Adventist Wheel - Latest Comments in http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

pamelapiferwright — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:06:52 -0000

Hi Greg and Shasta, "Greggy" LOL you haven't changed a bit..,.you still have a Awesome smile and I'm so glad to see you happy in love and serving our Lord!!! If you both are ever in Maryland please don't hesitate to email me, PPJOY@aol.com, my husband I would love to have you over we have tons of room!!!! Hugggs, Pamela Joy Wright (aka Pam Pifer - Griff and Joy Pifer's daughter hope you remember me LOL you graduated 8th grade with my sister Carol......Shasta I've still got 8th grade pictures of him if you'd like LOL....) Please also say hi to Carrie Lou if you talk to her...Yaaaaay!

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Samuel — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:36:48 -0000

Wow! Thank you for caring enough to share so openly.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

gwalter — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:28:22 -0000

To the best of my knowledge, Dan is not working as a pastor. He was in Seminary with me, and is a friend, but, like all of us, he is growing. Last I heard he was working as a Radio DJ in an college town in Iowa.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Christy VanOrder — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:32:00 -0000

Dan Millen,

Everyone in this blog said something relevent and spiritual. You, however, spewed disgusting heresies and even coveted Shasta in everyone's face. I'm just so grossed out, and creeped out, that you are even a pastor.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

dolly — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:21:00 -0000

I have read comments from Shasta and others. When we are made to face what God speaks clearly about in the bible we often see it as being judgemental. However, hear the word of the Lord in hebrews 13:Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Yes God is merciful but we forget his justice. I know this from experience what goes around comes around. The consequences of your actions will fill your lives unless you have changed your affiliation and now serves the great deceiver. The bible is filled with examples for us and he said "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:12-14

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Mandy — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:19:00 -0000

In response to Andrea:

I have met the Nelsons and been in one of their workshops, and you don't even get any other feeling that they they work side by side. no one else is in charge. Many times people fall in love where one is in a more of a leadership position, it doesn't mean that they take advantage of someone. And the age difference, really is that even a point to bring up. In this day and age where 45 year old women are marrying 25 year old men and vice versa. When you watch them present the work they do, you not only see the love that they have for their work but also for each other.

The Bible says that we should judge not lest we be judged and it seems there are a lot of people out here judging them. Have any of you walked in their shoes? Has anyone seen what they have seen, felt what the have felt, and loved their Christ like they have loved? No. No one has the same experience, so who are we to say they are any worse than our little lies, or our anger, or any other sin which is no more greater or lesser.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Daneen — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:47:00 -0000

Andrea--while I'm sure your intentions are good, I can't help but think that your comment illustrates how we can't seem to stop imposing our definitions and perspectives on a situation before we truly forgive. We so often feel that people can't be forgiven unless they meet some criteria that we've established for them. They have to acknowledge a certain something, act a certain way, say the phrase we've been waiting to hear. It all still boils down to us wanting to control the forgiveness process, a process which inherently opens us up to extreme vulnerability. Maybe this is why forgiveness is so very hard. And maybe it's why every major religion has stressed forgiveness as a spiritual discipline. As Marianne Williamson says, "Forgiveness involves faith in a love that's greater than hatred...forgiveness doesn't mean that someone didn't act horribly; it simply means that we choose not to focus on their guilt."

To roughly paraphrase Williamson again: Forgiving doesn't just free the "forgiven" from our condemnation, it frees us as well--that's the miracle of forgiveness

And--as a friend of the Nelsons, I have to say that it doesn't seem like you know them at all, or you'd understand why I laughed (and then got a tad offended) by your insinuations. You can rest assured that their marriage is certainly not a "codification" of anything abusive. While they'd be the first to admit they sinned in the past towards themselves and others, they are now examples to me often of how to live out the acceptance and the promise of God's grace. We forget that it's also a spiritual discipline to accept forgiveness--that too is an extremely challenging and vulnerable process that takes a courage and faith in God's promises.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Andrea — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:29:00 -0000

