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John Douglas Chitty's avatar

Greetings from Fort Worth!

Thanks for not keeping your head down and going along to get along. You’re living what my beloved childhood IFB pastor who studied under J. Frank Norris himself once heard him say: “If what I’m preaching rubs the fur the wrong way, then turn the cat around!”

Praying for lots of Texan cats to turn around as God turned me around back in the turbulent days of 2020. To maintain my sanity, I lead with the words of Jesus on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” But I’m also praying that the vision of Jesus’s upside down kingdom will transform my tiny local conservative Presbyterian church among others to get to work subverting the ways of the world in this new era of White Christian nationalist backlash.

Keep blazing the trail in Texas! You are not alone.

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Amy Lambert's avatar

I didn’t know there were non-SBC churches in Fort Worth! 😉 just kidding. Thank you for this, John! Praying alongside you.

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John Douglas Chitty's avatar

IFB is like a time capsule of the SBC lopped off in the 1930s and developed in their own bizarro alternative timeline! LOL!

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Zach W. Lambert's avatar

Thanks so much, John! I LOVE "turn the cat around" haha. Definitely going to start using that 😁

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John Douglas Chitty's avatar

LOL! I love the irony. Norris was a real White Christian Nationalist personality cult all his own back in the day. I guess that makes him a perfect source of quotes like that to subvert for the kingdom.

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Whitney Otstott's avatar

So proud of you for your loud voice. I've sent this article to several family members who voted for Trump.

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Amy Lambert's avatar

It seems that your voice is pretty loud, too, Whitney! 😊 I would truly love to know how they respond.

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Zach W. Lambert's avatar

Thanks, Whitney! Appreciate you 😊

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Linda Hoenigsberg's avatar

Hi Zach. I read the article over on Chron. We retired recently and moved to a small town where 75% of the folks voted for Trump. Huge signs shouting out, "You are now in Trump country!" met us at every turn into town. I'm not ok, either. But trying to do good no matter what. May God bless your work.

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Amy Lambert's avatar

I know these small towns have always been conservative, but the rhetoric definitely feels stronger now. Keep doing what you can where you are and we’ll do the same 💛 (and message me where you are if you want to! We’ve lived all over Texas!)

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Zach W. Lambert's avatar

Hang in there Linda and let us know if we can do anything to support you.

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Linda Hoenigsberg's avatar

Thank you so much, Zach!

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Ken Wykoff's avatar

Thank you Zack for sharing this article and just know that I was very touched by this and shared it on my Facebook page too with others that may not like what it says and others that may love it . But to me I felt it needed to be shared so I sent the entire Chron article to them all. You are a light and you bring me some hope each time I read an article of yours. Blessings, Ken

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Amy Lambert's avatar

This is so kind, Ken. Thanks so much for sharing. So happy you’re here!

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Zach W. Lambert's avatar

I'm so glad it was helpful, Ken!

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NAOMI GRETHER's avatar

I read the article and in some ways really liked the fact that undocumented people were mentioned as a point of inclusiveness. However, I watched a video for work about an ACLU case where a Jamaican American person was threatened with deportation even though he was born in the US. I have heard stories of Native people including who had trouble getting over the border when they left Mexico even though their ancestors were here before the Mayflower by centuries. Please remember it is documented American-born people whose parents were born in another country that can have problems sometimes. I am sure that everyone I have ever met who is a refugee is documented and everyone I ever met volunteering for an English class unless they were international students or scholars are documented. Also, if I ever suspected otherwise I did not ask.

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Amy Lambert's avatar

Thanks, Naomi!

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Dec 15
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Amy Lambert's avatar

Your comment made me teary. We appreciate your encouragement more than you know!

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Zach W. Lambert's avatar

Thanks, Connor. We're in this together!

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