Atwater Vitki

Bingo hyper! Well said! Blessings of Peace,

Dan, you express my sentiments almost word for word! There are many times in our lives when "NO!" is the kindest, most loving thing we can do for a person or situation. When a person has a reputation for saying "Yes", most of the time, that one "NO!" can drive people from you like jack rabbits from a hound...amazing isn't it? I can think of two recent incidents where one "No" resulted in zero communication since...regardless of the 20+ previous "yes's"...and another being literally banned from their home despite at least 50 "Yes's"....this would be such a GREAT planet if it weren't for all the danged people on it!!! Blessings of Peace,

So far, the willing subject at hand is Jeffo. If I do not hear from anyone else by Wed....He's "IT"...let the Inquisition Begin! Blessings of Peace,

Okay, great, thanks for getting back to us....and no problem at all...I think we may have someone willing! Blessings of Peace, PS: WHAAAAA.....T! The duck when back to meat? Oh no! This is not good and when Murph gets back...ew boy...are we in for it! hehehehe

So glad to hear things worked out for you. Hang everyone else...sounded like self centered as Silver said! Keep up the good works for what matters to you...kids, hubby, business...and hang everyone else. When was the last time any of these clowns helped you???? And, yes, please keep us updated. Blessings of Peace,

I can throw in a bit here, but keeping it short..ha!.... First off I agree that AOG is usually one of the few churches completely open to the public with their many diverse programs. When my son came to live with me at age 11, the local AOG in Rio Dell, CA, had an excellent "after school" (3p-6p) curriculum for all kids of any belief. My son did very well there and met many new friends. Absolutely a "good thing"! I can applaud the Assembly Churches for that particular outreach to their communities. My only real problem was that after a couple of months the "pressure" began...showing up Friday nights inviting to church (when they knew I worked Sundays)...then not allowing my son in certain sports centered programs that were for "Members only"...and when I considered membership for his sake...question #2 on the application was "annual income"...that has bothered me regardless of which brand/label/church it may be....but when it was left blank and the secty called to ask, and I refused to state my income, the next call was from the pastor. As politely as I could be in my rationale for refusing the info, he would not allow membership without 1.) Full disclosure of income 2.) My baptism at AOG after a 10 week indoctrination "class" - understandable for "Membership" into an exclusive club 3.) my, then 12 yr old, son also being put through the "Junior Crusaders" program and made to be up for adult membership when he turned 16. So the choice to do what's good/best for my son had too many strings attached. To be fair, I have to state this was not just the AOG, but the Baptists, Seventh Day and Methodists churches as well. I just have a problem with any program or such being advertised as "For the good of the children"....but only IF you do a., b., c., etc. I just believe the programs should be as advertised = 100% for the betterment of the children, not put parental requirements on it as a means to gain membership. I have a grand suspicion of any church that asks for one's annual income. This tells me they don't "trust" the individual to tithe according to conscience, not income. My Mom's church (Evangelical Covenant) has gone so far as to make tithing an auto transfer of funds an "option" for members. That "option" thus becomes mandatory and to get them to remove that from her was some serious discussions with my sis, mom and church...they weren't going to allow her out of her "contract" until we raised legal issues and threatened with the courts...they immediately changed their tune....and I repeat was NOT an AOG church. My only other question is the speaking in tongues, Cool. If it is suppose to be spontaneous, moved by "the Spirit", without coercing or any sort of "prodding", how then can many AOG's actually have time aside during each sermon for this practice? I do not understand how "spontaneous" equates to 11:15 - 11:35 a.m. every Sunday? Then, after over hearing one of the "good ol' boys" (deacon from the Rio Dell AOG) state at the diner, in public - talking to a friend - "Oh I don't know, just babble "some s!!t" the Interpreter will give 'em something good!" - well obviously this made it neither spontaneous nor legit and has really stuck with me as just one more New Age gambit for cash, not a legit "salvation" of the Spirit. At several of the services I attended the flailing of arms and legs, the screaming babbles etc...well to be honest, just seemed like a total "show" to me. I guess I've just never been so moved. This may not be the case at your church Cool, but since that happening 20 years ago to me and my son, it has left a terrible haze in my head about the whole process. I can go down to the alley behind the drugie shelter if all I want to hear is some "babbled bs". At least there, it is not under any pretense. Please don't take this as an "attack", I wanted to relay my personal experiences and perhaps get some understanding after 2 decades. I would encourage anyone seeking that sort of "excitement" from the Scriptures to seek out AOG as they are certainly not a quiet crowd. There is indeed a "Spirit" that seems to motivate and move the congregation...I guess I still have many questions as to just exactly what that spirit is, where it comes from and why people would choose to do something so many others deem a little "over the edge"? Believe me, in comparison to an Evangelical sermon, which is difficult to distinguish from a funeral, there is a lot of "LIFE" at AOG services. I guess I still have too many questions to honestly take it in as a truth to me. Blessings of Peace,