After much discussion and hand-wringing, I finally decided to enter the world of the blog. Two items helped me decide to do this. One, my agent was adamant about my blogging parts of my yet-to-be released book Taking Off My Comfortable Clothes. For those of you who know me, and those who don’t, the book is about my time as the world’s only Assemblies of God monk. After spending four years with the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, a Catholic-based ecumenical monastic community in Eureka Springs, AR (founded by singer/songwriter John Michael Talbot), I finally put some of the lessons I learned into book format. I’ll keep you informed on its (prayerfully) soon to be announced publishing date.
The second reason I’m blogging is because I will enjoy the outlet for my writing, the give and take of comments, and the new people I’ll meet. Besides posting parts of my book, I’ll also include essays I’m writing on Scriptures that bother me.
I took this idea from Mark Twain, who said, “Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” I’m writing about the Scriptures that bother me because I understand them. There is no question in my mind what they are saying, and because they are so crystal clear they leave me no wiggle room to feign the reply, “Oh, is that what God meant…?” Yeah, ‘ol Sammy understood just like Jim understands. And when you know the truth, it demands a response, conveys a responsibility, and commands us to change.
Personally, I’m not too bothered by change. What really bothers me are those people and things that need to change but have become so entrenched in their own illusions that they have nothing left but to worship themselves. (Okay, now I am bothered because I think I just wrote the opening lines of my biography…) If that bothers you too, then I welcome you, the reader, to journey with me into the uncomfortable and soul-stirring realm of the known truth of God’s double-edged sWord.
I invite you to feel free to add comments, send this link to friends, or just ignore me completely. And to any of you who have stayed with me this far, thank you.
Thinking Out Loud 
Hey Jim,
I love it! Great way to utilize your gifts of writing and speaking into people’s lives. I remember reading this 1st chapter of your book. I still love it and remember the struggle and process before you went to the community. It was one of those times when you know that God is calling you do do something but you can’t help but think “but this doesn’t make any sense.” Actually most times that God has called me to do something I tend to think that it doesn’t make any sense. Of course it doesn’t. I don’t have all the information that God has about me and my life. Nor do I have his all seeing, all knowing “stuff”. Ah but I digress!
Yeah – all to say – way to go Jim!
Jim,
I loved it! Good to hear you are continually developing the talent God gave you. I am anxious to read the next segment.
hm
I love it keep it up, its right up your alley
Jim,
I just wanted to congratulate you on the book getting picked up! I wish you all the best and I am very happy for you. Keep up the hard work and it will do good not only for you, but for those who read it.
Dave
Well i stopped at the Healing of Namaan, but will continue tomarrow. I think i understood most of what you were saying and will probable have to reread it again. You really have a way with words and it was easy to understand and thats important to me. Me