SECRET RADIO blog

The FAQ

1. Hey, what happened to the SECRET RADIO story, Grace Jovian's account of life in a corrupt Bible college?
2. Well, what happened to A STANDARD CHRISTIAN, Grace Jovian's account of her life after she graduated from a corrupt Bible college?
3. But what about the idealistic and willful Grace, the deceptive and adulterous Preacher Mack, the psychopathic and perverted preacher boy, Rush Pole, and the doltish and self-obsessed Evangelist Al L. Mee?
4. How long do I have to wait? I need my fix of totally free Christian fiction that challenges me to think outside the box!
5. Will GRACE TRIUMPHANT make sense to me if I haven't read SECRET RADIO and A STANDARD CHRISTIAN?
6. How do I get a copy of SECRET RADIO?
7. Is A STANDARD CHRISTIAN available as a hard copy book? I'd like to own that too.
8. What have readers said about SECRET RADIO? Do you have any reviews?
9. What have readers said about A STANDARD CHRISTIAN? Do you have any reviews?
10. Who is Peter Schissel?

1. Hey, what happened to the SECRET RADIO story, Grace Jovian's account of life in a corrupt Bible college?

After over a year online, the SECRET RADIO story finished its run in January 2005, and the Archive has also been taken down. You can now buy the book in hard copy.

2. Well, what happened to A STANDARD CHRISTIAN, Grace Jovian's account of her life after she graduated from a corrupt Bible college?

A STANDARD CHRISTIAN was posted online from April 2005 through July 2005. You can now buy the book in hard copy.

3. But what about the idealistic and willful Grace, the deceptive and adulterous Preacher Mack, the psychopathic and perverted preacher boy, Rush Pole, and the doltish and self-obsessed Evangelist Al L. Mee?

Don't worry, you can see all your friends again in the final book of the trilogy, entitled GRACE TRIUMPHANT It picks up Grace's narrative as she continues her career and tries to resolve the conflicts in her faith. You'll get at least a few glimpses of the deceptive and adulterous Preacher Mack, the psychopathic and perverted preacher boy, Rush Pole, and the doltish and self-obsessed Evangelist Al L. Mee, as well as the rest of the cast of characters from Grace's life.

4. How long do I have to wait? I need my fix of totally free Christian fiction that challenges me to think outside the box!

GRACE TRIUMPHANT is scheduled to be posted starting in January 2006, Lord willing.

5. Will GRACE TRIUMPHANT make sense to me if I haven't read SECRET RADIO and A STANDARD CHRISTIAN?

Yes, GRACE TRIUMPHANT is designed to stand alone, though it refers back to the two previous books. In fact, each of the three books in the trilogy is designed to stand alone. You can read them out of order, select just one or two, or---of course---read all three.

6. How do I get a copy of SECRET RADIO?

Remember, the complete SECRET RADIO is now available in printed form: a single-volume, softbound edition, about 380 pages, that sells for 22.99. Now that the run of SECRET RADIO has ended, I hope readers will order one or two copies to give as gifts or keep for their own libraries. Click here!

7. Is A STANDARD CHRISTIAN available as a hard copy book? I'd like to own that too.

The complete A Standard Christian is now available in hard copy. Click here. This is Grace Jovian's continuing story of coming of age in Independent Baptist Fundamentalism. A sequel to Secret Radio, this book can be read as a stand-alone story. Softbound, 250 pages, $18.99

8. What have readers said about SECRET RADIO? Do you have any reviews?

Yes, here are some brief comments about SECRET RADIO:

"I just want you to know that i'm really enjoying reading your blog and i can't wait to find out what happens next. thanks for sharing." -- shae

"It is vicious gossip thinly disguised as "fiction." It is entirely without literary, ethical, moral, or Christian merit." --Thomas Cassidy

"This is such an absorbing story, and you bring it to life with dignity and...well...grace. :)" -- Cindy (Notes in the Key of Life)


"Publish it. My wife attended [Name of IFB college]. I once taught at [Name of another IFB college]. PLEEEEASE publish it." -- comment via comcast.net


"This story must seem an exaggeration to some, but I have seen this stuff in action, and it's no exaggeration." -- Javie

"Thank you for your honesty." -- Karen

"Its just junk! Some junk still has worth. This junk is worthless." --Marine

"Your story touches me as I have experienced some of what you've penned. Coming from a rabid IFB background, my eyes were opened some years ago and I give my praise to God for that...Secret Radio gave me the ability to recognize and address these issues and through prayer dilute the weight of them." --- comment via email

"No animals were harmed in the filming of this story." I dunno...I think a few sacred cows might have been tipped." -- patzer

