Excerpts Page 11 ... Let me be clear, we are guilty of sin, but we do not need to feel inferior compared to other people. Millions of people are guilty of the same sins we committed. When we understand that we are imperfect just like everyone else, that is a step toward healing.
Page 13 ... Denial is like putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound. It may look good on the surface but does nothing for the damage inside. A better way is to accept that we are imperfect and ask, "Ok, what's next?"
Page 14 ... James is not telling us to publicly share the ugly details of our life. God does not require you to give details to anyone that may ask. Your past is none of their business. Please be very careful about who you discuss sensitive matters with because almost every church has a gossip or two, or more. Talk about your life with people that support you, love you, and want to see you heal.
Page 16 ... In other words, we are not too deep in sin for God to love us. Nothing is impossible with God, but we must first trust that God loves us. Sure, we agree that God loves other people, but we must also agree that he loves us, individually, no matter what our past.
Page 17 ... All sinners are equally forgiven. God receives all who repent. This also means that we can love ourselves. We are no better or worse than anyone else. We are free to leave self-rejection behind.
Page 20 ...We don't condone sin, but we don't expect absolute perfection, either. No one is sinless; therefore, when another person stumbles, we don't reject them, but rather offer support. God does not play, strike one, you're out, and we do not play that game, either.
Page 21 ... If God only used perfect people, then there would be no one for God to use. We don't have to be perfect to be Christian. Jesus is in the business of working through imperfect people. We can't let our sins defeat us. When we sin, we confess it, find what is broken, take steps to heal, and keep moving on.
Page 23 ... Sports provides great analogies. The hurdle runner knows he will topple a hurdle or two, but he still runs. The pole-vaulter knows he will knock the bar down at times, but he still makes the jump. The archer knows he won't always hit the bullseye, but he still targets the bullseye. Likewise, we know we won't be 100% successful every single day, but we press on.
Page 25 ... The temptations we face are the same temptations people have always faced. No matter what the sin, thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, even millions and millions of people, have committed the exact same sin. How can we be any worse than anyone else when millions of people have committed the same sins we have committed?
