Long sigh.. This Friday afternoon I’m again wondering and not sure why “Papa Jon” Courson thinks he has to keep sharing (for his searchlight audience in africa?) and lightly alluding to his situation. This compulsion to keep this up while deleting youtube comments that are pleas for accountability and repentance while accepting adoration is whitewashing. It must be exhausting as well. I wonder if he knows how weak it seems. We really could have a moment if there could be real repentance and humility. I hope and pray in my old age I won’t lose touch like this, like Hezekiah (Manasseh), like Eli (Hophni and Phinneas). I think people, myself included, really want a real, specific, personal apology for all of it, the bullying, the misappropriation of people’s lives, the lack of being a servant leader, the covering up of sin, the nepotism, the cultivation of a following) followed up by clear evidence of making things right with people that have been hurt. It sounds like a lot, but it’s so simple if he’d decide to be intentional before it’s too late. I don’t know what else to do except type these words into this space…
BA
Being a former cop and trained in the investigation of sex offender A characteristic of all sexual abusers/offenders is to manipulate and deny. This tactic got Jon off the hook in 1980. But I don’t think it’s going to work any more. It’s a different culture than in the ‘80’s
Jon Courson motivated me to seek a better eschatology. In a weird way, he was a positive influence in my life, just not in the way he intended. For that, I give thanks.
You will never get what you desire and what you’re entitled to.
How you deal with that fact will determine your spiritual growth or demise for the near future.
No employees.
Ironically I had a long chat with the DM of 30 stores including ours yesterday…and we agreed that if one employee in particular quit it was game over in that store.
She quit.
Game over.
We can only pray it’s temporary…but other businesses are in the same boat .
That DM told me this is the case across his stores and across the nation.
Many businesses here are open limited hours now for the same reason…some smaller ones have just closed.
Things are not good…
Michael, I am sorry…I just can’t imaging not having a pharmacy in town. Certainly puts it in perspective when I complain a restaurant is closed on a day when it’s supposed to be open, due to lack of staffing.
The DM and others say it’s nationwide…but really acute here. We have banks that haven’t been open for a year and a half…small restaurants and some chains are just done.
This is a pretty new store that survived the fire and I feel like I have relationships with the pharmacy people …being there frequently.
I also have always loved drug stores for some reason…
The problem now is that stores are so shorthanded and people are such jerks right now that the good ones can’t take it anymore and quit.
That’s what happened here…Michelle was the glue that held everything together no matter what…and she has had enough.
Store closed.
Both.
The whole valley has PTSD from last years fires.
Everything is more difficult these days…waits are longer and there are product shortages.
The mask war is over…these businesses aren’t going to put employees on the firing line anymore.
Was in the Rogue Valley a couple week ago, remained in between choking and gagging almost the entire time due to smoke.
Decided to stay inside the entire time, felt much better.
When I was out, I noticed a marked decline in the general attitude everywhere I went.
Any thoughts I had about potential moving there during a visit before the fires were destroyed.
Driving through Phoenix and Talent was heart-breaking.
Couldn’t believe tourists were out in the haze of downtown Ashland & Jasksonville.
Ironically, I kept wondering where the Coursons live, probably high above the problems of those in the valley.
The local musicians are having a difficult time too. Restaurants, wineries, and bars close their doors and they are out of work. We had gigs lined up at two venues—both of which closed their doors.
“It seems like everything is broken”……
I have to drive 30 miles to the nearest drug store (Walgreens).
Fortunately I’m not med dependent, but had to make an emergency run to the hospital (35 miles) last winter when my daughter slipped and fell off the roof.
As time goes on I’m concluding that I’m not a country person.
Trying to figure out whether everything IS broken (God’s protective hand is off the U.S) or if I’m just old ? ? ?
God’s hand of protection was never on the U.S….He has never had, nor will ever have, a covenantal relationship with America.
This empire is simply going the way of all empires and it’s my belief that the current visible church is leading the way to destruction by their idolatry.
I’m cranky today…
Yes, history is riddled with fallen empires, and I for one, although thankful and astounded the USA has endured this long, also wondering that our time is almost up. I am by no means a jingoistic, America-first person, or think that America has some special place in God’s heart (which sounds almost blasphemous), nor do I hate America.
