A Lack of Kindness

[Clio]

Hi Nico!

Nice to see you! I can't imagine what help I need. I never know where the extra money is going to come from, but Abba always seems to have what I need sitting on my doorstep as I need it.

But, I don't see the end from the beginning and He does. I find it very hard to ask for help of any kind, and especially not monetary help as I understand how tight things are financially for most people.

It's interesting, because Abba and I have differing concepts of what "needs" to be done and how to accomplish it. Evidently we both agree about heat though! I got word today we qualified for 260 gallons of fuel oil from the state! YAY! One less outlay of scarce cash. It works out to be exactly the amount I need to pay an unexpectedly large electric bill due to having to turn on the heat tapes... And there was no way I could pay both.

Christmas is going to be very different this year. Very quiet, no gifts, other than odds and ends for my kids... And we're not spending lots of money on anything. In fact, most of the gifts this year are either handmade or heirlooms. I spent about $20 on some kitchen towels, utensils, and sheets for my eldest. But then we crocheted lace, decorated the pillow cases and sheet, and I found a lovely embroidered tablecloth that had been my mothers which is embroidered in the same colors my daughter has chosen for her new apartment.

In October, I got my youngest a 35 mm camera. It's used, but in very nice shape, and came with 7 rolls of film, the case, and instruction book, for less than $50.

My son is easy to cover. We knitted (my sis and I) matching hat, scarf, gloves for him, and I supplemented with about $20 worth of fishing lures and a subscription to a fishing magazine he really likes.

I also had two copies of my book printed that I'm going to write a message in the fly-leaf and will wrap and give those to the girls as well. My son, if he wants a copy, will get one, but I got him Neil T. Anderson's Bondage Breaker.

I think He may have something new in mind, as the publication of my book went so smoothly. Even though I've done little advertising, there have been sales, which is nice, because it's not through a major outlet, although it will be on Amazon.com soon.

I also think He's getting ready to have my other manuscript published which has been languishing for a year or more. It's finally titled, and the truth bell went off when I heard the phrase that became it's title.

It's sooo good to see you back and posting.

Clio

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Clio,

Wow! your husband is in need of a miracle. That's a lot to have all at once. Also the financial burden for you is heavy. Tell me about your book, what is it about?

Norman

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Nico,

it's good to see you here again, I haven't seen you in a while. I hope all is well.

Norman

[Clio]

It's called A Mother's Heart ~ Meditations for Daughters. It's like a devotional book, but not as structured or as long.

The readings aren't tied to a date, but they have a text and then a short (a paragraph or two) to medium (1-2 pages) essay/meditation. There are a couple of original poems, as well as some thoughts from Oswald Chambers that his estate kindly granted me permission to use.

If you go to www.lulu.com/prasinghm and click on the title of the book, scroll down and there's an excerpt of several of the meditations from the book and you may read them.

I'm working on one for sons. I'm thinking I'll have it ready by March.

Clio

[Nicodema]

But do you even HAVE any sons, Clio? o_O

[Clio]

Yes. He'll be 17 in March. I'd like to have it ready for his birthday.

Why?

Clio

[Nicodema]

Just never recalled you mentioning a son -- only daughters. My son is 17 as well!

[n4424w]

Dear Clio,

As one from Alaska who knows you personally. Let me set the record starit on a few items you mentioned.

1. You and your family moved to Alaska. The Pastor personally took you into his home where you and your family lived off their generosity for many months.

2. The church actually raised the money and gave you the money to have your porch fixed.

3. The church gave and gave and gave until many of them felt used and abused. Then you left the church for another.

The Pastor personally gave you money out of his pocket many times.

When your husband was in intensive care in Anchorage. I have information that, the President of the conference personally came and had an anointing and intersessory prayer for your husband.

I understand your fellings about help, but please! please! be honest in what you write.

[cricket]

Just out of curiosity n4424w, since you know "Clio" personally, other than what you have written here, what have you done "personally" to help? Have you even once thought of praying for her? How about praying with her? You have chosen a screen name of n4424w--will she know who you are by this name? Are you willing to stick by what you say if you are called on the words you've written here?

[Clio]

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Dear Clio,

As one from Alaska who knows you personally. Let me set the record starit on a few items you mentioned.

1. You and your family moved to Alaska. The Pastor personally took you into his home where you and your family lived off their generosity for many months.

