Howard Goldthwaite

Great Excuses of the Bible: Learning Accountability from Other People's Mistakes, Failures, Blunders, Screw-ups, Fiascos, and Occasional Victories Howard Goldthwaite

Whenever we decide to sin, the decision is bookended by excuses. We make excuses as we talk ourselves into doing it, then we make excuses to justify our actions afterward. It's the recipe for a sin sandwich. If we want to examine the ins and outs of making excuses, and the much higher art of not making excuses, there's no greater starting place than the accounts from the Bible. Don't think of the Bible as only a spiritual book, or only a religious book; it's also the ultimate textbook on human nature. "Great Excuses of the Bible" analyzes 150 examples from Genesis through Revelation, describing people with the same basic struggles we have today. By learning from their choices, actions, and consequences, we can avoid making the same mistakes they did. Since every sin is preceded by an excuse, if we can stop making excuses then we can break sinful habits and become the people God wants us to be.