Thursday Doors: Upper Room Chapel

About a mile from where we now live is the Upper Room Chapel. This is one of the buildings remaining from the former Heritage USA.

In the evening of the second and fourth Saturdays of the month there is worship singing in the top floor followed by fellowship in the basement.

We went there last Saturday and I noticed the doors. Here are a few pictures of them.

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The entrance door.
Doors to very small rooms. I heard there were healing services offered here in the past, but I don’t know what these tiny rooms were originally used for. I did hear from a friend after the service a story of a man with only weeks to live who agreed to go to the Upper Room for healing as a last resort. As he walked up the steps his pain left him and he knew he was healed before even entering the chapel.
A view of the outside

We moved to Fort Mill, South Carolina, three years ago without knowing much about the place. It is now home. May our Father’s kingdom come and His will be done in the greater Charlotte area.

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Linked to Thursday Doors.

Ritva at Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Ritva at Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
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Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

21 thoughts on “Thursday Doors: Upper Room Chapel”

  1. how awesome to live that close to a place so special. I can’t wait to get back to south Carolina so we can visit there as well! Maybe next fall.

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  4. C.S. Lewis’s “God in the Dock” does not specifically address the Holocaust (often referred to as the Shoah) or the guilt associated with it in the context of Xtianity. This omission can be seen as a significant gap, especially given the profound moral and theological implications of the Holocaust for both Jewish and Xtian communities. “By their fruits you shall know them” forever condemns Xtianity as a dead religion.

    Philosophical and theological arguments for the existence of God, the nature of faith, and moral reasoning which ignore “By their fruits your shall know them” exposes Xtian religious propaganda rhetoric. “Nature of faith” which ignores צדק צדק תרדוף likewise exposes empty Xtian religious rhetoric propaganda. “Moral reasoning” pales in the “Final Solution”/White Paper\Allied refusal to bomb the rail-lines which transported Jews to death camps. Lewis’s contributions to Xtian apologetics, compares to tits on a boar hog.

    The historical context of the Shoah, by itself alone, challenges the credibility of Xtian teachings such as Luther’s council to gather Jews into their synagogues and burn the buildings upon them. Or the pre-Reformation decision to impose ghetto gulags upon all Jews living in Western Europe. The biblical phrase “צדק צדק תרדוף” (Justice, justice shall you pursue), underscores the expectation that faith should manifest in actions that promote justice and protect the vulnerable. The failure to uphold these principles in the face of systemic evil raises critical questions about the authenticity of faith.

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    1. Thank you for your comments, Moshe. I do like a lot that C.S. Lewis wrote. I recommend “The Great Divorce” which is about people who choose to go to hell after they have seen heaven and why they prefer hell to heaven. Pride may be the best way to describe the reason for their preference. At one point Lewis had one of his characters comment: “All in hell want to be there.”

      If I recall, there was only one person, someone with an addiction, who decided to drop his addiction and go to heaven when given the opportunity. He was immediately transformed.

      Blessings to you!

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      1. Nazi superior race, KKK propaganda concerning sub-human black apes. That the great apes share a 98.7% genetic genome cross-over with Man etc etc etc. All bull shit attempts to arouse and entice emotional over-reactions. Like the Climate Change hysteria bull shit. Or genocide in Gaza bull shit.

        Xtian apologetics falls into this void of racial Av tuma. No such thing not Heaven Not Hell. Both subjects pie in the sky bull shit.

        regards,
        moshe

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      2. Throughout history, various Christian denominations have contributed to the spread of antisemitic attitudes and actions, creating a climate of hostility toward Jews. This includes theological teachings that portrayed Jews in a negative light and blamed them for the death of Jesus. The Nazi regime, though not the Vatican (the Pope looked on as the Nazis deported the Jews of Rome to death camps), maintained a close alliance with the Lutheran Church in Germany. The Nazis frequently cited Martin Luther’s racist statements about Jews. Christian churches in England and the USA failed to condemn the British White Paper of 1939, and in the United States, not a single Christian denomination opposed Roosevelt’s decision to close U.S. borders to Jewish refugees fleeing from Nazi extermination camps.

