Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 3:51PM I created this mini-movie to expose some of the wounding, shame-based messages Christians hear.
abuse, christians, mini-movie, religion, shame in grace, new heart, nobility Monday, November 16, 2009 at 12:21PM 
Andrew and I talked about his fantastic new book, The Naked Gospel - the truth you may never hear in church. Find out what Andrew says about our new identity and freedom. It really is a lot better than we've been told.
The answers may surprise you!
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Click player below to listen.
As always, feel free to leave your comments below!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 10:17AM Hear the provocative interview with Andrew Farley, author of The Naked Gospel - the truth you may never hear in church. The author even has a quiz, and the answers will surprise many. Here's the quiz, taken from www.thenakedgospel.com:
The Naked Gospel Quiz
Below are ten faith-related concepts that don't seem to be regularly discussed in many churches today. But our view on each of these concepts affects our relationship with God, our spiritual growth and our fulfillment in life. So for each of the ten concepts, decide whether you think each is true or false, and you'll be presented with the answers at the end of the quiz.
1. Christians should ask God to forgive and cleanse them when they sin.
True or False
2. Christians struggle with sin because of their old self within.
True or False
3. We should wait on God even before making everyday decisions.
True or False
4. When we sin against God, we're out of fellowship until we repent. *
True or False
5. Old Testament law is written on Christians' hearts so we want to obey it.
True or False
6. The Bible tells us that Christians can obtain many rewards in heaven.
True or False
7. Christians will give an account for their sins at the great white throne.
True or False
8. Christians should tithe at least 10 percent of their income to the church.
True or False
9. God gets angry with us when we repeatedly sin against him.
True or False
10. God looks at us as though we're righteous, even though we're really not.
True or False
(Andrew Farley says that the answer to each of the above is false.) Decide for yourself.
Hear Steve Brown's interview with Andrew Farley, author of The Naked Gospel.
The Naked Gospel, book, grace, religion in New Covenant, grace, identity, love Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 12:05PM 
Our emotional health is directly tied to our view of God. Faulty assumptions about God will sabotage your heart. For that reason, I highly recommend Darin Hufford's new book, The Misunderstood God - the lies religion tells us about God, because the book so ably exposes those harmful assumptions and invites the reader into a deeper freedom.
The book also has staying power. I found myself reflecting on key portions of the book long after I'd read it. The chapter exposing the myth of "The Angry God" reminded me that, "Love is not easily provoked." And despite what we may have been told, the Holy Spirit is not easily wounded or offended. Our God's heart remains supple and open without the fragile neurosis that plagues most of us. We need him to be strong like that.
This book will help you get that heavy pack of religious assumptions and misunderstandings off your back, because you were never meant to carry that.
Here's a link to Darin Hufford's website.
book, darin hufford, freedom, misunderstood god, religion, review in book reviews, grace, love, religion, shame and guilt, transformation Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 11:53AM Click here to hear the interview.
Darin is the author of The Misunderstood God, and the creator of The Free Believers Network. We talked about his book, how religious thinking (vs. the Gospel) has distorted love, and what it means to be a free believer.
darin hufford, interview, new heart, podcast, religion in Podcasts, interviews, new heart Friday, July 3, 2009 at 12:00PM 
Darin Hufford, author of the upcoming book, THE MISUNDERSTOOD GOD - THE LIES RELIGION TELLS US ABOUT GOD, will join me on the podcast. The book will be published by Windblown Media -- publishers of THE SHACK. Darin is also the creator of The Free Believers Network that is helping church return to its natural habitat.
Episode airs on Monday, July 6th. 1 p.m. Eastern. Podcast will be available for download following the 'live' episode.
Monday, March 2, 2009 at 11:32AM Certain things make the hair on the back of my neck bristle.
Religious moralism is one of them.
The pastor of the church where I had previously led a men's event approached me and said, "Hey. Just wanted to let you know we received a complaint in the office..."
This was a church where I had led an on-campus men's retreat. As was my custom, I offered the guys cigars after the session was over. It helps dispel the notion that Christian guys just don't do that kind of thing, and lets the men know this isn't a religious thing we're after.
So the pastor of that church went on to say that someone found out we had smoked cigars (on church grounds) after the event. He said he, "personally didn't have a problem with that kind of thing" but that it could cause some guys to "stumble." (Now, I'm not personally aware of a 12-step group for cigar smokers.) I also told him I never make it an obligation, only an option, for those who want to stay afterwards and enjoy a cigar and some comraderie.
The pastor continued by telling me we could go off-campus or to someone's house if we wanted to enjoy cigars. Well, isn't that gracious and accomodating.
When I, with neck hairs bristling, said this religious moralism was exactly the kind of thing the world hates about the church, he said, "Well, I have to relate to various groups of people in the church..." -- meaning, "Even though my personal convictions tell me there's nothing wrong with this, I'm too timid to confront the Pharisee that made the complaint."
Ever been in a fellowship or church where this kind of religious moralism became obvious to you? Would this kind of thing happen if the biblical notion of a believer's new heart had been taught?
