Nothing like finding that narrow band of unity with union with 3 different families over Thanksgiving. It’s hard for adult siblings and their parents to find much to agree on in many families….
Especially without guilt trips, manipulation, but we pulled it off! For the better part of one day at least….
I have a feeling I’ll have alot of pastoral work to do next week with the formerly lost kids in our church who dealt with their crazy and usually unregenerate families over this short holiday.
So I get a lengthy article forwarded to me from an ‘organization’ that includes some misinformation about Chuck (while comparing him to the Nazis). I wrote a short reply back saying in effect there is a judgment being made without knowledge and just reporting what one reads on the internet without doing the homework is passing a false witness. Two sentence reply, total.
I then got two more emails, ten minutes apart later in the night. The first was fair enough, defending the scholarship of the author. I realized I was not clear in saying my criticism was about one small part of the lengthy article. The 2nd email was more unprofessional and combative which I did think was strange.
But I made the effort to compose a more lengthy reply the next morning. I was civil, still thinking I was addressing some organization as the pastor representing our church. (I’m on a lot of mailing lists).
While writing my reply, apparently the night was too much for this ‘organization’ and I was sent yet a 3rd email – all in reply to my two sentence response at first. The 3rd email was totally insulting and in reading it I knew I had been duped. However, it arrived while composing my lengthy reply and I did not read it until I sent mine on. I then googled and realized there was no such organization. Looked and saw the email was just a random gmail account.
But I got one final reply to my 2nd email. It read in part: “Again, it’s no wonder Calvary Chapel is collapsing on its own weight. But keep chasing us, son. It’s fun for us. And it wastes your time. But you’re “anointed”, right? So is God striking us down? You should ask if perhaps Phoenix Preacher gets the traction he does because of men like you
So that’s what its come down to. People with nothing better to do (on Thanksgiving no less) so filled with hate and immaturity that this sort of nonsense results. Since the PP was mentioned (in the form of a question to the community), thought I would share it here.
i refuse today to focus on the mundane or on those wormy egocentric naysayers that keep rearing their ugly banners – God keep
this was stuck in my head last night – if you know the music i dare you to try to sing all the verses and not come out the other end praising (some interesting renditions on Youtube)
it’s a really old hymn that is sung to one of the tunes that i used to dread that had what i called a “Merry-go-round” cadence back in my smart-*** youth
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
looked it up and found that it was one favored by Teddy Roosevelt – dunno, but … bully good
I’m a huge hockey fan (Go Ducks & Penguins) and I don’t understand why the league and union can’t come to an agreement. Hockey can’t afford to lose another season.
AV said, “I wrote a short reply back saying in effect there is a judgment being made without knowledge and just reporting what one reads on the internet without doing the homework is passing a false witness.”
Ya, “without knowledge” b/c CC covers up all the bad stuff and won’t be forthright. I’ve got “knowledge” from inside CCCM sources, some of whom Rolph said were “truth tellers” etc.
But, I published it, AV would say, “IT’S ALL GOSSIP!” etc etc.
My Thanksgiving Weekend…..
Spent Thanksgiving helping my wife cook and then spent the rest of the day with some family who came for dinner. Happy to be with family and missed those who could not come. Skyped with the grandkids til way past their bedtime.
On Firday morning, we went out for a few hours that morning…. it wasn’t extemely busy went out again in the early evening to some of our favorite local shops. Both of them gave us some really good discounts on the few items we purchased. one merchant gave my wife a string of moderately expensive beads for free.
We got the word that one of our young friends was stranded and we picked him up. He was really stressed, so we bought him a cup of coffee, gave him the cash we had in our pockets, and then bought him some groceries. He offered to give the money back and I asked him to just use it wisely. Then we took him home.
I went out briefly this morning to get something for my wife and there were hardly any shoppers around. Picked up a few thngs for her and found a book of the writings of Eusebius on sale. I love early church history.
There’s a fire in the woodstove and it can’t decide whether to rain or snow outside. I could care less about hockey or any other sport for that matter with a few exceptions.
Word has it that the Justice Conference 2014 will be in LA.
Alex, AV was relating an experience he had. Nothing more. Nothing less. He was not whining. By the way there are many of us who have been down some pretty dark roads. I would have to believe men like AV have made a difference in many lives despite all of his faults, real or imagined.
I realize WND doesn’t have a great reputation but it would be incredible if this story is true. I couldn’t find any other references for verification. Maybe someone might be able to clarify.
AV’s a big boy, he has no problem dishing out harsh criticism of those outside the church, like my friend Gustavo at OC Weekly. He should be able to handle a little back in his direction (though the pattern on here is that it’s OK for him to take shots, but not others to respond in kind).
1 Corinthians 5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
It is what it is. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of wiggle room in these verses above…but somehow they don’t apply.
The truth is there is much “judging” of those “outside the church” meaning those in the world, those outside of the church universal.
There is to a degree some judging of one church denomination of another they don’t like or don’t agree with.
What I don’t see at all (especially among CC pastors who profess to “teach the Bible simply”) is judging those within their church denom/association.
But, as with most of the Bible, it can be explained away not-very-simply.
I know some don’t like to hear it, but it’s the truth.
“Some people are old at 18 and some are young at 90… “Yoko Ono” http://i.imgur.com/XoNgv.png
“Thank you for celebrating my birthday and enriching my life!” Grendal Hanks :: 11-24-2012
Thanks for the encouraging news about Uganda. Time will tell. Perhaps it will become another South Korea. Here is the link to the site of the office of the president of Uganda with the statement:
he has no problem dishing out harsh criticism of those outside the church, like my friend Gustavo at OC Weekly
———————————————–
The more Alex writes the more we see the alternate reality in which Alex resides. Earlier in the week I mentioned that OC Weekly was both blasphemous and filthy – which anyone, like MLD noted, who actually has seen the magazine (or kept it from your kids when you go into a sandwhich shop in OC) would agree to. I also agreed with Michael that they can hardly be considered a quality journalistic source. This is over at Loose Ends.
I never even heard of Gustavo. But now Alex’s hard drive is engraved with ‘AV gave harsh personal criticism to my friend, Gustavo’
Likewise, the little anecdote I share above which was shared because of the inclusion of Phoenix Preacher. My only opinion beyond the facts shared was this showed both immaturity and hate from people with apparently little to do with their time.
That was pretty clear no doubt. And it was my only post. Yet, Alex sees things in a different world once more, and takes multiple posts to express that world. As is clear to anyone reading the post.
I think that is telling.
(And as an aside – I found out the original author of the piece critical of Chuck was actually still in progress. This was not the final draft, and he is both grieved and angry that someone he trusted to read his work in progress has taken his work without permission and emailed it around)
I didn’t say anything about the over all credibility of the OC Weekly.
I said that particular story was poorly sourced and without any documentation.
I wouldn’t have run it for that reason.
We’ve established that some who participate here are not friends…no need to keep accenting that fact.
