I write about the complex intersection between life, faith, culture, religion, politics, and spirituality. Here for community and conversation. ABOUT ME: Once upon a time, Dan Foster was a prolific poet and writer. Then he grew up, got a job, had a family, and got busy spending many years as an educator, pastor, school teacher, and youth worker, writing took a back seat while he set about striving to attain a utopian existence that belies the reality of life. Fortunately, Life knew this and thrust him into the classroom of misfortune and pain, where he experienced burnout and mental health challenges. Here, he learned a whole lot of valuable lessons. Life then compelled him to pick up his pen again and give voice to the reality of broken dreams, sadness, grief, loss, and depression so that others might find comfort, hope, and solidarity in the shared human experience of suffering. Dan writes especially for Church alumni and religious refugees, and those who have experienced the reality of spiritual abuse, disappointment with the church, and doubts about their faith. Dan has Bachelor's Degrees in both Education and Theology and a Diploma in Business. He is the CEO of the Centre for Men & Families, Australia, a charity that supports men and their families through times of crisis and change. Dan is also the facilitator of The Backyard Church Online, a community for people who have faith but struggle to be a part of traditional churches, and he is the author of "Leaving Church, Finding God: Discovering Faith Beyond Organized Religion" and "Limbo Land: Poems from the In-Between."
The Backyard Church Newsletter - October 2023
Dear Reader
There are moments in a person's life when everything suddenly pivots on a point, and you know immediately that life will never be the same again.
This month, I had one of those moments. In fact, I had more than one of those moments. It all started when my wife went to the doctor with some abdominal pain. That was on the 1st of September.
Fast forward one month to where we are today, the 1st of October, and we now know that my wife has stage 4 bowel cancer.
I write for many reasons. I write to help people, to challenge people, and to entertain people. But I also write to process my own thoughts. And after this month, I have many thoughts that I need to process. So, some of my articles this month are my attempts to process the whirlwind of emotions that have come with this news. I expect that I will need to write more about it in the coming weeks and months as well, so thank you for indulging me. Most of us have been touched by cancer in some way, so I hope you can relate to my experiences and find some solace there.
Your ongoing support means the world.
With thanks
Dan
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The Backyard Church is not just a blog or a newsletter. It’s a vibrant online community for people who have faith but can’t, don’t, or won’t go to church. Join today.
Maybe you've lost faith in the system. Maybe you've been hurt by the church or other Christians. Maybe you find the church is not an emotionally safe place to ask your questions or share your doubts. Maybe you've even arrived at a place where you want to grow in your faith, but the church is taking you around in circles. Here's what you'll find at Backyard Church Online
- A safe place for your faith to fall apart without being judged for it.
- People who will walk with you while to try to piece it all back together as well
- A safe place to ask your big questions, share your doubts, talk about your pain, and unpack your religious trauma
- Access to thought-provoking and challenging content that will help you move forward
- Connection with like-minded people from all over the world who are on a similar journey
- Online forums and discussions about matters of faith
Whoever you are, you belong. I pray Backyard Church Online brings you life, faith, and hope.
Limbo Land
In Limbo Land, you spend your days
Fixed in lonesome, longing gaze
Through constant night, across a sea
In wrathful tempest caught
You scour the line beyond, that lies
Where ocean billows meet the skies
For any sign of breaking dawn
But sadly, there is naught.
And Limbo Land’s terrain is sand
And nothing permanent will stand
Upon the shifting surfaces
Of Limbo Land’s domain,
On beaches washed away by waves
Creating gaping holes like graves
Where anguished puddles congregate
And mirror back your pain.
In Limbo Land you pitch your tent
In camping grounds of discontent
In makeshift dwellings made of fear
And here you must subsist,
It’s meaningless to build away
For it to be torn down next day
Accordingly, in Limbo Land
No houses there exist.
In Limbo Land, you don’t unpack
You can’t move on; you can’t go back
You don’t make plans, you dare not hope
For fear of broken dreams.
In Limbo Land, there is no peace
There’s no escape and no release
Just constant staring at the sky
And tears in tortured streams.
And those who live in Limbo Land
Just pray the day is near at hand
When freedom takes it’s sweet revenge
And snatches them away
From Limbo Land’s remorseless grip
And sends them on their rescue ship
Back to the Land of Certainty
To live a brand new day.
by Dan Foster
If you've got an idea for an article that you think I should write, then get in touch with me! Yes, I'm happy to have a go at answering any of your questions because, hey... faith deconstruction can be a lonely road. Let's walk it together! Email thebackyardchurch@gmail.com
This newsletter was free but not cheap. My dream is to do this work full-time! Don't offer me thoughts and prayers. Show your support by joining Backyard Church Online, becoming a paid subscriber, making a donation, buying a book, and forwarding this to someone you think might be interested!
Until next time,
God bless!
DAN FOSTER
Writer / Poet / Blogger
I write about the complex intersection between life, faith, culture, religion, politics, and spirituality. Here for community and conversation. ABOUT ME: Once upon a time, Dan Foster was a prolific poet and writer. Then he grew up, got a job, had a family, and got busy spending many years as an educator, pastor, school teacher, and youth worker, writing took a back seat while he set about striving to attain a utopian existence that belies the reality of life. Fortunately, Life knew this and thrust him into the classroom of misfortune and pain, where he experienced burnout and mental health challenges. Here, he learned a whole lot of valuable lessons. Life then compelled him to pick up his pen again and give voice to the reality of broken dreams, sadness, grief, loss, and depression so that others might find comfort, hope, and solidarity in the shared human experience of suffering. Dan writes especially for Church alumni and religious refugees, and those who have experienced the reality of spiritual abuse, disappointment with the church, and doubts about their faith. Dan has Bachelor's Degrees in both Education and Theology and a Diploma in Business. He is the CEO of the Centre for Men & Families, Australia, a charity that supports men and their families through times of crisis and change. Dan is also the facilitator of The Backyard Church Online, a community for people who have faith but struggle to be a part of traditional churches, and he is the author of "Leaving Church, Finding God: Discovering Faith Beyond Organized Religion" and "Limbo Land: Poems from the In-Between."
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