Delila Jahn
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« on: January 04, 2004, 01:53:07 am » |
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CALLING ALL SHEPHERDS -- SHEEP GATHERED TO HEAR
WAITING... WHERE’D YA GO? -WE’D LIKE TO KNOW
My guess is that you’re lurking on the web site from time to time, checking
things out, wondering what’s being said about you now that the socks are pulled out
of our mouths and the duct tape removed.
The good shepherd (is it pushing things to imply that this means all good
shepherds?) left his 99 and went after the one erring. To find the lost one. You know
the story better than I. So now, to the tune of “Where have all the flowers gone...” we
might indulge ourselves here in a new hymn written for the occasion.
Why a new hymn you ask? Well, quite honestly, when in the Assembly’s
history have the sheep ever had to call the shepherds back? We have nothing in
Hymns and Spiritual Songs that fits the occasion so I’ve parodied an old worldly
favorite and it will have to do. Sing along if you like:
“Where have all the shepherds gone, long time passing?
Where have all the shepherds gone, not that long ago
Where have all the shepherds gone - GG picked them, every one
When will our hearts discern? Why do their stomach’s churn?
There’s no copyright on this yet of course and as it’s still a work in progress. I
invite others to add verses. It is important that the former shepherds speak up. Dear
Tim G. - can we hear from you please? We don’t need a verse or two, we have bibles
thanks, and those (few) of us who don’t open ours still have the words circulating in
our blood stream. So we don’t need verses from you, only that you come forward.
Don’t be afraid. Remember what GG said about all of us one day having to come and
stand before the Lord and give an account - well, this web site isn’t anything like
that’s going to be, right? Kind people here. Really kind. You can lay down the
burden of your heart. Tell us the whole story. Tell us why it’s important to tell little
white lies once in a while. Further to the ministry of the truth: Is there ever room in
Christian ministry for a dynasty?
And you other Leading Brothers, offer up a hymn of your own. Pray out.
Speak the truth to us in love. We love the truth; it’s what helps us know we’re not in
the darkness. We don’t even need each other to tell us when the light is shining.
Imagine, now we can see it for ourselves. Even those of us who’s faith has been
shaken, even those doubting Thomas folk who only know a few things, but know
them honestly. Dear Brother Mike Z. - care to share your burden? Some of us are
guessing it’s a little heavy. You and I Mike, we haven’t talked much in years but as I
was invited to a couple’s meeting (even though I was but a lowly single parent - that
was gracious of you by the way. I appreciated it, deeply) you were leading in
Estevan. That was the last time we saw each other, remember? I was trying again to
get back into the assembly - I mean kingdom - at the time and though my efforts
didn’t last long, they were sincere. My last memory of you was that a married sister
had asked you about the value of married men hitting or otherwise using corporate
punishment on their wives. I almost choked to death on my own saliva. You didn’t
bat an eyebrow nor did anyone else in the room. Would you explain to us if
‘disciplining’ one’s life in this matter is common practice amongst the assemblies in
Nebraska as well as those in other states of the United States of America? I wasn’t
aware that the custom had spread also into Canada. I thought the Lord had delivered
us from that - something about love and liberty... it’s been a while since I read. Send
us some verses to clarify what this is all about. I though women stopped being
property decades ago. Perhaps you could fill us in.
Anyone else? Come on, Shepherds. Really, saints! I hear that some of you
are not under the covering of the assembly anymore. NO ONE will pick on you here,
we’d just like answers. We’d just like the shepherds to identify themselves.
Somehow some of you have disappeared into the woodwork. Brother Jim H. How
are you Brother? Now I personally have to apologize to you because I got the
assembly into trouble with a ‘new one’ who made pretty good coin working that
government job and she was a good catch and Nancy almost lost her. You remember
the sorting out you had to do with Mary S. In Ottawa? Well, that was all my fault,
brother. I take full responsibility. I was always getting into trouble in Ottawa. You
see, even back then I couldn’t keep my yap shut.
