David Dollinger

I was with my wife and youngest daughter last year at the Sand Dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan near New Buffalo last summer. Emily and I saw this huge sand dune and people walking on top of it, along with some knuckleheads rolling down at top speed. So we decided to climb straight up the dune. Emily had no issues climbing the dune. I myself had some issues. The climb was steep, and my legs would get buried ankle deep in sand with every step I took. About half way up the dune, I am breathing heavy and sweating. About 50 feet later, my legs are weak and my heart is pounding. I was less than 50 feet from the top and I physically could not make it. I sat and rested at a bush and positioned myself so that I wouldnt roll down the dune uncontrollably. Emily made it without issue and encouraged me to get up there with her and look at the view of Lake Michigan. I wanted to, but I simply couldnt. I was even afraid that I might not be able to walk down the dune. After 15 minute

I will confess to you that I am easily turned off by religious people who try so hard to prove to me how spiritual they are. I have been in pastoral ministry for nearly 16 years, and I have been in leadership for 19 years. If you have met me and know me, you would know up front that I carry far more baggage in my life than God has ever intended for me to have. But many of you know those people that I am talking about. They brag about how spiritual they are and how it is so hard to be fed anymore because they know so much. These are the same people that speak Christianese in church and around their church friends. Among these spiritual people that I have been around the last 19 years, God has revealed a lot of junk in their lives. Spousal abuse; Horrendous marriages with a lot of fighting behind the scenes; Sexual harrasment; Numerous broken relationships within their own family; Its a turn off for me because I am speaking about the spiritual people who rip into other peoples sho