** Two years of blogging, two years of growth, hope for those hurt by church abuse ** ** In Joel, God talks about restoring what the locusts had eaten. Today marks exactly two years since I began blogging. As I reflect on the 2-year anniversary date of my initial blog and begin my 3rd year of… Continue reading Restoring What the Locust Has Eaten: Two Years of Blogging Milestone Today and Gratefulness
Kevin Swanson Defends Bill Gothard’s Sexual Harassment Charges While Publicly Trash Talks Blogs
* * * Kevin Swanson defends his friend, Bill Gothard against accusations of sexual harassment, while accusing Spiritual Sounding Board and Patheos.com blogs of dancing on the grave of Christian fundamentalism and Biblical Christianity. * * * Last week, I was notified by a Twitter friend/follower that… Continue reading Kevin Swanson Defends Bill Gothard’s Sexual Harassment Charges While Publicly Trash Talks Blogs
Who Will Take Care of Your Beloved Pets after the Rapture?
*** Who Will Take Care of Your Beloved Pets after the Rapture? *** I'm sure this has been a great concern to my readers, so having you, my dear friends in mind, I am passing along this helpful information. ~ja Here is a brief excerpt from After the Rapture Pet Care, the great folks who… Continue reading Who Will Take Care of Your Beloved Pets after the Rapture?
Learn to Discern: Response to the Doug Phillips Sex Abuse Scandal
* * * Learn to discern - taking a closer look at a response to the Doug Phillips sex abuse scandal * * * Not long ago, I found a comment on a public Facebook page by a man named Paul Dorr. He was responding to a… Continue reading Learn to Discern: Response to the Doug Phillips Sex Abuse Scandal
When we are spiritually abused, are we partly responsible?
*** Quick note: Last weekend, I went to the Oregon Coast to a ladies retreat. Knitting is my constant companion at retreats - - especially in case the speaker disappoints. However, I did not get one stitch of knitting done. The message was very good, convicting, refreshing, and motivating. And you cannot put a price… Continue reading When we are spiritually abused, are we partly responsible?
Church Leaders and the Church: Responding to Christians Who Are Divorced
*** Many times the church has not been a safe place for Christians who are divorced. They have been marginalized, judged negatively, ignored, and not cared for by church leaders and the church. *** *** This is probably not the kind of blog post you'd expect on Valentine's Day, but for many, Valentines Day is… Continue reading Church Leaders and the Church: Responding to Christians Who Are Divorced
Guest Post: Why I Love My Church
*** It's difficult to find a safe and healthy church "system" with appropriate checks and balances. Lisa of Lisa's Leben shares what has worked well in her church and why she loves her church. *** *** Lisa has been blogging for about a month now and writes at Lisa's Leben. After getting tagged on the… Continue reading Guest Post: Why I Love My Church
Article Uses Olympics Pairs Figure Skating to Promote Roles of Husband and Wife in Complementarianism
* *** An article at John Piper's Desiring God website promotes "Biblical" roles of husbands and wives in complementarianism, using Olympic pairs figure skating as an example of how the roles work together. *** * *** Over at the Desiring God website, there is a new article, An Olympic Lesson for Husbands and Wives, by… Continue reading Article Uses Olympics Pairs Figure Skating to Promote Roles of Husband and Wife in Complementarianism
A Revised 23rd Psalm: From the Eyes of Someone Harmed by a Church Shepherd
*** What does an abusive shepherd or pastor look like? How does it feel? A spiritual abuse survivor shows us using the format of the 23rd Psalm. *** *** Today I was given permission to share very personal prose. While the words of Psalm 23 and the Good Shepherd are normally very comforting, in this… Continue reading A Revised 23rd Psalm: From the Eyes of Someone Harmed by a Church Shepherd
Women in the Church: What Does the Bible Really Say?
*** What does the Bible say about women in the church? Are wives inferior to men, to be controlled and ruled over by men? Does the Bible say women cannot lead or teach? Can they teach men? *** Yesterday, I was reading an old article from Doug Wilson in which he mentioned this: The Bible… Continue reading Women in the Church: What Does the Bible Really Say?
Ham vs Nye Creation Debate and What Does a Good Gospel Presentation Look Like?
** The gospel, and the many ways and opportunities in which it is presented: Creation debates, evangelism, street preaching, etc. ** Watching social media discuss the Ken Ham vs Bill Nye creation debate, a word kept coming popping up all over the place: the gospel. Let's first look at its use within the widely publicized… Continue reading Ham vs Nye Creation Debate and What Does a Good Gospel Presentation Look Like?
Godly sex is not for enjoyment, but for having children! Orgasms are demonic? What’s next in Christiandom?