I may try to get Ugandan citizenship just so I can vote for President Museveni. Also, Uganda is not the only country to have a president born in Africa who claims to be a Christian. 🙂
a bone that i’m still chewing on …
why is it wrong to take exception (offense even) when aberrant and hurtful church practices are identified as “Christian Culture” or “Evangelical?” why is it bad manners to defend those two terms against the popular misuse of them to identify manipulative and often exploitive church practices that some (or many) have been hurt by? it isn’t Christian Culture;” rather it is contemporary popular church (small “c”) culture – even if it is very popular to label it “Christianity,” it is a serious mistake and i’m beating the drum to call it church culture, not Christian culture
let me be clear, i have no problem with anyone – Christian or not – calling out such idiocy … intentional exploitation or just humorous, lame efforts to promote the Faith should be eliminated – probably never will be … never has been for 2,000+ years
We know there is a difference between satire and humour, even anger over abuse and just plain old weirdness in Christian culture and the mocking of Jesus Christ. I don’t have a problem at all with folks laughing or even being angry about ridiculous or abusive behaviour that has gone on in churches, but the line must be drawn when THEY abuse and mock Christ. I will not; cannot agree with that. I grieve for those folks.
Both AV posts:
So I get a lengthy article forwarded to me from an ‘organization’ that includes some misinformation about Chuck (while comparing him to the Nazis). I wrote a short reply back saying in effect there is a judgment being made without knowledge and just reporting what one reads on the internet without doing the homework is passing a false witness. Two sentence reply, total.
I then got two more emails, ten minutes apart later in the night. The first was fair enough, defending the scholarship of the author. I realized I was not clear in saying my criticism was about one small part of the lengthy article. The 2nd email was more unprofessional and combative which I did think was strange.
But I made the effort to compose a more lengthy reply the next morning. I was civil, still thinking I was addressing some organization as the pastor representing our church. (I’m on a lot of mailing lists).
While writing my reply, apparently the night was too much for this ‘organization’ and I was sent yet a 3rd email – all in reply to my two sentence response at first. The 3rd email was totally insulting and in reading it I knew I had been duped. However, it arrived while composing my lengthy reply and I did not read it until I sent mine on. I then googled and realized there was no such organization. Looked and saw the email was just a random gmail account.
But I got one final reply to my 2nd email. It read in part: “Again, it’s no wonder Calvary Chapel is collapsing on its own weight. But keep chasing us, son. It’s fun for us. And it wastes your time. But you’re “anointed”, right? So is God striking us down? You should ask if perhaps Phoenix Preacher gets the traction he does because of men like you
So that’s what its come down to. People with nothing better to do (on Thanksgiving no less) so filled with hate and immaturity that this sort of nonsense results. Since the PP was mentioned (in the form of a question to the community), thought I would share it here.he has no problem dishing out harsh criticism of those outside the church, like my friend Gustavo at OC Weekly
———————————————–
The more Alex writes the more we see the alternate reality in which Alex resides. Earlier in the week I mentioned that OC Weekly was both blasphemous and filthy – which anyone, like MLD noted, who actually has seen the magazine (or kept it from your kids when you go into a sandwhich shop in OC) would agree to. I also agreed with Michael that they can hardly be considered a quality journalistic source. This is over at Loose Ends.
I never even heard of Gustavo. But now Alex’s hard drive is engraved with ‘AV gave harsh personal criticism to my friend, Gustavo’
Likewise, the little anecdote I share above which was shared because of the inclusion of Phoenix Preacher. My only opinion beyond the facts shared was this showed both immaturity and hate from people with apparently little to do with their time.
That was pretty clear no doubt. And it was my only post. Yet, Alex sees things in a different world once more, and takes multiple posts to express that world. As is clear to anyone reading the post.
I think that is telling.
(And as an aside – I found out the original author of the piece critical of Chuck was actually still in progress. This was not the final draft, and he is both grieved and angry that someone he trusted to read his work in progress has taken his work without permission and emailed it around)
All Alex’s follow up posts:
AV, you sound so persecuted (gag). Try getting beaten by your CC pastor step-dad and then having to hear your brother tell you he was molested, etc.
“Get a life” and “Get over it!” as Chuck Smith says, You’re a whiner.Btw, I have no idea who emailed AV. If he really wanted to, he could subpoena Google and get the identity of the senderAV said, “I wrote a short reply back saying in effect there is a judgment being made without knowledge and just reporting what one reads on the internet without doing the homework is passing a false witness.”Ya, “without knowledge” b/c CC covers up all the bad stuff and won’t be forthright. I’ve got “knowledge” from inside CCCM sources, some of whom Rolph said were “truth tellers” etc.But, I published it, AV would say, “IT’S ALL GOSSIP!” etc etc.My “whining” comment was actually a back-handed commentary on the pastorly smiley Papa Chuck, head prophet of the CC Movement, not AV.AV’s a big boy, he has no problem dishing out harsh criticism of those outside the church, like my friend Gustavo at OC Weekly. He should be able to handle a little back in his direction (though the pattern on here is that it’s OK for him to take shots, but not others to respond in kind).“We teach the Bible simply”1 Corinthians 5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”It is what it is. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of wiggle room in these verses above…but somehow they don’t apply.The truth is there is much “judging” of those “outside the church” meaning those in the world, those outside of the church universal.
There is to a degree some judging of one church denomination of another they don’t like or don’t agree with.What I don’t see at all (especially among CC pastors who profess to “teach the Bible simply”) is judging those within their church denom/association.But, as with most of the Bible, it can be explained away not-very-simply.I know some don’t like to hear it, but it’s the truth.
2 questions:
Nonnie, is using the label Christian when mocking, disrespectful of Christ? seems to me that it is … might be okay to call out some of our behavior as disrespectful of Christ, but is it okay to label that behavior Christian? … or Christianity? (prayer continues for little Bennet and family)
and
why is MLD hoorah-ing Alex’s mom?
Em, it’s the reason I took exception with SCCL – they speak of Christian Culture, when the vast majority of Christian do not participate. I called for them to change all references of Christian Culture to be changed to Evangelical culture.
RCC, Lutherans and Orthodox do not play that game.
#45 – i am finally losing touch with reality … i can’t find what i was referencing either 🙄
i must have misread a parting shot back up there somewhere …
MLD, your #49 – for the record: assuming “it” is understood the same by us both, then i think your conclusion that it only happens in the evangelical community is wrong 🙄
I wish the very best for the people of Uganda, may they develop a strong constitutional government with separation of powers and a professional military derived from the constitution and dedicated to the freedom of the people. Also may they be protected from special interest groups and lobbying and political dynasties and violence. They they be protected from the greed of other nations and also protected from the greed that can come up from with in. May their children be healthy and may they that city on a hill, with religious freedom, freedom of speech and for ever put to rest that twaddle that Africans can not rule their own nations. They can, I hope this nation prospers and is blessed. I know this was poorly worded but I hope you get my meaning.
You were taking a shot at the author and the publication IMO, I think that’s pretty self-evident.
As pointed out above, I often break up my posts into several pieces, more a stylistic choice…but a good Red Herring to point to and say, “Look! Weird! His alternate reality shows itself in how many posts he makes!” a tactic others try to throw at the wall and make stick.
