hillsongs - the next installment
As the comments in two weeks have gone beyond 500 comments - here is the new thread..
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Signposts is the personal website of Phil and Dan McCredden. We are involved in leadership at Northern Community.
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Recent entries
January 18th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Oh, & my mate saw straight through their BS & thought both those guys were d’heads because of the way they tried to recruit him.
January 18th, 2007 at 11:50 am
No, not going to go on Saturday night. I look forward to your report though if you go along.
I think that the “unplug from losers” ethos is precisely what CCC is all about. They can’t actually say that though can they? If a member comes to them with a legitimate beef about that kind of teaching from the likes of Robb Thompson they have to deny it don’t they. It isn’t scriptural and it is totally opposed to what we should be thinking and doing as Christians. Denying it is just BS.
It is patently obvious that when anyone remotely famous or well known comes to CCC they are treated like superstars. I remember when I was doing MTC in the early 90s we had a very known singer come along to church and start doing MTC with us. It was sickening to see the way people fell over themselves to suck up to the guy. Phil Pringle boasted from the pulpit about how he and Chris had invited him around for dinner to their place and shared stuff about him. He was obviously going through some tough times personally and I observed him crying frequently in church. I felt sick watching him being suffocated by people, trying to get him to join the worship team I suspect and benefit from his fame when he clearly needed refuge and support. He disappeared after a month or so. Never to be seen again.
So good to read your posts Reve, makes me feel like I wasn’ the only one to leave CCC feeling like an outsider who would never fit the mould.
January 18th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Abby says
So right!
Everytime I listen to Missy Higgn’s “Scar” … I think of the WOF/Contemporary Church “Greyhound Lure” machine:
January 18th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
The song “Right where it belongs” by Nine Inch Nails perfectly describes what I feel in regards to the people at my former church.
see the animal in his cage that you built
are you sure what side you’re on?
better not look him too closely in the eye
are you sure what side of the glass you are on?
see the safety of the life you have built
everything where it belongs
feel the hollowness inside of your heart
and it’s all
right where it belongs
what if everything around you
isn’t quite as it seems?
what if all the world you think you know
is an elaborate dream?
and if you look at your reflection
is that you want it to be?
what if you could look right through the cracks
would you find yourself–
find yourself afraid to see?
what if all the world’s inside of your head
just creations of your own?
your devils and your gods all the living and the dead
and you’re really all alone
you can live in this illusion
you can choose to believe
you keep looking but you can’t find the woods
while you’re hiding in the trees
what if everything around you
isn’t quite as it seems?
what if all the world you think you know
is an elaborate dream?
and if you look at your reflection
is that you want it to be?
what if you could look right through the cracks
would you find yourself–
find yourself afraid to see?
January 18th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
CCC uses up celebrities & musicians just the same as it uses up people with no profile. I sort of find comfort in that at first, but then i don’t.
The only insurance against dispensability in that environment is if you’re surname is Pringle. No certainties exist beyond that.
I would have done MTC in 94′/95′ would that have been the same time as you Abby? Pringle’s older son was in my class.
I don’t remember the singer you were talking about, can you give me a hint or a clue?
January 18th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Not sure if I feel comfortable giving too much info re the singer. I already felt bad for him being so exposed by the leadership there… He had a couple of hits in the early 90s then kind of dropped off the music scene. A sweet, low key kind of guy. He had a song called “Only Heaven Knows”, guess i just gave it away there.
January 18th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Does anyone know what happened to Chris O’Brien the ex Worship Leader at CCC? He disappeared seemingly overnight?
January 18th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Reve, I only did MTC part time, in the early 90s.
January 18th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
I was working there when he left. We weren’t really told what happened at the staff meeting, but over the course of time I found out it was something about abusing power to get people to do things (ie, wash his car).
I’m not sure if I believe that now. I understand he might have gone up north somewhere.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I met Chris a few times and he seemed to me to be a very genuine, dedicated, nice guy. I find it hard to believe that he would have behaved like that. Was it announced in church or did he just disappear into the wide blue yonder without a word to the congregation?
January 18th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
It was announced for one week during all the services.
I found him to be a very nice guy as well. Even though I was such a small guy and not high in popularity, he helped me out a fair bit and was always interested in what I had to say and how my life was.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Yep, i know who you’re talking about. I really liked that song, it had to have come from a very deep & sensitive individual. What a pity that in his time of need he had a jawbreaking experience (diving into shallow waters). A parasitic experience, too.
What other people with a public profile or with secular music careers have been involved with CCC?
I know that Chris Egan, former soap star was there for a while.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Yes, I can believe that he would have been like that with you. I found him really kind and genuine too. What a shame.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
I know that Erina Clark has been in and out of the fold over the years. Jamie Malcolm is of course front and centre a lot of the time. I am not much of celebrity spotter myself….
