IT IS TRUE!!!

[Tim]

As a current 'lodger', may I tack this thought onto Chuck's post?  This is not just for 'leadership'.  We all need to do this.  Don't forget your family in your accounting.  That is where I need to start.

[Rob Kazarinoff]

Here !  Here ! Chuck !
Aplause !  Aplause !!
This is what is needed at this hour.  Put it up on the main page !!!

Rob Kazarinoff

[ptemplin7]

Amen Tim and Chuck!

I agree Brent, put it up!

[Oscar]

Hi all,

Let me add my two cents to what Brent posted.

Remember where things were two weeks ago.  Some wonderful changes have been made.  Eyes have been opened.  Minds have changed.  Forgiveness has been asked and given.  

This is God working through His Spirit and His Word.  

I don't think the assemblies can ever go back to what they were, (though some might try to sustain or return to the "status quo ante bellum").  However, it remains to be seen what they will become.  Opening the door and restoring real fellowship comes first.  There is much work ahead for many people.

Remember what happened when the Soviet Union collapsed.  Several years of profound changes before things seemed to stabilize.  A very different situation, yes, but one thing was very similar.  A centralized, dictatorial control system was suddenly and unexpectedly removed.  In that detail, there is much similarity.  No one has been prepared to deal with this.  It will be on-the-job training.

I really don't think this is a good time to start a big wrangle over doctrine.  Let's rejoice in what God has done so far, and pray about what is yet to be done.

Is that about two cents worth, or do I have change coming?

God bless,
Thomas Maddux

[freebird]

Danny,

I will lay off some hard questions for now, because I appreciate your courage to come forth and be vulnerable.  I am wondering if other "leaders" will have the guts that you have.  I have a feeling that many think all this is a SLO/David/George anomaly.  I left 3 years ago because I saw major abusive-type problems with the whole "assembly system".  I saw that it was from the very top, and that all the leaders and workers were only perpetuating it.  Nobody would listen to reason.  I think all the leaders and workers that promoted the work, need to do what you are doing.  

[Danny E]

Chuck, George, Brent, Tim, Rob, Paris, Tom and especially Garth, and others, thanks for the posts and for all of the personal emails, I was pretty depressed this afternoon and didn't want to come back to this page, but all the emails and the reasonableness of the recent posts are very encouraging.  Danny

[BenJapheth]

Tom,

Agreed.  Danny's heart is on the go...Doctrinal debates aren't going to do much healing right now.  I don't know what Danny would say, but in six months much of Danny's doctrine is going to be quite different about a lot of things as will most of the assembly's leadership and former leadership.

Needless to say, there's a time to teach and there's a time to act out what you know.  We've arrived at one of those times.  To Act and Do!  Danny is doing what I think hundreds of others might like to do, probably even dream to do, but are still searching for the courage.  

Dear people - right NOW - Let's pray for grace for folks.  They don't need our sarcasm or jeering...they're afraid, their whole world's come crashing down. Think of the mercy and love you'd want.  When they take their first steps of vulnerability, let's not bite them.  Let's not become what we ourselves loath. As long as they are doing what's right, they need our affirmation.  Danny's invited people to call him. Let's call to affirm him.  

Again...This is what I'd do, leader or not...

1.  RUN!  Don't walk ...RUN!...Get to a lonely place, alone and take only a notebook, maybe a bible, but not necessarily a bible. Definitely a notebook and a pen.

2. I'd pray, "God give me a keen remembrance of anyone and everyone I could have hurt, anyone who could have been stumbled, anyone that I have sinned against over my many years as a believer."

3. Remember as many people as is possible and write down their names.  Also, write down the names of any person who might be able to lead me to people who are hurt. I'd cast a dragnet out for the offended. Maybe even hang-out at a Web site where I can quickly build my own robust list of the injured, the stumbled, the offended.

4. I'd get into the best long distance phone program money could buy...2000 minutes - NO! ...5000 minutes, maybe ...10,000 just to be safe.

5. Next, I'd burn up the airwaves with calls, calls and more calls and where possible I'd get in my car and drive, and maybe get on a plane and go beg for forgiveness.  Beg! Beg! Beg! Grovel in the dirt and beg for forgiveness.  Beg without a shred of dignity, so that even Michal would despise me.

6. I'd try to do this incredibly fast because as people are realizing repentance is going on, and that they as yet had not heard from me, they would naturally assume either I forgot their hurt or that I hadn't fealt that I was guilty. I would understand time was not be on my side. It's like when you argue with your spouse - When in doubt you apologize and seek forgiveness, and make things right even if there is only a tinge of concern for offense. If I had sinned against a broad community I would be seeking everyone's forgiveness. No parsing of the past.

