Hi Everyone,
  I think it is time for me to get back to the thought that is nearest and dearest to my heart and that is the topic of Wounded Pilgrims.
  Even though I'm no longer a Global Moderator and have been relegated to Chief Steward in Training, I think that I can speak for the Editor in saying that one of the intentions of this BB is to help restore the faith of those who have lost it through Assembly involvement.
  As I've stated several times here, and at the Rick Ross site, I believe these "Wounded Pilgrims" are very near and dear to our Lord's heart.  What gives me the grounds for making such a statement?  Weren't we just a bunch of proud, needy, or deluded fools and deserved what we got?  Can we ever get on the right track and actually be able to have a vibrant faith again?  These and other questions I hope to address here in the hope that others will chime in with their insight and that it might provide a source of encouragement to those seeking help.
   The Gospels are a great source for testimony to the fact that the Lord was not interested in "The Vision of the Church" as presented by GG or by any other group centered religious organization; God was and is interested in individuals.  It is important to note that the individuals in the Gospels that Jesus ministered to were a very lowly bunch.  Take JN.4 and the Samaritan Woman at the well.  The Woman was a member of a heretical group(Jesus points out that Samaritan teaching was in error, but still tries to reach her with the Gospel), led a defeated immoral life, and was considered a powerless minority( A Woman and Samaritan).  You could say this Woman had made some real bad decisions: Member of a false cult, unsuccessful marriage relationships(married  many times and now shacked up with a heretic), and without any power in her life to choose her destiny.
   Jesus presents her with one of the clearest presentations of the Gospel of the grace of God and it's ramifications in the life of those who believe given in the Gospels!  It is not recorded that even the disciples received such clear teaching re. grace through Jesus earthly teaching.
    Jesus sought this Woman as an object lesson for all time of the kind of individual whom he would desire to be blessed with the liberty only he could bring to their lives.  Jesus expands the notion of salvation beyond the forgiveness of sins to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God in those, like the Samaritan Woman, who receive the simple message.  
   We may have made a mess of our lives by making a whole bunch of bad decisions, but like the Samaritan Woman he is the true friend of sinners and is reaching out to draw us close---My dear Wounded Pilgrim he is not far from us, though you may be more like Matthew the Publican than The Samaritan Woman, the promise remains the same.
             Always more to follow---- God Bless,  Mark

Mark...you got promoted from global moderator to Head Steward in Training!  this is a promotion, brother.  If anyone ever makes "Overcomer," we'll just raise the bar so they get knocked back down.  We never arrive brother.  Of course, Mark, you and I, especially me, may get to keep overcomer status, but it's no big deal to us, we just want to serve! (gag smilie here)

Hopefully, the pace of my life will slow just a little in the next week.  I have some really great, encouraging things to share with everyone, but I literally don't have the time to formulate my thoughts!

anyways, I am still dumbfounded over the interest in this website.  Who woulda thunk it?  Really, I ask God, "What am I doing here with these people?"  Well, it's only cause I love the Lord!  Otherwise I'd be out winning a Nobel prize of something!  

I shouldn't be posting right now, I can't think straight.  Seriously, Mark, you encourage me so much with your posts. keep it up, it is a blessing.

Brent

Thank you. mark. i really appreciate your comment. And, you are absolutely right! We may be able to look back on our experience and see the goodness of God, but the assembly as a whole is, at best, a very unhealthy place to be, and His people need to be delivered! I'm so glad for this website...I personally know several people who have made the decision to leave their perspective lodges as a result of this website!!!!!

I am a dictionary user.  When I was a child and someone would say something and I asked what that meant, my mom would tell me to look in the dictionary.  The title of this post intrigued me.  The word "wounded" has 2 meanings:
1.) an injury involving a cutting or tearing of the flesh
2.) an injury or hurt to the feelings.

