So, why did I quit the church, you asked? In a few words, because of what I was to have learned over the years and gotten to know. Here’s the story. Also, listen on the podcast.

Like most other people, I got in based on something quite the opposite. It was based on what I had been led to believe. You know, like, it’s all based on faith. “For faith,” they say, “cometh by hearing and…” well, you know the rest of it, right? Or, how about this one: “for by faith are ye saved and that not of works lest any man should boast.” So, “believe” was what I did. Until I didn’t “believe” anymore, those things which I was hearing.

It didn’t happen overnight though, I was there very involved, active, and engaged. But then, based on what I was seeing and, yes, hearing, and reading and all of the rest. The “doubt” factors started to set in. And then that healthy dose of doubt was to become the gift of outright rejection. Rejection yes, and hence, freedom from all of that which has since become outright nonsense to me. Guess I’m a fool now, yes that type of a fool, and more. A much bigger one than they had always known that I was.

You know, “for fools,” they say, make a mock of sin,” and all other such things? Plunged me squarely into those realms, I suppose. Right? But the catalyst for the breakup was to come about when I was to have gone and done it, yes, that thing. Something that I thought was rather simple and natural. I wrote a book, “the book” as it is now known. I wrote a book while I was still a “very active” member there among them. Among a group of people who do absolutely nothing, well, other than nothing. As I was to have come to observe over time.

I was to have tried hard to discuss it with them in an effort to get them to change some things, for the better. At least as far as “better” was to be seen seeing through my eyes. Would have done so for years. For decades, as a matter of fact, I would have been there trying but without success. No one was listening. I began to think and to be wondering some more about some things. So, tell me now, someone wrote a book and the church found an issue with that? Found it fitting to suspend such a brother, a very active and by all other accounts and indications, an upstanding brother among them?

Among those very people who never do anything, other than nothing? Wow! These people. They never have anything to tell anyone, other than, “no,” and or “wait.” Especially to the young ones among them. All that they ever have to tell them is, “no,” and “wait.”

"Wait upon the Lord,” they say. While the young ones sit there and become old ones, and rot, and waste away, and die, and go to heaven, oh my! yeah. Gone to heaven are they. But then one rose up and started telling them to, “do something with your life.” He was oft heard to have said. Was to have gone out and done something himself if only to show them that it can be done. The leadership’s positions on this were to suspend and ridicule such a person, the brother. By putting him to sit down in a corner. The most despised position for anyone in that group to find him or herself in.

If you had ever been in the church and stayed long enough, you would have come to know that: to be put to sit in the back, is the mother of all punishments.

You may choose to sit there if you like, but you must not be sent to sit there. No, don’t do that to a “churched person,” don’t ever stop him/her from giving free services to them. Not even for a time and season, no, never do so. Or else, anyway. Yes, you will be put to sit in the back until you are put firmly in your proper place, probably. or to disgrace. Or until they say it’s okay for you to return, to do more of the same, you know what, more of the serving. Giving it to them, free services, to the church and them, because that is what is going to get you there, you know, into heaven. The one and the only thing that matters any, in this and any other life. Even in the “after-life?” Surely that one.

One might ask, and would have been right in asking, what kind of people do things like that? Stop someone from giving them their free services for a time and season? Until they say it’s okay to return to more of the giving? Like, of more free services to them, perhaps? What kind of people do things like that? And for what? Because of a word that was written in a book? In a fictional storybook? Well, to be fair to them, it was that word. Yes, the f-word — but-but. Yes, but. Here’s where the big “but” is to be quick in coming in. That word right there, is actually a real word, realer than some of… oh, never mind, leave that part “as is.”

The word is real, though, and it was used in proper context in the work. But let’s say it wasn’t. Or that the brother might have overdone it a bit. Just for argument’s sake here, we will give them that. After all, we already know where they and their institutions stands on some well-established norms. Like, norms of “moral purity” and such. But then again, these are the same people who like so much to beat up on Moses for slapping Jesus, you know, “the rock?” When he should have only spoken.

How is it, then, that they themselves would have gone and done it in a similar manner, or worse? Why did you slap the man, I mean, god? There was nothing there that could not be fixed. Well, if fixing was the motivating factor there guiding your decisions and to steer. Steering a brother on the right track. But it was to have appeared to some of us as if the motivating factors were more focused on painting a picture. A façade of some sort. Like, of things being the way they never were. That rather than to correct, and guide a believer rightly.

