Bart's Barometer

About: Bart Breen

Website

http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A34PCCROYXQM77?ie=UTF8&ref_=sv%5Fys%5F4

Details

I've been writing and posting on the internet for years in many different locations and made a lot of friends and contacts over those years. In view of that, it seemed past time, that I establish a central site to coordinate and catalog the extensive amount of book reviews, posts and musings on many different subjects and so, here it is. I am originally Canadian. I am now a naturalized US citizen. I am a consultant to the Federal Government and have functioned in that role with several different companies through multiple projects over the past 5 years. Prior to that I spent most of the previous 20 years as a pastor, district worker and church administrator in the Christian & Missionary Alliance and Presbyterian Church of America. I currently have no affiliation with any organized church or denomination. After many years of growing unease and a strong conviction that organized, institutional religion is harming more than promoting the cause of Christ I made the decision to leave and am currently in a small organic home fellowship. Having been inside organized religion for so long, it's difficult to separate my opinions from my experiences, several of which have been quite negative. That's lead several who either don't understand, or who disagree with my decisions, to categorize me as bitter and therefore justified in their eyes with no longer maintaining contact with me. I do struggle with feelings of anger when I look back on those years and the shock and then callousness that developed in my heart as I came to see what was said from the pulpit (and sometimes I was the one saying it) and what actually went on in the background. I include myself in that assessment. I was not a victim. I was a willing participant in much of it. I don't expect institutional churches to be perfect, as I affirm that I am not perfect. I do expect, however, for there to be a willingness to address issues when they arise and when the organization serves as a means of preserving the status quo and chooses to sacrifice individuals upon the altar of the what is proclaimed as best for the organization, then I had no choice but to leave. That is not addressedd at any one organization of which I was a part. That is a collective assessment formed over many years and many organizations. I now see myself as part of what George Barna termed as a growing revolution within the United States. I have not left the organized church in a foresaking of my faith. I've left because I see it as necessary to preserve my faith. Many of my posts will touch on these issues. In addition to my professional background, I've done Masters level work in the area of Organizational Leadership. I read and digest

Posts by Bart Breen:

• May 28, 2012 Book Review of God’s Astounding Opinion of You by Ralph Harris

• May 27, 2012 Book Review of The Pastor Has No Clothes! by Jon Zens

• August 13, 2011 Book Review of “The Book That Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization” by Vishal Mangalwadi

• July 1, 2011 Book Review of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church by Frank Viola

• April 2, 2011 Book Review of The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant

• April 2, 2011 Book Review of The Fourfold Gospel by A.B. Simpson

• March 31, 2011 Hello Examiner

• March 26, 2011 Book Review of Wholly Sanctified by A.B. Simpson

• March 23, 2011 Book Review of Love Wins by Rob Bell

• March 17, 2011 Book Review of Crossing the River by Ole Henrik Skjelstad

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