Posted on September 16, 2014
by MJ
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I have been on a bit of a blogging binge these past few days. I suspect the reason is that I am housebound. I had an arthroscopic surgical repair on my hip and must do a lot of sitting around. I feel compelled to… Continue Reading “Permission Granted”
Category: Christianity, Denial, Evangelical church, God, mental health, therapyTags: Christian stigma against therapy, evangelicalism, Go forth and multiply, proper view of God, relational Christianity, therapy
Posted on September 12, 2014
by MJ
6 Comments
What I have wanted to discuss is the idea of feeling abandoned by God. I have certainly felt this way. For many people of faith, when something goes wrong in their lives, the first response is, “Why? Why did God let this happen?… Continue Reading “Clicker Training and Formula Faith”
Category: Christianity, dog training, encouragement, Evangelical church, Faith, God, Jesus, loveTags: Christianity, Faith, feeling abandoned by God, formula faith, God, Jesus, judgment in the church, performance-based Christianity, personal God, relational Christianity
Posted on February 4, 2014
by MJ
2 Comments
This post isn’t a follow-up to my last post. It’s a question really. What would happen if you were hanging out at a café with a friend during the fall, enjoying some tea and a scone and good conversation, when a stranger approaches you.… Continue Reading “What Is The Kingdom of God?”
Category: Christianity, Evangelical church, God, JesusTags: Christianity, evangelicalism, God, homosexuality in the Church, Jesus, kingdom of God, Old Testament vs. New Testament, personal God, relational Christianity
Posted on January 1, 2014
by MJ
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I think I’m going to be learning a lot from that brunch for weeks to come. Snippets of conversations overheard are replaying in my mind. There is a benefit to being viewed as a second-class citizen; no one pays attention to you, thus, you… Continue Reading “Dangerous Religion”
Category: Christianity, Evangelical church, Faith, God, intimacy, Jesus, loveTags: Christianity, fundamentalism, Gnosticism, God, Jesus, literalism in Bible reading, one anothers, relational Christianity, religious spirit
Posted on October 9, 2013
by MJ
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I spent time with a friend today. The weather is beautiful here right now. Autumnal perfection. It’s easy to sink into contemplation when straddling seasons. It feels a bit like summer but not quite. The bright, red Maple leaves announce the coming fall temperatures.… Continue Reading “One Question”
Category: Christianity, Faith, God, Healing, Jesus, mental health, Moving Forward, Redemption, therapyTags: authenticity in faith, Christianity, Faith, God, healing process, Jesus, man by the pool of Bethesda, reconciliation, Recovery, relational Christianity
Posted on September 30, 2013
by MJ
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An aptly named post, I think, as it’s beginning to feel like a soap opera over here. I just need a guy named Dirk to move in next door, and my neighbors across the street to start throwing down outside. But, hey, we did… Continue Reading “The God Card”
Category: abuse in families, Borderline Personality Disorder, Christianity, Evangelical church, forgiveness, God, Healing, Jesus, MothersTags: accountability in relationships, adult children of borderline parents, Borderline Personality Disorder, boundaries, forgiveness vs. reconciliation, manipulation in relationships, performance-based Christianity, relational Christianity, spiritual abuse, the God card