* * * Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:3-4 I'm going to do something a little different here today, but I believe God laid this on my heart, so I… Continue reading Marriage, Children, Anniversaries, . . . and a Pedophile
John Piper: God puts obstacles in our path to make our way more difficult
*** What are your thoughts on this? https://twitter.com/desiringGod/status/707962975747858433
SSB Gathering – March 6, 2016
Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format. *** Luke 7: 1-17 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and… Continue reading SSB Gathering – March 6, 2016
Tullian Tchividjian is Back, Fully Endorsed by His Pastor, Kevin Labby
Tullian Tchividjian, Pastor Kevin Labby, Liberate Network, Repentance, Clergy Sex Abuse, Restoration *** The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should… Continue reading Tullian Tchividjian is Back, Fully Endorsed by His Pastor, Kevin Labby
RICO Lawsuit Filed Against Former Mars Hill Church Leaders and Alleged Co-Conspirators
A guest post by Brad Sargent, aka brad/futuristguy. Earlier today, Warren Throckmorton posted RICO Lawsuit Filed Against Former Leaders of Mars Hill Church. You can find a PDF of the 42-page complaint at this link. Filed by Brian and Connie Jacobsen, and Ryan and Arica Kildea, it names Mark Driscoll and John Sutton Turner, along… Continue reading RICO Lawsuit Filed Against Former Mars Hill Church Leaders and Alleged Co-Conspirators
SSB Gathering – February 28, 2016
Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format. *** Before you read today, please know that my goal for Sundays is to go through the book of Luke and then follow up with a justice/mercy/love themed verse. This week's verses may be difficult to read, especially for those who… Continue reading SSB Gathering – February 28, 2016
JA has put herself in blog time-out
So, yesterday I read a tweet that left me reeling. It made it difficult to concentrate on my school work, and got me thinking and emoting quite a bit. I've tried numerous times to put up a blog post today and yesterday and realize that I just need to let my emotions simmer… Continue reading JA has put herself in blog time-out
Troubling Tweets: Biblical Counseling to Treat Schizophrenia, Bulimia, Depression, ADHD?
Mental Health, Biblical Counseling, Geoffrey Kirkland, Addictions, Schizophrenia, Bi-Polar, Bulimia, ADHD This evening, I tweeted the following: https://twitter.com/DefendTheSheep/status/702398385924546560 After seeing this tweet: https://twitter.com/GeoffKirkland/status/701831415583928323 Who is Geoffrey Kirkland? From Geoffrey Kirkland's bio: Geoff grew up in St. Louis and then moved to LA to go to the Master's College. God saved Geoff in 2001. Geoff… Continue reading Troubling Tweets: Biblical Counseling to Treat Schizophrenia, Bulimia, Depression, ADHD?
Spiritual Sounding Board: The Legacy That a Defamation Lawsuit Left to the Survivor Community
A guest post by brad/futuristguy. Today marks the four-year anniversary of what turned into a five-plus-month lawsuit by Charles O’Neal and Beaverton Grace Bible Church (BGBC) against Julie Anne Smith and four other defendants. He alleged defamation (in part because Julie Anne posted negative online reviews of him and his church), he wanted a jury… Continue reading Spiritual Sounding Board: The Legacy That a Defamation Lawsuit Left to the Survivor Community
SSB Gathering – February 21, 2016
Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format. *** Luke 6: 17-36 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre… Continue reading SSB Gathering – February 21, 2016
Second Amended Complaint Filed in Bill Gothard & IBLP Sex Abuse Lawsuit: 18 Victims in Lawsuit
Bill Gothard, Lawsuit, IBLP, Institute in Basic Life Principles, David C. Gibbs III, Sex Abuse, Sexual Grooming, ALERT Yesterday, I received the following summary from the office of Attorney David Gibbs III. While it would have been easy to pull only specific highlights, the reality is that for each individual named, either by… Continue reading Second Amended Complaint Filed in Bill Gothard & IBLP Sex Abuse Lawsuit: 18 Victims in Lawsuit
Saeed Abedini and Franklin Graham Promote “Couples Counseling” to Reconcile the Abedinis. Because of Saeed’s Abuse, is This Counterproductive?
Experts on the dynamics of abuse strongly recommend separate, individual counseling for abuser and victim, not couples counseling. If abusers refuse to work through individual counseling on their personal issues, that creates a stumbling block to relational reconciliation. This blog post was written by Julie Anne Smith, with contributions by Brad Sargent. The post was… Continue reading Saeed Abedini and Franklin Graham Promote “Couples Counseling” to Reconcile the Abedinis. Because of Saeed’s Abuse, is This Counterproductive?
SSB Gathering – February 14, 2016
Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format. *** Luke 6: 1-16 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what… Continue reading SSB Gathering – February 14, 2016
Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Has 11 Men and 0 Women on Their Pulpit Search Committee to Find a New Pastor
Pastor Search Committees, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Women in Church, Pulpit Committee In June of 2015, Pastor Tullian Tchividjian resigned as senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church after publicly acknowledging that he had an affair. A pastoral search committe was formed: In September 2015, the congregation elected a Pastor Search Committee consisting… Continue reading Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Has 11 Men and 0 Women on Their Pulpit Search Committee to Find a New Pastor
Domestic Violence is NOT a Marriage Issue, but an Abuse Issue
Domestic Violence, Naghmeh and Saeed Abedini, Divorce, Marriage, Abuse, Church Response to Abuse Earlier today, I participated in a discussion at  SharperIron.org. The discussion is about Saeed and Naghmeh Abedini and domestic violence. A commenter, dmyers, is having trouble with Naghmeh's earlier statements, challenging her claims of abuse, etc. I have an assignment due in… Continue reading Domestic Violence is NOT a Marriage Issue, but an Abuse Issue
SSB Gathering – February 7, 2016
Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.  by Kathi *** Luke 5: 17-38 One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was… Continue reading SSB Gathering – February 7, 2016
Troubling Tweet: The Gospel Coalition Promotes Unbiblical “Gender Role” Teachings
The Gospel Coalition (TGC), Kathy Keller, Domestic Violence, Complementarian, Marriage, Headship So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members… Continue reading Troubling Tweet: The Gospel Coalition Promotes Unbiblical “Gender Role” Teachings
Vetting, Accountability, Licensing, and Promoting for Pastor Saeed Abedini: Exploring What Went Wrong and How
The Qualifications Case of Pastor Saeed Abedini, and the Roles of Pastor Bob Caldwell, Franklin Graham, Jay Sekulow, and the American Evangelistic Association The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.  Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,… Continue reading Vetting, Accountability, Licensing, and Promoting for Pastor Saeed Abedini: Exploring What Went Wrong and How
SSB Gathering – January 31, 2016
Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.  by Kathi *** Luke 5: 1-15 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by… Continue reading SSB Gathering – January 31, 2016
Pastor Saeed Abedini Releases a Public Statement Denying Abuse Allegations Against His Wife
Pastor Saeed Abedini,Nagmeh, Domestic Violence, Public Statement Idaho Statesman has issued a public statement by Saeed Abedini as follows: Two weeks ago today I was released from an Iranian prison after being held captive for three-and-a-half years. My crime? Being a Christian and refusing to renounce my faith in Jesus Christ. Throughout my imprisonment… Continue reading Pastor Saeed Abedini Releases a Public Statement Denying Abuse Allegations Against His Wife
Spiritual Sounding Board 