        Many argue that the historical role of the Church in fostering antisemitism is of immense significance. The formal apologies, educational initiatives, and interfaith efforts made by Christianity after the Shoah seem like cheap excuses—like teats on a boar: useless and too late. Historical antisemitism within Christianity contributed to the conditions that made the Shoah possible. The Church, as an institution, bears full guilt after over 2,000 years of blood libels, ghettos, and mass expulsions of entire Jewish populations. The words of the Gospel are tragically confirmed: “By their fruits you shall know them.”

        The assignment of criminal guilt, especially in connection with historical events and religious groups, is the subject of this statement. Justice requires naming guilt—and, where necessary, advocating for extreme measures like the death penalty. Throughout history, all Christian denominations have played a role in solidifying antisemitic attitudes and actions, thereby contributing to systemic discrimination and violence against Jewish communities. This includes theological doctrines that justified the kidnapping of Jewish babies through forced baptism and war-crime-level mass expulsions.

        Taxation imposed by the Church without political representation constitutes a form of European enslavement of the Jewish people. Religious Christian organizations must take full responsibility for the actions of their followers and for the ideologies of racial violence they spread. The failure of many Christian churches to denounce antisemitism and to take a stand against the atrocities committed during the Shoah reflects broader complicity in these historical injustices.

        The lack of accountability can perpetuate cycles of hatred and violence—and points to the need for a deeper reckoning with history. It is essential to critique and hold Christianity accountable, both theologically and institutionally. Christian theologies which promote, Love as the greatest commandment, Fire and Brimstone Heaven Hell God Satan bi-polar emotional declarations – all expressions of Av tuma emotional spirits which indoctrinate mental insanity.

        Impossible to not be under the Law and then unilaterally declare which of the multitude of T’NaCH and Talmudic commandments and Halachot qualifies as the most important of all Torah common law. This narishkeit nonsense compares to the 666 mark of the beast and the Church declarations that the Christ killer Jews bear the mark of Cain. Xtianity no different than Nazism. Both promote hate propaganda in the name of Love.

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        1. I agree with you about Luther and the presence of antisemitism in both Christianity and Islam and even outside of them. Antisemites need to repent.

          However, I disagree with you when you suggest that Jewish leadership were not responsible for the death of Jesus. Jewish leadership, Pharisees and Sadducees, in the first century indeed were responsible for His death.

          On the other hand, Yehovah (יהוה) hardened their hearts so they would do that, at the precise time to fulfill prophecy, just as the heart of Judas was hardened so he would betray Jesus, just as Pharoah’s heart was hardened before the Exodus. Their own earlier bad behavior set themselves up for this hardening.

          Both Judas and Peter repented afterwards. Repentance is now in order, but you have a choice: pride or repentance.

          Again, since you mentioned him earlier, I recommend C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce. All those in hell want to be there.

          Here is a passage from Matthew that is misunderstood by antisemites:

          Matthew 27:25 NKJV – 25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

          That verse does not suggest that the Jewish people should be persecuted for their role in the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb. If His blood is not on us, all of us including you, our sins are not forgiven. Temple sacrifices are no longer accepted by the Lord. If leaders in Jerusalem start them up again, they are sacrificing to some בַּעַל not יהוה.

          Blessings, Moshe!

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          1. Frank, Jesus a Roman myth, a later version of the Greek myth Hercules. Impossible to “fulfil” prophesy b/c prophets command mussar applicable to all generations of Israel. The false notion of fulfilling the words of the prophets … the opposite of prophetic mussar.

            The comparison of Par’o to Judas, utterly absurd. Why? Because the story of Egyptian bondage introduced the prophetic mussar of g’lut/exile. Whereas the Judas teaches no mussar but rather the disgrace of Benedict Arnold betrayal.

            Repentance does not correctly translate the verb t’shuva. The Chag of Yom Kippur wherein HaShem annuls the vow to make of Moshe the Chosen Cohen People (((The Jesus substitute theology frames Jesus as the replacement for the chosen Cohen people. Utterly absurd b/c the Central Theme of the entire Torah revolves around the chosen Cohen people.))), possible to anul a vow but not an oath. T’shuva discerns this fundamental distinction repentance does not.

