There’s A Fresh Wind a Blowing!
Today I resigned as the pastor of the Straughn Community Chapel. I left with only love in my heart for a people who have been good to me and to my family for many years. When I came back to them three years ago I had told them I was going to preach the message of my heart that all men and women are redeemed and I stayed true to my word and to my heart. They did their very best to try and understand this message of God’s unconditional love and some of them did get it, but unfortunately there were just too many doubts.
When all of christendom is preaching a message of Hell for the damned the message that refutes that is overpowered by the fear of the masses, but the message of the damned will never win. It just does not matter what man decides in his mind, because God is greater then the strongest wills of men.
When they (the moral elite) hung Jesus on the cross they were sure they had kept in tact their religion of self righteousness, and in fact God had given them the victory, but it wasn’t the one they thought they had won. Paul would later realize this when Jesus showed him the real victory with all of its glory. He would fall down on his knees with praise for a God who had always loved him in spite of his self righteous ways. He would later call his own righteousness dung (that’s poop).
I can say with a clear conscience that my message for the last thirty-three years of preaching has been one of love and acceptance and the more I understood it the greater my love and peace with all men grew. I had always hoped that the church would hear this message but I say with great sadness that for the most part the church universal loves only in part. It loves only in part because it has been blinded by it’s own ideas of good and evil.
To love like God does we must give up all of our ideas of good and evil and align ourselves with the only righteousness that we have ever had. It is a righteousness that can not be gained by our belief or by our actions. It is the righteousness that came by faith, God’s faith in us.
Rom 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
What will be my future?
I will reign in life with God’s abundant provision of grace and righteousness.
I will wake up with the dawning of each new day filled with the awe of a loving Father.
I will live with the peace that is beyond description.
I will judge no one.
I will condemn no one.
I will see through the eyes of the one who looked at the moral elite who had hung him on the cross and said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
And I will continue to preach this message to anyone who will listen as long as I have breath.
I also want to say a special thank-you to my family who have stood by me, and to my grace buddies whose prayers and thoughts gave me strength when I most needed it.
And now allow me to end with a prayer:
May God bless the Straughn Community Chapel for allowing me the opportunity to preach the greatest message in all the world. May God grant them wisdom in choosing their next pastor. May they be a loving and accepting church of all who walk through their doors, and may all their doubts and fears be turned into complete and total trust of the Father who will never let them down.
Amen
There’s a fresh wind a blowing, Do you feel it?
Yes my friend I do feel the fresh wind. But to those in a religious mindset it is a threatening hurricane and it reeks havoc on what they have always trusted in i.e. their own righteousness! This message of Grace & Peace is destine to win! The will of God is far superior to that of man! Man may desire to have his belief count but it never did and NEVER will! All of our belief will at sometime in our life when we most need it FAIL! But the faith of God NEVER FAILS! Thank God that His faith is the ONLY FAITH! And that our faith counts not one iota!
I join you in your prayer for Straughn Chapel. When we left our 25 year place of community we tried to bless. But those in leadership we left behind cursed us and spread lies about us. And now after 5 years I am okay with that fact. When we leave those whom we have given our hearts and lives to it hurts and we desire them to understand but most time they don’t because of their own hurt which they transfer to you because it is too much for them to bear. But take heart in the end of things Peace and Grace win if we continue to walk in them.
Cliff and Nancy,
WE LOVE YOU!
Peace
Geo
Yes, the wind of the Spirit is blowing and being resisted by the fearful religious crowd. They can see their finances drying up, since most church people give out of fear.
For awhile I have believed that the “organization of religion” would collapse. Now I convinced that it will exist until the end and will be the “antichrist” in any final conflict. The true Christ Spirit of unconditional love can never have an organization to support itself.
Cliff, have you ever considered being a hospice chaplain? We have only one theology…….God is love!
May the Lord give you incredible peace and joy.
Chappy
There’s a fresh wind blowing indeed. I feel a sadness to hear the news that you resigned, not really for yourself although I know it is a difficult time, but for the Straughn Chapel congregation as they have obviously not seen the message of freedom and will likely bring on a pastor with a “bondage” message instead.
But then, that seems to be the “norm” if I can use that term. Hopefully in the future they will realize the message they were recieving through your teaching and preaching is the true message of the Gospel. My prayer for them is that they will let the Lord open their eyes, as without the Lord revealing this message to the heart, we cannot see it. Without a doubt, the Lord used you for a few years to try and get them to see.
