How long would you stay committed to a husband that: 1. Rarely ever spoke to you, and when he did, it was a command? 2. Said he had plans for the two of you, yet wouldn’t tell you what they were? 3. Required you to constantly remind him how great he is? 4. Issued commands and edicts in his “love” letters to you? 5. Showed up late with a written explanation that was full of contractions and vague, unclear explanations... Read more
I used to get chills when I heard this third verse of the Hymn, The Love of God. This third verse was apparently added by an anonymous person. The original author was Frederick M. Lehman in 1917. THE LOVE OF GOD, VERSE THREE Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would... Read more
I love when people read our books. It’s not what you think. The dream is not profit, especially the ones with a publisher where you get to keep very little. For me, the dream is sharing stores. I see this part of writing as magical. It’s similar to when we share our stories on podcasts. When we resonate with someone else’s story, it’s not like they’re prescribing something for us, but there is an intimacy that is hard to describe.... Read more
Once upon a time, there was a being that was all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. Eventually, this being created, angels or messengers. Even though the creator was perfect, these beings that he created were not and a third of them rebelled against him and were sent away. It was reported that this being created the Earth and everything that surrounds it. We assume this means all the universes and all the planets, stars, and matter that exists. On the earth, he... Read more
Since my stroke, about 18 months ago, we haven’t been able to travel much. Earlier this year, I found out that I was given the honor of being a co–creator at the Wild Goose Festival in North Carolina. Laura and I decided to talk about our book, Out into the Desert. We made the trip via Hamilton, Ohio to see Laura’s sister, and by way of Nashville on the ride home. The Wild Goose Festival is a “4-day Spirit, Justice,... Read more
Laura and I have finished our second book together! Pre-order the Kindle or order the paperback. The official release date is August 15th. It continues where Out into the Desert left off. It highlights the following: How we benefit from remaining in a curious posture. Are we really evolving or just defending our current position, Wisdom from our interviews on The Desert Sanctuary. What were the common themes of the more than 270 episodes? A deeper dive into evolving our... Read more
A central part of my denomination of origin was the worship service. Through most of human history, there’s been a worshipful element to most spirituality of the world. In its simplest form, worship means bending or bowing. Although most people understand the pitfalls of a monarchy, we still romantically want to assign this type of relationship to whatever we imagine God to be. Christians use terms like Lord and King. But they don’t generally apply this to the father, but... Read more
(from our new book, Leaning Forward) Because I know that the title might be a trigger for some people, let me just give a couple of disclaimers. First, I realize that there has been some good in Christianity. There has been a certain amount of community action and relief provided by Christian groups. Most everyone, even those that have been traumatized, admits that the church was, at one point, some help to them. Second, my motivation is not destructive. I’m... Read more
(Guest post by my wife, Laura Forehand) Leaving organized religion has opened up so many opportunities to heal that I wasn’t encouraged inside the church to explore. Don’t get me wrong…when I was hurting inside the church, I was offered some ideas to help relieve my suffering such as praying more, reading my bible more, fasting, or seeking Christian counseling. I definitely tried all of the above. The thing about trauma however is that your nervous system holds onto those... Read more
I know some great fathers. They are kind to their wife and children and deliberate about doing things in a way that benefits everyone. Most of the other fathers want to be like these model dads, but they often fall short. Then there are the Jim Bob Duggars of the world that want all women and children to obey them without question, or they will be beaten. They make cult leaders out of their sons to continue the abuse and... Read more
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