When I read the title of yesterday’s blog, I immediately thought about a group of sexual-abuse survivors who named their support group “F…God.” As they continued learning to be honest with God, their focus gradually shifted as healing began to take place. The goal was never to disrespect God, but to be honest with Him and they were growing in the process. Had I talked to them the way some are talking to you and judging you, they would never have gotten to the next step in the journey.
Scripture shows that God can handle that kind of honesty. Jeremiah called God a deceiver more than once. Job said God hated him, that God smiled at abuse, and that He mocked innocent suffering. Their words were raw and painful, but they were spoken in the context of an ongoing relationship with God. They were wrestling with Him in the midst of suffering, confusion, and grief. They had a God they could be completely honest with.
King David does something similar in Psalm 109. In that psalm he tells God he wants his betrayer to die, for the man’s wife to be widowed, for the children to become beggars, and for the family line to be cut off. None of those words are good or pure—but they are brutally honest.
In fact, I wrote a book on this powerful psalm titled Brutally Honest: Discovering a God Who Can Heal Your Deepest Wounds and Darkest Desires. In Psalm 109 David moves from murderous anger and rage, to pain, and eventually to praise. His words are not good—but his honesty is. And the more he talks to God in that brutally honest prayer, the more God-centered his prayer becomes. He begins the psalm addressing the God of his praise and ends the psalm praising Him.
This raises an important question: Could real praise include being completely honest with God—both when life is going well and when it is not?
So thank you for your honesty. And thank you even to those who were offended by your title, because it actually describes the thoughts many hurting people carry in their hearts. Here is the irony: the all-knowing God already knows those thoughts. He is not shocked by them.
In fact, the raw honesty we see from Jeremiah, Job, Jonah, the psalmists, and Habakkuk is an invitation into an honest, daily, ongoing conversation with God.
Another irony is that the more honest we are with God, the more healing we receive. As healing takes place, the anger, pain, and even the harsh or fould words in our hearts begin to diminish. That is what it looks like to apply 2 Corinthians 10:5 in real time—bringing our thoughts into conversation with God.
For those who feel your apology was not good enough, it may be because they are uncomfortable with that level of honesty. But refusing to allow someone to be real and process their thoughts before God can unintentionally portray a smaller, more fragile version of God—one who:
Does not already know what is in our hearts.
Cannot handle what He already knows is there.
Is only approachable when our prayers are sanitized, sterilized and carefully filtered for God, almost as if God would be shocked and fall off His throne.
But the God revealed in Scripture is not like that.
He already knows what is in our hearts, and He invites us to bring it to Him so He can heal us and set us free.
So my prayer is for honesty with God—the kind of honesty that opens the door for healing, freedom, and a deeper relationship with the One who already knows us completely and still welcomes us into conversation with Him. Which means I appreciate your radical, dangerous honesty and transparency while you are growing. And I pray that we will all give you grace to grow just as we need grace to grow. I just wish I had watched the video, even as I knew immediately what you were doing when I read the title and thought of that group.
Thankfully, that group would resonate with your blog and video yesterday and thankfully, they are not going to be judged by you. In fact, I sent it to one of the group members...knowing it would minister to her.
Thank you for revealing just how large and wide and deep the heart of God is, knowing again that God ALREADY knows what is in our hearts and so much of Scripture is an ongoing invitation to be honest with God
Hey dude, thank you for bearing your soul and what you are wrestling with to all of us. It's not easy, but I am grateful for your transparency. Appreciate you!
It’s rare to see anyone in public ministry repent, admit wrong, or simply display humility quickly without being forced to after days (or weeks) of defensive battle and justification. You are being a good example of godly wisdom, Jon.