It's not that a statue of limitations needs to be imposed on forgiveness - it's that in order to forgive, one must realize what trust has been transgressed. Obviously, Greg and Shasta broke vows of trust with their spouses and with their congregation, but the one that seems strangely unmentioned is the bond of faith between each other.
Greg was clearly in a position of superiority in the relationship - Shasta was not only years younger, but his associate pastor in Seattle. She looked to him for guidance and mentoring. That relationship is akin, in many ways, to a teacher and student. That's enormous psychological power to wield over someone, and it prevents a connection from ever being established on a truly equal plane of understanding. Too much admiration for an established role model is involved for a person to objectively discern their true feelings.
Marriage doesn't change the inherent abusive structure of that situation - it merely codifies it.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Dooglebug — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:28:00 -0000

Is there a statute of limitations on forgiveness and paying for consequences of sins or confessions? Moreover, how long after we confess are we expected to make reparations to people we've let down? I can see why some people aren't willing to deal with consequences of confession because the way we humans often operate is to keep rehashing things to the point where it almost seems better to just keep one's mouth shut. I'm not saying that's what we should do---hide our sins---but in some cases the consequences of sin seem a lot larger than the sin itself (and yes, we humans seem to categorize sins as big and small). I believe that we do have responsibility to make restitution for sins, but at what point do those who fee sinned against also need to say, "OK, I, too, forgive you for sinning!"?

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Daneen — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:14:00 -0000

ImaCowgirl, your point about the Nelsons being like Marion Jones doesn't really apply in the way you're presenting it. If an athlete cheats, then he/she is disqualified and censored for a period of time. This is supposed to happen within accepted protocols that have been vetted by experts. Our assumption is that people can learn from their mistakes, so it isn't "cheap grace" to accept someone back—whether an athlete or pastor—to their field (for pastors, this is more than a skill or talent, it’s a calling).

We allow athletes to compete again after an agreed time period. This is where the analogy breaks down because athletic prowess is so dependent on age. Luckily, wisdom, judgment, and the ability to model grace as both the recipient and the giver increases with age, which is why pastors/fellow journeyers like Greg and Shasta are still valuable, possibly even more valuable, now.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

IMACOWGIRL — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:26:00 -0000

yes maranda. i've heard many of their presentations, both in person and several that were telecasts. greg was well published as well and shasta had articles coming out in various circulations. the adventist world was very invested and interested in their ministry work. their work was more far more public than individual church outreaches. they were sizing up to be very prominent key speakers. i'm not just looking for somewhere to make waves...they had a personal effect on me as i know both of them and had spent time with each in the adventist circle and at various venues and events. i am here to stand in support of the SDA church and the efforts it makes in outreach and ministry to the world. shasta and greg did much to be celebrated and for them to be proud of. they were and are working to spread the knowlege of God's saving grace. their mistakes don't make them bad people. their mistake doesn't make the SDA church at fault though, and that is my motivation to comment here. the loss of them in their previous roles in the church was a grave one, but it will be overcome in their lives and that of the church which i think they still hold the beliefs of. we are all family afterall and they are loved.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Shasta: — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:53:00 -0000

That’s a great question IMACOWGIRL about how we would have responded had we been in the conference office’s position. It was an incredibly difficult situation we put them in. They did the best they could do with what they had at the time. We believe that. It’s not to say that we don’t think there were healthier, more effective and redemptive responses possible, but they had to make huge decisions in the midst of their shock and their own feelings of betrayal and disappointment. They had invested a lot in us and our ministry. We let them down in huge ways.

We in fact seriously considered not telling them so that they wouldn’t have had to make those decisions. We considered an alternative plan that would have separated the couples and saved the ministry in Seattle. But when it came down to it, we chose to confess our private sin to them, wanting to include them in that healing process. We very much recognize the pain our confession had on the conference officers, both personally and to them collectively.

