While searching the internet, I accidentally stumbled upon the following blog written by a young woman who attends City Bible Church. She has one post that is fascinating. It was written about two months ago and I am going to post her blog with my own thoughts after. She starts off discussing random issues and then breaks into a discussion of church.
When I am in City Bible I truly feel like I am in a community and part of a kingdom larger than myself, larger than our little church. ("little church?" hmmm… still must not be growing.)
It is thrilling and wonderful. The music was good but Brian Bennace didn't do any kind of specials. (sigh… Brian Bennece… how I would love to meet that guy.) (I think she means Brian Bettis. And I have come to the conclusion that no man at City Bible makes women swoon like Mr. Bettis. JP's wife refers to him as the Christian Justin Timberlake)
And they did anointing tunnels at the end. I haven't done one in YEARS. I was very very happy because the Mogen's and the Wade's were praying in the tunnel that was right next to our section. And of course, they are the ones I want to pray for me. (I think she means Morgan. And let me tell you, when JP and I used to attend City Bible, nothing delighted us more than watching Mr. Morgan pray.)
But people kept cutting and crowding into our line so we had to wait for like an hour to get prayed for! It was alright, though. I was pleased because almost everyone who prayed for me knew me and that was a nice feeling and even though none of it was earth shakingly new revelation I was blessed by a lot of the prayers. Three of them (without hearing the others) prayed that I would have huge amounts of money come through for my "projects" without having to do much work. (Imagine that. Three prayers, all independent of each other, all praying that you get rich quick without work. …sigh…)
And Carolyn prayed almost a repeat of the prayers that were said for me at the Asplund's on Friday night, that I would just rest and relax and that I am to be patient in this time of the unknown and not rush God for answers about my future. So alright… I can do that, I guess. It makes me feel like less of a loser for being so unsure about what on earth to do. (I feel the same way. It's called being human.)
James Asplund also gave me a word that was RIGHT on about using my prayer language in my morning devotions. Which is something I almost never do, though I couldn't say why. So I will start doing that now. It was silly of me not to! (James Asplund should meet Cheryl Morton. She was also of the "You should pray in tongues in the morning" school of thought. In fact, when I was homeschooled, that was our PE class: Praying in Tongues.)
So mostly I felt really loved by everyone who prayed for me. Which was pretty cool. (Actually that is cool, and really what prayer is all about.)
Larry Wade told me when he was done praying, "You are a very loveable person. There's just something about you that makes me love you. And want to hug you!" And my literal first thought reaction to that comment was, "You only think that because I have brown eyes and that reminds you of a dog and dogs are generally 'loveable'." Isn't that sick? Why would that be my first thought? Something that completely perverts the compliment and disregards it. That was literally my GUT reaction. (I really like this girl. That is one of the most honest genuine reactions I have ever heard. Completely unpretentious. I tend to think this girl is more spiritually grounded than the Wades or the Morgans, who are really just Tony Robbins wannabe's.)
Love the new logo
Gotta love how deep the thoughts of this girl go. Makes me yearn for the days when I didn’t think too much about “why the H*ll do I go to church, anyway?”
Here’s a post from another entry that speaks volumes. Turns out people on this blog aren’t the only ones who don’t find CBC the cats meow.
Anyone from CityBibleChurch care to respond?
Henri,
Notice her friends response:
I love it – back to the love feast – sitting down with your brother or sister in the Lord, face to face, and breaking bread – eating a good meal – AND enjoying the portion of Christ that is in one another. That’s so Acts 2:46 …
In light of Acts 2-6, and Jude 1, with the emphasis on ‘breaking bread’ and communing with the saints, I believe family restaurants bear more resemblance to the early church, than the church institution as it exists today.
It is hard to feel ‘cared for’ in a group of thousands. I’ve switched to a home church, as in Rom 16:5, 1 Cor.16:19, Col. 4:15. Everyone can share if they want, play an instrument (without 2 years of ‘team training’ or
signing a tithe pledge)
After quite some time, I came to see that Jesus was not going to really move at CBC. Why? You just cannot base most of a ministry on doing things Jesus specifically said NOT to do and then expect a big response.
