"Flying Free" by 9-yr old Resident Artist Now, on to much lovelier topics. I really want you to read this . . . I want to share a story with you about a person named Justice. Justice is not this person's real name and you'll have to pardon the awkwardness of pronouns in this article… Continue reading Justice: Becoming Free
Category: ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH
Anticipation
Six More Days Until Court Hearing There are a number of Christian bloggers keeping up with our story. Yesterday, two popular bloggers posted articles about our situation and I wanted to give more information so you can see how things fit together. I'll give a little background. This is the original Google review that was… Continue reading Anticipation
Protector: Make the Choice!!
7 days until court date! Yeah, we've gone viral. Average amount of blog hits before news media attention: 250-400 hits. Today, I have over 18,000 hits. (Did you just hear that loud thump as Julie Anne fell off the couch?) Evidently, people have been trying to leave comments, but have been unable to. Sorry, please… Continue reading Protector: Make the Choice!!
In Honor of Hannah
* * * Today, I'd like to honor someone very special to me - my eldest daughter, Hannah. When Hannah told me she was leaving home so abruptly that very sad day, she told me that she couldn't set one more foot in that church. It was killing her. She knew… Continue reading In Honor of Hannah
Counselors in the Church
I've been thinking about the topic of counseling after reading the following comments: Just curious, does anyone know of any Bible passages that were used to establish the "evil" of getting counseling? Or was this another extra-Biblical add on AnonymousMay 9, 2012 4:25 PMI don't necessarily remember a specific scripture. Someone else might though. I think… Continue reading Counselors in the Church
Spiritual Abuse: Memories and Flashbacks
*** *** I want to touch on a controversial subject. What comes to mind when I mention the words: counselors or mental health? Many at BGBC don't want to touch that subject. Mental health professionals were talked down as if they were evil and would brainwash you. Even Biblical Christian counseling was not… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Memories and Flashbacks
Note to Chuck O’Neal from Former Church Member
XXX This post was found in the comment section from Anonymous. How can one not feel the pain in this note? Chuck, Why don't you love people? 1 John says if you say you love God but don't love people you are lying and the Truth isn't in you. Don't you know you have… Continue reading Note to Chuck O’Neal from Former Church Member
Chuck O’Neal’s Original Complaints Against Julie Anne
*** Some may be interested in seeing what Chuck O'Neal calls "defamation" in his lawsuit against me and 4 others. Although the filed complaint is public, I took screen shots and blocked out my last name and left out the other defendants. These are the original complaints that were filed against me. Try to click… Continue reading Chuck O’Neal’s Original Complaints Against Julie Anne
Dare to Leave: One Family’s Tragic Account
* * * A couple of the earliest posts on this blog discussed how difficult it is to leave the church well. Meaning, it is nearly impossible to leave the church and remain in the local area without repercussions (church discipline, shunning, etc). Here are the links to those early posts: Leaving… Continue reading Dare to Leave: One Family’s Tragic Account
More Damage Control on BGBC Website?
* * * People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Proverbs 16:2 * * * I have been notified of even more updates at the Beaverton Grace Bible Church website which "coincidentally" occurred less than 2 days after the… Continue reading More Damage Control on BGBC Website?
Lawsuit Update: New Information!!
*** Earlier, I was notified that Chuck O'Neal/Beaverton Grace Bible Church amended the lawsuit on Friday. He added one more person to the lawsuit, so in total five people are being sued. Additionally, in his suit against me, he added a handful of quotes from my blog as "defamation". I would like to remind my… Continue reading Lawsuit Update: New Information!!
Damage Control – How Do I Look?
* * * I love the interaction on this blog in the comment section. There are some very insightful people reading this blog and time and again, they help steer the direction of the blog posts as it stirs something in my mind. (Hint: if you want me to cover a… Continue reading Damage Control – How Do I Look?
Manipulating Reviews Yet Again
* * * Look how fast the BGBC elves went to work. It was brought to my attention that a new review up at the DexKnows review site, but it was shoved down so far that you have to click on "See All Reviews" in order to see it. They appear… Continue reading Manipulating Reviews Yet Again
Evangelize When it Looks Good
Beaverton Grace Bible Church is a church with a very strong emphasis on evangelism. It is one of the primary reasons why my husband wanted to start attending. We had evangelism classes for two hours each Sunday at "Grace Bible Institute". Groups of people went out evangelizing on Friday nights to malls, canvassing neighborhoods, Portland… Continue reading Evangelize When it Looks Good
Guest Poster: The Whole Bible . . . really?
** I've copied two excellent comments from Friday's post here. Looking at the posting time, it's likely they are from the same anonymous commenter. My comments are in blue. Thank you, Anonymous, this is good stuff! Beaverton Grace Bible Church Motto: Our Motto is the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible! (Isa.… Continue reading Guest Poster: The Whole Bible . . . really?
For Real?
** I try to live life as normal - do the homeschool mom thing, volunteer daily at the high school as accompanist and "choir mom", laundry, cooking, connect with my FB buddies, taxi mom - you know the busy mom gig. Every once in a while, I get this flash in my mind: you… Continue reading For Real?
Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here, Part 4
** This post will wrap up the Korah series. Earlier, I highlighted some "Korah" comments in the comment section. The commenter identified as "Korah" and I made light of the Korah reference. I want to give a little background to that situation. I know who "Korah" is and know what this particular family experienced. When… Continue reading Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here, Part 4
Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 3
** We are currently in Part 3 of the Korah theme. In Part 1 we discussed pastoral authority and how the Korah scripture was used to exert the pastor's "imagined" authority over people. Part 2, the issue of "do not question authority" was discussed. In Part 3, we will continue to discuss the pattern… Continue reading Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 3
Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 2
** This is Part 2 of the Korah series. In Part 1 we discussed pastoral authority and how the Korah scripture was used to exert imagined pastoral authority over people. Another pattern I saw when the Korah scripture was used (or abused) is: what happens when congregants ask questions. We've touched on this subject… Continue reading Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 2
Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here? Part 1
** One recurring theme that continued to resurface in our time at BGBC was the "sin of Korah". I've heard this used a number of times when congregants asked questions or shared concerns with the pastor. It was brought up again recently in communication with someone privately and also in the blog’s comment section. It’s… Continue reading Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here? Part 1
Spiritual Sounding Board 