John Shrader Part 12: Empty Baptismal, Empty Brains

[Gobsmacked]

5 hours ago, FeministShrew said:

I picture John sitting in a camp chair, wearing safari clothes and a pith helmet, under a canopy being held by two of his kids, while a third fans him with a big palm leaf, and a fourth kneels in front of him with a tray of food.

Similar to the one Lisa Pennington posted before her daughters began to escape! ( not in Africa obviously!)

[Sobeknofret]

On 6/25/2017 at 11:35 AM, PopRox said:

@BlackberryGirl That... is beautiful. BEAUTIFUL.

Can I hang out there sometime? ;-)

If I bring brownies, can I come too?

[mirele]

On 6/22/2017 at 11:00 AM, DnAismyBaE said:

Typically when I'm sick enough to categorize my vomitting as "violent" the last thing I want to do is fart around on the internet and spend time writing dumb posts. But that's just me 

The worst vomiting I ever saw (and I went to college and law school, saw lots of drinking and the after effects) was when I took my brother to the ER back in January. He could not stop vomiting, not in the car, not in the waiting room, not in the examination room...at one point I turned my head because it was getting to be too much and he said, "GET OUT OF HERE IF YOU CAN'T LOOK." I turned and looked because there was no way my legally-blind mother could have been any help.  (And oh yes, she absolutely insisted on coming with us.) it turned out that my brother was in a later stage of diabetic ketoacidosis--and no, he had no idea he was diabetic. He spent seven days in the hospital getting stabilized. He's fine now, as fine as anyone can be who is dependent on two kinds of insulin to get through the day. 

[subsaharanafrica]

Holy crap at "Africa is an animistic culture". On one hand (as already mentioned) there is no such thing as a homogeneous African culture.

Mon the other hand, he's been there three years and is just noticing this? I live somewhere where most people are either Christian or Muslim but at the same time most people still believe in traditional religious elements. I understood that in a week or two and I'm not in the business of attempting to convert people.  You can't live here and not realize it unless you're not listening to people, listening to the radio, or reading newspapers. So what rock has he been living under?

[Gobsmacked]

3 hours ago, subsaharanafrica said:

Holy crap at "Africa is an animistic culture". On one hand (as already mentioned) there is no such thing as a homogeneous African culture.

Mon the other hand, he's been there three years and is just noticing this? I live somewhere where most people are either Christian or Muslim but at the same time most people still believe in traditional religious elements. I understood that in a week or two and I'm not in the business of attempting to convert people.  You can't live here and not realize it unless you're not listening to people, listening to the radio, or reading newspapers. So what rock has he been living under?

A damn huge bigly great heavy one. Sadly it didn't fall on his head, from a great height.

 

[formergothardite]

He is writing poetry again.

Quote

 

At risk of sounding quite cliche,
I just simply want to say
Money's NOT the missionary's greatest need,
I truly hope that many will heed
Our greatest requirement for what we do, 
Is faithful, fervent prayers from YOU!

Bro. John Shrader 
Zambia

(Anyone please feel free to share. We always need more supporting PRAYER!)

 

Quote

 

I share this from my heart of hearts, 
To those who desire to have a part
If for us you will never pray,
Please don't send any money our way!

And to those who may be strapped for cash,
Please don't be fearful, don't look past
If only you might interceed, 
For such support I now do plead!

For money cannot purchase power,
Over Simon's request did Peter glower
But importunate prayers our God doth hear,
From impassioned hearts to His listening Ear

So if you're reading this poem of mine, 
I sincerely thank you for taking your time
And beg some more, but spent in prayer, 
For this is showing us the greatest care!

Bro. John Shrader 
Zambia

(Anyone please feel free to share. We always need more supporting PRAYER!)

 

 

[Gobsmacked]

So he isn't asking for money really, (he is). Prayer is the thing that is now going to feed his kids. Hmmmm.

"if for us you will never pray,please don't send any money our way"  

The leghumpers pray for him therefore they SHOULD also send money. Right?

