Those who are honest about this journey know that you are in trouble anytime you announce that you are determined to be more: (choose from the following partial list – patient, loving, obedient, forgiving, prayerful, serving). God smiles and arranges a test. I hate the spiritual pop quizzes as much as I did the academic ones. But they are just as revealing about how I am doing. A recent pop quiz consisted of some personal situations that frustrated me and other people conspiring (I thought) to divert my focus and steal my joy. How did I do? I failed the test miserably. I was grumpy. I was discouraged. My joy meter barely moved. I bombed the test. Later I regrouped and had a personal conference with the Teacher (He is really good about that). That is when I remembered again what grace means to me. Yes, I failed miserably. Yes, I was disappointed in myself. Yes, I was a little embarrassed that I have written and spoken so boldly and flopped so easily. But here is what
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(From the weekly devotional at theFish.com) A new song to the iPod rotation set up today’s iPod Devotional and (full disclosure) a chance to give a sneak preview from a brand new chapter in the new release of  When Bad Christians Happen to Good People. The song is by a group called Rush of Fools. First of all, their name sounds like a group of guys that a random “bad Christian” might fit in with comfortably. The song “Your Grace Found Me” perfectly reflects my journey over the past decade. I have to be honest and report that I wasn’t looking for grace. I was looking for an exit to get far, far away from most Christians. The chorus describes my story. I’m covered over, I’m so wrapped up, it’s all your love it’s all your love, Your grace found me, when I wasn’t breathing, grace found me That chorus sets up nicely this excerpt from the book that tells
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(An excerpt from Chapter One of the new version of When Bad Christians Happen to Good People) And at the Festivus dinner, you gather your family around, and you tell them all the ways they have disappointed you over the past year! —Frank Costanza, Seinfeld episode “The Strike” Most of us chuckle over the invented holiday of Festivus. In the famous Seinfeld episode, Frank Costanza explains how he grew frustrated with the commercialism of Christmas: Frank Costanza: Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way. Cosmo Kramer: What happened to the doll? Frank Costanza: It was destroyed. But out of that, a new holiday was born: a Festivus for the rest of us! Part of the “tradition” of Festivus was the airing of grievances to all who came to
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My first book, When Bad Christians Happen to Good People, is being re-released with new content and a study guide for small groups. Here is part of the intro from the book. More excerpts will follow in days to come. I must begin with some words of disclosure. I am a hypocrite. I can be arrogant and selfish. I have been known to stretch, conceal, or slightly massage the truth. I am sometimes inconsiderate and insecure. I struggle with lust and impure thoughts. My ego often rages out of control, and I battle foolish pride. I can be lazy and foolhardy with my time. I get angry, petty, and ill tempered. I am sarcastic and cynical. I am a Christian. That is how I started this book when it was first published. As I look back over those words nearly a decade later I have a sad confession to make. I have made some progress yet all of the disclaimers
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Thirty-five years ago today (July 17th) my beautiful bride to be “pledged her troth” to me. To a recovering hayseed that sounded mildly naughty but I learned it meant that she promised her fidelity to our relationship. She meant it. Today we celebrate well over three decades together. Hard to believe. Just for grins I went back and took a look at some of the top music in the year we got married. There were some hits that did not make the cut for the solo at our modest wedding. For example, Paul Simon’s “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” was axed. Go figure. Joni rejected The Captain and Tenille’s moving rendition of “Muskrat Love” without allowing debate. I felt like Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” would be a great crowd warmup. Rejected. “Shake Your Booty” by KC and The Sunshine Band was summarily dismissed. But one song from 1976 that was not wedding solo worthy still describes how I feel about the lovely Mrs.Burchett. Orleans
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(From theFish.com) One of my go to artists for the iPod Devotional walks with dog friend Hannah is Tenth Avenue North. Their lyrics touch my heart and inspire me on the journey. Today an old favorite popped up thanks to the shuffle feature. The song “You are more” talks about a young woman lost in fear and shame. She says, “How did I get here? I’m not who I once was. And I’m crippled by the fear That I’ve fallen too far to love” That is a lie from the very pit of hell. The lyrics beautifully convey that no one has gone too far to experience God’s love. But don’t you know who you are, What’s been done for you? Yeah don’t you know who you are? You are more than the choices that you’ve made, You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, You are more than the problems you create, You’ve been remade. Most of
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