Fact is your “world” is colored by your bias for Calvary Chapel. You have told me you feared ditching the Brand b/c it would result in you losing attendance and financial support.
MLD said, “Yet, Alexxx is such a little man – if you say something about his mental state, he threatens lawsuits (he has threatened me twice)
If you express an opinion different that Alexxx he unfriends you from FB (twice) and his blog (3 times)
Again, no matter the topic, Alexxx makes the conversation about himself.
Alexxx is not a big boy”
1. I figure if it’s good for a CC pastor to threaten to sue and then to sue and no one (like AV, your buddy and yourself) has a problem with that (AV hasn’t expressed a problem with that publicly, neither have you)…then why would you oppose me asking you not to make slanderous comments about my mental state and then reminding you that doing such could have consequences? Seems you don’t have a problem with that when it is applied in my direction.
2. I recall you unfriending me and the blog thing was you attacking a child abuse victim / molestation victim for no good reason. Then we discussed it, I decided to put you back on, but got overwhelmed by others who didn’t want you there (similar to what has happened here many times with me, Gilliland and some others over the years). You seem to be OK with that over here…but then complain about it when it happens to you over there.
3. No, the conversation was about OC Weekly, Gustavo, AV and now you…and some of it was about CC as that was part of the topic of this thread.
AV, MLD, many folks who read here (many from SCCL and CC Abuse, even some from FB) read the exchanges. Many view the two of you in a similar way that I do. They see through AV’s attempts to protect the Brand and they see that AV and MLD are buddies and that they have both taken my confrontations with them personally and that it is pretty obvious their “world” is “colored” and that they have an “alternate” reality or whatever and seek to present that here in an effort to poison the well, etc.
It’s fairly typical human behavior. I try to read and ask for the opinions of others who are outside the PP Bubble to get a more accurate take/perception and to make sure I’m seeing things in a correct manner.
Yes I’m a strong personality. Yes I tend to “dominate” but that is more a function of my personality and my life experience and survival responses to being dominated for years, etc. Fact is there are folks who are agressive, Type A etc (a very good reason I am disqualified to be a Pastor, many Type A a-holes in CC who shouldn’t be CC SP’s).
My “world” understands my own sin tendencies, my own weaknesses etc. I believe I am realistic about who I am and what my strengths and weaknesses are. I’ll be the first to actually cop to sin and being an a-hole at times…unlike others who I have yet to ever hear admit to doing anything wrong or having any faults or having any sin or having sinned etc.
Now, what I’ve also learned (thanks to some friends who are real therapists, one in counseling, one who is a friend on FB, CC Abuse) is that guys like BG (and even AV to a much smaller degree) will take advantage of transparency by an individual like myself and try to paint it as “crazy” or “alternate reality” etc. as a tactic to poison the well so others won’t listen to what is said.
AV, to a much much lesser degree than BG, is employing some of those tactics here at PP. Rather than simply disagreeing and countering my comments, he is trying to frame me as having an “alternate reality” and his buddy MLD then supports that with his “mental state” comments and previous comments of “crazy”.
Some will be fooled, many others aren’t. It’s a common way to dismiss someone’s voice when you don’t like what they are saying and when they say it effectively and in a manner that is difficult to overcome through non-poisoning-the-well means.
That’s my opinion, it’s the opinion of many others I talk to many folks who have followed this for quite some time and others who have followed it recently. I’m sure some will disagree, no problem.
I think what AV and MLD are doing (and have done) on here is over-the-line at times and I think it is self-evident that AV defends the CC Brand and is highly sensitive to Criticism of Chuck and the Brand and that MLD just don’t like me and will take any opportunity to take a shot at me b/c he (admittedly) isn’t joking around and has taken some of our exchanges personally and doesn’t want to try and reconcile (even though I’ve made attempts, even recently).
Well I do tend to take some things personally – like when someone not only “outs” my identity to his blog audience,then talks about where I live, my wife, my job – yes I take that personally.
Oh, and how about your tactic to use my name several times in each post, and encouraging your cronies at your blog to do the same thing, so that Google searches will cast me in a bad light? Yes I do take those things personally.
Many have asked me if a sane person would do that? But I tell them I can’t answer- I can’t afford the lawyer. Some have compared you to a mental Nazi – myself, perhaps I wouldn’t go that far.
As a fact check, I have never unfriended anyone on FB.
I don’t agree with your take MLD and you have some facts incorrect, plus you’ve used your name before on the blogs and you’ve even discussed where you live, what you do etc etc.
Many wonder what your problem is, especially recently. The folks who read your stuff from SCCL had a lot of valid opinions about you and it was interesting to hear them since they are outside the PP Bubble and not tainted by the dynamic.
I think you did unfriend me once, but I could be wrong, i wouldn’t die on that hill. You have made it pretty clear you don’t consider me a friend and that you think I’m crazy, a bully, that you can see why Bob abused me etc (or something to that affect) so gee, I wonder why someone would unfriend you?
Despite all of that, I’m willing to reconcile. I’ll admit having been a jerk to you many times. I’ll admit having taken some our exchanges very personally and having responded in anger and taken a shot at you in kind. I am wrong for that. I shouldn’t have called you a part of the male anatomy on your FB (and I think I apologized for that to you already privately) and I probably should be more gracious with you when you take shots at me.
From my history with you, and from being a past FB friend, you seem to be a very good father and husband which I admire. I also think you can be an overly-opinionated a-hole blow-hard who crosses lines often in how you deal with some people (me included) on here and elsewhere. I do respond in kind, often and sometimes I take the first shot. You did make it an intentional point to come on my blog and cause trouble and try to rattle me (in essence and in your words).
A lot of my exchanges with you have been in fun and kind of (what I thought) was a bit of a game between us (as you seemed to indicate privately as “blog theater” etc). I know it’s crossed over into quite personal in recent months, which is something I regret.
I apologize for my part. If you’ll reciprocate and agree to a detente and accept some of the responsibility I think we can move past this and get along OK (we don’t have to exchange Christmas cards) for the sake of the community.
MLD, here’s a chance for you to show what a ‘big man’ you are. I’ve apologized for my part, taken responsibility for my part of the offense. We are both familiar with Matthew 18. We have plenty of witnesses to both of our exchanges and plenty of witnesses for this reconciliation attempt on my part.
What say you? Are you willing to accept my apology for the specifics I mentioned above and are you willing to acknowledge and apologize for the things you’ve done and said that were wrong and offended me (and others)?
In my experience, it is guys that are similar to BG who deny having done anything wrong, but want others to “apologize” and reconcile w/o copping to any offense, yet taking full responsibility for why “they” are offended.
MLD’s response or non-response will be very telling. I’m hopeful, but also realistic from experiences and read of human behavior and personality types.
What do you say MLD? Have you done “anything” wrong in all this? Are you sorry for anything? Do you share some of the responsibility here? Are you willing to meet me in reconciliation?
