I don't know what to think anymore...

The BBQ Pit
1

Some may know that my sister is married to a very strict fundamentalist pastor. This guy is so much of a literalist that he would be upset if his wife cut her hair because of an obscure Bible passage. He also does not allow women to do anything in the church - that be MAN work.

And did I mention that he has done all he could to NOT be a good Christian when it comes to my family? Every since he married my sister (whose problems of lacking self-esteem and lacking a backbone in general makes this a perfect union for him), he has done all he could to keep my “Godless” family away from his precious kids.

He was not at his wives side when our mother died and we were all together to grieve. He was “too busy.” You know, my mom was a hell-bound stinking Jew anyway… When my other grandmother died, a woman who thanked Jesus every day she was alive, and a woman whose husband built a beautiful church in Queens, he said he “feared for her soul.” Because she was a Catholic. Nice. The body wasn’t even cold yet.

Anyway, what he has done now is, to me, the worst sin he could ever do. Because this doesn’t just show how much he really doesn’t care about non-Christians, this shows how little he cares about his own fucking family.

Today, my brother-in-law is moving his family of three young kids and my sister into a 2-bedroom trailer from a big three-bedroom house.

Why? Because he quit the job he had as a pastor. Seems that he didn’t like being told that his methods were extreme. Seems he didn’t like being told by the elders and other church administration that he had some ideas which were not the direction they wanted to go in. So, he quit.

He just up and quit. He is starting his OWN church and school! Yeah he is! And it’ll be great! Of course, he needs to get donations from the same pastors throughout the state who he has already cheesed off (trust me, believer or not, Skip is one of the most unlikable human beings you will ever meet). Starting out, he is having services in some basement somewhere and his school will be in a similarly pathetic non-established place.

Here is the clincher. Remember those three young kids I mentioned? Well, two of them have Cystric Fibrosis. This requires a lot of medication for the CF and all of the side-ailments that the kids are prone to having.

Of course, Skip doesn’t have any money for the health insurance that his old church paid for. And with health insurance being a $500 a month proposition for his family, guess what they no longer have? Right. Even though some months have meant thousands of dollars worth of medication and doctor visits, this is unimportant to Skip. Certainly not as important to him as being a new Martin fucking Luther.

The ironic thing also is that Skip iss taking this trailer as a favor from a Pagan. So, his family is too good to have my dad - an evil agnostic secular humanist - spend time with his grandsons, but he can take favors from a Pagan. Because, well, I have no idea how he justifies this bullshit.

So, my sister - who thanks to her religion will submit to anything Skip does and says, and thanks to her lacking a backbone can’t even try and say something - is not in this situation above.

Meanwhile, I am powerless to do anything. I said long ago that it was my sister’s life. Not for me to life for her. And since she is never one to actually complain or tell us exactly what is going on, I can’t even try and help.

I am literally sick at the thought of my nephews being uncared for in this manner by a power-hungry asshole who as usual shows how un-Christian he really is. And not being able to do anything about it when young, innocent kids are in the middle of this nightmare is frustrating.

Rest assured, if they actually come out to my brother’s house for Christmas (they always do manage to avoid visiting our family though), I might be forced to bite my tongue right off…

I am so saddened and hurt about this…

Yer pal,
Satan

*TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING:
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2

Gee, Satan, I’m sorry. Is there any way you can try to get the kids on your own health insurance, or will he not accept any help from you?

Good luck to you and your sister.

3

Child Protective Services (or whatever it’s called in your area) – call ‘em. And keep calling. If they won’t do anything, call the kids’ doctors.

What a sick SOB.

4

I agree. In many cases, depending on the age and sex of the children involved, there may be laws about seperate bedrooms.

again, depending on the state, they may be eligible for social services of some sort, which would include health care.

Adults are responsible for their choices, however, when there’s kids involved, they should not be allowed to put the kids in danger.

many years ago, I dated a guy who ended up a minister. (we’d broken up by then, thank god). Although he had a degree in special ed (shop) and a lucrative career ahead of him. he chose the ministerial path, which resulted in his little family (him, wife + five boys) were subsidized by their respective parents.

I was friends with his sister, too, who once told me their mom rolled her eyes up every time he’d say “the Lord will provide” and comment that she wished the “lord” wouldn’t come a-knockin’ at their door quite so often.

5

Absolutely, your sister is an adult and can make her own decisions–and live with the consequences of those decisions–but those kids should not have to suffer for her bad judgment. I don’t know legally how much you can do, but I urge you to at least look into it. If they are not getting proper medical care, something should be done.

6

The world is full of these guys. They are trying to make their little niche in life and are just too lazy in my opinion to do it any other way.

*Let’s seee what can I do that I won’t have to work too hard at and view others from a loftier point of view?? Hey I know a pastor! That’s it! Cause I am so fucking benevolent anyway it suits me just fine! Because you see I have a special connection to the Lord. And hell I might just get rich in the process!

I’ll let the others around me( the rest of the family) worry about the worldly crap like paying the rent and insurance and meantime I will be busy taking care of everyone else’s spiritual life. yep yep that suits me just fine. Maybe even handle a few snakes while I’m at it.*

The real pity is the kids. You don’t take care of your kids and your gonna burn in hell as far as I am concerned. I don’t care if your the fucking pope.

Of course this is just one christian’s opinion, I could be delusional.

No actual real pastors were intended any harm during the writing of this post.

7

This idiot obviously doesn’t care for the lives of his children. Contact the local child protective or advocacy services quickly and often. These kids need medical care and they won’t receive it if this guy keeps on his pilgrimage. I feel bad for your sister, there are a lot of people in this world, male and female, without spines.