When I look at publications like CharismaNews, etc, ones that espouse a kind of nationalism/God-favors-us-more-than-you, I can’t help to shake my head in not only comedic disbelief, but almost a fear of “the bigger they are, they harder they fall”…as in if you are digging your heals in more and more to promote nationalism above the Gospel, the greater your fall will be. And it will come.
I would contend that nationalism and the American civil religion actually keep us from personal and corporate repentance.
I am not happy at all with how things are going here…and I think we mock those who see our freedoms slipping away too quickly.
We are a leaderless nation…
Good point. When you are entrenched in nationalism and American Civil religion, it seems one is more worried about the demons and enemies “out there”…you know, the usual suspects…don’t need to name them. The church doesn’t see that it is it’s own worst enemy. Of course I don’t need to tell you that.
I have noticed some odd stuff in my mileage with someone from a time that predates masks/vaccines/Trump/etc. A person that self-describes as a “patriot”.
We were late entering WW2, but, after Pearl Harbor, when we did get into it, i suspect we were too impressed with how quickly we were able to end it. Perhaps that is why so many have concluded that God favored us?
AND we did as a nation in times past respect the principles of the Christian Faith…. Dunno, though do i?
God keeo
“Is a hand of protection synonmous with covenant? ? ?”
God always works through covenant…with people and nations.
We as believers enjoy the benefits of the New Covenant…no covenant was made with any nation other than Israel.
That’s why you don’t read about the Chinese in the Old testament and other nations only as a footnote to how they related to Israel.
I think there is a huge difference between living and choosing to live in the wilderness apart from retail conveniences, such as pharmacies (that is the whole point of living in the wilderness).
However, Medford is a city of 85,000 residents according to a Google search. In the case of a city of that size or larger, one would expect pharmacies to be ubiquitous. For example, in the last two places I’ve lived, pharmacies were present at pharmacy chains, such as Walgreens and CVC, in super markets, such as Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, etc., in big box stores, such as Target and Walmart, in warehouse clubs, such as Sam’s and Costco, and Mom and Pops. One wonders how any of them make a profit given the relentless competition.
It is a serious deviation from the norm, IMO, that any city of Medford’s size in America is without a pharmacy. Retail stores are always looking to expand and ordinarily would love a location with a lot of potential customers and not a lot of competition.
Therefore I am disturbed and sorrowful to hear this news. I wonder: What can be so toxic in a community that merchants would turn their backs on a ready source of business?
But it does reveal an issue, which I will call, using a morally neutral word, “diversity” in America. It’s helpful to learn about the diversity that exists in America, if for no other reason than to understand that not everyone shares my experiences or views America the same way I do. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from these other perspectives.
When Michael says that one of the reasons that retail stores cannot keep their employees is from customer abuse, it makes me wonder what local Christian churches in Medford are teaching their members about “live[ing] peaceably with all.” Or is it the Jews, Muslims and Atheists in Medford who are abusing retail employees?
One would hope that a concentration of Christians in a community would make a positive difference in the social stability of that community. That would be a positive Christian witness. On the otherr hand, it would be a blasphemy against the name of God if Christians were a seen as a force of social instability. How is our neighbor served by driving retail out off Medford?
I just a viewed on tv a clip of a young woman who was a hostess at a restaurant being punched repeatedly by an out-of-state visiting couple from Texas. She asked them for proof of vaccination before entering the restaurant and I’m sure she was just following the manager/her boss’s s order and for that reason they attacked her. My youngest daughter was a hostess at a restaurant in high school. That never used to be considered a dangerous job. I couldn’t believe my eyes watching that on TV and it made me vey sad.
Hostess punched by customers reminded me that something strange IS going on….
The speed limit on this windy road is 45 mph, but one can drive 50 mph with a car literally on your bumper. If one had to brake for a person or an animal that car would go right through the back of your car.
It’s as if folks are brain dead ? ? ?
BrideofChrist wrote: I just a viewed on tv a clip of a young woman who was a hostess at a restaurant being punched repeatedly by an out-of-state visiting couple from Texas.
They do it because they can.
They can because they fear no real punishment by the civil authorities…
I really hope the next time that couple tries that s**t, some civic-minded restaurant patrons and staff proceed to beat that couple within a millimeter of their lives. Either that or proceed to put a bullet in each of their center torsos. Civilian use of deadly force is generally justified if they reasonably believe that they or another person are in imminent danger of death or serious injury.