As a matter of fact, if one should go and purchase a copy of the book now. Please, go, go buy a copy today, it is still there on Amazon. listed under the same name, “How to train a wild puppy dog named, Manley.” Yes, that part hasn’t changed any. So, go, will you! After you’ve gotten that done. You’ll get to see that, those words which had offended them so badly, are not there anymore. At least not in the same format, and the message has not changed from the original any. But the damage has already been done by what they did, or did not do.

What if they were set up? What if they were thrown a baited hook and they promptly swallowed it uncooked? Like, hook, line, and sinker? Hmm. Yeah! Somebody was to be seen sitting there and humming away. The Bible did say something to this effect: “I would rather you be hot or cold than to be lukewarm,” no? Would have ascribed these sayings to the words of the Lord too. No?

As for me, and maybe some of you. I can surely identify with that. Now, here is how another one from among them had said that I should have said it. Given the same context, of course. “No,” she’s not my counselor nor my physician. Just justified Janie-o. From over by Benbow. So, she thinks I should have said and written it this way. “Are you still having sexual intercourse with mira?” Well, now you all are fully in the loop as to what was the source of the issues they had with the book. Here is the context though.

The book is called, “How to train a wild puppy dog named, Manley.” The concept was born out of the author having heard it said one time too many that: “all men are dogs.” So, there you have it. Manley, in this story, is a real dirty doggish type of a man. One who was always out actively and busily doing what Manley “types of men” does and do. Doing women, and undoing their equilibrium.

Mrs. Kentise had gotten to the point where she was feeling as if she was being done in, again. By Mr. Manleyman, of course, and hence her late night to early morning wakeup call home to Manley. Given the whole settings as you now have them laid out before you. What do you think this, or any other woman’s reaction should and would be? Well, for one thing. She most definitely wasn’t going to be saying no: “are you still having sexual intercourse with mira?” nutton, sorry, I meant to say. “Nothing.”

No one says things like that in such types of situations. Well, not real people like you and me. Not while still living in the real world, as we have come to know it. Furthermore, if God, yes, your god even, if she was to be at the other end of the telephone line. Or somewhere nearby and eavesdropping on the conversation. Should she happen to overhear something like that: “are you still having intercourse with Mira” nonsense, coming from a heated conversation between you and her? She would have been likely to puke.

She would have been likely to spew you out of the nook. The book of luke seems to be the only one left in some churches nowadays, in the form of “lukewarm.” It too is in the pews, but busily warning benches, and hence she, -your god is spewing out somebody new every single day. But what the hell do I know? Nothing. Hey, you, yes, you there. That’s a word too, one that you are very familiar with, I’m sure. One which many among you use a lot. Yeah, I knew you were going to use it right there too, just now. But, but.

What would Saul have done? what would he have been likely to say in today’s common language and vernacular terms? You know, like, when he had was to say what he said to his son? These words, even. Say it with me, come on, say it, it’s not going to kill you. Your tongue isn’t going to fall out of your mouth, nor will it cleave to the upper jaw and the roof of your head. Say it: “You wayward son of a bitch.” There it is, that wasn’t so hard after all. Was it? Now, shout “Hallelujah” because-woman, thou art loose.

But really now. Talk about “keeping it real.” These are the things that real people do and say every day, no? If there’s a God, I have a funny feeling that these are the types of people whom she will love. People who will make her heart dance too, and who she will want to call “friend.” One whom she will fight for and defend. As seen in 1st Samuel 20: 30. That son of the rebellious woman who he was speaking to, would probably have been a “son of a bitch” in today’s terms, but then again, what do I know?

Be sure to join us on the podcast for some great original stories such as these. Thank you. That’s it for today, my friends, There are lot’s more to this story so be sure to join us here again on Tuesdays and Wednesday evenings at 8: 00 PM. Or on any other day, and tell a friend about this, or a foe, we can use him too, until then, I remain your very best friend, E K the Writingelk, and I am out. Purchase a copy of the “Manley” book here.   https://a.co/dRuZlAR