Where did Dale go?

After nearly a year of silence on this blog it's time for me to speak. Over the past several months much has changed in my life. Last December I left the ministry at the church that I founded and led for 15 years. My personal life changed dramatically.

Today I am working as a customer accounts manager with a local Aaron's store. I have moved to Warren, PA and live with the most wonderful girl Melissa, whom I have known for more that 28 years. My failures in ministry have effected many people and I am indeed sorry for the injuries caused. But a point that I preached many times proved to be so very true. If our focus is on a man or woman and not on God, we are destined for troubles. For those who leaned into me and saw me as their personal savior, you must now realize that we are all human, leaders included. Our personal lives take twists and turns and we make decisions that can and often do result in brokenness. As an author and Bible teacher I failed, at least as the religious establishment would see it. As a husband I also failed, this I know. However, there are issues within the context of any home that are not seen from the outside. These contribute positively or negatively on life in general.

Many have now decided to speak out publicly against me personally at this time. That is their call. They choose to judge and should be warned that with that same judgment they will also be judged. For many years I preached grace, love, forgiveness and life. I spoke often of our need to refrain from judging others when we only know what we know. I reminded my hearers that Jesus' primary issues were with the religious leaders and their brand of religion. Today I am the subject of their scorn and ridicule and they feel justified in doing so.

But I must post this observation. I spent many years thinking that my brand of Christianity had a corner market on truth. While I preached love and grace, I privately held the view that if you disagreed with my view you were certainly wrong. It is this view that I repent of now. I used to judge others for their positions on many issues. Today I listen to them and keep an open heart to them, knowing that they are on a journey that must be completed and the end of it is before them, sometimes afar off.

As charismatic/pentecostal Christians, the brand of which I was part, our view excluded so many people that it is truly scary. Today I choose to remain open to listening and learning from those who are on the journey of life. While some will think that I have abandoned God, I have not. Others will see my life as filled with sin and in need of correction. I am reminded that all have sinned and all do sin. We need Jesus to cleanse us and make us whole. This I know.

I make no apology for where I am today, for I am pressing on to whatever turn life has in front of me. In the area of personal relationships I am grateful for Melissa, and for all those who are remaining objective enough to love. For those who choose to judge and ridicule, to condemn and criticize, to gossip and back stab, and even for those who in their self-righteousness have determined my/our personal and eternal fate, I say "you are forgiven" and if you have been harmed by me, I ask for your forgiveness.

I am relieved to not be a pastor any longer. I am relieved on so many levels that I cannot relate them all to you. I am also struggling in some important areas such as finances, etc. I am sure that some will be happy to hear this, while others will be more understanding and helpful. I have not lost faith, but my faith has grown to embrace certain other things that I will write about later. Meantime, I am going to update this whenever I feel like it and if you read it, fine and if not, who cares?

Have a nice life!