What state was this in? I call pull up the pertinent state laws.
“Some Christians respond to the divide by making harsh judgments about the people they disagree with — one of the main reasons evangelicals have an unsavory reputation. I cringe when I hear such words, and respond by keeping mostly quiet about my faith. Neither approach is healthy.”
Just read this in Fox:
“While many commentators have insisted that former President Trump has been radioactive for evangelical Christianity, pushing Americans away from the faith, recent data from the Pew Research Center suggests that more Americans adopted the evangelical label during the Trump years.”
It’s all yours today…
Long sigh.. This Friday afternoon I’m again wondering and not sure why “Papa Jon” Courson thinks he has to keep sharing (for his searchlight audience in africa?) and lightly alluding to his situation. This compulsion to keep this up while deleting youtube comments that are pleas for accountability and repentance while accepting adoration is whitewashing. It must be exhausting as well. I wonder if he knows how weak it seems. We really could have a moment if there could be real repentance and humility. I hope and pray in my old age I won’t lose touch like this, like Hezekiah (Manasseh), like Eli (Hophni and Phinneas). I think people, myself included, really want a real, specific, personal apology for all of it, the bullying, the misappropriation of people’s lives, the lack of being a servant leader, the covering up of sin, the nepotism, the cultivation of a following) followed up by clear evidence of making things right with people that have been hurt. It sounds like a lot, but it’s so simple if he’d decide to be intentional before it’s too late. I don’t know what else to do except type these words into this space…
BA, good words you typed …… IMHO
BA
Being a former cop and trained in the investigation of sex offender A characteristic of all sexual abusers/offenders is to manipulate and deny. This tactic got Jon off the hook in 1980. But I don’t think it’s going to work any more. It’s a different culture than in the ‘80’s
Jon Courson motivated me to seek a better eschatology. In a weird way, he was a positive influence in my life, just not in the way he intended. For that, I give thanks.
Just went down to the Rite-Aid…and the pharmacy is now closed.
As is the one in Medford.
No employees…the last hold out quit and that was the end.
My town no longer has a pharmacy.
BA,
You will never get what you desire and what you’re entitled to.
How you deal with that fact will determine your spiritual growth or demise for the near future.
Michael, I don’t understand. Why have the two pharmacies closed?
No employees.
Ironically I had a long chat with the DM of 30 stores including ours yesterday…and we agreed that if one employee in particular quit it was game over in that store.
She quit.
Game over.
We can only pray it’s temporary…but other businesses are in the same boat .
That DM told me this is the case across his stores and across the nation.
Many businesses here are open limited hours now for the same reason…some smaller ones have just closed.
Things are not good…
Michael, I am sorry…I just can’t imaging not having a pharmacy in town. Certainly puts it in perspective when I complain a restaurant is closed on a day when it’s supposed to be open, due to lack of staffing.
Is there something about your region in particular that is unattractive to retail store employment?
Jean,
The DM and others say it’s nationwide…but really acute here. We have banks that haven’t been open for a year and a half…small restaurants and some chains are just done.
Dan,
This is a pretty new store that survived the fire and I feel like I have relationships with the pharmacy people …being there frequently.
I also have always loved drug stores for some reason…
Jean,
The problem now is that stores are so shorthanded and people are such jerks right now that the good ones can’t take it anymore and quit.
That’s what happened here…Michelle was the glue that held everything together no matter what…and she has had enough.
Store closed.
I was finally (after 2 weeks waiting) able to get my hair cut today.
Gave her a 10 dollar tip and thanked her for showing up at work today…
Jerks as in general, or aggro about masks and such?
TNV,
Both.
The whole valley has PTSD from last years fires.
Everything is more difficult these days…waits are longer and there are product shortages.
The mask war is over…these businesses aren’t going to put employees on the firing line anymore.
Was in the Rogue Valley a couple week ago, remained in between choking and gagging almost the entire time due to smoke.
Decided to stay inside the entire time, felt much better.
When I was out, I noticed a marked decline in the general attitude everywhere I went.
Any thoughts I had about potential moving there during a visit before the fires were destroyed.
Driving through Phoenix and Talent was heart-breaking.
Couldn’t believe tourists were out in the haze of downtown Ashland & Jasksonville.
Ironically, I kept wondering where the Coursons live, probably high above the problems of those in the valley.
