Buried Alive: Available Now!

Buried Alive: A Discussion on Overcoming the "Seven Lifeless Sins" is now available. - With a majority of the author's proceeds donated to charity!

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Join the Discussion: Scripture You Won't Likely Hear Preached on this Sunday at Church...

"Because of their sinful deed, I will drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them." (Hosea 9:15)

"Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'" (Romans 9:13)

"I tell you the truth, all sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemies against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." (Mark 3:29)

"Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants." (1 Samuel 15:3)

"...kill, without showing pity or compassion. Slaughter old men, young men and maidens, women and children." (Ezekiel 9:5,6)

"If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me... You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters." (Leviticus 26:27,29)

As a Christian you're probably used to hearing Scripture about God's unconditional love, not Scripture on how He hated Esau. You're probably used to hearing sermons on His unlimited grace, not Scripture on unforgivable sin. And you're probably used to reading books on Christ's compassion, not Scripture on how God called for the genocide of an entire people.

Yet why do we so rarely read challenging and difficult scripture? Why is it that we avoid the parts of the Bible that make us uncomfortable? Why do we patronize our own unique faith by surrounding ourselves with the specific Scriptures that reinforce it?
Skeptics are often familiar with the verses listed above, so why do we as Christians often deny their existence altogether? (Buried Alive, page 170)


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Join the Discussion: Embryonic Stem Cells

Is embryonic stem cell research morally unacceptable? Or is it our moral responsibility to explore new technologies that may aid and cure our fellow humankind?
Should the federal government allow for additional embryonic lines to be opened?
Why or why not? (Buried Alive, page 52)


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Join the Discussion: Holiness

What is holiness? How would you define it, and what does it mean for you and your life?

"When I examine lives in Scripture, the lives of righteous men like David and Moses and Noah and Abraham, I don't see perfection. Instead I see humanity tarnished by mistakes and inconsistencies, sincerity and authenticity. I see drunks and liars and cowards and adulterers and polygamists and even murderers. And so, stepping back to consider all of this makes me wonder whether we've been going about this whole issue of holiness all wrong..." (Buried Alive, page 78)

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Join the Discussion: Biblical Contradictions

Do you believe that Scripture contradicts itself? If so, then what does that say about God's word? If not, then how do you explain the following excerpt: (Buried Alive, page 179)

In the book of Genesis chapter 1 God makes the beasts of the earth first and then man, but in Genesis chapter 2 He makes man first and then the beasts.

In the book of 2 Samuel God tells David there will be seven years of famine, but in 1 Chronicles He tells David there will be 3 years.

In the book of 1 Samuel Saul kills himself, but in 2 Samuel one of David's men kills Saul.

In the book of Luke Satan tempts Jesus first by taking Him to a high mountain and then to the temple pinnacle, but in Matthew Satan takes Jesus first to the temple innacle and then to the high mountain.

In the book of Mark Jesus clearly instructs His disciples to take a staff, but in the books of Luke and Matthew He clearly says not to.

In the books of Matthew and Mark it takes Jesus only six days to lead Peter, James and John up the mountain, but in Luke it takes Him eight days.

In the book of Matthew Jesus is given wine mingled with gall while hanging on the cross, but in Mark He is given wine mingled with myrrh.

In the book of Matthew Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb of Christ, but in the book of Mark it is Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James,
and Salome who go, and in the book of John it is only Mary Magdalene.

In the book of Matthew an angel of the Lord is sitting on a stone outside Christ's empty tomb, but in Mark there is a young man inside Christ's tomb, in Luke there are two men, and in the book of John there are two angels.

In the book of Matthew it clearly says Judas died by hanging himself, but in the book of Acts it says that he died by falling headlong.

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Join the Discussion: The Age of The Earth

How old is our earth and our universe? How do you interpret the creation story of Genesis in light of recent scientific discoveries that date the earth at billions of years? (Buried Alive, page 51)



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Join the Discussion: Not Proud

In September of 2000 Scott Huot and GW Brazier began a website called Notproud.com, where people can post anonymous confessions.
Since its creation thousands of people have secretively confessed their sins, their shame, and their regrets.
In light of that website's success, what confessions do you need to make?
Who, besides God, do you need to ask for forgiveness from?

"For if the enemy is found in sins committed, the Lord is found in sins confessed." (Buried Alive, page 76)


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Join the Discussion: Environmental Ethics

Why are certain political issues - such as abortion and homosexuality - so important to some Christians, while environmental issues continue to be ignored?

The book of Genesis calls us to be stewards of the earth. What responsibility, then, do we have to care for our environment?

