It was the middle of summer, right after the seventh grade and Mom thought I needed work to do. I did. I was bored. And the garage was full of junk so I would be the one to clean it out. There would be payment, of course: a large fries from McDonald’s.
If you have ever watched the movie Ragamuffin, you know it is based on the life of singer Rich Mullins. Rich was raised on a farm and was expected to take over the farm when he grew up since he was the oldest in the family.
However, Rich never enjoyed farm work and struggled to learn the ropes. His Dad drank a lot and beat him when he made mistakes. He told Rich that he would never amount to anything.
As a result, Rich spent much of his life trying to prove himself, trying to gain the love and affection of his Dad. When he discovered that he would never receive approval from him, he took that desire to a girl. When she left him, he about went crazy. He felt that everything he touched came apart.
Engaging unchurched people is often difficult to do. We churched people use different lingo and different jokes. It’s hard to know how to build the bridge from here to there so “they” can become one of “us”: churched.
Or more importantly, a follower of Christ.
Personally, relating to unchurched people isn’t that abnormal for me. Not that it’s any easier, it’s just that I’ve grown up doing it. I homeschooled all twelve grades, but when I was nine years old I started playing Little League baseball. I played four years of Little League and then got invited by our local public school to play for the Junior High team. After two years of Junior High, I moved up to the High School team. There I played two years on the varsity team—starting center fielder.
Author Asher Witmer knows what it’s like to want freedom from sexual sin only to continually fail. We’re often told we need more personal discipline, that we need to think godly things instead of fleshly things.
What if I told you that discipline won’t solve your problem with lust?
Our male sexuality is given by God for advancing beauty and goodness. But somewhere along the line it becomes something that causes devastation and guilt. The good news is we don’t have to live with guilt. In Live Free, Asher Witmer shows us how we can find freedom from sexual sin, live with nothing to hide, and be able to fight for others.
