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Progressive Christian

2012-04-26T00:05:15-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Holding Hands

Last updated on: April 26, 2012 at 12:05 am By Steve Austin

I am tall and slender. (Slender sounds so much nicer than skinny.) I am 5’10” barefoot, and I weigh in at about a buck thirty-five. I was standing, holding hands in a prayer circle with 68 people I had never met. The majority of these people were from group homes around Birmingham. My right hand felt like a child’s hand being held by a man so large that my nose was level with his shoulder. His hand engulfed mine, and... Read more

Religion and Spirituality

2012-04-25T08:51:23-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Cheap Grace

Last updated on: April 25, 2012 at 8:51 am By Steve Austin

My Uncle called me yesterday. It made my day. Each of your comments are precious to me and I treasure the dialogue that this platform gives us, but hearing “thanks” from a family member–someone I know personally and admire–is just a bit sweeter. During our conversation, we talked about how the older we get, the more we realize different things that really matter in life. I was holding the phone, talking to a guy who tragically lost his wife, the love... Read more

2012-04-23T00:05:38-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

He hurts when we hurt.

Last updated on: April 23, 2012 at 12:05 am By Steve Austin

Ben Thomas has been sick off-and-on for a couple of weeks now. It’s sinus yuck and when Lindsey gets back from the doctor this morning, I imagine they will say it’s an ear infection. He’s also teething. And last week he had his 6-month immunizations. It’s a really crappy time in his little world! And as BT’s Daddy, when he is unhappy, it breaks my heart. Now–he’s a baby, and there are times when he acts like a baby. There... Read more

2012-03-14T00:05:33-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I'm scared I'm gonna lose God.

Last updated on: March 14, 2012 at 12:05 am By Steve Austin

Letter to a friend: You lose a job. You lose a spouse. You might even lose a child. You lose car keys, your wallet, and your debit card. If you’re lucky, you lose weight. Some folks lose hair. You might even lose your mind. But lose God? No sir. You might lose heart. You may lose the will to fight. But lose God? No. God’s never lost. He is right where He’s always been. Standing at the door, knocking,... Read more

Religion & Spirituality

the attic

2017-01-03T11:13:19-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why I want my little boy to fail.

Last updated on: January 3, 2017 at 11:13 am By Steve Austin

I worked in the public school system for five years. During that time, I learned several important lessons: Lunchroom food sucks (but if you get in good with the lunchroom ladies…they’ll hook you up). Schools are dirty and kids are gross…I wash my hands until they’re cracked and chapped. Use the women’s faculty bathroom…it is always cleaner. Parents don’t want their children to fail. Let’s talk about that last one: I want my little boy to grow up knowing some success... Read more

Religion and Spirituality

Second Epistle to the Corinthians

steve austin

2012-02-01T00:05:52-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Baby Ben Taught me about the Prodigal Father

Last updated on: February 1, 2012 at 12:05 am By Steve Austin

Baby Ben has been extra snuggly this morning. I love that boy so much. I wake up long before everyone else in my house during the week (around 5:15am), and most mornings I have just a few extra minutes to go and wake him up for a few cuddles. I love him so much it hurts. If I could take him to work with me every single day, I would. He’s my pride and joy. I can come home from... Read more

Parable of the Prodigal Son

2012-01-25T05:30:12-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Trailer Trash

Last updated on: January 25, 2012 at 5:30 am By Steve Austin

My Dad owned a mechanic shop in our tiny, rural Alabama town. My Momma kept this kid whose Momma worked at the bank for $1/hr. Everyone was poor, unless they lived on the river. Or worked for Alabama Power. I wasn’t that lucky. We went to garage sales, not because my parents wanted to find treasures like they do on “American Pickers“, but because we were poor. You know how some kids get new school clothes every Fall? So did... Read more

second chance wednesday

the attic

trailer trash

2012-01-21T02:56:40-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What I Saw

Last updated on: January 21, 2012 at 2:56 am By Guest Contributor

I am a pretty smart cookie. As a matter of fact, I think my brain is one of my best assets. I love to learn and learn quickly…. Except for my sense of direction. A guy I know used to say to me “You couldn’t find your way out of a wet paper sack.” Ha! That’s a funny southern sayin’… and even funnier because it’s about true. I am dependant on my GPS. But sometimes it just won’t take me... Read more

2012-01-17T00:05:42-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Be Honest or Die

Last updated on: January 17, 2012 at 12:05 am By Steve Austin

Have you ever found God in an unlikely place? I didn’t plan to be sipping on orange juice, cranberry, and vodka while smoking a Macanudo and reading Brennan Manning’s “All is Grace”. I didn’t plan it this way. Really. I didn’t plan to be doing all of this while enjoying a 50-degree sunset from Lookout Mountain on the eve of New Year’s Eve. I didn’t plan it this way. Really. I didn’t plan to meet Jesus out here. Not this... Read more

2011-12-23T00:05:35-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Chaos of Christmas

Last updated on: December 23, 2011 at 12:05 am By Steve Austin

Have you ever thought about the chaos of the Christmas story? An unwed, pregnant teenage girl. A long road trip in a stinkin’ hoopty to pay the IRS. Farmers in a field, following something like a UFO to a far away land. Flea bag motel. Giving birth at the vet’s office. Sounds pretty chaotic, right? It was worse. A teenage boy who knows the Bible forwards and backwards. Amazes the scholars, who hate him. He becomes a big and strong young adult... Read more

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