UnCCED,
You should have said something, we could have had a coffee.
The smoke has been bad…even the Courson’s can’t escape it…
UnCCED
Jon lives in the middle of town.
The nearest pharmacy for me is 20 miles away.
Michael,
I thought of it and will email you next time.
https://www.mailtribune.com/top-stories/2021/09/16/restaurant-owners-face-tough-new-realities/?fbclid=IwAR0aQW_M_TOx0I-Z4fgxWvbdqr67r4gh62Njj_zS6549mXYsKKj-M9BPT9I
The local musicians are having a difficult time too. Restaurants, wineries, and bars close their doors and they are out of work. We had gigs lined up at two venues—both of which closed their doors.
Officerhoppy,
It seems like everything’s broken…
“It seems like everything is broken”……
I have to drive 30 miles to the nearest drug store (Walgreens).
Fortunately I’m not med dependent, but had to make an emergency run to the hospital (35 miles) last winter when my daughter slipped and fell off the roof.
As time goes on I’m concluding that I’m not a country person.
Trying to figure out whether everything IS broken (God’s protective hand is off the U.S) or if I’m just old ? ? ?
God’s hand of protection was never on the U.S….He has never had, nor will ever have, a covenantal relationship with America.
This empire is simply going the way of all empires and it’s my belief that the current visible church is leading the way to destruction by their idolatry.
I’m cranky today…
Michael and Em,
Yes, history is riddled with fallen empires, and I for one, although thankful and astounded the USA has endured this long, also wondering that our time is almost up. I am by no means a jingoistic, America-first person, or think that America has some special place in God’s heart (which sounds almost blasphemous), nor do I hate America.
When I look at publications like CharismaNews, etc, ones that espouse a kind of nationalism/God-favors-us-more-than-you, I can’t help to shake my head in not only comedic disbelief, but almost a fear of “the bigger they are, they harder they fall”…as in if you are digging your heals in more and more to promote nationalism above the Gospel, the greater your fall will be. And it will come.
Dan,
I would contend that nationalism and the American civil religion actually keep us from personal and corporate repentance.
I am not happy at all with how things are going here…and I think we mock those who see our freedoms slipping away too quickly.
We are a leaderless nation…
Good point. When you are entrenched in nationalism and American Civil religion, it seems one is more worried about the demons and enemies “out there”…you know, the usual suspects…don’t need to name them. The church doesn’t see that it is it’s own worst enemy. Of course I don’t need to tell you that.
I do get now what you are saying about mocking those who see our freedoms vanishing.
Dan,
I have growing concerns about that issue…but it’s hard to talk about when others saying something similar add a layer of craziness to the discussion.
Micheal,
I have noticed some odd stuff in my mileage with someone from a time that predates masks/vaccines/Trump/etc. A person that self-describes as a “patriot”.
…”someone” meaning someone in my past…not talking about anyone here.
We were late entering WW2, but, after Pearl Harbor, when we did get into it, i suspect we were too impressed with how quickly we were able to end it. Perhaps that is why so many have concluded that God favored us?
AND we did as a nation in times past respect the principles of the Christian Faith…. Dunno, though do i?
God keeo
Questoon
Is a hand of protection synonmous with covenant? ? ?
“Is a hand of protection synonmous with covenant? ? ?”
God always works through covenant…with people and nations.
We as believers enjoy the benefits of the New Covenant…no covenant was made with any nation other than Israel.
That’s why you don’t read about the Chinese in the Old testament and other nations only as a footnote to how they related to Israel.
Dan,
I know exactly what you’re talking about…I concur.
Off to teach and preach tonight…
I think there is a huge difference between living and choosing to live in the wilderness apart from retail conveniences, such as pharmacies (that is the whole point of living in the wilderness).
However, Medford is a city of 85,000 residents according to a Google search. In the case of a city of that size or larger, one would expect pharmacies to be ubiquitous. For example, in the last two places I’ve lived, pharmacies were present at pharmacy chains, such as Walgreens and CVC, in super markets, such as Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, etc., in big box stores, such as Target and Walmart, in warehouse clubs, such as Sam’s and Costco, and Mom and Pops. One wonders how any of them make a profit given the relentless competition.
It is a serious deviation from the norm, IMO, that any city of Medford’s size in America is without a pharmacy. Retail stores are always looking to expand and ordinarily would love a location with a lot of potential customers and not a lot of competition.
