*** Countdown: 5 days till court date, drawn by JA's 9-yr old *** Just a few things to share before a "regular" blog post coming up as my 9-yr old is busy with his drawing for the post. Phil Johnson from Grace Community Church (John MacArthur's church) reached out to me yesterday and we had… Continue reading A Few Notes from Julie Anne
Phil Johnson Issues Statement Regarding Beaverton Grace Bible Church Lawsuit Against Former Members
* * * Our former pastor, Chuck O'Neal, said in a Google review (now removed) that a pastor from Grace Community encouraged him to sue us. This is the public response from John MacArthur/Grace Community via The Wartburg Watch blog. Dee, thanks for posting the information. "In a story currently circulating… Continue reading Phil Johnson Issues Statement Regarding Beaverton Grace Bible Church Lawsuit Against Former Members
Why is this important?
The overwhelming amount of e-mail I have been getting lately is very supportive. However, every once in a while I get a question that is not so encouraging, like the one below. I already responded, but this person may speak for others who are wondering the same thing. This is blog about those who have been… Continue reading Why is this important?
Anticipation
Six More Days Until Court Hearing There are a number of Christian bloggers keeping up with our story. Yesterday, two popular bloggers posted articles about our situation and I wanted to give more information so you can see how things fit together. I'll give a little background. This is the original Google review that was… Continue reading Anticipation
Protector: Make the Choice!!
7 days until court date! Yeah, we've gone viral. Average amount of blog hits before news media attention: 250-400 hits. Today, I have over 18,000 hits. (Did you just hear that loud thump as Julie Anne fell off the couch?) Evidently, people have been trying to leave comments, but have been unable to. Sorry, please… Continue reading Protector: Make the Choice!!
Support
Thank you to the visitors who have searched to find my blog. I am overwhelmed. It has really touched my heart. Not only has it touched my heart, but the hearts of a multitude of families who have suffered silently from this experience. They have been reading of your support not only in… Continue reading Support
In Honor of Hannah
* * * Today, I'd like to honor someone very special to me - my eldest daughter, Hannah. When Hannah told me she was leaving home so abruptly that very sad day, she told me that she couldn't set one more foot in that church. It was killing her. She knew… Continue reading In Honor of Hannah
Breaking News Yet Again
Apparently word has leaked about the lawsuit to the local media. I just happened to be in Portland this weekend for a choir competition and found a number of messages from reporters asking to interview me. One down . . . . .
Correct Use of Authority at BJU?
Chris Peterman was a Bob Jones University college student who was standing for the truth against a sexual abuse coverup and was recently expelled from his university only nine days before his graduation. Read this riveting story: BJU Story.See if you find any parallels in this story compared to our experiences. Do you see legalistic rules? … Continue reading Correct Use of Authority at BJU?
Counselors in the Church
I've been thinking about the topic of counseling after reading the following comments: Just curious, does anyone know of any Bible passages that were used to establish the "evil" of getting counseling? Or was this another extra-Biblical add on AnonymousMay 9, 2012 4:25 PMI don't necessarily remember a specific scripture. Someone else might though. I think… Continue reading Counselors in the Church
Spiritual Abuse: Memories and Flashbacks
*** *** I want to touch on a controversial subject. What comes to mind when I mention the words: counselors or mental health? Many at BGBC don't want to touch that subject. Mental health professionals were talked down as if they were evil and would brainwash you. Even Biblical Christian counseling was not… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Memories and Flashbacks
Legalism: Do Not Expose Your Thighs!
* * * And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:9 My family didn’t have too many problems with modesty. Prior to coming to Beaverton Grace Bible Church, we didn’t have any “formal” teaching on modesty. It was a natural and seemingly obvious… Continue reading Legalism: Do Not Expose Your Thighs!
Note to Chuck O’Neal from Former Church Member
XXX This post was found in the comment section from Anonymous. How can one not feel the pain in this note? Chuck, Why don't you love people? 1 John says if you say you love God but don't love people you are lying and the Truth isn't in you. Don't you know you have… Continue reading Note to Chuck O’Neal from Former Church Member
Chuck O’Neal’s Original Complaints Against Julie Anne
*** Some may be interested in seeing what Chuck O'Neal calls "defamation" in his lawsuit against me and 4 others. Although the filed complaint is public, I took screen shots and blocked out my last name and left out the other defendants. These are the original complaints that were filed against me. Try to click… Continue reading Chuck O’Neal’s Original Complaints Against Julie Anne
Dare to Leave: One Family’s Tragic Account
* * * A couple of the earliest posts on this blog discussed how difficult it is to leave the church well. Meaning, it is nearly impossible to leave the church and remain in the local area without repercussions (church discipline, shunning, etc). Here are the links to those early posts: Leaving… Continue reading Dare to Leave: One Family’s Tragic Account
Still, My Soul Be Still
Still, Be Still My SoulA friend sent me this song. I listened. I wept. So beautiful, so soothing, sooooo what I needed to hear. I was talking on the phone with a former church member about music this week. We discussed how sometimes it's difficult to hear certain songs because there is an emotional attachment with… Continue reading Still, My Soul Be Still
Who is reading this?!
Stepped out my bedroom door and this is what greeted me at 6:30 AM!Yesterday we had 469 hits on the blog - 63 more than the previous all-time record! I don't get it. From a church that had maybe 100 people? If I leave a comment on someone's blog using my name and they… Continue reading Who is reading this?!
More Damage Control on BGBC Website?
* * * People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Proverbs 16:2 * * * I have been notified of even more updates at the Beaverton Grace Bible Church website which "coincidentally" occurred less than 2 days after the… Continue reading More Damage Control on BGBC Website?
Guest Poster: Twisting Scripture to Legitimize Lawsuit
* * * My readers continue to provide excellent dialogue on the topic of the defamation lawsuit and whether the Bible condones lawsuits among Christians. This one was worth a blog post. Thank you, Anonymous! To new readers: Chuck O'Neal and Beaverton Grace Bible Church filed a defamation lawsuit against… Continue reading Guest Poster: Twisting Scripture to Legitimize Lawsuit
Lawsuit Update: New Information!!
*** Earlier, I was notified that Chuck O'Neal/Beaverton Grace Bible Church amended the lawsuit on Friday. He added one more person to the lawsuit, so in total five people are being sued. Additionally, in his suit against me, he added a handful of quotes from my blog as "defamation". I would like to remind my… Continue reading Lawsuit Update: New Information!!
Spiritual Sounding Board 