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Pastor Bill:The Fall from Pulpit Power
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Sermon: Pastor Bill:The Fall from Pulpit Power
By
Al Bruhn, Emmaus Sermon Presenter, Jesse Lee United Methodist Church, August 1995
Reverend William Pfohl of Jesse Lee United Methodist Church in Ridgefield, Connecticut is the subject of this February 19, 2006 sermon.
Reverend Pfohl, or as he calls himself, Pastor Bill, has fallen from his pulpit. Why?
As a member of Jesse Lee United Methodist Church for two decades, I have seen the downfall of my church and with regret I might add. I was honored by a former senior minister to present a sermon from the pulpit in August of 1995, after my weekend Emmaus retreat with fellow Ridgefielders. It was the highlight of my life.
I felt a sense of compassion and devotion I had never felt before in my life to walk with Jesus and see Him in an everlasting light. I now always walk with Jesus, God and The Holy Spirit. And, I know I am guided in the best spiritual light possible to help myself, so I may help other people as well.
My record speaks for itself. I have been involved in the media for decades and wrestling too. Yes, I have received Gold medals in both teaching and broadcasting, and most recently, a Bronze Medal in wrestling. But, I still yield for higher goals and have found people to help me, so that I can help other people.
As I write this sermon from Ridgefield and deliver it to people around the world on my cable TV network website, I see the teachers saying of the day on my desk calendar read: The purpose of life is to increase the warm heart. Think of other people. Serve other people sincerely. No cheating. ~ The Dalai Lama
I know I am grateful to have people care about me and I likewise care enough about them to work together with them to help other people in general. It�s an act of God!
Likewise, I am troubled by the lack of commitment and response to a serious drug and alcohol problem plaguing my community by Pastor Bill. Let the light of God shed upon him His ways and let the people decide what they want about it.
I have decided to post most of Pastor Bill�s e-mails to me without editing them to let readers decide his fate in terms of this sermon from the mount at my home in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
Any reader who wants to contact Pastor Bill is free to e-mail him at [email protected]
I have decided to start with the latest e-mail from Pastor Bill and go back in time to his first e-mail to me to present the issue from present to past. It is alarming how someone like Pastor Bill can change from one source of help to another source of unhelpfulness in a matter of a few weeks.
It raises serious concern about Pastor Bill�s ability to critically think about Ridgefield�s drug and alcohol problems and how he can help fellow church members or community residents as well.
Pastor Bill has fallen from the pulpit with his refusal to participate in my cable TV network Ridgefield Public Forum. How can anyone believe what Pastor Bill says given factual writings from him that makes his word not trustworthy.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill
To: 'Al Bruhn, Educator/Writer/Cable TV Producer-Host/Wrestler'
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 8:49 AM
Subject: RE: QUESTION??????????????????????????????????????????????
Al,
If I am interested in any further information from you I will tune into your program, please take me off your list. Sincerely, Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill
To: 'Al Bruhn'
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 2:21 PM
Subject: RE: From the desk of Al Bruhn
Al,
I appreciate the offer and would like to chat with you first before committing to a time on the show. April 16th is Easter and I will resting on vacation the following week, so I do not think the 25th would work well in any case. Peace, Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill
To: 'Al Bruhn'
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 12:45 PM
Subject: RE: From the desk of Al Bruhn
Dear Al,
After much prayer and consideration I have decided to stay on the path that I have been on regarding the drug and alcohol use and abuse in town. I raised your issues and concerns with the community coalition and they hoped that any information you had or had access to would be made available to the police department. I said that I would pass there response onto you. I will be on the panel addressing the Freshmen parents at RHS on Tuesday and hope that my investment with the pulic schools will help to aid some children and parents in town. I will not at this time seek to make any provocative move that might limit my access to these youth and adults. My interest is in healing much more than informing. The Old testament has made it clear to me that knowing the law does not necessitate wise or faithful actions. My style has always been to be a more subtle coach seeking to enhance wisdom and I beleive the path that I am currently on will serve God best for now. Thank you for your information and I am intersted in meeting with you if that is something you feel would be of benefit. Peace, Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill
To: 'Al Bruhn, Educator/Writer/Cable TV Producer-Host/Wrestler'
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 2:16 PM
Subject: RE: URGENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Al,
I will look forward to our getting together. Peace, Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill
To: 'Al Bruhn'
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 8:32 AM
Subject: RE: Coalition Meeting
Hi Al,
I did not receive a voicemail. My first open weekend date would be 2/18. I might be able to squeeze some time this Satuday in the later afternoon. Peace, Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill
To: 'Al Bruhn'
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 10:27 AM
Subject: Coalition Meeting
Hi Al,
I am hoping to meet with you in the near future and would be happy if you also included anyone else who might be beneficial. The Community coalition againsts drug and alcohol abuse sents it's agenda in advance which of course includes research and reports of a sensitive and often confidential nature. It would thus not be appropriate for our meetings to be generally open, but perhaps your concerns and suggestions might warrent an invitation to a meeting in the near future, or I might serve as a proxy. Given the concern over time, I would be available to meet on Wed. morning. Let me know if that is a possibility. Peace, Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill"
To: "'Al Bruhn'"
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 7:07 AM
Subject: RE: From the desk of Al Bruhn
Thanks Al,
I would like to to that if you think it would be beneficial. Peace, Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: Al Bruhn [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 4:11 PM
To: Bill
Subject: Re: From the desk of Al Bruhn
Bill,
Perhaps, you can appear on USA TV Talk
with me to do that. We can pre-arrange
script for your guest appearance and
topics of concern to you for live
call-in broadcast on Comcast TV 23.
