Print FriendlySecurity vs. Anxiety -Structuring my life around that which is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away (John 6:27) – Bill Gothard by RazingRuth (Note from Ruth: This chapter is about my experience and my life. This is not intended to represent any family but my own or any childhood but my own. I fully realize that the adults involved made choices that were, even if influenced by ATI discipline strategies, in fact, choices. Not all ATI families utilize the same strategies or would implement them in the same manner. In addition, I am Full post …
Birth Control
Daughter of the Patriarchy: Two Snakes and a Virgin – The Serpent’s Seed
Print Friendly by Sierra I was about nine years old when I started paying attention to some of the doctrines that were slowly infiltrating my life over the past two years. I’d stopped wearing pants or cutting my hair by the end of the first year, following my mother’s lead. The last pair of pants she wore were a lovely pair of wide-leg trousers with a sheer lace overlay; they could pass for a skirt until she took a step. She wore them to church, then threw them away – she felt “convicted” for wearing a Full post …
The 49 Character Qualities of Ruth #7
Print FriendlyResourcefulness vs. Wastefulness – Wise use of that which others would normally overlook or discard (Luke 16:10) – Bill Gothard by RazingRuth Six boys in one room and me, sitting like a princess, in my canopy bed. If that’s not a recipe for jealousy, then I don’t know what is. My parents would often go to little “retreats” put on by the QF/ATI crowd wherein they’d discuss the practical issues of living QF. How do you fit seven children in a house built for five people max? How do you feed your quiver? How do you Full post …
The 49 Character Qualities of Ruth #6
Print FriendlyMeekness vs. Anger -Yielding my personal rights and expectations to God (Psalm 62:5) – Bill Gothard by RazingRuthAfter a year with our family, Kay left…and in many ways, so did my mother. Admittedly, my mom was more organized and seemed to take more control over her wild boys. The housework was being done and Elijah, the oldest, was being homeschooled four days a week. There was a schedule that hung on the kitchen wall and woe to the person who didn’t keep to it. My father came home, when he was in town, to properly prepared Full post …
The 49 Character Qualities of Ruth #5
Print FriendlyGentleness vs. Harshness – Showing personal care and concern in meeting the need of others (I Thessalonians 2:7) – Bill Gothard by RazingRuth From my earliest memories, my mother was a study in contrasts. Our home was chaotic (three boys and a new baby, all under the age of five). After my birth, my parents purposed to begin homeschooling. I say “my parents”, but that just means that dad decided mom would be doing her Christian duty best if she homeschooled. Not to mention the fact that dad’s employer and spiritual advisor had an up-and-coming curriculum that Full post …
Daughter of the Patriarchy: “Hello, Miss Dog-Meat.”
Print Friendlyby Sierra Every so often, a story circulated around Message churches. Our pastor related it with a twinkle of humour in his eye. The precociousness of little children was always a failsafe source of amusement in a world that afforded so many sinful entertainments. Children quoting scripture were even better. Out of the mouths of babes, it was oft repeated, the Word of God was made perfect. And so, it was with paroxysms of mirth that the following anecdote was passed around. One day, a minister’s wife was out doing the grocery shopping with Full post …
The 49 Character Qualities of Ruth #4
Print Friendly“Humility v Pride” – Recognizing that it is actually God and others who are responsible for the achievements in my life (James 4:6) by RazingRuth Disclaimer: With my father, I have to be careful of the details I give. His place in the movement is easily identifiable with a few key data points. I hope my readers can understand that even though I hate what was done to me, I hate what could be done to people I love even more. In which case, identifying my dad isn’t something I want to do. It’s also unnecessary Full post …
The 49 Character Qualities of Ruth #3
Print FriendlyDiscernment vs. Judgment – The God-given ability to understand why things happen (I Samuel 16:7) by RazingRuth Two babies in ten months. Samuel came three weeks early. That was my mother’s introduction to parenting. I’m sure she must’ve been over-whelmed. With my father starting to travel on occasion, I’m sure she was lonely. But she had her church friends and they were quick to prop her up when she needed it. They assured her that feeling lonely was normal, but that she should commit herself to prayer and supporting God’s will. Still, when Samuel was six months Full post …
Michelle says, Never enough babies!