Been there Jon. 2015 was a dark year for my family. On filled with pain sadness loss anger. The sense that everything was conspiring against. I lost it. Rage and a flurry of expletives made their way out of my mouth. So much so my neighbor came by to check if my wife was ok. God bless them for their boldness. None of it was directed at her for sure but we were just on the take away side of Blesses Be Your Name and I was grasping at anything I could to hold it together. Things are better now. I understand God differently now. My beliefs about God and my walk with are firmer and more true than they were before. Through it all I gave God a name El-Tohuw. The God of the mess. Praying for you
Hi Jonathan….wow, it’s not easy issuing a public apology. But when the holy spirit is moving within you, this is where you get the beautiful opportunity to reflect Jesus. You are blessed to have a best friend who is a spiritual influence. I didn’t see your original post. I don’t know if I would’ve read it. I probably would’ve been thrown off by the header, definitely an attention getter, but I’ve learned on substack you have to read the content to form an opinion. There are many false messages being presented on this platform. Looking forward to explore your content and witness how God is using you.
I’m new to your page (maybe 4 weeks new). I saw the article. I saw the video. I saw the title.
I don’t know you - meaning we don’t have a relationship/connection. Therefore, I didn’t read watch with the necessary connection and background to appreciate the journey you attempted to take your reader on. As a pastor and concern for people, I was at least curious why you chose the title you did and where it might lead. I was not offended but I thought it was poor judgment in public space to use such language even though it may be true and authentically felt. I don’t know that every thought and expression should be made for public consumption. I assume your calling is one of modeling and leading people out of bondage. And such language could also be a type of bondage. Is God big enough for my crudeness? Sure. But that’s not really the point. Some confessions are for the few. Some confessions are necessary. Just not as a farming casting such seed all over the public space where both good and damage can be done. That’s my 2 cents. I’ll keep reading and checking out your good seeds. Blessings.
To be honest, I was sick to my stomach when I read yesterday's headline. I opened the video, but paused it because I was cut to the quick in using that word and God in the same sentence. Jeremiah, David, Jonah were all very angry with God at times. One thing they had in common, they respected God even if they were furious. They knew they could vent to God because of His perfect character. That word always sickens me as it is the worst thing people can scream at you to dehumanize you (I was a teacher and recipient of that), make you lower than pond scum. I cannot imagine screaming it at God. I have a best friend dying of cancer, many who died from the shots, and I have been very angry with God. Yet, if I believe in Him and His ultimate goodness (Jesus), I have to agree with who He is, whether I like the situation or not. I think repentance is a better word than sorry- means changing your direction and loving the people who were upset as words have power. Please make sure your words glorify God. I know we all fall short, but He is worthy.
Hi Linda. I also took exception to Jon’s post. Noticing in your comment that you feel the weight of losing people to cancer and the shot - I understand completely. I have at times helped people process that a bit. So if you find yourself wanting to dialog with someone about it feel free to DM me or email me confidentially at frpaul@guarnere.com
Thank you for your apology, at a minimum it was required.
The contents of this comment is to assist you in becoming a better Substack contributor and writer. My intention is not to "bash" you personally, yet obviously my criticism will land close to heart.
First, I saw you title appear on my phone's notification list of 30 or 40 other titles. When I scanned it I thought, literally:
"This poster has absolutely no respect for God, for Jesus, who was tortured and died for this guy's salvation!"
I was actually physically revolted seeing that title, and swept it immediately off my notifications.
In this apology, you have an awful lot of "buts", "ands", "I didn't means"... that tell me you are more concerned about losing subscriptions than apologizing to God. Did I even see an apology to God here? I may have missed it because my heart is racing at the whole topic and I'm sick today.
Two observations to add, obviously you were not listening to the Holy Spirit when you wrote the article and the title and hot "publish". You need to pray deeply before you put yourself out on this precious little Substack Christian community who looks here for writers that are guided by the Hoky Spirit.
Second, if you are so desperate to catch readers with "trash talk" go somewhere else. We don't want that here. Maybe X is the place for you to post.
Here on Substack, EVERYONE in this little corner of Christian interest are VERY respectful of supporting and maintaining words and language which has fallen into the gutter the past 20 years. Really, I coach some writers and many many other writers self-discipline themselves to use words accurately, clearly, even stylisticly in the poems they post. "Trash Art" is not welcome here, in articles, poetry, graphics, or titles.
Reading you title I felt transported to a gang-bangers ghetto.
