Comments for remedyconnect.org http://www.remedyconnect.org Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:51:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Dear Lord, Please Close Your Church by Brian Harrell http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/03/18/dear-god-please-close-your-church-2/#comment-47 Brian Harrell Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:51:47 +0000 http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/03/18/dear-god-please-close-your-church-2/#comment-47 Leaving things behind is not as easy as it seems. Makes for nice preaching but the reality is harder. It is a continual battle. The names and faces change but the same people are in every church. We may not change them but hopefully we will change in how we deal with them. Read Perry Noble's blog post called "the difference between a critic and a coach." good stuff. Leaving things behind is not as easy as it seems. Makes for nice preaching but the reality is harder. It is a continual battle. The names and faces change but the same people are in every church. We may not change them but hopefully we will change in how we deal with them. Read Perry Noble’s blog post called “the difference between a critic and a coach.” good stuff.

]]> Comment on Dear Lord, Please Close Your Church by Josh http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/03/18/dear-god-please-close-your-church-2/#comment-45 Josh Sat, 19 Mar 2011 02:10:50 +0000 http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/03/18/dear-god-please-close-your-church-2/#comment-45 Brian, I appreciate the feedback. My wife and in both have spent some pretty intense times trying to figure out what it looks like to "move past" all the stuff that happened to us out there, and it seems like every time we feel like we're finally getting there, something happens that causes it all to come rushing back into our lives. I know that bitterness is certainly something that is weighing me down, and it is something I'm working on. My prayer now is for grace and the desire to forgive. Because, honestly, after something like this, the desire to forgive is a very distant reality. Anyway, I do appreciate your reply. I am learning that for every bad experience and strained relationship, there is still encouragement to be found. Thank you for providing even a small portion of that encouragement. Brian,

I appreciate the feedback. My wife and in both have spent some pretty intense times trying to figure out what it looks like to “move past” all the stuff that happened to us out there, and it seems like every time we feel like we’re finally getting there, something happens that causes it all to come rushing back into our lives.

I know that bitterness is certainly something that is weighing me down, and it is something I’m working on. My prayer now is for grace and the desire to forgive. Because, honestly, after something like this, the desire to forgive is a very distant reality.

Anyway, I do appreciate your reply. I am learning that for every bad experience and strained relationship, there is still encouragement to be found. Thank you for providing even a small portion of that encouragement.

]]> Comment on Dear Lord, Please Close Your Church by Brian Harrell http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/03/18/dear-god-please-close-your-church-2/#comment-44 Brian Harrell Sat, 19 Mar 2011 01:36:46 +0000 http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/03/18/dear-god-please-close-your-church-2/#comment-44 Read Revelation and you will surely see that God is all about removing "lampstands" and "spewing" churches out of His mouth. Church closings are a good thing, a God thing. I believe whole denominations will/should be shut down. But you must remember: "Don't let a root of bitterness grow up to trouble many..." The root is the event, the issue. It grows when nursed and given fertilizer and good ground. It troubles us, then others, and then it corrupts. If you aren't careful the people of MO will follow you everywhere you go (even though they won't be there physically), they will be in every meeting, and will dominate your thoughts. Leave them behind. You are no longer accountable to them, need their approval, or defend yourself to them. This is an unwinnable battle. It's funny that he doesn't think you know the whole story; I thought you were the story!!! Read Revelation and you will surely see that God is all about removing “lampstands” and “spewing” churches out of His mouth. Church closings are a good thing, a God thing. I believe whole denominations will/should be shut down.
But you must remember: “Don’t let a root of bitterness grow up to trouble many…” The root is the event, the issue. It grows when nursed and given fertilizer and good ground. It troubles us, then others, and then it corrupts. If you aren’t careful the people of MO will follow you everywhere you go (even though they won’t be there physically), they will be in every meeting, and will dominate your thoughts. Leave them behind. You are no longer accountable to them, need their approval, or defend yourself to them. This is an unwinnable battle. It’s funny that he doesn’t think you know the whole story; I thought you were the story!!!

]]> Comment on One Year Ago Today by Brian Harrell http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/02/21/one-year-ago-today/#comment-30 Brian Harrell Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:26:41 +0000 http://www.remedyconnect.org/?p=71#comment-30 Just remember that David, when on the run from Saul, had gathered around him a group of debtors, discontents and dispirited people. Later these same men were known as the mighty men of valor. God is up to something BIG!!!! Just remember that David, when on the run from Saul, had gathered around him a group of debtors, discontents and dispirited people. Later these same men were known as the mighty men of valor. God is up to something BIG!!!!

]]> Comment on One Year Ago Today by Josh http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/02/21/one-year-ago-today/#comment-29 Josh Tue, 22 Feb 2011 02:03:17 +0000 http://www.remedyconnect.org/?p=71#comment-29 Brian, You know, before we went out there, we had heard our share of "ministry horror stories" as well. We (for some reason) figured that it couldn't happen to us. Perhaps it was pride, perhaps it was ignorance. Either way, it happened, and now I know why so many people leave ministry behind to pursue careers in other fields. I couldn't agree with you more about bylaws. I just don't get how people can get it in their heads that a purely man-made document can trump Scriptural concepts such as grace and peace. Thanks for the encouragement. My wife and I have had some pretty deep conversations about what the road ahead looks like. Though we don't know quite what the rest of our journey looks like, we are committed to serving God through ministry to His Church and His Kingdom. Every bit of encouragement we receive helps us know that we've made the right decision. Blessings, Josh Brian,

You know, before we went out there, we had heard our share of “ministry horror stories” as well. We (for some reason) figured that it couldn’t happen to us. Perhaps it was pride, perhaps it was ignorance. Either way, it happened, and now I know why so many people leave ministry behind to pursue careers in other fields. I couldn’t agree with you more about bylaws. I just don’t get how people can get it in their heads that a purely man-made document can trump Scriptural concepts such as grace and peace.