I have Ridgefield Board of Finance Chairman
Marty Heiser as guest Feb. 14 at 7pm
on Comcast TV 23.
State Rep. John Frey is on later this Spring.
I have other Ridgefield residents scheduled
for appearances too.
Simply click onto following website
to get latest updates on Ridgefield, Connecticut
Public Forum, which I anchor/write
for APTV-WCPTV Network/USA TV Talk News
http://www.usatvtalk.com/ridgefieldct.html
Al
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill
To: 'Al Bruhn, Educator/Writer/Cable TV Producer-Host/Wrestler'
Cc: 'Neal Bowes'
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:24 AM
Subject: RE: URGENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Al,
I wasn't aware that I was a source for an upcoming program. I don't have a problem with that. I guess I would again express my desire to chat with you. I get the impression that you have some suggestions as to what might be helpful and perhaps those can aid me in serving the Lord. Your informant writes with directness and perspective which are compelling. It does not give me much hope that in my position and in official church sponsored activities I am likely to directly impact those most vunerable. As is consistent with the general confrontation with any sin "problem" it appears to me that the best hope is firstly prayer and then persons of faith who have some affinity with those afflicted. When Christ followers yearn to open an alternative path for the lost and support them with both sensitivity and accountablitly I believe that some can be turned by grace. Of course there is always a danger for the "rescuer," and Paul counseled Timothy to stay away from such people. I again believe that prayer is the first action both for deliverance and for discernment. It is helpful to focus on one aspect of deceived pursuits of life like drugs, but of course the issue is much bigger and the same dynamics apply to a number of manifestations of sin. I of course know there is great destructiveness caused when people cheat on their spouses and the same descriptions of avoidance and shame that apply to youth and drugs make "official" church connections for adulterers or people of all ages who are struggling with porn addictions difficult. The larger society is willing to "sleep" in protected freemdom of privacy, whereas other times and places have held such high accountabilty codes that repression and denial became the normative results. Any attempt to "puritanize" our society would be greeted with suspicion and cries of hypocracy given the current revelations around clergy sexual abuse across denominations. Unfortunately, the church institiution is not outside of sin. So what to do? As I have said, pray, honestly deal with the logs in our own eyes, Speak the truth IN LOVE, Strengthen the faithful so that, as God directs, they will be able to "be all things to all people that by all means they might save some." Of course "all means" must put the Lord first and will still be seen as a slippery slope. Jesus was criticized for the company he kept. I am not sure if any of this is helpful to you, and am sure that I want to do more than talk about it, and if you have suggestions on or beyond what I have shared I would be interested. Peace, Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill
To: 'Al Bruhn, Educator/Writer/Cable TV Producer-Host/Wrestler'
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 9:06 AM
Subject: RE: question??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Hi All,
I am deeply troubled by the prevasive use and abuse of drugs and alcohol in town. As a member of the Community Coalition against drug substance abuse I have an opportunity to meet twice month with Dr Freeston, Rudy Marconi, and the Chief Ligi to discuss and plan to address this continuing problem. We have institued a new program TIPP to try and help parents raise drug free kids and that appears to be off to a good start. I have had numerous conversatiosn with Diana Lindsay and few with the Middle School principals about this issue and what can be done. The information and sources you site are often beyond the scope of things that I have heard about. It is my hope that we can again support a social and even piggly back "faith based" alternative to the illegal substance celebrating culture. I appreciate your news briefs. They are obviously extensive so it takes time for me to work a full and thorough read into my schedule as I am sure it does for Neal. I am grateful for your willingness to raise issues and help us come to positive solutions. Peace, Bill
Copyright 2006 Albert George Bruhn. All Rights Reserved.
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