Matt. 23:10 NASB “And do not be called leaders;for One is your Leader, that is Christ. Matt. 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth.” Acts 2:45 “and they began selling their property and possesions
and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.” Selling and sharing is just the opposite of buying land and asking for money.
Just a personal insight
I don’t understand why all the girls are so in love with Brian Bettis.
ok ouch. i feel sorry for this girl. i doubt she wrote what she did thinking that it would ever get onto a place like this. yes, i know how the internet works and that what she posted is public domain, yadda yadda. but did you guys at least try to contact her or tell her what you had planned?
on the other hand, the bit about bryan…hilarious.
I think enough people are familiar with dooce.com and her story, that there is no longer an excuse for people.
I think it’s very scary that she is taking prayers that are spoken over her as thus saith the Lord. Not that any of it was terribly specific or unhealthy–it’s not going to hurt anything if she prays in tongues in the morning, but was GOD saying that????
Yet that’s very typical of spirit-filled churches.
KM
I don’t think Bryan Bettis is hot.
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I think I need to start reading this blog. Just so you know, if she gets huge amounts of money w/out having to do much work, I will be cutting in line at a CBC prayer tunnel. (Hopefully there will be people I know to pray for me).
How come it’s called a prayer tunnel, and not prayer funnel … with all the emphasis on the tithe, funnel seems the better choice …
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No, I didn’t. I probably should have, but I completely stumbled on it by accident, while searching for blogs about certain pastor’s at City Bible. (I know. I’m venturing into stalker territory).
That said, if the young woman finds the blog and is offended, she can just email me: citybusiness at gmail dot com. And I’ll make it up to her. I know Brian Bettis personally, and I can probably get her a date with him. Or at least a “courtship”. I’m not sure how they do it up there anymore.
Isn’t Brian Bettis already dating…er “courting” someone?
his hand
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Oh. My. God. That comment was too funny. I cracked up laughing, but my wife thinks your mean. lol.
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QFT
I’m hopping on this train quite late, but I have to say that the homeschooling PE comment is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read on this blog…..even funnier than the “hand” comment….sorry, boys.
Brian is an old friend who is very sincere guy, but I haven’t talked to him in quite some time, so I can’t know if he’s courting anyone. I always thought he was extremely likeable and knew that some girls made comments about him. Even when we would tell him about it, he seemed indifferent. My personal theory is that he was either very secretive, or more likely, he was like every other CBC young adult and was dating dysfunctional (hey, I was one once, too). In that culture, dating is OK as long as you have a good shot at marrying someone, and you’re “ready” for a relationship. And by “ready” I mean that Doug thinks it’s a good idea for you two to hook up. But Doug forbid you even think about dating anyone without his express permission. If he isn’t ready to prophesy about how you as a couple are going to start a revival, then you better keep it on the down low or be prepared to be rebuked or ostracised. Because of this culture, the people with the greatest chance of success in dating are people who are on staff or work closely with staff. Brian Bettis is now one of the few single guys who qualifies for preapproval on courtship status. Many single girls pine for him because of what he represents: a quick ticket to marital bliss, approval by leadership, and promotion to ministry – all the things that give validation in CBC. That probably sounded unfair to Brian for me to say stuff like that. It IS UNFAIR because Brian deserves better than that. He deserves to find an awesome girl who loves him for being Brian and not because he’s on stage almost every Sunday.
Good luck to you, Brian! But if I were you, I’d start looking for a girl in another church (that isn’t the City Church – oops did I really type that?).
Check out this band…Billion Blues from Portland. Bryan bettis is a member. Is this the same one you are talking about? href=”http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=9288060″>
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Yup.
i realize this is like the most anal comment ever, but people who supposedly know bryan, know that his name is spelled Y.
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It’s so funny, my hubby’s name is Brian Bettis! but we have never attended this church, but an apostolic one sounding very much like it, except the “thousands” …..try about 7 families! LOL, we left a few years ago after 10 years of attendance (there about), but seeing this come up under my hubby’s name was sort of funny and just wanted to share!