"I just finished reading Secret Radio....I started reading it this morning and couldn’t stop until the end....So much of it was believable from my own past in an IFB-controlled environment. Your story outraged me, touched me, and humbled me. It was well-written and it had what so much of modern fiction lacks—-you find yourself genuinely caring about the characters." -- Jack Harris, Air Force

"I have to say, I don't think she goes too far. That is a slice of real life....That's why she's dealing with it, and I think very tastefully, as part of her ongoing saga." --The G Man

"This is a great story." -- ruth

"It's FICTION based on TRUTH and it's publicized as such. That leaves SO much room for the mind to wonder and to wander. Leaves people guessing how much is true and how much is fiction, and just how much went on WHERE." -- IMRIGHTUKNOWIT

"I just finished reading "Secret Radio" and must say that I was captivated by it....I really identified with the struggles that your character, Grace, went through....'Secret Radio' is an Incredible read and uncanny portrayal of the IFB life." -- from a cablelynx reader

"Most excellent!" -- Dave

"I am truly impacted and inspired by the truth and the courage of your characters. This story has real depth and is a study of human nature...which is always a vast study and can be difficult." -- scarlet

"I just want to write to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading [SECRET RADIO].
I came from an IFB background. ...Thank you so much for sharing your story like you have. ... It is captivating and riveting." -- anonymous

"linguistic pornography!" -- jewnorgreek

"We have someone with the courage to warn us, and we punish them by calling it porn? I know it is shocking, but I don't believe for a minute this was written for any reason other than to make us sober and vigilant." -- Pastor Bob

"I have read [SECRET RADIO] and I agree with Pastor Bob" -- Webmaster of the FFF

"Your story takes me back to my own days in a fundamental Baptist Bible college. The details may be somewhat different as it was 40 years ago and not 20. Still, many of the same situations existed even then." -- Don Moffitt

"I've been reading Secret Radio all afternoon....Keep the story coming." -- comment from email

"lady you are spinning a bigtime soap there...and the page that I read was a bit sleezy...you can keep your fundy early afternoon TV show." -- I Have to Laugh

"I...was impressed, as many others obviously were, by the candid (yet not at all prurient or titillating) realism of the story. The main characters were...very believable and human in their tragic faults and surprising virtues." -- Reader from Canada, commenting via email

"This story becomes more incredible with every episode. It's unbelievable how many similarites I see to the IFB college I attended every time I read. I think you're doing a great thing" -- Josh

"Secret Radio paints an inaccurate picture, coming from someone with a known "axe to grind" and an overwhelming desire to show all IFB's as deviants." -- PappaBear

"Just know that one (more) person appreciates this work very much, and your candid (not sensationalized) portrayal. ... Thank you again for writing and sharing Grace and the rest of the crew." -- anonymous

"As much as I wish what was written ...[in SECRET RADIO] was fictional...it isn't. Maybe we don't like the way it was presented -- that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be told. I don't think that it's representative of a statistical majority." --phoenix

"I've only just found this blog, but I've already been through all the archives. I'm amazed at how true to life you've made the details of the story." -- Erin

"I'm only an occasional reader ...Will be less occasional reader in the future." -- tigger2

"Thanks for the great story....too real in some aspects." -- Kathy

"A good piece of fiction, very critical of the worst excesses of Christian Fundamentalists, written by an Evangelical Christian and including several examples of good, loving Fundamentalist Christians among its characters." -- posted by Jedimom on Jabootu's BBS

"What a great story and I'm sad to see it end." -- Winterpen

9. What have readers said about A STANDARD CHRISTIAN? Do you have any reviews?

Yes, here are some brief comments about A STANDARD CHRISTIAN:


You write what the life of a Christian is really like. The honesty of your stories amazes me. Sometimes it's shocking, but [your stories are] true. You never pull your punches. --a church elder

As I read the ending and brushed the tears from my eyes I found myself greatly encouraged that God is in the business of planting and growing "Standard Christians." --Don Moffitt

I came across this site quite by accident one night, but I thank God that I did. ...I have looked forward to each chapter in the life of Grace, and now I feel as if I'm saying good-bye to a dear friend. I look forward to further stories of Grace. --Adam

I wanted to thank you, Jeri, not just for the quality of the story itself, but for what you communicate through it. I've been struggling pretty heavily for the past couple years with God...and have felt like a failure as a Christian many times over. ... I've found a measure of healing through your words. God speaks through you, with the voice of mercy and grace. --"bratcake"

Really excellent stuff....I think I enjoyed this even more than SECRET RADIO. Thanks for sharing it. --R.J. Anderson

