile Speaks out about The Village Church and Josh Duggar Sex Scandals

 *** Ex-Wife of a pedophile shares from her heart about mishandling of sex abuse cases at The Village Church and Josh Duggar *** My friend, Brenda, is the ex-wife of a pedophile. With the recent events of Karen Hinkley, who is now in church discipline at The Village Church because she annulled her marriage without… Continue reading Ex-Wife of Pedophile Speaks out about The Village Church and Josh Duggar Sex Scandals

Christian Marriage, CHURCH GOVERNANCE & POLICIES, Church Governance or Policy Issues, Crazy Things Church Leaders Say & Do, Divorce, Extra-Biblical Nonsense, Leaving the Church, Meetings with the Pastor, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Bullies, Women and the Church

Insidious Behavior at The Village Church Regarding a Pedophile and His Former Wife

*** Horrific story of spiritual abuse, mishandling of sex abuse, church membership, Matt Chandler, The Village Church, Jordan Root, pedophile, child pornography *** I woke up late this morning and checked my Twitter feed to find that many of my Twitter friends were shocked and appalled at the treatment of Karen Hinkley (formerly Karen Root)… Continue reading Insidious Behavior at The Village Church Regarding a Pedophile and His Former Wife

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Bullies

Spiritual Abuse: What Motivates Abusers? Fear?

*** What motivates those who spiritually abuse? Is it fear? I recently read this quote by John Steinbeck and was thinking about it in the context of spiritual abuse and those who use their position of authority to control and abuse church members. *** *** What do you think? Is it fear that is motivating spiritual tyrants… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: What Motivates Abusers? Fear?

Disturbing Trends, Mark Driscoll, This . . . at Church?

Mark Driscoll, Dan Kellogg and Gold Creek Community Church’s Rap

Gold Creek Community Church, Pastor Dan Kellogg, Mark Driscoll and church rap and twerk video *** Twerking *** Why would a pastor invite someone he didn't even know personally - someone with a bad public reputation as an abuser - to come and speak to his church? It's all becoming crystal clear about Gold Creek… Continue reading Mark Driscoll, Dan Kellogg and Gold Creek Community Church’s Rap

Mark Driscoll, Narcissistic Pastors, No-Talk Rule, Shunning, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Bullies

Pastor Mark Driscoll Preaches at Pastor Dan Kellogg’s Gold Creek Community Church

Mark Driscoll preaches while former Mars Hill Members protest outside of Pastor Dan Kellogg's Gold Creek Community Church *** Pastor Dan Kellogg of Gold Creek Community Church invited Pastor Mark Driscoll, former pastor of Mars Hill churches, to preach at his Seattle-area church yesterday. There was also a protest outside during the service by about… Continue reading Pastor Mark Driscoll Preaches at Pastor Dan Kellogg’s Gold Creek Community Church

ABUSERS & THEIR TACTICS, Church Governance or Policy Issues, Extra-Biblical Nonsense, Kevin DeYoung, Misuse of Scripture, The Gospel Coalition

Kevin DeYoung Pushes Church Memberships and Making Vows

Church Membership, Pastor Kevin DeYoung, Making Vows, The Gospel Coalition, here we go again! *** At The Gospel Coalition website, Pastor Kevin DeYoung has a new article on church membership, 6 Reasons Why Membership Matters. The title is not correct. It should be: "6 Reasons Why Church Membership Matters to Controlling Pastors." *** As long… Continue reading Kevin DeYoung Pushes Church Memberships and Making Vows

Disturbing Trends, Domestic Violence and Churches, Failure to Report Crimes, Leaving the Church, No-Talk Rule, Russell Moore, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches

Questionning the Morality and Ethics of Samuel James and His Recent Article

 ***  Samuel James, ERLC, watchdog blogs, abuse, and the church *** Merriam-Webster defines the following: Morality beliefs about what is right behavior and what is wrong behavior the degree to which something is right and good : the moral goodness or badness of something Ethics rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good… Continue reading Questionning the Morality and Ethics of Samuel James and His Recent Article

BGBC Lawsuit, BGBCSurvivors Imposter Blog, Chuck O'Neal, Crazy Things Church Leaders Say & Do, Spiritual Bullies, Street Evangelism, Tony Miano, Troubling Tweets

Pastor Chuck O’Neal and Open Air Preacher Tony Miano to Speak at Jeremiah Cry Conference Hosted at Beaverton Grace Bible Church

Chuck O'Neal and Beaverton Grace Bible Church to host Jeremiah Cry Ministries "The Soul Winner" conference. O'Neal will be speaking as well as Open Air Preacher Tony Miano. What a combination:  a suing pastor and open air preacher who behaves like the "spirit of Westboro" speaking on soul winning. The conference is May 7-9, 2015 at… Continue reading Pastor Chuck O’Neal and Open Air Preacher Tony Miano to Speak at Jeremiah Cry Conference Hosted at Beaverton Grace Bible Church

Christian Love, Evangelism, John MacArthur, Phil Johnson, Spiritual Bullies, Street Evangelism, Tony Miano

