From bellbottoms and Bible camp to a career center stage, this beautifully written, heartfelt memoir, written in the style of Mark Twain, is both a coming of age and American success story. The first person in his family ever to graduate high school, Elrod made the unprecedented decision to leave his redneck region behind—the coalmines and poverty of Appalachia—and seek, instead, something more from life. Early musical success enabled him to explore the world in renaissance meccas such as Paris, Rome, Florence, and Barcelona. He also served as the Music and Arts Pastor at two of the most influential American mega-churches. Still, with each new accomplishment, he felt even more unfulfilled. After three decades of performing for tens of thousands, a growing disillusionment with the church, and life-altering circumstances, he stepped off stage. Returning home to pick up the pieces of a shattered life, he discovered what had been missing all along. Hilarious and irreverent, the characters and tales are as unforgettable as they are entertaining. So pull up an easy chair, grab a glass of wine, a shot of moonshine-or if you're Baptist-some sweet tea, and get ready to laugh out loud and perhaps shed an empathic tear.

For the majority of my life, I had no framework for this extraordinary idea. In my religious circles, sex was what everybody thought about, but nobody talked about. I hope this book will start conversations. We Americans generally stink at controversial discussions and the subject of sacred sexuality is more than worthy of honest and open debate. Sex is at the heart of almost everything we do as human beings, and if it truly is the essence of existence, then it bears thoughtful and loving consideration among those of us who call ourselves spiritual. Some people will undoubtedly find portions of this book shocking. Others will think it is tame. It is in no way intended to be a sex manual or a theological treatise. My wish is that it will cause all of us to examine closely our personal longings, our marriages, our relationships, and what we teach our children about sex.

A seductive God desires to know us intimately. As Lover He calls for all of our spiritual and physical senses to come alive during this journey called life. Your freedom to be spiritually sexual is far less limited than your religious baggage would have you think. Sex, Lies, and Religion will help the reader: [Enjoy Guilt-Free Sexual Pleasure [Unlearn Sexual Lies [Know The Difference Between Art and Pornography [Bring ALL Of Who You Are To The Sexual Experience [Let Sacred Consummation Deepen Your Passion And Intimacy [Embrace Sexual Redemption [Understand The Beauty and Sexual Symbolism of Holy Communion

A full color book of original watercolors portraying travelscapes and the female form by artist Randy Elrod and thoughts both ancient and modern to accompany each painting.