I was struck to my heart several times reading this story. ... I even went back and reread portions of A Standard Christian when I needed the encouragement. ...Wonderful story of grace and growth. --Winterpen

I always thought Grace Jovian was one of the most likable characters ever. --Cindy Swanson (Notes in the Key of Life)

Peter Schissel often assumes the name of Pasha Schleskov or Pavel Schleskov when he's doing things he knows he should not be doing, like cyber-stalking me or trying to pick up women through Russian websites. Peter hassled me for a few months under his alias before an anonymous tip from the army base where he is currently stationed (a reservest) told me who he was and supplied some header information to help me out. Peter had hassled me briefly a year before under his real name, so once I was told who Pasha really was, I recognized him. Further research with a tip from a person who frequents this site showed me that Peter frequents Russian web boards looking for women. In spite of his very bad habit of cyber-stalking, he likes to promote himself as a very good Christian. Once every few weeks, my site is visited by Russian or Slavic IP addresses, doing searches on his name. I assume these are women he has been trying to pick up, checking him out. So I leave the information about him posted, to warn women about Peter's darker side.

Here is Peter's last post to me:

Grace-enka!!!
We continue read you story with great interest!
Your comrades from Spring-time steppes of Indy[oops!]...I mean Roosia!
From Pasha...with love.
IKor13
Pasha | 04.24.05 - 4:46 pm | #

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Peter Schissel, you self-deceived nincompoop (and pathetic even at that), nobody is fooled by your long and tedious masquerade but you.

I realize that your life is a complete mess, but you aren't doing anything constructive by limping after me and smirking at how clever you think you are. Everybody just feels sorry for you. Don't you have any self respect? You've made a total fool of yourself, twice now.
GraceJovian | Homepage | 04.25.05 - 3:02 pm | #

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You are being stalked by a narcissistic stalker. I read his remarks on the Blog Jones blog. He is incapable of viewing his actions as wrong.

If you look up "Peter Schissel" on Google search, you will find that this Peter Schissel (with the allina.com address) has had his wife leave him. You mentioned that he sent you suggestive comments, I am sure he is replacing you with her in his mind. He is not just punishing you; he is punishing her, through you.

He doesn't see his actions as cowardly, sneaky, or wrong. He is a great hero in his own mind. His controlling behavior has cost him his marriage, and he must find somebody to blame. Narcissistic people don't take responsibility for their actions. I have e-mailed you some information at your pipeline.com address.
Victor Laslow | 04.30.05 - 8:47 am | #

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Well shiver my timbers! There it is, down at the bottom of the page! His wife has left him. Just about a year ago. You know, I think that was when he started writing to me and hassling me to turn SECRET RADIO into a "soul winners" book. He got really mad when I told him no and explained why his ideas were completely unrealistic. His e-mails became quite abusive until I put a stop to them.

He was still with Allina back then, and when I said I would go to their HR department because he was using their domain name to abuse me, he backed down and apologized.

And to think! He was actually venting against his poor wife. I'm sure she's put up with a lot. And then he accuses her of leaving him on a web site. I'm torn between thinking he's incredibly malicious and incredibly stupid.

Well, there you go! I'm just a proxy. BTW, the allegedly devout and faithful Peter has been seen out on Russian language web sites, trying to pick up "pen pals." I assume that's where he came up with the "Pasha Schleskov" persona that he used for his second round of sending me abusive e-mails and blog comments. (http://www.biserici.ro/forum_groups.php? action=View&mbgroups=5) Peter is the 12th or 13th entry on the page.

Just as his wife leaving him evoked the first round of abusive e-mails from Peter (under his own name), his presence on the Russian Christian singles board occurred at the same time that he started his "Pasha Schleskov" series of abusive e-mails to me.
Jeri Massi | Homepage | 04.30.05 - 1:21 pm | #

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I read with interest the correspondence between you and your IT dept supervisor. He is right. You are probably not Peter's only victim. What else does he do with his time? Nothing. He does not even go off the base.
Victor Laslow | Homepage | 05.08.05 - 8:53 am | #

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Jeri said: I'm torn between thinking he's incredibly malicious and incredibly stupid.

patzer replies: Can't he be both?

Love the sequel. Take care.
patzer | 05.21.05 - 11:12 am | #

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Patzer! Thanks for commenting! And thanks for reading A STANDARD CHRISTIAN! And now that you mention it, I see that yes, Peter Schissel certainly could be both malicious and stupid. He's also whipped. He has stopped bothering me now that I've outed him. I should have done it sooner.

No doubt he is out hounding some other unmarried Christian woman and using some other fake name to do it.

Jeri
Jeri Massi | Homepage | 05.21.05 - 3:38 pm | #