Welcome to my microcosm

In response to this blog

I really enjoyed what you wrote! I found it in trying to sustain my argument that in fact God DOES give and take away. So often people have trouble with the taking away part. I really need to blog about this myself, but I have such a hard time finding blog time.

“How arrogant we (me the worst of all) sometimes get. Thinking that God is totally consumed with our individualistic wants and “needs.” I, as a rule, think we as Americans are pretty stupid and believe we need much more than we actually do. For me to think that because of my faith God gives me more than others is a little slippery. Financial and physical blessing is not the best indicator of faith.”

YES!! I can’t hold the attitude “Why me?” The very question “Why me?” is so arrogant! I am a sinner, deserving of hell, no less. I do not deserve the many blessings in my life. Yes, I have nearly died several times. Yes, I have lost children, I have been raped, my grandparents died when I was a young child, my parents are dying far too young….and my surviving children have autism. But I am not so haughty to think that for some reason I am above tragedy. OR should be above it. God is mighty and sovereign, and I live in a fallen and imperfect world. The Bible is also clear that we are to BLESS GOD for His will in our lives, INCLUDING trials and calamities. How can we do that? Well, if we will stop taking our eyes off of ME, MYSELF AND I, and look at the bigger picture, we will always see God working, transforming tragedy into blessing, beauty from ashes.

“I will land this plane by giving some personal examples. I have known several God-fearing, H.S. baptized, faith-filled couples who have struggled with multiple miscairrages in their lives after believing for YEARS to have children. Certain people have had the nerve to suggest it was because of their lack of faith. (Lucky for them it wasn’t in my presence or it may have resulted in a fist in their mouth)

I have prayed with total reprobate sinners who dishonor God and seen them get healed from things as small as headaches, to legs growing out. ”

Again, yes and amen! My dad has had cancer since I was a child. He is still alive, but struggling very much with pain. He went through a period of time where he went to Benny Hinn and other faith healers and claimed to all that he IS healed. He believed with all his heart that he was healed, and this was after a friend of ours died of cancer, also claiming that there was NO cancer! They had all the faith, all the right prayers, and lived a Godly life. But it wasn’t enough. Why not? Because it was not in God’s will. Yet, he is still alive, with cancer but very much alive, so many years after she died. A good friend of mine died last year very suddenly of a cancer she didn’t know she had, leaving behind a husband, a newborn and four other young children. So again it shows that God’s will is very specific. While my friend was dying I couldn’t go see her because I had sick children but I would talk to her on the phone and she was always full of faith and strength. To God be the glory! It was an inspiration to talk to this woman who knew she would very possibly not be miraculously healed, and yet rejoiced because her faith in God was so strong.

Back to your analogy of faith filled couples having multiple miscarriages- Last year God led us to trust HIM in “our” family planning, that He is the perfect planner! We already had 4 beautiful little girls and hoped and prayed that in our obedience to Him, He would give us a son…perhaps even twins! I know, I was crazy in thinking that LOL but that was a desire (I believe God placed.) I was pregnant in May 2008 and we had a freak accident in our 2008 Ford 12 passenger van. We hit a tree and the van rolled. The van was very squashed and it was amazing that we made it out without any injuries (only slight cuts from the windows when they pulled us out since the van was still upside down. For pics and the full story read this.

Well, as is common, following the accident I miscarried. Our first “let God have control” baby was gone. I got pregnant soon after. I felt like it was twins but didn’t say anything. My then 5 YO daughter said it was twins and I hoped she was right. We had our first ultrasound, and there were two sacks! It was too early to be sure about the babies, but definitely there were two sacks. Four weeks later they couldn’t find even ONE heartbeat at my OB apt, so off to the U/S room I went. By myself. That seemed to be the longest hour of my life, waiting to see if my babies were alive or gone to be with Jesus. With having three previous miscarriages you might think I’d grown accustomed to such losses but I hadn’t. I wasn’t worried or upset, but certainly prayed the whole time. There was one strong heart beat! We rejoiced, but were saddened to have lost another child.

And then, at 40 weeks gestation, we lost the other one. One cannot come remotely close to describing how it feels to have a stillbirth. Yet, as I held my beautiful little boy in my arms, my first thoughts were of PRAISE! Yes, I was praising God for my son. I miss him terribly, but am thankful for the time I had with him. Many people try to convince me that this was NOT God’s will that God DOESN’T take life, especially not that of babies. We have a free will therefore we have the power to give and take life. How selfish and godlike we can make ourselves!

