tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31697310353194853182024-02-24T13:45:59.616-07:00DeTox Church GroupThere are a few of us that are recovering from a long drawn out toxic spiritual experience so we have informally dubbed ourselves DeTox Church Group. We aren't a church and don't plan to ever become one--but we do have thoughts and resources to share. Don't forget to check out our list of books and blogs we like.NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-50496341830000895542015-05-13T17:30:00.000-06:002016-10-11T14:40:55.631-06:00So They Want You to Sign a Church Covenant?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-size: 11.9700002670288px; line-height: 17.9549999237061px;">Below is a comment I put on </span><a href="http://thewartburgwatch.com/" style="font-size: 11.9700002670288px; line-height: 17.9549999237061px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">another blog</span></a><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-size: 11.9700002670288px; line-height: 17.9549999237061px;"> that I really should have just posted over here on Detox but I didn't realize that till I clicked post comment and then saw how much I had written! [Note to self: I will have to watch that in the future, especially when I'm new to a blog and could probably turn people off by the length of the comment.] After reading through my comment again I'm seeing it's part of our story that I want to keep - our story as in mine, my husband's, which in this case is linked with our dear friends' story - who left the vortex when we did. Like FreeAtLast often says our friendship became the gold we took from that place. [We still have gold there and in the spirit of no man left behind we are a prayer team now for those few we care deeply for to come to an epiphany of truth so they are free to grow up in the Lord. Someday we hope to share our victory here - another part of the story yet to take place!] Anyway, I thought I'd post the comment here as a reference. It's in response to </span><a href="http://thewartburgwatch.com/2015/05/08/churches-attempting-to-force-mediation-and-limit-members-right-to-resign-under-discipline/" style="font-size: 11.9700002670288px; line-height: 17.9549999237061px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">an article about signing a contract or covenant with your church</span></a><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-size: 11.9700002670288px; line-height: 17.9549999237061px;"> which brought up memories of the lame documents we signed at the former church, which were mild compared to what is going on in churches now-a-days. Click the link (above in red) for the article - it's very informative and I love the way Dee quotes the song Hotel California! [It's amazing how songs - movies - stories - take on new meaning once you see what's really going on!] She also begins and ends with a strong warning against signing contracts with churches:</span></div>
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Summary: Unless you have time, money, reputation and energy to burn:</div>
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<li style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">Do not prospectively sign any clause, contract, covenant or membership agreement that limits your right to leave a church while you are under discipline.</li>
<li style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">Do not sign any clause, contract, covenant or membership agreement that mandates mediation instead of seeking legal protection by the courts.</li>
<li style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">Do not sign such an agreement which also mandate mediation by a pre-selected organization.</li>
<li style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">Do not sign any agreement that allows the pastors wide latitude in discussing your confidential conversations with others.</li>
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Ok, here's my comment (I'm editing the format to include paragraphs for easier reading and I've also added a few comments in italics that are not in the original):</div>
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Wow. This post is a definitive warning for the modern day Christian Liberty playbook. I can’t believe it has escalated to such extremes in the last decade. And we thought what we signed at our former church was wack! When our former pastor likened joining the church to a marriage ceremony we thought ‘how corny can you get?’ and we were ‘elders’ at the time – in title only of course, as a long trail of others were before us. (In that church to become an elder was the kiss of death in that it was the final attempt to bring change to a hopeless situation – and it also appealed to our spiritual egos or else we wouldn’t have said yes.)(We are embarrassed about this now.) Even though we had our eye on the back door we were still signing documents that said wine shouldn’t touch our lips and our allegiance is to the lead pastor of the ‘house’, among the long list of covenant stipulations. But if it had been 5 or 10 years earlier we would’ve agreed to even more – so I can see where people can find themselves ready and willing to sign covenants drawn up by their church leaders who are so revered and worshiped. We can become far to trusting and lazy in the sense we’d rather have someone do our thinking for us. It’s so embarrassingly humbling to admit that we fell for the whole pastor covering thing, but it’s part of our story so we can’t conveniently leave it out. (regretful sigh.) Looking back we see we only too willingly gave our pastor too much power. We didn’t realize at the time in doing so we had made him (and his family of nepotism) an idol. However, it was a bill of goods sold to us heavily from the pulpit on Sundays – extra meetings during the week – in conferences – until the church ate up our entire existence practically, which is where we begun to become disenchanted. Fortunately we had a few outside interests we were always fighting to get to and we lived in frustration half the time. </div>
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When we finally REALLY woke up out of the fog of that strange hypnotic love affair with the former First Family (they have actually called themselves that!), we remembered we were born in America and we could actually choose to leave if we wanted – that we didn’t have to live like that anymore. Yes, we’d pay a price for getting out, but another life was an actually an option. It was such an epiphany. But it shouldn’t have been! </div>
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How did we lose sight of the true gospel and of what it really is to live in a free country (free at least for now)? We have discussed this at length over the last 10 years – my good friend and processing partner calls it free talk therapy!<i> ( I was referring to FreeAtLast!)</i> Talking it through and reading blogs and books, as well as indepth study of the Bible in a non-church environment – (here I should've said in a multi-denominational setting) all part of the healing and hopefully will keep us on the road to spiritual health. We’ve concluded that part of why we fell for the pastor authority thing is we are victims to our own sub-culture. We had to go through another experience at yet another church that we thought was different than the first to realize more fully that it’s how the Christian church today does church. We found that even though the style of the pastor of Church 2 (8 years in attendance) had many differences than the former authoritarian Church 1 (20 years in attendance), underneath it was built on the same supposition that the pastor is the one in charge of the money and the elders are in name only. What they have in common is stunning. Questions asked are considered contrary or insubordinate. The pastor is building a kingdom he has no problem asking professionals to give to sacrificially in time and in money. Blatant Nepotism.<i> (Here I should have said blatant at the first church and subtle at the second.) </i>Vasts amount of money spent to build the lead pastor’s legacy and to live in plain sight in front of the poor among us as upper class Americans because to date the IRS is reluctant to investigate churches. (Here’s a couple NPR interviews on the subject although they are talking about TV evangelists and talk shows, it applies to any church set up as a 501c3: <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/04/01/282496855/can-a-television-network-be-a-church-the-irs-says-yes)(http://www.npr.org/2014/04/02/298373994/onscreen-but-out-of-sight-tv-preachers-avoid-tax-scrutiny" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">http://www.npr.org/2014/04/01/282496855/can-a-television-network-be-a-church-the-irs-says-yes)(http://www.npr.org/2014/04/02/298373994/onscreen-but-out-of-sight-tv-preachers-avoid-tax-scrutiny</a>)</div>
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How did we come to think the church is more powerful than the freedom our forefathers fought for? How on earth did we get to the place within the christian community where we forget we live in America where the vote still exists, at least outside the church; and why do we so willingly relinquish our ability to think critically and vote according to our own consciences to opportunistic leaders of a tax exempt organization that exists only by the enabling (give power, means, competence, or ability to; authorize) of the people who attend and give weekly donations?? Once we come to that conclusion as Americans who still have at least some freedom of choice, then we can, as my good friend often reminds me, vote with our feet. </div>
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So we need to realize WE DON’T HAVE TO SIGN ANYTHING WE DON’T WANT TO SIGN. But first we need to look at why we are tempted to sign: 1) Just like the Israelite’s in the Old Testament, we are looking for a king because we are prone to idol worship 2) God calls himself Jealous for a reason – he didn’t intend for us to give our power to any member of the 5-fold ministry spoken of in the New Testament – an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor or a teacher; 3) It’s easier to let others make decisions for us but in the long run it’s much more labor intensive to extricate ourselves, so we may as well gird our loins at the beginning and do the work of ministry each day at the by listening to the Holy Spirit ourselves, thinking and researching for ourselves. Like my good friend often reminds me God wants us to be grown up Christians rather than being children to the pastors who call themselves fathers even though the Word of God specifically warns people not to call themselves fathers.</div>
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Bottom line – if church leadership is asking for your signature to a covenant they’ve drawn up, that is the red flag telling you to vote with your feet and get the heck out of there. It’s better to be in relationship with a few close friends seeking God than a roomful of unsuspecting people who feel comfortable listening to one man – and it’s usually a man lol – give his opinions on the Word of God every week. It may not be the high one has grown used to but the level of sanity is worth the sacrifice.</div>
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Ok – didn’t really plan to make this comment this long. But signing church covenants must be some kind of trigger!</div>
NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-67710334138051804252015-04-15T19:06:00.000-06:002015-04-17T18:43:06.782-06:00Meet Rockstar Pastor (@RockstarPastor)<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wBBxUXfNJa8X30JWW1wHZqtGpJRCMVBbkB7S40me0Co2hW844obH6bdacCu7qO8Ni8VHlVM4SIRW0qPoV6EzAkr1hgM8HXCSjWACCyCaupf3IP7203FAah7b22KBJWcyJeC3aJ6v_dw/s1600/article_images_pastor_rock_star_915469998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wBBxUXfNJa8X30JWW1wHZqtGpJRCMVBbkB7S40me0Co2hW844obH6bdacCu7qO8Ni8VHlVM4SIRW0qPoV6EzAkr1hgM8HXCSjWACCyCaupf3IP7203FAah7b22KBJWcyJeC3aJ6v_dw/s1600/article_images_pastor_rock_star_915469998.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet Rockstar Pastor</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am suddenly feeling an <i>anointing</i> (pronounced ah-NOYN-ting-ah) to share some of the twitter account names I've been coming across since I created a twitter account for Detox Church Group. </span>Some of us follow each other on Twitter. We tend to gravitate toward one another since we share a similar ah-NOYN-ting. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm kind of short on time right now so I'll share as many as I can but can come back to add some more. Better yet, if you have seen any not mentioned below feel free to leave them in the comment section. </span>By the way I added a link to each name if you feel an anointing to go check them out yourself.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, without further ado </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">here are just a few: </span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I also have an anointing for rhyme)</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvyr2RI9wvlfCqMJaT8lPBE1YQn1HqbuZS88fzDIZKM8ld8P2OQ7yzINdwoCKeOwc2zlT0vu1Eilm10lpiz1Arwrl6y015fNcP5LHaBf7G8SBQLZatgoq1-2EskSUjrsTx7XqM4jOu6o/s1600/Carl+Lentz+holy+pants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvyr2RI9wvlfCqMJaT8lPBE1YQn1HqbuZS88fzDIZKM8ld8P2OQ7yzINdwoCKeOwc2zlT0vu1Eilm10lpiz1Arwrl6y015fNcP5LHaBf7G8SBQLZatgoq1-2EskSUjrsTx7XqM4jOu6o/s1600/Carl+Lentz+holy+pants.jpg" height="320" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I Wear Holy Pants</td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twitter.com/CelebYouthGuy" target="_blank">CelebrityYouthPastor</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I put drugs out of business for 90 minutes every Sunday.)</span></span></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/RockstarPastor" target="_blank">RockStar Pastor</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Wait... humble brag is a bad thing???)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twitter.com/pastormeBIGDEAL" target="_blank">Mega Church Pastor</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just convinced our elders to let me sell my 2nd lake house to the church. #retreatcenterforstaff) (should be #retreatcenterforme)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Worship_Star" target="_blank">Worship Star</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I have a tattoo of my autograph.)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twitter.com/WorshipBandGuy" target="_blank">Worship Band Guy</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">When the light to fog ratio is perfect, I step out on stage...)</span></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Hipworshipchick" target="_blank">Hip Worship Chick</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I am your neighborhood worship diva.)</span></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/CelebWorshipLdr" target="_blank">Celeb Worship leader</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I'm a rockstar. And I was born for this. / I make my #worship team call me daddy. It's a spiritual sign of respect.)</span></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/celebworshipdrm" target="_blank">Celeb WorshipDrummer</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Try telling me that drums aren't in the Bible and I'll beat you over the head with a tambourine)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twitter.com/CelebPK" target="_blank">Celebrity PK</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(You know me, I don't know you.)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twitter.com/CelebrityPastor" target="_blank">Celebrity Pastor</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Kicking butt. Taking names.)</span></span></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Fake_JudahSmith" target="_blank">Fake Judah Smith</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(The test of a man is not how big he lives but how big he gives. ~Selah~)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://twitter.com/RodnotRod" target="_blank">Fake Rod Parsley</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Professional shouter and Pulpit Pimp. BREAKTHROUGH!!!!)</span></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/fakejohnpiper" target="_blank">FakeJohnPiper</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(God is most glorified in me when I am most Calvinist in him.)</span></li>
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<li><a href="https://twitter.com/fakedriscoll" target="_blank">Fake Driscoll</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Mars Hill Church asked me to make it clear that this account is fake. I told them I don't know how much clearer it could be than being called fakedriscoll.)</span></li>
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NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-67266579083946924372015-04-06T10:21:00.000-06:002015-04-06T10:32:59.338-06:00Parachuting Bunnies<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit Skydive Milwaukee</td></tr>
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Parachuting bunnies. Our former church hired one for their Easter egg hunt this weekend. And it even made the <a href="http://www.ktvb.com/media/cinematic/video/25340959/massive-easter-celebration-in-meridian/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">local news</span></b></a> (I noticed people holding big yellow cue signs "Laugh" and "Applause" to amp up the hype factor - LOL.). For now they are the hero church reaching out to the community. But for what reason? Is it for their reputation? Only the Lord knows the true motive. As usual our state is 2 years behind California. Does CCC and Channel 7 assume this is a brand new idea fresh off the press like they came up with the original idea themselves? Free at Last was thinking they are trying to replicate the White House easter egg hunt in Washington DC, but even the White House doesn't feel the need to hire a parachuting bunny.<br />