We here at FJ don't pray for him so we DONT have to send money? Got it.  

[infooverload]

It's the whole I'll say all we need is prayer, with the undercurrent of prayer should lead to one being more like to give. It is the whole just plant a small seed of faith (cough cough open wallets). After all there is the language of Christianese to say one thing, while not so subtle driving at another and anyone who pays attention can read between the lines.

[Curious]

His poems are better than Raquel's, but it's not like that is a high bar....

[CTRLZero]

Well, darn it, now I'm all inspired to write my own bad poetry:

Perhaps you will indulge me

Remuneration is required

All my flock has gone a'missing

Your credit numbers are desired

Exalted though my Father be

Rick cannot pay the bill

Say you will, say you will, say you will...

-------

 

[formergothardite]

Esther looks lovely in her latest picture. She has been in need of glasses and finally got them.

 

[Coy Koi]

On 6/27/2017 at 2:32 PM, formergothardite said:

He is writing poetry again.

Those are some sick rhymes, Big John. No offense to Big Sean, but John is grandiose, objectifies women, and rhymes about money, so he's basically a rapper. I like to imagine his rhymes put to a beat, although I realize that would be Satanic (pray for me).

[Curious]

5 hours ago, formergothardite said:

Esther looks lovely in her latest picture. She has been in need of glasses and finally got them.

She does look very nice.  Look at the bags under her eyes though.  She must be so tired between being pregnant and wrangling all those kids and dealing with John.  She looks great for having so many kids.  She's about the same age as Zsu isn't she?   Zsu definitely is aging faster.

[Gobsmacked]

Could somebody re post the pic of Esther? Apparently it's no longer available?

Thanks.

[Grimalkin]

It shows up in Former's post for me.

I think it's the best I have seen her look. She looks a lot like Anna in that pic to me. And also a lot like my sister. I did a double take for a second.

[infooverload]

I was pursing their Facebook earlier and one of the girls got a special birthday post. I was a bit surprised.

[Gobsmacked]

Nope, all I can see is a message in a box saying this Facebook post is no longer available?

Can other blocked folk see the photo of Esther?

[PopRox]

1 hour ago, Gobsmacked said:

Nope, all I can see is a message in a box saying this Facebook post is no longer available?

Can other blocked folk see the photo of Esther?

Nope, I can't. 

[BlessingsVonFundiePants]

And John's written a poem about himself to mark his 40th birthday.

It's an epic 

It's been 40 years since an infant first wailed, 
A tiny sick preemie two months early unveiled
But God was so gracious my life He did spare,
Though greatly I struggled the first few years

Then at two years of age my father was sent, 
to outside of Houston an Unaffiliated Baptist church to plant
By Satan was angry, and viciously attacked,
A note written in blood threatening my life was left for my dad

But father went forward, grasping Faith's Shield
And through mighty Grace to this day prevailed 
A Church was established at first in our house
My room was the nursery, but I wasn't quiet like a mouse!
As a boy I had such energy, one to my parents dourly said,
"That boy'll end your ministry," but God put me into the ministry instead! 

I started in music from quite a tender age, 
From 5 the accordion and piano I played
I loved to play "football" (some say soccer I know),
I was quite small but fast, as others gangly did grow

The Lord saved my soul as my parents carefully dealt,
With my childish inquiries 'til I finally knelt
And the Glorious Grace that saved my soul, 
Has never ever let me go! 

