Phil,
         I don't mind your response.  In fact, I found it rather
interesting.  I'd still like to here what you have to say about people like
Spurgen, but, along these lines, I have another question for you as
well.  This may really get you going, but I really want to know your response.
         I know that you have listened to Doctor Laura before because we
have  had discussions about her advice in the past.  Well, today, she had a
caller who had suffered abuse as a child and was making that the reason for
why she has had a bad adult life.  Well, I know that Doctor Laura doesn't
agree with that point of view.  In fact, I guess that she has a book coming
out in January called "Bad Childhood, Good Life," or something like
that.  Anyway, Laura told this caller that what she was doing by blaming
her childhood for her rotten adult life was like having a bad head cold,
getting better and then dwelling in how bad she felt when she was sick
instead of being grateful for the fact that she is better now.
         Remember, Phil, I just heard it, I didn't come up with it.
Kathy


P.S.
I'll try to give you the contact information for John Fisher, the author of
the devotional that I posted so that you can pursue finding that pastor
mentioned.

At 08:19 PM 5/3/2005, you wrote:
>Well, Kathy,
>
>I wasn't singling you out, or Pat, for posting them.  I try and read them
>even if I have an axe to grined but that's nothing new.  Yes, I believe
>whatever helps if worth it.  It is just that I work with people every day
>who have pushed far beyond such articles and really are suicidal and
>depressioned and a whole lot of other things and they are so far beyond the
>help of such an article, it is amazing they have survived as long as they
>have.  When you pray every day with women who end up in memories of when
>they were little girls and walk through the deep woundedness of molestation
>and rape and abuse, or you pray with men with similar past experiences and
>are calling you because you are the last hope, as it were, it makes you
>really stop and think where you are in Christ.  Your prayer life changes so
>radically, other Christians think you've lost it, if you are dumb enough to
>even tell them what you do.  Your defense mechanisms go to full shields up.
>Since I don't go looking for people, when they come to me, the Lord has told
>me that He has assigned them to me.  I get very protective of anything, or
>anybody, who tries scaring or harming one of my sheep.  This is another
>reason why we now meet on Sundays and I teach and we sing and we pray.  The
>last thing on the planet I want to be is a pastor but the Lord said that's
>what I was doing any way; like it or not.  Funny how God works.  I always
>thought, and was taught, He called you to serve.  Boy, was I wrong.  I never
>dreamed in a million years I would be doing what I am doing now.  I'll take
>names and bust heads now for the little ones God has given me because I have
>finally experienced His love in a way I can't explain.  I'd love to know who
>this pastor was in the article so I could contact him and let him know he no
>longer has to live like he is because there is a God who can fix what's
>broken.  This is one reason why, every single time the Lord heals me of
>something, I write about it.  I get emails and phone calls all the the time
>from people who are the darkest deepist holes of depression the defy
>explanation.  These are all Christian people, too, who are tormented in
>their emotions and minds and unless the Lord brings healing to them, they
>aren't going to make it through reading the Purpose Driven Life.  But, like
>I said, I am well known, and appreciated, and even loved by Ned, in spite of
>my bad attitude.  Today I awakened with a tooth ache, which I get fixed
>tomorrow, so today just seem to be the appropriate time to unload.  Man, you
>should read the emails I get, and sometimes the phone calls, from people who
>have read my article on my website about the Power Team.  Holy Cow, people
>get mad.  The last one I got had so many four letter words in it, I just had
>to laugh and then cry.  Plus, I am not well liked by those who read my
>article about Bill Mcartny and the Promise Keepers.  They did call me the
>other day and asked if I would come and teach what I do with intercessory
>prayer to their staff.  I said no but not because of who they were but
>because I am not authorized to use the training materials I own without
>written permission.  Plus, I might have stated my personal opinion while
>teaching and we can't have that.  Please don't feel you can't post such
>material on echurch.  I'll try and reframe from such out bursts in the
>future.  Besides, Vicki might kick me off the list.  She's pretty mean about
>such things.
>
>Phil.