"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins". (2 Peter 2:5-9 NIV)

This verse is clearly telling us that we need to keep moving forward or we will slide back.  And all of us from time to time do have a tendency to slide back---we become "nearsighted and blind"  and we "forget" the great joy we experienced when we were saved.  We literally forget the joys of sins forgiven and the hope of heaven.  Sometimes we've heard the same "story" so many times that it almost doesn't sound real to us any more.

And we need to "stir up the gift that is inside us" as Paul says, and remember the joy and peace we received from Jesus when we were saved.  We need to start moving forward again. Don't get me wrong----we ARE SAVED from our sins---Peter is clearly saying the person has "forgotten that he HAS BEEN cleansed form his past sins".  But we need to stir ourselves up as Christians and remember ALL THAT IS OURS in Christ, and all THAT WILL BE OURS in the future when we walk the golden streets and see the Lord Himself.  We need to remember that we are saved, and held onto by Jesus Christ who intercedes for us at all times.

We need to remember that our sins are totally forgiven forever.  We need to remember that we, who were once enemies of God are now his "sons and daughters". We need to remember that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies, and that we are priests and kings onto the Lord.  We need to turn to Revelation 21 and look to the tremendous future that is ours---imagine walking those streets!  Imagine seeing Jesus face to face! Imagine seeing those rivers of the water of life, and the trees growing beside it!  Imagine a place with no more tears or crying, or any evil of any kind!

When we are "nearsighted and blind" we can't see these things---we have become dull of hearing also, and we have forgotten what a fantastic destiny awaits us!  We need to ask Jesus for "eyesalve that we may see" (as he states in Revelation), cast off the sluggishness, and open our Bibles and pray!  And the Lord is not condemning us---he knows how weak we are---how we constantly need to be encouraged---just as sheep need to be "prodded along" so do we many times.  Perhaps the Lord is prodding you today, and calling to you to follow closer--and He calls in the most loving way.  I mention these things because the Bible says to "encourage one another as you see the day approaching"--and we all need encouragement.    We have such a blessed future ahead of us----and we are truly blessed today with every blessing God can give us---we just need to wipe our spiritual eyes and see the glory awaiting us as the very Children of God!

Hello Everyone!

  There isn't a lot of activity on this site these days and that could be a good sign.  Why?  Most of us have moved on in our lives and probably don't feel the need to talk about our past Assembly life.

  I stopped my running contributions for several reasons:  1.) I have been very busy and found it difficult to make the time   2.) I wasn't sure if anybody really was benefiting from what I was writing.

   I believe, however, that the issue of spiritual abuse is one that is bigger than just my own recovery, and though the Assembly is long gone, the general tendency for this evil to sprout up in groups will always be with us until the Lord comes.

  It's good to remember just what this subtle power of spiritual abuse is, how it gets incorporated into a system, and how to stay free of the toxic effects of it's corrupting influences. 

  Spiritual abuse damages the most important relationship we can have and that is our essential link with God himself.  Yes, it deals a crushing psychological blow, but even more it attacks our ability to trust God and live in Him.  When this relationship of faith is severed our life is filled with doubt, fear, and leads us away from where God wants us to be---- firmly enjoying Him!

  This is what the whole "Wounded Pilgrims" topic is about:  helping us to deal with the issues that seem to destroy that trust.


  In order to do this we must first understand what "went wrong" in our Assembly experience and honestly face these facts.  This process of seeking the truth is more than just discovering ones own personal emotional history.  These groups, as Jesus noted with the Pharisees, have certain core behavioral errors that need to be exposed as one would refute a theological error in a cult.

  So, if a former member takes the position that, "it wasn't so bad for me", and moves on in their life they will have missed a great opportunity to deepen their lives with God.  Even worse, is when we refuse to acknowledge that there were corrupt forces at work in the group, as a deeply entrenched system, and blame everything on the fall of GG alone.  These folks will be the greatest losers and remain the most wounded of all!  Some of these have continued to teach the same kind of toxic merit based relationship with God that used to poison the Assembly.

  The great thing about having learned the negatives is that now clearly contrasted we find the positives---- God is not a cruel taskmaster loading us up with guilt and shame, rather He is a liberator of our souls.  The whole power of spiritual abuse is found when we accept the notion that God has not really completely forgiven me--- there are "issues" between me and God that I must "deal with."

  A group takes this basic error and suggests that they have the "keys" to success in filling that gap between what God wants and what I lack.  "God", they say, "has appointed them to "shepherd" us into these deeper truths.  With this, the destructive link has been established and I am firmly rooted in the system.

   More later----                                                                   God Bless,  Mark C.

 

How do you do!
I’ve been reading the section for quite a long time but was feeling shy to get myself a member’s account.
today some new cheap sun glasses links for my friends!
sunglasses for less
cheap sunglasses
chanel silver sunglasses
mazzi sunglasses
perscription sunglasses valentino
sunglasses clip on
top brands sunglasses
famous designers sunglasses
chole sunglasses
versace mens sunglasses
julbo sunglasses website
versace cutout temple wrap sunglasses
coco chanel replica sunglasses
prada sunglasses 06e
kids sunglasses
older armani sunglasses
styleyes sunglasses
sunglasses bugatti
christain dior sunglasses
victoria sunglasses
roxy foxy sunglasses

Your sun glasses doctor

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 21:31,32)

Note that Jesus does not say "I have prayed for you that you do not stumble"--instead he says "I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail".  There are some who teach that a Christian could somehow lose his salvation through unfaithfulness, etc.   But Jesus even says to Peter "when you have turned back"----he speaks with assurance that Peter WILL indeed turn back again despite denying him and stumbling so terribly.

