Broken On The Back Row: A Journey Through Grace and Forgiveness (Hardback)

Chapter One

If you know me only as Sandi Patty, Christian entertainer - or recording artist, as we call ourselves in the industry - I want you to know there have been some chapters in my life that will probably disappoint and possibly even anger you. Before you judge me by my music as someone to be admired, let me warn you that I've already let you down.

I've made some poor choices and foolish mistakes in my life.

Big-time mistakes.

I committed adultery - and told lies to cover it up. I went through a divorce, and now I'm nearly ten years into a very happy second marriage.

This book is the story of my journey from devastating sin through healing forgiveness and into God's incredible grace. It's the story of the difficult steps I had to take to regain wholeness and restoration to the body of Christ. And finally, it's the glorious story of how the truth has set me free.

If you're looking for bitter accusations and excuses about why my first marriage failed, you won't find them here. In the breakup of any marriage, there are - or at least there should be - issues that are private and are not put on display for public consideration. Don't expect to find lurid details of the affair I was involved in either. It happened. I've acknowledged it, apologized one-on-one to the individuals I harmed by my actions, and been forgiven by God and restored to my church.

I share my story now, not to refresh your memory of the scandal I caused more than a decade ago, but so you might see anew the mercy and power and goodness of our God, the God of second chances. I want you to know that what He did for me, He can also do for you.

If this isn't the book you were expecting, now's the time to return it and ask for your money back. I apologize for disappointing you and for any hurt I might have caused you.

On the other hand, if you've also made mistakes in your life and you long for restoration and wholeness, I hope you'll come along and share my journey. It follows a well-traveled spiritual pathway that leads from sin and deceitfulness right up to Calvary, where our Savior died so we could know forgiveness, grace, and unconditional love.

That's where you'll find me today, gathered with all the others who've been forgiven and redeemed, gratefully clinging forever to the foot of that old rugged cross.

(Continues...)