Sorry Alex, you don’t get to set the ground rules, or set up my response with qualifiers like ” it is guys that are similar to BG who deny having done anything wrong, but want others to “apologize” and reconcile w/o copping to any offense,” AND “MLD’s response or non-response will be very telling.”
I won’t jump into your trap. The above is the sign of a bully, even when he is trying to reconcile.
You apologize, and blame it on “your personality”, being “strong willed” and even just “being a jerk” – that is not an excuse or an apology. You don’t change and a week later, you cop to being a jerk again. When you work at not being a jerk, then I will take you seriously.
I disagree. I would love to reconcile with you, but like BG, you won’t cop to do anything wrong. In BG’s case he wouldn’t acknowledge the literal child abuse that he perpetrated tow which there is no “difference of opinion” on blood and bruises etc.
In your case, you don’t ever acknowledge you are a jerk or wrong or in sin when you do the exact same thing…which is telling and self-evident
MLD, you haven’t changed a bit. You still act like a jerk all the time. What’s your excuse? Being Lutheran? 😆
and, yes, you don’t get to make the ground rules either. The bible is supposed to, but then you’ll wiggle around that as well as is my experience with you and guys like you.
it’s always one-side with guys like you. I pegged you (unfortunately) some time ago hoping my read wasn’t correct, but you’ve proved it today by your response. You are not a willing partner, you have to be in control and you won’t acknowledge any sin or wrongness on your end, which is a sign of that type of personality and shows me, unfortunately, that my read is correct
1) You have told me you feared ditching the Brand b/c it would result in you losing attendance and financial support – This is a lie meant to disparage the character of another and I would have no problem swearing so while insisting on the email or facebook message where I supposedly confided in this way. More of the alternate reality that gets engraved in the hard drive of one A.G.
2) The relationship MLD and I have shatters key stereotypes. Such as CC is cultlike and will shun those outside its ranks, especially one who leaves. Likewise, anyone who gets out can’t possibly have something good to say about their past experiences. No wonder we are a target.
3) The last couple weeks once more have shown a bored man who can’t live without strife and must seek a way to provoke it to feed that appetite. Forget the outlet provided at Christian Post, not to mention his own blog. Instead, show up to make chippy comments that certainly break the prior promises of peace. See the reply to Hopkins trying to help London. These chippy comments are allowed to stand and must not be replied to or else escalation results as the appetite is fed. The escalation will result eventually in the blog shutting down.
4) cybercrank needs to update the scorecard and never underestimate the power of a night’s sleep to stir up the emotions and lead to a blizzard of posts in a new day. When the update happens, make sure to not include my initial of only 3 posts here. It was made because of the reference to this blog by the one who wrote me. I did not mention Alex in any way. The fact that similar lingo was used might just simply mean they are a fan. However, Alex chose to see himself in that post, make it about him, and respond accordingly. You see it is always about Alex. Always.
5) I’m offline all day. Hopefully PP will still be online when I return.
I’m going to moderate any further comments from any of the participants in this ongoing fight.
It won’t be resolved here and there’s absolutely no sense in carrying it on.
I have very little time for moderation…today is my only day off and this ain’t what I had planned.
Take it offline or off the blog.
AV, I asked you why you wouldn’t leave CC since you don’t support very much of it and you don’t mention Chuck Smith etc on your website etc etc and you actually have told me a lot about how different you are than most CC’s etc.
Your response was that there are some at your CC who would leave if you left the Brand and that you didn’t need any loss of people and finances as you support others etc.
For you to deny this is very dishonest. It’s in the blog record.
Our company insurance provider informed my boss that their premiums are going up over 50 PERCENT in January!
I thought health insurance rates were supposed to go down under you know who.
Oh yeah, it’s all gonna be “free” pretty soon too…At least for those who believe in the tooth fairy.
I currently contribute $380 a month, my boss can’t afford a massive hit like that, and an additional $190 on my already stretched budget is steep. Consumers don’t want to pay extra for all the products us truckers haul to the stores, ya know.
So, I predict what will happen is he’ll have to go with another company, our deductibles will go up, our percentage of care covered will go down. In other words, pay more for less.
Thank God though, because thanks to you know who, I’ll be able to at least get a free pap smear once a year.
Alex, when we were with a small business we could not afford to use our health insurance since rates went up so much with Obama care. The little company had to let more people go to make ends meet and we found ourselves unemployed. Then the Medicaid was interesting.
We had a child with a medical issue that needed attention quickly, but not the ER. Medicaid told us we could get a doc visit in 3 weeks. Then the ER chewed us out for showing up there. Now we are employed, but no health insurance for 3 months because it costs too much for the company.
Free? There is no such thing. Someone always pays the price in the end.
Unfortunately, in our current political climate, there’s a majority of folks that believe the “rich” are going to pay their way.
Ain’t gonna happen, any more than assessing 90 billion in new taxes on the “rich” per year is going to close the gap on the current 1 trillion dollar plus annual deficits these clowns are running up on our children and grandchildren.
Every day is wonderful… and the promise is greater still. Thank you Father.
Any hockey fans on PP? Does anyone know why hockey hates its’ fans so much? What a wretched leadership the union and owners have. Fire them all.
Papias and I are big hockey fans…the league has been plagued with bad leadership as long as I can remember.
And finally… any proponents of the Iraqi Dinar.
Nothing like finding that narrow band of unity with union with 3 different families over Thanksgiving. It’s hard for adult siblings and their parents to find much to agree on in many families….
Especially without guilt trips, manipulation, but we pulled it off! For the better part of one day at least….
I have a feeling I’ll have alot of pastoral work to do next week with the formerly lost kids in our church who dealt with their crazy and usually unregenerate families over this short holiday.
Music is up for the week. A few Christmas songs including one by Kenny G! Feel free to drop by.
http://morethancoping.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/praise-worship-november-23rd-2012/
So I get a lengthy article forwarded to me from an ‘organization’ that includes some misinformation about Chuck (while comparing him to the Nazis). I wrote a short reply back saying in effect there is a judgment being made without knowledge and just reporting what one reads on the internet without doing the homework is passing a false witness. Two sentence reply, total.
I then got two more emails, ten minutes apart later in the night. The first was fair enough, defending the scholarship of the author. I realized I was not clear in saying my criticism was about one small part of the lengthy article. The 2nd email was more unprofessional and combative which I did think was strange.
But I made the effort to compose a more lengthy reply the next morning. I was civil, still thinking I was addressing some organization as the pastor representing our church. (I’m on a lot of mailing lists).
While writing my reply, apparently the night was too much for this ‘organization’ and I was sent yet a 3rd email – all in reply to my two sentence response at first. The 3rd email was totally insulting and in reading it I knew I had been duped. However, it arrived while composing my lengthy reply and I did not read it until I sent mine on. I then googled and realized there was no such organization. Looked and saw the email was just a random gmail account.
