About

Contact: brandon.adams001@gmail.com

Hey.

I know, I know…what’s so special about my story?

Well, I’m a former teacher, youth mentor, worship leader, veteran, single, envelope-pusher, introverted extrovert, child of divorce, former depression battler, and (one day, I hope) author…

But none of that matters as much as my status as a lump of clay. Held in a Potter’s hands, molded and shaped.

Sometimes, though, it’s hard to admire the product. The thing about clay: it can become a ceramic worthy of the ancient Czechs, or something that looks like it emerged from a random preschool. I’ve not led villages to Christ (yet) or made millions rollerblading off cliffs. It’d be a little ridiculous to fit a swelling, austere movie theme to my life. I’m an relatively unknown, ordinary citizen.

But I know the story’s significant because of Who wrote it. A parent loves that preschool masterpiece, frames it somewhere in the house and brags about it to the neighborhood. There wasn’t much special about the stones that David picked for his sling, or the water in which Naaman bathed, or in the “loser” from the tribe of Manasseh that God recruited to deliver his people. Most of God’s recruits, frankly, were messed-up people. Yet this is the kind of person God chooses to go after.

So, I will tell my story. Not to glorify myself, but to glorify the one Who’s writing it.

And because it could be good news for my generation.

 

“Millennial” (n.): An individual born from 1982-2004.

I once heard a speaker say, “I believe the healing God wants to do in this generation is emotional.” I believe him. Things have not gone well. We’re searching for meaning, for a cause, for assurance that this is all going somewhere beyond the endless debt-grind and Netflix sessions and date-swiping. We’re searching, in a word, for rescue. Restoration. And, I would venture to say, we want to know that we are loved, that we are known.

The millennial generation has lost the God of the Bible. We already know the world would hide him from us. Empty religion has done the same – indolence, half-baked and wishful teaching, fear and anger. We end up with, in the words of George MacDonald, “…a false Christ, hard to exorcise!”

God, however, is coming after us. I’m learning the gap between parched and peaceful, between life that “looks spiritual” and life where Jesus really dwells, between an empty suit in a pew and a man who has clearly “been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

“Everyone who drinks from this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13)

Doesn’t that sound amazing?

There’s going to be a cost, though. That’s how you know it’s real. Too much of the average Christian’s energy is spent subtly haggling with God, and I am the worst. Don’t ask this of me, don’t ask that. Jesus says that we’ll never find life that way. We find it by giving it away. (Is it too cliche to use the word “radical” here?)

We must also be prepared to hear things we’ve heard before. Scripture repeats things often. I know that I tend to get bored of the repetition and seek something new. There’s an arrogance in that. Whatever form the truth may take, it never changes, because Jesus doesn’t.

And finally, it isn’t about you. It’s about God. It involves us, but it’s about God. The moment we make ourselves the center of the story, it evaporates on us, like that mirage water on the road as you approach. Our dreams matter to God, but what about his dreams?

64 thoughts on “About”

  1. I just love your spirit, Brandon. I too lament over the absence of Jesus in most of what today’s Christianity has to offer. But, Christ doesn’t call churches, He calls disciples. It would be easy to use the failures of religion to avoid answering His call to follow (not that I’ve been guilty of that…).
    I’m glad that I’ve found your blog, and look forward to reading more of your posts!

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  5. Brandon, I had not read your About page until now, and saw that I used the same quote in my post today. It is not just your generation, but for decades we have needed a revival that only God our heavenly Father can bring. He uses us as His servants where we are. My blog, and especially the series I am doing on Contentment is meant to reveal what His kingdom is like. What He does in and through us, supernaturally, is to reveal His kingdom to the world. It is this, I believe, that will draw others to Himself.
    I came across this site this morning. Is this you? https://contrast2.wordpress.com/author/contrast2/
    Have a blessed day. ~ Fran

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  6. Hi Brandon,

    I came to know of your site from your visiting mine, thank you. If there’s one statement that would define my takeaway from my initial reading, it is, ” I want the life that he offers.” Jesus came that we may have Life, and adundantly so. Blessings to you my brother in Him who is our Life.

    Patrick

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  7. It is so great to read your testimony and to feel the love of God working through you.
    May you be blessed as you continue to spread the news about our Lord through your writing.

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  8. Brandon, I appreciate your writing and, more importantly, your willingness to share your life in relationship with our Lord through the blog site. I am confident the Lord will use your testimony and your thoughts for His purposes in His kingdom. I look forward to reading more of your work. Thanks, also, for following The Ruminant Scribe. I am humbled by your spending time with it. Blessings to you today as you seek to serve Him.