When a pastor admits failure there are at least two decisions that have to be made by the conference/union office. One is choosing what the response will be (and there are multiple options as I can attest that there are many pastors/conference officials still in their positions after their own affairs) and the second is how to carry that decision out. We could write an entire thesis paper on the latter (this isn’t the best forum for those ideas), but suffice it to say that we’d want to do everything we could to ensure healing—for the individual, the couple, the local congregation, the affected community and for the church at large. In the right context we’d be enthusiastic to contribute to a conversation not just in how to respond in the aftermath of these situations, but also how to help journey with pastors in ways that can help prevent them.

The truth is that we would have done some significant things differently, but with that said we do believe God brings good from all things. While we each died a thousand deaths having our sin emailed and forwarded out to the world in press releases-- the benefit in hindsight is that we can talk about it publicly now. I remember one old man walking out of church in Seattle because he didn’t feel “good enough” to be there. I tried to tell him that he didn’t have to be “good enough” and that none of us were either. But he didn’t believe me. He looked at me and saw the outside “good girl” only and made his comparisons and conclusions. Had I whispered my sins to him perhaps he would have believed me that I knew a thing or two about not deserving to be there, but still being used by a God of grace despite my own limitations? I wished I could have honestly told him my own need of grace. I realized in that moment that preaching grace isn’t nearly as effective as modeling my own receiving of it. My desire of it. My need of it. And my gift of it.

So now we can do that. A blessing in disguise. ☺

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Mandy — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:01:00 -0000

IMA Cowgirl,

I agree there was action and consequence. But at the same time, they are a bit of a victim. How long do you punish someone for a mistake that they did? And the affect they have on others, they have been there, they have walked away from their mistake, so they can actually counsel people more than I can, who has never had that to deal with. Some of our greatest leaders come from a shady background. Our church has a tendency to scarlet letter people once they make a mistake, even if they have learned from it and moved on. They feel that if their mistake is public they should not be leaders, while there are others who are doing far worse, but hiding it and lying about it. I would rather have people who have made a mistake and admit it be a leader than those who pretend to do nothing wrong but are black on the inside. When someone has a passion for God and to do His work, who are we to stand in the way? Just a question, have you ever heard either of them speak? Anyway, been nice chatting. The greatest things about these sites is that we are entitled to our own opinion and I like that. So even if I don't necessarily agree with you on all points, I still respect that it is your own personal opinion. Have a great day.

Maranda

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

IMACOWGIRL — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:51:00 -0000

We all have cracks in our pots for sure. The only One unflawed has returned to heaven...to return to take us there. I CAN'T WAIT. My question regards your counsel for others that might be in a position of temptation to err with infidelity. I also wonder what your position on adultery would be just professionally speaking, how would you have handled a situation like the position you and Greg put the Conference in had you been the ones on the board that had to respond to your particular situation and affair back in the day? I wonder what changes you would recommend after your experience, or if you agree with the general course of action from your work comrades back in the day.

I'm trying not to be judgemental Maranda. Our jobs here on earth have disqualifiers though. I don't think my statment was at all extreme. God doesn't want us to suffer great remorses as His children here. That's what the 10 Commandents are for...to protect us from mistakes that really take a toll on our lives here on earth...that get in the way of our success. That's why they are Commandments...not to give us parameters to judge, but to keep us happy. Of course Greg and Shasta can/have been forgiven, but they have had a big impact on each other and many others. I know they hurt from that and I'm sorry for that for them truly. It concerns me the angle that they sometimes seem to take as victims from the SDA organization. They did something that merited a measured reaction. It wasn't a setup or an attack against them. It was cause and effect. I doubt the Conference wanted to lose them from their workforce. They are both outstanding speakers.

Thanks for the chat-back.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

MaceoBlue — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:37:00 -0000

Shasta I don't know you personally, but Greg I know quite well. I must say that your story is heartbreaking. I obviously have known the basics for sometime but never realized the depth of your pain.

