Why We Do What We Do

Yesterday, we had the awesome opportunity to share our story with the people of Waterfront Church, in Schaumburg, Illinois. Every time I stand on a stage now and speak into a microphone, I am reminded of the amazing grace, love and mercy of God. There was a time not too long ago that I never thought I would speak in a church again.

Before the service one of the staff members of the church asked me if it was hard to revisit some of the demons of my past and relive the story as we share it. There are times that it hard to go back to those dark places…hard to admit to a new group of people how messed up and broken I am, hard to talk about sexual abuse, lust and failure…hard to hear my wife speak of the pain and anguish I caused her. It is really hard…but as Trisha and I have spoken to churches and met with so many people, we have discovered it is worth it.

The night before we spoke we were told by some of our best friends that their marriage was coming to an end. After we spoke, we met with people who’s lives had been torn apart by sexual abuse, pornography, lies, affairs and hiddeness. On our way home yesterday, we learned that a pastor of a growing and thriving church in Georgia had resigned due to an affair he had with a staff member. I got a text message from a wonderful friend of ours this afternoon telling us that despite her efforts, despite our prayers, her husband wanted out of their marriage. Then I read this post by our good friend Brad Ruggles, and it just broke my heart.

As Trisha and I sat on our deck tonight with our boys and explained to them some of these marriages that were coming to an end; some of the relationships that they have known for most of their life that will be forever changed…we shared with them that this is why we go to Chicago…this is why we blog…this is why we fly to Virginia…this is why we meet with people at Starbucks, this is why we mentor couples over dinner…this is why we are so open and transparent about all the crap and all the junk and all the sin and all the mistakes…because there is a HOPE that rescues. There is a grace that redeems, there is a freedom that comes with truth and there is a power that comes from living in the light.

We know that God is calling us to a new adventure in ministry. But we are more convinced than ever before that our marriage was saved for a reason. Our relationship has been restored for a purpose. We are committed to telling that story and sharing that hope with every person that we can believing that there are marriages that can be saved, kids that can continue living with both parents, and broken relationships that find healing and redemption through the powerful love of Christ.

That is why we do what we do.