So instead of "sincerely apologizing with "ifs", "ands" and "buts" (and there is no such thing as "adult" Christian content to be put behind paywalls) .... perhaps take a break for a week or two and meditate on the Stations of the Cross that Jesus traveled to save your soul.
You are welcome here, my friend. But your standards need to be raised.
I understand wanting to post "catchy titles". See my publication with over 70 of them. I provke gently, and that should be the style instead of vulgar.
Thank you for your first article and for your second. I too did not watch your video and now that it is gone, I regret that I didn't.
As a recovering alcoholic and a daughter, wife and mother of Naval servicemen the word "Fuck" is only a word and like most words can have a lot of meanings. I do not believe in god, my higher power is the universe.
For me, when I saw the title of your article it was NOT the word but the title and it did stir up how I too wanted to yell the same thing to my high power. Why? Because I do not understand what is happening to this world we live in. It gives me have a lot of fear. But I also need to remember to check in my ego and let the universe decide.
I read the "Desiderata" everyday and the part that says, " You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."
The few things I am learning on this journey of life is; 1) it is very short, 2)"You and the world you live in are but a grain of sand upon the infinite shore of an infinite sea", ~Khalil Givran and lastly, 3)we can sit across from a desk and point our fingers at each other and tell each other what WE think you or I should do. Or. We can get out from behind that desk, sit next to each other at a round table, have conversations and learn from each other. No matter what the subject.
Thank you, thank you for being the honest, authentic you. You do teach at least me how to be a better person.
While I wasn’t entirely happy with the F bomb, I wanted to post a comment in general support of what I was pretty sure you were getting at: the ability to be honest with God, who already knows our emotions and frustration with his plans, because we are frail, sinful humans. Then I ran into the “this is only for paid subscribers“. While I do not dismiss the need for people to get income from their writing through Substack, when I run into that paywall, I immediately click away. It tells me (perhaps unjustly) that people care more about money than communicating their ideas. This is not a criticism of you, per se, but a criticism of Substack payment policies. I believe they desperately need an option for a pay per click versus a paid subscription. I might well have paid a nominal amount to access the full article and comment on it, But I simply moved on. Just an FYI.
So here is a thought, which I learned from my spiritual director, a godly man who writes out whole books of the Bible in his notebooks and through his music ministry has brought many people closer to the Lord.
He was talking to a friend who had recently found out that her father was imprisoned for having molested his niece. This friend had no idea this was going on and it was a shock to know he was already behind bars. Quietly and almost like a deep, groaning sigh, Jer said "Fuuuuu**. And his friend, who is also a Christian, said, "Thank you for validating the depth of my pain."
A couple of months later, I was presenting a bill in person to a Worship pastor for whom we had done some remodeling work. There had been some complications, and by the time I got it sorted out, the work had been finished for a couple of months; when I emailed the bill I heard nothing from him. I tried again and finally I asked him to come over to my home where I would fix lunch and we would talk about the bill. When he arrived, I found out that both he and his wife had been in separate car wrecks; his wife has been unable to return to work and so lost her income while gaining medical bills. Around the same time his wife and one daughter were both diagnosed as being autistic; and there's more. When he finished, I used the same explicative, slowly and painfully, and he said "Yeah, I have said that a couple of times myself." I threw his bill into the shredder.
And I consider that what I said and what he said and what you said and what my spiritual advisor said is mild compared to the lies, fabrications, social media posts, coverups, and more coming from our government.
People lost their beans when Rhett Butler said, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." The F word is getting so overused that it's becoming passé and I bet in 100 years nobody will bat an eyelash.
Having said all that, context is important. My Bible study teacher told our small group that she was dreading Thanksgiving because her extended family blamed her for the fact that her adult children are not following the Lord. I was furious and asked her if she would give them a message from me and she said, "maybe, what?" And I said "tell them to shut the **** up!" She primly declined to do that and later I apologized. She said that she has realized that usually when people say something like that, it is more about their own anger and lives than it is about the injustice they are railing about. And when I examined my heart, I realized it was true.
So thank you for your humility and honesty, which comes through in your book by the way. Grace and peace to you and your family.