You see, I was a faithful messenger but I didn’t consider my audience. When
I passed on that information about the assembly’s stand with inter-racial marriages,
well, how was I to know Mary worked for a cultural mosaic type government policy
making section of the government? I was seventeen, still wet behind the ears as GG
puts it. And Mary, of Arabic descent; I just never thought about the consequences of
my actions and that’s what we’ve all got to learn, isn’t it? There are consequences to
our actions. Too bad, really. But it’s true. And the assembly wasn’t popular in the
world so it was best to let them know slowly, let the Lord teach the newcomer His
ways in the ministry, not just spout off what might be construed as racist to one who
just needed the pure milk of the word. When she was ready for a deeper walk with
the Lord, He’d have showed her. But I gave you quite the job with her, and in the
end, she left fellowship and took a ‘white man’ with her anyway. Sorry to waste your
time on that job, Jim. I take full responsibility for that mess. I was the messenger.
Sisters, really! More trouble than they’re worth, don’t you think? Always causing
trouble... I could go on and on. What they really need is a man to keep them in line
but then, what of the poor guy who get ‘em? Sheep to the slaughter. That’s why it’s
always best to step on a sister good when you get the chance, don’t you think?
Now Shepherds, I didn’t know a lot of other leading brothers well, so don’t be
shy if you’re not called on, after all, I’m only a woman. You certainly don’t need my
invitation to the web site. I didn’t make it. I just joined myself a little while ago. But
I’m not shy here, as you can tell, this is nothing like the Lord’s courts in the assembly.
Women can speak here. They can have a voice. They are considered people; under
the law? no, under grace. So, as they say, we take our head coverings off and just
preach it. I’ve already asked Armand and Nancy how they’re sleeping at night in
Ottawa. Now who else is there? Oh Yes. Can’t forget the big cheese.
I’m going all out now because I’m kind of on a roll, see? If I overstep my
boundaries I know they’ll just delete this message and pretend it didn’t happen. Not
that I’ve seen that happen before. But it could happen, and just in case, I’m going to
give it to you straight G.! You don’t want this watered down do you? You don’t
want it warmed or put in a bottle and you don’t want to be given a blanket so you can
just catch up on your sleep now, do you? We could just hang a sign on the door and
say Iccabod or something. But no, I want everyone to know that GG was right about a
good many things and I’d like to start a new post and feel free to add to this list as the
Lord brings items to mind:
GG TEACHINGS THAT REMAIN TRUE
1. We are all expendable. Even as G. expended many, he too found himself
landing on his own back legs. There isn’t a one of us the Lord CAN’T WORK
WITHOUT.
2. An elder must be above reproach. Right? Or was that just: an elder can not
be accused of gross conduct? Can’t be both - someone help me clarify this one
‘cause I know the Lord honors the leadership. That’s why we’re looking for the
shepherds on this web site.
3. Beware the false prophets and teachers. Remember how G. wept when he told
us this? That dear brother pleaded with us, for our own good. They were tears
of love saints, weren’t they? I for one haven’t forgotten. Those moments were
the highlights to some very boring seminars.
4. Speak the truth to one another in love. And saints, you can’t just know this in
your head. Many of you still just know it in your heads. You’ve got to know it in
your heart. Raise your hand if you ever had our dear brother speak the truth to
you ‘in love’. Up high now, don’t be shy.
5. “I know nothing yet as I ought to know.” No kidding eh? And yet, our dear
brother was judge, jury, executioner. Still, these words that he said remains true
of him.
6. We must seek the Lord for His counsel. GG was our great example in this and
He did it at rocket speed and without a doubt in his mind. He even told some
people to marry and they did, even though they didn’t like the person they would
marry. Now there’s a man with the mind of God!
7. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together. Even if we forsook
ourselves, many of us learned the value of leaving health behind for the assembly
meetings. There was incredible value and incredible cost involved.
8. Psychology is trash. Narcissistic personality disorders do not exist. Amen.
Can I hear an Amen, saints?
9. Those who leave us, forsake the covering of the assembly. (And walk in
liberty!)
10. Those who leave us go about in confusion and accusation of the brethren.
Yes, you know they have the audacity to say what REALLY happened. Can you
imagine? Really, saints! They should be ashamed. And many of them are, that
they kept quiet so long.
Dear Brother GG - we invite you to come and add your amen and your humble
endorsement to the list we’ve created in your memory. Where are you by the
way? Haven’t seen you out at the meetings lately. Still walking with the Lord?
I’ve got a promise I’d like to share with you sometime.
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