As Christians is our gluttonous way of life disrespectful and even sinful? If so, then what practical steps can you and I take toward true stewardship? (Buried Alive, page 58)


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Join the Discussion: The Issue of Homosexuality

How should the church, as Christ's bride, handle the issue of homosexuality?
How should you and I, as followers of Christ, handle the issue of homosexuality?
Have we handled it well thus far? Why or why not?

"In light of Christ's teachings I am often left to wonder where all the love is in our nation today. Yesterday I walked into a local bookstore and found a dozen books, (mostly in the Christian section,) on why homosexuality is wrong and how we should deny 'them' their rights. As I stood their skimming the titles I couldn't help but wonder: Where are all the books on why and how we should love them?

For every book written on why homosexuality is a sin there should be twenty written on why we must love and accept and look first to the plank in our own eye. Yet it seems that we have gotten off track. As a result, there is an ever thinning line between truth and discrimination, righteous anger and bigotry.

.....I realize that homosexuality is a hot topic of ethical debate in America today. Yet that is the precise reason why we as Christians should be reaching out with hands of kindness and sympathy. That is the precise reason why we must learn to love.

After all, if Jesus were here today what do you think He would be doing? Who do you think He would be eating dinner with tonight, at the uproar of modern day Pharisees?" (Buried Alive, page 45)

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Join the Discussion: On the Day of Your Funeral

On the day of your funeral, what adjectives do you believe others will use to describe your life? Even more importantly, what adjectives do you want others to use? (Buried Alive, page 18)


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Join the Discussion: Merely a Metaphor

What are your thoughts on the following excerpt?

"We all have our own theology. Whether we're Catholic or Baptist, Atheist or Agnostic, we all have our own way of viewing and understanding this world in which we live. Sadly, however, we also have an inclination to see our own personal theology as the one true theology. We have a tendency to see our own way as the only way.

The obvious problem with this is that God transcends any possible understanding of Him. God is bigger than any tidy package of beliefs that we try cramming Him into. And any metaphor we use to describe Him is merely that: a metaphor.

This is why God's reply to Mose's question, 'Who shall I say sent me?' is so fitting. In response God doesn't try talking about His justice, love, compassion, or wisdom. He doesn't even attempt to describe Himself for He knows better than to try to explain the unexplainable. Rather, God responds simply by saying, 'I AM WHO I AM.'

I don't know about you but I still haven't figured out how to make my VCR stop flashing. How on earth, then, do you or I have the audacity to presume we've figured out our Lord? Where do we even begin to explain the unexplainable I AM?" (Buried Alive, page 49)

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Join the Discussion: Walk the Line

As Christians how should we handle issues such as alcohol and tobacco? Are such acts right or wrong within themselves? Assuming they're not, then where should the line be drawn?
(Buried Alive, page 41)

What about the use of obscenities?
What about excessive tattoos, body piercings, or plastic surgeries?
What about R- and/or X-rated films?


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Join the Discussion: How Do We Not See It?

Do you agree with the following statement by John Stott? Why or why not?

"John Stott once said our blindness to materialism is similar to the western culture's blindness to the sins of slavery in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today we look back in amazement that Christian people could not see it for the evil it was. And likely, thinks Stott, future generations, should they look back, will regard our day with the same perplexity: How could they not have seen it?" (Buried Alive, page 95)

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Join the Discussion: Your Present Life

I doubt any of us are eager to admit that we're "buried alive". However, if you were to be completely candid, how alive would you say that you are?

Does the following metaphor speak to your present life in any way? Why or why not?

"As a result, many of our lives are like the fairgrounds a day after the carnival has left town. You can almost hear the laughter of children playing. You can almost see the rides and games and crowds of people. You can almost smell the hotdogs, and taste the funnel cakes.
But not quite.
Instead you hear only silence. You see an empty field with used napkins and torn ticket stubs blowing past like tumbleweed. You smell the remnants of a day gone by, and you taste the eerie absence of something missing..." (Buried Alive, page 8)

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About the Book: Buried Alive

The greatest battle most Christians face is not one of good and evil, but rather one of good and lifelessness.
For that reason, Buried Alive identifies the "Seven Lifeless Sins" that keep Christians from the life they're intended to live...

• Apathy
• Fundamentalism
• Compromise
• Materialism
• Busyness
• Laziness
• Comfort

With a fresh voice and personal insight, Buried Alive inspires its readers to take hold of something passionate and purposeful. By referencing over 2600 Scriptural verses, it challenges us all to move beyond the ordinary to something genuine and fresh and real.



*A majority of the Author's proceeds are being donated to Camp Barnabas, a Christian camp for children and adults with disabilities. Click on the following link to learn more about this life changing organization:

Camp Barnabas Homepage