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In their advertising campaign, CCC said they would be hosting parachuting bunnies - plural. But alas, it appears it was one bunny who descended the murky sky today into the public park at the Village. By the way, why the Village and not their own property as in former years? Our guess it's because the CCC lawn is shrinking in size due to the fact <a href="http://detoxchurchgroup.blogspot.com/2013/05/churches-who-quit-paying-their-mortgage.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">they have been selling off their land to - what - pay their mortgage?</span></a> But still, if honesty were an issue, they could have at least billed it in the spirit of truthfulness and said we will have a parachuting bunny - singular - but I suppose I am majoring on a minor with that one.<br />
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So check out <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323361804578389641038100654" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>THIS ARTICLE</b></span></a> Free At Last tipped me off to - a story of the parachuting bunny church Easter celebration phenom (i.e. a blatant attempt to lure the masses to church) - yet keep in mind the article was written in 2013, Therefore, CCC's perception of their cutting edge trend is on the decline before they even pretended it was their new and original idea this year. Just saying.<br />
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Since CCC is a church we think it odd that there was no mention of Jesus and the Risen Christ in any of their advertising. It was just... Parachuting Bunnies, egg hunts, dancing animals and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Not that reaching out to the community in a way that appeals to them isn't valid. Children do love Easter egg hunts and fictional characters no matter how pagan the origin. Even adults love to join in on the pretend Disney LaLa Land world of make believe. But isn't the death and resurrection of Christ the central idea to the Easter celebration in Christian churches? <br />
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What is really irksome for us is the way Ken Wilde preached against the pagan rituals of Easter and Christmas and Halloween the entire time we attended that church while we were raising our children. You either didn't participate in the pagan ritual out of fear or you did it secretly - and adopted the 'what they don't know won't know won't hurt them' attitude. (It's called not allowing religious leaders to steal your child's childhood thank you.) Can you imagine how it took some of the joy out of the holidays? On the other hand, our secret participation made it kind of special in a mysterious clandestine sort of way. But still, some of us can't help but feel ripped off in a way, as we observe Ken has lifted the ban on pagan rituals during holidays now that he has grandchildren, especially now that he is reaping such praise by doing it sooooo publically. We can totally identify with the Psalmist that mentions gnashing teeth. <br />
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Anyway, we hope they are happy that they got press over the weekend - public honor and praise - hailed as the hero church. But where was channel 7 with their cue cards when CCC wasn't paying their mortgage a few years ago which was published in the Idaho Statesman? Not that it was a story in itself. What makes it a story of interest is how the lead pastor family who controls the finances continued to spend extravagantly taking vacations in Hawaii, attending international church conferences, and parading designer outfits on instagram for anyone to see. And that's just what was noticeable at a distance. Apparently <b><i>that</i></b> isn't considered news but parachuting bunnies sure fits the bill.<br />
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The worship leader worker bee is on the channel 7 video as saying it's one of the largest easter egg hunts in the nation. Whaaat? If you Google easter egg hunts in the USA and you will see the potential for much larger turn outs. They flatter themselves with their elevated sense of importance. It may certainly be the largest Easter egg hunt in the Treasure Valley - but I'm sure their numbers pale on a national level. But, in their minds, they are the Big fish in a small pond.<br />
<br />
So why did they host it at the Village? And how much did that cost? (Hey, let's not pay the mortgage this month and that should cover the expense.) Is it because their front and back lawns are being sold off in portions? No one mentioned <b><i>that</i></b> on the channel 7 glowing report. And why doesn't channel 7 investigate why CCC's property is shrinking? Why is this not news? I think it's time to call <a href="http://www.kivitv.com/about/123120638.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">channel 6 on your side</span></b></a> and tell them something fishy has been going on at 2760 E. Fairview Avenue for years now. Or there is always the <a href="http://www.kboi2.com/news/truthsquad" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Truth Squad with channel 2</span></b></a>. Something tells me they could get to the bottom of the weirdness. We can just mention how KGW was in cohoots with scammer <a href="http://patrickpretty.com/2010/08/19/bulletin-church-pastor-was-running-forex-ponzi-scheme-cftc-says-agency-gets-emergency-asset-freeze-against-jeremiah-c-yancy/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Jeremiah C. Yancy</span></b></a> who is a wanted criminal in at least 4 states under different aliases for conning people to invest in his real estate ponzi scheme. Now that is newsworthy! Just remember you heard it here first. ;-) NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-70982304748930297262014-08-04T00:29:00.001-06:002014-08-04T01:21:09.393-06:00August 3rd - I LOVE YOU! Christians Protest and RockStar Pastors Loose Their Luster! <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7YBqTheE1ryA3bjC10JoTP-odGpdc-iZ1tUD5A__DmVo2nMxf5lXXacXyjsXedBmam9GFcCeOzVcjtHoxzUXSkagpEbFXrfyMHjx3lZKhk_SBNypl0Fk4sSf7J-Z6euS9WivD_EBUhc/s1600/Seattle+protesters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7YBqTheE1ryA3bjC10JoTP-odGpdc-iZ1tUD5A__DmVo2nMxf5lXXacXyjsXedBmam9GFcCeOzVcjtHoxzUXSkagpEbFXrfyMHjx3lZKhk_SBNypl0Fk4sSf7J-Z6euS9WivD_EBUhc/s1600/Seattle+protesters.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo posted by Seattle Times</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>So proud of the Christians who protested quietly outside their former church today</b> calling for their former pastor Mark Driscoll to resign because of bullying behavior and shunning members who raise questions or disagree. Like one of my favorite bloggers said the other day on CityBusinessChurch.org "<i>Mark Driscoll is learning that you can only be an asshole for so long, before it finally catches up to you." </i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QIYNNlImO0gOXy9V_AHeYBAV_UeI3Z1-EIrGTgvRj782AjNe8bx_m-P8kkQo8285tOTZJDSD14zizKmWWYY2NsQZf-XTGh0hBcY6qz4Lty3mtyuPldT1KjdtKyiP2kXsk9Zpn50TT0U/s1600/140803_mars_hill_660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QIYNNlImO0gOXy9V_AHeYBAV_UeI3Z1-EIrGTgvRj782AjNe8bx_m-P8kkQo8285tOTZJDSD14zizKmWWYY2NsQZf-XTGh0hBcY6qz4Lty3mtyuPldT1KjdtKyiP2kXsk9Zpn50TT0U/s1600/140803_mars_hill_660.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of Video by Komo News</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024235297_marshillprotestxml.html" target="_blank"><u><b>Click HERE</b></u></a> for the link to the article in the Seattle Times today which is also where I got the above photo of our brave and proactive friends who are hopefully setting an example for a new trend in speaking out - taking their concerns beyond the internet to the streets, thank you thank you! <a href="http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Protestors-outside-church-call-pastor-poisonous-269764561.html" target="_blank"><b>Click HERE</b></a> to watch a video at KomoNews.com and hear what some of them have to say.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>IN OTHER NEWS TODAY:</b><br />
<b>Freeatlast </b>emailed me this story posted on USA Today earlier today. I'm so excited to see something like this in print so I had to copy and paste it here! <b>Click link below</b> to the story in case you would like to read the article from their site. Oh, and in the copied version below, my comments are highlighted <b><span style="color: red;">in red</span></b> but the orange highlights are USA Today links to other stories. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/07/31/rock-star-pastors-church-celebrity-internet-column/13422869/" target="_blank">http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/07/31/rock-star-pastors-church-celebrity-internet-column/13422869/</a><br />
<br />
<section class="storytopbar-bucket story-headline-module" id="module-position-NZm6I9v_Cts"><h1 class="asset-headline" itemprop="headline">
Rock star' pastors lose luster </h1>
</section><section class="storytopbar-bucket story-byline-module" id="module-position-NZm6I9vo3lc"><div class="asset-metabar" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/staff/1221/tom-krattenmaker"><span class="asset-metabar-author asset-metabar-item" itemprop="name">
Tom Krattenmaker,
</span></a><span class="asset-metabar-time asset-metabar-item nobyline">12:13 p.m. EDT August 3, 2014</span></div>
</section><br />
<div class="story-asset story-leadin-asset" id="module-position-NZm6I9_buQA">
<h2 class="lead-in">
Are they selling gospel or themselves? Internet helps to scrutinize behavior.</h2>
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<br />
It's not easy being a celebrity pastor these days with that pesky Internet around. <b><i><span style="color: red;"> </span></i></b><br />
<br />
Consider the struggles of <span style="color: #20124d;"><a href="http://marshill.com/pastors/mark-driscoll">Mark Driscoll</a></span> of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. Faced with mounting accusations circulating online — <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2013/december/tyndale-releases-results-mark-driscoll-plagiarism-investiga.html?paging=off">plagiarism</a>, <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2014/05/27/who-at-mars-hill-church-authorized-church-funds-to-buy-a-place-for-mark-driscolls-real-marriage-on-the-nyt-best-seller-list/">misusing church funds</a> to prop book sales, <a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:l6fx43Oua00J:www.slate.com/articles/life/faithbased/2012/02/mars_hill_pastor_mark_driscoll_faces_backlash_over_church_discipline_case_.html+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us">silencing</a>
anyone in his church with the temerity to question him — Driscoll has
urged his followers to stay off the Web. "It's all shenanigans anyway," <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2014/06/16/an-embattled-mark-driscoll-urges-mars-hill-churchgoers-to-stay-off-the-internet-because-its-all-shenanigans">he explains</a>. <span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>(Of course it is - and we all know Driscoll himself wouldn't be up to any shenanigans)</i></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://stevenfurtick.com/">Steven Furtick</a>,<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>(the same guy in the story in the post previous to this one here on Detox)</i></b></span> </span>a megachurch pastor in North Carolina, and <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/home/">Dave Ramsey</a>, <span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>(tell me it isn't so - i sorta liked that guy)</i></b> </span>an evangelical finance guru, have been taking hits, too, as have the wheeler-dealers on the <i><a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/bishop-t-d-jakes-rebukes-preachers-of-l-a-106642/">Preachers of L.A.</a></i>
reality show. This, against a backdrop of culture shifts creating
strong headwinds against the leader-and-follower model typified by
today's Christian superstars.<br />
<br />
What are a megapastor and his followers to do? Remembering the biblical <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A3&version=ESV">admonitions</a> against idolatry would be a good start. <span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>(Never thought we'd see the day that a news publication like USA Today would link to Bible Gateway!)</i></b></span></span><br />
<br />
Some media outlets have dubbed Driscoll a "<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/paperbacktheology/2013/12/david-fitch-andy-crouch-weigh-in-on-mark-driscolls-plagiarism-and-celebrity-leadership.html">rock star</a>" among pastors. He is hip, brash, very interested in sex <span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>(TOO interested IMO)</i></b></span> </span>and, for a reverend, <a href="http://www.driscollcontroversy.com/?page_id=45">unusually irreverent</a>.
He doesn't throw televisions out of hotel windows in the manner of
bad-boy rock musicians. But he comes close in the rhetorical sense,
tossing out <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/01/18/did-anyone-else-know-pastor-mark-driscoll-was-sexist/">insults</a> about gay people, women and his theological rivals.<br />
<br />
<b>Ongoing enterprise</b><br />
Also true to his rock-star status, Driscoll enjoys massive popularity. His <a href="http://marshill.com/">Mars Hill Church</a> (including its 15 franchised satellite locations) attracts nearly <a href="http://marshill.com/annual-report-2013">15,000</a> weekly. <span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>(But for the Grace of God go I)</i></b></span> </span>Driscoll's podcast has <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2014/06/05/mars-hill-global-helped-pay-for-mars-hill-everetts-building/">250,000 regular listeners</a> worldwide, and his 2012 book,<i> Real Marriage</i>, topped a <a href="http://www.worldmag.com/2014/03/unreal_sales_for_driscoll_s_real_marriage"><i>New York Times </i>best-seller list</a>.<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(Could be the same audience who read 50 shades of gray)</b></span></span></i><br />
<br />
Ah, that chart-topping book. Driscoll has <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/march/mark-driscoll-retracts-bestseller-status-resets-life.html?paging=off">admitted</a>
to using more than $200,000 in church funds to hire a consultant to
game the system, boost sales and add that magical reference — No. 1
best-selling author — to his glittering résumé. <i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(At least we now know how it's done so Judah Smith reaching best seller status isn't so irksome after all!)</b> </span> </span></i>This questionable
allocation of church money is indicative of a wider problem that rankles
those in Driscoll's growing flock of critics: the lack of transparency
around Driscoll and church funds.<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(ya think?)</b></span></span></i><br />
<br />
His salary? <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/03/can-megachurches-deal-with-mega-money-in-a-christian-way/284379/">Unknown</a>. Who controls church funds? Good luck finding that out. And because of the <a href="http://www.worldmag.com/2014/03/signs_and_wonders_megachurches_order_staff_to_keep_their_mouths_shut">non-disclosure agreements</a>
that Mars Hill pastors and staff members must sign to receive severance
pay when they depart, little is known about who holds Driscoll
accountable on money or any other issue.<br />
One of the problems with
celebrity pastors is that it's very difficult to draw a line between
advancing the gospel and advancing the preacher. When a famous pastor
grows his audience and fame, doesn't this mean that more people are
hearing his saving message about Christ?<br />
<br />
Well, yes.<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(Ya but who are they really coming to? and think of all the therapy they will need when they finally leave his church)</b></span></span></i><br />
<br />
But as
revealed by the long history of church authority and its periodic abuse,
the dynamic also gives the preacher on the pedestal a too-easy
justification for seemingly everything he wants to do. You don't want to
be against God's will, do you?<br />
<br />
<b>Scrutiny shared online </b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(I love this part - this is for us! The balance of power is changing!)</b></span></span></i><br />
Now,
however, there's a wild card that older-school religious celebrities
did not have to contend with. Thanks to the Internet, any disgruntled
current or former follower can write a scathing blog post, add nasty
comments to reader forums or, as the creator of <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%40FakeDriscoll&src=typd">@FakeDriscoll</a> does, voice a spoof Twitter account in the target's name. This can take a toll — as demonstrated by Driscoll's church, which <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2014/07/01/the-mars-hill-megachurch-makes-layoffs-asks-for-money/">has had to lay off staff</a> due to declining attendance and giving.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Because
of the Internet, "the audience is now at least as much of a celebrity
as the pastor, if not more," </b></u>says Jim Henderson, a Christian author and
producer in the Seattle area who is convinced that the era of the
celebrity pastor as spiritual paragon is waning. Henderson produces a
live show called <i><a href="http://wheresgod.org/">Where's God When</a> ...</i> featuring a very different kind of "celebrity" Christian — William Paul Young, author of the megaselling faith-themed novel <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Shack-Wm-Paul-Young/dp/160941411X">The Shack</a></i>.Young
is, seemingly, everything the megapastors are not: small of stature and
ego, quietly reflective, and open about his painful journey and
struggles (including his being a <a href="http://thewartburgwatch.com/2013/04/19/introducing-paul-young-author-of-the-shack/">sex-abuse victim</a>).<br />
<br />
Henderson
might be right about <u><b>this being the beginning of the end for celebrity
megapastors.</b></u> Until that process runs its course, however, fans of the
Driscolls, Furticks and the rest have a big question to ask themselves.
