Pretty sad to sit in my pew there on Sundays and know that Pastor James is doing everything he can to have some of these posts removed, probably at the church's expense. That's the kicker that comes to my mind after binge-reading all 50+ reviews faster than a new original series on Netflix (oh! and thank goodness they aren't rated by the MPAA, otherwise I'd have a real hard time assuaging my conscience at the altar). I've read through them carefully, and while some of them ARE highly dramatized, indulgent, and ridiculously trite pieces by former members, the nuts and bolts (actual FACTS, that is) are quite solid, and so any investigation into the blogs ""legal standing"" by Pastor is a bit hilarious. I think it's because we have come to see words like 'Apostle' and 'Norman' as swear words nearly. So growing up, we never dared to speak of them in conversational sarcasm, let alone mockery. I remember people going on a holy rampage because someone in the long line of leavers was just upset enough to use the nickname ""Stormin' Norman"". There were audible gasps in the sanctuary. Really? Wow. I got called ten times worse names by the guys in my LCA high school class. Get a thicker skin, buddy. Life is a bumpy road. \r
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But now quite a few people it seems have dared to upset the apple cart on this site, and guess what? \r
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It's still free speech. \r
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The leadership of the church should be thrilled that I'm more amused than offended by recent actions and allegations, because boy do I have a right to be. My grandfather and his brother walked the fields of Europe with guns shaking in their hands during World War II so that I would have the chance to live in a country that allows you to speak your mind, a right that is breathing its dying breaths in our nation. And so if you want to spend MY TITHES and MY OFFERINGS investigating MY RIGHT to speak MY OPINION of some circumstances YOU have pretty clearly botched up (according to oh, only but a few hundred reliable sources), then while you're at it, why don't you go ahead and burn a copy of the Constitution in the pulpit this Sunday. Then I will finally feel bold enough to stand up and walk out. \r
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Might not take that much. I'm halfway to the door already. \r
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P.s. the reason no one wants to buy the Sword and Trowel subscriptions is because its 16 dollars for a self-aggrandizing newsletter penned BY your mother ABOUT your mother for the glorification OF your mother. You told us the fee was ""just the cost of ordering a pizza"". Write a newsletter that matters and I'll be happy to subscribe. Until then, Im calling Papa Johns.
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