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Grace is Messy

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Select a Category Anxiety Best of Messy Grace Current Events Depression Faith Family Featured Fiction lgbtq Marriage Mental Health Messy Grace Millennials Parenting Recovery Recovery from a Suicide Attempt Recovery from Abuse Recovery from Porn Addiction Religious Recovery Self Care The Struggle With Church This is My Story (series) Uncategorized Writing Help

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

July 2016

July 06, 2016

Why I Stopped Hating the Church

Anyone who says church hurts are no big deal has no idea what they're talking...

July 05, 2016

Suicide: One-Time Event, Lifetime of Grief

I was fourteen when my Aunt Missy killed herself. It was the last day of...

July 04, 2016

Are you in Religious Recovery? Here’s Why Self-Care Matters.

In stopping my ridiculous search for fulfillment in the local church, I have found my...

July 02, 2016

One Simple Way to Support Grace is Messy

In 2010, I started blogging, speaking, hosting a radio show, and getting in front of...

June 2016

June 30, 2016

On Zombies, Trump, and Denying Jesus

Growing up in the Evangelical tradition, I was scared to death of denying Jesus. Countless...

June 29, 2016

Abuse, Addiction, and Recovery: This is My Story

I remember it like it happened this morning, every nasty detail. His name was Jeremy...

June 28, 2016

How to Win a Free Copy of My New Recovery Journal

It’s time to take ownership of your recovery. It’s hard work, but you can do...

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 23, 2016

JOIN US: Christianity, Queers, and Crisis…and What about Orlando?

The Church has found itself sharply divided in the midst of this, waging a cultural...

June 22, 2016

From Pastor to Psych Ward: Recovery from a Suicide Attempt is Possible.

My clients were concerned. When they couldn’t reach me, they called first my wife, and...

June 21, 2016

What Happens When You Believe You are Bad?

This is a story about a dear friend. He was kicked out of Bible College...

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 16, 2016

How to Own Your Story in 5 Simple Steps

Do you want to tell the story of something really great you accomplished, but fear...

June 12, 2016

How to Gain Independence from Your Mess: Join Me!

Are you ready to get to the bottom of your mess? Are you wanting exclusive...

June 11, 2016

How to Own Our Story and Love Better: Review of “Queer Virtue”

Liz Edman's book is not another worn-out argument in the “gay debate.” It is a...

June 09, 2016

What to Remember When You’re Pissed at Grace

I'm left in awe that God, in all of His splendor and majesty and beauty...

June 08, 2016

This is My Story. Suicide Sucks. Grace is Messy.

My mom killed herself when I was 12. I’ve spent a good amount of time...

June 06, 2016

The What, Why, How, and Who of Messy Grace

Have you ever wondered how to live a more grace-filled life? If so, you've come...

May 2016

May 19, 2016

I was molested. How to overcome the trauma of abuse.

*Trigger Warning: This story contains graphic details of child molestation.* To be a christian means...

April 2016

April 28, 2016

Was it Abuse? I Think So. Because it Left a Scar.

It happened at a church basketball team lock-in. Coach Mills had made us shower one...

April 24, 2016

On Target and How I’m Parenting Through Controversial Issues

When abuse is your first memory, it colors who you are. I was molested when...

April 21, 2016

Pornography Addiction is an Island

I love the stories of a mogul who’s purchased a private island in a remote...

April 20, 2016

Living with Mental Illness

Living with mental illness colors everything in life. It is often extremely stressful and exhausting....

April 14, 2016

12 Antidotes for Toxic Christianity

My buddy Morgan Guyton has written a new book, How Jesus Saves the World from...

March 2016

March 17, 2016

Setting the Record Straight about Gay Christians

For years, I have said my struggle is not knowing what I believe about homosexuality...

March 09, 2016

Some Things You Keep: A Book Recommendation

Reading a book about a friend who lost her mom to suicide would probably be...

February 2016

February 25, 2016

Choosing to Forgive My Parents

What do you do when those who are supposed to raise you, care for you,...

February 15, 2016

The Psych Ward and The Church

As the nurse wheeled me down the long and lonely corridor and through the locked...

January 2016

January 28, 2016

Time Travel, Potatoes, and Grace

For months, my counselor and I worked toward dealing with my emotions instead of shoving...

January 25, 2016

I'll Stop Watching Porn When…

All through middle school, I thought, I’ll stop watching porn when I get in high...