I too have experienced much pain as a result of taking my eyes off of Jesus and seeking comfort in the arms another. I have felt the pain of divorce. I have felt the shame of knowing that I let God down. I will always be the objects of resentment to some and a constant object lesson of what succumbing to the carnal desires of a sinful and deceptive heart will bring.

I guess I said all that to say i understand.

I'm not writing to condemn you or applaud but only to say i undersatnd and i love you both. I know you both still hurt at times. I do. But the knowledge that God can restore us and even use us after such a monumental failure is a testament not to us but to the Creator's wonderous power and love.

My only admonition.... Please fight the temptation to present a message to some that it doesn't matter what you do or how you live ultimately. God has set impossible standards for us to reach... but the miracle is that He specializes in the impossible and if we would allow Him to take control of our live He will give us power to be living miracles.

i understand that there are legalist in the SDA church. But neither liberalism or legalism is the answer. with either there is no balance... God wants us to trust Him enough to know that the guiding principles that He has created for our lives are to keep us from the pain of sin. Nothing has changed since Eden. But at the same time a loving Christlike spirit is our duty and without it we cannot ever truly be followers of Christ.

All these buzz words, strategic terminology, inductive vs. reductive, politically correct stuff makes the gospel way more complicated than it has to be. At the heart of it all it is really simple.

Lift up Christ with power. Teach the people what God is really about and who He really is. Show all His principals in the light of the cross and much power will be in your work. And I don't think that it is a stretch to say that many on this blog are probably not crazy about the SOP. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. There is so much beautiful light and truth revealed there. I share quotes with hurting nonSDA souls all of the time and they are blown away by the beauty and depth of the words I share.

as a matter of fact... I'm not sure if you are familar with this quote but I'd like to share it with you. It has brought me comfort on many tear filled nights:

He is watching over you, trembling child of God. Are you tempted? He will deliver. Are you weak? He will strengthen. Are you ignorant? He will enlighten. Are you wounded? He will heal. The Lord "telleth the number of the stars;" and yet "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:4, 3.

Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be open for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength. The heavier your burdens, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon your Burden Bearer.

Circumstances may separate friends; the restless waters of the wide sea may roll between us and them. But no circumstances, no distance, can separate us from the Saviour. Wherever we may be, He is at our right hand, to support, maintain, uphold, and cheer. Greater than the love of a mother for her child is Christ's love for His redeemed. It is our privilege to rest in His love, to say, "I will trust Him; for He gave His life for me."

Human love may change, but Christ's love knows no change. When we cry to Him for help, His hand is stretched out to save...."

I pray that we can one day meet in Heaven and talk about how God was able to salvage our broken lives and make them a testament to the power and love of our Creator.

Love you both...

your brother in Christ,

M

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Mandy — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:06:00 -0000

I just came across this page when I was trying to figure out how old Greg was!!! Anywho. I was blessed to be in church when Greg was the Pastor at Union. and he was truly a blessing. His love for the Lord showed through in everything he did. Then a couple of weeks ago, Greg and Shasta came to Ohio for a weekend seminar, and it was fabulous.

To the people who said those in support of them are those that have issues with the Adventist Church. I don't see it as that. I see it as we are people who have issues with conditional forgiveness. You are forgiven completely only if we don't think it is so bad. God said no sin is worse than another. So why do we take it upon ourselves to choose which ones are? Is it ok for a Pastor to secretly covet another's wife as long as he doesn't tell, and he can keep his job, while another makes the mistake and gets into a relationship with someone else and he comes clean and so he is kicked to the curb?
Frank stated that how it will affect the young minds to see that they made a mistake and then got away with it. No it shows those young people that if they make mistakes they don't need to hide, but can come clean and they will still be loved. And once they come clean and ask forgiveness, it will be as if it never happened. The person who said it can be forgiven but not forgotten...seriously, did Greg and Shasta do anything to you personally that you should be holding this grudge. They have asked God, their former spouses and the members of the church for forgiveness. God said that is all we have to do is ask for forgiveness and it shall be given. What more do you need them to do?