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  10. Brandon, we are all lumps of clay on the potters wheel, its good that know it!! I encourage you to not shut up. In fact SHOUT the good news louder and louder because the world is drowning in what I call “Candy-coated Christianity” where theres not a lot of talk about what’s expected of us (repentance, obedience sacrifice) and only what Jesus will do to improve our lives. My Pastor points to the cross and the Word and will not let the doors open to let us out until he has given an alter call. We, you, I and all believers are called to share the good news so pease keep up the good work because God will use you as long as you’re willing to be used for His glory. Be blessed Al

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  11. Hi Brandon! I saw that you liked the post on my blog about rags on earth and treasures in heaven! I checked out your blog and was just amazing and very happy. It’s really amazing to see a man so strong in his faith with Jesus Christ. You’ve encouraged me so very much.
    ~ Allie >>> Hebrews 11:1, Acts 18:9 <<<

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  15. Brandon, Not sure how you found my blog http://www.healingwriter, but so glad you did. God has placed Millennials on my heart, too. They are one of my target audiences. Since I’m a Boomer (egad, don’t stop reading- lol) it refreshes me to know we share a common goal. Blessings on all you set your hand to for the King.

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  18. Dear Brandon, thank you so much for liking my post; ‘The Hair Styling Session’. I am totally new at this blogging thing, and don’t really now how to get my posts ‘out there’. 😰 But I went to your page and read your ‘About’. Which brought a bit of tears to me, cause I felt like I was reading a bit about myself at a younger age. I too had to battle depression aswell as anxiety attack, which stole so many of my best years. Through it all I did not realize at first that God was indeed there and He was in control. But that was the one thing that brought me to my knees and to seek His presence. He has been good to me. I hope to share and help lead anyone who suffers from this terrible condition to Jesus, because what I needed to hear, was that there IS HOPE. Many blessings and hope to read a lot more of your posts. Christine

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  19. Dear Brandon,

    It’s beautiful how you’ve allowed the Spirit of God to manifest through you in your writings, your honesty and your teachings! 🙂
    I wish I could feel as passionately as you about Christ. However, my entirely family turning away from Christ, the unexplainable spiritual world around me that I cannot fathom and the different religions I’m forced to practise.. leave me in doubt at times. Still, I hold on strongly to the hope Christ gives because his humility makes sense to me. I really hope to grow closer to him with the guidance you provide in your blog 🙂 God bless 🙂

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  20. It’s too easy to be lured by things in this world. And I can’t imagine how hard it would be just starting in life to stay true. Even as I’m moving closer to the time I’ll be gone I find it difficult to ignore the world and stay focused on the Word!

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  21. Hi Brandon…thanks for stopping by “Unwalled”; I’m happy that my post was a blessing to you. May the Lord grant you the desires of your heart as you continue to delight yourself in Him…in His Word, His Will and His Way. May His grace be multiplied upon you as you seek to be a true disciple of Christ and encourage others to do the same. Shalom, Kim

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  23. Pingback: Guest Post by Brandon Adams: It Can Come Out Of Nowhere | The Silver Lining

  24. Hello, I have read several of your posts, and I think your style, not to mention content, reaches a lot of people. I’d like for you to write a guest post on my blog. If you’re interested, please let me know and I’ll send more details. Vanessa

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  25. Hi Brandon!! I just love your spirit! You are so right. There is such a difference in religion and relationship. God has made a shift from the Church Age to the Kingdom Age for those who will follow the leading of His Spirit… and you my brother have shifted. God bless you!!!

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  27. Pingback: Brandon Shares Great Wisdom | Robin Luftig

  29. Hi Brandon, I didn’t realise you used to suffer from depression, which is bad of me, considering the length of time I have been a follower of yours. I must have never read your ‘About Me’ page before (unless you edited it along the way 🙂 That stuck out at me because as you know, depression is the topic most on my heart. I am glad you have overcome to be able to bless many others on here with your godly wisdom and insight.

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    • I have dealt with low-level depression, yes. It’s the subtle variety, which neither yourself nor others can really spot because it blends in so well with normalness. Thanks to God, I’m feeling pretty good these days.

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  32. You have an amazing bio! Although, I have to ask, what does it mean to be an introverted extrovert? I myself am an introvert, even though God has helped me become more vocal and outgoing than I used to be.

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  33. You said “What so special about your story”. That you are special and unique, made in the image of our Father. That is the most special thing of all. I am my Fathers daughter. You are His son. 🙂

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