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GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION

Grace Bombs and Patreon: An Update

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When I started writing about the gospel of grace, I had no idea that this message would go all over the world. I figured I’d get maybe 20-30 subscribers, and that’d be it. But I discovered something: people everywhere are starving for good news. Almost every day I hear from those whose lives have been radically transformed by the good news that their heavenly Father loves them as they are. It’s amazing stuff.

About a year ago I hit a financial hurdle. I prayed about it and the Lord told me to get on Patreon. (Patreon is a crowdfunding thingy where a lot of people give a little each month to help send the gospel all over the world.) I knew this was from the Lord because I had dismissed Patreon as not-for-me, but he said do it and I obeyed.

Again, I underestimated the response. Many of you decided that you wanted to partner with me in this exciting venture and signed up as patrons. I was super-encouraged.

Since that was 12 months ago, I thought you might like to know how patronage has changed things around here:

  • It has kept E2R clean and ad-free, and we’ve had a makeover
  • It has funded the delivery of “grace bombs” – boxes of grace resources – into parts of Africa and Asia
  • It has paid for hundreds of grace books that have been distributed to pastors
  • It has enabled me to hire artists and designers for things like book covers and infographics (because not everyone likes to read)
  • It has helped promote new grace books from up-and-coming authors
  • It has influenced the direction of my writing (I listen to patrons)
  • It has enabled me to write more which means more good stuff for you

And this is just the beginning, the warm-up act. As more people become patrons, you’ll see more and better things going on. I’ve got tons of ideas that are just waiting for a little water and sunshine before they sprout and grow.

“Hey that’s great, Paul. But what does that have to do with me?”

Why not join us? Why not sign up to this adventure of proclaiming the gospel of grace? For less than a Netflix subscription you can become part of a great endeavor that is changing lives all over the world.

“Why would I pay for something I can get for free?”

Everything here is free and always will be. But consider this: If Escape to Reality has been a blessing to you, wouldn’t you like others to experience that blessing as well?

I’m not raising funds for a building or a jet, but to set people free from condemnation and dead religion. The investment payoff is clear: Patrons of Escape to Reality help people discover their Father’s favor. Patrons give this message wings.

“If I sign up, what do I get out of it?”

The satisfaction of being a partner in this gospel, plus immediate access to a lot of patron-only content along with various rewards (e.g., exclusive Q&A sessions, draft chapters of future books, etc). Patronage has its privileges.

“Paul, I believe in what you’re doing and want to help, but I’m not ready to sign up for a monthly commitment.”

I understand. Netflix isn’t for everyone. If you would like to help spread this good news message you can always make a one-off donation via our support page. Every dollar you give goes into promoting the gospel of grace.

If you are a long term reader or if you have been blessed by this blog, I encourage you to become a patron, but if you don’t that’s fine. There’s no guilt here. I’ll keep writing regardless. But if you support my work, I’ll write more and you’ll get more. Patronage is a two-way street.

One more thing: To celebrate one year of good times, every Patron who is signed up by 1 July 2017 will get a coupon code entitling them to a free hardback copy of my award-winning book Stuff Jesus Never Said (excl. shipping). That’s just my way of saying, “Patrons rock!”

So why wait? Sign up today.


The Top 12 Promises on Eternal Security

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I have begun listing the many promises in God’s Word regarding the eternal security of the believer. So far I’m up to 130 scriptures, with more to come. It’s a  wonderful, reassuring list, but too long to reproduce here. So for the sake of brevity I have pulled the top 12 promises guaranteeing your eternal salvation. These are promises to treasure. If you are uncertain and insecure, these promises will give you a confident assurance of your future. 1. Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24) The insecure reads this backwards: “If I falter I’ll cross from life to death.” But Jesus said no such thing. You have crossed from death to life and it’s a one-way trip. You are not alive one day, dead the next, then alive again. The old has gone and the new has come. 2. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out… And this is the will of him who sent me; that I shall lose [...]

Bullying in the Church

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As a parent of four, I regularly encounter bullying. No, my kids aren’t getting abused at school. But we often receive messages from educators informing us of the symptoms and types of bullying. Honestly, it must be hard to be a bully these days, either at school or in the workplace, with everyone so well informed. But what about bullying at church? Hardly anyone talks about this – unless it’s sexual abuse, in which case it’ll make the front page. But there are other types of bullying. I’ve heard hundreds of stories from readers and church leaders. You wouldn’t believe the damage done to people in the name of God. Jesus is not a bully and his church ought to be a safe place. But religion turns people into bullies. (By religion I am referring to that pseudo-spiritual system of self-improvement that Jesus condemned.) Bullying is using power to control, harm, or intimidate others, which sounds a lot like what religion does all the time. In essence, religion is a system to control and coerce people through intimidation and manipulation. Which makes religion pretty stinkin’ evil. So why aren’t we talking about this? If we are to stand up for [...]