I appreciate your apology because it shows not only a willingness to be humble but the ability to say you were wrong. I’ll admit that when I read the original article it made my spirit sick along
With the shock I felt because I have grown to respect you.
I think there is a beauty in the familiarity that we can have with God but we can never lose sight of the fact that He is our Lord and this requires reverence. I could tell you more about what I know to be the demonic influence of using a cuss word but this would have to be an in person conversation. Perhaps it’s is good to ask yourself why you want to believe that cuss words are ok if there is disagreement about it. Praying for continues wisdom from the Holy Spirit
The third commandment is "thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain" I believe you should go to confession. I believe it's okay to be angry at God but do not disrespect God.
Many is the time I've told God where to go, how long to stay and what to do to Himself when He got there.
Shaken my fist toward the sky and dared Him to fry me then and there because I could no longer endure the present agony.
Didn't happen. Didn't prove He didn't exist. Proved He loves me, just like the Bible teaches-while I was yet a sinner He loved me enough to die for me...
Maybe the heavenly angels are horrified when that has happened-dunno-but pretty sure He prefers unadulterated honesty over a bunch of sanctimonious claptrap which He sees through anyway.
When I first sobered up 27 years back there was a huge, terrifying biker-type in the meeting who offered that, "AA is the only place I've ever found where the words "God" and "fuck" can be heard in the same sentence and sound appropriate."
I was horrified at the time but in the years since have come to understand that without sometimes brutal honesty with ourselves AND with God we have no chance. Wherever you are, Bob L.-I miss you, brother...
Your apology is great. I really liked the original post. The title was a bit off-putting. However, for anyone who took the time to read past the title, the information was quite valuable. It is TRUE that God wants our honesty, even when it is anger. He's not afraid to hear us scream, watch us stomp around and curse our situation. I'm not an alcoholic; both my parents were. It's a horrible place to be. God wants to walk through recovery with us, warts and all. Keep up the good work!
When I read the title of yesterday’s blog, I immediately thought about a group of sexual-abuse survivors who named their support group “F…God.” As they continued learning to be honest with God, their focus gradually shifted as healing began to take place. The goal was never to disrespect God, but to be honest with Him and they were growing in the process. Had I talked to them the way some are talking to you and judging you, they would never have gotten to the next step in the journey.
Scripture shows that God can handle that kind of honesty. Jeremiah called God a deceiver more than once. Job said God hated him, that God smiled at abuse, and that He mocked innocent suffering. Their words were raw and painful, but they were spoken in the context of an ongoing relationship with God. They were wrestling with Him in the midst of suffering, confusion, and grief. They had a God they could be completely honest with.
King David does something similar in Psalm 109. In that psalm he tells God he wants his betrayer to die, for the man’s wife to be widowed, for the children to become beggars, and for the family line to be cut off. None of those words are good or pure—but they are brutally honest.
In fact, I wrote a book on this powerful psalm titled Brutally Honest: Discovering a God Who Can Heal Your Deepest Wounds and Darkest Desires. In Psalm 109 David moves from murderous anger and rage, to pain, and eventually to praise. His words are not good—but his honesty is. And the more he talks to God in that brutally honest prayer, the more God-centered his prayer becomes. He begins the psalm addressing the God of his praise and ends the psalm praising Him.
This raises an important question: Could real praise include being completely honest with God—both when life is going well and when it is not?
So thank you for your honesty. And thank you even to those who were offended by your title, because it actually describes the thoughts many hurting people carry in their hearts. Here is the irony: the all-knowing God already knows those thoughts. He is not shocked by them.
In fact, the raw honesty we see from Jeremiah, Job, Jonah, the psalmists, and Habakkuk is an invitation into an honest, daily, ongoing conversation with God.
Another irony is that the more honest we are with God, the more healing we receive. As healing takes place, the anger, pain, and even the harsh or fould words in our hearts begin to diminish. That is what it looks like to apply 2 Corinthians 10:5 in real time—bringing our thoughts into conversation with God.
For those who feel your apology was not good enough, it may be because they are uncomfortable with that level of honesty. But refusing to allow someone to be real and process their thoughts before God can unintentionally portray a smaller, more fragile version of God—one who:
Does not already know what is in our hearts.
