Our Authentic Selves: Reflections on What We Believe & What We Wish We Believed

“This is one of the best, if not ‘the best' books that I have ever read about recovery! So much of that (recovery), is cooker cutter-like, parrot stuff.” ~ Amazon review

“This book helped change my perspective towards Alcoholics Anonymous and the impact of the twelve steps as well as Sponsorship.” ~ Amazon review

For most of his life, David Hampton could tell you what he believed about anything, anytime, at the drop of a hat. He prided himself in how well he could parrot what he'd been taught about Christian doctrine. At some point, he decided to trust the experts with matters regarding his spiritual formation and he learned to spout their words as his own. In so doing, he flipped off the switch in his heart.

He didn't want to confuse himself with questions. And he certainly didn't want to explore the issues and people that fell outside the grid of what he understood to be truth.

“I knew what the Christian subculture wanted,” writes David, “and how to fit into it. I even knew how to make a living giving it what it wanted. I bought in, signed on, drank the Kool-Aid. I even ended up working at the stand. Most confounding to me is that I thought I was being authentic and genuine. And maybe at the time that was even true.”

It all worked beautifully for David ... until it didn't. Only then was he able to really examine his faith, beliefs, and compare his own ideas of Christian doctrine against what Christ actually said, did, and died for.

Our Authentic Selves peels back the layers of your heart and leaves you transformed, filled with God's truth, and a transparent follower of Christ - flaws and all.

A lifelong musician, David Hampton grew up in Evansville, IN. He has toured with numerous Nashville musical artists and worked with a variety of music publishing groups as a staff songwriter since moving to Nashville in 1988. A prolific and award-winning songwriter, David has been published in a variety of recorded and printed formats including hymnals and worship compilations.

His story of redemption, restoration, and recovery have offered him the opportunity to speak to a wide variety of groups including full-time ministry professionals, addiction therapy professionals, at men s conferences, recovery conferences, national hospice professionals conferences, and a variety of worship and arts related events sharing his story with candor and wit.

David has been Director of Worship/Arts Ministries at Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee since 1995. David currently makes his home in Franklin, TN.