Phil Johnson, Tony Miano, Grace Community Church, and Public Rebuking for Public Behavior

 Phil Johnson, Tony Miano, Grace Community Church and Public Rebuking for Bad Public Behavior *** Last week, I posted this article, Open Air Preacher Tony Miano’s Insensitive Tweets after Nepal Earthquake Disaster, after Tony Miano sent out this tweet: There was an enormous negative response on Twitter directed towards Miano from Christians and non-Christians alike. Tony Miano has… Continue reading Phil Johnson, Tony Miano, Grace Community Church, and Public Rebuking for Public Behavior

Council for Bibl. Manhood & Womanhood, Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence and Churches, Failure to Report Crimes, Marriage, Owen Strachan, Patriarchal-Complementarian Movement, Troubling Tweets, Women and the Church

CBMW and Owen Strachan Tweets that the Church is Better at Handling Domestic Violence Than our Secular Culture

Owen Strachan and the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) thinks the church handles domestic violence against women better than secular culture. ***

LAWSUITS, Narcissistic Pastors, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Statute of Limitations, Stories of Hope

Pastor Mike Sperou: Guilty on all 3 counts of sex abuse, sentenced to 20 years, while his devoted followers discount their own adult childrens’ testimonies of sex abuse

*** Update on an earlier story: Pastor Mike Sperou of North Clackamas Bible Community Church found guilty on all 3 counts of sex abuse of minor under 12 and is sentenced to 20 years.   This is one of those cases that leaves you shaking your head, thinking that you couldn't make this stuff up… Continue reading Pastor Mike Sperou: Guilty on all 3 counts of sex abuse, sentenced to 20 years, while his devoted followers discount their own adult childrens’ testimonies of sex abuse

Christian Marriage, Divorce, Domestic Violence and Churches, Failure to Report Crimes, John Piper, Marriage, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Mental Health and the Church, Patriarchal-Complementarian Movement, Spiritual Abuse, Women and the Church

Encouraging Shift from Bethlehem Baptist Church Regarding Domestic Abuse and Care for Abused Women

 *** Pastor Jason Meyer of Bethlehem Baptist Church Preaches on Domestic Abuse and Care for Abused Women, Marking a Change in Direction from John Piper's Teachings *** *** Yesterday, I received an e-mail from reader, Ben, about a sermon preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church last Sunday concerning domestic violence. This is significant coming from John Piper's former church and… Continue reading Encouraging Shift from Bethlehem Baptist Church Regarding Domestic Abuse and Care for Abused Women

Street Evangelism, Tony Miano, Troubling Tweets

Open Air Preacher Tony Miano’s Insensitive Tweets after Nepal Earthquake Disaster

*** Open Air Preacher Tony Miano's Twitter behavior and lessons he's learned about kindness with his own family. *** Over the weekend, open air street preacher, Tony Miano, current member of John MacArthur's Grace Community Church, responded to a CNN tweet about the devastating earthquake in Nepal: *** *** This tweet created quite a firestorm on Twitter.… Continue reading Open Air Preacher Tony Miano’s Insensitive Tweets after Nepal Earthquake Disaster

Need a Good Laugh?

Saturday Morning Funnies

*** Sometimes it gets heavy around here. This week I have watched two videos that had me laughing so hard, I was crying. I must share: The first one is public on Facebook and I'm unable to embed it here, so you'll just have to click on the link. It's the most hilarious baptism I've… Continue reading Saturday Morning Funnies

The Nones and the Dones

Who are the Dones and Why Have They Left the Institutional Church?

*** We've heard of the Nones, but who are the Dones? Are you familiar with these terms? Baptist News article, You’ve met the ‘nones.’ Now meet the ‘dones.’ covered this topic last year: Just as churches, seminaries and congregational consultants were wrapping their heads around the concept of “the nones” in religious life, yet another term emerges… Continue reading Who are the Dones and Why Have They Left the Institutional Church?

Christian Love, Emergent/Progressive Movement, Learn to Discern, Narcissistic Pastors, Personal Stories, Spiritual Bullies

Bullies: Celebrity Leaders Who Act Different in Private Settings Reveal Their Heart

*** Watch out for any celebrity or Christian leader who treats you differently in private. They are bullies.     Have you seen this video of ESPN's reporter Britt McHenry who berates an employee at a towing company as she pays to collect her impounded vehicle? It's been making the rounds in social media and… Continue reading Bullies: Celebrity Leaders Who Act Different in Private Settings Reveal Their Heart

Calvinism, Recovery Process

Abuse Survivors Question the Idea That Nothing Happens in Your Life – Even Abuse – That God Does Not Permit

 There is nothing that happens in your life that God does not permit - - even abuse? We got in a heated discussion in the comments on the last post regarding the determinist belief that nothing happens in our lives that God does not permit. For people who have been abused, that is a tough… Continue reading Abuse Survivors Question the Idea That Nothing Happens in Your Life – Even Abuse – That God Does Not Permit