A Prayer for Troubled Times

You have considered my trouble;
You have known my soul
In adversities
Psalm 31:7
Lord, sometimes I’m so afraid
my skin grows cold
and I can hardly breathe.
I feel so helpless.
I’m afraid of so many things
of certain people, of being alone,
of death, pain,
not having enough money…..
Lord, the list never ends.
I just can’t help myself.
I am your refuge and your fortress,
your God [...]

Read Full Post »

Working Out Your Salvation

An essential ingredient of Christianity is when a man or woman develops a life-altering connection with Almighty God, which becomes a solid, unassailable relationship. As such, the literature describing God’s nature and Man’s nature is deep and authentic, especially when it comes to the manner by which sinful men and women relate to a holy [...]

Read Full Post »

Susan Boyle: Anything’s Possible

I’ve just finished watching the Susan Boyle rendition of “I Have a Dream” from Les Miserables for about the fifteenth time, and each time it brings tears to my eyes. It’s that inspiring. That it was an incredible performance was obvious, but it was much more than that. After all, there are many great performances.
The [...]

Read Full Post »

We Have so Little Impact

Christianity is all about a person developing a life-altering relationship with Almighty God—a personal, intimate relationship. As such, the literature describing God’s nature and Man’s nature is deep and authentic, especially when it comes to how sinful men related to a holy God. It’s why the Scriptures are so rich with wisdom—God’s wisdom.
At the same [...]

Read Full Post »

Guest Editorial: Obama’s Character

Hmmm. From the beginning, the haughty attitude, the statement that he can change America, talk openly to socialist nations implying he can get things done. I do not see him as laying his life on the line for anyone, especially NOT America. But throwing us under the bus as he is doing continually.
Barrack Obama said [...]

Read Full Post »

Stories of Religious Abuse: Conclusion

In each of these cases, religious abuse occurred. Obviously, the priest had no right to slap a seven-year-old child. In the second case, the minister used his position of authority to assault the young man’s character instead of dealing with the issue, which in that case was the church’s belief that square dancing was sinful. [...]

Read Full Post »

Stories of Religious Abuse: Part 4b

I was badly confused and didn’t know what to do or how to handle what was happening. While in this confused state of mental turmoil, I flew back East for my sister’s wedding, leaving my wife and children in Santa Barbara. To save money, I stayed at my brother’s house.
My sister-in-law’s younger sister, who I’ll [...]

Read Full Post »

Stories of Religious Abuse: Part 4a

Example Three
Santa Barbara: Life in my church was like a soap opera—with all the excitement and intrigue you would expect from any daytime TV show. Some of my friends and I actually joked about it, saying, “This is just another day in As the Stomach Turns.”
The reason there was so much drama is simple: The [...]

Read Full Post »

Stories of Religious Abuse: Part 3

Example Two
Atlanta: I was really wild in college. While at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, I drank a lot, always had girls hanging around, and gambled routinely at my fraternity. For a while, it was fun, but it also made me feel like I was wasting my life. Because of this, I went [...]

Read Full Post »

Stories of Religious Abuse: Part 2

Example One
Boston: I grew up in the suburbs of Boston, the second of four children in an Irish-Catholic family. Being a good Catholic, I went to Mass every Sunday and each Holy Day of Obligation, which meant I was in church at least sixty times a year. Some of my earliest memories were while I [...]

Read Full Post »

Stories of Religious Abuse: Part 1

Religious abuse occurs often and can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, religious affiliation, or time of life. Most abuse is inadvertent—not intended to inflict permanent damage to a person. This is not the type of religious abuse we’re dealing with in Pushing Jesus. Our focus is squarely upon those who use their positions of [...]

Read Full Post »

Have I Been Abused Spiritually?

What Is Spiritual Abuse?
Spiritual abuse is the mistreatment of a person by someone in a position of spiritual authority, resulting in diminishing that person’s sense of wellbeing and growth—both spiritually and emotionally.
Spiritual abuse is the use of spiritual authority, by words or acts, to manipulate someone for personal gain or to achieve a personal agenda, [...]

Read Full Post »