Aaron Reddin onLife, Liberty, and Pursuit of Jesusness

First of all, reviewing a Bible is a totally awkward thing to do. How can anyone in their right mind critique God’s Word? Exactly.

If this wasn’t a “study” Bible or “commentary”, I wouldn’t have even thought about it. Clearly I did not read every word in this book. It would have taken forever.

Also, I am not a father. I know nothing about being a father. The closest I have been to being a father, is that Lane and I have two dogs. So….

Robert Wolgemuth adds a lot of paternal insight throughout that is backed by Biblical principle. Nuggets. He adds paternal nuggets. No jokes!!

This Bible is in the New Century Version which, to be honest, I am not all that familiar with. It seems to be a very readable translation. I use the NLT, and this seems very comparable as far as readability is concerned.

It’s in a hardback, with a nicely designed exterior.

To me, this Bible seems like a nice novelty gift for Father’s Day. I don’t know that many people will buy it for themselves, but I expect many will receive it as a gift.

(This review was written in exchange for a copy of the reviewed book, through Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze program)

Holy crap!!  Can I start a book review about Jesus by saying that?  I hope so, because holy crap! 

If ever someone has effectively addressed what many of us see as the most crucial issues that are growing and spawning in the Church, these two men have. 

Jesus made it clear exactly who He is.  But when we look around Christianity, do you see the many things that we have turned Him into?  We’ve coined Him as many, many things. 

The writing style is very casual and flows easily.  Though it comes with a smooth flow, the book packs heat.  There is no fluff or BS about what the authors want to convey to their readers.  That’s probably one of the things that I appreciate the most about their work.  It’s very genuine, sincere, and authentic. 

Written about truths of Christ that some may find to be very basic, and Sunday School-esqe, the writers explore these truths in the context of how we should approach our faith, the Church, our communities, etc. with their reality. 

If you have questions about who Jesus is, or if you’re looking in the face of church burn-out, order this book!  Do it, now!

(This review was written in exchange for a copy of the reviewed book, through Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze program)

These two beauties are somewhere between Nashville and Little Rock.  Well, I hope.  Not sure what impact the flooding in Nashville has had on Thomas Nelson.  Hopefully very little. 

Either way, these two are on deck to be reviewed.  They should generate some thought at the very least….

Just being honest, I think a hangover might be more enjoyable than this book.  I guess it’s accurately titled because that’s exactly how it left me feeling, like I had just finished an 8 hour hangover. 

But, you may like it.  If you’re a total political junkie you would most likely eat it up.  Especially if you lean to the right. 

I keep up with and pay attention to major politics, but I’m no political guru.  This book flew right over my head as a result.  From the lingo to the “plots” and historical references, I was lost from the start. 

With all of that said…..

R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is without question well versed in his subject matter.  You don’t even have to know what he is talking about to know that he certainly does. 

So, I can’t really say that the book was bad.  It was just a bad idea for me to take it on.  I stuck it out (because I had to), but I know few people who would have. 

If you can’t ever get enough to scratch your political itch, buy this book!  It’s for you!  If your dad still reads book, buy it for him!  It’s for him! 

Sorry y’all…..it just wasn’t for me. 

(This review was written in exchange for a copy of the reviewed book, through Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze program)

Check out this amazing guest post by Kathy Gilbert Taylor about the inability of men to experience emotions…..

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8

Societal pressures cause us to rethink the validity of things that seem so natural. When things happen to us in our early years, they tend to seem normal. What we learn at an early age often becomes internalized.

Most people don’t scold a two-year old boy when he smashes his finger or breaks a bone, but can we say the same about a boy who is ten? As boys approach adolescence, they hear this message loud and clear: big boys don’t cry.

Pain brings tears, and the older we get the more pain we experience. If boys and men are taught not to cry, it’s difficult for them to know when they can allow themselves to be vulnerable. Whom can they trust with their insecurities and sorrows?

When it is deeply buried, sorrow can evolve into anger. Unexpressed pain foments, and it becomes apparent when it has the power of a man behind it. Angry men are often intimidating and frightening, and we don’t dare tell them to “buck up” the way we tell young boys to do so.

The problem, as I see it, is that we blame the man for his anger. All we see is the road rage or the domestic violence. If only we could have seen the boy who had to hold in his tears, the boy who felt as though he had no one to talk to when his parents divorced, the boy who wanted to be exonerated when someone at church made a false accusation against him, or who wanted to talk about how much it hurt when he was rejected by his first girlfriend.

