Thursday Thought — Mending the Soul by Stephen Tracy

Because our Resource pages are extensive we have decided to occasionally use the Thursday Thought post to highlight a Resource.  Today's highlight is Steven Tracy's, Mending the Soul:  Understanding and Healing Abuse [Affiliate link]. While not specific to domestic abuse, it is nevertheless very useful for understanding the dynamics of abuse in general.  Pastor Crippen has… Continue reading Thursday Thought — Mending the Soul by Stephen Tracy

Thursday Thought — Step 1 in Trauma Recovery: Establishing Safety

It is exceedingly difficult for abuse victims to give up their defense mechanism and come alive to healthy intimacy when their safety is still threatened. Powerlessness makes deadness and denial extremely enticing — particularly for those who have experienced chronic abuse.  Thus, the first step in trauma recovery is establishing safety. It's hard for those… Continue reading Thursday Thought — Step 1 in Trauma Recovery: Establishing Safety

Prayerfully Hand Shame Back to the Abuser

One of the most empowering things an abuser survivor can do is to prayerfully hand shame back to his or her abuser. Theologians rarely discuss this concept, but it's a frequent biblical theme. Biblical writers often asked God to shame their abusive enemies. [1see below for scripture references]. Most likely, this meant asking God to… Continue reading Prayerfully Hand Shame Back to the Abuser

Abuse and Submission: We Have Gone Very, Very Wrong

UPDATE Sept 2021: I have come to believe that Jeff Crippen does not practise what he preaches. He vilely persecuted an abuse victim and spiritually abused many other people in the Tillamook congregation. Go here to read the evidence. Jeff has not gone to the people that he spiritually and emotionally abused. He has not apologised to them,… Continue reading Abuse and Submission: We Have Gone Very, Very Wrong

Resources on headship, submission and family values

These are not newly published resources, but they have been newly added to our page What Headship and Submission Do Not Mean. The first article is Headship with a Heart: How Biblical Patriarchy Actually Prevents Abuse, by Steven Tracy. An intriguing title, isn't it? The second article is The Culture Wars Over “Family Values”: Are… Continue reading Resources on headship, submission and family values

More Thoughts on Shame — From “Mending the Soul” by Steven Tracy

By now you will no doubt realize that we highly recommend Steven Tracy's book, Mending the Soul [Affiliate link}. It contains a chapter devoted to the effects of abuse on the victim, and the very first effect discussed is shame. Let me emphasize to all of us once again that shame must be confronted, or it… Continue reading More Thoughts on Shame — From “Mending the Soul” by Steven Tracy