Therefore I am disturbed and sorrowful to hear this news. I wonder: What can be so toxic in a community that merchants would turn their backs on a ready source of business?
But it does reveal an issue, which I will call, using a morally neutral word, “diversity” in America. It’s helpful to learn about the diversity that exists in America, if for no other reason than to understand that not everyone shares my experiences or views America the same way I do. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from these other perspectives.
When Michael says that one of the reasons that retail stores cannot keep their employees is from customer abuse, it makes me wonder what local Christian churches in Medford are teaching their members about “live[ing] peaceably with all.” Or is it the Jews, Muslims and Atheists in Medford who are abusing retail employees?
One would hope that a concentration of Christians in a community would make a positive difference in the social stability of that community. That would be a positive Christian witness. On the otherr hand, it would be a blasphemy against the name of God if Christians were a seen as a force of social instability. How is our neighbor served by driving retail out off Medford?
I just a viewed on tv a clip of a young woman who was a hostess at a restaurant being punched repeatedly by an out-of-state visiting couple from Texas. She asked them for proof of vaccination before entering the restaurant and I’m sure she was just following the manager/her boss’s s order and for that reason they attacked her. My youngest daughter was a hostess at a restaurant in high school. That never used to be considered a dangerous job. I couldn’t believe my eyes watching that on TV and it made me vey sad.
Hostess punched by customers reminded me that something strange IS going on….
The speed limit on this windy road is 45 mph, but one can drive 50 mph with a car literally on your bumper. If one had to brake for a person or an animal that car would go right through the back of your car.
It’s as if folks are brain dead ? ? ?
Jean,
There are other pharmacies in Medford.
This was the only one in my town.
The other ones are trying to stay open…but have the same issues.
Jean,
This valley is lily white…with a church on every corner.
https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Several-Rite-Aid-pharmacies-closed-across-the-Rogue-Valley–575345681.html
@ Micheal:
— That’s why you don’t read about the Chinese in the Old testament and other nations only as a footnote to how they related to Israel. —
Some scholars are convinced that in Isaiah 49:12, the land of Sinim is a direct reference to ancient China
BrideofChrist wrote:
I just a viewed on tv a clip of a young woman who was a hostess at a restaurant being punched repeatedly by an out-of-state visiting couple from Texas.
They do it because they can.
They can because they fear no real punishment by the civil authorities…
Does anything in your life make you think hell isn’t real?
Muff Potter,
I really hope the next time that couple tries that s**t, some civic-minded restaurant patrons and staff proceed to beat that couple within a millimeter of their lives. Either that or proceed to put a bullet in each of their center torsos. Civilian use of deadly force is generally justified if they reasonably believe that they or another person are in imminent danger of death or serious injury.
What state was this in? I call pull up the pertinent state laws.
I am beyond caring at this point.
CM,
It’s interesting how quickly you call for violence.
“I am beyond caring at this point.” I’m pretty sure that’s not the “Make your own application” Michael had in mind.
CM’s call for violence is “interesting?”
We live now, then, in interesting times……….. 🙆
Em,
Not a call for violence. Self-defense.
But then you d*mn well know that.
“Some Christians respond to the divide by making harsh judgments about the people they disagree with — one of the main reasons evangelicals have an unsavory reputation. I cringe when I hear such words, and respond by keeping mostly quiet about my faith. Neither approach is healthy.”
Philip Yancey
Just read this in Fox:
“While many commentators have insisted that former President Trump has been radioactive for evangelical Christianity, pushing Americans away from the faith, recent data from the Pew Research Center suggests that more Americans adopted the evangelical label during the Trump years.”
That’s just wrong!!
Officerhoppy,
Conservative commentator David French discussed this in detail in the following link:
https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/did-donald-trump-make-the-church
Once again Faux News misses The Rest of the Story.
Suffice it to say most of these new so-called Trump Evangelicals clearly are NOT based upon any historic definition of the term.
CM
Sheesh. It’s as if Donald Trump died for their sins.
He is the leader of Christian nationalists…and the end of evangelicalism as we’ve known it…
Michael,
What did you think of that David French article I linked?
CM,
He’s spot on…but I don’t share his hopefulness…I despair over it all.
CM
I’m with you on the French article. Seems like evangelicalism is more a religious political voting power faction than followers of Jesus. I dunno.