As you move along Cliff, I am sure there will be unlimited opportunities for you to share this awesome message of freedom. All the best to you in the days and years ahead. And yes, I can feel the wind.
Yes my friend cliff i have felt that wind blow and it has blown right across the sea to ireland throught your words of wisdom and grace concerning the Gospel.Its a same that the people there don’t share your veiws my friend.But you have been faithful in sharring this message of grace.It will take root be sure of that.When i first sharred this with my friend david he wanted to accept it but found he couldn’t.But as time went on it took root.And now he can preach it better than i can.
I wish you and your family the best for the future.And i pray that you are replaced at Straughn Chapel by one who carrys the same mantel of grace that you have sharred with them for the past three years.
Your friend and brother,
kenneth
Cliff,
I was shocked and saddened to read your post this morning. When we left the Grace Gathering, I knew there were some issues you needed to work through with a few of the people in the church. But, I was hopeful they would allow you to stay and continue to preach the true gospel. I feel sad for them that they would choose to continue to serve a weak, angry god and are not able to see how great the real G-d is.
I’ll be praying for you and your family. I’m sure this is a difficult time of transition for you.
Peace,
Brian
One door closes… many new ones will open. Look forward to the next step!
Someday, the folks at Straughn Chapel will look back on their time with you and realize that the tiny bit of freedom they tasted is taking over their lives. As liberty abounds, so will their love. You have planted the seeds of the true Gospel of Christ, and from it renewed hearts will grow and flourish!
Great peace to all!
Church people seem to choose their leaders based on what they want to hear. A few years ago I couldn’t hear the good news because I had heard a gospel that was no gospel at all for so many years and I was afraid to want to hear anything outside of what I then considered to be orthodox. It took God’s challenge to me to not be afraid to imagine the absolute best from Him.
On a church sign yesterday I read that we should “expect the unexpected”. Most church people would agree with that but when presented with the best news possible, they choose to expect what is not good news for most. But thank God for men like you. With the passion you have for this bold grace and the love you have for all people I am certain there will be plenty of opportunity for you to continue to preach your heart. It is obvious that you are so full of grace that it can’t help but flow from you.
Thank God for the God given strength that you possess and the rare courage to not be controlled by what people want to hear. As we have said before, you, my friend are indeed a very rare pearl of great price.
Dad,
I am so proud of you. I keep thinking to myself that if it hadn’t been for you being true to yourself I might not have had the strength to be true to my heart. Thank you for doing what you did yesterday. Thank you for always giving others this freedom. Thank you for your wisom, your knowledge and your tender heart.
I have never felt more connected to you and Mom and you both seem more connected then ever before. Your courage and strength is light to my life. What I witnessed yesterday was a man of God stand up for what he knows is right. Dad, you planted a seed. You have always been planting seeds in the hearts of all of those who are lucky enough to encounter your heart. It will be awesome to watch others grow. Your story is one that will be shared forever. I have always said to you that this is your last life here on earth because you got it right. You got your wings Dad. I am such a lucky person and I don’t think I will ever really understand just how lucky I am.
Chaplain Roy and I have spoken many times about the “wind that’s blowing”. I feel sad for the church, but the seed has been sown. There will be many more opportunities for you. Blessings to you and your family
Dad,
You will remember this poem. You have truely found your true Identity and this poem reminds of that. This poem has always been special for me, because i can remember standing up in front of the family and saying for my grandparents.
The Man in the Mirror
When you get all you want and you struggle for self,
and the world makes you king for a day,
then go to the mirror and look at yourself
and see what that man has to say.
For it isn’t your mother, your father or wife
whose judgment upon you must pass,
but the man, whose verdict counts most in your life
is the one staring back from the glass.
He’s the fellow to please,
never mind all the rest.
For he’s with you right to the end,
and you’ve passed your most difficult test
if the man in the glass is your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
You can fool the whole world,
down the highway of years,
and take pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
if you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
My heart aches with joy overflowing from all the Love that has been provided. Each word spoken is truly the reminder to me that God reigns in all our hearts and we can trust that. Thank you all for each and every comment. Yes, I do feel the Father’s arms lifting me up higher and higher.
