Comments on: Excerpts from the Penguin Narratives http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/ for friends of University Bible Fellowship Wed, 21 Oct 2015 04:34:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.1 By: BrianK http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16848 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 13:00:53 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16848 Thank you for reading Jennifer. It was liberating and exciting to discover the joy of being an author these past few years. Now that I no longer have the demon of ubf authority ruling my life I am so free! I love finding my own voice, telling my authentic self narrative and most of all– learning to navigate Scripture with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

]]> By: Jennifer Lemmon http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16845 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 03:02:00 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16845 Brian, all I can say is that this excerpt is beautifully written. In particular I could relate when you said:

“We often begin our journey with an epic attempt to obey God’s law. We want to please God and so we strive for obedience. Yet even if we get really good at keeping God’s Law, we quickly find that we may in fact be far from God and find ourselves still in need of repentance, radical faith, and a deeper communion with God, who not only loves us, but also is love. We then are need of an epic surrender. At some point, we throw our hands up and surrender to grace. Love wins. God is love. Love is the ultimate standard. And it is love that leads. An epic life journey is a life surrendered to the purpose of love—love for self, for friends, for family, for enemies, for neighbors, for the marginalized of society and for all humanity. Such love shows that we love God.”
See more at: http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#sthash.BL0F7I9F.dpuf

UBF provided a way for me to live in obedience. But it wasn’t enough. I needed, as you stated, “repentance, radical faith, and deep communion with God who not only loves us, but also is love.” These things do not come from following the protocols of UBF. It comes when we “surrender to grace”.

Thank you, Brian, for giving me the words.

]]> By: BrianK http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16770 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:22:30 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16770 Thanks Joe! My 3 books feature artwork contributed by my mother, my step-father and my daughter.

]]> By: BrianK http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16769 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:21:55 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16769 I predict IK and BK are going to have a grudge match some day, hopefully as public as possible.

]]> By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16762 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 19:06:20 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16762 I hope I’m not being scathing, sarcastic, snarky and cynical by stating the obvious that this will NEVER ever be reported to anyone. Why? Because to not do so would show how wonderfully gracious and forgiving one is. Also, by reporting this as an ethical violation opens the can of worms of countless other ethical violations!!!

]]> By: Joe Schafer http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16761 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 18:26:39 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16761 IK should file a complaint with the Ethics Committee. We’ll see how long it takes for them to respond.

]]> By: Joe Schafer http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16754 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:50:16 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16754 “The past is the past.” Hmm, I’ve heard that one before. And, sadly, I’ve used it myself a few times.

If the past is the past, then why are they so concerned about guarding the ubf heritage?

]]> By: David W http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16753 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:44:43 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16753 Brian, I can personally vouch for the fact that you have offered your books for free on several instances. And I find it ironic that you’re accused of being unethical for sharing your narratives when there are several UBF publications that share the ideas and history of the ministry. I suppose it’s only ethical when the one side whose history really matters is being offered. At any rate, there are people who are listening to alternative narratives like yours and many more will need these narratives as they become increasingly disillusioned with the one that their organizations sells to them on a regular basis.

]]> By: Joe Schafer http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16752 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:43:37 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16752 Awesome artwork by Anna.

]]> By: BrianK http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16749 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:14:31 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16749 “there’s going to be lots of amnesia in the church”

Yes Ben, that is what I found. When I spoke with the ubf echelon about the past events in Toledo ubf, they acted as if they never even heard of Toledo ubf. On the phone I heard things like: “Ohh wow I never knew such things!” “I had no idea!”

That is why ubf leaders are so afraid of the internet. You can no longer hide. All things will come to light in due time. I just wouldn’t want to be at a ubf conference when it does…

]]> By: BrianK http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16747 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 16:08:58 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16747 Thank you for listening David!

Recently IK accused me of being unethical because I share links to my books when I comment in various places. So I just want to state that I have no interest in making money from my books. If anyone asks me (without condemning me to hell) I will give all 3 of my ubf narrative books away for free.

I have no interest in self-promotion, but I do care about sharing the stories of the dark side of ubf far and wide. In no sense is that unethical.

What is unethical is the re-writing of a self-aggrandized history that cuts out people who sacrificed everything for the cause of ubf. I donated well over 10,000 hours of my time and many thousands of dollars to the ubf organization. And so did my friends who left ubf. Our stories deserve to be told.

And for some, like bigbear, they deserve monetary compensation for the abuse heaped upon them. Others, like those in New York ubf, deserve to be reported to the police.

]]> By: David W http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16744 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 15:51:22 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16744 I can say that to some degree, I’ve experienced many of the things that you’ve written here. Thanks for continuing to tell your story, Brian. I’m listening.

]]> By: Ben Toh http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#comment-16743 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 15:21:42 +0000 http://www.ubfriends.org/?p=8927#comment-16743 “Some who were present with me back in 1990 suddenly had amnesia, and couldn’t recall what happened.” – See more at: http://www.ubfriends.org/2015/02/27/excerpts-from-the-penguin-narratives/#sthash.XJrktm29.dpuf

Ive found that saying, “I don’t remember” is one of the most wonderful and excellent ways to shut down a conversation, or to change the subject, or to refuse to discuss something you don’t want addressed. Human beings are just so darn smart, since God created us in the image of God!

So, like it or not, there’s going to be lots of amnesia in the church.

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