<b>Who, ultimately, are they following? Jesus? Or their pastor?</b><br />
<br />
<i>Tom
Krattenmaker is a Portland-based writer specializing in religion in
public life and a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors. His
latest book is </i>The Evangelicals You Don't Know<i>. </i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><i><br /><i></i></i></i>
NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-8561895811307602242014-05-04T17:26:00.000-06:002014-05-06T16:20:34.905-06:00Mega House for Mega Church Pastor - Parsonage Allowances Questioned<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="http://matthewpaulturner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/steven-furtick-house-charlotte.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></div>
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Good friend, Free At Last, came across a story called "The House of Steven" which tells us about a pastor of a huge multi-site church in Charlotte, NC, who built a 16,000 foot parsonage for himself and his family. In the video you will see a compilation of six reports on Pastor Steven Furtick and Elevation Church, produced by WCNC-TV, NBC Charlotte and its I-Team. The stories were aired in October and November of 2013. (Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KWozbHsAg5s" target="_blank">here</a> for those of you who may not see it above on your phone.)<br />
<br />
As the story unfolds we begin to see Furtick may be abusing a tax exemption provided for clergy defined by Tom Ranier (<a href="http://thomrainer.com/2013/11/25/thoughts-on-the-court-ruling-on-the-ministers-housing-allowance/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>here</b></span></a>) on his blog as "a housing allowance law passed by Congress in 1954. Subject to certain guidelines, ministers are able to declare a portion of their ministry income as a housing allowance that is not subject to federal income tax." This was originally established for ministers and small churches who needed the help. But like many of the lead pastors of mega churches in America today who, by living like kings and celebrities, Furtick's story is calling more attention to the fact that the housing allowance even exists. Even though he says he is paying for the $1.6 million dollar house from his book sales, we can assume he can still take advantage of the housing allowance law, writing the entire property off on his federal income tax. <br />
<br />
The underlying concern of this story is it hints to us that this very well could be the beginning of the end of special privileges for churches and ministries. Already there was a lawsuit filed in 2013 by Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation where a U.S. district judge ruled unconstitutional "a law that lets clergy members avoid paying income taxes on compensation that is designated part of a housing allowance." (You can read that story <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/judge-strikes-down-law-that-gives-clergy-members-tax-free/article_b8b1c816-bd2b-5f46-9d5a-68c5ad0ed39d.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>here</b></span></a>). And in the above video another organization is suing the IRS in a similar way as you will see.<br />
<br />
The more notorious these lead pastors of multi-site money-maker churches become, it will unfortunately effect the livelihood of the smaller churches whose pastors are less concerned about the numbers than they are the individual. Hopefully the Lord will watch over them and take care of their every need as they continue to live a life of sacrifice and surrender before Him.<br />
<br />
More about ministries avoiding tax scrutiny in the links provided in an earlier post on DeTox <a href="http://detoxchurchgroup.blogspot.com/2014/04/npr-investigates-how-tv-preachers-avoid.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>here</b></span></a>.NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-75454590709427025452014-04-02T18:25:00.004-06:002014-05-04T17:26:39.466-06:00NPR Investigates How TV Preachers Avoid Tax Scrutiny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ziuaveche.ro/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Money_Laundering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ziuaveche.ro/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Money_Laundering.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Just want to link to this story that we heard on NPR yesterday and today. You can either read it or listen to it in 2 parts. <br />
Part 1 is <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/04/01/282496855/can-a-television-network-be-a-church-the-irs-says-yes" target="_blank">Can a Television Network Be A Church? The IRS Says Yes</a> Part 2 is <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/04/02/298373994/onscreen-but-out-of-sight-tv-preachers-avoid-tax-scrutiny" target="_blank">Onscreen But Out of Sight TV Preachers Avoid Tax Scrutiny.</a><br />
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Even though it points to the tele-evangelists who are raking in the money and not paying taxes on it, it reminds us of what is going on in the last 2 churches we attended as well as megachurches across the US - there is just no accountability for how the pastors are spending the money. More on this in the next few days but just at least want to give the links to the stories while I had them handy. NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-35921928624027104362014-02-22T17:07:00.002-07:002014-02-22T17:13:21.449-07:00Bible Study<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIkZvfYX3mtJNhuV3ek6kecDr3HfHYC0GUzxW3Nad1xb-xPpegKQrWmo4PgnqlNSBNr4RBB5cBuiCDYPF-B5hyphenhyphenvITar2TJtzGsRg6H58gO523Bs8nLz7WEPypaKNtbYyQyuzexEYNV5E/s1600/Emmaeous+road+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIkZvfYX3mtJNhuV3ek6kecDr3HfHYC0GUzxW3Nad1xb-xPpegKQrWmo4PgnqlNSBNr4RBB5cBuiCDYPF-B5hyphenhyphenvITar2TJtzGsRg6H58gO523Bs8nLz7WEPypaKNtbYyQyuzexEYNV5E/s1600/Emmaeous+road+2.jpg" height="400" width="331" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesus on the Emmaus Road</td></tr>
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I'm in a weekly <a href="https://www.bsfinternational.org/about" target="_blank">Bible study</a> not associated with any particular church, although it's held at a church and strongly advises participation in a local church. It's been around for 50 years or so. Each year the course covers a different book, or books depending on the study. Rather than a topical study, we examine each book, chapter by chapter through a 4-step approach: <br />
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<strong>Answer daily lesson </strong>questions on your own. <strong>Discuss your insights</strong> in a conversation with members of your discussion group.<br />
<strong>Listen to a lecture </strong>that explains the passage, key principles from the lesson and the relevance of the Bible's truth to today's world.<br />
<strong>Read lesson notes </strong>that further elaborate on the passage.</blockquote>
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Both the notes and the lecture will often various interpretations of a scripture or a doctrine if it's commonly discussed. <br />
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This is my 2nd year. My friend had attended 2 or 3 prior years, desperate for spiritual input, a few years after leaving the former church and she was getting so much out of it, I finally had to try it for myself! Last year was the study of Genesis and this year the book of Matthew. How appropriate for someone like me who feels like a first grader again (after realizing what we had been taught for years may be 'slightly' off. Cough) to start with the first books of the Old and New Testament. Anyway, I'm loving this consistency of opening my Bible (and Bible Gateway App) in the morning, looking up scripture, aswering study questions after a few days of reading study notes and praying about whatever the Holy Spirit highlights for me that day. As any student of scripture would know, you do so at your own risk because it eventually shines a light on your heart in ways you don't usually see coming. Sigh. I mean, Clap! <br />
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I feel really good about this expository type of approach to the Bible. After years of not taking responsibility for my own spirituality, it's like finding water in a dry and weary land. Too bad churches wouldn't use this method for weekly corporate services, but then again, maybe some do. In my limited yet lengthly experience, the pastor has opted for a topical approach more often than not. Not saying topical study is wrong - I love following a word like faith or fear through the Bible using a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong's_Concordance" target="_blank">Strong's Concordance</a> and jotting down the verses that will help me later. We even have a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nave's_Topical_Bible" target="_blank">Naves Topical Bible</a> sitting in our bookcase. But when the pastor-preacher-teacher chooses a topical presentation over expository methods most of the time, doesn't it give more opportunity to promote his or her interpretation of scripture which can easily lead to manipulation or personal agenda? <br />
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In lecture style teaching with no audience participation or accountability, we the listeners take in what's given, often without question, because it's easier than doing the work of follow-through. Just listening makes it so easy for us to go on our merry way till we come to sit and listen again, entertainment style, next week. Don't we realize we are thus giving one man, or woman, the power to spoon-feed his thoughts and beliefs to us? If we were to have a question, or beg to differ, how would that scenario play out? How well would it go if we were to go up to the pastor at the end of the service, or write him an email during the week, and say I think you may be off the mark here? <br />
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All that to say, this in-depth study of the word in a non-denominational setting has been slowly restoring me to spiritual health, if I ever<em> was</em> spiritually healthy in the first place. In taking my spiritual temperature at this juncture, I can see how the Word is at least bringing me back to life spiritually. I'm still prone to steer clear of organized church which is so socially unexceptable in the Christian Community across the board these days. And yes, I am tempted to put my hands over my ears so I won't run out screaming when the teacher in the main session at Bible Study plugs the local church and how important it is . If she only knew what a trigger that is for some of us. And hey, if a church exists that didn't threaten to TAKE ME OVER hook, line and sinker with its own agenda-vision-projects and meetings, I <em>might</em> be open to participating once again in an organized community. But for now, I'm loving the freedom of my 2 sweet friends and I studying together each week (with a little lunch follow-up after), relearning the heart and soul of the God we've chosen to follow; and <em>that</em> is Community enough for me right now. <br />
<br />NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-58007419720940262502013-10-10T18:12:00.000-06:002013-10-10T18:16:11.293-06:00DREAM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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I dreamed last night, or more likely early this morning, that I was quoting scriptures about God’s love and purpose for His Collection of People, otherwise known as the Body of Christ, or what we often just dub, the Church. In my dream I was feeling very up and positive with a new determination to see us as God sees us and help speak that into existence. When I woke up, emerging from the fog, I remember quipping that I am going to focus on our bright future and all was going to be okay.<br />
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After my cup of coffee I couldn’t help but be curious why I would dream such a thing since it is no longer my habit to pace the living room quoting scriptures in prayer trying to control the universe. Was this my former life resurging itself through my subconscious mind or was the Holy Spirit speaking to me? Dreams have formerly and currently been a vehicle of communication for me so I didn’t want to completely discount this one. The fact it didn’t carry any oppression or confusion with it, but instead I felt rather joyous and hopeful, gives me a cautious green light to explore the subject. I thought to blog about it even if it's just to remind myself later. That's one of the benefits of blogging - whether anyone reads your stuff or not, it's a place to journal.<br />
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In letting go of some of my former behaviors because they were rather ‘works’ oriented, I haven’t necessarily thrown out my core beliefs. In this case, I still believe in the power of scripture and I still believe in speaking it out into the atmosphere. But I am no longer compelled by the legalistic concept that there is no power in the scripture unless you speak it out loud. Wouldn’t that mean the power is in my speaking rather than in the power of the scripture itself? Isn’t there also power in ‘hiding the word in my heart so that I may not sin against God’ as David suggests in Psalm 119? Hiding doesn’t convey speaking, but rather storing something like a treasure, or a secret weapon to pull out when you most need it. The Word is what will cause me to overcome temptation. I can think scripture and I can speak it. I can sing it and I can shout it. I can choose whatever ‘method’ of acknowledgement I want, but the power remains in the Word of God itself not in how I manage to agree with it.<br />
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Back to the dream, it does stir in me a desire to search the scriptures regarding the Body of Christ – the Bride of Christ - and God’s plan to partner with us. Even as the mega prosperity-driven church world threatens to redefine us and our mission, the Lord must have a plan to reclaim what is rightfully His. In the Old Testament there are plenty of accounts of how His chosen race went off the rails into idolatry, yet He always had a way of rekindling in them a desire to return to Him and worship only Him. Real life isn’t always about the sweetness and light of glory and victory, it’s also failure and defeat and with that, recovery and redemption.<br />
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For us, this last decade has been a discovery of how the existing institutional church has gone off the rails into its own idol worship. We have seemed to collectively sanction the exaltation of what is now commonly known, at least in the blog world, as the celebrity pastor. Our church leaders now have to be movers and shakers across the globe in order for us to revere them. If they are among the rich and famous, we can then live vicariously through them. What does this say about us? Why has a spirit of humility and true servanthood been replaced by what looks like the bravado of EGO and a sense of entitlement? There is a steady stream of evidence revealing that huge sums of money are funneled into the ‘lead’ pastor personal bank accounts. <br />
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Why do we know this and why don’t these types of pastors think we are smart enough to see what they are up to? Check out their houses (sometimes multiple homes!), their vehicles, their clothes, their jewelry, and most telling, their travel itinerary. What really gives it all away is how the adult pastor children flaunt their lifestyle online. So it’s easythese days to follow the money trail of the celebrity pastor, a lifestyle funded by the tithes and offerings of trusting followers who all give their blessing as they give their money in faith that it's being spent wisely. These pastors are living like CEOs of big corporations with the balance of power mainly in their hands, yet with tax exempt status. Do they realize their lifestyles actually endanger that status, not only for themselves but for the smaller conscientious churches. <br />
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All this to say, we can see that the celebrity infested church is on a runaway train to its own destruction and we aren’t going to stop talking about it. But my dream last night could be hinting that there is a new phase in the journey, a bend in the road. It’s been there all along but maybe I am only now waking up to it. Unlike us, God isn’t surprised that the Christian community has given worship status to our pastors. He understands our natural bent toward wanting a human to elevate which reflects our selfishness and how we resist a true life of servanthood. Jesus’ disciples wanted him to act like an earthly king which would have made them feel better about themselves. Thankfully, God doesn’t panic and forget His original plan just because another stiff-necked generation refuses to cooperate. Could He want to remind us each of us who truly care about the outcome, in our own individual ways, that we are part of the plan to get His project back on track? He could do it single-handedly but chooses to work in a partnership with us, His people. It makes sense that He would give each of us tasks as part of the pro-active answer, whether it be prayer, blogging, writing articles or books, singing songs or some other artform – it’s all an opportunity to teach and hopefully turn the tide.<br />
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God has been calling people out of the mega church system for quite awhile now and who knows how many more may be leaving in the days and years ahead? That doesn’t mean the mega church world will end - it may only get worse. But, as we pray and seek out God’s thoughts on what is going on, we can forsee the victorious church spoken about in scripture. The Bride of Christ was designed to be God's vehicle of love. And maybe it's not going to be some huge assembly where droves of people receive Christ by responding to an altar call. Maybe it's going to be a world-wide community of believers, sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, sharing the love of God and the Gospel of Christ one-on-one with those led to us - or us to them - however the Lord aranges it. Why should we wait for an exalted man or woman on a stage do all the talking? God wants to use all His yielded vessels, not just public speaker types. Or rock star worship leader types. Not saying He can't use people who are motivated to be in front of the throng all the time, but it's certainly not limited to those types. So all I can do if that is the case is agree with scripture and say Come Holy Spirit and do your thing! We are powerless without you!<br />
