This is an excerpt from the introduction of Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Christopher Richmann (1517 Publishing, 2026).
We can bring our troubles, griefs, sorrows, and sins to Jesus, who meets us smack dab in the middle of our messy mob.
Confession isn’t a detour in the liturgy. It’s the doorway.

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Samson knew what he wanted when he saw it, and most of the time, living by sight, he walked like a blind man straight into an ambush.
The Christian who understands Gospel-based love recognizes the false promises and rewards of the Playboy Mansion.
By focusing intently on what one wants to avoid, we often crash right into the moral hazard we are trying to evade.
I spend a lot of time talking to people in coffee shops. Some share my Christian faith, some are exploring and questioning faith and others have left the church, having had a crisis of faith.
When we say, “I’ve screwed up big time. I’ve betrayed my spouse, my family, my friends. I’ve hurt lots of people,” we don’t need to hear, “Yes, you have. You need to make that right, learn to walk the talk, and act like a Christian next time."
Jesus is the "because" and "therefore" of our salvation because He died for our sin
We focus on what we have, what we don't have, and how and when God is going to give us what we need. This the opposite of faith.
However, right before I affirmed her proposal, it dawned on me, “Isn’t every worship service and Bible study for those struggling with faith, life, and fear?!”
Standing before Jesus is one of the cultural groups that the Lord sought fit to eradicate for their wickedness to preserve the line that would eventually birth Jesus.
That image of the “godly woman” haunted me from examples in the Bible of honorable women.
He’s the Grandpa who goes on and on about how delicious these mud pies are that we present to him. He laughs, honestly and sincerely, at our stupid jokes.
Proper preaching of good works is never for our encouragement.