Meditations of a Madman: The Musings of a Hated Man Loving God

To embrace the hope of some sense of the presence of God in the midst of benign persecution and overt degradation is to walk a jagged edge along a precipice, whose chasm is insanity. And yet there are those of us who make these often-solitary journeys in silence, with little medication, no adulation, and a naked hope of Divine vindication, which would bring eternal acceptance and appreciation. I am such a one. What follows is the result of a search for a sight of God through the lens prescribed by the paradox of life. It is sent to you in hope that together we might catch a glimpse of glory, that we may transcend the dimensions of torment, and, if only in snatches, to bask in freedom while yet alive. As you contemplatively read, may your life be changed in ways that inspire you to endure the hardships of your lives with hope. May you become more intimate with and dependent on Christ, as well as introspective in ways that make you generous to others.

Brian K. Woodson, Sr., is the pastor and founder of Bay Area Christian Connection, an Evangelical Covenant Church in the heart of downtown Oakland, California. His pilgrimage moved him from the once dangerous inner-city streets of Brooklyn, New York, to the calm coast of California. Marvelously complex, Pastor Woodson is an ambivert by nature (a cross between an introvert and an extravert), Pastor Woodson escaped the dark corridors of his mind and entered into the marvelous light through a Christianity that is relevant. He has a tender heart and a tough mind and believes that Christ was invested in the uplift of disenfranchised peoples. His belief that the Bible should be read as a continuing evaluation of extant economic and social oppression fuels his passion for ministry. Servant Woodson received a Bachelor of Industrial Design Degree from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York; Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio; and has studied the Old Testament at the Graduate Theological Union. His travels include Europe, Scandinavia, and most recently to Israel and Africa. Pastor Woodson is a prolific speaker, gifted flutist, and an artist. He is married to Valerie McCann Woodson, a jewel of a woman, and is the proud father of three sons, Joshua, Josiah, and Brian.