Editor's Note
Our sincerest apologies...After more carefully reading the content of the previous post and taking into consideration the comments and e-mails we have received about it, we have decided to remove it. We feel the commenters were correct in their cautioning of the use of some names in relation to certain things. Thank you for your input and we apologize for this lapse in good judgment on our part. Oh, and look, we just freely admitted we made a mistake and apologized for it. Too bad those who caused all this pain still appear to have no intention to follow suit. It is predictably sad and again highlights the fact there are still major problems at LFF. What change??? The former leadership can see no wrong and thus will not come clean and the current leadership is doing exactly the same. How tragic.
14 comments:
Admin -- will you please explain WHY you felt the need to remove this section? I read it several times and there seemed to be nothing wrong with the content to me. Nothing, so please explain why? Thank you
It was removed simply because of one very specific reference that we should not have allowed to be published. Though the reference is no secret to any of us; after reconsidering, we felt that reference did not belong on the web. It was removed out of respect to an individual and several readers who brought our errant judgement to our attention.
Thanks,
--Admin
Well, I just logged on to comment on the post that was so recently removed. I appreciate your respect of that one individual's privacy, and your reasons for removing the post.
Each of us has a unique story to tell, from time to time I consider sending my own. I want to address those out there who continually get upset with the recurring themes that have emerged on this blog. Each one who takes the time to write experiences some healing through that very process. Similar experiences will of course express similar problems. Please be patient with those of use who will post in the future, and give us a chance to heal as well.
Thank you. I appreciate the way that you tactfully handled this sensitive matter.
Admin, is there any way to post more blogs? I am sure your email must have many more than get posted. The frequency of posts has really gone down. It is only about one a week now. Part of the great thing about the blog is all of the different voices.
thanks
Why not simply edit the "one very specific reference" instead of removing the entire writing?
There are a number of e-mails that are not posted but mostly because they are not relevant to the blog. We get lots of thank you e-mails and it seems rather self-serving and pointless to post them here. In addition, the amount of e-mails we have received has diminished from the first few months. Though, there are still a great deal of "hits" on this page everyday, people don't write in as much as they used to. If you want more content, then write it and send it to us and we will post it.
As for editing the last post...we don't take "artistic license" with posts. In other words, we don't edit them; it is either all or nothing. Happy blogging everyone.
--Admin
"All or nothing" - sounds alot like "black or white", "our way or the highway".... Discretely editing out an errant word or phrase from time to time to correct a slip in judgement isn't taking "artistic license".
Uh...Does anyone else agree that none of those phrases are in any way related??
I appreciate the lack of censorship on the posts that have been sent in. Keep up the good work.
One of your bloggers mentioned that Dr. Barden was a strong leader. In a worldly sense that is true. But in a spiritual sense Carl Barden is the antithesis of what Jesus intended for leadership. Jesus said that to be leader you must be the servant of all. Although Carl Barden forced others to wash toiles, mow lawns, serve food, etc. i never once saw him help a lowly sheep pick up the slack. He prodds the sheep onward while he grows large off the fat of the flock. His paradygm for leadership is not found in scripture but in the annals of the world.
Regards, George N. Sally
George 'n Sally...it took me a while since I didn't get it until I said it out loud...cute, made me laugh
Well - i see there is at least one "old timer" in the bunch. Actually, i am surprise at how many there seem to be and i am glad to see you all speaking out, taking comfort, sharing, hurting out loud, crying, and even laughing.
Laughter is good for the soul. Laugh as much as you can - it takes some of the venom out.
Dr. Barden had used two fictious names in a sermon - George and Sally becuase there was nobody in the church with those names. If i recall correctly his intent was to put all of us under condemation by saying George and Sally were not doing enough or some such thing. Anyone remember that one?
On a more serious note - i've often wondered why i went through all that. I know it took an act of God to blast me and my wife out of there. It was a miracle really.
I learned a lot of the Bible - of which i am thankful. I saw the Spirit of God move in ways i had only read about in books. I also learned a lot about people who are willing to decieve others and i am finding application in every day life from those lessons. There are a lot of people in this world who would use others - who would use you. But we have to learn to stand up to the bullies.
To do so without bitterness i think is important. Bitterness won't do you any good. There is, however, much to be gained with understanding. Each one of us who left has a most precious opportunity to start new. To start again with a clearer understanding of the decietfullness of some human beings. "How could Barden's do this to us..." well, i am not sure i have a nice neat answer to that one. But i do have a new understanding so when someone wants to bamboozle me i pay attention to the warning flags now. My tolerance to suffer with decievers is much less.
It really is unthinkable what they did. It is even more unthinkable that Bardens (and now Vances) are still at it. Hey guess what? - you feel this way (so shocked) becaus you still have a heart. You still have a conscience. This is good. Take comfort in it.
All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. By leaving LFF you are furthering God's purposes in you life. He didn't want you to stay there, so now you are free.
Read the Bible with new eyes. Read for the context and throw away your Strongs (figuratively at least). Healing will take time. You are back on the path. No matter what they have done to you God can undo it and make it right -that is why God got you out of there. And you will be the wiser for it. You will make new friends. I have some very good non-christian friends (Jesus hung around with sinners). Take it one day at a time. God was patient to get you out. He will be patient to help you regain your footing and learn to walk with him. Keep it simple. Laugh.
Regards, George N. Sally
If I'm remembering correctly, George and Sally comments were used as a manipulative technique to get us to work harder - "What's wrong? Did you think George and Sally were going to do the work?"
Well with the dearth of comments here lately, it seems that George and Sally are doing all posting around here too :-)
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