*** Christiandom seems to be making a mess out of something beautiful God intended for married couples to enjoy. Sex is only for procreation? Orgasms are demonic? *** There's a whole book in the Bible that seems to describe a mutually pleasurable experience of sex between husband and wife: ** As the apple tree among… Continue reading Godly sex is not for enjoyment, but for having children! Orgasms are demonic? What’s next in Christiandom?
How do you warn someone about a dangerous spiritual group? What if that person is your spouse?
*** How do you warn someone about a dangerous or spiritually abusive leader or group? What if that someone is your spouse? *** Commenter, TIA, responded to my comment with a couple of key questions that were left unanswered. I think would be helpful to discuss these important questions, especially in light of the second… Continue reading How do you warn someone about a dangerous spiritual group? What if that person is your spouse?
Christian Patriarchy is Alive and Well: NCFIC Director Scott Brown Moves into Position to Fill the Void Left by Doug Phillips/Vision Forum
** Scott Brown of NCFIC is posed to fill the void left by Doug Phillips and Vision Forum to further the Christian Patriarchy Movement among homeschool families and family-integrated churches by promoting Reconstructionist and Patriarchal agendas. ** Source** With the demise of Vision Forum Ministries and the vacancy left by Doug Phillips after the public… Continue reading Christian Patriarchy is Alive and Well: NCFIC Director Scott Brown Moves into Position to Fill the Void Left by Doug Phillips/Vision Forum
Street Preacher Tony Miano’s “Humble” Apology Sent to the Masses
*** Street preacher Tony Miano's sent out a mass apology regarding his bad behavior and rhetoric towards Pastor David Robertson of Scotland. *** I need to share with you a followup to this article I posted earlier: “Persecuted” Street Preachers: Pastor Josh Williamson, Tony Miano, Chuck O’Neal and Humility. I had not been aware that Miano… Continue reading Street Preacher Tony Miano’s “Humble” Apology Sent to the Masses
Patterns of Abuse: What we can learn from the death and suicide letter of GOP Senate Aide, Jesse Loskarn?
*** Patterns of Abuse: What we can learn from the death and suicide letter of GOP Senate Aide, Jesse Loskarn? *** Jesse Loskarn, 35, was chief of staff to GOP's Senator Lamar Alexander from Tennessee. In mid-December 2013, Loskarn was arrested for possession and distribution of child porn. Officials found child porn on Loskarn's hard… Continue reading Patterns of Abuse: What we can learn from the death and suicide letter of GOP Senate Aide, Jesse Loskarn?
Oscar’s Governor Board Strikes Faith-Based “Alone Yet Not Alone” Oscar Nomination
** The Oscar's governor's board has voted to rescind the nomination of faith-based film, "Alone Yet Not Alone" from the best original song list due to an unfair advantage by Bruce Broughton. The song by the same title was sung by Joni Eareckson Tada. ** ** The Hollywood Reporter has a breaking story regarding the… Continue reading Oscar’s Governor Board Strikes Faith-Based “Alone Yet Not Alone” Oscar Nomination
TW Eston, Co-Blogger at Jen’s Gems blog is a Rushdoony Fan and a Kinist?
* * * TW Eston blogs with Jen at Jen's Gems blog who has been exposing Doug Phillips of Vision Forum. It's been pretty obvious that he is a fan of Rushdoony, but he's also Kinist? * * * This is going to be a quickie because… Continue reading TW Eston, Co-Blogger at Jen’s Gems blog is a Rushdoony Fan and a Kinist?
“Persecuted” Street Preachers: Pastor Josh Williamson, Tony Miano, Chuck O’Neal and Humility
*** Discussing the so-called "persecution" among street preachers Tony Miano, Josh Williamson, Chuck O'Neal and their appalling behavior when challenged or questioned, also perhaps a kinder and gentler Josh Williamson. *** Have you heard of Pastor David Robertson of Scotland? Pastor David Robertson describes himself as a: "Bible believing/teaching/evangelising pastor in this wonderful city of… Continue reading “Persecuted” Street Preachers: Pastor Josh Williamson, Tony Miano, Chuck O’Neal and Humility
Christian Patriarchy Movement Pressures Stay-at-Home Daughters to Choose Whom She Will Serve First: Daddy or God
* * * Who is benefiting by keeping grown adult daughters at home and single? A look at Christian Patriarchy espoused by Doug Phillips; Steve and Teri Maxwell and their daughter, Sarah; and Geoffrey and Victoria Botkin and their daughters, Anna Sofia and Elizabeth. * * *… Continue reading Christian Patriarchy Movement Pressures Stay-at-Home Daughters to Choose Whom She Will Serve First: Daddy or God
Spiritual Sounding Board 