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I have no idea who you are, or why you choose to slander me so completely.

So let me be specific and set the record VERY straight.

6 weeks. October 30th to December 12th. that pastor is no longer here, and I contributed to groceries, utilities, gas in the vehicles, to the tune of about $1200 in those 6 weeks. I am still in touch with Mel occasionally. When they left on short notice, I slipped Carol $500. Without mentioning it to anyone else or making a big deal out of it.

Quote:

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2. The church actually raised the money and gave you the money to have your porch fixed.

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First of all, when I contacted the Pastor, I asked if there was someone who could come out and help me pound nails and offer guidance in how to build steps. I specifically told him I had the material, and could afford to pay a little, to someone for their time.

Next thing I know, $100 was given anonymously, I offered it back, since we needed someone to come and pound nails. We gave the money to Love INC. since we didn't feel right using it when what we needed was physical help for using tools, and how to build that steps. I even tried to offer the $100 to anyone from the church who would pound the nails and measure the boards. I asked the current pastor to see if ANYONE who knew something about carpentry would come, I would be glad to give them the $100 for their time. No one called us back, except the pastor, to say that no one could help.

Quote:

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3. The church gave and gave and gave until many of them felt used and abused. Then you left the church for another. The Pastor personally gave you money out of his pocket many times.

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Since you want to be specific, let me also be specific. Once from the Fairbanks church we received a $500 loan. It was paid back in total. Please check with the treasurer. Once the Current Pastor (almost two years ago) assisted me in getting Mike's perscription that there was no way to cover. And once the North Pole church, over a 18 months ago gave $200. I returned it in a love offering collected following Communion.

As for giving and giving and giving? That is a lie. The Fairbanks church has given twice. The $500 that was paid back, and evidently the $100 toward fixing the porch. By the way, the $100 would not have covered the materials needed. Thankfully Jesus had already provided those.

Nor did the Pastor give me money out of his pocket many times. Perhaps it would be well to air this with the congregation and with back up documentation?

During those same two years, we contributed heavily and anonymously because at that time we could.

You are talking about the Fairbanks church, clearly, because since it's a 60 mile round trip to Fairbanks for church, we did, after attending there for 2 years, move to the North Pole Church which is 2.1 miles from our home.

For $100 and loyalty to the Pastor for helping with a perscription I should drive an extra 58 miles to church when there is a small church, needing congregants 2.1 miles from my house?

Quote:

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When your husband was in intensive care in Anchorage. I have information that, the President of the conference personally came and had an anointing and intersessory prayer for your husband.

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My husband has been in intensive care 4 times in Anchorage. The President of the Conference did come, the final time he was there, spent 15 minutes, and did NOT anoint my husband. Intercessory prayer? That's what you call what happened? I do not regret any prayers offered on his behalf, but an anointing and intercessory prayer calls to mind oil, an elder or two, specific prayers for healing and more than "Bless this man".

Quote:

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I understand your fellings about help, but please! please! be honest in what you write.

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I was. You do not know all the details.

And to be fair, once when Mike was in the hospital in Fairbanks, the North Pole church quilting guild sent him a quilt, via the Pastor, who did visint him once in Fairbanks.

Would you be feeling warm fuzzies if you'd spent a total of 8 weeks in intensive care and got 45 minutes of pastoral visitation after requesting anointing, prayer, visits every time you were in?

Have you ever called to see if we're ok or prayed with me? Since I have heard from NO ONE in the Fairbanks church by telephone, card, letter, or anything else in the two years since we ceased attending there, I don't think you have.

I know you haven't if you attend the North Pole church. Since I can name on one finger the person who keeps in touch with me from there.

Clio

[Clio]

Thank you Silent Maven.

Clio

[Clio]

Oh! One more thing since I want the record to be VERY clear.

The Pastor has been by the house two or three times in the last two years. The last time was at least 8 months ago.

Mike has been in bed except for trips to the ER and the doctor almost exclusively. Occasionally I can get him out and about, but he pays for it severely for 3-5 days.

Out and about means a quick trip to the store, to Action Auto, and right back home.

Did you also know that we contributed over $600 in parts and labor to fix the parsonage's garage doors even AFTER Mike got so ill and before we lost our business? I have a nice thank you letter from the conference for doing that. That was when the current pastor had not yet found property to purchase nor had he begun building his new home.