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<br />NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-87716953342361518092013-06-16T17:52:00.000-06:002016-10-11T15:31:35.717-06:00Rethinking The House of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJ9slzF6kg9IHbCVT1vuRk1WFXQB7rRIOZIdjLPYF-HXIQBVwZtaHsafURUQdlp30nYEmxclkFC74xS2nTXDT-IMksVKfRJz3WMf655jyUjxmmh0aEZXv7u80yJISfjkcGoTT-zGjoas/s1600/David+-+harp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJ9slzF6kg9IHbCVT1vuRk1WFXQB7rRIOZIdjLPYF-HXIQBVwZtaHsafURUQdlp30nYEmxclkFC74xS2nTXDT-IMksVKfRJz3WMf655jyUjxmmh0aEZXv7u80yJISfjkcGoTT-zGjoas/s200/David+-+harp.jpg" width="127" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJ9slzF6kg9IHbCVT1vuRk1WFXQB7rRIOZIdjLPYF-HXIQBVwZtaHsafURUQdlp30nYEmxclkFC74xS2nTXDT-IMksVKfRJz3WMf655jyUjxmmh0aEZXv7u80yJISfjkcGoTT-zGjoas/s1600/David+-+harp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJ9slzF6kg9IHbCVT1vuRk1WFXQB7rRIOZIdjLPYF-HXIQBVwZtaHsafURUQdlp30nYEmxclkFC74xS2nTXDT-IMksVKfRJz3WMf655jyUjxmmh0aEZXv7u80yJISfjkcGoTT-zGjoas/s1600/David+-+harp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a>Familiar feelings arose in me a few Sunday's ago when I read once again the house of God scriptures in Psalms that suggest our corporate church gatherings as Christians should be a place of safety and rest in the presence of the Lord. What goes on at church is a subject we misfits return to as we process what's happened to us since we left our controlling churches and what our future holds. For another post on The House of God I wrote a few years back, <a href="http://detoxchurchgroup.blogspot.com/2010/08/quest-for-house-of-god.html" target="_blank">click here</a> if you are in the mood for further reading. <br />
Here are a few of the scriptures referencing the house of God: <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Psalm 27:4-5"One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Psalm 84: "How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you." 10 "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."</span></div>
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Reading these verses this time around I found myself feeling angry with the people who have turned the weekly Christian gathering into something we can no longer trust. It's not our fault that we no longer fit in a church system that doesn't fit into God's description of what it should be. Those scriptures infer safety and protection and a place of refuge, but it's obvious that someone has hijacked the meaning of going to church. What we have lost is a true place of refuge, a great assembly to meet with the Lord, and a much needed reprieve from what we go through in the world. It's been replaced by elements of the world system such as political posturing, elevating the pastors and their families to celebrity status and blatent nepatism and favoritism. Instead of receiving replenishment for the week, we receive pressure to give a huge portion of our time and money to the machine, and sometimes even a chiding that we aren't doing enough to keep it alive and running. <br />
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We are encouraged in scripture to honor the Sabbath, but Sabbath rest certainly doesn't come into play since there is no rest to be had. It has become less and less about finding Jesus within what He called the house of prayer - in fact, prayer itself is one of many duties we must perform to assure the mighty machine runs smoothly. We are made to feel like work horses who need to pull our weight. This is taught from the pulpit and inferred weekly in the announcement segment that can last up to a half hour, plugging the need for all the groups and activity we need to support. <br />
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Think about this: For those in charge of God's House, it's a glorious place of sustenance and fulfillment. As long as the lead pastors can keep the volunteers busy propping up their ministry it works really well for them. Then think about the rest of the people, the worker bee volunteers, who lose sight of the Lord's true plan for their lives. It's like they are handing over their destiny to someone they have been taught is more important who deserve their undivided allegience and resources because they are in the work of the ministry. As long as the layity is kept busy making the Pastor's vision succeed, there is little time to implement the vision God has given to each of them. If you observe the lives of people who are currently serving in churches today, their lives are consumed with meetings and events involving the church. <br />
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NonCelebrity Christian and I have been talking lately about how we can relate to the fury of Jesus when he encountered money changers in the temple when he took a whip to drive them out. Jesus had an issue with turning His Father's house into a marketplace when it was supposed to be a house of prayer. He also had an issue with the religiosity of the church leaders lording their positions over the people. It seems so apparent that these issues have not only infilitrated the Church today, they have taken over. Makes me want to cry out to Jesus 'where is your whip when we need it most?' <br />
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Not to think too highly of ourselves, lest we become like those who are suspect in our minds, but perhaps the voice of the blogging world on the internet is one of the whips? Just a suggestion, but will anything change until we are mad enough to stand up and say enough is enough? Actually many of us are doing that. As NonCeleb has often said, we are voting with our feet. <br />
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Once we have voted with our feet, then what? Is this where the journey takes a turn into an even deeper walk with the Lord one on one? Can we be satisfied accepting that His house is a more personal one and can we trust Him to meet our every need of blessing and protection without aligning ourself to a local pastor family? It's not like we can give our hearts to yet another church because the same government structure exists there as well. And the answer doesn't necessarily lie in beginning another church, mainly because it will end up the same way. Shouldn't the Christian walk be about each person being free to do the work of the ministry in the way God has called him to, touching the lives who God brings his way? <br />
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So perhaps the answer is to continue to hang loose and wait on God and let whatevers going to happen 'happen organically' as my daughter is fond of saying. "It" may never involve four walls again. If that's what God has planned, is that enough for us? It doesn't mean we haven't grieved over what should have been and that we don't pray for God to salvage what He can from the mess we have seemed to have made of His Church these days. <br />
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I am doing my best to rethink these scripture concerning God's house and personalize them more. Maybe that's what was meant all along, I don't know. I do know I am comforted when He meets with me in the secret place which is indeed a type of house. And yes, it is enough when I allow it to be, because He fills my cup like none other. And no man or demonic plan can infiltrate His presence and take that from me or any of us.NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-71611674132614899602013-05-21T16:45:00.003-06:002013-05-22T11:22:53.348-06:00Churches Who Quit Paying Their Mortgage Payments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A new trend seems to be emerging in certain circles of Christianity these days - quit paying your church mortgage yet with no plan to curtail outlandish spending habits - keep taking in the weekly tithe money and use it for what? Pastor families who feel they are called as Christians to live like the rich and famous apparently want you to fund their lifestyles for Jesus. Big proponents of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_theology" target="_blank">Properity Gospel</a> these churches have outdone themselves on exhibiting their rules-don't-apply-to-us attitudes by defaulting on their mortgages. Maybe we should all quit making our house payments too and use the money to go on vacation with pastors who seem to have invented a new meaning for recreational living. Like them, we can just pray the Lord will provide for us through some hard-working business people who already have good investment practices. We should ALL have such a sense of entitlement. After all, we are King's Kids, are we not? Well, yes we are children of the King, but that Particular King never mentioned living the high life using money from the collection plate. Well, I guess he did refer to that, but it was in disgust of the practices of the Pharisees who loved the choice seats in the synagogue and walked around in fine robes, acting superior to the people who gave them their money. Wow, that certainly resembles the attitudes of certain modern day prosperity-driven pastors - at least the ones we've seen.<br />
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Back to the delinquent mortgage topic, there are plenty of church stories to link to, but I will limit this post to the churches here out west that we happen to have been affiliated with at one time. A few years back, Benny Perez, head pastor of The Church of Las Vegas, made news in his city and nationwide (<a href="http://www.charismanews.com/us/31614-benny-perez-battles-babylon-in-church-bankruptcy" target="_blank">Charisma magazine</a> , <a href="http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2012/03/church_foreclos.html" target="_blank">Christianity Today</a> ) when he and his board decided to quit paying the church mortgage because they owed the bank $7 million when the property was then only worth $2 million. "The unusual move sparked debate over Christian ethics" says Christianity Today. Eventually, a Canadian businessman and philanthropist (who is a friend to one of the church board members) bailed them out with a pledge of $3 million and then the church came up with another $1 million to keep themselves out of bankruptcy. Now they have plans to build a new building and Benny has been spotted recently golfing on the Newport Coast which is quite spendy from what my friend who knows tells me. <br />
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Even closer to home, the pastor of our former church (whose cousin is married to Benny Perez) decided that he too should quit paying his church mortgage. (Was he advised by Benny to do this or did he decide, hey what works for BP works for me?) Not too sure his board at the time was on board since none of them are on the board at this time but his wife and son and probably his cousins from Seattle. According to <a href="http://www.mypublicnotices.com/Idahostatesman/PublicNotice.asp?Page=PublicNotice&AdId=3090384" target="_blank">THIS public notice</a> that ran in the Idaho Stateman 4 weeks in March 2013, Capital Christian Center hasn't paid a mortgage since July 2012. At the time the notice posted, the church owed more than $2 million on the church property - and it lists the payments they were ignoring from July - December 2012: <br />
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The defaults for which this sale is to be made are failure of Grantor to pay: (i) monthly payments as follows: $21,313.40 due July 15, 2012, $42,828.32 due August 15, 2012, $21,313.40 due September 15, 2012, $23,343.24 due October 15, 2012, $21,313.40 due November 15, 2012, and $20,298.48 due December 15, 2012, as set forth and required by the Deed of Trust and Note, and monthly payments thereafter on the 15th day of each month until the date of sale or reinstatement; (ii)late charges in the amount of $28,619.36, due and owing as of January 3, 2013 </blockquote>
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The principal balance due on the Note as of January 3, 2013, was $2,543,323.75. The balance owing as of January 3, 2013, on the Note secured by the Deed of Trust (collectively, "Loan Documents"), was $2,654,427.60</blockquote>
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If they didn't come up with the money by <strong>today, May 21st</strong> there was to be a Trustee Sale held, according to the public notice. I'm sure CCC was praying and believing for a benefactor to bail them out in the nick of time to mirror what took place with Benny's church. So, here it is May 21st and is there a Trustee Sale happening for the property at 2760 East Fairview Avenue, Meridian, ID, 83642? No, because the benefactor apparently came in the form of their cousins who own a mega church in Seattle. They co-signed a loan to make it possible to stave off today's sale. Not sure on the details, but I will update this info as it comes, but for now, all we know is they narrowly escaped at this time. Were their prayers answered by this band-aid fix by relatives who step in to rescue their cousins in Boise? Knowing the way they think, we are sure they believe it's the grace and favor of the Lord. And who are we to know the mind of the Lord who is known for his long-suffering, so it may be. Perhaps He is thinking of the unsuspecting and trusting people in the congregation in delaying what seems inevitable - after all, His timing is known for being perfect.<br />
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Grace or no grace, let's not forget the church in Boise operates as a 501c3 which means they have tax exempt status. It would behoove the lead pastor family not to abuse this privilege in any way. For instance, if they are using designated offering funds for designer clothes and furniture, multiple trips to Hawaii, expensive toys for their young children, etc., it could peek the interest of the IRS and that status could be revoked. Even if the IRS never sees it, the people under their umbrella should be putting 2 and 2 together and seeing the church isn't making their mortgage payments but the lifestyle hasn't changed. And now that the pastors to the rich and famous (don't even get me started) from Seattle are bailing their cousins out, shouldn't they be watching to see if CCC is going to begin to exhibit wise stewardship with the money so the loan isn't all for nought?<br />
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Do we want to see them fall, go under, be destroyed? Not necessarily. Do we want to see them no longer get away with unacceptable behavior? Yes. As long as they continue to blatently use tithes and offerings to live plushly while refraining from true, fruitful ministry, we have a bone to pick with them. We'd like to see that come to an end because it brings damage to the cause of Christ by playing havoc with people's faith who are still within the 4 walls of the church at 2760 E. Fairview. It would be great if the pastor family recognized what kind of people they have become, repent before the Lord and in front of the people fully, and get back to real Christianity and try to represent the true Gospel of Jesus. If they don't see a need to change, then get jobs in the real world and live high on the hog that way - it would at least be acceptable. Aren't pastors supposed to hold to a different standard, as they've always said, examples of how God wants us to live, as they've always preached? They faithfully collect money every week from people who trust them to be wise stewards with that money to "do the work of the ministry". It's evident that the lead clan is getting ministered to, but we have seen anything but wise stewardship from them to date. NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-48324004939208087182012-09-03T21:50:00.001-06:002012-09-03T22:07:27.310-06:00Welcome to the NPPC!My husband came up with a pretty nifty idea in our discussion the other day. What we need in the Christian Community at large is a new movement called the <strong>NPPC - No Paid Pastor Church</strong>! I had to laugh and agree - yes, that is what is needed. <br />
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Like alot of our tribe on the internet trying to figure out what's going to become of those of us who can't stomach church as usual anymore, we've pretty much concluded that <strong>the next big thing God does may have to be at a grass roots level</strong>. Many of us see how ridiculous it is that certain churches allow their pastors and families to spend money so freely on anything BUT the work of the ministry. The prosperity-driven church we left is a perfect example of pastors making no bones about living like elite citizens instead of identifying with the lowly faithful who donate their money each week trusting that the money is furthering the work of the Gospel. In addition to paying for extremely comfortable homes, they are funding an on-going extensive <a href="http://instagram.com/p/O1oGHTs0IX/" target="_blank">travel itinerary</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/p/OAQz7tDEOf/" target="_blank">designer sunglasses</a> (note: Karen Walker Sunglasses cost anywhere from $200 on sale to $380) and <a href="http://instagram.com/p/NeUpXds0N-/" target="_blank">new cars</a> et al.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was tweeted last year</td></tr>
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It's not that youth pastors aren't allowed to share their fantastic news with the world but the fact that they <strong>feel free to</strong> without giving thought to how badly certain folk in their care must feel looking at their ongoing extreme good fortune when some of these tithers have lost jobs and homes and are having a hard time making ends meet. How Pastoral is THAT?? It's not pastoral, it's shallow and insensitive. It confirms how deep they aren't. As images of their new worldly possessions show up online like a tidal wave no wonder some of us think it's time for God to cave the Christian Community in so there will be no alternative but to meet in each others homes and take care of each other. It'll actually be a relief. No need to tithe - no need to pay anyone for doing what we all can do, because we all have something to contribute in order help each other instead of <strong>just helping the pastor</strong>. And, concept, maybe we will be more free to help other people discover authentic Jesus, the one whose reputation has been so tarnished by the bratty behavior of the proponets of the prosperity gospel.<br />
