Essentially, it is our daily death to sin, selfishness, dishonesty, and degraded love in order to rise to newness of life. (p.75)

Manning then gives us seven characteristics of Paschal Spirituality. Here are the seven with a quick quote I took from each section (again, as much for my own reference as anything else). Paschal Spirituality…

1. Is Christocentric, meaning it is through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ.
   The author of the fourth Gospel puts but one question to his readers: Do we know Jesus? To know him is life. Everything else fades into twilight and darkness. (p. 77)
2. Is aware of the community of God’s people.
   The Christian life is meant to be lived in community. And community life is a radical imitation of the holy and undivided Trinity who is dialogue, spontaneous love, and relationship. (p. 80)
3. Looks upon human nature as fallen but redeemed–flawed but, in essence, good.
   Human nature, freed from the slavery of sin, is capable of awesome holiness. (p. 83)
4. Is stamped with the signature of Jesus.
   Tepid preaching and lifeless worship have spread so many ashes on the fire of the gospel that we scarcely feel the glow anymore. (p. 84)
5. Is joyful and optimistic.
   Joy in the risen Jesus is directly connected with the quality of our faith. (p. 86)
6. Promotes unity without uniformity.
   Each of us is called to be a unique and singular manifestation of Christ’s truth and love, not a carbon copy of someone else. (p. 87)
7. Regards persons as free.
   If we really knew the God of Jesus, we would stop trying to control and manipulate others “for their own”, knowing full well that this is not how God works among his people. (p. 88)

There’s a lot to chew on in this chapter (one of the reasons for my summation here). Whenever I come across “good stuff” like this I tend to find myself asking where I most need to focus and improve. On this list it’s a close race between #4 and #5.  I want the signature and fire of Jesus stamped on my life and I want that to be reflected in the joy and optimism of my life. But I’m afraid I’ve allowed the cynicism and pessimism of our culture (and that includes Christian culture) to “dim the glow” and infect my joy.

The solution? As always, it’s found in Jesus!

Chris Seay’s writing style is easy to read, full of personal stories that illustrate his message, and challenges many common misconceptions in Christian culture regarding what the gospel of Jesus is (and isn’t). The crux of his message is that the gospel is about relationship. He states that even “sin is about relationship, not about rules” (page 88). We are all living in broken relationship with God and the gospel is about having that relationship restored!

The author uses the term “shalom” to describe this state of restored relationship…with God and with those around us. We are all called to live in shalom and help others find shalom in their own lives (I won’t spoil the fun by telling you exactly what this term means…you’ll need to read the book for that). This teaching resonates as truth for me. God is about relationship. Jesus is about relationship. We should be all about relationship.

My favorite chapter in the book is Chapter 9: “The Ten Commandments of a Shalom Life”. Here the author gives us 10 practical ways we can live out shalom in our lives. He goes beyond the typical “disciplines” (although they are included) and attempts to shake some of our preconceived notions. On example, in number nine he challenges how we treat illegal immigrants as Christians (see page 188). We’re called to something different and it’s time we started acting like it.

Seay concludes each chapter with a prayer and an interview with one or two contemporary authors and/or pastors on the subject he’s just covered. I personally found these sections a bit tedious and unnecessary, but that’s just me—others may find it helpful to get an alternate viewpoint on the subject. It’s usually in these sections that the discussion gets too “postmodern” for my tastes.

Overall, I loved this book and put it in the top 5 books that I’ve read this year. I highly recommend it and will probably try and read it at least one time a year. The author challenged me to think and act out my faith practically. The gospel of Jesus is more than a “good idea”, it’s to be lived and worked out in the real world…with real people.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

It saddens me. It challenges me. It shakes me to my core spiritually.

Chan is talking about the Holy Spirit in our spiritual lives and how the Holy Spirit is supposed to be evident in our lives. But that’s not often the case. He goes so far to say…

I think the worst part is when you get outside the church’s walls and interact with believers and nonbelievers in the same sphere. Can you really tell a difference? (p 31)

OUCH! If I answer that question honestly the answer is far too often that I cannot tell the difference. And I am including myself in that indictment. But we’re supposed to be different. We’re not just supposed to ACT different (although even that doesn’t always happen); we’re supposed to BE different…

This is the question I just can’t get around: If it’s true that the Spirit of God dwells in us and that our bodies are the Holy Spirit’s temple, then shouldn’t there be a huge difference between the person who has the Spirit of God living inside of him or her and the person who does not? (p 32)

Um….yes. There should be a huge difference. So why is that not often the case? Why is that not the case in my own life?