But I got one final reply to my 2nd email. It read in part: “Again, it’s no wonder Calvary Chapel is collapsing on its own weight. But keep chasing us, son. It’s fun for us. And it wastes your time. But you’re “anointed”, right? So is God striking us down? You should ask if perhaps Phoenix Preacher gets the traction he does because of men like you
So that’s what its come down to. People with nothing better to do (on Thanksgiving no less) so filled with hate and immaturity that this sort of nonsense results. Since the PP was mentioned (in the form of a question to the community), thought I would share it here.
i refuse today to focus on the mundane or on those wormy egocentric naysayers that keep rearing their ugly banners – God keep
this was stuck in my head last night – if you know the music i dare you to try to sing all the verses and not come out the other end praising (some interesting renditions on Youtube)
it’s a really old hymn that is sung to one of the tunes that i used to dread that had what i called a “Merry-go-round” cadence back in my smart-*** youth
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
looked it up and found that it was one favored by Teddy Roosevelt – dunno, but … bully good
AV,
Probably the kooks over at SCCL – a couple of their new recruits, previously from here, have no problem sharing who you are.
MLD, no such identification was made by me. Have a nice day.
Hate to ask, but someone has to, what is SCCL
Stuff Christians Culture Likes. MLD must like those “kooks” because he liked them…
later
Oh.
Meh.
But thanks for the clarification Rueben.
I’m a huge hockey fan (Go Ducks & Penguins) and I don’t understand why the league and union can’t come to an agreement. Hockey can’t afford to lose another season.
AV, you sound so persecuted (gag). Try getting beaten by your CC pastor step-dad and then having to hear your brother tell you he was molested, etc.
“Get a life” and “Get over it!” as Chuck Smith says, You’re a whiner.
Btw, I have no idea who emailed AV. If he really wanted to, he could subpoena Google and get the identity of the sender.
AV said, “I wrote a short reply back saying in effect there is a judgment being made without knowledge and just reporting what one reads on the internet without doing the homework is passing a false witness.”
Ya, “without knowledge” b/c CC covers up all the bad stuff and won’t be forthright. I’ve got “knowledge” from inside CCCM sources, some of whom Rolph said were “truth tellers” etc.
But, I published it, AV would say, “IT’S ALL GOSSIP!” etc etc.
My Thanksgiving Weekend…..
Spent Thanksgiving helping my wife cook and then spent the rest of the day with some family who came for dinner. Happy to be with family and missed those who could not come. Skyped with the grandkids til way past their bedtime.
On Firday morning, we went out for a few hours that morning…. it wasn’t extemely busy went out again in the early evening to some of our favorite local shops. Both of them gave us some really good discounts on the few items we purchased. one merchant gave my wife a string of moderately expensive beads for free.
We got the word that one of our young friends was stranded and we picked him up. He was really stressed, so we bought him a cup of coffee, gave him the cash we had in our pockets, and then bought him some groceries. He offered to give the money back and I asked him to just use it wisely. Then we took him home.
I went out briefly this morning to get something for my wife and there were hardly any shoppers around. Picked up a few thngs for her and found a book of the writings of Eusebius on sale. I love early church history.
There’s a fire in the woodstove and it can’t decide whether to rain or snow outside. I could care less about hockey or any other sport for that matter with a few exceptions.
Word has it that the Justice Conference 2014 will be in LA.
I hope you’re right about L.A.!!
Philly in winter is much less appealing
No one is allowed an opinion, unless it’s Alex’s opinion.
Alex, AV was relating an experience he had. Nothing more. Nothing less. He was not whining. By the way there are many of us who have been down some pretty dark roads. I would have to believe men like AV have made a difference in many lives despite all of his faults, real or imagined.
I realize WND doesn’t have a great reputation but it would be incredible if this story is true. I couldn’t find any other references for verification. Maybe someone might be able to clarify.
http://www.wnd.com/2012/11/ugandan-president-repents-of-personal-national-sins/
agreeing with erunner tonight …
AV is always a gentleman, as are most who post here (gender specific comment) – one or two shin kickers excepted 🙂
London, I can’t believe you think LA would be more appealing than Philly in the wintertime. I’m almost offended. 🙂
Sorry Kevin!
I’m just not a big fan of freezing to death is all! 🙂
My “whining” comment was actually a back-handed commentary on the pastorly smiley Papa Chuck, head prophet of the CC Movement, not AV.
AV’s a big boy, he has no problem dishing out harsh criticism of those outside the church, like my friend Gustavo at OC Weekly. He should be able to handle a little back in his direction (though the pattern on here is that it’s OK for him to take shots, but not others to respond in kind).
“We teach the Bible simply”
1 Corinthians 5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
It is what it is. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of wiggle room in these verses above…but somehow they don’t apply.
The truth is there is much “judging” of those “outside the church” meaning those in the world, those outside of the church universal.
There is to a degree some judging of one church denomination of another they don’t like or don’t agree with.
What I don’t see at all (especially among CC pastors who profess to “teach the Bible simply”) is judging those within their church denom/association.
But, as with most of the Bible, it can be explained away not-very-simply.
I know some don’t like to hear it, but it’s the truth.
“Some people are old at 18 and some are young at 90… “Yoko Ono”
http://i.imgur.com/XoNgv.png
“Thank you for celebrating my birthday and enriching my life!” Grendal Hanks :: 11-24-2012
BrianD,
Happy birthday!!!
Who left the back door open?
Yes…happy birthday!
Thanks for the encouraging news about Uganda. Time will tell. Perhaps it will become another South Korea. Here is the link to the site of the office of the president of Uganda with the statement:
http://www.officeofthepresident.go.ug/index.php/component/k2/item/100-national-jubilee-prayers-in-namboole
Alexxx says “AV’s a big boy, … He should be able to handle a little back in his direction…”
Yet, Alexxx is such a little man – if you say something about his mental state, he threatens lawsuits (he has threatened me twice)
If you express an opinion different that Alexxx he unfriends you from FB (twice) and his blog (3 times)
Again, no matter the topic, Alexxx makes the conversation about himself.
Alexxx is not a big boy
PP Vet -I don’t trust politicians. Somehow this guy has figured this will equal votes and money in the future.
he has no problem dishing out harsh criticism of those outside the church, like my friend Gustavo at OC Weekly
———————————————–
The more Alex writes the more we see the alternate reality in which Alex resides. Earlier in the week I mentioned that OC Weekly was both blasphemous and filthy – which anyone, like MLD noted, who actually has seen the magazine (or kept it from your kids when you go into a sandwhich shop in OC) would agree to. I also agreed with Michael that they can hardly be considered a quality journalistic source. This is over at Loose Ends.
I never even heard of Gustavo. But now Alex’s hard drive is engraved with ‘AV gave harsh personal criticism to my friend, Gustavo’
Likewise, the little anecdote I share above which was shared because of the inclusion of Phoenix Preacher. My only opinion beyond the facts shared was this showed both immaturity and hate from people with apparently little to do with their time.
That was pretty clear no doubt. And it was my only post. Yet, Alex sees things in a different world once more, and takes multiple posts to express that world. As is clear to anyone reading the post.
I think that is telling.
(And as an aside – I found out the original author of the piece critical of Chuck was actually still in progress. This was not the final draft, and he is both grieved and angry that someone he trusted to read his work in progress has taken his work without permission and emailed it around)
I didn’t say anything about the over all credibility of the OC Weekly.
