One of my readers sent me a couple pictures of her former church she labeled as abusive. Here is the church as it used to be.View from frontStrong winds recently came through the area, knocking the steeple over. A number of former members have been discussing this "act of God": God may be trying… Continue reading Here’s the church, here’s the steeple . . .
Can Spiritual Abuse Destroy a Marriage? Paul’s Story
* * * From time to time, I will be posting select personal spiritual abuse stories here. There are a number of reasons to post stories of abuse. We can learn from them to try to prevent it from happening again. We can offer support. Looking at someone's story might identify… Continue reading Can Spiritual Abuse Destroy a Marriage? Paul’s Story
Response to Apology – Trolls and Spiritual Abuse
Last week, Fred Butler issued a public apology to the Smith Family on his own blog per my husband's request. Comments on the post were closed, so I have copied Steve's words here (and sent Fred an e-mail):Fred, Concerning what you wrote about Hannah - your apology is accepted and I forgive you. Thank you for… Continue reading Response to Apology – Trolls and Spiritual Abuse
Wolf Alert!!
It's been a bit heavy here. We need a diversion. Yes, let's talk about wolves - the animal kind. Thanks you, monax, for posting this story in the comments:For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Acts 20:29 Swiss sheep to be outfitted to cry… Continue reading Wolf Alert!!
A Personal Note From Hannah’s Father to Fred
Thank you Fred for the apology - here. However the error has not yet been run to ground.Now would you kindly follow through with that same stream of humility and post a sincere retraction apology on your own Hip and Thigh blog where the error took root? It grieves the church to perceive GCC leaders… Continue reading A Personal Note From Hannah’s Father to Fred
The World is Watching Us
*** One of the key signs of a healthy person and a healthy church is looking at the fruit they exhibit. What kind of love do they show? How do they model Christ to the world? The world is watching and judging. I read some words yesterday that were shocking to me on many levels.… Continue reading The World is Watching Us
Hannah’s Personal Story in Her Own Words
Readers: I've had this post in my "draft posts" for quite some time, but the time to post it is now and I will explain more about that very soon. You'll see why it is important to hear from her own words. I shared my perspective of Hannah's story in the most popular blog post,… Continue reading Hannah’s Personal Story in Her Own Words
More Monkey Business and New Review by Former Member
I was reading an online article which gave the link to the Google reviews and clicked on the link. Seems Ed Chapman has gotten a taste of what it is like to leave a review for the church. Current church member, Lori Nodurft obviously revised her positive review to keep it at the top of… Continue reading More Monkey Business and New Review by Former Member
Discovery Process – The Jigsaw Puzzle
Our brains are fascinating. Without fail, every single time I listen to this song below, I am taken back to a specific time in my life. It was 1987 and my husband was at Officer Candidate School with the Navy in Newport, Rhode Island. We were separated for four months while he went to this… Continue reading Discovery Process – The Jigsaw Puzzle
Three Women Celebrate
Ok, I'm sufficiently rested from camp and have caught up on my e-mail/blog/news. I'm in the mood to celebrate.Disclaimer: Beyond this point you may encounter heathen pop music. Read/listen at your own risk. Do you know what's worse than a maliciously sued woman? A group of maliciously sued women partying!I've been having fun reading news… Continue reading Three Women Celebrate
The News and My Thoughts
As many of you know, I have been at a Christian high school summer camp as a counselor since Sunday. We had been expecting the results any day, so I had my smartphone which is really pretty much useless when you are in a remote area. There's one spot out by the flagpole where I… Continue reading The News and My Thoughts
Judge’s Decision
I just got off the phone with my attorney, Linda Williams. WE WON!!! Every single claim of defamation was dismissed, Hannah's, Meaghan's, and mine - even the one about the sex offender that seemed to be a sticky point with the media. I'm having a hard time typing this and don't even know if I'm… Continue reading Judge’s Decision
Christian Summer Camps
This has to be quick. So at camp today, I was talking to a counselor who just got back from a month-long camp where she was a counselor. She had a disappointing experience for a number of reasons. The primary disappointment was that she thought the staff focused more on numbers for the wrong reason.… Continue reading Christian Summer Camps
I’d Love to Know
I'm at camp now and typing this Sunday morning. The counselors will eat breakfast soon, have a Communion service and then we will have training for the counselors. Campers come in around 5 or 6PM. I am in a cabin with 12 beds. Nine young ladies will be in our cabin. My friend who was… Continue reading I’d Love to Know
No News is Good News?
A number of people have been asking if I've heard anything from the judge on the court hearing. I have not. There seems to be confusion regarding when we would hear something. I heard the judge mention the date of July 23rd and couldn't tell whether that he meant we would hear by the 23rd… Continue reading No News is Good News?
Independent Churches = Recipe for Spiritual Abuse?
** We were taught submission at our former church: children to parents, wives to husbands, husbands to Christ, congregants to pastor/elders, civilians to governmental authorities. Most churches have a check and balance system in place to ensure that there are no abuses going on in church. Here is part the doctrinal statement from our former… Continue reading Independent Churches = Recipe for Spiritual Abuse?
Rough Week
If you have some extra prayers, I would like to ask for you to pray for me and my family. This is hard. The lawsuit decision is hanging over my head, but I'm not sure my funk is all about that, though. The harder issues for me right now are spiritual abuse and how it affects… Continue reading Rough Week
Outside Family Members: Why Are They Shunned?
After this busy weekend with the court case (no ruling yet), spending wonderful time with my friends and a little birthday celebration, I woke up in a funk. Two e-mails were pressing on my mind and then I realized, no, there were actually three e-mails that arrived over the weekend that described the destruction… Continue reading Outside Family Members: Why Are They Shunned?
Two Important Issues for Me
*** There were quite a few interviews I did, KPTV, KATU, and KOIN, and at one point there were a group of reporters and I think I counted five microphones in front of me with various reporters asking questions (yikes). This occurred during a break time at the court hearing which was much longer than… Continue reading Two Important Issues for Me
Court news
No real news. The judge will mail his ruling after careful review. So we wait.......
Spiritual Sounding Board 