Blessed Are the Misfits: Great News for Believers who are Introverts, Spiritual Strugglers, or Just Feel Like They're Missing Something

by Brant Hansen

Overview

If you've ever felt like you don't fit into American church culture... Brant Hansen has been there, too. Join Hansen as he explores modern Christianity, the beauty of being different, and the astonishing goodness of God.

American church culture can feel designed for extroverted, emotional people — so what does that mean for the rest of us? Brant Hansen gets it. Introverted, a natural skeptic, and an "Aspie," he often wondered how, even if, he fit into the Kingdom of God.

But the good news is that the Good News is for all. Maybe "spiritual" doesn't always look like we expect. And maybe those of us whose lives aren't full of amazing or emotional spiritual stories, or those of us who struggle to be social, confident, or happy — "misfits," really — have a beautiful place in God's kingdom too.

In his trademark dry, self-effacing humor, Brant addresses questions like:

• If I don't relate to God as emotionally or feel His presence as intensely, is there something wrong with me?
• What if I'm not good at talking to people about my faith — or not good at talking to people at all?
• What if I'm terrible at praying and even struggle to want to pray?
• If I struggle with depression, does that mean I've failed spiritually?

For anyone who has felt left out, anyone who has gone through the motions, or anyone who feels like they have more questions than answers, Blessed Are the Misfits is a breath of fresh air.

Praise for Blessed are the Misfits:

"This book is for those who feel disconnected, lonely, or spiritually dry. Brant's writing is honest, quirky, funny, and downright therapeutic. I can think of no one I'd rather have sit down with me and say, "You know what? It's okay to be you.'"

—Benjamin C. Warf, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780718096311
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	11/28/2017
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	88,372
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.67(d)

About the Author

Brant Hansen is a nationally syndicated radio host and podcaster of The Brant and Sherri Oddcast. He works with CURE International, a worldwide network of hospitals that brings life-changing medical care and the good news of God’s love to children with treatable conditions. Brant lives in South Florida with his wife, Carolyn. You can find out more about the amazing work of CURE at cure.org, and you can follow Brant at Brant Hansen Page on Facebook, and @branthansen on Instagram and Twitter.

Table of Contents

Foreword xiii

1 It's Not just You 1

2 Together, yet Apart 9

3 Blessed Are My Fellow People on the Autism Spectrum (and Those Who Can Relate to Us) 19

4 Blessed Are Those of Us Who Apparently Landed on the Wrong Planet 27

5 Blessed Are the Unfeeling Faithful 37

6 Blessed Are the Unfeeling Faithful, Part 2: Real "Fruit" 51

7 Blessed Are the Introverted Evangelical Failures 57

8 Blessed Are the People Who Can't Pray Worth a Darn 69

9 Blessed Are the People Who Just Read That Last Chapter but Still Have Some Questions 79

10 Blessed Are the Wounded 87

11 Blessed Are Those Who Don't Have Amazing Spiritual Stories 97

12 Blessed Are the impostors 107

13 Blessed Are the Introverts Who Keep Trying 115

14 Blessed Are the Perpetual Strugglers 127

15 Blessed Are the People Who Do Church Anyway 137

16 Blessed Are the Melancholy and the Depressed 151

17 Blessed Are Those Who Don't Take Themselves So Seriously 161

18 Blessed Are the Skeptics and Those Who Don't Know Where Else to Go 171

19 Blessed Are the Unnoticed 185

20 Blessed Are the Lonely 199

21 Blessed Are the Misfit Royalty 209

Acknowledgments 217

A Special Appendix: A Misfit Roll Call 219

Notes 227

About the Author 233