As I’ve studied abuse patterns I’ve noted common patterns among abusers as they respond to allegations of abuse. These patterns have been observed and written about extensively. This abuse response pattern is evidenced in all types of abuse such as; emotional, spousal, spiritual, physical, sexual, and organizational abuse. A great way to remember and identify these patterns is an an
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Okay so I couldn’t come up with 95 theses on the subject but I got as far as 9.5, which is really just a cute way to say there’s an even ten. In reality, none of these theses are half truths. What you will read here is my response after having dealt with significant dysfunction in more than one church
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It’s surprising sometimes that abuse and corruption finds its way right inside the church. I’m embarrassed that people outside the church see these things and make the assumption that all Christians are abusing, cheating thieves. I hate that! Do you ever wonder why God doesn’t sweep in and zap these abusers like he did Ananias and Sapphira. They fell dead
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One thing I observed about the Mafia having grown up in a Chicago suburb was that they knew how to lead. No one ever questioned this. Most of their methods however, involved fear and intimidation. One thing’s for sure, their variety of leadership always got the job done, at least until the Feds caught up with them. I think it
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One weekend in college before Juli and I were married, I went to spend the weekend with her at her parents’ home in the suburbs of Chicago. She met me at the door and asked me to go wait for her on the back porch where her dad was watching television. When I came out on the back porch, I
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Following is a list of Scriptures that refer to our calling. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list but rather a sampling of what God’s Word says about our calling. Isaiah 6:8 Jeremiah 29:11 John 15:16 Romans 1:1-32; 8:30; 11:29; 12:4 1 Corinthians 1:26, 27 Ephesians 4:1-4; 11 Philippians 3:14 1 Timothy 6:12 2 Timothy 1:8, 9 1
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Titus 2:11-13 (NIV) For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, So what
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A few years ago I was in the process of looking for a new ministry position. Scouring the pastor job ads I ran across a church in Florida looking for a youth pastor. Making an initial contact, I immediately hit it off with the search team. After each step in the process I was advanced to the next level. I
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I remember as a child watching the Hancock Tower in Chicago as it was being constructed. Even though we lived sixteen miles west of the city you could still get a good view of the structure from certain vantage points around my neighborhood. It was the thrill of young boys to brag about seeing from their yard or from a
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