“A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.”- Jonah 3:5 As Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 8 of AHA, he states that when Jonah confronted the people of Nineveh with nothing but the truth, they responded with brutal honesty. Everyone in Nineveh, a great Assyrian city of […]
Kyle Idleman continues his discussion of minimization in Chapter 9 of AHA by highlighting three phrases we often tell ourselves when we minimize the reality of a situation. 1. I’m just having fun. Pastor Idleman notes that this is a favorite saying of those in the Distant Country. We rationalize that as long as we’re […]
“Sin will always take you farther than you want to go. Sin will always cost you more than you want to pay. Sin will always keep you longer than you want to stay.”- Old saying In Chapter 8 “Minimize- It’s Not That Big of a Deal”) of AHA, Kyle Idleman states that minimization takes denial […]
Kyle Idleman begins Chapter 7 (“Projection- It’s Not My Fault, So It’s Not My Responsibility”) of AHA with the statement that our society has mastered the art of blaming others for our foolish choices. Hence these actual product warnings: 1. “Caution: Coffee May Be Hot” 2. “Warning: Remove infant before folding stroller for storage.” 3. Warning on […]
Today Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 6 of AHA with the second and third tactics of denial. 2. Defend. Pastor Idleman asserts that defensiveness reveals an area of our lives where we are in denial because we don’t want to face the people and places that force us to be brutally honest. In fact, the author […]
Kyle Idleman continues his discussion of denial in Chapter 6 of AHA by noting that what keeps a person in the pigpen, ala the Prodigal Son, is denial. We keep living like everything is going to be okay. While we may have had an awakening, we don’t have the courage to be brutally honest with […]
In Chapter 6 (“Denial- If I Ignore It, Maybe It Will Go Away”) of AHA, Kyle Idleman references a recent news magazine show that featured a reporter, black light in hand, walking into hotel rooms to illuminate hidden germs and stains. When the black light revealed a suspiciously large carpet stain in one such room, […]
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”- Hebrews 4:13 As Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 5 of AHA, he expands his discussion of honesty by stating that honesty is more than a simple acknowledgement. It’s a kind of […]
When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; […]
But his (Naaman’s) servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet (Elisha) has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash and be clean?’ “- 2 Kings 4:23 As Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 4 of AHA, he tells the story […]
“And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.”- 1 Kings 19:12 “Be still and know that I am God.”- Psalm 46:10 In Chapter 4 (“A Startling Realization”) of AHA, Kyle Idleman recalls that in the mid- 90s a certain […]
But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”- Jonah […]