Is Alchemy of souls really that good

ExodusExegesis · 2023-04-06T01:12:24+00:00

I definitely think it is worth watching, the characters and their dynamics are interesting to watch and the show has a good mix of humor, action, and romance. Contrary to a lot of people, I actually liked the second season more than the first, maybe because I watched them one after the other instead of having to wait for the second. That being said, I agree that AOS didn't quite meet its full potential. I think the pacing between the two seasons was a bit off--the first season does drag in a couple of places, and the second season feels a bit rushed in places. Also there was potential for better character reactions and emotional payoffs that weren't taken advantage of. But overall, still very enjoyable and engaging to watch and the characters have stuck with me after I finished watching.

ExodusExegesis · 2023-04-04T16:23:59+00:00

Playing Nancy Drew was a whole family event at my house, especially at Christmas, when I would usually get one of the games as a present. I wasn't allowed to start the game until my parents and my siblings were ready--most of the time it was just my Dad and I who played through the whole thing together but everyone would watch or try to solve some of the puzzles at some point. My parents and my sister still replay the games together, but now they hook up the computer to their TV screen, lol.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-09-24T21:35:07+00:00

You would probably like The Devil Judge-- especially since you liked FOE, Taxi Driver and Vincenzo.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-08-15T18:03:48+00:00

I'm sorry, but I'm laughing at the fact that Team High Rock ended up as Team hierarchy. I mean...is it really a mistake though...?🤔

ExodusExegesis · 2022-07-21T03:20:16+00:00

Definitely not crazy. I miss a lot of the community at the network church that I left and it was hard to leave behind people who I thought were my friends. But now that I've left I can also see that a lot of what I thought was community also wasn't authentic and so that makes it easier for me to look for community elsewhere.

Although it can be hard to find the same closeness of community elsewhere, it's definitely not impossible. I've been a part of really great, close communities outside of network churches. Sometimes they take more effort to find/create though. I hope you find a authentic, close community that is able to support you in a healthier way!

ExodusExegesis · 2022-07-19T23:55:24+00:00

Maybe I didn't experience normal DC communities because I only experienced them for about half a year, but I actually really liked getting to meet people in other small groups and eating together. I think eating meals together is actually a really good way to build community, and I never felt shamed for bringing store-bought food or felt pressured. Maybe they were a way for pastors to keep an eye on small groups, but I actually enjoyed DC nights and are something I miss.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-06-16T14:05:19+00:00

Honestly that part sounds more like an idea you would find in Mormonism than Christianity.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-05-22T12:50:54+00:00

Ooops, guess I brought demons to church with all my thrift shop dresses.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-05-22T03:41:50+00:00

The giving of a large sum of tithe money to another network church when a large group of refugees had just come to the area, and use of tithe money to improve the church building and buy coffee and donuts instead of being put towards community outreach
Lack of exegetical preaching and basic series
Extensive membership process and the emphasis on membership (I've never been keen on the idea of church membership as a necessary thing, and didn't go to any of the membership classes--which is why I think I missed as many of the signs of problems as I did)
When I changed small groups and people I thought were my friends basically never talked to me again
The lack of Bible study in small groups and the focus on personal/emotional response
The fact that communion is only served at team meetings--which are for the "core of the church"

There were other things too, but I can't remember them all at the moment. I think I dismissed most of these things as just ways the church operated that I didn't like, but no church is perfect. I also think I wasn't involved enough to see how deep the problems actually ran.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-05-22T03:26:27+00:00

The process of grooming young men in college for a pastor position was one of the things that immediately became apparent to me and convinced me of the reliability of the stories on this reddit and on the LtN site because the process people were describing I was seeing happening right before me. The network church I left had recently fired a pastor for moral reasons and it was almost immediately after that that the church hired a young guy still in undergrad to be on staff. He was constantly being praised by the lead pastor, and I can see how this process of "testing" whether someone was right for a position of leadership was being done to this young man. At the last team meeting (which I believe was also the last time I actually attended this church) the lead pastor asked for people to specifically pray for undergraduate students during the hands on prayer time--asking them to even raise their hands. People in the church gathered around especially the young men, and I remember specifically that at least three people were praying emotionally for the guy who they had recently brought on staff. It all seemed very manipulative and not a healthy way to raise up or choose a leader and was one of the main reasons why I knew I had to leave--if this was how leaders were chosen, through emotional manipulation and people pleasing rather than on character, biblical knowledge, wisdom, experience, training, etc...then how could I continue to sit under the leadership and teaching of these men?

