“For this my son was dead, and is alive again, he was lost, and is found.” And they began to celebrate. Now his older brother was in the field . . .- Luke 15:24-25 In Chapter 13 (“Lost in the Father’s House- The Final AHA”) of AHA, Kyle Idleman reminds us that the Parable of the […]
Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 9 of AHA by reiterating that it’s important for us to recognize that without action, the story never changes. Had the Prodigal Son not gotten up, it really wouldn’t have mattered that he came to his senses. He had to take action. Pastor Idleman cites Catholic philosopher Michael Novak, who makes […]
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”- Psalm 73:26 “Superman, when he goes after someone, is essentially not trying to beat them. He is trying to save them from themselves.”- Max Landis When I was seven years old and beginning my second year of […]
“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, […]
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 […]
In Chapter 3 (“A Desperate Moment”) of AHA, Kyle Idleman discusses the subject of a rude awakening. He notes that one thing is certain about a rude awakening- it’s highly effective. You are sound asleep one moment and wide awake the next. Similarly, Pastor Idleman adds, the challenges and hardships of life also have a […]