**I can see how after reading many posts on this web site that the pilgrims in the assembly are wounded in one or both ways.  Whether it be by beating your wife til she bleeds or bruises or worse...;or by putting severe bruises on a baby's or child's bottom for some "disobedience" ( of which in some saints eyes that was for every little thing)...; or by tearing apart the very thing that keeps people in a relationship....TRUST.  Or tearing down the very HOPE that God never wanted torn down which may lead a 15 year old to commit suicide in the assembly.  Is this what this ministry is all about?  These are the very things that are happening and worse.  Men who are not in leadership are having every ounce of pride stepped on and depleted so they don't even know who they are anymore.  They get pride then by beating their kids or being so hyper-strict that a child or person in any relationship with them cannot be themselves.  Wounds from that place are deep.  Some don't know how deep...and are functioning like a walking zombie moving and responding to the "royal " commands of the assembly tyrants who are leading ones to believe that the controlling and brain-washing teaching of george geftakys , and his drones is the "ONLY" way to follow God.  "OH THE SHAME OF IT ALL"................Judgement day is going to be very interesting for them.....leading God's people to ruin.
     The wounded Pilgrim does have a hope....WE have the Ultimate Physician...Jesus Christ!  For those of you that read this site and are still "IN"...you need to GET OUT OF THERE!  There is a Freedom In Christ...and its not George and his BOLOGNA!  There is a God -FIlled and God-leading life outside of that hole ( the assembly-lodge).  So if you have a room in the Lodge and you want to get out...you can!  Its not "HOTEL CALIFORNIA"..where you check in but you can't check out......God leads to , and out of places!  God can heal our wounds as pilgrims.  WE may never forget those things that gave us the wounds, or those people that inflicted them.....but God can renew our minds, heal our wounds and put us under HIS wing, and bring us to a place of true freedom and happiness.

    IF YOU ARE A WOUND RECIPIENT : YOU WOUNDS CAN HEAL THRU JESUS CHRIST!!!!

    IF YOU ARE A WOUND GIVER :" VENGENCE IS MINE SAYS THE LORD"

OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE!!!!! THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD, AND IT IS NOT GEORGE GEFTAKYS, ROGER GRANT, MIKE ZACH, DANNY EDWARDS, TIM GEFTAKYS OR ANY OF THEM...LOOK UP, TAKE THE BLINDERS OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!

REMEMBER THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE!!!!

"I guess we should focus on the good and not lose heart?"

OK, here's my biting comment:

We should focus of Christ.  Then both the good and bad will be seen in their proper place.  After all, the Bible has passages of horror, and wonder. He makes all things new.  He brings beauty from ashes.  What the enemy means for evil, He means for good.

I am so happy today!  God is too good!

editor

Hi Arthur,

I left the lodge a little over two months ago.  The first thing I did was go into lodge-mode and evaluate myself based on what I was doing for the Lord.  The pastor at Calvary Chapel said, "Eric, don't think about working for the Lord.  Your ministry is to find healing in your life and in your family's life.  Where ever you end up going to church, we will support your decision and we will pray for you.  You need to hear God's voice through ministry and if you have the strength to pray, then pray."

This blew away every PBA (Performance Based Acceptance) teaching I heard.  They even provided me the names of 4 unrelated churches that are bible based, if I wanted to check them out.  You would never get that in the assembly!

He went on to tell me, based on what he found out, it would take a good two years to sort the major things out.  I spoke to a man who came out of a similar lodge 5 years ago, and he said he's still has some sorting out to do, but the first 2 years were the worst.

I hope this helps.  I'm in the same boat.

Eric

Dear Eulaha

I wish you were out here, you could hang out with us.
Why don't you find a church with great worship, and just concentrate on The Lord? I know that you need more than that, but perhaps you could find someone out there who can help you.  There are other Chris Lawson's out there...Get out and look for them.  I wish I could do more, but we will all be praying for you.  Take heart, be of good cheer, Jesus loves you, and He will not quench a burning wick.

Brent

Mark,

It's interesting that you mention Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center.  I went there in March for a 2-week visit, and I have met Dr. Martin!  It really helped me to clear up some issues concerning the Assembly.  I was not the first ex-Assembly member to go there-I was #4.

God is good and full of grace.  His arms are always open to me-hallelujah!