I know less than you might imagine...

Some who are just now coming to an awareness of some changes have asked, "What's going on with Central and you?"  

I don't know what all to tell you if you've not been around recently. 

[I will add this after the fact that you can go back and read over my blog posts for a lot more clarity. There's a lot more to it than I'm saying here, but this is the kind of language that seems to connect with some more easily than the deconstruction/rebuilding side of things.]

I'm actually disconnected from that organization now. 

It's been since the last day of January 2024 that I walked away from that collection of good people.

Since then, I've been made aware of many things from God I didn't know were available or possible, so it's kind of hard to look back with any objective information to speak of.

God is MUCH bigger than I've allowed him to be before. 

I am grateful for what he used to move me to how I can see things today.  I know there is more ahead.

There are many good people there. I don't know how to speak of them without speaking of the good things God has done through them.  

There are also other kinds of impacts some have had as well.

Some of my favorite people in the world are there and vice versa - probably for reasons that might not be easily comprehensible, but that's my deal, not theirs - or maybe there's a middle ground, we'll see.

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I wish all the best in terms of people growing to know God through Jesus. 

Like all congregations, it is one whose identity is shaped over time by people who desire "it" to go a certain way.

When I arrived in '89, it was headed in a direction and, since then, it's shifted back and forth from one direction to another, usually following the lead of one specific family's/person's influence, which continues on.

Now, from what I've heard, it has finally landed on something that a few have conceded to agree on and managed to work through as "the way" to go for God's leadership. 

I didn't jibe with the overall direction that Central was headed when I decided to leave, again, because I felt it was one or two people who wanted to see something done that would benefit their ideal vision.

Maybe that will work out for them and for the good of God's kingdom. I don't know. 

I know where Central came from and how it "got there" and how the direction it was headed when I left "got that way" - that's all I know.  It's beyond me today.  And that's all good.  

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Probably important to know or realize is that I don't have any investment there anymore with the exception of my youngest who still is a part of the youth group there. I'm really glad he likes them.  That is an amazing blessing or good thing.

I am SO grateful to God for the good things that happened when me and mine were there. I am grateful for the things God will continue to do there and/or through those people.

When I occasionally/rarely watch the livestream of what's happening on an average Sunday AM there now, it's both what you'd expect and completely foreign to me at the same time - reflective of my changes, not theirs.

It's just the way things work when you lean heavily into developing a collection of people who will, intersubjectively, scratch each other's backs to continue feeding a specific kind of homogenous people.

It's just not me anymore. 

Probably wasn't for at least 5-10 years. Just now realizing that I was kidding myself and hoping that something miraculous would appear to shape how it was all going down.  That's just life.

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And at the same time, I know God is at work among us all.  Even among those whose flavors don't reach my taste buds.  

That's the beauty of Romans 14, isn't it?

Church isn't about "having to" be like everyone else or liking what everyone else likes to like.  

It's about God's people receiving his love and learning to trust and depend on him, even if it looks different to people who come from different backgrounds and/or didn't go to your Christian college.

I know that among the people I "left behind" there are many who wonder what's next. 

I ask on a regular basis that God shows you that - I know he will.  

I pray you'll be able to hear it and act on it. Whatever it is.

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In the meantime, I've been learning to live in a freedom I didn't know was possible.

Shaking off the shadow of that was/is harder than I imagined, but worth it.

I pray that God will bless you with the good things I'm learning, even if it means a path completely different than the one I walk.  That's 100% all good.

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Many thanks to you who ask and wonder what's going on with me.  

I love you and don't have any ill will - we're just on different paths that I believe God has orchestrated - enjoy yours - I know I am enjoying mine.

If you ever have questions about what I was thinking or doing or am thinking or doing, feel free to ask.  

I have nothing to hide, at all.

I have heard rumors of reasons why I left and, to some degree, they make me laugh.  

To another degree, they make me sick, but I know that's the way people think and work.  

Just ask me, I'll tell you my POV.

Anyway, I'm always open to talking about God and what he's done for us and what he's doing it.

I'm WAY less interested in "church stuff" as it was for me before.  

But if that's where you need to start a conversation with me, that's okay too.

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Grace and peace to you and yours.