            The notion of Human sacrifice a Torah abomination. Just that simple. The idea of tortured half-dead Jesus as fit to be a sacrifice – a laughable joke only matched by the virgin birth from a married woman. LOL

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          2. In Jewish thought by stark and absolute total contrast, faith in God not some cult of personality personal or spiritual theological belief system; Torah faith deeply intertwined with ethical prophetic mussar, and social justice. The Torah obligations absolutely require the active pursuit of judicial common law justice through the Sanhedrin courtrooms. Principles of justice and fairness in all dealings, especially in legal matters define the Torah concept of faith.

            The Torah mandates stong emphasis on the appointment of just judges, expected to act with integrity and impartiality. In Deuteronomy 16:18-20, the commandment to appoint judges and officers in all cities underscores the importance of justice: “You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.” This principle, echoed in the teachings of the sages, who stress that a corrupt judiciary undermines the very foundation of society and the time-oriented brit which forever and eternally creates the chosen Cohen people from nothing. Hezekiah’s actions seen as a common law precedent for Sanhedrin justices to pursue justice and righteousness, ensuring that their governance aligns with the values of the Torah through משנה תורה legislative review of all laws and decrees imposed by Government statute laws.

            The presence of bribed judges and corrupt courtrooms leads to the Torah curse of societal decay and a loss of faith among the people; meaning Jews assimilate and embrace the culture and customs of foreign peoples. These aliens reject the revelation of the Torah at Sinai and Horev. When judicial common law justice collapses, it creates a disconnect between the community and HaShem; failure to do and keep tohor time oriented commandments perverts the chosen cohen nation unto just another Av tuma Goyim people. The “converted” non Cohen-people, abandoned or betrayed by leaders equally abandon their faith – the obligation to pursue judicial justice among and between Jews. The prophetic T’NaCH literature often addresses the consequences of injustice, warning that societal ills can lead to divine judgment – Torah curses – like as happened to Par’o in Egypt in the days of Moshe and Aaron. This serves as a reminder that faith most essentially defined, not as Av tumah avoda zara which demand that a Goy believe in this or that theological creed God, but rather Torah faith lives only through pursuit of judicial common law courtroom judgements that promote justice and equity among and between our conflicting peoples.

            This mussar tradition, it emphasizes the cultivation of personal virtues, including integrity, honesty, and a commitment to justice among our people. Prophetic mussar encourages the active pursuit of judicial common law justice to resolve our damages disputes between our people in all generations and all times. These T’NaCH/aggadic and midrashic teachings, they most essentually stress that true loyalty to the Torah brit faith involves far more than personal religious piety, like as promoted by the Shulkan Aruch. But, for more essential, to pursue an active participation in creating a just society, where the rights of all individuals Jews honor and respect and uphold by validating the rulings of the Sanhedrin common law lateral courtrooms.

            The connection between faith in HaShem and the pursuit of justice, the fundamental theme in Torah thought, which most essentially defines the Torah concept of faith. The example of King Hezekiah, as Moshiach revolves around the rebuke of the prophet Natan to the house of David following the death of the baal of Bat Sheva. The Torah curse of Civil War to plague all generations of the House of David, over his profaning the oath dedication of Moshiach in the matter of the killed husband of Bat Sheva. Loyalty to the Torah Constitution most essentially manifests itself in ethical mussar behavior which remembers the rebuke that the prophet Natan cursed the House of David, specifically in the realm of justice over the criminal death of the baal of Bat Sheva. The integrity of the judicial system, which failed to hold king David to stand trial. Later the Talmud would acquit king David of murder. However, this Talmudic opinion does not change the fact that David, and his son Shlomo failed to establish the authority of the Sanhedrin Federal court system as the definition of building the Temple on Zion.

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          3. Frank, sorry to bust your bubble myth, but JeZeus did not replace the seed of Avraham Yitzak and Yaacov as the chosen Cohen people. JeZeus no more than this son of God theme replacement theology which despises the oath sworn to the Avot to eternally create the chosen Cohen people through tohor time oriented commandment observance. LOL

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          4. Protestant “dogmatism” redresses Catholic “dogmatism”. Both tits on a boar hog useless.

            C.S. Lewis’s “The Great Divorce” – a narrative that presents a fictional journey from a gray, dreary town (representing Hell through this metaphor) to a vibrant, beautiful heaven, where the characters confront their own choices and the nature of their desires. On par with the Aslan lion metaphor which depicts the Easter resurrection from the dead story.

