Surprised by God

by Stephen Arterburn

Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley had it wrong. Doing it "my way" is nothing to be proud of. In fact, instead of bringing the promised contentment, pursuing our own fancies only leads to dissatisfaction, resentment, and a lot of hurt. As Christians, however, we are fortunate. We serve the God of second chances. Even when we miss the mark, He doesn't write us off. Sure, consequences often follow. But our God is loving, gracious, and anxious to help. Surprised by God is all about getting that second chance. It's there for the asking. I know. I've received it, and blessings beyond my wildest dreams. Surprise! You can start over! There's a story in the New Testament about a prodigal son, a tale Stephen Arterburn knows well. He lived it, in fact. But when the chips were down and he was surrounded by pig slop, he had but one desire: to return to his Heavenly Father. And it was then that he was Surprised by God. Through this candid look at his personal life, Arterburn shares how the world's pro