I don’t understand why, when I gave my womb and my heart to God, He gave me three dead babies. It doesn’t make sense to me. But God just doesn’t operate in this finite human reasoning. And I am certainly not above such tragedy, as I have stated before.

You might be interested in this family, who lost their son AND their daughter and yet still have faith that God is in control.

May you have peace, love, and live in His Eternal Light

Medicaid no longer wants to pay for birthcenters! While I am not on Medicaid nor can I use a birth center, this is an important issue facing many women! Read other messages like mine or sign the petition.

I had preterm labor with my first child and although it was stopped, they did so many unnecessary interventions which caused the early delivery of my child four weeks later via c-section. If I was under the care of midwives in a birthing center things wouldn’t have happened the way they did. My water would not have been broken by a dr at 30 weeks, I would not have had a surgical delivery, and my baby would not have spent 2 weeks in the NICU. Not only did this have lasting affects (and prevent me from having a birth center delivery in the future because of my now scarred uterus) but it cost the state a whole lot more then it should have! Please reconsider keeping birth centers on the provider list- they provide better births, lower c-section rates, and will save the state money. In fact, in low risk pregnancies I feel it should be required that all medicaid patients see a midwife, as they do in the UK.

Sincerely,
Sarah Trost

Right after I had Benjamin I had a WIC apt. There aren’t usually more then two babies there and not usually brand new ones. I wasn’t worried. But this time the room was PACKED with women ALL with BRAND NEW BABY BOYS!!! Most of them were teens, too. It was so hard. I was just a wreck. It took every bone in my body to not stand up and say “My baby just died. If any of you don’t want yours, I’d be happy to take him.” When the nutritionist found out that my baby had died she felt awful about the fourty minutes or more I was forced to sit with all those newborn boys. She offered me to stay in the back while they finished my stuff up.

I don’t hate pregnant women, but when they complain I want to shake them. No, I want to choke them. It infuriates me. When they talk about wanting the baby to be born NOW I tell them they should cherish EVERY MOMENT. That’s all the time I had with Benjamin, when he was inside of me. I would do absolutely anything to have him inside me again. I want to run up to every pregnant woman and tell her “I know that you think one day soon you will have a little squirming baby in your arms. But that day may never come. You may never see a smiling face or open eyes. So enjoy each kick and each movement because it may be all that you have. DON’T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. Don’t think that just because you are past 12 weeks you aren’t likely to loose your baby. Don’t think that at 26 weeks you now have a viable baby. Don’t think at 36/37 weeks the baby wouldn’t be in the NICU. Because YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE A LIVING, BREATHING BABY AT ALL!

A friend of mine just had a baby two days ago. I went to see her. I needed to- she was attempting a home VBAC and lost heart tones and rushed to the hospital and had an emergency c-section. I know how she felt going through what she went through, especially how the hospital treated her. I went through it in March. I knew that I needed to be there for her. Even though she still has her baby (praise God!) she still has some grieving to work through. This was her fourth c-section and although she would like more children, she is afraid of having more sections. I’ve had 5, I understand completely.

Anyway, I was glad she had a girl because it made it easier for me to be there for her. But this was the first time I had been in a hospital since Benjamin. I walked in and the smell…the hospital smell almost brought me to tears. When I passed by the nursery I stopped to look at the babies and they were wrapped up in the blanket the funeral home had used. I had asked them to remove the blanket and gave them something nicer. But seeing that blanket wrapped around those newborn babies took my breath away. A sob caught in my throat and I quickly moved away. I wanted to take the time to grieve, but I wanted to be strong for my friend too. I wondered what the nurses thought when they looked up and saw the stranger in the window wasn’t smiling but crying.