AD70 World Premier

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See this? This is the world’s first paperback copy of my new book, AD70 and the End of the World. It is also the world’s only paperback copy, because it is the proof sent to me by the printer. It is the paperback equivalent of a world premiere. It’s a red carpet book. Do you want it? Would you like to get your hands on the paperback four months before it goes on sale? Would you like to own the only copy of this book in the world? Because I’m going to give this book away to one special reader. Read on to find out how you can get it. As you may know, the ebook version of AD70 and the End of the World came out last month. (The paperback comes out at the end of September.) I want to thank all of you who got the ebook version, either on Kindle or PDF. This paperback proof is going to one of you as a token of my gratitude. I also want to say thanks to those who’ve taken the time to write a customer review on Amazon, because books with reviews get read. So here’s how you can [...]

The Market for Bad Predictions

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During my lifetime there have been about 100 false predictions regarding the Lord’s return, and every one of them was made by someone who sincerely believed they were living in last of the last days. The end times, in other words (although the phrase “end times” is found nowhere in scripture). Every time Halley’s Comet comes around, or the planets align, or there’s a solar flare, or the stock market tanks, or Russia flexes its muscles, or Israel sneezes, these prognosticators come out of the woodwork to make their false and unsettling predictions. You may say, “I would never fall for such predictions.” Yet many do. When I was in college a book came out that was entitled 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will be in 1988. Jesus would return in September of that year, said the book’s author. He didn’t yet the book is still available on Amazon, and I believe there was a sequel. The market for bad predictions knows no bounds. Where do these bad dates come from? They come from four sources. First, there are the visions or revelations that inspired such people as William Miller (who said the world would end in 1844), John Hinkle (1994), [...]

Does 2 Peter 2 Say You Can Lose Your Salvation?

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In this world of anxiety and fear, it is a radical thing to proclaim the eternal security of the believer: One with the Lord, your future is the same as his. No one can snatch you from his hand; nothing can separate you from his love. Yet every time I say things like this, someone will point to 2 Peter 2 as though this one chapter could undo the many promises of God and make Christ’s saving work of no effect. “Peter describes Christians who forsook the Lord and were condemned,” they say. “So much for once saved, always saved.” Hardly a month goes by when I don’t have occasion to talk about 2 Peter 2. In this chapter, Peter warns about false teachers who deny the Lord and teach heresy. Let there be no doubt he is not referring to Christians. These people are slaves of depravity (v.19) who never stop sinning (v.14). They are not saints but brute beasts who are condemned to perish (v.12). But were these sinners once saints? Were they Christians who lost the way, and fell beyond the reach of grace? This is an important question, because if they were once saved, then you [...]

Design a New Logo for E2R and Win!

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Short version: I’m running a logo design competition over at CrowdSpring. You don’t have to be an artistic genius to win. If you know what E2R is about and can convey that in a simple logo, you could shape the face of this website. Enter to win a prize of $200!

Longer version: When I started Escape to Reality I cast about for an image that conveyed what the new blog was about and came up with this…

If you’re younger than 40, that’s Steve McQueen from the film The Great Escape. The scene where Steve’s escaping from the Nazis is brilliant – except for one small detail. (You’ll have to watch the film to find out.)

As the blog grew it became apparent that I couldn’t make my mark with a stolen image of a dead actor, so I changed the header to this…

And then this…

As you can see, I was trying to convey the sense of a journey or adventure, the idea that we’re going places in grace. We’re exploring the uplands of God’s favor and freedom.

Another angle I have explored is the idea of breaking out (of dead works) into something bright and exciting (abundant life). You might remember this one:

But as logos go, none of these was very good. They were too detailed and couldn’t be easily put on the back of a book. So what to use?

I returned to the original escape theme. Of course the greatest escape artist of all time is Jesus – he escaped the tomb. That led to this:

That was another idea that looked better in my head than on paper. Eventually I settled on this:

You probably haven’t noticed, but that circle in the middle is meant to represent the open tomb. Pretty cool, huh? But the fact that I had to explain that to you reveals that it’s a poor logo. A good logo stands alone.

Do you have an idea for a logo, something that conveys a sense of escape or adventure or freedom or hope or rest?

If you have some thoughts, I’d love to hear them. If you’re able to sketch them out, even better! It doesn’t have to be perfect – at this stage a rough concept is good enough.