Hey Daddy! You know I’m not sad! I am one of the few that has heard the message of love ALL my life. It was the most important thing you and mom gave to us kids. What amazes me is how many people need to believe in the hatred and sickness of religion. My girlfriend asked me where we were going to go to church now that you have resigned and I said we are going to spend more time together as a family. What I didn’t tell her is that when I said family I didn’t just mean you and mom and us kids. Every one you and mom encounter are accepted as OUR family. Even when we were little and you were imprisioned by the church……I remember a home that was always OPEN and WELCOMED everyone who wanted to be loved. We keep talking about the seed being planted but you have been planting the seed for as long as I can remember! You know how much I look up to you but yesterday I felt so much PRIDE in my heart because when I watched you giving the most powerful message I have ever heard I didn’t just see my DAD…..I saw a part of God and now I can tell people “I HAVE SEEN GOD AND HE IS GREAT!” When I talked to Grandma and she told me her concern for you because you have always loved going to church…….I said “Grandma…in my whole life I have never seen my Dad so happy to be a part of BOLD GRACE because it has been a way for you to connect with so many people who “GET IT!” I get it Dad and it is because you and mom kept searching! Thank you for searching and I love you!!!!!!
LOVE IS MY RELIGION!
Amy
WOW Cliff!
Hearing your children describe you and Nancy and then hearing Amy say that all you encounter she considers as family I am humbled and filled with JOY!
To ALL of The Hazelbaker Kids:
I want you to also know that me and Bonnie consider you “our” kids also! I am so lucky or blessed or whatever you want to call it to have met you all! My only sorrow in knowing your families is that we do not live closer to one another! I also pray that one day my two sons could speak as highly of me and Bonnie as you do of your mom and dad!
THE HAZELBAKERS ROCK!
Peace
Geo
Cliff, your children are a wonderful testimony of how fine a witness you are of this awesome message of grace and unconditional love, through your life as well as your words. I hope that I get to meet you all at some point.
Grace and peace in abundance to you all.
I caught myself talking to someone the other day about having gone through a narrow door (like the door to the city in Jesus’s story), but now that was done, how the whole world seemed to be opening up to me. This door is the door of grace. Emerging from a fear based culture which will not admit to this fear, is a profound milestone.
Cliff, I see how you love fellowship and family. Surely this is the real foundation of the community of G-d. And if the foundation is good, there can be no limit to what can be built.
I identify with your current nomadic status; I recently tried (for a year) to belong in an exclusivist fellowship, but gave up. Now my wife and I host small meetings exploring new worship and community. It has no status, in fact it is not even sure it IS a community, but it feels right. Micah 6 - “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
How are you currently viewing worship/community?
Oh yes, I wanted to ask have you seen the movie “As it is in heaven”? It’s a profound story of religeon and grace.
Nic……I thank you for your words of wisdom. As far as how I view worship/community goes I can’t really give you an answer right now. I just waiting to see what doors will open up.
And no, I haven’t seen that movie but you can be assured I will now.
Cliff,
I understand the need to bless those who pressured you to leave, but it still means the game of religion goes on. I share much in common with you. I was a few years ago a school bus driver in between ministries, a pastor, a hoosier by birth, and one who found the inescapable love of God right there in the scriptures after I dug just a bit deeper (or hung on a little bit longer).
I am trying my best to build bridges of understanding of the gospel, but the TV preachers, the system, the fear based ideologies keep people caught up in the us vs. them theologies. Right now I keep on doing my pastoral ministry but I wonder how long before the watchers who have resented the freedom will begin to do their sweet gossipy thing. I should not cling to the right to make a living from the gospel as I have for a number of decades. Part of me would rather sit on a couch with a few people who enjoy being reconciled and living the message of reconciliation.
It will all work out, neat or messy, it always does.
Thinking of you and your Boldgrace cohorts this morning.
Pastor Don in AZ
Thanks Don. I also think of you and hope and pray that your experience within the church walls will turn out better then mine. I do think this message is beginning to get through to some.
While others scream the word of God, you whisper the words that all can hear (God is love)…
Allways proud of you
Doug
I love that, Doug! Beautifully said!
Hey Don H, always good to hear from you. You can sit on my couch anytime….and I agree with Bruce, that was a wonderful way to say it Doug.
Dear Cliff,
I want to start off by saying I will truely miss you and your family deeply.
Going into church that Sunday I have to say I was truely confused. I knew that we were going to be voting on whether or not I wanted to continue learning from you. I did not know what I was going to vote.
On one hand I did not want to continue. There were many things that I did not see eye to eye with you on. But on the other hand I wanted to continue to hear you speak because I want to believe what you are saying. I want to have that peace all of you clearly have.
After reading all of the comments from everyone on here I knew that I had to post a comment.
