* * * “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matt. 5:3-4 Today I stumbled across a disturbing article at One Lost Child blog. Blogger Cathy raises concerns regarding the care women will receive at… Continue reading Biblical Counseling: Is it Always Safe? – And Pastoral Response to Abuse Survivor
ESV Gospel Transformation Bible: Complementarian Conflict of Colossal Proportions
* * * Oh boy. I did not know this. There is a new ESV Bible by Crossway to be released later this month: Gospel Transformation Bible. Look at this quote: A team of over 50 pastors and scholars contributed to the Gospel Transformation Bible notes and book introductions. In… Continue reading ESV Gospel Transformation Bible: Complementarian Conflict of Colossal Proportions
Moved by Compassion: The Story of Cherith
* * * The following is a guest post by my long-time friend, Maryl Smith. In Maryl's work, she has the opportunity to get acquainted with people in a more personal setting. She is very sensitive and a big support to people who have endured all kinds of abuse, including spiritual… Continue reading Moved by Compassion: The Story of Cherith
Announcement: New Spiritual Sounding Board Forum
* * * Announcing New Private Spiritual Abuse Forum Blogging is great for introducing a variety of topics, but sometimes it's awkward to break the conversation to share a personal need or concern. Over the past year, there have been times when I have wished there was a private place to… Continue reading Announcement: New Spiritual Sounding Board Forum
Pastor Chuck O’Neal Tries to Save His Reputation by Using Twitter and His BFFs
* * * I don't have time to put together a "real" post today, so this is just off the top of my head. I'll come back in later and add links and add a picture later, I'm in a hurry. The Twitter battle has been raging with Chuck O'Neal upon… Continue reading Pastor Chuck O’Neal Tries to Save His Reputation by Using Twitter and His BFFs
Tony Miano: Tweeting from the Heart
* * * I'm in the middle of working on an article about street evangelist Tony Miano and the recent evangelism conference sponsored by my former pastor, but just ran across this tweet and decided to post it for a quickie Sunday evening post. Tony, Tony, Tony!! SMH! * … Continue reading Tony Miano: Tweeting from the Heart
Why Does Calvin’s God Feel Abusive to Me? I Didn’t Choose This!
* * * The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:6 I have never, ever connected so deeply with someone else's spiritual experience as I have recently with reader, Oasis. The tears . . . . oh, the tears. This deep, gut-wrenching, sobbing pain is… Continue reading Why Does Calvin’s God Feel Abusive to Me? I Didn’t Choose This!
It’s Calvinism Free-For-All: Off the Top of Your Head, Part 1
* * * ADMIN NOTE: The comments are closed on this thread and a new one has opened here: It's Calvinism Free-For-All: Off the Top of Your Head, Part 2 The other record-breaking thread is getting really long with comments and so I thought it might be good to let Brian's… Continue reading It’s Calvinism Free-For-All: Off the Top of Your Head, Part 1
Does Your Pastor Serve as Your Holy Spirit?
* * * * * * You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you,… Continue reading Does Your Pastor Serve as Your Holy Spirit?
Beaverton Grace Bible Church’s Pastor Chuck O’Neal: Your Past Will Find You
* * * Today, Willamette Week, a Portland news outlet, published their third recent article on Pastor Chuck O'Neal, my former pastor who sued me and four others for $500,000. The first article dealt with his protesting at a local abortion clinic and how civic leaders were looking into whether any… Continue reading Beaverton Grace Bible Church’s Pastor Chuck O’Neal: Your Past Will Find You
BeenThereDoneThat and Flying Free: Spiritual Abuse, A Personal Story
* * * This story is a special one to me. Regular reader, "BeenThereDoneThat" (BTDT) has been commenting on this blog since the first weeks here. During that time, I have watched her in her commenting as she has been recovering through a very difficult spiritually abusive church experience. I had… Continue reading BeenThereDoneThat and Flying Free: Spiritual Abuse, A Personal Story
Guest Post: A Call for Reasoned Discernment Before Judgment Is Made Upon Others
* * * Ok, you really have to hear the background of this next post. The other day I was tweeting with a guy whose Twitter handle is @fivesolasguy, (Brian Thornton.) He responded to a couple of tweets of mine and I have to be honest with you, his words felt… Continue reading Guest Post: A Call for Reasoned Discernment Before Judgment Is Made Upon Others
As the Sovereign Grace Ministries World Turns
* * * Earlier this week, I mentioned a conversation I had at SharperIron.org regarding Albert Mohler and an article he wrote. The conversation diverted to C.J. Mahaney and his connection with Mark Dever (founder of 9Marks). Here is my comment challenging Dever's involvement with Mahaney when Mahaney took his leave of… Continue reading As the Sovereign Grace Ministries World Turns
Protests at Abortion Clinics: Does it work? Is there another alternative?
* * * Earlier, I shared with you the goings on of Chuck O'Neal, and his church Beaverton Grace Bible Church (BGBC) regarding his method of "evangelizing" at the abortion clinic, Lovejoy Surgicenter in Portland, Oregon (The Legal Rights of Christians vs Mercy and Love of Christ). I had a bit of… Continue reading Protests at Abortion Clinics: Does it work? Is there another alternative?
9Marks, Spiritual Abuse, and How Church Members Can Fall Through the Cracks
* * * Yesterday, I shared the a comment that I had posted on SharperIron.org forum. From my limited times there, I gather there are quite a few pastors. We were discussing 9Marks practices. Chip asked me to elaborate after reading my comment: I’ve read some of the 9Marks writings and some… Continue reading 9Marks, Spiritual Abuse, and How Church Members Can Fall Through the Cracks
9Marks: Church Authority over Church Members
* * * Over the weekend, I was reading at Sharperiron.org and commenting on a thread that went on a rabbit trail about 9Marks. My comment got long-winded and I thought it might be good to discuss it here as I've never brought up 9Marks before and my concerns with this… Continue reading 9Marks: Church Authority over Church Members
Learn to Discern: A Pastor’s Response to a Young Man’s Question about His Sexual Past
* * * One of the primary purposes of this blog is to discuss spiritual abuse and to learn and be aware of patterns that can lead to abuse. Some people who stop by here are at various stages of discovery and recovery. I recently read this article from the Gospel… Continue reading Learn to Discern: A Pastor’s Response to a Young Man’s Question about His Sexual Past
The Legal Rights of Christians vs Mercy and Love of Christ
* * * Personal disclaimer: I was alerted to two local news articles this morning and struggled with whether or not I should share them with you because of the personal connections as you will soon see. After conferring with others and checking my heart, I am going to share them.… Continue reading The Legal Rights of Christians vs Mercy and Love of Christ
Where’s the Integrity? Mohler, Burk on Abuse
* * * When the facts became known, the firings of both Paterno and Spanier were inevitable and necessary. Both men had credible knowledge that young boys were being sexually abused, and neither did anything effective to stop it. Most crucially, neither man did what they should have done within… Continue reading Where’s the Integrity? Mohler, Burk on Abuse
Smashing Patriarchy and Their Twisted Translations of the Bible
* * * This blog post is going to require some active participation. The other day, some blogger friends and I were e-mailing back and forth on the topic of Patriarchy. I jokingly said I wondered if there was a Patriarchal version of the Bible that we weren't aware of.… Continue reading Smashing Patriarchy and Their Twisted Translations of the Bible
Spiritual Sounding Board 