I said that particular story was poorly sourced and without any documentation.
I wouldn’t have run it for that reason.
We’ve established that some who participate here are not friends…no need to keep accenting that fact.
I may try to get Ugandan citizenship just so I can vote for President Museveni. Also, Uganda is not the only country to have a president born in Africa who claims to be a Christian. 🙂
a bone that i’m still chewing on …
why is it wrong to take exception (offense even) when aberrant and hurtful church practices are identified as “Christian Culture” or “Evangelical?” why is it bad manners to defend those two terms against the popular misuse of them to identify manipulative and often exploitive church practices that some (or many) have been hurt by? it isn’t Christian Culture;” rather it is contemporary popular church (small “c”) culture – even if it is very popular to label it “Christianity,” it is a serious mistake and i’m beating the drum to call it church culture, not Christian culture
let me be clear, i have no problem with anyone – Christian or not – calling out such idiocy … intentional exploitation or just humorous, lame efforts to promote the Faith should be eliminated – probably never will be … never has been for 2,000+ years
We know there is a difference between satire and humour, even anger over abuse and just plain old weirdness in Christian culture and the mocking of Jesus Christ. I don’t have a problem at all with folks laughing or even being angry about ridiculous or abusive behaviour that has gone on in churches, but the line must be drawn when THEY abuse and mock Christ. I will not; cannot agree with that. I grieve for those folks.
Both AV posts:
So I get a lengthy article forwarded to me from an ‘organization’ that includes some misinformation about Chuck (while comparing him to the Nazis). I wrote a short reply back saying in effect there is a judgment being made without knowledge and just reporting what one reads on the internet without doing the homework is passing a false witness. Two sentence reply, total.
I then got two more emails, ten minutes apart later in the night. The first was fair enough, defending the scholarship of the author. I realized I was not clear in saying my criticism was about one small part of the lengthy article. The 2nd email was more unprofessional and combative which I did think was strange.
But I made the effort to compose a more lengthy reply the next morning. I was civil, still thinking I was addressing some organization as the pastor representing our church. (I’m on a lot of mailing lists).
While writing my reply, apparently the night was too much for this ‘organization’ and I was sent yet a 3rd email – all in reply to my two sentence response at first. The 3rd email was totally insulting and in reading it I knew I had been duped. However, it arrived while composing my lengthy reply and I did not read it until I sent mine on. I then googled and realized there was no such organization. Looked and saw the email was just a random gmail account.
But I got one final reply to my 2nd email. It read in part: “Again, it’s no wonder Calvary Chapel is collapsing on its own weight. But keep chasing us, son. It’s fun for us. And it wastes your time. But you’re “anointed”, right? So is God striking us down? You should ask if perhaps Phoenix Preacher gets the traction he does because of men like you
So that’s what its come down to. People with nothing better to do (on Thanksgiving no less) so filled with hate and immaturity that this sort of nonsense results. Since the PP was mentioned (in the form of a question to the community), thought I would share it here.he has no problem dishing out harsh criticism of those outside the church, like my friend Gustavo at OC Weekly
———————————————–
The more Alex writes the more we see the alternate reality in which Alex resides. Earlier in the week I mentioned that OC Weekly was both blasphemous and filthy – which anyone, like MLD noted, who actually has seen the magazine (or kept it from your kids when you go into a sandwhich shop in OC) would agree to. I also agreed with Michael that they can hardly be considered a quality journalistic source. This is over at Loose Ends.
I never even heard of Gustavo. But now Alex’s hard drive is engraved with ‘AV gave harsh personal criticism to my friend, Gustavo’
Likewise, the little anecdote I share above which was shared because of the inclusion of Phoenix Preacher. My only opinion beyond the facts shared was this showed both immaturity and hate from people with apparently little to do with their time.
That was pretty clear no doubt. And it was my only post. Yet, Alex sees things in a different world once more, and takes multiple posts to express that world. As is clear to anyone reading the post.
I think that is telling.
(And as an aside – I found out the original author of the piece critical of Chuck was actually still in progress. This was not the final draft, and he is both grieved and angry that someone he trusted to read his work in progress has taken his work without permission and emailed it around)
All Alex’s follow up posts:
AV, you sound so persecuted (gag). Try getting beaten by your CC pastor step-dad and then having to hear your brother tell you he was molested, etc.
“Get a life” and “Get over it!” as Chuck Smith says, You’re a whiner.Btw, I have no idea who emailed AV. If he really wanted to, he could subpoena Google and get the identity of the senderAV said, “I wrote a short reply back saying in effect there is a judgment being made without knowledge and just reporting what one reads on the internet without doing the homework is passing a false witness.”Ya, “without knowledge” b/c CC covers up all the bad stuff and won’t be forthright. I’ve got “knowledge” from inside CCCM sources, some of whom Rolph said were “truth tellers” etc.But, I published it, AV would say, “IT’S ALL GOSSIP!” etc etc.My “whining” comment was actually a back-handed commentary on the pastorly smiley Papa Chuck, head prophet of the CC Movement, not AV.AV’s a big boy, he has no problem dishing out harsh criticism of those outside the church, like my friend Gustavo at OC Weekly. He should be able to handle a little back in his direction (though the pattern on here is that it’s OK for him to take shots, but not others to respond in kind).“We teach the Bible simply”1 Corinthians 5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”It is what it is. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of wiggle room in these verses above…but somehow they don’t apply.The truth is there is much “judging” of those “outside the church” meaning those in the world, those outside of the church universal.
There is to a degree some judging of one church denomination of another they don’t like or don’t agree with.What I don’t see at all (especially among CC pastors who profess to “teach the Bible simply”) is judging those within their church denom/association.But, as with most of the Bible, it can be explained away not-very-simply.I know some don’t like to hear it, but it’s the truth.
Whats so telling about that?
It tells me Alex breaks things up and AV wrote more then Alex did.
Touche, Cybercrank!
The difference is – AV is right and Alex is wrong.
Cheers for Alex’s mom!!
2 questions:
Nonnie, is using the label Christian when mocking, disrespectful of Christ? seems to me that it is … might be okay to call out some of our behavior as disrespectful of Christ, but is it okay to label that behavior Christian? … or Christianity? (prayer continues for little Bennet and family)
and
why is MLD hoorah-ing Alex’s mom?
Em? Why is MLD hooray- ing Alex’s mom? I can’t find your reference Em.
Em, it’s the reason I took exception with SCCL – they speak of Christian Culture, when the vast majority of Christian do not participate. I called for them to change all references of Christian Culture to be changed to Evangelical culture.
RCC, Lutherans and Orthodox do not play that game.
MLD, no! no! it’s not “Evangelical” – it is distortion or lame attempts of modern church culture … IMNSHO 🙂
#45 – i am finally losing touch with reality … i can’t find what i was referencing either 🙄
i must have misread a parting shot back up there somewhere …
Em, your #47 may be true – but it only happens in evangelical churches.
