by David Hayward | Dec 26, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm scared
I hope you are all having a lovely holiday. We, at our house, celebrate Christmas because we appreciate the import of the story and the legitimate and powerful message the story conveys for all the earth and all those in it. I also appreciate how you celebrate this...
by David Hayward | Dec 20, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm okay
We go through several spiritual stages. I know I have. Here’s the trick though: As you proceed through these various stages, the voice of That Which We Call God grows quieter and quieter and, in my experience, completely silent. You see, in the past as I grew closer...
by David Hayward | Dec 13, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm okay
I met with an old minister friend yesterday. I mean… we ministered in the same area 25 years ago. Lisa and I visited his church on Sunday and he wanted to meet up for coffee, so we did on Monday. It was an interesting meeting because internally I was feeling no stress...
by David Hayward | Dec 6, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm okay
I mentioned in our Facebook group that Lisa and I went to church on Sunday. We went for a couple of reasons. 1. I love renaissance church music and was hoping to hear some. Nope. 2. We are trying to find ways to connect with other people. Nope. It is a high Anglican...
by David Hayward | Nov 27, 2016 | Daily Toast
I had a strange thing happen to me the other day. A friend posted this picture on facebook. This friend is from years ago when I was in the renewal movement… a movement in which the Vineyard church was involved, and included miracles, very passionate worship music,...
by David Hayward | Nov 21, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm confused
I don’t know about each one of you personally, but I’m sure many of us grew up and lived in a religious context that was defined by ought and must and should. So many rules! Expectations! Goals! Dangers! Warnings! They weren’t always explicit though. They were...
by David Hayward | Nov 14, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm angry
I have a rambling confession. Please bear with me. This last week has been one of the most personally traumatic weeks of my life. What made it so traumatic for me was that I felt betrayed by the media. When I say “media” I mean mainstream media, and I mean generally....
by David Hayward | Nov 7, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm confused, I'm sad
Goodbye to the Ghetto Not longer ago in our private Facebook group I shared that I was experiencing some grief. I feel like I’m losing something and moving on to a new place that is unfamiliar but not unpleasant. I appreciate that some of you have reached out to me...
by David Hayward | Oct 30, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm scared
I have spoken with many of you one on one. I’ve spoken with many others as well. The topic: the change of beliefs and the fear that accompanies it. What’s the first thing I say when someone describes to me the changes in their beliefs and the terror they are feeling?...
by David Hayward | Oct 23, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm okay
The further away you are from the magnetic field, the less pull it has on you. This is what’s happening to me now. And it’s noticeable. To me. To others. I remember one story that was frequently told to me about Moody, the famous preacher. The story goes something...
by David Hayward | Oct 16, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm okay
Hi guys! Later today we’re having a video hangout… 5pm EST (USA). I hope you can show up! They’re always fun and helps us feel more connected. CLICK HERE for the link. I did a cartoon yesterday that captured something that’s been brewing within me for a while now. I...
by David Hayward | Oct 9, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm confused
A very interesting thing happened to me this week. Someone on Facebook asked me which theologian I like to read. I suddenly realized that I don’t read theology. Not anymore. I used to. I used to be obsessed with it. I devoured it. I had thousands of theology books and...
by David Hayward | Oct 2, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm sad
Good morning my friends. I awakened very early this morning from a dream. When I wake up I usually can’t get back to sleep so I got up and made coffee. I’m drinking it now and decided to write my weekly letter to you. It’s been percolating for a while, and it’s time I...
by David Hayward | Sep 25, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm okay
Distance Makes the Heart Grow… The other day Lisa and I visited with a friend who went to the last church we pastored. The one I left in 2010. She stayed after we left for as long as she could. But she eventually left as well. We are still friends. The pastor...
by David Hayward | Sep 18, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm okay
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since I launched The Lasting Supper in 2012 (Wow! Four years ago!”) is that TLSers are generally speaking fiercely spiritually independent. Let me explain what I mean by that. When I started TLS, I initially thought it would be...
by David Hayward | Sep 11, 2016 | David's Letters, I'm sad
My life used to be so full of people! Every week, sometimes several times, like clockwork, I thrust myself into the midst of the devout throng to conform and perform. Was that the price for love? It was beautiful then I thought. Now, I wonder… How beautiful was it,...
