Long time no see around here--things have been hard. But I have been thinking, and I have heard good news: a former DT member got out! : D She had a very hard time through it, but the veil was lifted, GC* membership throughout many levels and intraorganizational groups/programs revealed its spiritual nature and hypocrisy, and she even figured-out that, in truth, nobody had REALLY told her the gospel--and in fact many people there didn't know what that is--and she left.
I found it both sad as this old friend was there SOOO long and, like me, held these people to be almost like family: as with myself, part of the realization was...disappear and nobody comes at all: the non-GC people were actually caring and interested--even unbelievers moreso than GCers: once saved, leave-aside. x*D But I'm so glad to report this person can get out, and (I'm hoping) get on sound footing--not to mention appreciation for depression etc. rather than being viewed like an untouchable! : D
So I've been thinking about it. Fort Collins--where I came into contact with GC*--is filled with quasi-churches (even proud of this)--and fad Xianity, cults and ideologies like on any campus which are eager to take-advantage of know-nothings and no-meaning-to-lives, who of course often experience fall-out (and not just out of religious belief) and "burn" in a big way. It seems like forever and a day off, but I would actually like to go back to FoCo and establish a center of sorts, networking orthodox/sound folks (who aren't interested in passing fads and manipulative church-ing/society transforming more than the good and well-being of the souls under their care) to build something like a Wellspring program...someday.
Indeed, the scenic-ness of them mountains nearby are quite the opportunity for such a thing. A special someone to me and I want to return to the US after a few years (we have left...quite yet) and build-up an international sort of house for exchange students, and possibly an English program for them, featuring trips to some of the most interesting and beautiful places and sites in Colorado to enrich it all (got this idea from little trips we did with visitors who aren't originally from the US), and I think I want to start that venture first to work-out the logistics (and support it) of housing, trips, finding scenic places, and then work-out how to mix logistical knowledge and excursions from that sort of thing--to give people some normalcy and take mind off heavy and hurtful matters.
Because, quite frankly, there just ain't 'nuff work being done to rescue/rehab/re-found/ground people harmed in institutions like GC*.
Well, if possible: from the faith side, many people are counterfeit and imitators incoming anyway--fully onboard hoping to become someone who gets to lord-it-over and preach their ideas rather than the word. From a side not so much faith though religion could be used to effect good or ill, there are plenty incoming to these things for the promise of normalcy and direction and purpose and meaningfulness and excitement and doing something grand that...they never had nor thought would have opportunity for. And the result when denied either is often very embittered and poisoned people who don't want any kind of help, just to get away--who can blame them?
I'm even trying to write a book playing with that notion now, that is: GCers like to sing--at least in FoCo (and Salt Lake, and...I've been around with them hearing it) "take away this ordinary life", while the Scriptures commend that we do all that praying for powers etc. "that we may live peaceable and quiet lives in all godliness and sobriety" (I substituted "sobriety" in the English for its correspondence to the Greek and the ambiguity of modern English "dignity") which, ya know, provide the direction, meaning, significance and worth, etc. that perhaps 3/5ths of those incoming to churches like GC* are seeking--just don't know how to find. Indeed GC's mistake is really in mistaking "changed life" for the gospel, and "ordinary life" for the average to be avoided rather than the thing to be raised and made important, rather than demeaned.
Anyway, if any of you have ideas about how I should pitch this sort of idea on something like Kickstarter (as I've been trying to write, but I'm actually sleeping on a garage floor right now--messed-up family circumstances and after taking care of a relative for a year), I'd love to hear it. I was once told by a highly connected and worldly guy that if I wrote a book by the name that I am intending to, he would guarantee he would put me on Oprah within a month: I kinda laughed saying "I know it's strange but I'm not really one of her fans" (didn't like the New Age stuff so much--or the personality cult, too much like the televangelists, or GC* leadership). So I figure I ought to try and flesh this sucker out and the ideas I had elucidated to the guy, and the stories, and attempt to make something good and beneficial come of it.
Part of my reason for coming here was to announce the good news; get ideas on building some kind of programing; and also to ask for ideas on the Kickstarter idea if any of you could think of them; though I've been long removed from regular commenting I would rather get ideas from people I'm familiar with, with familiar backgrounds, etc., than just anyone. : )
Best Regards--sorry to not be around much but I literally worked 12-15 hour days + 2-4 hours bus time before getting worse with 4+ hours bus time and even longer days, followed by a year of caring for a relative with Alzheimer's while being screamed-at by those actually responsible for her, used-up savings before she was finally gotten into a proper care facility (where she now actually thrives--it's amazing really) and spent the next year trying to recover somewhat, and only because (as seems to be a constant in life) an unbeliever (rather than evangsmellical Christians) saw some need and helped, despite me being so utterly pathetic and broken by that point.
