WOW! JUST WOW!
How can I say thanks to so many of you who commented on yesterday’s post from Susan. After years of religious abuse and being a religious addict, she broke free and now tells her story. In a personal correspondence Susan and I had over the course of several weeks, she wrote the following (I have received her permission to share this):
Too many religious leaders overlook the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. They do not trust the Holy Spirit’s ability to change lives without their help. By using sheer force of personality, and manipulative, authoritarian leadership, they ultimately create a dependency on themselves instead of on the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t save us to create an army of droids. He saves us so we can be who He has always intended we should be: dependent on and obedient to His voice. Then, He gets ALL of the glory. Mayhem happens when a pastor or church leader creates an atmosphere of fear and reliance on him or herself.
She speaks truth. It is a wake-up call to me as a pastor. It should also be a wake-up call to all who are not. I know I am preaching to the choir on this blog, but the church was never intended to be a “cult of personality” (to borrow from Living Colour). There is only ONE HEAD and I/you ain’t Him!
…………………….OKAY…ON TO OTHER SUBJECTS!……………….
My friend, Michael Perkins, has written his first ebook, specifically designed for, well…you need to see it for yourself. He asked me to look it over before he made it available, and I was impressed. But I am going to allow two other bloggers to give their thoughts. Here is Moe’s review. Here is Jon’s (Stretched) post. I would suggest you head over to Michael’s blog to find out more.
My friend from Manhattan, Moe, has begun a new blog called Disciplus. Please, please, please head over there and check it out. I am excited for his new venture!
My friend, Jason, spent last year daily chronicling his faith adventure and called it MustardSeedYear. Not always pretty. Not always uplifting. But always truthful. He has challenged others to “latch on” to a daily, truthful recording of their walk. His posts this week have been about giving up control. They are knock-your-socks-off on the money.
Jonathan Pearson, one of the staff at Cornerstone Community Church, in Spartansburg, SC, with the help of some others has started a new blog that comes through as “title unknown.” 🙂 It is about Millennials and you can find it here. I believe this post by Ben Reed is one of the finest I have read on this subject and needed to be written. Blessings Jonathan and friends!
To wrap it up: This dude is hilarious, but pointed (and we both have an on-going love affair with Chipotle). This dude speaks in analogies. This dude is unreasonable. And this dudette is always looking and thinking.
There are more, of course. I just wanted to pass along a little link love. Please don’t be offended and feel left out if you were not mentioned. “You will have your chance” (to borrow a quote from CARS). Any links you care to share?
WOW! Thank you man!!! I’m honored you’d include me on that list.
You’re welcome. 🙂
These are good people. Many I’ve been following, and some new ones I’m just getting to check out thanks to you! Way to be a team player, Bill.
Yes they are Stephen. I wanted to include you actually but needed to keep it down to a few. But as I said: you will have your chance. 🙂 I appreciate your blog and comments.
Oh man, no worries! If I get a chance one day I’ll feel blessed 🙂 PS- meant to mention, while we’re on the Michael Perkins train, my brother interviewed him on his blog today, theisleofman.net. It’s worth checking out!
Have you ever seen CARS when Luigi says to Guido: “You will have your chance Guido. You will have your chance” at the Big Race? That’s how I meant it. 🙂 Going to head over to his blog and see it now. Thanks for the heads up Stephen. PS: link did not work.
I’ve not seen Cars, though with four Cars loving nephews I have no excuse for this! Not sure what went wrong with the link, I’ll try again. http://www.theisleofman.net – hope that works.
It worked. Loved the interview. Put your brother in my Google Reader now also. I told him you bribed me to come over there. 🙂
Thanks for the mention, Bill!
Welcome Jon. Hopefully more will check out your blog.
Dude, I love that you called me a dude. Thanks for giving me a shout. You are the man!
What can I say after that? I did forget that we both have an on-going love affair with Chipotle. 🙂 Just did it.
I’ll have to check out that Disciplus blog. Looks interesting!
Think you will like it Loren.
First thank you for the love. And second…you truly are a man of God. Love you friend.
You’re welcome. Thanks for the kind words. They mean a lot. Love you too Michael. How goes it with the ebook?
Ahh — lots of good reading in that list!
Susan’s testimony is powerful!
Thanks my friend!
I know we read a lot of the same ones Jim. Glad you agree. 🙂 It is powerful and will make quite an impact with it. Thanks for coming by.
Thanks so much for linking us! Appreciate you!