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Of course, the prophetic flow (or wishful thinking) of certain leaders (especially celebrity wannabe types) say God is fixin' to move in deluge style - the next big tidal wave from heaven. One such leader even mentioned the Third Wave is about to descend on us. <strong>So, there was a Wave One and Two??</strong> If those 2 moves were significant, <strong>why have we yet to see any lasting fruit</strong>, other than church leaders increasing their salaries so they can live like high rollers more than ever? The Third Wave? Sorta echos The Third Reich. Maybe not, but it does remind me of Mitt Romney's speech at the NRC the other night. All these promises are well and good, and wouldn't it be great if all those things he said could really happen? Seriously, we are supposed to believe you dudes now, after all we've gone through with promises up the wazoo that have yet to come to pass. All I can picture is 2016 with some faceless new charismatic tauting promises from a big stage in the midst of hyped-up people in full worshipfest swing. <strong>Am I talking about the NRC or a mega church convention?</strong> Both! Ha! Can you believe how interchangeable these two worlds are?!<br />
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So, while we are waiting for church world as we've known it to collapse, <strong>here's a nifty twitter page</strong> I came across the other day for our amusement. Someone else is thinking this pastor thing has gotten way out of control too. <a href="https://twitter.com/CelebrityPastor" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read some pretty funny 'Celebrity Pastor' tweets! One of my favorites is ""Ask not what your pastor can do for you, but what you can do for your pastor." <strong> Thank God for humor</strong> to keep us busy, or to help usher in the new NPPC realm!NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-50523468932567497422012-04-10T02:35:00.000-06:002012-04-10T14:15:05.137-06:00Reclaiming the Church One Story at a Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've noticed a marked increase of people making an exodus from toxic mega churches and eventually writing their stories online, how they were mistreated by the former leaders they were devoted to. Accounts of abuse that make you shiver and shake your head in wonder. The question that begs to be asked is "what has happened to the Church and why are we allowing this malevolence to kidnap it?" <br />
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One such story is on a new blog called Joyful Exiles (<a href="http://joyfulexiles.com/">http://joyfulexiles.com/</a>) by Paul and Jonna Petry, a former elder couple on staff at Mars Hill. Paul was “wrongly fired by Driscoll for attempting to curb Mark’s power by opposing structual changes and new bylaws that were being pushed through by Mark” (Brent Detwiler explains on yet a different blog) – these bylaws, by the way, were to give Mark complete access to the money and decision making without dissent. Since Paul is a lawyer he includes extensive documentation and resources (which we all can appreciate even if we may not have time to read all that), and Jonna’s story goes into the heart of all they went through there and the 4 years since they left. The tone of the blog isn't vindictive, but instead sincere and heartfelt.<br />
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Interesting that it has taken 4 years to feel free tell their story. Jonna says she couldn't tell it before now. She didn't say she needed detox, but our guess she needed time to heal before moving confidently into the next phase of life. Even after 6 or 7 years for us, I'm losing count, we still benefit from rounds of talk therapy since we left our church. Healing has come, bit by bit, yet lingering affects of how we were treated can surface without warning. The major surgery took place when we recognized we were participating in deception then fled the compound (which wasn't as easy as it sounds) but we still see that the Lord is tweaking us and removing wrong concepts about Him that were deeply embedded in our psyche. You don't even know you still think a certain way till you are confronted with a circumstance that reminds you of the past. Anyway, I hope that the Petry's are free to take all the time they need to detox and heal. Not that there won't be 'ministry' opportunity along the way - we can all help others as we heal. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrON5gEm0aXBguhANNX6PoF6IA_7PSsUyAuQUgtS2O_b5u70S4BnqvKjXxN5xuOUD3JM8FZ1dtgqg6HShnmNY9qWQvhCDf8Y-x3z63Sda2lC-1dgKsdF7ykLv1P65H7Os5j3dDNwWLwk/s1600/imagesCAAMXPWC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrON5gEm0aXBguhANNX6PoF6IA_7PSsUyAuQUgtS2O_b5u70S4BnqvKjXxN5xuOUD3JM8FZ1dtgqg6HShnmNY9qWQvhCDf8Y-x3z63Sda2lC-1dgKsdF7ykLv1P65H7Os5j3dDNwWLwk/s200/imagesCAAMXPWC.jpg" width="200" /></a>Stories like these inevitably turn our thoughts to the current state of the Church. It seems to be generally accepted now that pastors should be given almost exclusive access to the money and decision making and need to surround themselves with yes men who aim to please. It has produced a climate that instead of ripe for harvest is ripe for leader types with fatal character flaws driven by personal ambition. The body of Christ cheers this on since there is nothing new under the sun and people want a leader they can feel and see. We are no different than Ancient Israel in the Old Testament who preferred Saul over Samuel. We have naively handed the Church over to sociopathic dictator types who gladly seize the opportunity.<br />
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What some of us came to discern in the last 10 years, some earlier, is now becoming obvious to those who are under the abusive jurisdiction of the Mark Driscolls who behave no better than spoiled brats, kicking and screaming, bullying, to get their way. From the outside looking in, it seems pathetic and derranged; but the insiders, thousands who attend his churches, seem clueless and smitten as if in love. <br />
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At least many are seeing the truth according to the stories coming from a host of disillusioned and shocked people now in exodus mode. It only seemed like yesterday when we were reading glowing reports of Mark's avante garde leadership. He was certainly the new cool. Now the truth of who he is leaking out into the vastness of cyberspace. He not only dishes out way to much information about his private marriage bed in his recent sex book (??), stunning reports of mandatory shunning of those deemed disobedient have emerged, complete with church discipline contracts, like a new wave of revelation.<br />
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All that to say, if people finally see the light and leave these types of churches in droves, the remnant church growing on the interet and beyond will eventually be the new normal. Instead of our scarlet letter B for Bitterness, we will be labeled The Throng who dares take back possession what is rightfully ours, our true identity in Christ (because of Jesus shed blood for us and only because of that). Why have we allowed these tyrannical sociopaths to take over and tell us how to be Christians? They resemble Jesus no more than the Pharisees did back in His day. We should know better than to follow anyone who esteems him/herself too highly as the chosen elite. Jesus isn't about that at all.<br />
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It will be interesting to see what the next 10 years brings - what state the body of Christ will find herself in. What will the next exodus be? If it's Mark Driscoll this year, will it be Joel in Texas next year? Joel is way sweet - such a nice guy so I can't imagine him bullying anyone. However, what we heard from his wife could make your head spin. It's not a prediction, I'm just wondering. Perhaps church as we've known it will no longer exist. One thing we keep coming back to in our talk therapy discussions, we can never, and will never, worship a pastor again. We'd rather go without and stay safe near the Lord, under the shadow of His wing. <br />
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With every strategy Lucifer has employed down through history, he eventually overplays his hand and tips us off that he's behind the evil schemes. This one seems to be quite the tangled web. We know he's behind it all. The body of Christ looks like a mess. Me included. People are wounded right and left by leaders in particular. But Jesus said in Matthew 10:26 "there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known." He's the only one who can untangle the mess now. He's the only one we can look to and trust. He's the only one who can give the Church her identity back. But in order to do so, alot has to be revealed and uncovered. Maybe if enough of us speak up and tell our stories, we, the Church, will operate in a spirit worthy of our calling and in the anointing both Isaiah and Jesus spoke of in the scriptures (Isaiah 61 and Luke 4). <br />
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Those are my rambling thoughts for today.<br />
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I have nothing against Christians letting their kids trick or treat or have halloween parties. Apparently the progeny of our former pastor have no problem with it either. Now that halloween is sanctioned by the First Family of a World That Shouldn’t Matter, we can add it to the list of contradictions (that we’ve been keeping handy for later use). Their autocratic rules have changed direction one more time. Really, it wouldn’t even matter except that the former rules were often mandated with such authoritarian forboding which basically boils down to a form of intimidation. <br />
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It just sorta rankles that the years our kids were growing up halloween was such a big no no at The Former Church, so in order to take our kids trick or treating we had to sneak since it was considered participating in the devil’s holiday. We didn’t really sneak it - we just didn’t advertise - because we figured what overly concerned Christians don’t know wouldn’t hurt them. In an effort to grant kids an alternative to trick or treating, I think the church had parties some years but the costumes had to have a biblical theme. Our kids didnt’ attend since we were so busy sneaking them around our neighborhood because we never had a conviction that the Lord was telling us not to connect with our neighbors. By the way, it was a really great way to mingle with the neighborhood - we handed out candy from our door and we took our kids around to their houses too - and there was no other time of year when that happened so easily without being contrived. And we actually found out who lived around us.<br />
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I guess I’m just whining a little that our years of halloween weren’t as free and fun-loving as they could have been without Christian judgment glaring at us from churchland. To the contrary, the New Aristocracy seems to be frolicking in halloween delight! They not only participate in the festivities, they’ve jumped in with both feet decorating their kids and their houses and tweeting prolifically about it - as leaders of the church. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that” since they must be making up for all those years they had to dress up like Moses or the Virgin Mary and couldn’t just have a normal trick or treat night like the rest of America.<br />
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So my question is, if they keep rewriting all the rules that they were mandating before, what are they mandating now that they will be loosening up on in years to come? How about the undercover doctrine for instance? If they think they have so much authority in peoples’ lives TODAY maybe they should rethink it NOW instead of intruding on peoples’ private lives and misleading them for years with their unhealthy concept of God and all that He stands for. Otherwise, in the end, people who finally get free of them will be ranting about them just like I am ranting now about the intimidations of their tyannical parents.NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-65199161164629442042011-10-06T16:23:00.000-06:002015-05-11T09:46:52.035-06:00Two Excellent Interviews on The New Apostolic Reformation<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Photo Credit C. Peter Wagner via NPR.org</span></td></tr>
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In case anyone is interested and you haven’t come across these interviews yet, they are definitely worth a listen:<br />
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My blogger buddy and friend Freeatlast and I have been listening to a couple interviews on NPR by Terry Gross on Fresh Air about the NAR - the New Apostolic Reformation led by C. Peter Wagner - its mission and possible effect on American politics. One of the online articles opens with:<br />
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A new charismatic Christian movement that seeks to take dominion over politics, business and culture in preparation for the end times and Jesus’ return is becoming more of a presence in American politics. The leaders are considered apostles and prophets, gifted by God for this role. Several apostles affiliated with the movement helped organize or spoke at Rick Perry’s August prayer rally, The Response.</blockquote>
Listening gives you even more insight than reading the articles (the articles being only a summary). The <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/08/24/139781021/the-evangelicals-engaged-in-spiritual-warfare"><span style="color: red;">first interview is with Rachel Tabachnick</span></a>, who discusses the growing influence of the NAR in the political world. She has been researching and writing about the apostles for a decade and has her own blog call NARWatch and contributes to another blog called Talk To Action. The<a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/10/03/140946482/apostolic-leader-weighs-religions-role-in-politics"> second <span style="color: red;">interview is with Peter Wagner himself</span></a> - his quiet grandfatherly tones leave you wondering how such a nice man came to pick up the idea that he has been appointed by God as Christianity’s modern day Apostle when he actually spent 30 years as a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary so it’s not like he hasn’t studied the scriptures. Somewhere along the line he decided his interpretation of scripture contains new revelation. (hmmm- who does that remind you of? Oh ya, Joseph Smith!) He’s been the mentor and leader to certain special prophets in the NAR such as Dutch Sheets, Cindy Jacobs, Chuck Pierce and Lou Engle. They have been, and could be still, considered ‘under his authority’. He says they are aligned apostolically. His resume also includes Co-founder of the World Prayer Center in Colorado Springs with Ted Haggard. And oh yes, that is part of the discussion in the interview you won’t want to miss. <br />
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One more thing - the interview touches on 40 days of light over DC as something these folks are involved in so i looked it up and <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/category/subjects/forty-days-light-over-dc">found this from RightWingWatch.org</a>:<br />
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John Benefiel, Cindy Jacobs, and others will be returning to DC this fall for forty days of prayer through something called “DC 40: Forty Days of Light Over D.C” through which they will lay spiritual “seige” to the city and the nation in general - </blockquote>
The organizers say this about it: <br />
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The purpose of this siege is to change the atmosphere over the city of Washington D.C. through our worship, preparing the way for our legislators to function on a different playing field as we release 40 days of light over the city.</blockquote>
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I know they think they mean well - but spiritual siege? Just saying - these types are serious in their agenda to change what it means to be a Christian. Maybe those who beg to differ should stage a different kind of “Occupy” protest to distinguish true believers of the original gospel from those who take great liberty to rewrite scripture and appoint themselves as Apostles of our faith. <br />
<br />NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-63552095283627944752011-07-22T15:59:00.000-06:002011-07-22T15:59:40.709-06:00The Faith Component<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeN1np4B359TXdZVSLz2TNqS85s_vpbBA0TEtCd9Pac3qK0e_MbnR3oDDW1XoqbVS_cygQ6QoXk-YFJi1RdNcRZBSoIGzDpJUMdFCgZ17EJu5UVCdpttCtHEo_v_CmHcAr6Bja9XfdyiQ/s1600/NoahSendsOffDoveFromArk_JeanDreux_1450-60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeN1np4B359TXdZVSLz2TNqS85s_vpbBA0TEtCd9Pac3qK0e_MbnR3oDDW1XoqbVS_cygQ6QoXk-YFJi1RdNcRZBSoIGzDpJUMdFCgZ17EJu5UVCdpttCtHEo_v_CmHcAr6Bja9XfdyiQ/s320/NoahSendsOffDoveFromArk_JeanDreux_1450-60.jpg" t$="true" width="272" /></a></div>There's been a lively discussion on CityBusinessChurch blog called <a href="http://www.citybusinesschurch.org/blog/2011/06/22/let-us-have-this-debate-again/">Let us have this debate again</a> and after reading through for days and considering both sides (as much as I can since I'm already a believer in Christ), I wrote out my own conclusion to what this type of discussion ultimately brings me to. So thought to copy it here so I can refer to it in the future if needed. That's one of the reasons I like having a blog - it's a great place to record and save your thoughts. Anyway, here is my comment:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Detox Church Group said: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">July 22nd, 2011 at 1:14 pm</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">As for chiming in - this type of discussion ultimately takes me to the faith component to any belief system. I believe that Jayjacque touched on it earlier. Anyway, it would take as much faith for me to become an atheist as it does to remain a believer in Christ’s deity.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">For some background - I’ve been in relationship with who I perceive as the Spirit of Jesus since my senior year of high school. I came to that by a series of events unique to my life, arranged by something that knew what was going on with me at the time. If I wrote about those events it may not mean anything to the reader, but the way my life unfolded in a series of days - weeks - revealed to me that the Lord is personally “acquainted with all my ways” as the Psalmist David mentions in Psalm 139.