Grace is Messy
Donald Trump's America is anything but great. It is the home of the fearful and the land of the bigot. And as the messy grace guy, this post is all about why a Trump Presidency scares me to death. Read more
Donald Trump's America is anything but great. It is the home of the fearful and the land of the bigot. And as the messy grace guy, this post is all about why a Trump Presidency scares me to death. Read more
Sometimes trusting God isn’t triumphant or glorious. Sometimes trusting God isn’t even a desire. It’s a stubbornness that cries in the middle of the night, but attaches firmly to my faith. Sometimes trusting God isn’t a praise song with the full band on a Sunday morning, but rather it’s a stick-to-it-ness that says I know there is something deeper than my pain and a Power higher than anything I can rationalize, so I’ll give this another shot tomorrow. Read more
It’s my blogiversary! Six years ago, this week, I started blogging. It’s hard to believe just how much life has changed since then. So much is different, but we have learned and grown begun to see God in a whole new light. Here’s the highlights... Read more
Earlier this week, I came face-to-face with my straight white privilege. I will never be able to look at people, issues, or politics the same again. Please don't miss this important post. Read more
My daughter passed away five months ago after a three year battle with a one of a kind brain cancer. That does something to your soul. To every aspect of your life, if we’re being honest. To say that I’ve lost faith is inaccurate. To say that I have completely unwavering faith – also somewhat inaccurate. To say there are days I’d kinda like to punch God in the face – accurate! To say I have so many questions, and no clue how to navigate them – completely accurate. Read more
For many people I know, Christianity has been boiled down to morality. It has become a way to ensure you skip eternal damnation. It’s a list of do’s and don’ts, but there is no real freedom. Many Christians have traded the yoke of slavery for the yoke of religion, and both are dead. Read more
When I take my last breath on earth, won’t be thinking of metrics and stats. I pray to God I won’t be thinking of my failures of any sort of disappointment I ever faced, but instead of all the small things. The time I took to breathe. To kiss my son on the forehead. To reach across the kitchen table and hold my wife’s hand. To notice the way a baby smells behind the ears. These tiny moments are the ones that matter the most to me now. Read more
Although mistakes are a natural part of growing and learning, they were forbidden in my house. The only thing I learned to associate mistakes with was pain. If I got a low grade, I got yelled at. If I laughed at the dinner table, I was spanked. If I stayed at the neighbor’s house too long I was grounded. I wholeheartedly knew that my parents weren’t perfect, yet they expected us to be. What I didn’t understand at that time was, why? Read more
The story of the Prodigal Son is a clear promise that God will restore the wasted years. It's my favorite story in the whole Book, because we are so clearly able to see God running toward us with messy grace. Check out this #ThrowbackThursday clip! Read more
I used to live in an I-have-it-together illusion. But waking up in ICU after a failed suicide attempt left me with no choice but to admit that I suffer from mental illness, specifically depression and anxiety. These days, I am grateful for my mental illness, personal growth, and improvement in my family since I faced my illness. It has allowed me to become more open and honest about who I am. It’s been a long four years, but instead of living in shame, I am now embracing the life I have been given. In doing so, I have found several surprising gifts. Read more
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