"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17 (ESV, NASB, NIV) Happy November 17th everybody! Did you know that today is National UnFriend Day or "NUD"? If you're not on Facebook, then you probably have no idea what the term 'unfriend' means. Those with Facebook accounts have a cadre of friends that can sometimes number into the hundreds or even … Continue reading
"You and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness." CS Lewis Interacting Spiral galaxies-Hubble/NASA I know I say this regularly but I believe it is worth repeating. I learned how to look at life differently within the first week of my MBA program. One of … Continue reading
"And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." Jude 22-23 (ESV) Sunset in Beaufort, NC (Taken by Deb) Prior to taking a leave of absence three months ago, C.J. Mahaney was busy making the rounds with his latest … Continue reading
"I think with many more of today's parents than in the past, the "helicoptering" is more about over-protecting them from what they perceive to be this dreadful, dangerous, terror-filled world and not realizing that kids need to be able to take educated risks, make independent decisions and take consequences for their actions." Jean Walker Flags Flying in Normandy, France … Continue reading
"Oh yes, I'm the great pretender, pretending that I'm doing well…" The Platters Photo by Deb Despite the firestorm that is engulfing Sovereign Grace Ministries, it appears the Board is pretending everything is just fine. In case you haven’t been reading SGM’s most recent blog posts (the last three to be specific), the Pastors College is back in session. … Continue reading
Le Mont Saint Michel (taken by Deb) “We as a family experienced a pattern of spiritual abuse, hypocrisy, harshness, deceit and some unfortunate threats that were not righteous for Christians and need to be repented.” Larry Tomczak in a Washington Post article published on September 6, 2011 Since morphing themselves into Sovereign Grace Ministries, C.J. Mahaney and his lieutenants have … Continue reading
“I am amazed that a group of men that have called so many to repentance (for) over 30 years still don’t understand it on a personal level.” Irv (a former SGM pastor) The Colosseum (taken by Deb) Dave Harvey, acting President of Sovereign Grace Ministries, has recorded a video in which he addresses specific questions that have come to the … Continue reading
As many of our readers know, the Ambassadors of Reconciliation have just released their Consultation Report to the Board of Directors of Sovereign Grace Ministries. (link) The report was prepared by Ted Kober and Ed Keinath. According to Dave Harvey, "this plan includes three areas where they and others will be involved in helping us: 1. Adjudication of allegations against … Continue reading
Big Ben (taken by Deb) "The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all." Psalm 103:19 (NASB) Allow me to make an observation, to use SGM’s loaded language. Comments are mysteriously disappearing from several Calvinista blogs. Don’t these bloggers believe in the sovereignty of God? If so, then why are they micromanaging their … Continue reading
“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” Kahlil Gibran Cat's Eye Nebula-Hubble Telescope I am leaving to bring my final child off to college. It is a bittersweet time. I wanted to continue in the series on psychology and the church but I have received some correspondence and would like … Continue reading
Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.” Henry Ward Beecher The story you about to read was a difficult story for the writer to tell. For purposes of this story, I shall call her Faith although I do know her identity.Yet, it is a story that needs to be heard. I have spoken with her at length on … Continue reading
"Though my illness persists, I have finally met the God I had heard about but never truly experienced. A God who heals. A God who loves. A God I cannot logically explain to my psychiatrist. A God who manifests his genius by salvaging good from the evil in our lives. Someone unlike me. Someone unlike the well-meaning inquisitors who judged … Continue reading
“Every time a newspaper dies, even a bad one, the country moves a little closer to authoritarianism." Richard Kluger The London Eye Michelle Boorstein The Washington Post 202-334-4451 (direct line). Once again, TWW must apologize to the people who have asked us to write about the aversion to clinical psychology in today's post-evangelical church. Lord willing, we … Continue reading
"We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for YOUR sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. The importance of keeping the pigs in good health was all too obvious. So it was agreed without further argument that the … Continue reading
You do not lead by hitting people over the head. That's assault, not leadership. Dwight D. Eisenhower I was planning on doing a series on how the church views psychological counseling after receiving two very interesting emails, back to back, on the subject from two unconnected people. However, once again, events at SGM intrude and demand coverage as the … Continue reading
As if things couldn't get messier, tonight, CJ Mahaney's son-in-laws, who were pastors at Covenant Life Church (the mothership), have resigned their positions in what appears to be a protest in how the church has handled the Detweiler documents and CJ Mahaney's "sabbatical." For new readers, CJ Mahaney has three daughters. All three of their husbands have been given pastor … Continue reading
“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” Unknown freefoto.com Dave Harvey, Acting President of Sovereign Grace Ministries, announced two weeks ago that the SGM Board established a preliminary panel to help them “evaluate C.J. Mahaney’s fitness for ministry”, as stated in this post. At the … Continue reading
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. -Oscar Wilde We have been asked why we follow Sovereign Grace Ministries since neither one of us (and we are rejoicing in this fact) have been members of SGM. According to them, this kerfuffle has nothing to do with us or any other Christian group … Continue reading
“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live. " Leo Buscaglia sunset over the Sahara (NASA) Sovereign Grace Ministries has been experiencing tremendous … Continue reading
Pride meets covetousness, and compliments it as wise, thrifty, and prudent. Charles Spurgeon freefoto.com Well folks, based on Dave Harvey’s update, it appears to be just “business as usual” in SGM land. While I sit here wondering what it’s going to take for God to get the attention of the powers that be in Sovereign Grace Ministries, Harvey … Continue reading