When I was in her room they brought the baby to her and LEFT HER AT THE FOOT OF HER BED. My friend couldn’t get her, and so I asked her if she’d like be to bring her. She did, and so for the first time since Benjamin, I held a baby. She had fat cheeks like Benjamin did. She was big, almost 9 pounds. He was almost 10 pounds. Of course I had to talk about him. I tried not to, because this is her day and I didn’t want to steal any joy she had. Another lady from our VBAC group came and you could tell whenever I mentioned Benjamin she tried to change the subject. She didn’t make eye contact with me, didn’t hug me, barely acknowledged me. I wanted to shout “I AM HERE! It’s OK to talk about my baby. I WANT to talk about my baby. ASK ME about him! Ask me if I have pictures, because I do! LOTS of pictures, always with me. He is my son. Please stop pretending that he doesn’t matter. He’s still alive, just not in my arms. Acknowledge him. I need you to acknowledge him, not push him out of thoughts and conversation. I can’t forget him, how can you?”

I keep wanting to update here but I just can’t seem to do it. So, I’ll let my husband do it for me. Here’s his blog
We all appreciate your prayers.

Sarah

It was so hard, putting my beautiful little boy in the ground. I couldn’t do
it. I kissed him and walked away. I couldn’t even bear to see them close the
casket.

I never once complained about being pregnant. This was my easiest pregnancy.
The end was difficult and I couldn’t wait for it to be over NOT because I was
tired of being pregnant but because of the on and off labor where I never knew if it was
‘it’ or not. And at the end when I felt I was dying, well it’s because I was. I was dying and to save my life Benjamin had to go. Sadly I wasn’t diagnosed until it was too late, and now he’s gone and nothing will bring him back.

But the pregnant part…I cherished it. He was huge- 9 lbs 9 oz and I’m only
5′3″. It was hard for me to sleep and I was loosing weight as he was gaining (I
have lost 30 lbs in the last week, some from baby weight and some because I haven’t been eating.) But I loved every moment with him. Every movement, even though he woke me each morning at 4:30. Every kick, even when I wondered if my rib would crack. Each day, many times a day, I ascertained where his head, back, knees and legs were, to make sure he was in the right birthing position. And when he started to turn I’d gently move him back. I wanted to give him the best possible chance at birth, so that he wouldn’t be cut out of me like his sisters were for breech presentation. And at the end, he was in the perfect position to be born. But it didn’t matter, because he was dead.

I lost three babies this past year. I had an apparent miscarriage when we had
the accident in May, and then I lost Benjamin’s twin and now him. I admit, it’s
frustrating. The Duggars became QF and their first QF blessing was twin boys!
We became QF and we lost one and THEN twins. But this has not changed our
desire to be obedient to the Lord and we fervently pray that God blesses us with
twin boys in a few months.

I am in anguish, though, as I miss him. I miss him moving inside of me. I miss talking to him and him responding. I miss my anticipation of his arrival and making plans. I miss not getting to breast feed him, especially in the morning when I wake and he’s not lying next to me, nor is he inside of me. He’s not here. I miss Kailey telling him each night “Good night Benjamin” and him kicking his reply. His sisters loved him, and he loved his sisters. Everyone looked forward to finally seeing his sweet face and holding him and playing with him.

But he’s gone.

When I first started looking into having a VBAC it was at the urging of the Holy Spirit. I was concerned because my OBGYN had been insistent that I could never have a head down baby, I could never deliver a full term baby, and that most VBACs end in rupture and most ruptures end in dead babies and mommies. We prayed that God would heal my uterus, but healing never came. And instead the gentle prodding “What if I tell you to do this for me, even without the healing, would you?” I stammered my response but couldn’t shake this was from God, because it happened at the very moment that a previous prophetic dream was unfolding before my eyes in a dramatic situation at church. I knew that not only was this God, but that God was asking something of me I wasn’t willing to give. Myself. My baby. Crazy to think- because I’m quiverfull! But as the week progressed God changed my heart and I found myself giving up everything for Him. Although I now had faith, my approach was then turned to purely scientific- what is best for mom and baby? I felt strongly that I was being lead to research it, and as I read the studies and commentaries written by doctors such as Birth After Cesarean, I became heavily convicted that the VBAC IS the logical and, in comparison to multiple cesareans, SAFE choice. 

But then as time passed I became excited at the opportunity to experience natural birth. I know, many women think that is silly as it
is painful and just a means to an end. But as a very natural- earthy person the idea of doing what my body is MEANT to do, to deliver in a way that it was created to function, was just so RIGHT. And the pursuit of natural birth literature and films consumed me.