Wayne is not always my cup of tea, but this brought to mind the values that seem to be shared by many who come here:
http://www.lifestream.org/bodylife.php?blid=60
http://youtu.be/HTmmVQxd2-U
I found this a very interesting dialog.
MLD, your #49 – for the record: assuming “it” is understood the same by us both, then i think your conclusion that it only happens in the evangelical community is wrong 🙄
God keep
I wish the very best for the people of Uganda, may they develop a strong constitutional government with separation of powers and a professional military derived from the constitution and dedicated to the freedom of the people. Also may they be protected from special interest groups and lobbying and political dynasties and violence. They they be protected from the greed of other nations and also protected from the greed that can come up from with in. May their children be healthy and may they that city on a hill, with religious freedom, freedom of speech and for ever put to rest that twaddle that Africans can not rule their own nations. They can, I hope this nation prospers and is blessed. I know this was poorly worded but I hope you get my meaning.
AV, the author of the article: Gustavo
Gustavo is the head honcho at OC Weekly
You were taking a shot at the author and the publication IMO, I think that’s pretty self-evident.
As pointed out above, I often break up my posts into several pieces, more a stylistic choice…but a good Red Herring to point to and say, “Look! Weird! His alternate reality shows itself in how many posts he makes!” a tactic others try to throw at the wall and make stick.
Fact is your “world” is colored by your bias for Calvary Chapel. You have told me you feared ditching the Brand b/c it would result in you losing attendance and financial support.
“That” is telling
MLD said, “Yet, Alexxx is such a little man – if you say something about his mental state, he threatens lawsuits (he has threatened me twice)
If you express an opinion different that Alexxx he unfriends you from FB (twice) and his blog (3 times)
Again, no matter the topic, Alexxx makes the conversation about himself.
Alexxx is not a big boy”
1. I figure if it’s good for a CC pastor to threaten to sue and then to sue and no one (like AV, your buddy and yourself) has a problem with that (AV hasn’t expressed a problem with that publicly, neither have you)…then why would you oppose me asking you not to make slanderous comments about my mental state and then reminding you that doing such could have consequences? Seems you don’t have a problem with that when it is applied in my direction.
2. I recall you unfriending me and the blog thing was you attacking a child abuse victim / molestation victim for no good reason. Then we discussed it, I decided to put you back on, but got overwhelmed by others who didn’t want you there (similar to what has happened here many times with me, Gilliland and some others over the years). You seem to be OK with that over here…but then complain about it when it happens to you over there.
3. No, the conversation was about OC Weekly, Gustavo, AV and now you…and some of it was about CC as that was part of the topic of this thread.
AV, MLD, many folks who read here (many from SCCL and CC Abuse, even some from FB) read the exchanges. Many view the two of you in a similar way that I do. They see through AV’s attempts to protect the Brand and they see that AV and MLD are buddies and that they have both taken my confrontations with them personally and that it is pretty obvious their “world” is “colored” and that they have an “alternate” reality or whatever and seek to present that here in an effort to poison the well, etc.
It’s fairly typical human behavior. I try to read and ask for the opinions of others who are outside the PP Bubble to get a more accurate take/perception and to make sure I’m seeing things in a correct manner.
Yes I’m a strong personality. Yes I tend to “dominate” but that is more a function of my personality and my life experience and survival responses to being dominated for years, etc. Fact is there are folks who are agressive, Type A etc (a very good reason I am disqualified to be a Pastor, many Type A a-holes in CC who shouldn’t be CC SP’s).
My “world” understands my own sin tendencies, my own weaknesses etc. I believe I am realistic about who I am and what my strengths and weaknesses are. I’ll be the first to actually cop to sin and being an a-hole at times…unlike others who I have yet to ever hear admit to doing anything wrong or having any faults or having any sin or having sinned etc.
Now, what I’ve also learned (thanks to some friends who are real therapists, one in counseling, one who is a friend on FB, CC Abuse) is that guys like BG (and even AV to a much smaller degree) will take advantage of transparency by an individual like myself and try to paint it as “crazy” or “alternate reality” etc. as a tactic to poison the well so others won’t listen to what is said.
AV, to a much much lesser degree than BG, is employing some of those tactics here at PP. Rather than simply disagreeing and countering my comments, he is trying to frame me as having an “alternate reality” and his buddy MLD then supports that with his “mental state” comments and previous comments of “crazy”.
Some will be fooled, many others aren’t. It’s a common way to dismiss someone’s voice when you don’t like what they are saying and when they say it effectively and in a manner that is difficult to overcome through non-poisoning-the-well means.
That’s my opinion, it’s the opinion of many others I talk to many folks who have followed this for quite some time and others who have followed it recently. I’m sure some will disagree, no problem.
I think what AV and MLD are doing (and have done) on here is over-the-line at times and I think it is self-evident that AV defends the CC Brand and is highly sensitive to Criticism of Chuck and the Brand and that MLD just don’t like me and will take any opportunity to take a shot at me b/c he (admittedly) isn’t joking around and has taken some of our exchanges personally and doesn’t want to try and reconcile (even though I’ve made attempts, even recently).
Well I do tend to take some things personally – like when someone not only “outs” my identity to his blog audience,then talks about where I live, my wife, my job – yes I take that personally.
Oh, and how about your tactic to use my name several times in each post, and encouraging your cronies at your blog to do the same thing, so that Google searches will cast me in a bad light? Yes I do take those things personally.
Many have asked me if a sane person would do that? But I tell them I can’t answer- I can’t afford the lawyer. Some have compared you to a mental Nazi – myself, perhaps I wouldn’t go that far.
As a fact check, I have never unfriended anyone on FB.
I don’t agree with your take MLD and you have some facts incorrect, plus you’ve used your name before on the blogs and you’ve even discussed where you live, what you do etc etc.
Many wonder what your problem is, especially recently. The folks who read your stuff from SCCL had a lot of valid opinions about you and it was interesting to hear them since they are outside the PP Bubble and not tainted by the dynamic.
I think you did unfriend me once, but I could be wrong, i wouldn’t die on that hill. You have made it pretty clear you don’t consider me a friend and that you think I’m crazy, a bully, that you can see why Bob abused me etc (or something to that affect) so gee, I wonder why someone would unfriend you?
Despite all of that, I’m willing to reconcile. I’ll admit having been a jerk to you many times. I’ll admit having taken some our exchanges very personally and having responded in anger and taken a shot at you in kind. I am wrong for that. I shouldn’t have called you a part of the male anatomy on your FB (and I think I apologized for that to you already privately) and I probably should be more gracious with you when you take shots at me.
From my history with you, and from being a past FB friend, you seem to be a very good father and husband which I admire. I also think you can be an overly-opinionated a-hole blow-hard who crosses lines often in how you deal with some people (me included) on here and elsewhere. I do respond in kind, often and sometimes I take the first shot. You did make it an intentional point to come on my blog and cause trouble and try to rattle me (in essence and in your words).
A lot of my exchanges with you have been in fun and kind of (what I thought) was a bit of a game between us (as you seemed to indicate privately as “blog theater” etc). I know it’s crossed over into quite personal in recent months, which is something I regret.
