Top 10 Reasons NOT to Join a Church Before I even begin, and before you say, “You are generalizing.” You are right. I am speaking in a general sense because I believe all these systemic issues are generally accurate. In my opinion, every church does better or worse on each issue, but all are culpable. Progressive, mainline churches do better at inclusivity but haven’t addressed the systemic problems. What good does it do to include someone in a broken system?... Read more
New Music Release – Adaline Canadian alt-pop artist Adaline fuses powerfully evocative music with an emotionally unbound lyrical honesty. This authenticity appeals to her growing fanbase and is why she is considered “one of the best young songwriters in the country” (CBC Q) and “a rising Canadian talent that takes listeners to angelic heights” (Billboard Magazine). She has released four critically acclaimed studio albums garnering millions of streams, dozens of editorial playlist adds, and a nomination for “Pop Album of... Read more
Healing from Trauma – Darkness & Shadow (an excerpt from our book, Leaning Forward) In 2021, I was scheduled to work on the assembly line. To get Saturday off, I had to take ½ of Friday off to ensure I would not be scheduled for Saturday. It is a clever way to have an extended weekend without using more Personal Time Off (PTO). I was often excited to start a long weekend, but I did not feel much like working... Read more
Healing From Trauma – Going Inside & Trusting Ourselves (An excerpt from our book, Leaning Forward) For most of my life, I was told by religion that I should not trust myself. This was especially true of my feelings. We were taught what to believe based on the accepted belief systems and encouraged that even when it did not feel right, we should trust that it was correct. The reason for this was a base reasoning that the body and... Read more
Healing from Trauma – Being and Becoming (an excerpt from our book, Leaning Forward) I started recycling about 3 years ago. It always seemed like a promising idea. One company I worked for recycles about 95% of the material they use. They obviously have done it for years and have become very proficient at it. Various containers are strategically placed up and down our assembly line. They are emptied routinely and adherence to the program is expected and normal. We... Read more
Rachael Peach – IFB Abuse Survivor Rachel is an abuse survivor who suffered abuse in the IFB church and eventually witnessed her abuser be incarcerated. She gave testimony / told her story in the Documentary, Let Us Prey. She did the hard work and now proclaims, “You can still be happy,” even after all that. Barbie Gets Revenge on Greg Locke Cultivated Ignorance – Evolving from Racism and Homophobia https://thedesertsanctuary.org/leaning-forward-2023/ Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His... Read more
God Treats Me Like a Christian I had a rough day yesterday, and several people encouraged me to take care of myself, take some time off, and rest—So I did. As with most things, it got me thinking. In the back of my mind is always that thought that was implanted by Christianity that God must be punishing me, or blessing me, or trying to tell me something. On most days, I feel, that if God exists, he is ignoring... Read more
Returning Home to Heal Trauma What we are learning about trauma is not necessarily that the key person in our life didn’t prevent the harm. We all interpret what happens to us differently, and sometimes the person could not have stopped what happened even if they knew how. In normal situations, something happens, and someone who is supposed to care for us helps us regulate those traumatic situations. They care for us, stay with us, and help us navigate through... Read more
A Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources Leaning Forward Conference https://thedesertsanctuary.org/leaning-forward-2023/ Recently, The Desert Sanctuary hosted the latest Leaning Forward Conference (<—click here for resources). This time, we decided to elevate women’s voices. It turned out great! And, we decided to preserve the videos on my YouTube Channel. A Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources In addition to the video, each speaker left behind links (<—click here for resources) to their specific specialty. https://thedesertsanctuary.org/leaning-forward-2023/ More Resources We are also continuing to add... Read more
When We Go on a Journey of Discovery Being at a funeral this week caused me to reflect on all the people I know and used to know. I wondered If any of them are on a similar journey as I am where I am asking questions about my previous faith, and I am discovering new things every day. I wonder if this is because most people do not speak up about things, especially if they are difficult or controversial.... Read more
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