Fail Quotes

“Masks come off when the gospel is put on.”
― J R Briggs, Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure

“The path of obedient, faithful ministry begins when we drop our roles as busy religious salespeople working for God and instead recapture our calling to live with him and, in turn, invite others into that life.2 Sadly, this is increasingly difficult because often what is measured and rewarded is quite the opposite.”
― J R Briggs, Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure

“I end with a blessing from Larry Hine, Brennan Manning’s spiritual director, who delivered this benediction at Manning’s ordination service:      May all of your expectations be frustrated,      May all of your plans be thwarted,      May all of your desires be withered into nothingness,      That you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child, and can sing and dance in the love of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.”
― J R Briggs, Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure

“I’ve often felt like the illegitimate pastor who was good enough to be a starter on the junior varsity team, but never good enough to do anything but sit at the end of the bench in my warm-ups on the varsity squad.”
― J.R. Briggs, Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure

“When we wear the mask that we are only susceptible to small and respectable sins, we communicate to those around us a tame and tepid gospel.”
― J R Briggs, Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure

“Busyness is one of the pastor’s most effective tools of remaining at a safe relational and emotional distance.”
― J R Briggs, Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure

“One of the four-letter F-words we use regularly in our churches reinforces a lack of authenticity: fine. As in, “How are you doing?” “Oh, I’m fine.” This exchange can be heard dozens of times Sunday morning. At times when we say this we aren’t fine—and we know it. Others may know it too, but we get a pass. How often are the regular Christian clichés we use nothing more than disguises for our hurt and pain?”
― J R Briggs, Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure

“Sadly, this need to be needed fuels many of our pastoral motivations. Left unchecked, people begin to need us as pastor and confidant more than they need God as Savior and Father.”
― J R Briggs, Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure

“all of your expectations be frustrated,      May all of your plans be thwarted,      May all of your desires be withered into nothingness,      That you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child, and can sing and dance in the love of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.”
― J R Briggs, Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure