"You have to work hard to offend Christians. By nature, Christians are the most forgiving, understanding, and thoughtful group of people I've ever dealt with. They never assume the worst. They appreciate the importance of having different perspectives. They're slow to anger, quick to forgive, and almost never make rash judgments or act in anything less than a spirit of total love . . . No, wait--I'm thinking of Labrador retrievers!" David Learn, 1998

Friday, April 27, 2012

This Sunday

     This Sunday, the executive elders of our church--having already forbidden Jerry and me to count the offering, pray with people, sing in the choir, usher, teach, help in the nursery, serve communion, or even pour grape juice into the communion cups--will be publicly denouncing us as sinners for exposing them on this blog. 
     As you know, we have been reporting their failure to preach the gospel, their mistreatment of long-time members and their continuing deception regarding their motives. Six months ago when we realized what had been going on for the entire 22 years of Pastor Lou's administration, God told us to "stay, stand, and bring the deeds of darkness into the light for My judgment."
     At that point the only deeds of darkness we knew anything about were the false accusations against and continued verbal abuse of Rita Wignall, our women's Bible study leader of 20 years. But as Jerry and I obeyed and brought these offenses into the light, former members came out of the woodwork saying, "That's what happened to me! That's what that elder, that pastor did to me! They called me divisive and threatened me with church discipline if I told. That's why I left the church!" Several staff members said, "The pastor made me sign a letter of resignation. He made me leave and lied about why I left!"
     Some of their stories are on this blog.
      . . . Of course it may not be this Sunday. The elder board has reserved the right to make this announcement "on or after April 29," presumably so they can maintain control and an element of surprise. The fact that the Bylaws require that "the date, time, and place" of a special meeting "shall be announced from the pulpit, and this information, as well as the agenda, shall be published in the Sunday bulletin on at least two consecutive Sundays immediately preceding the date of the meeting" doesn't faze them.  
     Since Easter Jerry and I have not been attending the services, just the classes about the proposed Statement of Faith. We "stayed and stood" in obedience to the Lord up to and through the Easter service, when the congregation moved back into the remodeled auditorium. But I can't bear to sit under false or deceptive teaching if God is no longer requiring me to. 
     I hope that the fact we may not be present to be publicly humiliated won't be a disappointment to them.

20 comments:

  1. (Posted by permission)

    I continually hold you & Jerry up before the throne of God.
    Focus on His promises, His Sovereignty, offering a sacrifice of praise
    which is the faith of a mustard seed that is able to move mountains!!
    Since the Lord wants you to hide behind His shield, let His "wings" cover
    you. He is going to fight this fight, you are to rest in Him. Let Him fill you with
    His peace and an inner joy, He is going to bring this to pass...the battle is
    the Lord's!!! Rest in Him, dear sister, rest in Him.
    Love ya sister,
    Rita

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  2. (Posted by permission)

    Jessica:

    Huesmann has survived because he has a charming and alluring way of preaching his agenda. His stage presence is very strong and he is capable of stimulating intellectual appeal with his twisted theology. I have listened to his wanderings from the church web site. He really has to be given credit, albeit a secular credit, for his way of expounding the emergent philosophy. His use of scripture is amazingly deceptive. His logic conceals a subliminal guide to "works" religion. He has claimed that his staff has been energized, united, encouraged and bonded by the events of the last ten months. He has cleverly twisted truth to show himself as the victim while at the same time he is the one who has vilified others. He has stolen our property, our statement of faith, our distinctiveness, our unity. In all this I am saying Huesmann shows absolutely no evidence of spiritual guidance, biblical integrity nor love for others. Why you stay under such overwhelming persecution shows a great strength on your part. I don't know where all is leading but the Lord does and that's enough for me at this time..

    Chic

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  3. (posted anonymously by permission)

    Jerry and Jessica,

    Unfortunately, Lou Huesmann does not have a correct biblical perspective of his role as a pastor (an elder) who is supposed to protect his flock from false doctrine (Titus 1:9). Probably because Lou along with his staff and elders are promoting false doctrine and heresy. So as a result, Lou has a flawed view of his own talents and how God wants to use Him.


    It’s interesting that when I meet people who are still attending Grace, some who are still friends of mine, that they still are clueless as to why people have left Grace. We just recently ran into a friend who is still attending Grace. . . We spent about 20 minutes chatting with her and at the conclusion our friend said, “Yeah, I still don’t know why people caused such an uproar at Grace. " . . . This answer is typical of most remaining Grace attendees.

