Truths Learned In and Out of UBF
I joined UBF in September, 2002 when I was seventeen years old. After serving the Lord for nearly 10 years, God led me to say farewell in August, 2012. God has allowed me in the past six months to learn a lot about myself and the myriads of ways in which UBF was an instrument to bring both overflowing blessings and profound pain. I wanted to share a few of the truths that have been learned in and out of UBF. It goes without saying that this is an incomplete list.
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Finding the Key to Real Transformation
While the UBF conversations continue here, we would like to begin some new dialogues about Christianity in general. We have a few articles that have been submitted on topics that go beyond the UBF context. We hope this will expand our minds and hearts, and infuse our dialogues with some outside input. The first article is from a virtual friend Brian met (via phone, blogs and Facebook) last year, Joe Machuta. Joe has been on an amazing journey of transformation. He calls it a Christian “paradigm-shift”. Joe has nothing to do with UBF and has never even heard of UBF until he met Brian. Please take some time to listen to Joe’s words and share your reactions.
Issues UBF “Ignores” (are not ignored on UBFriends)
Commenting on the “Most Commented.” Scroll down the right side of this page. The last section is titled “Most Commented.” It is interesting to note what the top 10 most commented UBFriends articles are. I believe it corresponds with issues that UBF generally tends to ignore, avoid, or refuse to address on websites and often not even in person. Perhaps because of this, it gets addressed most often on UBFriends, since there may be nowhere in UBF where any current or former UBFer can truly address them with HOT (honesty, openness, and transparency).
The top topics/issues “never” found on official UBF websites are:
What I Feel Right Now
A few days ago, Wesley posted this comment which was addressed to Brian.
Brian,
I apologize I haven’t read all your postings here. Help me out. What do you feel toward those who have hurt you?
Wesley, this is such a good question. Brian has given you his response. I want to respond as well and explain to you how I feel. My answer has gotten too long to comfortably fit in the comment section, so I have decided to post it as an article.
Some people who come to this website perceive a lot of “bitterness.” They assume that this “bitterness” is unhealthy and dangerous and lies at the root of the broken relationships between our members and former members. They see the “bitterness” as our moral failure.
Son of Rick Warren Commits Suicide
Reading this news shocked me. The youngest son of Rick Warren, Matthew, aged 27, has committed suicide after a life long battle with mental illness, depression and suicidal thoughts. This is a copy of a letter Warren sent to members of his staff:
Subject: Needing your prayers
To my dear staff,
Over the past 33 years we’ve been together through every kind of crisis. Kay and I’ve been privileged to hold your hands as you faced a crisis or loss, stand with you at gravesides, and prayed for you when ill. Today, we need your prayer for us. Continue reading →
I Have This Against You
Scary words of Jesus. These are harsh, critical and condemning words of Jesus to the church at Thyatira (Rev 2:20). To the church at Ephesus and Pergamun, Jesus also spoke equally critical words, “I hold this against you” (Rev 2:4), and “I have a few things against you” (Rev 2:14). That’s not all. To the two worst churches among the seven churches that Jesus addresses, he said, “I know…you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead” (Rev 3:2), and “I know…you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth…you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Rev 3:15-17). Wow! It does not sound like a very Christian thing to say. Surely, no church likes to hear such words. Yet these are the very words of Christ spoken out of his love for the seven churches in first century Asia Minor, which are representative of all churches throughout history. Continue reading →
Prayers for the Church
I sense that the Bride of Christ needs us to pray for her now. Here are some excerpts from The Book of Common Prayer. Will you agree with me on these in the name of Jesus?
For the Church
Gracious Father, we pray for the holy Catholic Church. Fill it with with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it.; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it, for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen.
I Dream of Absolute Honesty
[This is in part a response to “Walking in the Light of Absolute Honesty” by Joe Schafer.] We often dream things we never think of while we are awake. Joseph’s two dreams concerned a thing he would have never thought of or imagined. Dream has uncanny ability to make us forget humdrums of daily routine and bring to our consciousness something worthwhile to dream of. Absolute honesty is something I pray for me to be even in my dream. I will discuss later why absolute honesty may be only a dream. But is absolute honesty is something worthwhile to dream of? Absolutely! I would define absolute honesty as my true being. When I am honest, I am being who I am, not who I am not. And how liberating it is for me to be who I am, not who I am not!
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