Note: Deb is traveling in Europe for the next two weeks, so you are stuck with the nurse/MBA who has no training whatsoever to spot, and stop, split infinitives.

Digressive musing alert:

Approximately 10 months ago, I was reeling from an incident at my former church, which can best be described as “a shock.” I had been a Pollyanna Christian up to this point. Except for a brief stint in Ed Young Jr’s. Church, I could best describe my church experiences as stimulating, convicting and joyful. I had wonderful (not perfect) pastors, loved the elders and deacons and felt that these churches were running the way it seemed to be described in the Bible. Yes, I had even seen church conflict and saw it resolved well.

After my shattering experience, I saw pastors, elders and deacons in a new, and perhaps more realistic light. They are sinners and can deeply hurt and offend other people. Over and over, I would wonder why God would have me go through this. Shortly after starting this blog (which was not started because, but in spite, of my devastating church experience), I received communication on the blog from Doug Pittman (whom I had never met) in Georgia who encouraged me to look at what happened at his church, Pray’s Mills Baptist Church. Last July, in a Cracker Barrel on I-20 in Georgia, I met Doug Pittman, Doug Pirkle and his family and a former church secretary.

As their story unfolded, I realized I was not surprised or disbelieving because I had gone through my own “bad” experience. How closely the actions of the pastors and leadership mirrored those in my story! It was as if someone had written a playbook and everyone was acting out his or her assigned responses.

And, at that Cracker Barrel, it hit me. This very meeting was the reason why I had to go through my pain. I had to see how pastors and church leadership can behave under the worst of circumstances in order to believe, understand and advocate for those caught in painful church circumstances. That night changed me forever. I have driven past that exit several times since, and each time I smile, and salute Doug and Doug for helping me to see God’s purpose in all of this.

So, click on the archives in August 2009 or click on Doug Pittman’s name under “categories”and read it and weep for the church. Maybe you will understand why our friend Doug signs everything he writes with, "Following Christ, not man".

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TWW has expressed concern that Ergun Caner may have an issue of lying that is deeply rooted, perhaps, in his past. If this is true, then, most likely, there would be other instances of less than truthful behavior. Or, perhaps, if the lying is done to draw attention to him, then is there other attention-seeking behavior?

On Tom Rich’s blog, fbcjacwatchdog, I raised a question about Caner’s dog and pony show in which he gets tased to make some point about the Bible. Which point is irrelevant since Caner is getting tased and that becomes the focus.

Who cares about the Scripture? Isn’t this the new way to suck in the converts? Or are converts even the issue? Perhaps it is a way to suck in folks who will “CONTRIBUTE.” Ed Young Jr. accomplished this by rolling out a bed on the stage (bag the word "pulpit"-it does not apply to this sort of nonsense) and doing a ridiculous sermon on sex. Sex sells, Ed knew it and looooooved the resulting attention in the media.

Liberty University makes a big point on how enrollment tripled when Caner came on board, apparently agreeing with Young that size matters. In the end, maybe that is what counts. Bring in the folks, preferably those who will pay and shut up, build a big “Christian” college or church and pat yourselves on the back. Surely America and the Almighty ( in that order) will be very impressed.

So, in keeping with his big, bad-boy, jihadist image, Caner decides to get tased to elucidate, I suppose, the Word of God. I am waiting for the one in which some preacher decides to get water-boarded for the “sake” of the Gospel. These same guys would probably make fun of our ever popular Southern “snake handlers for Christ”.

Now, it is important to note that Caner did NOT get tased in the traditional sense. He apparently tried to do so (we will give him the benefit of the doubt on this) but things apparently did not work out. Both darts must be attached to the body for the circuit to occur. One merely needs to watch the video to see one of the darts hit the floor. Caner falls, either out of surprise or out of discomfort from the sting of the one dart. A true taser incident would have involved him flopping on the ground while a 5 second volt course through his system. I have included some links at the end of this post to view the incident and read a descriptive analysis on the subject of tasing.

Caner immediately gets up and begins to speak. Why didn’t Caner just say he had not been fully tased? Why did he even do it in the first place? Perhaps the answer is found in his claim to be a jihadist. He wants attention and will do what it takes to get noticed. Well, he has been noticed. Muslims have noticed him and have cried, “fake.” Christian bloggers have noticed him and urged Caner, along with Liberty University to man up (like the jihadist he claimed to be) and do the right thing. Liberty University stuck out its proverbial tongue at the world and said that they do not dance to the tune of others.

Finally, the secular media noticed and now Liberty has embarked on an investigation. It appears that truth at Liberty matters when the press asks. I shall look at this turn of events tomorrow. Too bad Liberty didn’t listen to those who tried to nip this in the bud. Was it arrogance or just plain stupidity? Either reason bodes ill for this situation.

For an explanation of how the taser works:
http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special43/articles/1129tasers29qa.html

Here are two videos of the same incident from different angles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t2rOJISP5E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agjV0tbktvQ&feature=related