Unlearning God: How a preacher boy questioned the Bible, failed the code of conduct, wagered with God, and found healing from spiritual head injuries

I've heard stories about people making wagers with the devil for their lives. Growing up in the world of Protestant fundamentalist, Bible banging, 'hell fire and brimstone preachin' Christianity, I was taught God hated gambling. But I decided to make wagers with God for my life anyway. What could I possibly lose?

After several 'spiritual head injuries' my wagers lead me to the brink of spiritual insanity. I wanted to give up on God and church and everything. None of it made sense-growing up as a preacher boy, at seminary or in the seeker friendly mega-churches.

To my total surprise I experienced the holy ground of the burning bush, Jacob's midnight wrestler, the slaying of my Goliaths, the love of Hosea for the whore-Gomer, the burning coal that touched Isaiah's unclean lips, the fearful thunder and gentle dove at Jesus' baptism, the angelic earthquake that broke the prison doors of the apostles, the beauty, healing and the inexplicable mystery of God's all burning love flickering like Pentecostal tongues of fire in an ancient and unexpected tradition.

I lost all my wagers. I would have to unlearn God and everything I thought I knew about the Bible, salvation, the Church and what it meant to be a Christian.

Turned out God was a better gambler than me...figures.