Then called to preach at ten years of age, 
My voice cracked when I shared, some laughed but I was not swayed

With dad's help started a business that year cutting grass,
At a good price and sharp work, the business grew fast

The church pianist I then became, 
What a joy for congregational singing I was privileged to play! 
Then helping build church buildings with Baptist Men, 
Some 70 but still roofing! Such good times with them

Then after more training Bible college was next, 
No parachurch for me, on Local Church I'm set! 
I finished that preparation then God brought me my wife, 
I truly don't deserve her, she so blesses my life

5 years pastoring under my father back at my home church, 
I learned so much, but some I failed, some I hurt
Truth minus grace can sure be quite harsh, 
When I was like that, my love sure seemed sparse

But God wasn't finished molding my heart, 
He took us to the North West, to take me apart
Far from our families, isolated and alone,
I took my eyes off of Christ and dropped like a stone

I suffered depression (without Christ it's hard),
I so greatly struggled and the way seemed barred
But God was preparing me for greater trials to come, 
And revealing my weaknesses, and my need for the Life of His Son

For the Crucified Life first requires one die, 
To self, to ambition, even to "friends" lies
Some know our recent history, no more on that I'll say, 
But without Christ's sustaining we wouldn't be here today. 

God's Calling to Africa was such a thrill, 
A long held passion He did fulfill
For all my trips to Mexico, Russian, Peru and Japan, 
Were just preparation for God's Master Plan! 

To serve Him in Africa is such a joy, 
Of course there are trials after God our family deployed
But such long held passions of training men, 
Of preaching and printing and camping in tents
Seeing churches planted in the Bush and town,
Seeing lives radically transformed as God turns them around

Preaching The Book, The Blood, and The Hope that is Blessed,
Seeing genuine godly sorrow, and now those who're in God's Righteousness dressed! 
From every tribe and tongue one day Christ's praise will resound,
And some of those tribes here in Africa are found! 

I see my shortcomings, my failures and pride,
It makes me cringe and tremble inside
But the Lord is still working in my life and my heart, 
He's not finished yet, for He set me apart. 

He gave me salvation, a tremendous mom and dad, 
Who modeled walking by faith since I was a lad
And others have taught me, their lives they've poured out, 
To show me God's Truth, which I hold with no doubts

With soon 11 children and my incredible wife,
God has blessed beyond measure my humble life
I don't deserve His abundant mercy and care, Showed to me in America and now also here

I am worthless without Him, His Strength I need,
I do deeply desire His Word to heed
I have much to learn, so very far to go, 
I'll continue to follow as each day He shows. 

And one more thing, I cannot fail to say,
That I'm humbled and honored on this special day
That our family is laboring in these Harvest Fields of Souls, 
On behalf of so many who themselves cannot go

But your love for the Saviour and ones who are lost,
Have caused you to pause and to count the cost
You have partnered with our sending church, planted so long ago,
You have prayed and sacrificed that we might go. 

So as I'm now 40, and "Over The Hill,"
I could go on and on but now I'll be still 
There's so very much I could share on this day, 
But I conclude with "Thank You for being part of my special day!"

Bro. John Shrader 
Now "Over The Hill"
Zambia

[nastyhobbitses]

Dear lord, he makes William McGonagall sound like Maya Angelou.

[formergothardite]

Oh my, he really needs to stop writing poetry and go back to alliterating the shit out of everything. 

@Gobsmacked, you probably can't see it since I just copied the link from FB, but here is the picture. I do wonder if the real reason Esther kept putting off glasses was because John didn't want to pay for them. 

Spoiler

ETA:

Quote

A note written in blood threatening my life was left for my dad

 I have a really, really hard time believing that someone write a note in blood threatening to kill two year old John. 

[BlessingsVonFundiePants]

How old is Esther? 

[Jellybean]

I think she's about my age - maybe slightly older? I'm 36 and have no children and I think she's 37 and pregnant with number 11. Eesh!

[anjulibai]

Esther turned 36 on May 9. That picture I think she looks her age, though in previous pictures she's looked much older. It seems like she spent a little time on her appearance for this outing to get her glasses. I think she might be wearing make-up. Pulling her hair back in to a pony tail really ages her, so having it down like this makes her look more her age. 

[infooverload]

Quote

A note written in blood threatening my life was left for my dad

Has John ever indicated why the family would have been facing threats of physical harm to their children? I mean it seems to scream of some family myth or the hiding of some fishy business. Did John's dad rip off the wrong parishioner? Inquiring minds want to know dang it [emoji23]