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Grace is Messy

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Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 June 2015 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 June 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 September 2011 August 2011 May 2011 July 2010

January 2017

January 23, 2017

How My Nephew’s Death Taught Me Kindness

My nephew only lived 16 days, but his life changed me forever. This story is...

January 14, 2017

How One Southern Girl Found the Limit of Her Dad’s Love

Brandi Burgess, daughter of conservative Christian radio host, Rick Burgess, is gay. And her father's...

December 2016

December 19, 2016

It’s Easy to Love People: My Favorite Christmas Memory

It was either the Christmas before I started school, or the Christmas of my kindergarten...

December 05, 2016

How I Found Baby Jesus in an Empty Freezer

Joseph and his very pregnant wife took a long road trip to pay the IRS....

November 2016

November 23, 2016

What I’m Most Thankful for This Year

Thankfulness changes our perspective. These are the things I'm most thankful for this year. What...

November 21, 2016

12 Snarky Self-Care Tips for the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us. I can hardly stand the excitement of family get-togethers...

November 18, 2016

What Does the Bible Say About Self-Care?

Since my suicide attempt, I've worked hard to focus on my recovery and have learned...

November 02, 2016

To All the Tired Dads Out There…

Fatherhood is the greatest gift in the world. And some very hard work. But I...

October 2016

October 29, 2016

3 Ways Tired Parents Can Practice Self-Care Today

A lack of self-care nearly killed me. Since my suicide attempt self-care has revolutionized my...

October 25, 2016

How to Fight with Fear and Self-Doubt…and Win!

The fight with fear and self-doubt is universal, but as parent, it seems even worse.

October 03, 2016

3 Myths of the Pinterest-Perfect Marriage

Our wedding day was perfect - if by perfect you mean borrowed folding chairs from...

September 2016

September 10, 2016

6 Amazing Things I Would Have Missed if I Died By Suicide

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone who attempts suicide has lived the life of a...

September 04, 2016

How to Survive Marriage and Mental Health

My wife spent a week on a psych ward following the birth of our first...

August 2016

August 31, 2016

This is My One Greatest Battle

Alzheimer's is a miserable disease. With my Grandfather, it’s the same story multiple times in...

August 24, 2016

3 Reasons My Daughter Will Never Date a Guy Like Trump

Now look, don’t go crazy on me. I’m not one of those anti-feminist, uber patriarchal...

August 13, 2016

Why I Want to be More than Just a Good Man

I was a victim of childhood sexual abuse before the age of four. When I...

August 10, 2016

Why a Vote for Trump is a Vote Against Women

When asked about sexual harassment in the workplace as it might pertain to his daughter,...

August 09, 2016

Why Being a 90’s Kid in the Church was Scary as Hell

I just knew the Henchmen of Heaven would come and steal me away in the...

August 05, 2016

How I Found Radical Grace in a Facebook Group

I have found a virtual community, via Facebook and this blog, which expresses love in...

August 01, 2016

Five Lies My Grandma Told Me

Conventional wisdom isn't always real wisdom. Here's my take on five quotes I've heard all...

July 2016

July 26, 2016

How My Marriage Destroyed My Shame

Lindsey stepped into the circle with me. She recognized my shame and fear. She knew...

July 17, 2016

The Importance of Redefining the Small Things

When I take my last breath on earth, won’t be thinking of metrics and stats....

July 15, 2016

Why Making Mistakes is Good for Children

Although mistakes are a natural part of growing and learning, they were forbidden in my...

July 12, 2016

How to Have a Great Marriage After the Butterflies Die

We've been married 9 years, together for a decade. 2 kids, a dog, and piles...

July 11, 2016

How to Make Space at the Table

The stories throughout the book are absolutely wonderful. This is a father/son duo who obviously...

June 2016

June 27, 2016

Dealing with Dysfunctional Families: How to Make Strong Fences

We expect certain people, based on their title and role in our lives, to always...

June 24, 2016

Light the Torches! Grace for Divorced Christians

I’m divorced. Well, not really. I’m now married. Happily, with five kids. But I have...

June 23, 2016

One Year After Same-Sex Marriage was Legalized, Love Still Wins

I couldn’t tell you exactly how many weddings I’ve attended, but I can tell you...

June 20, 2016

4 Simple Ways to Change the World Today

I launched a new website a few weeks ago. As part of the launch, I...

June 17, 2016

21 Things They Don’t Tell You in Pre-Marital Counseling

We've been married nine years today. During that time, we’ve done a lot of living....