I apologize for my part. If you’ll reciprocate and agree to a detente and accept some of the responsibility I think we can move past this and get along OK (we don’t have to exchange Christmas cards) for the sake of the community.
What do you say?
I have hope for any country in which 23% of the respondents would choose Tim Tebow if they could have any Thanksgiving guest.
MLD, here’s a chance for you to show what a ‘big man’ you are. I’ve apologized for my part, taken responsibility for my part of the offense. We are both familiar with Matthew 18. We have plenty of witnesses to both of our exchanges and plenty of witnesses for this reconciliation attempt on my part.
What say you? Are you willing to accept my apology for the specifics I mentioned above and are you willing to acknowledge and apologize for the things you’ve done and said that were wrong and offended me (and others)?
In my experience, it is guys that are similar to BG who deny having done anything wrong, but want others to “apologize” and reconcile w/o copping to any offense, yet taking full responsibility for why “they” are offended.
MLD’s response or non-response will be very telling. I’m hopeful, but also realistic from experiences and read of human behavior and personality types.
What do you say MLD? Have you done “anything” wrong in all this? Are you sorry for anything? Do you share some of the responsibility here? Are you willing to meet me in reconciliation?
Sorry Alex, you don’t get to set the ground rules, or set up my response with qualifiers like ” it is guys that are similar to BG who deny having done anything wrong, but want others to “apologize” and reconcile w/o copping to any offense,” AND “MLD’s response or non-response will be very telling.”
I won’t jump into your trap. The above is the sign of a bully, even when he is trying to reconcile.
You apologize, and blame it on “your personality”, being “strong willed” and even just “being a jerk” – that is not an excuse or an apology. You don’t change and a week later, you cop to being a jerk again. When you work at not being a jerk, then I will take you seriously.
I disagree. I would love to reconcile with you, but like BG, you won’t cop to do anything wrong. In BG’s case he wouldn’t acknowledge the literal child abuse that he perpetrated tow which there is no “difference of opinion” on blood and bruises etc.
In your case, you don’t ever acknowledge you are a jerk or wrong or in sin when you do the exact same thing…which is telling and self-evident
MLD, you haven’t changed a bit. You still act like a jerk all the time. What’s your excuse? Being Lutheran? 😆
and, yes, you don’t get to make the ground rules either. The bible is supposed to, but then you’ll wiggle around that as well as is my experience with you and guys like you.
it’s always one-side with guys like you. I pegged you (unfortunately) some time ago hoping my read wasn’t correct, but you’ve proved it today by your response. You are not a willing partner, you have to be in control and you won’t acknowledge any sin or wrongness on your end, which is a sign of that type of personality and shows me, unfortunately, that my read is correct
MLD is a wonderful example of how to make a healthy transition from young religious enthusiast to responsible older gent.
I want to be like him when I grow up.
PP Vet. Agreed. We’ve had our moments but when all is said and done, MLD deserves my respect, too.
Things I Think
1) You have told me you feared ditching the Brand b/c it would result in you losing attendance and financial support – This is a lie meant to disparage the character of another and I would have no problem swearing so while insisting on the email or facebook message where I supposedly confided in this way. More of the alternate reality that gets engraved in the hard drive of one A.G.
2) The relationship MLD and I have shatters key stereotypes. Such as CC is cultlike and will shun those outside its ranks, especially one who leaves. Likewise, anyone who gets out can’t possibly have something good to say about their past experiences. No wonder we are a target.
3) The last couple weeks once more have shown a bored man who can’t live without strife and must seek a way to provoke it to feed that appetite. Forget the outlet provided at Christian Post, not to mention his own blog. Instead, show up to make chippy comments that certainly break the prior promises of peace. See the reply to Hopkins trying to help London. These chippy comments are allowed to stand and must not be replied to or else escalation results as the appetite is fed. The escalation will result eventually in the blog shutting down.
4) cybercrank needs to update the scorecard and never underestimate the power of a night’s sleep to stir up the emotions and lead to a blizzard of posts in a new day. When the update happens, make sure to not include my initial of only 3 posts here. It was made because of the reference to this blog by the one who wrote me. I did not mention Alex in any way. The fact that similar lingo was used might just simply mean they are a fan. However, Alex chose to see himself in that post, make it about him, and respond accordingly. You see it is always about Alex. Always.
5) I’m offline all day. Hopefully PP will still be online when I return.
I’m going to moderate any further comments from any of the participants in this ongoing fight.
It won’t be resolved here and there’s absolutely no sense in carrying it on.
I have very little time for moderation…today is my only day off and this ain’t what I had planned.
Take it offline or off the blog.
AV, I asked you why you wouldn’t leave CC since you don’t support very much of it and you don’t mention Chuck Smith etc on your website etc etc and you actually have told me a lot about how different you are than most CC’s etc.
Your response was that there are some at your CC who would leave if you left the Brand and that you didn’t need any loss of people and finances as you support others etc.
For you to deny this is very dishonest. It’s in the blog record.
Alex, that’s the last word on this…you guys take it offline.
Our company insurance provider informed my boss that their premiums are going up over 50 PERCENT in January!
I thought health insurance rates were supposed to go down under you know who.
Oh yeah, it’s all gonna be “free” pretty soon too…At least for those who believe in the tooth fairy.
I currently contribute $380 a month, my boss can’t afford a massive hit like that, and an additional $190 on my already stretched budget is steep. Consumers don’t want to pay extra for all the products us truckers haul to the stores, ya know.
So, I predict what will happen is he’ll have to go with another company, our deductibles will go up, our percentage of care covered will go down. In other words, pay more for less.
Thank God though, because thanks to you know who, I’ll be able to at least get a free pap smear once a year.
Far be it from me to leave out the facts.
This is what BO said back in 2010 regarding health care premiums under Obamacare:
“The costs for families for the same type of coverage that they’re currently receiving would go down 14 percent to 20 percent.”
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics…it-fact-check/
All these Politicians are a bunch of bull-crappers.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2010/02/a-health-care-summit-fact-check/
our insurance premiums have skyrocketed since 0bamacare
wish we could get the free insurance, but we probably don’t qualify
Whose getting the free insurance or the affordable insurance? Sure haven’t seen it in our area
Alex, when we were with a small business we could not afford to use our health insurance since rates went up so much with Obama care. The little company had to let more people go to make ends meet and we found ourselves unemployed. Then the Medicaid was interesting.
We had a child with a medical issue that needed attention quickly, but not the ER. Medicaid told us we could get a doc visit in 3 weeks. Then the ER chewed us out for showing up there. Now we are employed, but no health insurance for 3 months because it costs too much for the company.
Free? There is no such thing. Someone always pays the price in the end.
Unfortunately, in our current political climate, there’s a majority of folks that believe the “rich” are going to pay their way.
Ain’t gonna happen, any more than assessing 90 billion in new taxes on the “rich” per year is going to close the gap on the current 1 trillion dollar plus annual deficits these clowns are running up on our children and grandchildren.