Then I started reading books on the injustice of the medical system- the horrible things that drs do to their patients. Born in The USA, Pushed, The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth, and others. I was angry- angry that I was lead around so easily, convinced that the drs really had my best interests at heart. People say “as long as you have a healthy baby” but why is my baby’s life more important then mine? I’m not a feminist, but I think I’m pretty important too. And who’s to say that I had healthy babies simply because they were born via c-section? They were in the NICU, they couldn’t nurse, my oldest has a terrible gag reflex from the tube shoved down her throat. What kind of sensory or psychological damage do they have? Don’t they deserve a physically and emotionally healthy mom too? And what right did the drs have to do this to us?

I fell into Birthing From Within and it was the same as above, with horrible stories of injustice and pain. But there was more- there was hope. There was healing, but before healing begins the wounds must open. And that’s when I began to grieve. That’s when I stopped reading these stories as OTHER women’s stories, and realized that they were MY story.

That’s when I stopped saying “she was delivered at__weeks” and said “She was taken from me.” I stopped saying “my c-section” and said instead “They cut me.” For the first time, I remembered my experiences with all the raw truth of what really happened. No wonder I suffered from PTSD! and all this time I thought it was merely because I felt out of control,
but in truth I was positively abused!

The hurt and pain was strong and throbbing. The tears were hot. But the anger and grief and pain are all necessary, because true healing can’t begin until you recognize the truth in the situation. When you recognize what really happened, what your part in it was, and how it truly affected you, then you can begin the turning process.

The Bible says that God gives beauty from ashes, and this was the
beginning of that.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for
ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit
of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the
planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.”—Isaiah 61:3.

So now begins the joy. I can have joy that even if I need another section, it will be because I actually need it and is something I have chosen, not something forced on me. It will be because it IS the best for mom and babe, not because it lessens the chance of the dr getting sued. And I can finally embrace the healing.

sarah

Poor Paul has been sick since October.  He had an appendectomy and complications in the hospital that led a 24 hour stay to a full week.  Ever since then, every 2-3 weeks he runs a fever (103-104) for 2-4 days.  He feels awful during the fever, but no other symptoms. He is just wiped out during the illness and can’t really do anything (hopefully he won’t be sick while I’m in labor!)  He’s not contagious, it’s something related to the surgery.

This is really terrible, and he hasn’t been diagnosed yet.  His Dr seems to be dragging his heels.

Please pray for his diagnosis and his healing.

Sarah

My first was delivered (via dumb doctors and lots of unneccesary interventions) at only 32 weeks, an ‘emergency’ c-section.  My second was born at 34 weeks (I was in preterm labor, dilated almost to an 8, over 80% effaced…but breech so they did another c-section.) My third was born at 36 weeks, scheduled c-section because of early dilation and at 37 weeks (I was dilated only to a 1.)

I also had preterm labor at 26-28 weeks with the first three so I always get a little nervous around this time.  I’m taking Crinone, a natural progesterone cream, like I did with my fourth.  So far, so good!  I didn’t start having regular contractions until I was 36 weeks with her.  If I can make it to AT LEAST 36 weeks then I can proceed with the home birth.

Which brings us to something else I haven’t blogged about.  I did find another OB, but he can’t do a VBAC after 4 sections.  Neither can the birth centers.  So, we are planning a home birth!  My midwife has delivered many VBACs, her first one was with a mama who’d had four previous c-sections as well.

Besides gestational age, another concern is the baby’s presentation.  So far, he’s been head down most of the time, since Christmas!  That’s very encouraging.

I’ve been reading like carazy and I’ll post a book list.  I feel like the more I know the more confident that this IS something I can do!!  When you’ve not had the opportunity to give birth vaginally and you hear all kinds of horror stories and people think that c-sections are much ‘easier’ you aren’t quite sure what to expect.  And I guess that’s one thing I’ve leared in the last few weeks also- expect nothing!  It might be painful, it might be orgasmic.  It might be calm and peaceful or I might do a bit of yelling.    I might push in the bath, or in the bed, or on the toilet, or maybe squatting on the floor.  I may walk the wooded trails for hours or find myself glued to the pool.  I might even go outside and hang on the swing set!

I am very excited at the prospect of delivering in a comfortable home enviroment, have my baby with me at all times, and then go home WITHOUT surgical complications and WITHOUT a 4 day hospital stay and NICU.

I’d appreciate your prayers!

