Hoping
in the Lord
June
17, 2007
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Great is the faithfulness of God!
You have received the good news that we (an ad hoc group)
have come to an agreement on the way forward for peace and
unity in our community. Thank you for your incessant prayers
and fasting. God has heard the prayers of us all.
Why have all these negative things happened to us? I connect
it to God’s call to Lamentations for this year. It
seems it was not enough that 3 elders resigned last February
20 to take command responsibility for the collective guilt
of everyone in CFC. God got our attention, but not quite.
We did not learn the lessons of Lamentations. So God had
to disturb us, this time severely. The conflict among top
leaders intensified and reverberated throughout the whole
global community. The enemy of course was very much at work.
And CFC came close to the brink.
What has God taught us? What do we have to seriously think
and pray about in the months to come? There are many.
-
Satan
is very much against the work of God, especially in CFC.
So we must be vigilant in spiritual warfare.
-
Elders
are also sinners and can fail God and brethren. So keep
your eyes fixed on Jesus, and live your life for him and
depend on him, and no one else.
-
Satan’s
favorite work is division, and will especially target
elders. So we all, leaders and members alike, should love
and be loyal to each other, especially as we face disagreements
that arise.
-
Dialogue
is important. We must talk to each other, according to
Biblical principles and community processes.
-
Truth
and justice are critical, as truth will set us free while
justice helps us relate as true brethren. So we must not
talk or act in darkness, but openly and with love.
-
Authority
in the community is important for peace and unity. So
all should submit to such authority, but such is active
submission and not blind obedience.
-
We
are a Catholic community and officially recognized by
the bishops and various bishops’ conferences throughout
the world, as well as the Holy See (Vatican). So we must
live out our life and mission in communion with the bishops
and recognize, defer to and actively submit to their authority
as shepherds of their dioceses.
-
The
work goes on in spite of us and only in the power of the
Spirit. So we must always be connected and submitted to
the source of grace and power, and humbly admit that apart
from God we are nothing.
There
are many other lessons. You will have your own, according
to your own situation in your particular CFC community. Let
us all look into our hearts in humility, and allow the Lord
to teach us His ways. “Let us search and examine our
ways that we may return to the Lord!” (Lam 3:40).
I do believe God has even greater work in store for CFC in
the coming years as we go for gold. This time of Lamentations
is a time of purification. Let us allow God to do His work
in us, so that He will be able to continue to do His work
through us.
I take this opportunity to ask forgiveness from anyone whom
I have hurt by any word or action, and for my part in bringing
lamentations to anyone and in causing any conflict in our
community. I deeply regret being the cause of anyone feeling
pain, discouragement, frustration, anger or hopelessness.
And I extend my hand of peace to everyone.
May we all experience healing and reconciliation. “Lead
us back to you, O Lord, that we may be restored: give us anew
such days as we had of old.” (Lam 5:21). I love CFC
and I love you all.
Imploring the mercy and blessings of the God who is Father
of us all, I am your brother and servant.
frank padilla
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