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Karen Ruth Shock

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Progressive Christian

2021-09-28T12:43:01-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When Encouragement Isn’t So Encouraging

Last updated on: September 28, 2021 at 12:43 pm By Karen Ruth Shock

I remember like it was yesterday. Kevin and I were pretty young. 4 children. I was homeschooling them. We were youth group leaders. Loving and serving Jesus the best we knew how. Grateful for our little family. Until one day… We saw a homeschool acquaintance at the mall. We chatted and began to catch up on each other’s lives and families. He asked if we were going to have any more children. We said we didn’t know. Hadn’t done anything... Read more

2021-09-26T11:43:13-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I Couldn’t Stay Quiet Any Longer

Last updated on: September 26, 2021 at 11:43 am By Karen Ruth Shock

“I feel like I’m jumping off a cliff”. These were my words to Kev in the sunroom yesterday. Into the unknown. I know, now that song is in all of our heads. I even listened to it this morning wondering if it applies to this post. It does. Sort of. When your faith deconstructs? There is a whole world of unknowns. See how I worded that? My faith deconstructed. I didn’t deconstruct it. Not one particular person is to blame.... Read more

2021-09-24T12:42:08-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When It All Began to Unravel

Last updated on: September 24, 2021 at 12:42 pm By Karen Ruth Shock

Why are evangelical christians so gullible? Prone to conspiracy theories? Ready to take a stand for something/someone having no idea where the truth is? While I was filling up our coffee pot this morning, it just sorta dawned on me. I read a meme last night which said Donald Trump is all about us trusting God. Joe Biden is about us trusting government. Donald Trump is a “hero” because he talks about... Read more

Fear Driven Faith

Mental Health

Theology

2021-09-23T16:14:41-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Just Go Ahead and Leave Your Brain at the Door

Last updated on: September 23, 2021 at 4:14 pm By Karen Ruth Shock

I can’t trust myself. This is what I was taught. Nothing good in me. Therefore, nothing to trust. My thoughts? My intellect? My instinct? My heart? Nope. Trust not of it. Don’t lean on your own understanding Which… is biblical. I get that. But then, who’s understanding do I lean on? Where do I go for wisdom? Answers to life’s biggest questions? Oh, right. The scholars. The ones who “know” the Bible. The older men... Read more

Fear Driven Faith

prayer

Theology

2021-09-20T16:36:28-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I Was So Wrong About Purity Culture

Last updated on: September 20, 2021 at 4:36 pm By Karen Ruth Shock

I remember this season well. True Love Waits. Lots of high school girls coming to hear Kevin and I tell our story and explain why it is best to wait until you’re married to have sex. Videos were shown about STDs and the importance of waiting. I understand our intentions were good. I’m very sorry for the message that these young ladies received. I’m realizing now just how damaging the purity culture was, bringing more guilt, shame, and fear than... Read more

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2021-09-17T11:48:03-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

To Be Loved

Last updated on: September 17, 2021 at 11:48 am By Karen Ruth Shock

How does perfect love cast out fear? Why does it say that? I’m sure it is supposed to say perfect love casts out hate. Casts out bitterness. Casts out the need to get revenge. The need to be right. Perfect love should cast that stuff out. So, why fear then? As I think about it, the above list stems from something deeper. Why do we hate or grow bitter? Why do we think people need to think we are right?... Read more

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2022-07-24T14:30:28-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s Worth It.

Last updated on: July 24, 2022 at 2:30 pm By Karen Ruth Shock

Could my depression have been caused by being a stay at home mom? The long days of same. The never feeling like I quite measured up. Oh, and the “I’ll do it tomorrow” because, you know… tomorrow is the same as today. And when the depression and anxiety set in? You start believing that you could never handle being out in the real world. You wouldn’t make it out there. Depressed people don’t do well out there. Anxiety in public... Read more

2021-09-14T06:45:00-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why Put It Out There?

Last updated on: September 14, 2021 at 6:45 am By Karen Ruth Shock

An Open Heart. What does that even mean? How do I get one of those? And what does it even look like to have one? These are my thoughts of late. The opposite would be a closed heart. Or, we could talk about a soft vs. a hard heart. A warm vs. a cold heart. All of these seem to work with where my thoughts are taking me. It’s all about posture. The... Read more

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2021-09-13T10:26:39-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I Labeled Myself A Loser

Last updated on: September 13, 2021 at 10:26 am By Karen Ruth Shock

I used to use my “depravity” as an excuse. Wait… I forgot to put the word total in there. Total Depravity. As in…complete. All. All of me is depraved. Nothing good in me. Not even an ounce of goodness. Smh. So what did anyone expect? The bar was set real low. The words “I’m a loser” came out of my mouth quite frequently. A young momma, dripping with four small children and a... Read more

2021-09-12T13:40:45-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I Know Better Now

Last updated on: September 12, 2021 at 1:40 pm By Karen Ruth Shock

There were some years in there where I questioned my parents’ faith. Hear me on this. I was wrong. I know better now. But let me explain to you how it all went down. The questioning of their faith started when I went deeper into evangilcalism. Bible Studies and podcasts. Learning about the 10/40 window. The importance of spreading the gospel to all nations. Even losing your life if need be. Jesus was worth it. It was bad to collect... Read more

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