by David Hayward | Feb 13, 2018 | David's Letters, I'm confused
5 STEPS TO RECOVERY FROM SPIRITUAL ABUSE 1. Admit that it happened. What I find with many people who’ve experienced abuse is that they can’t believe that such a thing happened to them in the church. It is repugnant to them that an organization that boasts...
by David Hayward | Feb 4, 2018 | David's Letters, I'm angry, I'm sad
WHEN TO PUSH BACK One of our members asked in our Facebook group something to the effect, “When do you finally speak up or push back?” I thought I would share with you what I do. I finally speak up: 1. When I feel I’m being seriously violated in some way… when my...
by David Hayward | Jan 28, 2018 | David's Letters, I'm sad
For those of you not keeping up with the news in our private Facebook group, I have an announcement you should hear. One of our founding members and facilitators, Chris McGill, passed away suddenly on Thursday. He was at work and was found in the bathroom. The autopsy...
by David Hayward | Jan 20, 2018 | David's Letters, I'm okay
This morning I picked up one of my older journals and started reading through it. I had some impressions: 1. “I like this guy!” Even though I have changed a lot since the writing in this journal and I was quite different back then, I like me back then. I was earnest....
by David Hayward | Jan 14, 2018 | David's Letters, I'm confused
I remember having a discussion with a friend some years ago. Well… it was an argument. He claimed that in order to do real good in the world and bring about true change, you had to be in major centers… cities… and be actively involved in social issues. He believed it...
by David Hayward | Jan 7, 2018 | David's Letters, I'm scared
I am the parent of three adult children. I love them very much. They are an adventurous bunch. They do things like climb mountains, skydive, swim with sharks, and other activities that worry me. I’ve told them, “Why can’t you just get a regular, steady job, marry,...
by David Hayward | Jan 1, 2018 | David's Letters, I'm okay
When I left the church in 2010, I left the luxury of ready-made community. I’ve tried other things since, including Toast Masters, but nothing came even close to the quality, depth, authenticity, accountability, and intimacy of community the church potentially...
by David Hayward | Dec 23, 2017 | David's Letters, I'm angry, I'm confused
Some Advice for Being with Family Over Christmas 1. Be confident in your position, even if you’re confused about it. It’s okay. 2. Don’t go where you don’t want to go. Figure out ways of saying, “I don’t want to talk about that.” 3. You don’t have to reveal everything...
by David Hayward | Dec 10, 2017 | David's Letters, I'm confused
I often think of the passage in the gospels where Jesus asks, “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples reported to Jesus all the opinions they’d heard about him. Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” I find this passage fascinating. Even though I...
by David Hayward | Dec 2, 2017 | David's Letters, I'm angry, I'm sad
It’s been a strange week. On the one hand, I have continued to say that Christianity is my home but I have cottages everywhere. I’ve also continued to say that Christian is my family of origin. I have also said that even though I’m out of the church I’m still in the...
by David Hayward | Nov 26, 2017 | David's Letters, I'm scared
When I decide to ramp up my self-exposure, I always brace myself for a new onslaught of criticism. I first typed “embrace myself”. That too! So, what’s been going on recently? Why the new onslaught of criticism? I noticed a link in my nakedpastor dashboard to a...
by David Hayward | Nov 21, 2017 | David's Letters, I'm okay
What I Don’t Miss Yesterday, as I was scrolling through Facebook, I was rather alarmed at all the fights and divisions that were taking place. Over what? Predestination. Sin. Heaven and Hell. Authority. Bible. Divine inspiration. And theologians are differentiating...
by David Hayward | Nov 12, 2017 | David's Letters, I'm okay
This Sunday morning, around 8am, as I was making Lisa and I a pour-over coffee with lovely free-trade French roast, I felt overwhelmed with a very simple peace and joy. Very, very simple. I turned to Lisa and said, “Honey, how can this be any better? Here we are...
by David Hayward | Nov 5, 2017 | David's Letters, I'm okay
Last week Lisa and I went to a farmers market. We came across a couple selling handmade copper jewelry. I noticed a very handsome hammered mens ring. I liked it very much. And it fit perfectly on the one finger that feels inexplicably stiff lately. They both wore...
by David Hayward | Oct 30, 2017 | David's Letters, I'm scared
I think back on the times when I felt trapped. My freedom came immediately upon realizing that I wasn’t trapped at all, but only afraid of the consequences of acting upon my freedom. Fear. That’s the biggest obstacle to almost everything. Now, it wasn’t that the...
by David Hayward | Oct 17, 2017 | David's Letters, I'm okay
Good day my friends. I want to tell you about a new creative venture I’m initiating. For years now some people have been encouraging me to teach other creative types how to do what I do… how I seem to just constantly come up with new ideas, create prolifically, and...