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Call me delusional, a complete loon for fabricating a lifetime bond in my mind, but if it takes faith to believe one way or other, I’d rather use my energy to believe in a Someone who actually assists me through life. The alternative is to believe I’m on my own as a random sack of DNA with no consequence beyond my breath - a few years muddled through on this earth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Whether it be by the answers (results) to prayers I’ve prayed or the sense of calm I feel by the thought of his presence, the spirit of Christ has been a consistent guide throughout the progress of my life. The Bible has been a key, but not the only one, to my connection with God. It has conveyed God’s attributes, good or bad, even if raising questions due to the barbaric account of OT Jewish history. We have to consider that man has progressed from primitive ways and even if we aren’t completely able to cohabit the earth without war and pillage to this date, we’ve come a long way. It’s a war of good vs evil within us all that remains our struggle. Because we’ve changed over time we aren’t locked into patterning our lives according to the ways of the people who lived during the times the various books in the Bible were written - both old and new testament. I choose to believe that God understands that and would like us to use wisdom and discernment in how we live out our faith according to the times we live in. Could it be that he dealt in barbaric ways with a barbaric people because that is the only way they knew to that date?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I have to admit whether the Bible is historically accurate to the word or not doesn’t seem to diminish how it helps me on a personal level. Even though I read through the OT occasionally when I feel like it, I don’t usually turn to it for comfort and strength, especially after years in an authoritarian church that patterned itself after the OT (giving new meaning to loony if you ask me). But Psalms, Proverbs, Eccl, even the book of Job speak to me - all written before Christ and I turn to many NT texts that were all written because Jesus Christ lived. But I also turn to secular, non-biblical texts for encouragement. Movies and music also give me a shot in the arm when I need it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">If I were to approach God on a purely intellectual level (laughable considering how little I know!), the barbaric accounts would certainly give me more of a pause, but since my approach to him is beyond the cranial, I guess I trust in his intelligence and love even though the writings he gave us were in the limitation of the timeframe they were penned. Since I also come to him by my spirit which may sound a bit loonish, I guess there’s a need to know I’m more than my head. If we aren’t merely physical beings and we exhibit spiritual qualities, maybe that’s not so crazy. Try as we may, nourishment to the mind and body can’t always satisfy what is spirit within us, although that is only noticeable over time when one discovers something missing within. It’s the faith component that helps us know we possess on unseen essence of spirit. We see the result of our spirit in our ability to be generous, extend kindness, choose to love, all of which require that we think beyond ourselves to the needs of others. God too is an unseen essence of spirit. He has been likened to the wind - we see its evidence in the trees blowing and in the study of meterology, etc. We may not see him but we see the evidence of his benevolence all around us. One person may interpret that evidence as only man’s doing; but another may see it as the hand of God influencing mankind. Either way, there is a faith component contributing to the belief.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">If it takes faith to believe in ourselves alone or to believe in a creator who loves us and cares what happens to us, I figure I may as well employ that faith on the side of who I believe to be God. Furthermore, if a gift of eternal life is offered with stipulations (through, as the story goes, the acceptance of Jesus as God’s son who gave his life on earth in exchange for our ultimate separation from God), I’d rather err on the side of believing it’s true. If I were to die and find out it is indeed true, I’d be happy I fought to keep my faith in Jesus intact. If I were to choose to not accept the gift with its stipulations and then die and find out that Jesus turned out to be just another guy with no power to save, what harm did it do me to believe it in earthly life? It helped me through all the rough times, gave me joy and security in the knowledge I am loved. Sure, I’d be stunned and disappointed but maybe not if it turned out the last breath I took was indeed the end of me. What if I chose to not accept the gift and when I die it turns out to be what I should have done? Then it would be a fatal error. Not saying I believe only from fear, but it does come into play ever so slightly as I’m choosing one side or the other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I guess we can conclude it is a gamble. I suppose none of will have ABSOLUTE proof till we each take our last breath. Meanwhile, we each have the component of faith in whatever it is we choose to believe.</span>NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-84273595226564516682011-07-02T18:24:00.010-06:002011-07-04T11:54:16.394-06:00Payment for Services Rendered<p align="center"><a href="http://www.windowblindstips.com/wp-content/uploads/window-blind-pulls.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 396px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px" alt="" src="http://www.windowblindstips.com/wp-content/uploads/window-blind-pulls.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />While cleaning my window blinds this afternoon (by myself because I can't afford to have a housekeeping service) a new thought occurred to me about why the church across town allows their pastor leaders to live a lifestyle of the Up-and-Coming Elite in good conscience. Till now, when they cross my mind, I've been perplexed, wondering how they can justify the senior pastor family freely accessing the money provided by the weekly tithes and endless extra offerings to use as their personal expense accounts.<br /><br />Since I'm cleaning, I can't help but wonder if each member of the family employs a housekeeper (one for each household). If not that, then they at least have a volunteer come once a week so they are getting free housecleaning - no harm in that other than for the poor schmuck who then has to go home and clean her own house, again for free. It's been said that the senior pastor household has their grocery shopping done for them (eyeroll). The younger set loves to shop, we know that. Maybe not for groceries, but there is plenty of evidence that clothes shopping is a favorite pastime.<br /><br />The question always begs to be asked: What do the faithful tithers think of the fact that the money they give to run the ministry is used to keep their pastors in expensive houses, cars and clothes when other fastidious ministers can't afford luxuries with the allowances given to them by their churches.<br /><br />As I mused, a little light flickered on. I realized the tithers justify it as paying their pastors for services rendered. They think they are giving in obedience to God's word - or what they think they know to be God's word but all they are really doing is paying for something they want their pastors to do for them.<br /><br />Their tithe:<br />1)pays for a bi-weekly commentary on the Bible (is it so they don't have to study it themselves?); 2)pays for a false sense of security as in a covering (if you are under the leader's canopy then Satan can't get to you as easily);<br />3)pays for their pastors to look successful so Christianity is attractive to non-believers, especially to those with money and position.<br /><br />Much like Prince William and his new bride appear beautiful and dignified, the royal pastor clan must have an allure of importance and presence everywhere they go. The faithful tithers are paying for this assurance. They are paying to feel like they are important by association. I really have no bone to pick with them for doing so, other than this church claims tax exempt status as a 501 3 C non-profit organization. Seems like that fact alone could warrent that the money be used in ways to profit others beyond the pastor family.<br /><br />As I pondered this, I couldn't help but remember what I had read in the Gospel of Mark earlier in the day about the rich young man who wanted to inherit eternal life. It paints such a different picture than my musings of pastoral affluence. Here's what I read:<br /><br />The Rich and the Kingdom of God<br />17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”<br />18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. (19) You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”<br />20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”<br />21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”<br />22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.<br />23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”<br />24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! (25) It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”<br />26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”<br />27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”<br />28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”<br />29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel (30) will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. (31) But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”<br /><br />If Jesus wanted us to live like kings wouldn't he have said so? Instead he emphasizes how a rich lifestyle is in conflict with living for God. Of course, then I remember that those who believe in the prosperity doctrine use these same verses (29 and 30) as text to validate their position on the accumulation of earthly possessions - when in fact the text says if you sacrifice for God it will be made up to you somehow but not without earthly troubles. I think the key word there is 'sacrifice' and you certainly don't see a lot of that going on in prosperity gospel circles.<br /><br />Oh well, at least my mini revelation helps me see why the faithful tithers keep giving to the black hole across town, and why the pastor leaders can sleep at night.<br /><br />While I slave away vacuuming wood window blinds, I think it could be worse - I could be cleaning 2 houses instead of just one. (If I ever do that it will be for my parents who could use the help.) So today, I'm counting my blessings once again that I am free from the old world. Yes, I still think about it, processing the affects of being in there way too long. Even so, I'd rather be doing this than be in that orbit of delusion paying someone else to do and be something that I should have been doing and being for myself all along.<br /><br />And I can't help but lament that I used to be there doing what they do. The old saying is so utterly true, "But for the grace of God, go I". Or how about "Once I was blind but now I see."?NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-44551411863213238522011-06-24T00:13:00.004-06:002011-06-24T00:24:49.901-06:00Cash Machines for Christ<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtYkboe96tWyJZV1dr-rLjaLboAV7w2eki-JbnUxK6B0eZh362aLzRuZpWirIDP-NEvziePVWIua3Mw2H6NPScbiG6YNIaUtyEjUR2OpDB_7E_hrQ9BgMG0fSTFOIwzswdRnHOtVwMBA/s1600/x2_551b89e.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621665997112391010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtYkboe96tWyJZV1dr-rLjaLboAV7w2eki-JbnUxK6B0eZh362aLzRuZpWirIDP-NEvziePVWIua3Mw2H6NPScbiG6YNIaUtyEjUR2OpDB_7E_hrQ9BgMG0fSTFOIwzswdRnHOtVwMBA/s200/x2_551b89e.jpg" /></a> The caption under this twitter pic reads: <br /><blockquote><br /><p>Things I love about (<em>insert name of church here): </em>ATM in the Lobby of Church!</p><br /><p>This was tweeted by one of the pastor types at the former vortex church we attended.</p><br /><p>Need I say more?</p></blockquote>NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-83498233296036554282011-06-03T14:03:00.011-06:002011-06-03T15:41:41.744-06:00Red Flag Warnings<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 500px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3016/2765670015_61ff840095.jpg" />Too bad the red flags we came across over the years in our former church worlds didn't have more obvious indicators that something was wrong. Take this red flag across the path for instance. How nice it would have been to see a big red flag over the threshhold of the vortex sanctuary. Or how about "Danger! You are listening to an imposter!" on the big media screens strobing behind the pastor king while he rants about unity (i.e. cloning himself so we'd all be on the same page.) It would've been great to see a huge fire truck complete with clanging bell and horn resounding in the parking lot when everyone showed up for prayer on Saturday night! Why not a strapping fireman with a bull horn warning "Step away from the door!" so we would have chosen to go somewhere fun with our families to actually help BUILD a stronger relationship instead of yet another night in a windowless sanctum?<div><br /><div>Oh well, even though the flags didn't flash obvious danger signals, the good news is we eventually got the message. Even though we still cringe when we wonder how many red flags did we need to see before we knew to get the heck out of there?! (a life-long lament to be sure)<div><br /><div>An anonomous person dropped by the other day and left a compelling comment on my <a href="http://detoxchurchgroup.blogspot.com/2011/03/spiritual-temperature.html">Spiritual Temperature and A New Surrender</a> post that I'd like to highlight in its own post. By way of collecting testimonies like this, those of us out here (who are now outside the camp so to speak <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2013:12-14&version=NIV">Hebrews 13:12-14</a>) can keep record of this surprising 'new' (for some of us it's new!) movement that is indeed coming into its own, a new move of God if we dare to say. Many of us are fed up with what Christian Culture has become to us and have decided we no longer have to live within its confines if it's in one of the abusive environments. We no longer desire to follow a wrong gospel. We've seen numerous red flags that all added up and now realize it is the Lord himself removing us from the danger zone! He called us out to RESCUE OUR FAITH! We are finding that God is still with us and moving in our midst despite the threats the old world tried to contain us with, telling us God would remove his blessing from us if we ventured outside 'the covering' (gag). <em>(Side note: Their version of covering completely COVERED US UP! The only COVERING we need is Jesus. It goes without saying that we can find joy in healthy relationships and friendships, but they don't cover us!)</em> </div><br /><div>And here we are, actually blessing one another with encouragement and support! Talk about a church without walls! I'm not talking about Paula White who desecrated the concept by naming her church that, using it to garner wages to jump in the pipeline of the rich and famous! To the contrary, wouldn't you say that phrase describes the church on the internet?! So glad to finally take the cult out of culture if you get my drift. I'm so grateful to find other brothers and sisters on various blogs who have stumbled on to the truth of God's love and that HE needs no walls to keep his church going. HE is without limitation! It's enough to make the abusive church leaders weep and gnash their teeth because it's so beyond their control! They just can't stop it!<br /><br />Anyway, to the topic at hand which is our new friend's comment. Sounds like he or she has abandoned ship or is about to... thank GOD either way! A hardy congratulations he is free from that particular 'pipeline'! Please say a prayer for this person to find a new job, a thriving livelihood and true fulfillment on this side of heaven, because it sounds like he had to sacrifice his job to leave. Many of us know the feeling. It WILL get better, I hope he can grab onto that and rebuild his hope. So here goes:<br /><br /><em>"Thank you for creating this blog. It's very comforting to read in the internet many stories from former members of abusive churches share their own testimonies.<br /><br />I was in a word of faith movement and I left the group just recently because the red flags I am experiencing is already too intense to ignore. I was looking for a refuge from the abusive atmosphere in my family only to be trapped in a spiritual group wherein the system is also abusive. I bought into the lie that "the cause" is the most important mission of a christian. I gave in to the false promise that you have to be in the "right pipeline" if you want to experience the fullness of God's blessings and I obeyed out of fear that you have to be in the "right boat" to ride the big wave otherwise you will be left behind. Charismatic preachers name call those christians who don't want to submit to a human shepherd loose cannons, spiritual dwarfs or rebels. It's difficult to leave cause I sincerely considered them a family, however, the system for me has already done subtle yet serious havoc in my life. I left my job for the faith that I am exchanging it for a "far greater and more important work for the advancement of the kingdom" only to realize when I was already involved deeper that there are aspects significant to the system that my conviction can no longer tolerate. My growing disillusionment is getting more difficult to deny so I deliberately decided to take my own exodus. I am now jobless, really hurting and somewhat feel paranoid. Words can't describe the pain I feel inside. Even praying to God seems blank, I have lost all desire to go to church and even my motivation to live has been really affected. But despite of the pain, I am doing my best to get all the strength I can muster to bounce bank. No matter how hard the process i am going through right now,i still hold on to have faith in a benevolent and gracious God."</em></div></div></div></div>NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-55704079380248502412011-05-13T14:27:00.007-06:002011-05-13T16:18:54.128-06:00Travel Stats Continue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogM7N-YAL8Ae_4cUPcki7LrrAUhbkSiQMi0EENgDTV1F4I3ep9C38l6v3GfayB59wdBt8DWv1HLf_fbcoQKwMCxqX4h9qtsKyxI5CdwDZeiLLztf1Nx4sWUUdJzyKcfKfzJ1RDAlfZlQ/s1600/Big_Ben_8583a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 164px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606300304784985906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogM7N-YAL8Ae_4cUPcki7LrrAUhbkSiQMi0EENgDTV1F4I3ep9C38l6v3GfayB59wdBt8DWv1HLf_fbcoQKwMCxqX4h9qtsKyxI5CdwDZeiLLztf1Nx4sWUUdJzyKcfKfzJ1RDAlfZlQ/s200/Big_Ben_8583a.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2bjiXcci7MwEuxhtCii1l1iPJ84cebm_gH3FPsucoNN8fOR_aaxD1NlGhjV-xna78ydQshcfxY2UZJ1Ph-mhiiIi_32IvEayW3O4Am8Cs4_jOBwHOBX0WHT-pSdI-nOMWiZsMxQWx_U/s1600/767629_eiffel_tower.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 149px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606300302674492818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2bjiXcci7MwEuxhtCii1l1iPJ84cebm_gH3FPsucoNN8fOR_aaxD1NlGhjV-xna78ydQshcfxY2UZJ1Ph-mhiiIi_32IvEayW3O4Am8Cs4_jOBwHOBX0WHT-pSdI-nOMWiZsMxQWx_U/s200/767629_eiffel_tower.