Take care and good luck Satan, you are showing more compassion and care than that “christian” preacher brother in law.

8

The problem with people like this is that they look for specific, obscure, Bible passages that support their warped view while ignoring the larger ones. Like, oh…say, HONOR THY MOTHER AND FATHER. Logical extention, as well as religious interpretation, of this commandment includes your spouse’s parents and your whole family in this.

Arguing with these people get you nowhere. I’ve tried several times in college on a lark and I couldn’t guess how many times you’ve tried out of desperation.
I agree with AuntiePam. Call child welfare.

[sub]would kicking his ass be un-Christian? Because I’m Jewish… ;j [/sub]

9

Satan

That really is horrible. What a selfish wanker. I agree that a call to social services may be in order.

I can relate to some degree, because my brother married a holier-than-thou two-faced bitch who is the most unforgiving, judgmental person I’ve come across. She has systematically isolated my brother from his friends and family.

I’m more “Christ-like” than she is, and I’m an atheist.

10

Sorry to hear this about your extended family…The ideas about social service agencies sound good…

I don’t know if your nephews are in school (you mentioned that “Skip” is starting a school also?) But I would certainly encourage following up on them if their in public schools…depending on their age and the state they live in, if they are “home schooled” there may be requirements that the state has for them as well…

11

Well, they are in West Virginia. The kids are all too young to be in school, but have no fear: Skip is going to home school them. Should they manage to actually live long enough to be adults, they will be adults who think that science is shit and the world is 6,000 years old.

I really don’t know what I can do. Right now, I don’t think that the kids are in bad shape, because this all just happened. So, I don’t know how much the state can do. I mean, yeah, he did all of this by choice, but they wouldn’t wreck a family that had this happen to them by being laid off, I don’t think.

As I said, I am just hurt and confused…

Yer pal,
Satan

*TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING:
Six months, two weeks, six days, 23 hours, 45 minutes and 52 seconds.
8159 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,019.95.
Extra time with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 7 hours, 55 minutes.

THE YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAH YANKEES WIN!
1996 · 1998 ··· WORLD CHAMPIONS ··· 1999 · 2000
26 Titles! The #1 Dynasty of all-time!
And most importantly… RULERS OF NYC!!*

12

{{{{{{{Satan and kids}}}}}}}}}

CF is a nasty disease even with treatment. Does your brother-in-law have any plans for providing some kind of care for them? If not, I’m gonna join the rest of the bunch and say that a call to children’s services is definitely in order. There are medicaid and children’s health insurance programs that can cover the expenses.

Good luck.

Robin

13

Skip is not my idea of what a true Christian would be, but he seems to be a perfect example of a control freak. Why is it that people like this think that they are always right, even in the face of almost everyone else in the world who show them up to be complete idiots?

Perhaps people in his former church will come to the aid of the children at least, but probably the best bet is child protective services.

I’m sorry that your sister and her children are attached to this madman, but she is the one, in the end, who needs to make the break, and see that he is putting their children in danger.

14

Oh Brian…I’m so sorry. hugs you hard If there’s anything I can do, or if you want to vent, let me know, 'k?

15

I’m going to say a special Novena to give Skip a nice big butt wart.
:smiley:

Ditto what everyone else said-call CPS.

16

Ok this is new information so just let me add that there are two great misconceptions.

  1. That car salesmen can make their own commercials.

  2. That parents can home school their kids.

Once again only my opinion.

17

He and your sister have the right to raise their kids in however way they choose, but they can’t neglect their health. Call West Virgina’s health department, whatever it’s called.

18

Hmmm…

An atheist who uses the moniker “Satan” when posting on a message board who is a better Christian than his fundamentalist former minister brother-in-law…

I’ve known a few “Christians” of Skip’s ilk. Their wives always have a washed-out look about them, with eyes that are not so much vacant as hollow. Their daughters become promiscous almost as soon as they hit puberty, apparently so starved of affection by their control-freak fathers and mothers who have expended all their energy submissively serving their husbands that they have nothing left for their children that they will do anything for a little physical contact with another human being. The sons usually wind up as chain-smoking alcoholics, if not abusers of harder drugs.

People who abuse religion as a means of controlling their families are the worst kind of scum. All of the major religions, and most of the minor ones, teach love of others and respect for one’s family. Apparently, Skip missed the Bible class when they taught that husbands should love their wives, and give themselves for them, even as Christ gave himself for the Church, and that parents should not abuse their children, lest they become discourraged…

Anyone who would sacrifice the needs of their sick children for the sake of a power trip is not qualified as a minister of the Gospel.

My prayers are with your sister and nephews, Satan.

19

{{{Satan}}}}

This man is not a Christian. He is a self absorbed lunatic.

How is it that you are sointelligent, well spoken and opinionated and your sister is at the other end of the spectrum?
[ramble]What about calling together the special powers of SDMB, all the atheists, pagans, wiccans, lapsed catholics, apathetic jews and whatnot and go trick or treating over at Skip’s trailer. While he is distracted by the Wiccans and Pagans going topless, you can snatch the kids and we can hie them away to a safe place. [/ramble]

20

Thea: Thanks for the kind words, but just for the record, I am not an atheist… I am not like HE is, of course…

Yer pal,
Satan

*TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING:
Six months, three weeks, 1 hour, 52 minutes and 52 seconds.
8163 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,020.39.
Extra time with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 8 hours, 15 minutes.

THE YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAH YANKEES WIN!
1996 · 1998 ··· WORLD CHAMPIONS ··· 1999 · 2000
26 Titles! The #1 Dynasty of all-time!
And most importantly… RULERS OF NYC!!*