I don't usually do this, but this article is just beautiful and . . . radical. It comes from Wade Burleson who pastors Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, Oklahoma. You can hear his sermons each week at EChurch at the The Wartburg Watch blog. Thankful for Giving at Thanksgiving Emmanuel Enid receives offerings in our four… Continue reading The Offering Plate
C.J. Mahaney’s Philosophy on Friends: Don’t Bite the Hand that Feeds You
"For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring… Continue reading C.J. Mahaney’s Philosophy on Friends: Don’t Bite the Hand that Feeds You
Detailing Events and Discerning the Times: Part Two
Detailing Events and Discerning the Times: Part Two © Brad Sargent (brad/futuristguy), November 2012 5. Individual and Crowd-Sourced Snapshots for a Viable Video In Part One, I explained why I felt it was worth spending a day analyzing a Covenant Life Church (CLC) Members Meeting, despite my being an outsider to… Continue reading Detailing Events and Discerning the Times: Part Two
Detailing Events and Discerning the Times: Part One
Detailing Events and Discerning the Times: Part One © Brad Sargent (brad/futuristguy), November 2012 After I wrote my analysis piece on Sovereign Grace Ministries in the previous post, I was asked two questions and invited to share more detail on: Why evaluating a Members Meeting that happened at Covenant Life Church (CLC) over a year… Continue reading Detailing Events and Discerning the Times: Part One
Creflo Dollar Says I’m Bringing A Curse on Myself for Exposing Pastors
What do you think? I don't know a whole lot about Creflo Dollar, but I've heard similar teachings. Am I cursed for exposing "appointed leaders?" This video clip is less than 3 minutes long. I'm not sure I will be able to sleep tonight. I'm so scared, Brother Creflo! Transcribed from the video:We got… Continue reading Creflo Dollar Says I’m Bringing A Curse on Myself for Exposing Pastors
Spiritual Abuse: How to Deal with Stumbling Blocks on our Journey
We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. James 5:11So . . . . . . . . … Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: How to Deal with Stumbling Blocks on our Journey
Sovereign Grace Ministries Updated Statement on Lawsuit – Nov. 14, 2012
Sovereign Grace Ministries released yet another new press release today, November 14, 2012, regarding the civil lawsuit filed against Sovereign Grace Ministries. This is their third response. When we dig below the surface of the words, we can see their heart of their agenda. What is the purpose of a press release? It is to… Continue reading Sovereign Grace Ministries Updated Statement on Lawsuit – Nov. 14, 2012
A Word of Encouragement to Abuse Victims Who Use Civil Litigation
My heart really goes out to victims and their families in abuse cases (domestic violence, child abuse, and sex abuse) and I have a huge amount of respect for those who, when realizing that the problem is much bigger than their own personal situation, risk so much by taking it to a new level by… Continue reading A Word of Encouragement to Abuse Victims Who Use Civil Litigation
Sovereign Grace Ministries: Analysis of CLC Members Meeting
Analysis of CLC Members Meeting of August 17, 2011INTRODUCTIONThe following analysis was produced by Brad Sargent. He is more known by his online handle of “brad/futuristguy,” and he often writes about recovery from spiritual abuse and how to prevent toxic organizations. For this article, Brad used a transcript of the Covenant Life Church (CLC) members’ meeting of August… Continue reading Sovereign Grace Ministries: Analysis of CLC Members Meeting
Calvary Chapel Visalia Pastor Bob Grenier is Helping Which Victims?
"It's hard on your soul to see the pain and the destruction," said Pastor Bob Grenier of Calvary Chapel in Visalia. This is another one of those things that make you go "hmmmmm." Remember Pastor Bob Grenier of Calvary Chapel Visalia? Pastor Bob Grenier and his wife, Gayle, are suing their own son and a former… Continue reading Calvary Chapel Visalia Pastor Bob Grenier is Helping Which Victims?