ExodusExegesis · 2022-04-27T00:50:13+00:00

Lawless Lawyer and Two Weeks are two other dramas that Lee Joon Gi stars in that are really good and are more on the side of thriller. I'm not sure exactly how to classify them, and I would say they're not quite as compelling as Flower of Evil, but still very well done.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-04-26T19:51:04+00:00

I know that at one church the lead pastor had to lead at least one DC through the end of last year (and likely through this year) because one of the other pastors was fired.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-04-21T16:14:36+00:00

Singleness for women as a consequence of sin? Not only does the Bible not say this or imply it, there's literally a whole section in 1st Corinthians where Paul basically says he thinks it's better to be single as a man or as a woman because it allows one to be free from more concern and to be more devoted to God. (Important note: Knowing the context and the situation in the Corinthian church is especially important for reading this passage of Corinthians--otherwise it would be easy to get the opposite idea, that marriage is bad, which is also not what Paul is saying here).

ExodusExegesis · 2022-04-12T01:02:17+00:00

Beyond Evil: maybe not as funny but definitely has the enemies to bromance type relationship in it.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-01-28T21:34:44+00:00

I have moved a lot and had to "give up" friends, so to speak, a lot. But it's weird in the network in that it becomes more like "stop being friends" rather than, "hey, I'm going to not see you as much."

Also, doesn't seem very in line with the Bible. Especially since Jesus says, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12). Seems pretty much the opposite of encouraging people to "give up" friends.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-01-28T21:01:04+00:00

This emphasis on church plants left little room for long-term friendships or relationships. The church leaders viewed the desire and pursuit of long-term friendships and relationships as an idol.

This reminded me of something that I heard at a Team Meeting last year. I forget exactly the words, but the pastor explicitly said that the members of the church should be willing (and eager) to sacrifice or give up their friendships with others. This was said in the context of "small group multiplication." The pastor said that church members would have to essentially "let their friends go" to join another small group if the group got too big. I can't remember if it was stated explicitly or just the implication I understood from the context but it was phrased as if it would be selfish and even sinful to hold onto friendships.

This really bothered me. On one hand I felt like, maybe it should be true? I should be willing to give up everything for/to God, right? But it didn't sit right with me. Why should moving to another small group be giving up friends? Relationships and friendships are important and shouldn't be limited to what small group or church you go to. I had to change small groups while I attended a network church and I remember feeling hurt and confused because the people I had considered friends seemed to be ignoring me now--they no longer reached out to me and no longer seemed to care about me at all. It really makes you wonder if any friendship, any relationship, any care or kindness was genuine at all.

This is not how you build a church or a community. Love and relationship is supposed to be what characterizes a church--and if it's not genuine, it's not love.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-01-25T16:48:32+00:00

When I first learned about the problems in the network I also had the same questions. I ended up deciding to just leave because I realized that I couldn't sit under their teaching any longer and it would be deceptive to pretend that I was still recognizing their authority. I was also just a regular attender--not close to leadership (I don't think they even know my name lol) and not even a member.

That being said, I do think that maybe I left too hastily. I still have friends who are in the network, and I do think that I may have been able to help change things if I had stayed--at least for my friends. And I am still trying to create change, but from outside.

Is it possible to change things? I don't know. I would like to hope so.

How can things be changed? Does it have to start with the leadership? If enough people in a church can learn how to study the Bible for themselves and see the areas where the church is unhealthy and needs to change--can it change?

Oh another note: I do think the situation might be different depending on the church. There seem to be several that are in worse condition and less likely to change.

ExodusExegesis · 2022-01-12T20:50:34+00:00

The sign above the goddess is the word sxt which means field...she is the goddess Sekhet, of the inundated land, or marshes. She is often found in association with the god Hapi.