Submit your design over on the CrowdSpring page and you could win a big prize. Not only that, you will shape the face of Escape to Reality!

I look forward to seeing your designs.

Paul

PS: If you have artistic/creative friends, please let them know about the competition. Thanks!


Does God Love Me When I Sin?

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I heard a pastor of a large church tell his congregation, “God hates you, God is sick of you, God is frustrated with you, God is weary of you.” And why is God in such a dark mood? Because of our sin and apathy. Jesus went through hell for us, but we can’t even show up to church on time. I wish sermons like this were rare, but they are not. Religious manipulators love to frighten those Christ died for because those who are afraid are easier to control. The truth is God loves you like crazy. He loves you when you’re up and he loves you when you’re down. He loves you when you get it right and he loves you when you get it wrong. Whether you’re preaching condemnation from the pulpit or receiving it in the pew, he loves you. “But Paul, does he love me when I sin?” Aren’t you listening? Haven’t you seen the cross? The proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, Phillips) You need to settle this in your heart. God loves you. Period. Whether you’re in the zone [...]

Satan Desires to Sift You (Luke 22:31)

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Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. (Luke 22:31) Here are three conclusions people draw from these words of Jesus: Satan needs permission to attack us God gives Satan permission to attack us God and Satan are colleagues in the business of attacking you, hallelujah! To think that God and the devil are in cahoots is ridiculous. Believe this and you’ll believe that God is behind your illness or was complicit in the death of your child. Lose your job and you might say “God gives and takes away.” Phooey! With a God like that, who needs a devil? So what is Jesus really saying? Does the devil need permission? This has nothing to do with permission. Satan is a thief. If the thief had permission he wouldn’t be a thief. Jesus is talking about Satan’s agenda. “Satan desires you in the way that sin desired Cain” (see Gen 4:7). In other words, “Wise up. There’s a war going on. On one side is your heavenly Father who loves you; on the other is Satan who hates you.” Now this is a very uneven war. Satan doesn’t stand a chance. In fact, he’s already been [...]

Why Did Jesus Ask for Swords?

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He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one… The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied. (Luke 22:36-38) On the night he was betrayed, Jesus commanded his disciples to buy swords. Do you know why? According to some discussion threads I’ve read, it was to show his support for gun ownership and relaxed gun controls in America! I do not wish to wade into the quagmire of the US gun debate (and I won’t publish comments that do), but I do want to talk about the scripture above. It’s a good question: Why did Jesus, the Prince of Peace, ask for swords? And why were two enough? Israel was a dangerous place for travelers. (Remember what happened to the traveler in the story of the Good Samaritan?) Yet on several occasions Jesus sent out his disciples without the usual travel essentials. They didn’t take money, extra clothes, or even a staff (see Matt 10:9-10). They certainly took no swords, yet God took care of them. Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you [...]

“AD70 and the End of the World” – out today!

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My new book on the end times comes out today and many of you don’t care. You don’t care because you have been burned by bad end times preaching. Or you’ve had unpleasant conversations. You have found that discussing the end times is like discussing politics. No matter what you say, half the people in the room are going to jump on you. “End times? Who needs it? Jesus wins, that’s all I need to know.” This was certainly my view a few years ago. But then some of you began asking me about the year AD70 signaling a growing interest in preterism. (Preterism, in contrast with futurism, is the view that Biblical prophecy has largely been fulfilled.) In the past three to four years, I have been asked more questions about AD70 than any other subject. At first I was reluctant to join the eschatological conversation. But then I thought, “Why not?” Surely if there is any subject in need of grace, it is the traditionally scary topic of what the future may hold. Judgment Day, the rapture, the antichrist, and the great tribulation. The future is frightening apparently. Which is puzzling, because if grace is good news today, [...]

God Helps the Helpless

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Self-help religion says, “If you want God’s help, you have to work for it. You have to pull up your socks to impress the Lord.” But look at the people Jesus helped and you will see that God is not like this. Jesus helped handicapped people, powerless widows, sick children, and paralyzed servants. Jesus helped dead people. God doesn’t help those who have their acts together. He helps the helpless. He helps those whose lives are a mess. Their car won’t start, their kids are sick, and they haven’t brushed their hair in a week. He helps those who ask for help. God surely wants to help everyone, but only the helpless receive his help. On one occasion people were bringing their babies to Jesus for him to bless them. Jesus said, “Unless you change and become helpless as a babe, you’ll never enter the kingdom.” Another time he said, “Whoever humbles himself like a little child will make a big splash in the kingdom.” In this world success is sold as the product of hard work and perseverance. Success is for the self-made man. But in God’s kingdom the path to greatness is the one taken by the weak [...]

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