Thanks for the encouragement. My wife and I have had some pretty deep conversations about what the road ahead looks like. Though we don’t know quite what the rest of our journey looks like, we are committed to serving God through ministry to His Church and His Kingdom. Every bit of encouragement we receive helps us know that we’ve made the right decision. Blessings,

Josh

]]> Comment on One Year Ago Today by Brian Harrell http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/02/21/one-year-ago-today/#comment-28 Brian Harrell Tue, 22 Feb 2011 01:40:07 +0000 http://www.remedyconnect.org/?p=71#comment-28 What a crummy experience. This same story has been told so many times, in so many places just the names and towns have been changed. Here is an old saying: the person that meets you at the gate will be the first to show you the door. Happened with us too! The welcoming guy paints a picture of "we want you" and 6 months to a year later he is passing out the petition to remove you! It is an amazing how hateful, prideful, arrogant and ignorant "christians" can be. And by the way, to h--- with the bylaws - hate always trumps the bylaws. It is hard to know how to survive such a broadside, especially at a young age. Keep going and don't look back! What a crummy experience. This same story has been told so many times, in so many places just the names and towns have been changed. Here is an old saying: the person that meets you at the gate will be the first to show you the door. Happened with us too! The welcoming guy paints a picture of “we want you” and 6 months to a year later he is passing out the petition to remove you! It is an amazing how hateful, prideful, arrogant and ignorant “christians” can be. And by the way, to h— with the bylaws – hate always trumps the bylaws. It is hard to know how to survive such a broadside, especially at a young age. Keep going and don’t look back!

]]> Comment on In 30 Minutes I Will Officially Be A Seminarian by Josh http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/02/11/in-30-minutes-i-will-officially-be-a-seminarian/#comment-21 Josh Sun, 13 Feb 2011 04:10:20 +0000 http://www.remedyconnect.org/?p=66#comment-21 Thanks, Will. It's been a crazy road, and it's obviously not over yet. You may never know how much I needed your encouragement at this time last year. You have been a blessing to me and my family. May those blessings come back to you and your family a hundred-fold. Thanks, Will. It’s been a crazy road, and it’s obviously not over yet. You may never know how much I needed your encouragement at this time last year. You have been a blessing to me and my family. May those blessings come back to you and your family a hundred-fold.

]]> Comment on In 30 Minutes I Will Officially Be A Seminarian by Will Adair http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/02/11/in-30-minutes-i-will-officially-be-a-seminarian/#comment-18 Will Adair Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:18:14 +0000 http://www.remedyconnect.org/?p=66#comment-18 Congratulations. Study hard to show yourself approved. Congratulations. Study hard to show yourself approved.

]]> Comment on Uncle Sam, Healing, and Playing the Waiting Game by Josh http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/02/01/uncle-sam-healing-and-playing-the-waiting-game/#comment-13 Josh Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:34:27 +0000 http://www.remedyconnect.org/?p=29#comment-13 Hey Brian, Thanks again for the encouragement. I'd have to agree. One of the best things that's come out of this situation is that I'm learning humility. Arrogance certainly has no place in the Kingdom. And, oddly enough, this experience has given me the opportunity to connect with other pastors that have been through similar situations. Though good has come from it, the wound is still pretty tender. Anyway, I appreciate your prayers and encouragement during this time of reflection for my wife and I. Blessings, Josh Hey Brian,

Thanks again for the encouragement. I’d have to agree. One of the best things that’s come out of this situation is that I’m learning humility. Arrogance certainly has no place in the Kingdom. And, oddly enough, this experience has given me the opportunity to connect with other pastors that have been through similar situations. Though good has come from it, the wound is still pretty tender. Anyway, I appreciate your prayers and encouragement during this time of reflection for my wife and I. Blessings,

Josh

]]> Comment on Uncle Sam, Healing, and Playing the Waiting Game by Brian Harrell http://www.remedyconnect.org/2011/02/01/uncle-sam-healing-and-playing-the-waiting-game/#comment-12 Brian Harrell Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:58:09 +0000 http://www.remedyconnect.org/?p=29#comment-12 Devastating. Ministry; we go in with hopes and dreams thinking that all want to serve God and change the world as passionately as we do and then reality hits and we find that hardly anyone is there for that reason! I too have been through that, same people, different names and faces. Yes, the lessons learned during those 7 weeks will come back to serve you and God. For me it was having arrogance knocked out of me that helped. Looking forward to more of the story and the healing! Devastating. Ministry; we go in with hopes and dreams thinking that all want to serve God and change the world as passionately as we do and then reality hits and we find that hardly anyone is there for that reason! I too have been through that, same people, different names and faces. Yes, the lessons learned during those 7 weeks will come back to serve you and God. For me it was having arrogance knocked out of me that helped. Looking forward to more of the story and the healing!

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