Cannot handle what He already knows is there.
Is only approachable when our prayers are sanitized, sterilized and carefully filtered for God, almost as if God would be shocked and fall off His throne.
But the God revealed in Scripture is not like that.
He already knows what is in our hearts, and He invites us to bring it to Him so He can heal us and set us free.
So my prayer is for honesty with God—the kind of honesty that opens the door for healing, freedom, and a deeper relationship with the One who already knows us completely and still welcomes us into conversation with Him. Which means I appreciate your radical, dangerous honesty and transparency while you are growing. And I pray that we will all give you grace to grow just as we need grace to grow. I just wish I had watched the video, even as I knew immediately what you were doing when I read the title and thought of that group.
Thankfully, that group would resonate with your blog and video yesterday and thankfully, they are not going to be judged by you. In fact, I sent it to one of the group members...knowing it would minister to her.
Thank you for revealing just how large and wide and deep the heart of God is, knowing again that God ALREADY knows what is in our hearts and so much of Scripture is an ongoing invitation to be honest with God
Hey dude, thank you for bearing your soul and what you are wrestling with to all of us. It's not easy, but I am grateful for your transparency. Appreciate you!
It’s rare to see anyone in public ministry repent, admit wrong, or simply display humility quickly without being forced to after days (or weeks) of defensive battle and justification. You are being a good example of godly wisdom, Jon.
I love your blog & newsletter. I love your honesty. I love your transparency. I love the real & raw of it all ❤️❤️❤️
🥹
Been there Jon. 2015 was a dark year for my family. On filled with pain sadness loss anger. The sense that everything was conspiring against. I lost it. Rage and a flurry of expletives made their way out of my mouth. So much so my neighbor came by to check if my wife was ok. God bless them for their boldness. None of it was directed at her for sure but we were just on the take away side of Blesses Be Your Name and I was grasping at anything I could to hold it together. Things are better now. I understand God differently now. My beliefs about God and my walk with are firmer and more true than they were before. Through it all I gave God a name El-Tohuw. The God of the mess. Praying for you
Hi Jonathan….wow, it’s not easy issuing a public apology. But when the holy spirit is moving within you, this is where you get the beautiful opportunity to reflect Jesus. You are blessed to have a best friend who is a spiritual influence. I didn’t see your original post. I don’t know if I would’ve read it. I probably would’ve been thrown off by the header, definitely an attention getter, but I’ve learned on substack you have to read the content to form an opinion. There are many false messages being presented on this platform. Looking forward to explore your content and witness how God is using you.
I’m new to your page (maybe 4 weeks new). I saw the article. I saw the video. I saw the title.
I don’t know you - meaning we don’t have a relationship/connection. Therefore, I didn’t read watch with the necessary connection and background to appreciate the journey you attempted to take your reader on. As a pastor and concern for people, I was at least curious why you chose the title you did and where it might lead. I was not offended but I thought it was poor judgment in public space to use such language even though it may be true and authentically felt. I don’t know that every thought and expression should be made for public consumption. I assume your calling is one of modeling and leading people out of bondage. And such language could also be a type of bondage. Is God big enough for my crudeness? Sure. But that’s not really the point. Some confessions are for the few. Some confessions are necessary. Just not as a farming casting such seed all over the public space where both good and damage can be done. That’s my 2 cents. I’ll keep reading and checking out your good seeds. Blessings.
To be honest, I was sick to my stomach when I read yesterday's headline. I opened the video, but paused it because I was cut to the quick in using that word and God in the same sentence. Jeremiah, David, Jonah were all very angry with God at times. One thing they had in common, they respected God even if they were furious. They knew they could vent to God because of His perfect character. That word always sickens me as it is the worst thing people can scream at you to dehumanize you (I was a teacher and recipient of that), make you lower than pond scum. I cannot imagine screaming it at God. I have a best friend dying of cancer, many who died from the shots, and I have been very angry with God. Yet, if I believe in Him and His ultimate goodness (Jesus), I have to agree with who He is, whether I like the situation or not. I think repentance is a better word than sorry- means changing your direction and loving the people who were upset as words have power. Please make sure your words glorify God. I know we all fall short, but He is worthy.