Post-Election Rant and Sanctity of Marriage
I have more follow-up on patriarchal lifestyle and fathers who own their daughter's heart, but need to take a quick diversion because my brain won't let go of this.I'm in a foul mood - and maybe a fowl mood, too - as I'm looking at my kitty toss up a dead bird and play with… Continue reading Post-Election Rant and Sanctity of Marriage
Fathers and Daughters: Who Owns a Daughter’s Heart?
“Daughters aren’t to be independent. They’re not to act outside the scope of their father. As long as they’re under the authority of their fathers, fathers have the ability to nullify or not the oaths and the vows. Daughters can’t just go out independently and say, ‘I’m going to marry whoever I want.’ No.… Continue reading Fathers and Daughters: Who Owns a Daughter’s Heart?
Church Lingo? Do They Have Their Own Language?
When I lived on the East coast and in the South and after some confusion, I figured out that barbecue was not a verb, but a noun. I lived in California and Oregon as a child and in those states, we barbecued "cooked" steaks, chicken, hamburger, hot dogs, etc, on the barbecue. I can hear… Continue reading Church Lingo? Do They Have Their Own Language?
Pastors Who Fail to Report Abuse: Conspiracy of Silence
“This was not a mistake, this was not an oversight,” Kelly said at a press conference Thursday afternoon. “This was a conspiracy of silence by top officials.” As much as the Penn State grieves my heart because of so many victims and the pain that they endured, I believe this case is going to be… Continue reading Pastors Who Fail to Report Abuse: Conspiracy of Silence
Christians: Happy Halloween or Not?
Pumpkins carved by my two youngest boysLast night I sent Hannah (my eldest daughter, age 25) this text:Your 3 youngest siblings are trick-or-treating. Don't faint.Within seconds, my phone rang and I answered it.Hannah responded, "Who has my mother's phone and where is she?"Many Christians believe that making the day a harvest day or calling it… Continue reading Christians: Happy Halloween or Not?
Rant: When Do Church Pastors/Leaders Call Civil Authorities?
*** Blogger Alex Grenier of Calvary Chapel Abuse published an article about former NBA player and Calvary Chapel member, Nick VanderLaan. I have highlighted important points below. Take a look at the whole article here. *** http://ephesians511blog.blogspot.com/2012/10/calvary-chapel-arrested-member-warning.html *** Former NBA player Nick VanderLaan, a recent money-giving member of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, tells his… Continue reading Rant: When Do Church Pastors/Leaders Call Civil Authorities?
Narcissistic Pastors
This is a scarf I was knitting while attending BGBC and with the ladies of my knitting group.I think one of the fascinating things about spiritually abusive environments is that abusers are so masterful, sometimes they don't even need to use words to induce guilt in their people. Our family had attended a church for… Continue reading Narcissistic Pastors
Are Christian Leaders Condoning Islam’s Rules for Wife Beating??
** A reader sent this to me and I found it very shocking that some of our modern-day celebrity pastors seem to condone behavior that Mohammed endorsed - the beating of wives. Here is what my reader had to say: Pastor Ken Garrett is absolutely right when he says: "Our churches will never be safe places… Continue reading Are Christian Leaders Condoning Islam’s Rules for Wife Beating??
Let’s Discuss the Sovereign Grace Ministries’ Press Release
I am posting the newest press release by Sovereign Grace Ministries about their lawsuit below, but first is a personal note to the SGM survivors and their families: After reading the SGM press release, I was angry. I feel really bad for you to have to read this press release. Please do NOT take those words… Continue reading Let’s Discuss the Sovereign Grace Ministries’ Press Release
Domestic Violence: Do Pastors Know Best?
The issue of domestic violence in the church is disturbing. How are churches handling these cases? In this post, we discussed domestic violence within some Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM) churches. As most of you are probably aware, SGM is in the midst of a lawsuit filed by 3 families whose children were sexually abused and… Continue reading Domestic Violence: Do Pastors Know Best?
Spiritual Sounding Board 