“No matter what happened though, I knew that personally I was much better off depending on God’s plan, not my own. It’s easy to forget that in the chaos [of day-to-day life.] But when life invariably leads me back to that truth, my perspective changes and I find peace amidst all storms. … I selently acknowledged my human weaknesses, consciously handed my future over to God, and asked for His wisdom, strength, and grace.”

I always work hard to broaden my perspective and to broaden my expectations for I know not what lies ahead. I try to move forward without fear, eyes wide open, and as ready as I can be for what might come next. Sometimes “brokenness” comes from having unrealistic or wrong expectations. Brokeness seems to be compouned when we lack respect for each other and/or have too narrow of a perspective. If not for you, at least it does for me. Also, brokeness seems to be compounded by fear. We all know how our imaginations will run wild when we let fear enter in. If you have ever been in the dark and afraid until the lights came on, you know what I mean. What was fearful while in the dark suddenly was not so fearful in the light. What changed? Perspective, Knowledge and ?

Happy Sabbath – Bill

Brothers and Sisters,

I saw many of you at the church meeting tonight and know that the rest of you will get an update soon enough. At the risk of biasing anyone, I feel compelled to share some thoughts while they are fresh. Don’t let them change your opinion. I know you are all capable of forming your own.

First – Craigan did a great job. Actually, all the panel did a great job and I appreciated what I perceived to be honest and heart-felt comments from them all. Craigan though was impressive. I believe that the church is much better off getting this information out to all. There are things we can all agree on. There are things that we can agree to disagree on. In the end, we can respect each person’s views as long as we know they have good intentions and are being honest. It also helps us to understand their perspective.

I have some ongoing questions and comments and if any of you cares to comment/answer back, that would be welcomed and appreciated.

One of the messages I heard tonight was a concern that the method connections is using for evangelism is essentially a “five year plan” to get someone converted to Adventism. They thought this was too long because Jesus is coming soon and people need to be converted “now.” Hmmmm. I’m on the “five year plan.” Where does this leave me? I guess for some, they would leave me behind with the other lost soles. My question is if “Jesus is coming soon,” when is soon? I didn’t think anyone had actually put a date on it. Haven’t we been hearing that Jesus is coming soon for 2000 years now? Five years = 0.25%. So in relative terms, five years is not long. I guess “soon” is a relative term and in God’s perspective, “soon” may be longer than in our perspective.

Concerns were raised that our “distinct message” is not being told, not being shared, not a part of the connections/first serve program. This is in reference to the “distinct message” of the Adventist Church. This may be true because I have to ask what the heck is “our distinct message?” Is there more than one? Is it really a single “distinct message?” I don’t want to find out 4.5 years into my plan that I’m not headed in the right direction. We might need to spend a we bit more time talking about the message.

There were concerns raised that the methods used by connections/first serve, the music, and the lessons water down what the Adventist Church is and stands for. The reason for this concern I believe is because at the core of the Adventist church are certain rules and principles. If you compromise on those rules and principles, then you change the very identity of the church and it “morphs” into something different. In some circles they would say it evolves (but that comes from the word evolution) and it probably should not be used here. In some circles, they would call this “progress” but that is the foundation for the word “progressive” and lately I’m very much against progressive movements because of politics in this country. But regardless of what label we put on it, there is a legitimate concern that moving away from values and principles (notice I didn’t use the word “rules”) do change the foundation of the church. It could destroy it, weaken it, turn it into something different. We should stay true to the “values and principles” for they should stand up to test of time.

I think we gain strength through our differences. One analogy tonight was that we are a little like a family with a grown son. “It’s time for him to move out.” We still love him but he no longer lives by our rules so he needs to get his own place. I don’t think this analogy works for me so let me try another analogy. I don’t think our church family resembles a father-son relationship. I think our church family more closely resembles a husband-wife relationship. We have our differences but we can love each other and respect each other. We just have to remember that we can’t change each other. And just because she leaves her dresser drawers open or just because I don’t put the seat down when I’m done is not reason enough to get a divorce. We are better and stronger collectively than we would be individually. It is our differences that help us to see the bigger picture and other perspectives and to expand our critical thinking.

What I think is needed (and lacking to some degree) is mutual respect. For example, the traditionalist don’t like the first serve music. They think it is evil. I would argue that they have jumped to this conclusion because it “is different.” If they were to stop and listen to the message in the music, they would see that the message is just as powerful, just as Christian, and just as beautiful as the second serve music. What they are mistaking for evil is just a difference in “style.” The meaning in music comes from the message and not from the style.

It is true. Some of the traditionalist in our church are scared. They are fearful of the devil working to deceive them and the problem with that is you don’t often know you are being deceived until it is too late because you are deceived. I have looked carefully and openly at what connection and first serve have been doing. I see only good in this. It is raw, passionate, and from the heart. I do not see any place for the devil to be working in any of this. If the devil were present, I do not see where he would benefit by taking us down this path. However, I will admit that what I see does not look very much like “Adventism” but I’m no expert. I can only say that it looks “different” from some other Adventist Sabbath classes and worship services that I’ve seen.

I like the differences. I like them a lot! This is the first time in my life that I have felt called to go to church or to study the bible as well as my own spiritual positions. I feel connected. I feel accepted. I feel rewarded. I feel that I am growing. And I don’t think I’m the devil. I also don’t think the devil would drag me from my lost-faith position to this new place. It would not serve him well.

Thanks to all of you,

Bill Littlefield

Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary by Lee Strobel and Present Truth in the Real World by Jon Paulien give compelling reasons for gardening. And not just inside the greenhouse.

Doing Church as a Team by Wayne Cordeiro give practical advice on steps to a community garden. A green thumb not required.

I read somewhere that some plant, some water, but only the Great Gardner can make things grow. 1 Cor 3:6-8

I feel spring in the air. Thank you Lisa!

Stupendous writing! You’ve told me this story before, but I must say this expanded version is tremendous. I could feel the awe and tightness at the beginning and then the freedom and tipsiness of the metaphorical action of standing up.! I felt the act of being alive!

I didn’t think the story required a stated moral, but I must say that your discussion of the condition of the human male was just as well-written and profound as the story. The discussion gave me a new resolution of perseverance.

Cheers,
Bob

P.S. When you publish your next book, I expect to see the story and the discussion side by side (but without the segue sentence, “I realize…” since it isn’t needed.)