I'm getting ready to return.

It's been a good, but hard, couple of months. And I'm better for it. I think my writing will be, too.

This has been quite the last couple months.

It became clear to me in early June that I needed step away. There were things I needed to work on, see, experience. There was junk—there is junk—I needed to root out. And I’m continuing to do so. In fact, radical vulnerability alert: I’m back in regular counseling to work on some things.

(P.S. Don’t ever be ashamed to go “back” to therapy. It’s not a failure. In fact, I think it shows a lot of courage and maturity. As part of the sanctification process, you will continually find things you need to work on. Work on them.)

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I’m getting ready to resurface. When? Well, I’m going to start my daily posts again on August 11.

I’ll be done with my summer seminary classes, I’ll have recorded the audiobook for my book that’s coming out, and that’s the week my kids go back to school. Considering all that, it feels like a good time to ramp everything back up, when I can get back to the routine of waking up early in the morning, abide, and write before taking them to school.

How does that sound?

So, if you don’t want me in your inbox every morning starting August 11, go to the bottom of this message and unsubscribe now. Seriously. I won't be offended. I truly only want people here who want read what I have to say, who want to grow, and who appreciate this journey of messy sanctification. If that’s not you, please leave. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but one of the things I’m trying to double down on is not trying to be all things to all people. I can’t people-please.

Anyway, thank you for giving me this space over the last couple months. I’m not going to say it was an incredible “experience”—there have been aspects that have been hard—but I know it has been necessary. As my therapist reminded me, “Jon, you’re getting ready to take ground back from the devil this fall as you launch this book, of course you and your family are going to be under attack.”

She’s right. And so I’ve been dressing for battle.

One final thing: This space—this writing—is my livelihood at this point. It’s not much, but it is what it is. God has told me to do it so that’s what I’m doing. And honestly, I’m not “making” money (I operate at a loss), even with the generous monthly and yearly subscriptions. So, as I get ready to return and write eery day, I’m asking if you’d consider becoming a paying member. As a paying member, you will get access to everything: videos, all posts, and the full archives, just to name a few. I publish daily posts and free members get access to three of them every week, but paying members get access to everything.

And let me say this: There have been some things rolling around in my head over the last two months that I can’t wait to get out on “paper,” and I’m reserving some of the most important pieces for paying member. Not out of some money-making ploy, but because some of these thoughts are things that I think are best reserved for the “inner circle”—those people who “get” me and can handle some of the things I’m going to say.

Here’s a taste of some of the articles coming up:

• The one question that could save your marriage.

• When I accepted this option, everything changed.

• Wrestling with God.

• No, it was that bad.

• Suicide vs. not wanting to live.

• You can flail, or you can fly.

That’s just some of what I’m getting ready to write. So, if you want to get everything and support my ministry work as I launch my new book this fall, consider signing up to be a paying member. I’m offering you 20% off for life as an incentive. HOWEVER, if a monthly or yearly subscription isn’t possible, there’s also a button where you can make a one time donation. Everything helps, and I’m honored you would even consider it.

See you in a couple weeks….

Jon

I took this picture (actually I asked my wife to) as I was driving yesterday. A natural mushroom cloud. Something “exploding” in the heavens. That’s my prayer for this fall. I want what I do to, in a good way, be an explosion in the heavens. Is that weird?