[ SPOILER ALERT! Controversial topic ahead. Proceed with caution. ]

Shawn is a former drug addict who thought about committing suicide and knows quite a lot about not being such a “good” person. He hated the idea of church, got into all sorts of trouble and Christians really made him mad.

He is also one of our pastors.

I start with this because I know I have some followers who may not believe in God, Christianity or any religion for that matter. And I didn’t want my first sentence to make you shut down and want to “x” out of this screen. I try to be tricky that way, heh. This is a place for me to share what’s on my heart, to talk about my feelings/thoughts/struggles. And I really wanted to share the following link in the hope that, if for no other reason, it makes you think. It made me think. And it made me want to research why I believe what I believe (again).

Anyway, as an intro, Shawn Johnson, is one of two phenomenal pastors at Red Rocks Church – both of which are two of the most humble, open and honest men I’ve ever known. Pastors who don’t “preach” at us, but who talk about their struggle with lust, families and even their faith. (pastors who are not perfect and holy? no way!) Not only that, but they are hilariously funny,  excellent speakers and actually…pretty good looking. I think it’s important to know that Shawn is REAL, not an all-knowing divine man who knows all because God whispered it in his ear. Okay? But his life turned around completely and now he’s an incredible, God-fearing man. You’ll get a sense of that in the first few minutes of watching the video.

All that to say, this sermon is a really, REALLY sensitive subject. And he disagrees with Oprah. *GASP!!!*

BUT. There is always a but. It’s what I personally believe to be the truth. So if you have the time to listen for 35 minutes, I think – at the very least – you’ll have a reaction to it and maybe it will make you want to do some research on your own, too. Or if you’re all busy and wrangling children and whatnot, just watch for the first five minutes, (in which he shares an awkward/embarrassing moment), so you can at least understand why I love listening to/watching this man speak.

Sidenote: I certainly don’t have all the answers and I don’t know everything about Christianity (far from it!) and I’m so totally flawed. This post is NOT trying to say, “I’m right and you’re wrong” but is merely trying to share a message that I find to be eternally important. Wouldn’t you want to share something of that significance, too??

So, check it out. And if you are so inclined, let me know what you think – comment, email, tweet…whatever. I’d really like to know. However, I’d rather not have a heated comment on my blog (or Twitter), so if you’ve got something to air, I ask that you please email (lifeisgoldenblog [at] gmail.com) or DM me privately. Not so I can “hide” a comment I don’t like, but so that I can give a personal response rather than try to address something so sensitive and heavy in front of the entire online world. It’s my choice to post, and it’s your choice to click the link below. No one is forcing anything here, believe me. I want to have mutual respect and I hope you do, too. As Pastor Shawn said, too, no one can dispute my personal experience with God.

Now…if you want, clickity-click:
{ http://redrockschurch.com/sermon/the-uncomfortable-truth–only-one-way-to-heaven/ }

And for more of my own personal thoughts, browse through my “Gold Nuggets” category.

Love,
Laura