You’re welcome Jonathan. Thanks. I look for good things from your ministry.
Thanks for the “Dude” link love Bill!…
I’m not sure if what i just said there is appropriate or not…lol…
Thanks for being an awesome cycle dude!
You make me laugh Arny. Thanks.
Thanks for giving Susan the opportunity to share with us yesterday. It was a powerful testimony that I am sure will help many who are going through the same thing. And thanks for sharing the links, this is a great way to find new inspiration.
Glad Susan’s testimony struck a chord with so many. As for the links, glad you will check them out. Oh…your time’s a comin’. 😛
Great to see so many folks that I love and follow in the blogosphere getting a shoutout today!!!
You would have been one to suggest also Larry. Someday… 🙂
Bill, the older I get, not that I’m old, the more I love others getting the love, success and attention.
Thanks. I know you are not in this for fame and fortune. Okay…least not the fame. 🙂 I’m not blowing smoke here larry but you do have a good blog. Thanks for visiting mine.
Thanks for the link love Bill. I appreciate that. Honored to be in the company of those fantastic bloggers. Also, glad to be a part of this awesome community here. It almost makes me want to buy a bike. I just fear that NYC cabs will have their way with me. 🙂
You’re welcome Moe. Have come to really appreciate your approach to life and ministry. As for the bike: I suspect I would rethink my riding if I had Death Cab Cuties after me. 🙂
I’m familiar with many of these family members, others I’ll try to get to know better. I’m blown away by the fact that all of them and you have such a humble heart to serve our Father.
Susan is dead on the money. The ones called to lead are generally given the gift of charisma, they like most of us begin to depend on the gift instead of the Giver…
Thanks for the kind words floyd. To be honest, I seriously wondered if there would ever be a time when that could/would ever be said about me. i do agree that Susan is dead on and your assessment is correct also. thanks.
Thanks for adding to my list of blogs to read 🙂
Spreading the love is what it’s all about. Thanks for letting us know about all of these sites!
At first I thought…what? Then I figured you were kidding. Remember the line from CARS. 🙂 Hopefully I will let a few know about some other sites I find good to read. Thanks Craig for hanging in there with mine.
hi Bill,
I checked the blogsites out that you have linked in your post for today.
Creative, lots of good topics, I haven’t read Michael Perkins e-book but it sounds good. I read the reviews of this e-book. It’s always good to be authentic as far as who we are and what we believe is important. ‘Our voice’ It would be hard to let a successful blogsite go and ‘start over’.
I liked them all. I like Arny’s prayer Fridays, Moe’s Disciplus blog about discipleship. I didn’t know what Millennials were unitl I googled it. Young people born in during the 80’s and 90’s? That’s my kids ages.
Zee’s blogsite format is nice. I like it.
It’s awesome that there are so many good creative writers out there.
It’s good to go browsing once in a while to other’s blogsites to see what is happening there.
Funny…I didn’t know what Millennials were either Linda until I read the blog. When I commented on Ben’s post I talked about the Millennials and the Ancients (me). That sort of struck me funny (I know weird sense of humor) since I have no clue what I am. Boomer. Buster. Ancient sounded good. 😛 Thanks for taking the time to read some of them. That means a lot.
Lots of link love to check out. Thanks for the recommendations, Bill.
You bet Dustin. And when you and Jenn know more about going to haiti please let me know.
Hi Bill. The link I got to for today was Jason’s and I read the Family and Career blogs….dead on for me. I always pray that I am giving my children over to God, then I fret, worry & want them to make right choices, especially since the boys have been through really bad relationships, then the career, I think that I should be working in the school, yet maybe God has something else in store for me, so again, I pray to give God the control over my career, & once again, I worry & fret that I might be passing up a school job(there is a current position open that I’m pretty sure I could get…that’s not bragging honestly)but I hem & haw & tell God I am giving Him control. Thanks for the links, that is an awesome blog Jason! I hope to check out the others you mentioned too Bill. 🙂
Been there done that also jan. Easy to say but hard to do. Maybe God wants you in that job. Check it out after praying and talking to Michael. God may be opening a door for you. As for jason’s blog, those were some good ones.
Thank you, Michael. 🙂
The blogs sound interesting. I will put them in my Google Reader after I get done with the teaching these two days.
Hope you do. Thanks again for your post.
You are welcome, and I did. They are in my Google Reader. Zee’s promises to be engaging. Others, too, but I love to reach out beyond the borders.