All he did was pose a question and everyone thinks he’s an idiot! Questions open the mind to wisdom, but they don’t realize that. (Are you looking for a community where it’s safe to ask questions? Go to davidhayward.ca.) Purchase the original drawing, or you can get a print! Read more
I’m so excited to be launching my new site today. The name of it is davidhayward.ca. I’m looking forward to what’s going to happen there. Last night I wrote a post, “my new idea for you” as the explanation behind it. So I just want to give you a little bit of information about it: THE SITE: The site davidhayward.ca is dedicated to those recognizing they are going through spiritual transition and want encouragement, support and fellowship in a safe and... Read more
After I left professional ministry in 2010 I got a good transitional position teaching English to international students at a local university. This was a very positive experience for me, but that season’s over. I have been providing blogging and cartoons about the state of the Christian church as a labour of love for years and have been gratified to find that so many people around the world relate to my musings. I wonder now if there’s a way for... Read more
It is an important development in one’s spiritual journey to live beyond labels. That is, you are comfortable without a label, nor are you threatened by them. I don’t mind if people call me a Christian. I also don’t mind if people call me an Atheist or an Agnostic. I’m comfortable without applying any of these, and I’m also not threatened by them. I am more than these labels. And Love sees past these. Like this man getting dressed for... Read more
Viktor Frankl, in his famous book Man’s Search For Meaning, shares about a time he was participating in a group therapy session, complied of a variety of people who were experiencing a variety of sufferings. As we know, Frankl’s primary interest in logotherapy, which he developed, was that it is meaning that gives one a reason to live. The human is not given a passion for life by simply self-actualizing, but by self-transcending. We need to reach into our deepest... Read more
I got this line from the interesting film, Machine Gun Preacher” when Sam Childers expresses this sad reflection, overcome with the cruel injustice he’s witnessing in the Sudan. I immediately wrote it down in my journal when I heard it because I’ve said this when confronted with incredibly bad news or when going through a crisis. In the context of suffering words like “God is in control!” make absolutely no sense. Anything happens! Realizations such as this help us move... Read more
From my earliest memory I always wondered why prayers weren’t answered. I mean the important ones. The life and death ones. The ones that matter. I always held rationalizations suspect, such as: Thank God for unanswered prayer! or, God does answer prayer, just in his own way. or, Only the prayers of the righteous are heard and answered. or, You need to pray with more faith… as if it is already answered. or, Are you begging, or are you submitting... Read more
My mission is to empower people to be spiritually independent and happy about it. I used to think I help people who’ve left the church or are having difficulty staying. Actually, people who’ve left the church haven’t necessarily changed their thinking. So my mission has become even more focused. Who I really help are people who’s belief systems are crashing down around them and are losing their faith. As a result, the church has become meaningless or even harmful to... Read more
Almost every day I receive mail from people expressing their concern that I’m focusing on the bad things that happen to people and don’t mention the good things enough. They feel my perspective is skewed by my own experience. Very often I get expressions of pity as they wish I would hurry up and heal and leave my bitterness behind and get back to church. I’m not bitter. I’m very happy. And I surely don’t believe I’m over-emphasizing. Many people... Read more
Buy a print of this cartoon from my online store! Read more
nakedpastor
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