I have been emailed several times asking where we are going to church.  We left the church I mentioned in the previous post.  We were told that the children were distracting and the church was not nor would it ever be family integrated.  At the time they had no children’s church so we really didn’t have much in the way of options.  We left after much prayer and tears.  That was really difficult for us and we still talk about it.

We have returned to the church 85 miles away.  Driving 170 miles is really difficult with four (soon to be five) little ones so we go a couple times a month and the rest of the time we have home church.  Since Paul felt a calling to start a church localy, having family worship gives him some practice.  heh 

We  love this church and wish it weren’t so far away.  We have known the pastor and his wife for years (since we were newly weds and pregnant with our first child!) I really don’t know ultimately what God has in store for us, but it’s exciting to see it.  Sometimes it’s pretty painful, too.  We have lost friends at other churches.  For some reason when you realize the church isn’t a good fit for your family, they take it too personally and no longer want to continue a relationship.

I long for the day when the body of Christ isn’t so segregated.  But for now I recognize the need for it.  We all have different beliefs, family values, ect.  One size just doesn’t fit all.

I had mentioned in October of last year that we visited a small FIC church.  Well, we ended up joining a large baptist FIC and attended for a good while, helping them to become more family integrated.  But we had some problems with things the pastor taught and our primary purpose for going there was for Paul to learn about pastoring a church, which wasn’t really happening.  And when the only other married, homeschooling lady there (the church is mostly elderly folks) told me that God told her that I should have a tubal ligation, that pretty much sealed the deal and we left.  We are back at that small FIC I mentioned.  The people are friendly and generally seem in line with our values.  The men in the church are very emotional, which is a refreshing change from some of the staunchness and ungratefulness (to Grace) we have experienced in the free will churches we have been attending.  They do believe in election, which I am certain has a great deal to do with the tender and broken attitude, but I think the fact that most of the congregation are new believers has even more to do with it.

We are grateful to be there and although we don’t know how long God may have us there we always bloom where we are planted and I’m seeking as to how God wants me to serve the Church.

part 1, by Sarah Trost

in silence we cry
and you do not hear

in silence we die
and you do not care

when is it called life, this life that I live?
When my heart beats?  When I can breathe the air that you breathe?
I’m alive NOW, why won’t you believe?

you may say that you care
that I am dying here

you may fain interest
and even shed a tear

The last post I wrote about her was about her continuing illnesses following vaccinations.  She had been ill after her 2 and 4 month vaccines but the 4 month ones affected her more severely.  So I had them give her only half of the vaccines for six months and she was so seriously ill I wondered if she should go to the hospital.  She saw four doctors who all said it was normal that she had been sick for so many months, including weird symptoms they couldn’t explain such as boils in the throat.  When it finally ran through her system I did not return for more vaccines and she has been relatively healthy ever since!  But finding a new pediatrician has proven difficult given that they insist that all patients be caught up to date on their vaccines.  I found two pediatricians that said that since the baby got the MOST IMPORTANT vaccines they would be OK with waiting till she’s two to give her the rest, but the new baby would have to get the “required” vaccines.

A friend had a recomendation of a family practitioner who I plan to speak with before the new baby is born, I was just waiting on our new insurance to be finalized so I know which plan I have.

This has been a very difficult year- my aunt died suddenly, a friend died suddenly, we were in the accident, Hurrican Ike, the pregnancy and possible loss of a twin, illnesses with the baby, difficulty in finding a pediatrician and OBGYN, and change in insurance.  But I know that God is faithful and I am holding onto my faith in Him!!

This is our first truly QF baby.  We had been using NFP but I was still nursing and my fertility signs were very inconsistent.  After two months of abstaining to avoid conception (which is not only unbiblical but unhealthy for a marriage) we came together the way the Creator of the Great Romance meant for husband and wife, and I concieved the very next day!  So during that pregnancy (2006/2007) we really began searching the Scriptures and although we had never heard of the Quiverfull movement, were moved that we were to trust God’s soveriegnty in all things, including childbirth, and that we should give our fertility (at the time, 4 children in 4 1/2 years was certainly fertile!) over to God.  We should ask Him to control EVERY area of our lives, and who better to trust with our family then the Lord?