7. How to repent? If it were me, and I was in danger of permanently pushing someone into the gall of bitterness and hate...Okay, you asked.  I'd go buy a suit or shirt that I really can't afford and some nice pants.  Then I'd go find a bucket and locate the nearest sandlot and then I'd hand scoop a bucket full of dirt, maybe two buckets full.  I'd run to that offended, sinned against person and falling down, I'd rent my clothes, tearing them up and I'd dump the dirt all over my head, falling down, the wriggling around in it...All the while moaning for forgiveness, begging for forgiveness.

Oh, why not bring a bible when making up my list? Cause in my mind until I did get right with all those I had sinned against, God and I wouldn't be on speaking terms.

That's how I'd do it.

Chuck Vanasse

[Joe Denner]

Danny,

I would like to thank you for your example of humility and repentance in opening yourself up to those you have offended.

I would like to do the same.  I have already had the opportunity to speak to a number of people and ask for their forgiveness, and I have made attempts to do the same with others.  I have also publicly asked for forgiveness.  However, I know that there may be others who I have hurt in one way or another.   Also, for those I have contacted, I may well have not touched on all the issues of my sin.  My desire is to make things right.  If you want to contact me through e-mail, my address is jdenner@ameritech.net.  Or, if you would like to address things with me on the BB, I am willing for that as well.

I am entrusting myself to His mercy and grace,

Joe

[sue xander]

Danny Edwards:

" If you want to know who this person is you can personally e-mail me thru this site.  "

This is the route at which I prefer you to ask me for a name.  I do not wish at this time to call you or to have you call me.  Sue

[sue xander]

Also Danny, when you mentioned that we could talk to the leadership out here in Lombard b/c they are re-thinking everything .... there is not one leading brother that I would like to talk to at all.  I don't want to know how they are re-thinking anything.  Why would I want to hear about the control tactics, unhealthiness of that place and how its a mess.  I already knew that, and we left for those very reasons as well as MANY others!!!!  I am moving forward and away from that ministry / cult.  

[Aslan213]

Danny

I just wanted to Thank You!!!!!!  I am encouraged at your willingness to answer all of the questions you are getting.  I don't know you very well personally, but am rejoiceing at what God is  doing through and in you.  It is a healing process for people to finally get someone in "leadership" to answer questions without the circular arguments.  So Again Thank You!!  I am praying for you!  For me there was some good and some bad things but I am trusting God  and Believing his promise in:

Ro 8:28 And we know that God caused all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Lorretta Buchmann

[editor]

Hello Everyone

I just got back from a prayer meeting in SLO.  Yes, it was what was once known as the Assembly prayer meeting.

It was great.  What a difference.  God is so good, but please pray for these folks.

The main request was that the Lord would enable them to make things right with those they offended, and that they would be able to restore the reproach they brought on the name of Christ in the community.

Hopefully, the whole congregation will join us at Calvary Chapel this Sunday.

Is this different enough for you all?

Our God is an awesome God!

Brent

[Rob Kazarinoff]

Greetings everyone,

Chuck and Tom are right.  Let's save the doctrinal issues for later.  Please, let's keep our heads and guard our hearts.  Think about what has just happened.  A huge bomb has exploded this last weekend leaving body parts and blood.  As parametics will we now discuss with the wounded the fine doctrinal points of bomb making and what would have prevented this?  IT'S EXPLODED ALREADY !!!  There are dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ who desperately need help right now.  If we don't reconcile our relationships NOW there won't be anyone to discuss doctrine with.

Think about it,

Rob Kazarinoff

[ptemplin7]

Hi Brent,

Just got off the phone with Corey. We had a great conversation and renewal of fellowship. How great to see that God is at work.

I hope the good work continues and that what has started will continue to grow. I know of at least one other gathering looking to make things right since I was contacted directly by them.

I sincerely hope that what I have heard about the gatherings here in SFO is not true. Hopefully more info will come to light soon.

Dear ones out there. There is indeed a great work of God going on. Give it time, I think we will see some works worthy of the repentance soon.

Danny and other leading brothers, Keep it up. Your labor is not in vain. The soul searching may be hard but there is a great reward for it. May the Lord bless you all as you struggle as many of us have to find the truth and Gods leading.

Keep it up. More details as you get them Brent or Danny or .... would be great to see the Lord's working in the life of his people.

Lord Bless you all.  Paris Templin

[jackhutchinson]

Another question:  Why did this thread stop all of a sudden at 2am?

Jack