    Most of the time, I’m just amazed at people’s apathetic attitude to hearing the truth and often ask Grace members/attendees if they even tried looking into the statements and facts. Most of them didn’t. Usually, I follow up with another question, “Don’t you respect any of the people that you noticed were part of the Watchmen of Grace?” “Yes”, they will say but they didn’t pursue it any further. Usually my ending questions send them into a shocked disbelief, “Did you know there is proof that your pastor broke the law?” and “Do you think that is okay for your pastor to do that?”

    My brother heard my story of the wayward direction (apostasy) that Grace Long Beach has chosen and my decision to recently withdraw my membership. So instead of just taking my comments and observations, as a good Berean in Acts 17, he decided to listen to several of Lou’s messages himself and evaluate them with God’s Word. His concluding statement to me is that “Lou is not teaching the Word of God and indeed has adopted an Emergent Church position in his teaching.” As in a prior observation of mine (also shared with numerous other people), he also stated that Lou does not have the heart of the Gospel in his teaching.

    I submit to you, based on scripture, that indeed Dr. Lou Huesmann is in fact preaching false doctrine, which is warned about in the New Testament, by omitting the verbal Gospel from the pulpit. I quote from Galatians 1:8-10 (NASB) “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” Another great set of verses is covered in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 which speaks about Paul’s ministry. Also, we know the wonderful verse 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Pastor Lou also preaches without God’s empowerment. Lou is directly being disobedient to the Word in Mark 16:15, “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

    My love is growing for you both, my dear Sister Jessica and my dear Brother Jerry.

    P.S. The breaking of law I mention deals the whole area of Lou and supportive elders fraudulently altering documents ahead of the vote and acting on bylaws not yet approved and restricting/disciplining people from teaching doctrines already stated in the present bylaws and current statement of faith. Also, in their allowing staff to be hired who don’t believe in Grace Brethren’s church doctrine taught for 80 years.

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  4. Jessica,
    They may notice your absence, but they will not be disappointed. It will confirm them in their error. They will believe they have won. But God always wins.

    I agree with the first comment: rest in Jesus, covered by His wings. It is not your fight, but His.

    Blessings,
    Louise

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  5. Frankly, I hope the "leadership" just goes ahead and denounces you two this Sunday. It will be emotionally painful and embarrassing, of course. But, then, you two can shake the dust off your feet, as Paul did when rejected by the Jews, and find yourselves an actual, biblical, church to attend. You've done what God has called you to do, but the Bible says there comes a time when you must realize that you're casting your "pearls before swine" - and leave, with a good conscience before both God and men. RZ

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    Replies
    1. Permission granted:

      Certainly. And feel free to use my name.

      By the way, part of me thinks you SHOULD show up on Sunday. If you don't some portion of the congregation (including the leadership) might think, "Ha! They can dish it out but they can't take it!" It would be a final rebuke to them that you would actually be there to take their laughable rebuke. But, on the other hand, I totally understand why you wouldn't want to subject yourself to it. Either way, your days of sitting under false preaching are over.

      Richard Zuelch

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  8. (Permission pending)

    Are you going to show up at your dismembering? What a fiasco!! The enemy must just be licking his chops at the humiliation of God's children. So sad for you, but glad you were able to stay the course. Will be praying, allean

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    1. Permission granted:

      No problem with posting it. Love you, Allean

      Delete
  9. Don't know yet. Thank you for praying!

    Love,
    Jessica

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  10. I WILL be praying.
    Lisa

    “Some want to live within the sound of the church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”
    C. T. Studd (1860-1931)

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  11. (Permission pending)

    Jessica and Jerry, God is going to expose all the evil Lou and the 2 others (the treasurer) have been doing. "Shall not the God of all the earth do right?!!!!" YES. All the promises of God are YES in CHRIST JESUS. You are so wonderful to STAND like this. Eph. 6:13,14 "And after having done all, to STAND." "Stand fast in the Lord and in the POWER OF HIS MIGHT," the might that holds up the universe. See Col. 1:l7 "and by HIM all things hold together." I just love how you've taken a stand for the truth, the true Gospel. love in Him, who is our life, Christ Jesus our Living Lord, love Genie

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    Replies
    1. Permission received:

      No problem. Much love, Genie

      Delete
  12. (Permission pending)

    We totally agree with not putting yourself under false teaching. And since we do not know if the denunciation is this Sunday or weeks from now we will not be going inside the sanctuary. God chose you to do what you did and have been doing..... revealing sin, but I am sure you are right when you wish not to be exposed to it each Sunday. We are with you and will continue to pray for all that is right and good for you. God Bless, (signed)

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  13. Hi Jessica,

    You are on my heart before I go to bed. I decided to write this out for you and send it first.