How long should they not be able to preach? The honest truth? The Adventist Church unless by a miracle of God, will never re-employ them. And it isn't because the church members will feel uncomfortable, it is because they are, it may reflect upon them. Because a church has a voice in the hire, and if they meet Greg and Shasta and know their story and are comfortable having them as leaders, then they should be able to. If God covers our sin white as snow, why must we feel like we need to keep shoveling that snow so it keeps showing? I would rather have a pastor who has screwed up, admitted, spent time with God working on the closeness they have with Him, but who has a fire for God and a passion like no other, than a pastor who does it because he thinks he was called, but you can tell there is no zest, no pure love of what he is doing. If they will hire a pastor who before he became adventist did the same things, how is it any different, just because he was already Adventist?

And to the cowgirl whatever person. It is true if you as a nurse did something to hurt or possibly end a life of someone you may never work as a nurse again. But isn't that a little different here? That is an extreme example. Or Marion Jones, she took drugs to push her further ahead, how does the Nelson's situation have anything to do with that? They made a mistake, they lost their job, does that mean they should forever lose their job? If you are a manager of a store and get fired, does that mean you should never be able to be a manager at another store? People learn from their mistakes.

And to those who are angry that they got married.....seriously? You would rather have had this happen and two marriages end, for nothing? They went back to their marriages, and they didn't work, they didn't see each other for two years, and yet they are married. Maybe that means, that it isn't such a horrible thing. If you are actually ever around them in person, and not just reading about them, you can see the love that they have for each other. You can see the love that they have for God. We need to quit condemning those who make a mistake and love them instead. you want to keep young people in the church, show them we love them even with their mistakes, show them that one bad step doesn't cause them to be shunned.

And just for the record, I don't know Greg and Shasta personally, so this isn't like a friend sticking up for them. I am just tired of all of this judgmental crap. Until you are in their shoes, in their situation, quit judging them and just love them instead, like Christ does with all of us.

Maranda W.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Shasta: — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:30:00 -0000

wow...lots of comments! I wish I could write many of you directly to say thank you and answer questions. We want to keep being open books on the subject.

If IMACOWGIRL is still on here... I'd be happy to respond to her question, though it needs some clarification. Are you asking us whether we approve of affairs? That would be important for me to answer with a resounding no, but please feel free to explain what you mean. And I agree with you that the conference office had the right to fire us-- no qualms there-- I hope you didn't read otherwise in our interview? But all of our losses, whether we deserved them or not, still leave their pain.

And for those of you who shared your own personal experiences on this blog or in email to us... thank you for your honesty. May we all keep growing from our passion to reflect Jesus in whatever ways we can. Unfortunately some of us have to do that with cracks in our pots, but we'll do it nonetheless. :)

Happy Sabbath.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

IMACOWGIRL — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:30:00 -0000

how would additional extra-marital affairs be regarded by shasta and greg?

