I know what you’re probably thinking: “Not exactly earth shattering news here!”. But it’s not exactly what you think (but yes, I am a mess).

I started reading a mew book this week called Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli. Here’s a quick excerpt from the back of the book that explains the basic premise:

Messy Spirituality was written for the silent majority of us who have been convinced that we just don’t do Christianity right. Michael Yaconelli dares to suggest that imperfection, unfinishedness, and messiness are, in fact, the earmarks of true Christianity; that real Christianity is messy erratic, lopsided…and gloriously liberating.

Something in this concept rings true in my spirit…which is why I picked up the book to read as part of my devotionals. I certainly agree with the theology and concept. And so far it has not disappointed, and has caused me more than once to pause and ask God to help me process what I’m reading. Above all, I want to be an authentic Christ follower and this book is challenging me to do just that (in some new and unexpected ways).

If you’ve read the book, please share some your thoughts and favorite parts. If you haven’t, I encourage you to pick it up (it’s short but full of good stuff!). I’m only one chapter in so far and would love to be part of a Notorious Sinners group (you’ll have to read it to find out what that’s all about…a little teaser for you).

I have been reading a leadership book by John Maxwell at work entitled Be a People Person. It’s a decent book (so far) with some good leadership concepts, but nothing earth shattering or new to the topic of leadership…mainly some good reminders.

However, there is one quote in the book that doesn’t relate solely to leadership that caught my attention a few weeks ago and I was reminded of it yesterday while listening to the radio and hearing a comedian (who happens to be Christian) talking about emails he gets from well-intentioned people getting on his case for some of the topics he includes in his material (it’s all clean…just pushes the envelope to get you thinking…as it should). Here’s the quote…I hope it gets you thinking as much as it did me…

Too many of us take ourselves too seriously and God not seriously enough.
—John Maxwell, Page 148

 I am of the “don’t take yourself too seriously” mindset…sometimes to a fault. Life is too short to be spend our energy on stupid stuff. We spend way too much time worrying about stuff we can’t change and too little time on the things we can change and on the important relationships in our lives (i.e.: with God). Plus, laughing (especially at ourselves) is much more fun…we’re all just a bunch of goofs anyway!

Confession is good for the soul…right? Well,here is my confession for the day…

I am addicted to Bibles!

There…I said it. Now, I know what you may be thinking: “What? Addicted to Bibles?” You heard me right, I’m officially addicted to Bibles. Taking me anywhere near a Bible bookstore is just plain dangerous. At last count I had somewhere in the neighborhood of 20+ Bibles. Sure, I have different versions and many of them have a different purpose (study, etc). But deep down that’s not the real reason I like buying Bibles…no matter how “holy” it might sound.

I even got a new one that ”I just had to have” today. This despite the fact that I got the “perfect” Bible for Christmas (and I do still love that Bible…by far my favorite!). Why did I get this new Bible? Ready for it? Because it looked cool!  On the practical side (a.k.a.: my justification) it is smaller than my good Bible and I can take it places I wouldn’t take my good one (like hunting and camping). Never mind the fact that I certainly have other Bibles that fit that same bill.

What’s worse is that I also think I’m becoming a Bible snoob!  It has to be cool, or have good leather, be a good version, et al. Use a pulpit Bible?? Who would even suggest such a thing! I know there are MUCH worse addictions in life (and I have one or two of those as well), but I just had to let someone know. So now you know…I’ll see you at the bookstore…you can probably find me in the Bible section (or looking for the latest Nooma video).

This is the fifth Ted Dekker book that I have read (the first four being the Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, and White) and Skin…which where fantastic and got me hooked on Dekker).  Blink of an Eye more along the same genre lines as Skin, both of them being action thrillers.  The Circle Trilogy is in the fantasy genre.

On with the review at hand…

The book centers around two characters: Seth Borders (a boy math genius) and Miriam (a Saudi Arabian princess). Miriam and Seth are thrust together as Miriam has fled to America to escape an arranged marriage that is part of a coupe to overthrow the Saudi Arabian government by a radical Muslim sect. Seth become Miriam’s unlikely protector and he discovers an unusual ability…he can see into the future. And not THE future, but all possible futures.

They are the run together from many forces attempting to capture them and during this time they find out about themselves, their faith, and about love in general. Dekker addresses two key issues in this engaging work: The differences and similarities between Christianity & Islam (focusing on what we have in common) and our call to love one another. The issues addressed are contemporary, but Dekker tackles them from a biblical perspective—a unique perspective from the current media and political spin.

This book has something for everyone without the language or sexual innuendos of others works in this genre. It has action and intrigue (you will keep turning the pages) as well as dash of romance (not so much to make you throw up though). The religious overtones are muted…it is effective without being preachy.

Overall, another hit by my new favorite author. I must say that I liked the Circle Trilogya little better, but only by the slightest of margins. This isn’t my absolute favorite Dekker book but I still highly recommend it (I would just read the others first). It tackles a modern issue from a fresh perspective and will keep you entertained.