In my research I stumbled upon a pagan website bashing a group called Quiverfull.  I went to the site and did some other searching (the Internet is such a marvelous invention.)  I was so excited to know that not only did other people feel the same way we did, there was actually a movement!  God is working mightily in His people.

So, this, our fifth, was our first baby concieved without any concern wither I would get pregnant.  It was so liberating to TRUST GOD!  Like with #2,3,4 I knew I was pregnant before I cold even take a test.  Paul suggested I not take a test and just wait and when I feel the baby move I’ll know I’m pregnant.  LOL  Well, given that I am now 17 weeks and still haven’t felt distinct movements I’m really glad I didn’t take his advice.

I was sicker in this pregnancy then I was with the others and noticed my uterus growing faster then normal.  I wondered if I was having twins.  My 5 YO started talking about twins.  So when I had my U/S at 6 weeks and the tech said it looked like twins, I wasn’t surprised!  But then she said she couldn’t find the other baby (just a sac.)  A 10 week ultrasound again revealed only one baby.  I have another scheduled next week so we’ll see.  I’ll upload ultrasound pics next week.

Blessings to all.

Sarah

I can’t wait to read this!  It’s called Family Unplanning.  For information on how you might win the book, check out this blog.    For further information on the book, look at this website. Feel free to pass along the info!!

Blessings,

Sarah

PS- I know updates have been a long time coming but I was having trouble editing my page until today!

I hate the phrase to vote for the lesser of two evils. I despise it. I don’t want to vote for ANY evil. I don’t care if it’s the ‘responsible’ thing to do. So call me irresponsible- but to vote for someone you STRONGLY do not agree with (and if you haven’t thoroughly researched it you can’t possibly know) because he is the ‘lesser of two evils.’

For those of you who do this, you repulse me. Stand by your convictions. Your vote or lack there of WILL NOT PUT SOMEONE ELSE IN OFFICE as what is meant to be will be. Vote your convictions. Maybe if more people voted their convictions this world would be a different place. Most people I have talked to say they don’t like either Obama or Mccain but will vote for one of them because to do otherwise would throw their vote to the ‘wrong’ candidate.

VOTE YOUR CONVICTIONS AND YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED.

OK, so I know that the electoral college is a key part of this issue but if their vote is all that matters, VOTE YOU CONVICTIONS. Come on. Do it for yourself. Do it for you country. And in the end, what will be will be. You can’t change the outcome, all you can change is your own actions.

This post might incite some flaming but so be it, because I say and do as I am convicted, not based on what others think!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=190653418

I saw this couple on Oprah and so enjoyed them! They were on another show and here is a video clip from it (they have improved since then.)

Interesting blog on abortion from which I copied the words of Kemper Crabb’s anti-abortion song from a band called Atomic Opera:

Lyrics: Kemper Crabb
Music: Kemper Crabb & Frank Hart

The judges sat outside the Law
And in their pride no evil saw
In setting teeth to Satan’s jaw
And feeding him our children.
When viewed in terms of cost and ease
An unborn child is a disease
A holocaust seen fit to please
Our own convience.
A curse A curse the Law it cries.
A curse a curse on mankind’s pride.
A curse on him who would deny
God’s image in mankind.
Torn from out their mother’s womb
Denied the sky – denied a tomb
Conceived in lust to their own ruin
A sacrifice to pleasure.
The doctors with their blood red hands
Who love their money more than man,
With greed their god they lay their plans
The butchers of mankind.
A curse a curse the blood cries out
A curse a curse the heavens shout
A curse a curse on he who flouts
God’s image in mankind.
O rid us of this evil, Lord
And turn our hearts by cross or Sword.
Our nation cannot long afford
To live beneath your judgements.
A curse a curse upon their heads
O save them Lord or slay them dead
And fill our country with your Dread
And turn away Your anger.

“We have to test everything,” writes Bell. “Do that to this book. Don’t swallow it uncritically. Think about it. Wrestle with it. Just because I’m a Christian and I’m trying to articulate a Christian worldview doesn’t mean I’ve got it nailed. I’m contributing to the discussion. God has spoken, and the rest is commentary, right?”

Wow- I have never read a quote like that. This was from a review of Velvet Elvis, a book about what ‘it really means to be a Christian.’

Upon further research some claim this author is of the emergent church group of leaders.  Still, you have to be impressed with anyone who suggests that what he says isn’t necessarily right.