Hebrews 7:25 says "He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, seeing that he ever lives to make intercession for them".  I have to ask----can any of us ultimately fall if Jesus is praying for us??  Yes---we can stumble. But we can never be lost. We WILL get back up, and why?  Because Jesus is continually praying for us that our faith doesn't fail.

It is really a comforting thought---and I mention it again and again----that Jesus is at the right hand of God praying for all of us right now. As you read this Jesus is praying for you. This should fill us with praise and rejoicing!    

For those interested check out this website.  Then go to the blog and leave a message.

This is one brave girl!

http://www.abbysunderland.com/

Just came to mind as I was reading this. Goofy is Mickey’s 'Best Friend' while Pluto is his dog? Goofy has a life with friends, while Pluto is ‘just a dog’. 
Timing is everything when you meet someone. You might be ‘Best Friends’; or you might just be the dog!! 

Deir Reverent Burt,

You have been gone too long, but I can see that you have not left your sense of humor locked up.

Since I can't afford your 99.00 book, can you tell me the story behind the story of the woman who left her water jug at the well? Was her jug then stolen? Did it fall to the bottom of the well only to shatter in pieces? Did it disappear in the sands of time?

I just can't sleep at night, thinking about it!

Please help!

Aunt Aggie

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6,7)

With the events in the world, and our daily worries, it's easy to feel far from God, or "feel" that God is far away from us.  But as this verse says, not even one sparrow is forgotten by God.  It is also truly amazing with what we know now about DNA----that indeed, the very hairs of our head ARE numbered!  Literally.  Who we are is coded in our DNA---so not only can we take that part of the verse figuratively, it is also true scientifically. God truly knows us through and through.  It is so easy to worry and fear---but we really shouldn't---the Good Shepherd is carefully watching over us.

Hello Dear Friends!

Reverend Burt O'Leary here. I have not posted for a while as I have been on a short vacation
visiting the incarcerated at a local prison.  Due to fortunate circumstances I was able to both live
there for several months, and befriend several of the inmates during my stay there. It was quite a
restful and satisfying experience for me.

But friends, now that I am back, I want to make a fantastic offer to you concerning a book I wrote
during that magnificent rest period entitled "Little known headlines from Biblical Times". It contains
actual "clippings" from several news stories written during Biblical times.  Let me give you an example.  We all know this well known verse:

"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger". (Luke 2: 15,16)


Of course, these verses appear after a group of the "heavenly host" had appeared to the shepherds announcing with joy the birth of the blessed Savior.  But how many of us have considered what took place the next day?  Well, amazingly enough, a newspaper clipping from that very day was recently unearthed in Bethlehem and reads as follows:



Bethlehem Bee                                       Vol 7,  #234



SHEPHERDS HEAR VOICES, LEAVE FLOCK;
HERD FOLLOWS AND WREAKS HAVOC


"Late last night several shepherds, claiming to have heard voices from the heavens,
abandoned their flocks and headed into Bethlehem. The shepherds, claiming they had been
told of some miracle in the city, hurriedly made their way there, unaware their abandoned flocks
were following them some yards behind.

The flocks, totaling some 2000 sheep, began to eat the vegetation in front of the homes, and to
leave their "droppings" wherever they went. After a short hour, the devastation incurred was tre-
mendous.  "It was horrible!!" said Moishe son of Shiloh, "my garden was destroyed within minutes,
and it stunk to high heavens after they left" he added.  Many residents were in tears, and angry beyond words at the shepherds, whom they considered to be drunk with wine due to their claim of seeing things, and "hearing voices".

It will take several days to clean up the mess, and to re-landscape the ruined yards, and the damage is estimated to be close to ten thousand shekels.  It took hours to re-herd the flocks, but the shepherds finally returned to the fields with their flocks early this morning. As of yet no arrests have been made in the wake of this fiasco".


Dear Friends!  Isn't it wondrous to consider? And there are many more "headlines" just like this that deal with Biblical events and their aftermath to those actually living at that time!!  Don't miss out!  Get a copy today:

LITTLE KNOWN HEADLINES FROM BIBLICAL TIMES
BY REVEREND BURT O'LEARY.

$99.99 + TAX.  Allow 6 weeks for delivery. Send Money order (no personal checks please):



Reverend Burt O'Leary

2222 Knights Cross Lane

Barstow, Ca., 92233



Thank you dear friends!  May the Lord richly bless you!

"With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:37,38)

As I read this I was struck with the reality that if Jesus had not endured what he did---the spitting, the torment, the whipping by the soldiers, and the ultimate crucifixion, that veil in the Temple would never have been torn in two by God.  I would not have salvation, or joy, or rejoicing,
or a Savior.  I would be lost.  We often take salvation for granted--the same old story we've heard over and over again.  Sometimes we need to stop and remember that we REALLY, REALLY would be heading for hell right now if Jesus had not come to redeem us.

But because of Jesus we undeserving, rebellious sinners can actually go right through the veil into the "Holy of Holies" and have fellowship with God.  It truly is an amazing thought---and one that should make us fall to our knees and thank Jesus for what He has done for us.  Praise God.