One of the “not so with you” mindsets I’m learning is not to consider all negative things as being from Satan. It is quite possible that certain events that seem so negative could in fact be from the Lord. My mindset should be to follow Christ as my Lord, seeking to discern His will day by day.

The 2015 GD election (can we even call it an election?) will be telling. It is likely that the new GD will either be a hardcore hardliner, or a Francis-figure. I don’t see how ubf can play the middle of the road any longer. Perhaps there is a Francis for ubf? (and Gerardo rejoices in my newfound favor with the RCC!)

I am convinced the question isn’t “to stay or not to stay” but “am I following the prompting of God through His Holy Spirit to do what He wants and to allow Him to build His house in His way?”

Yes I love Pope Francis. Such a breathe of fresh air! But last year, who would have ever guessed we would witness such a thing? It may be difficult to believe or to see, but I have never written off ubf. Indeed, ubf as we knew must end, and in fact is ending, but that is only so that some new movement may arise.

I long for the day when my list of redeemed chapters is longer than 3.

I love Pope Francis, I can see Christ through him, a love for God and a love for humanity. Love flows through him, isn’t this what Christianity is all about?

I haven’t left UBF, but my heart is also changing a lot as I rediscover my identity before God. Its not that easy to do in the midst…

This is how I felt as I struggled with the leaving process:

The part of me that you’re never ever gonna take away from me

This is the response I almost always got during the process:

The sound of silence

Even though it was a crazy ride, I learned something about:

How to love and not to hate

I now often feel like this:

I play on the safe side

Now I just stand:

With arms high…

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This is a core passage of the gospels. Matthew 23 also repeats this message. And John 13:1-20 gives a good example. When pope Francis washed the feet of prisoners as one of the first things shows that he has understood this principle. But in UBF, it was always like “yes, we pretend to be servants, but in reality we only serve you in order to eventually subdue you and make you believe that you owe us everything and take your scalp as a proof of our spiritual fruit.”

Trying to run ubf with consensus is like trying to pound square pegs into little round holes. The next GD in 2015 will either be a pope figure like Francis who takes charge and brings reform or be like Rehoboam and slam down a heavy yoke to preserve ubf heritage (1 Kings 12:10).