It keeps me so warm and fuzzy when I look around and see the truck I no longer drive, the business we no longer have, and the living room furniture I no longer have to sit on because I sold it to pay for perscriptions and utilities. But hey! I have a year old letter from the conference office!

Oh... and during those same two years that Mike has been so ill, we took in a homeless man who lived with us for a year. We helped him get a job, new clothes, pay off debt so that when he did move out, he was stable. He could afford to pay his rent, utilities, and groceries. He also rededicated his life to Jesus. The year before Mike got sick, we took in a family of 7, for 4 months. This year we took in two ladies, they've been with us for 3 months now.

We always share and give what we have. It's never money, because we don't have it, but if we have shelter, food, and time to share, we share it.

For the period of time when no one was staying with us, January 05 - September 05, we ate out of food boxes. When my kids turned old enough to work, they got jobs to help make ends meet. When we took in the two ladies staying with us now, Jesus provided a way that allows us to purchase groceries again.

This is particularly good, since the two kids old enough to work have moved out, and my youngest was sent to Texas to allow her father time to heal without the stress of a teen female in the house. I can't wait until she gets home next month.

I think I've been squished.

Clio

[Nicodema]

I've tried several times to post here and each time ended up ditching my post because I didn't like my own tone and didn't want to put my foot in it (especially considering the first time was before Clio responded herself, and I didn't think it was my place until she had her say). I probably won't like it any better now so I'll be brief:

Soooo ... "n4424w" consider the blank spot below to be a repeat of QBJFN's questions to you. Because if I say anything else I will make an absolute "donkey" of myself. Which judging by your post, I'm willing to guess you know how ugly THAT feels.

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[Clio]

n4424w -

Do you also know about the two families whose homes were burned last winter? I contacted the church requesting winter coats for the husband, wife, and 4 little boys for one of them, and organized a neighborhood drive to collect furniture for the other.

Of course, you might not know that either, because they weren't church members and have no family in the area.

We gave more of our furniture to them, a table and some chairs. We replaced them with furniture from the dump. That's what we could afford.

I found two nice chairs that just needed a little cleaning up and a furniture cover at the dump. It's a far cry from the furniture I've sold and given to those less fortunate than I, but after 18 months, we're not sitting on the floor anymore. I can't tell you how wonderful Thanksgiving was this year, because we didn't have to sit on the floor.

Last year, we did sit on the floor at home. But that was the year I organized a Thanksgiving dinner at the North Pole church for anyone who wanted to fellowship together or had nowhere else to go. Unfortunately, Mike was so ill, I had to leave early to check on him, feed him, and missed a good part of all the fun.

I'm hoping this next spring that there will be some chairs at the transfer site so I can get rid of the ones that we use to sit at the dining room table. It would be nice to have chairs that match and aren't quite as flimsy as the chairs we have now. But that's not a big deal, we do have some that work for now.

I really wish I knew who you are. Since you have called me a liar, I would very much like to know who you are.

Clio

[Clio]

Thanks Nico.

Clio

[Gregory Matthews]

As I stated in another post, I can feel for Clio, and for her situation. She has described it in a manner in which she has identified a Conference, the President of that Conference, and people who really wanted to check things out, probably specific pastors involved.

When one does this, one can expect to be challenged by others with anothre perspective on the situation. When one calls a response slander, one might want to see it that term fit the origional post.

As I have stated in other threads, there just isn't much privacy in the Internet. If one posts a negative comment about the Alaska Conference, and its President, one shoud be prepared for that person, or someone else to respond.

NOTE: I do not know who it is that responded. My point is that one should be prepared for such aa post to reach the President, and for a response to be made, by someone.

[Clio]

Probably so.

But while we appreciated what was possible, it wasn't for lack of asking and calling, that we didn't receive an anointing.

Sufficient that now he refuses even the concept. There are sides and sides and sides to every story, no doubt.

And as I have said before, I appreciated the prayer, I never turn it away, but it was NOT an anointing. Nor was it the kind of prayer, or laying on of hands, with consecrated oil, for an anointing for the sick. Didn't happen.

And I'm not going to say it did.

Every thing else whoever that was said, was a distortion of the truth and the poster specifically told me to be honest.

[Gregory Matthews]

O. K. Enough said, as far as I am concerned.