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQ1sORA5-gu1jJ-0bsoKpmUohCJb3c5thQIvC2F2pxl98pWITn57AjhqDPjplFxS-HN6Wa5HZmMl-LzA62hdP4Fy3mMYD3scGoZJzNondkC_oMHlFK3rB53Z_bDn_M_C-67PNzQ_t_R4/s1600/Australia-Map.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606300296590053314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQ1sORA5-gu1jJ-0bsoKpmUohCJb3c5thQIvC2F2pxl98pWITn57AjhqDPjplFxS-HN6Wa5HZmMl-LzA62hdP4Fy3mMYD3scGoZJzNondkC_oMHlFK3rB53Z_bDn_M_C-67PNzQ_t_R4/s200/Australia-Map.gif" /></a> Just a quick update on the travel itinerary of the Young Pastoral Elite. In the last month they've crossed the sea to attend ministry related functions having to do with Hillsong. Opportunity has presented itself on the coattails of the enviably popular cousin who is included in the speaker lineup for the Hillsong conferences. I guess they aren't too proud to tag along with their infamous Cosmopolitan Cousin. (How can they stand the subtle gloating and attitude of specialness??)<br /><br />But meanwhile, back at the home front, the people who are invariably funding these 'ministry missions' are scraping by, paycheck to paycheck, actually working for a living (concept). Some of them losing houses, some having to pay huge tax bills. I wonder what the travel itinerary of the typical ordinary parishioner looks like? Sad to say, most of them are too busy working or, if they do travel beyond their allotted vacation time, it's for an unglamorous work trip.<br /><br />To those who don't see the error of using funds from a 501 3 c organization (i.e. with tax exempt status) for global galavanting, my ranting may sound like jealousy. If my friends and I were to entertain jealous thoughts, our feelings immediately give way to outrage. We are appalled that this church does not see that what they are doing is any different than what a former Boise Mayor spent jail time over which was using government money to take his employees on nice trips. What's even more incredulous is the people don't see the correlation and think this is all ok!<br /><br />This is not a jealous rant, this is a reality check. But in the spirit of a true reality check, I must admit life is unfair and justice is painfully slow going. Year after year we watch the church across town revel in their delusion that they are highly blessed of God because they go on so many trips (which include shopping sprees to Harrods and I'm sure the hottest boutique in Paris). How could it not be a blessing from God when they are ushered into the presence of what they deem as greatness or walk the floors where Royals walk?<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc9933;">But in reality, what IS happening? All of the above is funded with the money that hard-working ordinary Americans tithe to the church every week to keep the church afloat, for the work of the ministry. I doubt they designate their offerings to fund global treks to the latest Megachurch conference with a little shopping thrown in.</span></strong><br /><br />Why do the people continue to pay the tithe? Is it they are waiting for God to bless them like he seems to be blessing their leaders? They've been taught, <em>by their leaders</em>, that blessing begins at the 'top' and trickles down. Nevermind the scriptures about leadership being 'the servant of all' or 'the first shall be last, the last shall be first'. That hardly factors in - besides, it would interupt the wonderful cashflow.<br /><br />If only God would remove the scales from the eyes of the people so they can see the truth for what it is - that they are the ones enabling the dysfunction. The Pastoral Elite will continue to travel on the dime of their church as long as the funds are available to be used at their discretion and pave the way for such glorious living.<br /><br />Doesn't scripture infer that God will recognize those who gave a drink to the thirsty, food to the hungry, clothing and shelter to the poor, taking care of widows and orphans and even prisoners? Do you think he will be interested in the travel itinerary of the rich and famous then? Just wondering...<br /><br />Yes, God will ask the Pastoral Elite to give an account one day, just as he will ask us all to give an account. But, human nature being what it is, we commoners sure wish they'd have to give an account before then. Can we hope for justice on this side of heaven? I hope God will forgive any wrong motive on our part and consider that a prayer.NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-35804158048110224512011-03-17T15:14:00.012-06:002011-03-17T18:51:42.174-06:002011 Travel Stats of the Young Pastoral Elite<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeozwL4RFQGUCpwUD84USEa7xwvmUjJ4oyE2jG8MGbMf9bLpLb65JcQBekpP-d25sY9VAHs8_aJLcyc340Z9rYCe11RT9ghO2bhKJtyZv-UiwsovOrj1acmdWxqAPGbMH_b9MyjHy8KU/s1600/jetsetter.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeozwL4RFQGUCpwUD84USEa7xwvmUjJ4oyE2jG8MGbMf9bLpLb65JcQBekpP-d25sY9VAHs8_aJLcyc340Z9rYCe11RT9ghO2bhKJtyZv-UiwsovOrj1acmdWxqAPGbMH_b9MyjHy8KU/s200/jetsetter.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585179711347037602" /></a> Another year has rolled around and we can't help but notice that the travel pattern of the young pastoral elite across town hasn't diminished during the winter months. Lest you think we are obsessively checking their twitters on a daily basis, weeks may pass without a thought in their direction. Then one day we think to check in and - lo and behold -they've taken 4 trips in a 1-month period!<br /><br />2/14 Hawaii<br />2/25 Palm Springs<br />3/5 - 3/7 NYC<br />3/7 - On to DC<br />3/15 -Los Angeles <br /><br />While their pastors criss cross the United States on a week-to-month basis, do the families that have lost, or could be about to lose, their homes at vortex church ever ask where DO their leaders get the money to travel so much?? <em><em>(They lost their homes because of bad advice given by the senior pastor who elevated a scammer guy into leadership who scammed these families out of money taken from the equity in their homes. He is now a wanted man in 4 different states - CO, ID, UT, TX!) (BTW, why didn't the pastors all lose their houses too??) </em></em><br /><br />Isn't the congregation at all curious to know whether their tithes and offerings are funding big fluff that masquerades as "ministry"? If they are too afraid to ask, we certainly aren't. But when we pose this question we are branded as jealous with a bitterness problem. I wouldn't say we are jealous, but we are definitely perplexed that God himself is allowing this to continue as if he has bestowed a great blessing upon them. <br /><br />My fellow detoxer, Non-Celebrity Christian, has been asking another question lately: Why do pastors WANT to travel and get away so much? This is a question for even the Good pastor on our side of town. Do they become restless staying in town with those who support them financially, spiritually and emotionally? The same people who faithfully mind the store while they are away I might add. Is it just too boring to stay in town tending a flock who needs you? Yawn. I am a Global Christian and the world is mine for the taking. Is that it?<br /><br />This leads us to the next question: Just what is a pastor? The young pastoral elite may fit the definition of the kewl and to-be-envied jetset rat-pack of Christianity today, but I doubt it has alot to do with compassion and tending a flock. When do they have time to take care? I think they've all developed a spiritual hypertention disorder and they are so drunk on their growing numbers that they can't help think they do no wrong. They mistake God's tolerance as His blessing. <br /><br />Meanwhile, those of us desperate to know that God still loves us and has a plan for our lives other than being minions to pastor-kings, are left wondering if God is really that interested in his reputation anymore. That is my honest and heartfelt question for Him that I hope he someday answers.NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-67892706408832246442011-03-05T09:47:00.010-07:002011-03-10T19:09:44.248-07:00Spiritual Temperature and A New Surrender<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2FEKdNRTg8FO8Qt7LSU_LD3RjBdgWD0Zw4h06wv1G6Dy3fxJi_sJ-Q3OHBL1KM4S327x6EQSdxoxzJBmOIl0tnJ995SSVS0oVJlASx-dK5lPuU4sHAFrFhm6Tz9D7KqQQVQsM2ztM1I/s1600/vintage+bible.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 90px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580647069980433394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2FEKdNRTg8FO8Qt7LSU_LD3RjBdgWD0Zw4h06wv1G6Dy3fxJi_sJ-Q3OHBL1KM4S327x6EQSdxoxzJBmOIl0tnJ995SSVS0oVJlASx-dK5lPuU4sHAFrFhm6Tz9D7KqQQVQsM2ztM1I/s320/vintage+bible.jpg" /></a> Journaling again on my spiritual temperature, assessing where I think I stand since leaving the authoritarian style church we left in 2005. Here it is 2011, six years later.<br /><div></div><br /><div>This year I'm finding a new freedom in reading the Bible on a daily basis. Not that I wasn't reading God's word in previous years but because I was determined not to open the book out of christian expectation or legalism, it was no longer an every day obligation like it once was. That was so I knew in my heart when I did reach for His pages it was because I wanted to hear from God, touch base with his thoughts and hear them clearly without the authoritarian voice of the former pastor(s) echoing in my mind. The Lord has been faithful to lead me gently in these last few years giving me lots of space and what feels like His understanding. The Holy Spirit has spoken, convicted me kindly when I needed it, reassured me every time I needed it, just like always throughout my years as a christian. </div><br /><div></div><div>Daily reading because I'm eager and hungry for 'the new and living way' is becoming a profound joy like it was when I first asked Jesus into my heart. I'm not reading verociously, but taking bite-sized portions to ponder in both the Old Testament and New. I have my own little schedule that I'm surprised I stick to without a group to keep me on track. When I miss a day I'm not uptight about it in the least and I just read a double portion the next day if time allows. It's very personal and not about the corporate setting at all.</div><br /><div></div><div>Prayer is also an area I needed to relax in so my approach has been the same. </div><br /><div>Worship in song has long been personal to me but it too has been redone - still being redone. Let's just say it has been nice to sit quietly before the Lord in my right mind singing thoughtful songs to him without the need to sing each song 10 times to bring God into the room. There is no frenzy left in me. I could write a book on how I feel about that. </div><br /><div></div><div>I'm still gun-shy about getting involved at a church. I'm ok with attending but my approach has been the same as with bible reading, prayer and worship. Since we left the old church my husband and I have felt it important that I take time to develop my art in the years I have left and work towards certain goals. After years of giving my art second place to the church (actually 3rd after my family) I'm still a little afraid God may ask me to set it aside again to help out at church, which would not only diffuse my focus but set me on a completely different path. There's a reason we've called church a vortex...</div><br /><div></div><div>That being said, the Holy Spirit brought me to a place of surrender a week or so ago where I actually said to him I would do that (help in a church) if it was his will. It's been more than 6 years since I've been able to say that. Talk about a long surrender. But having done that I have a peace that I'm where I need to be with my art and that he is the Lord of it since I've given him the opportunity to be Lord all along. In the end I only want to serve him with it and hope that the fruit of it is to bring his essence to those my art can touch. <br /><div></div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>At this point I think I'm to continue pursuing my art outside the church where I feel it's more needed and valued. The church doesn't seem too interested anyway. The only way I could share my heart inside the walls of christian culture is if I could be open and honest about what I've been through, what led us to our exodus from a cult-like church and what I'm feeling now. Church christians don't seem to really want to hear about that even if internet christians do ;-) If Art is a reflection of Life, it will have no depth of substance if we can't be real about life.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><div></div><br /><br />Even the whole process of surrender has had to be redone in my life because it was twisted in the old world. Dying to self helped you stay flexible so you could easily be at the eck and call of the pastor who was constantly changing course. If you just died to self then you didn't find yourself so frustrated at the fact he enjoyed changing plans at whim or pitting people who worked for him against each other. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><div></div><br />I am crucified with Christ has been or is being restored to its rightful meaning now, so I can have a new sense of trust in the process of surrender. If I'm still a little worried about being trapped again, a peacful trust outshines the fear when I remember Jesus has been with me on this journey and he isn't into jerking me off the path he's been leading me on. He's brought me this far not to send me backward. </div><br /><div></div><div>So, I think the whole surrender thing is about being willing to be a light for Jesus wherever he leads and making sure my heart is his in everyway. I'm free to come and go. It makes the most sense.</div>NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-19296074613784525592010-10-30T22:49:00.018-06:002010-11-17T10:49:45.373-07:00The Revoked Blessing of the Worship Band Tour<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_ynQtdNMvKiYj3jz566eHTHe_O1aYhXXr6AI8iiWouiHZtlcrnxL0rGfuCtRlJTI5PM7ofq3Q4Ao7eQ-qQ6T3rPnEDJSaFQHZpwFhynCkuWzDzBYNEoqEhfMNK-0W-vCdXmIEwj8tBE/s1600/Map_of_America_by_Sebastian_Munster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534086054693314242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_ynQtdNMvKiYj3jz566eHTHe_O1aYhXXr6AI8iiWouiHZtlcrnxL0rGfuCtRlJTI5PM7ofq3Q4Ao7eQ-qQ6T3rPnEDJSaFQHZpwFhynCkuWzDzBYNEoqEhfMNK-0W-vCdXmIEwj8tBE/s320/Map_of_America_by_Sebastian_Munster.jpg" border="0" /></a>It still baffles me when I hear about the goings on at the former church and their affiliates - more directly the unexceptable behavior that the leadership inflicts upon supporters who choose (as free Americans) to attend there. Who is treated worse than anyone are those who have chosen to go on staff, again supportive people thinking they are there to serve the Lord by serving the church. Happily I am no longer there as a subserviant and stepfordized version of myself. Yet, I can't help shake my head when I hear about how people are still being treated there. Why people stay can only be attributed to timing and how much pain can they stand. Afterall, we finally left when the pain of staying became greater than the pain of leaving <em>(wisely pointed out by my dear friend and fellow ship-jumper).</em><br /><br />The latest bizarre, yet typical, behavior of former church is the episode of The Revoked Blessing of the Worship Band Tour. Like everything else associated with this church, it's a bit of a quagmire but hopefully I can explain without getting too muddled.</div><br /><div align="justify">My former church's current primary worship team has been venturing out into the national Christian Community, one gig at a time, to share their brand of songs with a growing following. Since they have great music and noble hearts it's been exciting to see their youthful passion for worship expanding into new realms across the USA. Their manager is the frontman for another successful and thriving worship band who is sharing with them learned about touring. He also just happens to be the pastor's son of the largest church in our city that we have dubbed the Good Church because of its fruitfulness and effectiveness as a church. It's the best example we have seen so far and it's the church we've been attending to detox from the extreme weird world we were once held captive. So you can imagine our surprise when the boys from former church started hanging out with our pastor's son, even leading worship from time to time at the Good Church!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Pastor son/manager helped them set up Tour #1 and they went out with what they thought was the blessing of the leaders in their church. One of the band members told me that their pastors were actually really excited for them and gave them their blessing. I have to admit I was surprised because it's never been former church's style to let people go very far. But then again, as my friends and I discussed this, we realized former church may have thought they were hitching themselves to a rising star, so of course they'd give the blessing.</div><div align="justify"><br />But now that has apparently changed. Shortly after The Band announced Tour #2, WacWorld Leadership is revoking their blessing and have kicked them off the worship team schedule. Not only that, the frontman for the band was actually employed on staff as a worship leader and they let him go. They actually said "We can't give you our blessing." <em>(What is it about elite pastors who think they invoke blessing like the pope or someone? Shaking my head at that.)</em> Of course, if you know the history of the former church, you know why this was done. But for those of you that don't know the pattern, I'll try to summarize. </div><div align="justify"><br />It probably rankles that the band is getting notoriety but it isn't helping the church, or more importantly the leadpastor family. If everything you do is supposed to build up the senior pastor and his family (i.e. it's all about them), then you can't be someone successful in their midst if it doesn't ultimately point to them. In other words, the history has been that they tend to frown on success if it doesn't directly affect the church. Also, it must REALLY rankle that the boys play worship for services at the successful church the manager attends (The Good Church) because it is interpreted as non-loyal. If you are actually helping to build up what is considered a rival church, then you have to be cut off like a bad tree branch or something.</div><br /><div align="justify">The boys seeming haven't realized until now what's really going on beneathe the surface of the lead family's slick, expensively cultivated exterior. They also may not be aware that there is a long line of people who have similar stories, yet with different details. But whether these young men want to admit they have been treated terribly or not, this is a story I felt compelled to put to pen because it shows us once again what happens when leaders have an elevated sense of their own importance. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Which is more Christ-like? Should we speak up about the lead pastor family's bad behavior or should we remain silent and let their actions go unchecked? Jesus spoke up about how he felt concerning the Pharisees treatment of the people who were bringing sacrificial gifts into the house of God and then keeping the best for themselves. He also had a strong reaction to the 'money changers' selling in the temple and raged through with a whip in hand! Then again, when He was on trial for His life he remained silent. If we are to follow his example, I guess we need to look at the circumstances of the situation, ask for guidance and go from there.</div><br /><div align="justify">These are questions some of us are wrestling with as word reaches us about the goings on at the Church of Questionable Conduct. Meanwhile, the boys in the band are just playing their songs, loving Jesus, loving people wherever they go and I hope they remain free to do just that. I'm sure they are better off not being under the strict jurisdiction and regiment of former church. This is going to be the <strong>best thing that could have happened for them</strong> and maybe someday they will see it as such and thank the Lord for his merciful intervention.</div>NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-67204526330789300002010-08-10T10:38:00.007-06:002010-09-03T14:28:43.158-06:00Quest for the House of God<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU12rl7973whw0hK0jpTMyp-XLx7ozyp77SplxGMTWXeHijKrBVwcsuBQEZc8K-JBg1XCD2nOAlz4xb-6v9SR8ru2r5hRh8vVjvMIFXWFchaPaCzd5gLKAmUKMuSCXTHFzStjWrVP_tfY/s1600/jesusstature.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512419567246889186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 161px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 238px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU12rl7973whw0hK0jpTMyp-XLx7ozyp77SplxGMTWXeHijKrBVwcsuBQEZc8K-JBg1XCD2nOAlz4xb-6v9SR8ru2r5hRh8vVjvMIFXWFchaPaCzd5gLKAmUKMuSCXTHFzStjWrVP_tfY/s320/jesusstature.bmp" border="0" /></a>Jesus will always be the one I worship, my prophet of choice, Saviour, friend, teacher and guide. I would never pass over his living essence for a chunky piece of dead stone, no matter how peaceful and loving the idol-relic rhetoric comes across. It's just not a temptation for me, although I can see how it would be for some, depending on what they've gone through in the christian culture, and whether they feel completely deserted by God in their circumstances.<br /><br />The spirit of Jesus is like the wind, or sometimes a gentle breeze, according to the need, who wafts in breathing new life with his presence. He's made himself real to me in so many ways throughout my lifetime, that there's no question of leaving him.<br /><br />Leaving, or not engaging in, christian culture is a different story for me these days. Although I haven't entirely left its sphere, I have been content now to remain on the outer rim of it.<br /><br />However, I have been wondering what to do about my affinity for the verses of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027&version=NIV">Psalm 27:4-6</a> that say:<br /><br />"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high on a rock...at his tabernacle I will sing and make music to the Lord."<br /><br />Is that only for people who want to spend time in church culture and be caught up in its orbit? I used to sing these words with more of the church in mind - serving there - my music supposedly being there. But time and circumstance has changed that.<br /><br />When you feel the Lord has lifted you out of a certain sphere and placed you in another one that isn't by definition the church or its culture, where then is the house of God? I feel no affinity for serving in church, not because of bitterness and unforgiveness (some people automatically think that's the problem), but because I see now that the Lord has lifted me out. But I still feel a kinship for those verses that hold meaning for me even if I'm not sure of the meaning. Maybe the Lord has wanted the meaning redefined all along.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">So I've been on a quest to find out what the house of God means to me now</span></strong>.<br />I know what it no longer can be for me. Especially when the Pastor at the Good Church periodically sounds too much like our former pastor at the Church of Questionable Conduct - that if you aren't doing your part (he calls it doing chores) at your local church you must be in rebellion to God. Like <em>that's</em> really motivating, thanks. I can't <em>wait</em> to jump in now and let you suck my energy bone dry so I have no time left to do my art which is the calling of <em>my</em> life. At the time of this blogpost it's not logistically going to work if I try to do both (just like it wasn't early on when I started this blog). And I don't sense the Lord asking me to lay down my art to walk back into the church to help with that particular family's chores. I've done that already for far too long and have suffered for it. If I do that now, how do I know <em>THAT</em> is not rebellion to what God wants me to do? Besides, if you go by the rebellion-to-God dogma, where is the longsuffering and patient love of God in that?<br /><br />Jesus said that if two of his followers gather in his name, he is there in the midst. This may be one of the keys to the door of God's house. Where two or more of us encourage each other in faith and hope, pray for each other and with each other, that would be fulfilling the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2012:28-29&version=NIV">2 most important commandments according to Jesus </a>when he uttered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.<br /><br />Another thought that has come to mind in the reading Psalm 27 passage again, when I see "at his tabernacle I will sing and make music to the Lord." "At" makes me think of standing next to something, in this case it could be an altar. Wherever you build an altar for the Lord to worship him, wouldn't that be the place of his dwelling and therefore his house? Or how about under the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2091:4&version=NIV">shadow of His wing</a>? When I sing to the Lord even by myself, I feel I've passed through a threshold, walked into a place of worship and communion. When I talk with the Lord <em>wherever I am</em>, I share with him the secrets of my soul, my needs and desires. In so doing, I hand my burden to him in faith that he's taken it since he's promised to shoulder it much better than I ever could. That's the kind of exchange pastors always tell you needs to happen when you go to church. It can happen <em>anywhere</em> though, not just in church services.<br /><br />Perhaps the spirit of the Lord doesn't WANT to be walled up in a building where communal chores are necessary to keep its household running. Maybe he really IS like the wind that wants to blow where a place of desire and need exist, where it can do most good.<br /><br />Not to say that can't happen in church too, because I know that's very valid for those who seek refuge in the churches. It was for me at one time. Still can be sometimes. The Lord is never one to turn anyone away, so my guess is he's in both types of houses. For those who like the idea of being part of a family where, sort of like children, they do their chores while the pastor-father oversees (and yes, does his chores too), that's great for them. But to assume we all need to be there when some of us have spread our wings and flown the nest, isn't that a bit presumptuous? That's like telling my adult children what they are doing out in the world beyond our home isn't as valid as coming back into the fold and helping us keep our household running.<br /><br />My hope is that the house of God dwells within us, wherever we may be, as we seek his face and he touches our lives. Like that beautiful painting of the finger of God touching the finger of man, both reaching to one another in need and desire, the Spirit of God gives sustenance and breath to help us keep on living, enabling us to follow the path of destiny he's given us without fear and distraction. Walking in harmony and communion with him is his house because he is our father, teacher, saviour and friend. That seems right to me, but since this is a quest, I'm open to adjusting anything out of harmony with the scriptures.<br /><a href="http://www.jerryducasse.com/christ/god_touching_man.jpg"></a>NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-15842693738056745572010-07-26T15:57:00.013-06:002011-03-17T16:19:53.502-06:00Travel Money<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SNDFEWPYqmCMB1wrYCyWAUpEXu6DdF36kxfTav0hbt7DY9BS8OgIKHOI8NOKId3PVZ0hCNDYCDR9nxOcldLOEJqKncUOnHq52OTk-n_-AtnYAk1iiZ62ecG48j1J7Ue943uRQTRvEco/s1600/money+bags.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498344372885131666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 173px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 131px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SNDFEWPYqmCMB1wrYCyWAUpEXu6DdF36kxfTav0hbt7DY9BS8OgIKHOI8NOKId3PVZ0hCNDYCDR9nxOcldLOEJqKncUOnHq52OTk-n_-AtnYAk1iiZ62ecG48j1J7Ue943uRQTRvEco/s320/money+bags.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Where <em>DO</em> they get the money to travel so much? Orlando in May, Colorado in June and now they are in Hawaii. Cant wait to see what August thru December brings. It must be nice to jet set all around the world and have a travel calendar filled to overflowing.<br /><br /> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Here are a few of the pastor girls tweets: </div><div>[Went to church outside in my swimsuit.. What?! Maui is where I be.. Embracing the aloha spirit. <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/TracyWilde/status/19522002214" rel="bookmark">2:20 PM Jul 25th</a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/" rel="nofollow">Twitter for iPhone</a> ]<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>[sitting under a huge palm tree looking over the ocean in Maui! <a class="tweet-url web" href="http://tweetphoto.com/35265141" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://tweetphoto.com/35265141</a> <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/rrachelle/status/19687936590" rel="bookmark">3:39 PM Jul 27th</a> via <a href="http://ubertwitter.com/" rel="nofollow">UberTwitter</a> ]<br /><br />[Just got back from a spa, and am now officially relaxed! <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/rrachelle/status/19884381432" rel="bookmark">10:50 PM Jul 29th</a> via <a href="http://ubertwitter.com/" rel="nofollow">UberTwitter</a> ]<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>[Last day in Maui.. We've done a whole lot of nothing and I've loved every second. Pool, eat, read, beach, spa, eat, repeat.. <a class="entry-date" href="http://twitter.com/TracyWilde/status/19936254731" rel="bookmark">1:11 PM Jul 30th</a> via <a href="http://twitter.com/" rel="nofollow">Twitter for iPhone</a> ]<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><em>Again,</em> not that pastors shouldn't take vacations but, <em>really,</em> when the rest of us are trying to make house and car payments, and travel has to take a back seat, are we supposed to believe God loves and favors them more because they charged 210 per person at their youth camp and the offerings were so dang good their reward is a week of in Maui?<br /><br /><em>Again,</em> do the families that <em>lost</em> <em>their houses</em> over there at vortex church ever ask these kinds of questions? (They lost their homes because of bad advice given by the senior pastor who elevated a scammer guy into leadership who scammed these families out of money taken from the equity in their homes. He is now a wanted man in 3 different states!) (BTW, why didn't the pastors all lose their houses too??) </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So, do they merely believe God blesses his anointed with abundance while the rest of the congregation suffers? Don't they wonder just a little bit where the travel money comes from? Aren't they curious to know whether their tithes and offerings (which was essentially their money before they gave to "God") are funding all the foo foo fluff that so easily hides under the <em><strong>big broad </strong></em>category tabbed "ministry".<br /><br />Fine. If God wants them to get away with it scott free in this life, so be it. Is it too much to ask for justice in this life? Not so much that we can see them 'get their just desserts' but so God will validate that he is watching and isn't happy with this sort of thing. If nothing else, they <em>will</em> have to give an accurate account for it someday even if it's only in the hereafter at the Day of Judgement. Wouldn't want to be in their shoes then.</div>NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3169731035319485318.post-43193929187926199782010-05-19T00:53:00.007-06:002010-05-19T02:49:17.044-06:00High Rolling at The Vortex Church<a href="http://in10words.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/happymeal13.jpg?w=500&h=358"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 358px;" src="http://in10words.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/happymeal13.jpg?w=500&h=358" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Yum. Just downed a happy meal at MickeyD's tonight. Since the economic downturn we've been cutting costs in creative ways like many Americans. Occasionally splurging is a must, though, to keep the sanity and fun in your life. Thus the economy meal. (And dont forget, there's always the Number 12 at Polo Ray: $2.99 buys more than you can eat, or make it a platter for an extra $1.25. Just add ice water at no charge and your meal is complete.) <br /><br />It's amazing, though, that our former Vortex Church doesn't seem to be affected by the economic dip, or at least it hasn't seemed to affect the senior pastor family. In fact, vacations to expensive theme parks clear across the country are being twittered about by their entire family as I blog. "Entire family" in this case means most of the Vortex staff which is senior pastor and wife, sons, daughters, and spouses. These people always vacation together which is a little weird anyway. How do you ever really take a break if your entire clan is in tow?<br /><br />That's just rich isn't it? When the rest of us are driving shorter distances in these hard times or even cutting out vacations altogether for a staycation, this family manages to ride high on the tithes of the undiscerning (who believe that their tithes and offerings are furthering the work of the ministry which is supposed to <em>help</em> the cause of Christ). Instead, they feel free to spend the money on themselves. But that's nothing new. Actually, it's one of the primary reasons we left. Somehow the leadership (and the people who stay there with them) truly believe that there's nothing wrong with spending tithe money in extravagent ways.<br /><br />Not that a family shouldn't take a break and make memories together. But come on. Doesn't ANYONE see that something is amiss here? Apparently not, because the entitlement behavior is still going on how many years later? They don't seem to be cutting back at all when the rest of us have to. They still eat often at fine restaurants (no MacDonald's for them), still live in their posh houses (and there's something fishy in the way they all got those houses) and they fly across the country monthly whether it be for what they call ministry or for a family vacation. (But they <em>need</em> those vacations because they are working so hard you know, trying to think of new and creative offering ideas to keep their good thing going). <br /><br />I know it makes me sound bitter and jealous. Under normal circumstances I'd wish anyone the prosperity they seem to enjoy. And if they were owners of a company making lots of money, and as long as it were ethical unlike Enron, I'd have no qualms with their high end tastes. But when did pastors become entitled to lux living as if they were CEOs of big money-making companies? They are living off offering money. If so, then they should live within their church's means not like Benny Hinn or something. <br /><br />It hardly seems fair that the economic crisis doesn't seem to touch them like it does the rest of us. I suppose if we had a personal tithe stash coming to us every week, we'd be flying across the country on vacation too. Is it because they are more privileged than the rest of us? Does God have a special affinity for them as his select anointed? Were they born into royalty? Why are they privileged then? The bottom line is they have somehow convinced enough people that they are deserving of money that doesn't belong to them. They lead people to believe it's for ministry purposes -- money they and their followers think they are entitled to dip into. Remember, as a church they have 501 3 C status which means they don't have to pay taxes on that money. That's a whole different topic. Related yes, but I can't even go there now.<br /><br />How long is God going to look on while people in this church have lost their houses (something's fishy there too) yet they loyally give their tithe money every Sunday so the senior family can live in their high end homes? I can't help but wonder if God's silence is condoning their behavior? When I think again, I know it's not but it's certainly a diabolical thought that crosses the minds of those who have been used by them and tossed aside and forgotten. Reminds me of a few Psalms we've all come across, thinking 'Wow, David sure has an attitude here' -- apparently with good reason. If David, a man after God's own heart, felt free to ask God these kinds of questions, maybe my question here isn't so out of line. How long Oh Lord . . .<br /><br />The whole disparity is so eerily familiar. Wasn't it the Pharasees in the New Testament who were eating the best cuts of meat provided by the poor people (those weren't free-will offerings, they were mandatory) as they walked around in their fine robes and lived in the best houses? Oh, and they were really into public prayer too - so eloquent(blah blah blah)and spiritual(such bloviaters). But whose prayers did God esteem? <br /><br />If pastors want to truly relate to the average person in their congregation for the sake of the Gospel, shouldn't they at least try to live a balanced lifestyle, which may also entail living within a balanced means, and take an average salary (so they are neither tempted to steal or become so greedy they forget God)? That would mean they would be numbered among the middle class instead of the elite though, and for some pastors that could be a problem. When you think about it, Jesus wasn't even considered middle class and he managed to get the true work of the gospel accomplished. If it worked for him to remain lowly, why do we think we'd need to be any different?NoJokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689804617836257708noreply@blogger.com0