Hi Linda. I also took exception to Jon’s post. Noticing in your comment that you feel the weight of losing people to cancer and the shot - I understand completely. I have at times helped people process that a bit. So if you find yourself wanting to dialog with someone about it feel free to DM me or email me confidentially at frpaul@guarnere.com
peace
Hi Jon,
Thank you for your apology, at a minimum it was required.
The contents of this comment is to assist you in becoming a better Substack contributor and writer. My intention is not to "bash" you personally, yet obviously my criticism will land close to heart.
First, I saw you title appear on my phone's notification list of 30 or 40 other titles. When I scanned it I thought, literally:
"This poster has absolutely no respect for God, for Jesus, who was tortured and died for this guy's salvation!"
I was actually physically revolted seeing that title, and swept it immediately off my notifications.
In this apology, you have an awful lot of "buts", "ands", "I didn't means"... that tell me you are more concerned about losing subscriptions than apologizing to God. Did I even see an apology to God here? I may have missed it because my heart is racing at the whole topic and I'm sick today.
Two observations to add, obviously you were not listening to the Holy Spirit when you wrote the article and the title and hot "publish". You need to pray deeply before you put yourself out on this precious little Substack Christian community who looks here for writers that are guided by the Hoky Spirit.
Second, if you are so desperate to catch readers with "trash talk" go somewhere else. We don't want that here. Maybe X is the place for you to post.
Here on Substack, EVERYONE in this little corner of Christian interest are VERY respectful of supporting and maintaining words and language which has fallen into the gutter the past 20 years. Really, I coach some writers and many many other writers self-discipline themselves to use words accurately, clearly, even stylisticly in the poems they post. "Trash Art" is not welcome here, in articles, poetry, graphics, or titles.
Reading you title I felt transported to a gang-bangers ghetto.
So instead of "sincerely apologizing with "ifs", "ands" and "buts" (and there is no such thing as "adult" Christian content to be put behind paywalls) .... perhaps take a break for a week or two and meditate on the Stations of the Cross that Jesus traveled to save your soul.
You are welcome here, my friend. But your standards need to be raised.
I understand wanting to post "catchy titles". See my publication with over 70 of them. I provke gently, and that should be the style instead of vulgar.
Peace and Blessings
✨️🕊🙏🎊✨️
https://revfrpaul.substack.com/
Thank you for your first article and for your second. I too did not watch your video and now that it is gone, I regret that I didn't.
As a recovering alcoholic and a daughter, wife and mother of Naval servicemen the word "Fuck" is only a word and like most words can have a lot of meanings. I do not believe in god, my higher power is the universe.
For me, when I saw the title of your article it was NOT the word but the title and it did stir up how I too wanted to yell the same thing to my high power. Why? Because I do not understand what is happening to this world we live in. It gives me have a lot of fear. But I also need to remember to check in my ego and let the universe decide.
I read the "Desiderata" everyday and the part that says, " You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."
The few things I am learning on this journey of life is; 1) it is very short, 2)"You and the world you live in are but a grain of sand upon the infinite shore of an infinite sea", ~Khalil Givran and lastly, 3)we can sit across from a desk and point our fingers at each other and tell each other what WE think you or I should do. Or. We can get out from behind that desk, sit next to each other at a round table, have conversations and learn from each other. No matter what the subject.
Thank you, thank you for being the honest, authentic you. You do teach at least me how to be a better person.
While I wasn’t entirely happy with the F bomb, I wanted to post a comment in general support of what I was pretty sure you were getting at: the ability to be honest with God, who already knows our emotions and frustration with his plans, because we are frail, sinful humans. Then I ran into the “this is only for paid subscribers“. While I do not dismiss the need for people to get income from their writing through Substack, when I run into that paywall, I immediately click away. It tells me (perhaps unjustly) that people care more about money than communicating their ideas. This is not a criticism of you, per se, but a criticism of Substack payment policies. I believe they desperately need an option for a pay per click versus a paid subscription. I might well have paid a nominal amount to access the full article and comment on it, But I simply moved on. Just an FYI.