January 18th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
“I really liked that song, it had to have come from a very deep & sensitive individual.”… I know, it is a beautiful song. He struck me as a really gorgeous, if not slightly wounded guy. Yeah, shame he sought refuge in a shark tank.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Heh Heh,
Erina Clark, Jamie Malcolm
Never heard of either of them.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Thankyou google
Jamie Malcolm - Australia’s leading infomercial host
Sounds about right…….
January 18th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
He is like a Phil Pringle Mini Me! You can catch him do his thing with Kerrie Anne Kennerley every morning.
Erina is the voice coach on Australian Idol and has been performing around the place in pubs for years. She is actually a very nice person. I knew her when she was in another church on the Northern Beaches about 8 years ago.
January 18th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
You’re a champ, Emanresu. You’re an awesome man of God. *******Backlslaps & cheesy grins**************
And Abby, you’re a Kingdom Princess!
Can you BELIEVE our self-estem was ever so low, our intelligence so repressed, our identities so confused………..that we fell for this shite!
Hey, remember how people would strut in on a Sunday night like they were making the scene at a nightclub? Like they thought they were treading the red carpet or a catwalk? Then there’d be the high-fiving & the false greetings. It must have been scary, the right person not catching you’re eye, not being able to sit next to the right people, being in the wrong section (youth, front right part of the auditorium, power players in the front three rows, centre).
How could we still miss this with all we know?
January 18th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Now when I go back there I just quietly chuckle to myself at the shenanigans. It used to really bother me but now I see myself as my Father in Heaven sees me. So what if I don’t have the blonde, straight haired pastor’s wife wiggle going on!
Yes, Sunday nights were always so stressful. Ya gotta have the right “look”, be part of the in-crowd. Puke.
In the past few years I really feel like my faith has been rebuilt from the ground up. I spent so long listening to the CCC drivel and false teaching, I really needed to re-learn a lot of stuff about who God is, who I am and what exactly is required of me.
Finding Signposts has been so helpful in the process. Finding others who have had the same kind of experiences as me…oh yeah and getting some hurtful stuff off my chest.
January 18th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Yes you did give it away by naming the song - might as well have named the artist - perhaps the song title can be deleted - although I guess he’s in te pblic arena still (notice the public what?) A girl who once found herself in chains was paraded along with the guy who only eave knows at a youth Alive concert back around 1994/5 which fits in with what you guys are saying here. I used to work with a guy Richard Hook who was te lead singer of a now defunct Christian band (Flames of fire??…not sure) and was a band member for youth alive
January 18th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I also sold life insurance with a young Jake Betlam back in 89/90 just as he was becoming a rising star in the CCC circus. Anyone here knw anyne or currently attends themsleves at Northern Beaches Christian Centre in Terrey Hills?
January 18th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
It’s not in Terrey Hills anymore, they relocated to Mona Vale, as the school took over the hall.
My friend (who’s parents owned Omegatrend) used to go there.
January 18th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
BTW, Reve, I thought you were serious the first few words into what you were saying… Then I felt stabbed in the back! Just like real life =)
You’re an awesome man of God as well! Champion mate buddy legend!
January 18th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Sorry if that hurt your feelings Eman, didn’t mean to re-open old wounds. You poor bloke, i still want to meet you. And when we do, we’ll not tolerate any shallowness from one another.
Greg! That’s a cack! Jake was my Pastor back in the day (new christians), i actually liked him & enjoyed my meetings with him, believe it or not! Insurance Salesman & all!
Abby, yes this site did exactly the same thing for me. Let me know if you’d ever like to communicate directly.
January 18th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Lol… not, that wasn’t offensive in the slightest way.. I found it really rather amusing. When I first saw the post on the homepage all I could see was “You’re a champion Emanresu…” and I clicked all excitedly, and lo and behold it wasn’t really what you were saying.
And then in my post 1524, I said I felt stabbed in the back, just like real life. So when I found out what was really behind what you said, I thought it was a great analogy.
But, it’s late, and I”m slightly (only slightly) drunk.
We shall meet soon indeed… things have been very hectic recently.
January 19th, 2007 at 6:12 am
1521 You’re right Greg, sorry, shouldn’t have named the song. I apologise. If it can be removed that would be good.
I got the joke Reve even if hearing the words “Kingdom Princess” gave me the heebie jeebies.
If you want to communicate direct Reve abby_lewis70@hotmail.com
PS I worked for the same insurance company as Jake (as a clerk) - small world eh!
January 19th, 2007 at 7:24 am
And my name in real life is Jake! Now it’s an even smaller world!
(I can’t believe I just gave my real name)
January 19th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Abby you wold ahve known Todd Kardash then?
January 19th, 2007 at 8:56 am
That name is very familiar to me….was he at NM?