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FIRST!!!!

Best regards,
God

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God wrote:

FIRST!!!!
Best regards,
God

As should always be the case…

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I submitted my story, but I think Deb has it so you could check with her.
There’s been many other top stories that you’ve been covering.

Feel free to shorten my story, use quotes from it, add your own commentary.

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Headless Unicorn Guy wrote:

But is anyone answering Dee’s question?

I don’t have a story. I could make one up! (well, I have had some brushes with church nonsense, but nothing dramatic).

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@ Velour:
Yes, I have your story and hope to get it posted soon.

And to think I was hesitant to start this blog with Dee because I didn”t think there would be enough to write about three times a week.

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Since god is active in these comments, I have a question: If you are only interested in one small planet circling a nondescript star why did you make such an incredibly vast universe? (If I had an answer, I’d write a guest post so I hope this keeps my comment relevant to the OP.)

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dee wrote:

Dear Mr Trinity,
Question: How do you feel about genuflecting and should I do it when I get a direct message from God?
Amen
Stan’s daughter

OK: let Me take these in order.

How do you feel about genuflecting and should I do it…

I look at the heart, rather than the knees per se, remember. A flected genu can mask a pompous, proud, fearful or hard heart. Or just a bored one. But, of course, it can also express a heart full of love. Fortunately, My discernment is infallible!

… Stan’s daughter

None of this “Stan” fellow – I’m claiming dibs on your spiritual parentage.

Best regards,
God

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Deb wrote:

@ Velour:
Yes, I have your story and hope to get it posted soon.
And to think I was hesitant to start this blog with Dee because I didn”t think there would be enough to write about three times a week.

Thanks, Deb.

Shorten my story, if you wish. Or use quotes from it and write your own article.

I just had a Muslim neighbor for tea. We had a fun time and she has college degrees in fine arts, psychology, physical education and is working on a Master’s in Special Education. She asked about my faith (I still have it) and about my church (I was excommunicated). She was horrified that the pastors/elders told hundreds of people to never speak to me again, what a horrible person I was, etc. She has been my neighbor for five years. She said, “But it’s not true! You are one of the nicest people — to everybody. Why would they do that to you?” She started to cry that it had been done to me.

She a Muslim said, “Even Christians can come to the mosque. Everybody can come. What do you mean that people can come to your church. That a doctor in his 70’s isn’t permitted to come, a woman in finance – middle aged isn’t permitted to come, you aren’t permitted to come?”

Yes a college-educated, kind woman from a Muslim nation — horrified by the practices of 9 Marxists.

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dee wrote:

… Let me know if you are into writing another post!

Seconded!

Best regards,
Not God.

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Ken F wrote:

Velour wrote:
I submitted my story, but I think Deb has it so you could check with her.
I don’t know if this is applicable for your upcoming post, but TGC posted a link on their front page today from an elder at your former church: https://fromthestudy.com/2016/10/10/7-practices-for-preserving-unity-among-your-elder-team/.

Yes, someone just sent it to me on Facebook last night.

I read it and thought, “Oh it’s Thought Reform” — even of elders. It’s NOT “unity” it’s “uniformity”.

Interestingly, ex-church members and staff members who left Grace Bible Fellowship of Silicon Valley called the pastors/elders the most abusive, screaming, yelling, raging, accusing people that they’ve encountered in any church.

Pastors/elders who talk about “unity” can’t get along with other people. Go figure!

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Ken F wrote:

Velour wrote:
I read it and thought, “Oh it’s Thought Reform” — even of elders. It’s NOT “unity” it’s “uniformity”.
I found it creepy. If one is to have an elder-led church, there should be diversity of thought among the elders so that there are appropriate checks and balances. The type of unity this article describes is destructive and is more akin to totalitarianism than to Christianity.

Spot on, Ken F. I thought it creepy too.

Steve Hassan, psychologist/author/Thought Reform/cult expert on the BITE
Model: https://www.freedomofmind.com/Info/BITE/bitemodel.php

“As employed by the most destructive cults, mind control seeks nothing less than to disrupt an individual’s authentic identity and reconstruct it in the image of the cult leader. I developed the BITE model to help people determine whether or not a group is practicing destructive mind control. The BITE model helps people understand how cults suppress individual member’s uniqueness and creativity. BITE stands for the cult’s control of an individual’s Behavior, Intellect, Thoughts, and Emotions.”

“The BITE Model
I. Behavior Control
II. Information Control
III. Thought Control
IV. Emotional Control”

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@ Ken F:

Brad/FuturistGuy, who comments here, and his excellent blog article about Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, psychiatrist who is now at Yale University, and his research when he worked for the Air Force about Chinese Communist Thought Reform techniques. It turns out all authoritarian groups use the same basic techniques. https://futuristguy.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/the-hunger-games-trilogy-5a/

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Deana Holmes (fka mirele) wrote:

Now I want fried okra in the worst way.

With semolina and boiled brussels sprouts?

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Nick Bulbeck wrote:

Deana Holmes (fka mirele) wrote:
Now I want fried okra in the worst way.
With semolina and boiled brussels sprouts?

A Canadian (Gardein) makes a vegan version of fried fish. Like fish and chips. It looks like fish, tastes like fish…and I love it!

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@ Velour:

Not to mention, but the treatment they want between elders is no different than how we should all treat one another. I guess the elders have to learn the basics of human decency. So why are they elders? Bangs head!

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Nick Bulbeck wrote:

Deana Holmes (fka mirele) wrote:
Now I want fried okra in the worst way.
With semolina and boiled brussels sprouts?

Is this a new dietary law?

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NC Now wrote:

Sorry. But in the south we know about boiled okra. It’s so slimy your socks will slide down after you eat it.

I completely agree with your assessment of boiled okra. But my wife, who is a foodie, found a recipe in “The Encyclopedia of Cajun & Creole Cuisine” by John D. Folse that is incredible. It’s Black-Eyed Pea and Okra Soup (page 265). The taste and texture are awesome. It changed my opinion of non-fried okra. Fried okra is ok, but I’m not a big fried food fan (living in Alabama, that makes me a heretic).

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Friend wrote:

Deana Holmes (fka mirele) wrote:

Now I want fried okra in the worst way.

Whereupon Nick wrote:

With semolina and boiled brussels sprouts?

Is this a new dietary law?

Well, I just thought that eating anything with semolina and boiled brussels sprouts (they should be roasted with cajun seasoning, NEVER boiled) would constitute just about the worst possible way of eating anything…