So here is a thought, which I learned from my spiritual director, a godly man who writes out whole books of the Bible in his notebooks and through his music ministry has brought many people closer to the Lord.
He was talking to a friend who had recently found out that her father was imprisoned for having molested his niece. This friend had no idea this was going on and it was a shock to know he was already behind bars. Quietly and almost like a deep, groaning sigh, Jer said "Fuuuuu**. And his friend, who is also a Christian, said, "Thank you for validating the depth of my pain."
A couple of months later, I was presenting a bill in person to a Worship pastor for whom we had done some remodeling work. There had been some complications, and by the time I got it sorted out, the work had been finished for a couple of months; when I emailed the bill I heard nothing from him. I tried again and finally I asked him to come over to my home where I would fix lunch and we would talk about the bill. When he arrived, I found out that both he and his wife had been in separate car wrecks; his wife has been unable to return to work and so lost her income while gaining medical bills. Around the same time his wife and one daughter were both diagnosed as being autistic; and there's more. When he finished, I used the same explicative, slowly and painfully, and he said "Yeah, I have said that a couple of times myself." I threw his bill into the shredder.
And I consider that what I said and what he said and what you said and what my spiritual advisor said is mild compared to the lies, fabrications, social media posts, coverups, and more coming from our government.
People lost their beans when Rhett Butler said, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." The F word is getting so overused that it's becoming passé and I bet in 100 years nobody will bat an eyelash.
Having said all that, context is important. My Bible study teacher told our small group that she was dreading Thanksgiving because her extended family blamed her for the fact that her adult children are not following the Lord. I was furious and asked her if she would give them a message from me and she said, "maybe, what?" And I said "tell them to shut the **** up!" She primly declined to do that and later I apologized. She said that she has realized that usually when people say something like that, it is more about their own anger and lives than it is about the injustice they are railing about. And when I examined my heart, I realized it was true.
So thank you for your humility and honesty, which comes through in your book by the way. Grace and peace to you and your family.
I appreciate your apology because it shows not only a willingness to be humble but the ability to say you were wrong. I’ll admit that when I read the original article it made my spirit sick along
With the shock I felt because I have grown to respect you.
I think there is a beauty in the familiarity that we can have with God but we can never lose sight of the fact that He is our Lord and this requires reverence. I could tell you more about what I know to be the demonic influence of using a cuss word but this would have to be an in person conversation. Perhaps it’s is good to ask yourself why you want to believe that cuss words are ok if there is disagreement about it. Praying for continues wisdom from the Holy Spirit
The third commandment is "thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain" I believe you should go to confession. I believe it's okay to be angry at God but do not disrespect God.
I missed your piece yesterday but can relate.
Many is the time I've told God where to go, how long to stay and what to do to Himself when He got there.
Shaken my fist toward the sky and dared Him to fry me then and there because I could no longer endure the present agony.
Didn't happen. Didn't prove He didn't exist. Proved He loves me, just like the Bible teaches-while I was yet a sinner He loved me enough to die for me...
Maybe the heavenly angels are horrified when that has happened-dunno-but pretty sure He prefers unadulterated honesty over a bunch of sanctimonious claptrap which He sees through anyway.
When I first sobered up 27 years back there was a huge, terrifying biker-type in the meeting who offered that, "AA is the only place I've ever found where the words "God" and "fuck" can be heard in the same sentence and sound appropriate."
I was horrified at the time but in the years since have come to understand that without sometimes brutal honesty with ourselves AND with God we have no chance. Wherever you are, Bob L.-I miss you, brother...
Your apology is great. I really liked the original post. The title was a bit off-putting. However, for anyone who took the time to read past the title, the information was quite valuable. It is TRUE that God wants our honesty, even when it is anger. He's not afraid to hear us scream, watch us stomp around and curse our situation. I'm not an alcoholic; both my parents were. It's a horrible place to be. God wants to walk through recovery with us, warts and all. Keep up the good work!