Overall Rating:

I have been reading a new book by John Eldredge called Walking with God for a couple of weeks now. I am only about about 70 pages into the book, but had to write about it before I was anywhere close to being done with it.

Plain and simple: You must read this book…immediately (if not sooner).

This is one of those books that is life changing! It will transform how your think about walking and talking with God. It has challenged me, encouraged me, and brought me to my knees more than once. Eldredge addresses spiritual issues that I have simply either been ignoring or didn’t know how to deal with them.

John is sharing his own struggles and his own walk with God over the course of a year…and it is an encouragement to the reader to see how he deals with daily life and walking with God through the process of life.

Have you ever wondered if (and how) God speaks to us? Ever wished you could have such a close, intimate walk with God that you could have conversations with Him? Ever wondered what it would be like to deal directly with the life wounds you’ve been carrying around for so long you don’t even remember when or where they started?

Then get this book today and start reading it. Don’t read it cover to cover in one sitting…take your time and let God use it to speak to you…and to teach you to listen to His voice. This is almost a money-back-guarantee. If you do buy the book and start reading it, please come back here and share your thoughts and comments on the book and how it is (or isn’t) affecting your spiritual journey.

Here’s the jacket cover description of the book for quick reference:

Walking with God moves through a year in the life of John Eldredge showing and teaching what an intimate relationship with God looks like day to day.

God longs to speak. And it is our right and privilege to hear His voice. Our deepest longings could all find sufficient fulfillment in God’s company. Yet, somehow, the looming discontent of most Christians is a lack of intimacy with God. Walking with God is unlike any book John has written. It moves through a year in his life showing and teaching what conversational intimacy with God can be like. It teaches readers how to make decisions aligning with God’s will, understand barriers and “agreements” keeping them from the life God intends, fight spiritual battles for their own heart and for others, and much more. Ultimately, Walking with God shows readers that walking intimately with Him can be a normal part of the Christian life.

 I actually read Your God Is Too Safe book last year before I started blogging, but have picked it up again as I am using it as a sort of “textbook” for my next Faith Basics series on “Holy Habits”. The title alone got me to buy and read the book, but I got more than I bargained for! Mark Buchanan has a fresh writing style unlike anything I have read in secular or Christian works. He has a way of making the mundane come alive and getting his reader to see things from a new perspective. This book is all but guaranteed to change your spiritual journey…at worst it will get you thinking about things differently.

I have read one other book by Buchanan (The Rest of God), but Your God Is Too Safe is the better of the two. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to grow in their walk and read a new author with fresh ideas and a new style. I look forward to reading some of Buchanan’s other works as well.

Here is the excerpt from his website summarizing what Your God Is Too Safe is all about:

Here’s a thoughtful, probing exploration of why Christians get stuck in the place of complacency, dryness, and tedium — and how to move on to new levels of spiritual passion! Buchanan shows how the majority of Christians begin their spiritual journey with excitement and enthusiasm — only to get bogged down in a “borderland” — an in-between space beyond the “old life” but short of the abundant, adventurous existence promised by Jesus. Citing Jonah, he examines the problem of “borderland living” — where doubt, disappointment, guilt, and wonderlessness keep people in a quagmire of mediocrity — then offers solutions … effective ways to get unstuck and move into a bold, unpredictable, exhilarating walk with Christ. Inspired writing!

Happy reading!

One of my hobbies is reading. While I read both fiction and non-fiction my real love is for a good fiction novel. Until recently my favorite authors have been the likes of James Patterson, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. Obviously I’m a big fan of suspense and thriller novels.

Every now and ten I’ve tried a Christian fiction author but haven’t found one that really knocked my socks off (quite the opposite really). I just couldn’t find a guy (or gal) that could write well and tell a good story.

Until now!

I just finished my second book by my new favorite (and Christian) author: Ted Dekker. The book I just finished is the first in a Trilogy entitled Black. His writing is edgy and original…I couldn’t put down either book (the first one I read was Skin…all I can say about that book is WOW, got my attention!). Here is how his website describes Black:

Enter an adrenaline-laced epic where dreams and reality collide.

Fleeing his assailants through deserted alleyways, Thomas Hunter narrowly escapes to the roof of a building. Then a silent bullet from the night clips his head…and his world goes black.

From the blackness comes an amazing reality of another world-a world where evil is contained. A world where Thomas Hunter is in love with a beautiful woman. Then he remembers the dream of the chase as he reaches to touch the blood on his head.

Where does the dream end and reality begin? Every time he falls asleep in one world, he awakes in the other-both facing catastrophic disaster. Thomas is being pushed beyond his limits…even beyond the limits of space and time.

Black is an incredible story of evil and rescue, betrayal and love, pursuit and death, and a terrorist’s threat unlike anything the human race has ever known. Some say the world hangs in the balance of every choice we make. Now the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance of one man’s choice.

I am greatly impressed and plan on reading everything he’s written. Not sure how I missed this guy, but I obviously highly recommend him if you’re into this sort of read.