    “If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One of the unrighteous ones. He went through it all- was put to death and then made alive – to bring us to God.” I Peter 3:13-18 The Message.

    May you sense God caring you both through this valley you are walking though.


    Praying,
    N.

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  14. Posted by permission:

    (4-27)WOW, Jessica, I will soooo be praying for you and Jerry and the church service on this Sunday. Thanks for the blessing to intercede! The gates of hell cannot prevail against Jesus' Church because He said so! Thank You, JESUS!

    An idea came to me, but of course pray about it: Ask someone to take a cell phone picture during the service when you two are publicly denounced -- as it might be needed later. : )

    BTW, is the problem emergent theology? If so, the warfare makes perfect sense to me. Would you like me to launch your email requesting prayer for THIS SUNDAY to my mailbox of Christian loved ones? If so, just let me know.

    "LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HUGE-BUT-DIFFICULT CALLING UPON JERRY AND JESSICA, AND FOR SUSTAINING THEM. YOU ARE AWESOME! WE PRAISE YOU FOR BEING A CONSUMING FIRE! COME SUNDAY TO THIS CHURCH AND TAKE YOUR PLACE, SURPRISING MANY PEOPLE BY HOW YOU CONSUME OR EXPOSE WHAT IS NOT OF YOU -- IN YOUR WAY AND IN YOUR TIME -- FOR YOUR PURPOSES. GLORY BE TO OUR GOD ON HIGH. WE WORSHIP YOU, AND PRAY FOR THE CONFUSED SHEEP IN THE BODY THERE TO SEE THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT AND THE 'TRUE AND LIVING' GOD.' EVEN NOW, PLEASE BIND THE ENEMY AND ALL OPPOSITION AGAINST YOUR PLAN, AND SEND CONFUSION INTO THEIR CAMPS. PLEASE BLESS JERRY AND JESSICA AND SHOW THEM STEP BY STEP WHAT TO SAY AND DO, AND PROTECT THEM ONGOING -- BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT. THANK YOU! IN JESUS' MIRACULOUS NAME, AMEN."

    GOD IS SO GOOD!
    Luv & blessings, marilyn

    (4-28) Jessica, yes, sure...please post my prayer! I will pass on your prayer request for Sunday! Your church is surely becoming emergent! Universalism is a full-on attack to God's gospel of grace! luv, marilyn

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  15. Posted by permission:

    praying! ... God has told me in the past, "Stand until relieved." I think He's about ready to do that in your lives and set you free from the restraint and discouragement from a church that you have been loyal to for a long time.. Your loyalty is to the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will find a wonderful fellowship of Christians within a Bible-teaching and grace-filled church. You've stood a long time, faithfully, and now it looks like God's about to set you free. Hallelujah!

    We will be praying!
    Betsy

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  16. STAND UNTIL RELIEVED. That says it exactly! That's what we're waiting for.

    Dave Hocking's brother Don pointed out to us Tuesday (adamantly) there is no Biblical precedent or command to remain under false teaching. He recognized what Lou was going to do from the week he first came--and he and his wife left the church that week. (He's the one Mary Mulloy described as "a prominent person who confronted Lou early on" in our post about her titled, "He is a naughty boy.")

    We've had LOTS of invitations from former Grace members who have found spiritual nourishment elsewhere but God has still not indicated to us that His assignment has changed, at least as far as being at Grace on Sundays. We are not there under their teaching but under God's orders. Even being removed from membership does not mean we have to leave--or have to shut down this blog. After all, Grace makes a big point about welcoming everybody! ;o)

    I strongly sense (though I don't know anyone else who does) it's God's church again and that He is restoring it in His way and time right in the midst of all this and maybe we won't have to leave at all! But we're more than willing--we checked out Cornerstone last Sat. night and heard the gospel and the Great Commission preached for the first time in decades!

    Love,
    Jessica

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