            The “Great Divorce” theme focuses upon pride. Many of the characters in this metaphor cling to their “sins”. A guilt trip that dates back to the apostle Pauls’ “Original Sin” narishkeit. A lot of Goyim reject the NT guilt trip ideology. The entire Xtian theology of Heaven and Hell, pie in the sky religious theological speculations. The Talmud teaches a person who speculates on matters which the Human mind cannot conceive or grasp … better that such persons’ never born.

            To make literal declarations like “All in hell want to be there”, simply perverting a children story as depicting actual reality – what complete and utter nonsense! The theological creed Xtian belief systems qualify as examples of the metaphor story of residents of hell who made conscious choices that reflect their fervent beliefs in some pie in the sky Nicene theology of the Trinity.

            Torah has no concept of “Free Will” as Calvin solemnly declared. John Calvin’s “dogma” of Free Will emphasizes the sovereignty of some undefined god. His theology promotes the notion that this undefined Universal god has predetermined who will be saved and who will be damned. This perverse dogmatism defines the key component of Reformed Protestant theology.

            However, Calvin did acknowledge the concept of human responsibility and moral choice within the framework of his Universal god’s sovereignty. Mighty White of him to grant his Universal god these powers; such as grace – essential for salvation.

            Interesting – Moshe’s Torah and the Oral Torah-Talmud defines the middah of grace as the dedication – through swearing a Torah oath – of some unspecified tohor middah, as the k’vanna of the tohor midda of Grace. For example the tohor middah of mercy which learns from the commandment to obliterate every man woman and child of Canaan, or to the commandment to slaughter the youth – stubborn and rebellious son, or the commandment to make eternal war upon the assimilated mix multitude of Jews who lack fear of Elohim, known as Amalek. Commonly known today as antisemitism etc. Clearly Calvin’s Protestant dogmatism, like Catholic dogmatism, upon this foundation stands the theology espoused by C.S. Lewis likewise rejects Oral Torah common law precedents, some of which – listed above, as the means to interpret the k’vanna of both tohor middot of grace and mercy!

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      3. C.S. Lewis’s “The Great Divorce” – a narrative that presents a fictional journey from a gray, dreary town (representing Hell through this metaphor) to a vibrant, beautiful heaven, where the characters confront their own choices and the nature of their desires. On par with the Aslan lion metaphor which depicts the Easter resurrection from the dead story.

        The “Great Divorce” theme focuses upon pride. Many of the characters in this metaphor cling to their “sins”. A guilt trip that dates back to the apostle Pauls’ “Original Sin” narishkeit. A lot of Goyim reject the NT guilt trip ideology. The entire Xtian theology of Heaven and Hell, pie in the sky religious theological speculations. The Talmud teaches a person who speculates on matters which the Human mind cannot conceive or grasp … better that such persons’ never born.

        To make literal declarations like “All in hell want to be there”, simply perverting a children story as depicting actual reality – what complete and utter nonsense! The theological creed Xtian belief systems qualify as examples of the metaphor story of residents of hell who made conscious choices that reflect their fervent beliefs in some pie in the sky Nicene theology of the Trinity.

        Torah has no concept of “Free Will” as Calvin solemnly declared. John Calvin’s “dogma” of Free Will emphasizes the sovereignty of some undefined god. His theology promotes the notion that this undefined Universal god has predetermined who will be saved and who will be damned. This perverse dogmatism defines the key component of Reformed Protestant theology.
        However, Calvin did acknowledge the concept of human responsibility and moral choice within the framework of his Universal god’s sovereignty. Mighty White of him to grant his Universal god these powers; such as grace – essential for salvation. Interesting b/c Moshe’s Torah and Talmud defines the middah of grace as the dedication through swearing a Torah oath of some unspecified tohor middah. For example the tohor middah of mercy which learns from the commandment to obliterate every man woman and child of Canaan, or to slaughter the youth stubborn and rebellious son, or to make eternal war upon the assimilated mix multitude of Jews who lack fear of Elohim etc. Clearly Calvin’s dogmatism reject Oral Torah common law precedents listed above as the means to interpret the k’vanna of both grace and mercy!

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