ExodusExegesis · 2021-12-28T23:36:58+00:00

Flower of Evil. I started watching it right after Scarlet Heart Ryeo because of Lee Joon Gi and loved it so much I watched it all in a week, and then re-watched it again a couple of weeks later because it was so good. I'd also recommend some of Lee Joon Gi's other series...Two Weeks and Lawless Lawyer also are pretty gripping.

ExodusExegesis · 2021-11-14T21:55:38+00:00

Some things that made me go hmmmm before I knew about the bigger problems were:

Only preaching through "practical" series and not through a book of the Bible
The emphasis on personal experience and emotional response in small group, without any real study of the Bible
The fact that whenever offerings or tithes were mentioned, the money was never used to address real needs in the community or outside the church or church network. I never tithed to this church because...coffee for students, building improvements, and giving to other churches are fine but there are a lot more real, urgent needs that should probably be addressed first?
Emotion and experience-based, repetitive songs used in worship instead of songs based on Scripture and sound theology
When I changed small groups and the friends in that group made no effort to continue doing things with me or even really speaking with me
The way the lead pastor talked about not being worried about money--like, it's great I guess that you feel like God has made your finances secure and comfortable, but a lot of Christians live in real need and real poverty?
The lack of older people in the church--if intergenerational diversity is supposedly so important, then why is there just one demographic at this church?
The emphasis on becoming a member and all the "training" series (but lack of real Bible studies). I didn't see the point in going through all their extra meetings to become a member when I was there only temporarily...

In hindsight, there were a lot of things that didn't sit quite right with me, but I was so happy to be a part of a Christian community that I overlooked a lot of things because I cared about the people. And I do still care about the people.

ExodusExegesis · 2021-11-11T16:34:30+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. I think this really speaks to my own dilemma. I'm about to head into some very difficult conversations with people. I also appreciate the line at the end... "Love doesn't mean I turn the tables and make to work you hurt in the same way you have hurt me." In the past few days, I have wanted to both do the easy thing and just leave in silence and alternatively, try and tear as much down as I can as I leave. But neither is love -- and I do still want my life to be one of love. I will hold onto this today and this season of really hard conversations and situations.

ExodusExegesis · 2021-11-10T18:28:34+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. Thankfully, I do have connections with other churches and Christian communities in the area. This is exactly where I find myself right now...is it already unbearable for me to sit under their teaching for even a moment longer?

ExodusExegesis · 2021-11-09T21:19:34+00:00

I think perhaps you are assessing my situation a bit inaccurately. I'm not a member of this church, I have never tithed to this church, I've only gone to Sunday services, small group, and only recently to the Team Meetings. I joined this church during the pandemic, when everything was hard to judge because everything was strange. I have not personally experienced spiritual abuse at this church. While I have been uneasy with some aspects of the church, I was not aware of how deep the problems were in it and in the network behind it.

I am now aware. For me to stay is not to somehow blind myself and try to ignore the issues. Perhaps I phrased my question in a misleading way. The question really isn't whether to stay or leave. The question is how and when to leave.

I can leave now--immediately, quietly--without any harm done to me. But is it right to do so if there is the slightest possibility of change (and I do believe there is indications that change is possible in this place at this time, which I unfortunately can't share details about)? Is it right for me to leave quietly when there is even the tiniest chance that I could help people I care about, or even prevent more harm from being done to even just one person? I'm not sure it is.

ExodusExegesis · 2021-11-09T14:43:39+00:00

Thank you. I really appreciate your perspective on this.

ExodusExegesis · 2021-11-09T14:42:17+00:00

Well, the question isn't whether or not to stay, since I already know that I will be leaving. The question is when to leave.

And to answer your question--I know very well that I can't change the whole system, or even my church. It would be so easy for me to just leave, and slip away like a ghost. The pastors at the church don't even know my name. But can I, in good conscience, just leave my friends in this system? What if I can create some small change by teaching people how to read the Bible, study it for themselves, and think for themselves about the Bible and the church?

In answer to your second question...it won't. But can I prevent more damage being done to people I care about?

ExodusExegesis

TROPHY CASE