It’s been years since I would spend my time looking for some fix and something new to fire me up again. But, as much as Jesus is my all in all, and is my only hope in life and death, I also have a distinct sense that I still do want to understand God more; I want to be closer to Jesus, and the closer I get, the more I realize how shallow my faith is, and how much further I have to go in my journey. I suppose my longing grows more, the older I get.

As an example, as I grow older, I look forward more and more to each Sunday morning – to being with God’s people, worshipping God, and participating in Communion – I look forward to being fed in these ways, and when I’m unable to be at church on Sunday, I really miss it.

Your conclusion seems to imply that if we could just recognize our malnutrition and foolish pursuit of spiritual Twinkies, that we can set back and be done with any pursuit at all. I’m worried that this leads some to believe that sanctification is unnecessary and it’s just me and Jesus and I don’t need to be “working out my salvation with fear and trembling”.

I only just stumbled across your site, and I could easily be reading too much into an abrupt concluding paragraph, so forgive me if I’ve a**umed too much.

Darin – words can’t say how much I appreciate you. You are uncovering truth for many hungry people. Thank you.

I was married to a parachurch minister for nearly 15 years. The man was abusive, neglectful to his children to the point of possible death, and controlling of me and resources such that I could not care for the kids until I left him.

Though the man was a freely admitted serial gang rapist, people hated me for not being a ‘nice divorcee’ and for believing that the ‘good man’ was abusive.

The divorce—though I had bodyguards at times due to the man’s rage—was ‘easy’ compared to the shunning of the hundreds and hundreds of christians. He knew so many and was a president of this area’s “…a**ociation of evangelicals…”, while telling everyone he knew what a horrible person I was.

Two people saw his abuse up close.

I fled.

Now I’m sharing joint custody of my fifteen and thirteen year old children with a sociopath, but living in the same community which has shunned me. And I haven’t been able to get up.

–j.

Good thoughts! I was introduced to you when I listened to your podcast on thegodjourney.com and it helped me have some sympathy for the pastor of the church we used to go to.

It is a hard thing to think of myself as this hungry. I always ridicule reality shows like that. The fact is, I probably am that hungry and it’s probably God that allows the system you described to exist so I will remember that He is the living water. It also reminds me somehow of the pa**age in John 6;53-59.

It is great practice to love the people trapped in “selling” these not for profit – yet addicted to money – church corporations. Maybe it is just a giant wheat and tares filtering machine? The wheat falls through and tares stay in the system. Well, anyway it’s nice to read someone on this side of the machine that made it through alive.

Thanks,
Alan Gray

I’m thoroughly enjoying reading your writings, and look forward to more.

For a moment I thought you didn’t believe that God heals…but I believe you were getting a point across.

God bless you.

I spend quite a few hours weekly at the local christian book/gift store so can relate to your comments about what people eat. I also am located only about an hour from the location of the florida “reival” you mention and felt the tremors of it. One of the most divisive events for the body that I have witnessed, well at least until the presidential election.

I have been anticipating the release of this book for over a year now. Haven’t read the book yet, it’s next on the list, but I have referred it to quite a few people.

peace to you