I want you to understand where I’m coming from. I have been taught the same thing my entire life. Its hard to just disregaurd something that you have believed and lived for, for 19 years to just completely change to something that you’ve heard for 3. I can only imagine how others in the congregation were feeling since I am the youngest. Did you believe all that you believe in now the first time you heard it?
I wish you would have waited it out to see what the congregation had to say. I think that most of us wanted you to stay. I understand though why you didnt want to do that.
Just please put yourself in my shoes, and try to understand where I’m coming from. You stood up for what you believe in, and I understand that, but do you understand that we only did the same.
I want to thank you for all that you have done for me, I really believe that I am a better person from knowing you and your whole family and I love you all. Everyone on here is saying that you have “planted the seed” and I really hope that one day I will believe in all that you have told me. Good luck in all that you do, and thank you so much for letting me into your heart and for coming into mine.
Ashley,
I truly understand where you are coming from. I was fortunate enough to have a father that told me to follow my heart and be real even though he knew he was a prisonor and had not broke free yet. He encouraged me to set out on a voyage of truth. I went to all different kinds of Churches who believed in different things, but ultimatley they all would have to considered me a sinner and damned to hell. I was sixteen when I started this. Each time I was baptized or saved it was because I was scared I would go to hell or I thought it would stop me from being a sinner, but it was a temporary high and eventually what religion considered me to be was once again a sinner because I questioned their beliefs.
My Dad has taught this message my entire life, but he felt he had to be in Church to get the message aross to others. What surprises me the most is that the one Church he thought was getting it ultimatley in the end was afraid to believe it and still needs a hell to put everyone in. My Dad understands what all of you are going through, but he made a choice of freedom and I am so proud of him. He will always be there for anyone who needs him. That won’t ever change. That is a part of his core. Please know this, my Dad’s message of Grace isn’t new. This isn’t something that he pulled out of the sky. He has always had this in his heart just as you do. He has literally my entire life spoke of this. Yes, he became more free to be more open about it, but the core of every message he spoke of was of Grace. You are just now opening your heart to it. It doesn’t have to be difficult or confusing.
Ashley,
Just know that your heart can be trusted because that’s where God is. My path has been a journey that has led me to a freedom that unfortunately few find. I know your sweet heart and have a high confidence that you will be where I am some day. I will always have you in my thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Cliff
It is so good to read of others on a similar journey. We can connect much more deeply and share and know that there will be understanding.
I have been a Christian for 33 years and just came into seeing the Savior of all in the last 5. I was not brought up in a Christian home and had a very dramatic conversion, where GOD told me to get a Bible and change my life, which I did!! This was true repentance(turning around). Then in the last 5 years a new thing began to happen. I am an avid searcher of the WORD and often go by the Heb/Gr. meanings of words. I had never questioned the foundational teachings of the Denominations but GOD began to show me how wrong the teachings were for such words as “hell”, punishment, torment, forever, etc…and boy did my hair stand on end. One of you mentioned that it takes time to believe in this. Not neccessarily. GOD is not in a box as to how HE deals with us. For me, it was suddenly I “saw”. With revelation from GOD it can be that way. Just as Saul when HE fell off his horse. “saw”. I shared with some and 3 others “saw” it also. We studied together for a few years and it was an awesome time.
Cliff, you spoke of the self righteous. I felt that GOD spoke to me from Thess. that the “beast” seated on the throne like he is god, is that self. The flesh being the beast, the exalted self that really reigns in christianity for it is all about me, my choices, my ministry etc..and yes they are very threatened by this WORD of it being all about GOD.
Someone else mentioned it is the faith of CHRIST that saves us, not our faith and that again shows it is about HIM, not us.
If we can remember where we were before we saw this, we too would react a lot like we see people doing. I would see this as heresy and run from you or speak ill of you as tho an enemy. Fear and pride dwell in religion and cannot embrace this huge grace. Only GOD can open ears and eyes and bring the revelation of truth. This is up to HIM whom HE reveals to so we cannot blame or get angry at others, for what do we have that we didnt recieve? GOD choose these things, not man. The Bible speaks of different things being revealed over the ages and we must trust for HIS all wise plan that is unfolding and rest in where we fit in to that plan and where others fit in, for HIS will is bieng done on the earth.
Also re sharing with others, I felt the LORD spoke to me that that was also for my benefit that I spoke the truth, for that would change me also. We tend to think it is only for those who hear us, but it is also for our own soul that we share this mighty WORD.
All is going according to plan, in my life, in your life and in the universe.
Blessings fellow mates…..
Connie