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

IMACOWGIRL — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:18:00 -0000

jobs have job requirements and disqualifiers. they did a disqualifier. it's not the church's fault. it's not the church's responsibility to make up new rules in this area (affairs). they knew who they were working for. they understood the terms. it's too bad after their mistakes they took off though. perhaps they felt a need to do that for survival on some level. that's not for me to judge or understand. i don't care really anymore. however, if one's message, work, and pronounced life mission for a congregation of people is to lead and serve them, and then you mess up in front of those you are leading...it seems sadly negligent and suggests insincerity to abandon them afterwords. insincere to the message they had been delivering. a message of grace. why do they have to have the pulpit to serve their people? spotlight isn't mandatory to witness and serve. i think it right they aren't pastors anymore for the SDA church...they just got fired is all, and so aren't elligible for the pastoral positions. i'm a nurse, so if i overdose people intentionally, steal drugs, hurt someone intentionally, i am not going to get to be a nurse anymore. i know that, and sure couldn't contest that. marion jones was a professional olympian and athlete. she cheated. her medals and her job was taken away. no hard feelings. but now you aren't allowed to do that marion. that's sad. it's very sad. the organizations behind the employees cannot be faulted for the employees autonomous error. the SDA church didn't cause their trouble. they unfortunately weighed what they wanted out and made a choice that cost them their jobs. it's just that. salvation isn't the issue here, and we've no business declaring them right or wrong or otherwise...their current non-church efforts are their own business if it's their own business. i just want to point out that they got fired because they violated terms that were understood to them. that makes sense. don't point fingers at the church for being wrong in this particular issue. they just had to fire employees that messed up under contract. that was a pain for the Conference and a black eye for SDA's, and a heartbreaker for G&S and their families and friends. they are sorry and i am too. that's all it is though. a mistake. moving right along......

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Jeff — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:27:00 -0000

Really, I'm about done here. I read this interview this morning, and this afternoon I listened to Donald Miller preaching at Mars Hill--Story. There was a great line that went something like, "Ok, you made a mistake. Let's write a story with that." God speaking. Beautiful.

Donald's sermon will be online for a couple months. It can be downloaded for free at www.marshill.org/teaching/i....

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Jeff — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:16:00 -0000

Additionally (and less importantly), I didn't sense an attitude of "stick it to the man" in any of the interview participants. That observation surprised me.

Finally, Matthew Sleeth is all that (www.servegodsavetheplanet.org).

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Jeff — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:04:00 -0000

My vote: write the confession book, Shasta!

I'll own my bothersome habit of moving from life/community to books and say that I see commonalities here with "Is That Really You, God?" by Loren Cunningham--mission, community, failure, confession, recalled to ministry, service to humanity, etc.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Den — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:22:00 -0000

Hi this is the first time I heard about this couple, maybe because I live in the U.K. However we had a similar situation back in the late 1980's/early 1990's where it was a married Pastor and lay member that had an affair. The Pastor and lay member are now happily married and active in their local church. I think he is an elder. Should he be reinstated as a Pastor now? Years have gone by since this all happened, there is a new generation of Adventists that do not know or even care unless someone gossips to them the sordid tale. However there are others still around who remember it all. I'm not sure about reinstatement in the church's employ, I can see both sides of the coin. All I can say is God can make a mountain out of a dunghill situation, remember David and Bathsheba? Not the best start to married life but it did produce Solomon. Brother and Sister Nelson we don't need to know the details, anyone who expects it is just plain nosey.
I think you are in a perfect position to advice young married couples, especially ministers how easy it is to fall in this regard and perhaps how to avoid such situations. I hope the church organisation has learnt from your example, I'm sure there are many other Pastors with marital problems all swept under the carpet of 'saving the church's face'. The sooner we recognise that we are all sinners with dirty linen the less judgemental we will be with each other and the more loving we will show, which is what Jesus expects in the first place.

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Daniel — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:39:00 -0000

Dear Greg and Shasta,

I am an Adventist Pastor and I know that God has a great plan for your future. We know that it is possible for any human to live in the flesh, and err. But, let the past be in the past. 2 Cor. 5:17. Let not the foolishness of others discourage you, or push you to extremism. If you live by, and teach the principles of the Word, God definitely has a place for you in His Adventist movement. Yet, if he lead you to another work, may His peace and joy be upon you.

Pastor Dan

Re: http://reinventingsdawheel.blogspot.com/2007/05/rap-session-greg-and-shasta-nelson.html

Seth Ellis — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 01:50:00 -0000

I've missed Greg and Shasta immensely these past years, and I thank God that He works in hearts despite human weakness. We're all equally undeserving of these graces. Receive from my heart this thanksgiving for continued restoration in the personal lives of my friends.

Cheerio,
Seth