That’s what I’m going to start examining and praying about. Where have I missed the mark? What am I holding back from God? What am I afraid will happen if I live my life fully in the presence of God’s Spirit? What would happen if I fully allowed Him to guide and direct my life on a daily basis?

That the question we’re asking over the next three weeks at Pinecrest too. As a community, what would happen if God really got a hold of us and we let Him lead…let Him do some amazing things…got out of the way and got on-board with God’s plan?

All I know is that I’m going to start this journey, because I’d like to find out…

I just wish that Dan Brown had left it alone when the story was over. The last few chapters have nothing to do with the story (they even occur after the riddles have been solved and everyone else has gone home except for two of the main characters). The last few chapters (chapter 133 in particular) is simply Mr. Brown’s way of getting in his secular humanism…it reads as page-after-page of secular humanism lecture. In the last pages he manages to proof-text Scripture (when he isn’t outright mis-quoting or mis-interpreting it), lump all religions into one basket, and declares that all religion simply points us to ourselves as gods.

Here are a two examples (two of many):

The Bible, like many ancient texts, is a detailed exposition of the most sophisticated machine ever made…the human mind.” (chapter 133).

Um….no it isn’t! The Bible is an exposition of God’s search for relationship with mankind. It’s the story of God’s redemptive love…from start to finish. It’s exactly the opposite of an exposition of the human mind.

Langdon had never understood why the very first passages of the Bible referred to God as a plural being. Elohim. The Almighty God in Genesis was described not as One…but as many.

“God is plural,” Katherine whispered, “because the minds of man are plural.” (chapter 133)

Again…wrong! God is plural because God is Trinity…not because the minds of man are plural. This is basic theology and Mr. Brown does his best to explain the Trinity away withing the confines of secular humanism (and does a poor job if you ask me).

As I said, these are only two example. The litany of secular humanistic “teaching” in this chapter alone is too long and detailed to get into here…but it is obvious. Mr. Brown believes that humans are becoming like their Creator (at least he admits we have one)…gods that can accomplish great things. I agree that we can accomplish great things, but not apart from God…rather with God. There is a big difference.

If you haven’t read this book…please do. It is a good book, but think about skipping chapter 133 (it doesn’t help the book at all). And if you have read it…or if you choose to read chapter 133 (I know I would…especially if someone told me not to)…let’s keep this final quote form the book in mind…

This book is a work of fiction. (Copyright page)

I am reading this book again for the second time. I’m not going to go into a bunch of details or review the book or try and convince you. Trust me…get the book (click here or on the image above)…and read it. You won’t be disappointed.

So I was walking through the bookstore earlier this week and saw this book: Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss, sitting on the shelf. I have been wanting to read it for awhile now, but never had the opportunity to buy it. This time I did.

It’s a book about the proper use of punctuation. I know…really sick! But it really is a good read. Truss is British and she brings the best of British humour (notice the spelling?) to a fairly dry topic. She makes it fun through her witty commentary and by poking fun at herself and all those grammatical “sticklers” (guilty).

If you want to improve your use of commas, apostrophes, semi-colons, colons, and the like then I highly recommend this book. Even if the mere thought makes you break out in a cold sweat, this book is for you. There are times you will simply forget that you are reading, and learning, about punctuation. It is a quick read full of good, readily applicable information. I highly recommend it to all you fellow sickos out there.

My problem? I don’t know what to read next. There are two books I am considering, but they aren’t so much focused on spiritual growth or development (but maybe that’s a good thing?):

1. Simple Church
2. unChristian

But I am not convinced that either of these is what I should pick up next. So I open the discussion up to you. What do you recommend that I read next? Leave your thoughts and recommendations in a comment and let’s work toward a final decision.  Now, I have read a lot so don’t be discouraged if I’ve already read your selection…just keep ‘em coming. And thanks in advance for the help!

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).

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!

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).