Showing anger seems so much more appropriate. By the time a boy becomes a man, he’s learned that it’s acceptable to be angry about losing a football game, because of work-related stress, or at the person who didn’t give him the right-of-way.

Once others are intimidated by this grown man’s emotions, society offers plenty of solutions, everything from anger management to psychological counseling. I don’t understand how these remedies can truly be effective if we don’t allow the individual to express a full range of emotions, and that expression includes tears. Here’s the rub: the problem is that the grown man is out of practice. He doesn’t know whom he can trust, know who will hold him while he cries, or who will accept him and his pain without using his “weakness” against him.

Catharsis is good for the soul, and what is good for the soul is good for the man. Our society needs less aggression and more empathy. God has given us all permission to cry, regardless of our age or gender. He meets us with healing in His wings. Because he records each one of our sorrows for us, we can let them go as our tears begin to fall.

Kathy Gilbert Taylor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, is the author of With Great Mercy, a devotional for people who experience pain. She advocates for individuals with disabilities, specializing in facial pain. Kathy also taught high school English, drama, and journalism and worked as an editor. Prior to teaching, Kathy spent several years in the Air Force, first at the Air Force Academy Chapel and then in special forces at Hurlburt Field. An ordained minister, Kathy volunteers for Prison Fellowship Ministries and has also been a Guardian ad Litem and a foster parent.

I strongly encourage you to check out her website at http://withgreatmercy.com, and you can find more great writings like this on her blog, HERE. 

You can find her on Twitter at @so_tweet. 

But most importantly, grab a copy of her book right here!!!

You can never again accuse me of never stepping outside of the little bubble of a world that I live in!

I just ordered this book from Booksneeze…..After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery. 

This is outside of my norm for so many reasons.  A couple of which being that I’m only about 1/4 conservative, and the fact that R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. ruffled my feathers with the analogy in itself. 

But I haven’t even recieved it yet, and am committed to reading it with an open mind to what it has to say.  :) 

I’ll have my review posted……sometime….

I don’t know very many people who can tell you what manhood is, or what it is not.  That’s including grown “men”. 

The subsequent consequence is that since older men don’t have a grasp on manhood, they surely haven’t taught their sons or younger men how to do this thing called manhood.  From boyhood, through the teenage years, and into early adulthood men are left trying to figure out how to be one.  This is something I’ve blogged about a lot and am very passionate about.  A man should never have to teach himself how to be one. 

In a world where simple answers are thrown from every direction at the wandering souls, confusion is rampant.  Misguided men are everywhere.  Some realize it and some don’t.  Many spend their lives trying to learn how to simply be a man.  If a father is still trying to figure it out while raising a son, what do you think the son is going to learn from his father?

Men are basic.  We are simple.  For the most part, we are visual. 

Give me a map and I can get there.  Finally, we men have a map thanks to David Murrow.  I strongly recommend getting a copy and following it to the pinnacle of manhood. 

(This review was written in exchange for a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson, through http://booksneeze.com)

There is a most righteous book that was just released a few days ago by my friend Renee Johnson, called Faithbook of Jesus.  This thing is amazing!  It’s a daily devotional targeted at 20-somethings, but not limited to them.  It’s a quick dose of the Word, that is guaranteed to NOT waste your time with fluff. 

I had the chance to interview the author, Renee Johnson.  Here is the interview, followed by some more information on her and her new book:

1.  Let me start off swinging for the fence.  When I first began to dialogue with you, you told me that your ultimate desire is to see this generation spend time in the Word each day.  Why is this so heavy on your heart? 

“I have been truly changed by reading the Word daily. It is so heavy on my heart for people to experience the same kind of love, healing, and forgiveness that I have received from Him as well.”

 2.  I first found you by simply stumbling across your blog, Faithbook of Jesus, which should be in everyone’s RSS feed, reader or whatever they use.  Is that where this all started?  Blogger turned author, or did it all just come hand-in-hand?

 “Aww, thanks! Yes, I started blogging in 2004 and I’ve never looked back! I have prayed about publishing a daily devotional since 2000. I love it when God answers prayer–and long answers to prayer at that! I was even discovered online by my agent, Credo Communications, and publisher, NavPress.”
 

3.  Tell us what “Devotional Diva” means….

“Devotional Diva was a nickname my mentor gave me after she realized I had over 400 devotionals saved! And it stuck. At first I hated it because I am NOT one of those women who wants to be called princes/queen/diva and the like. But I do have a killer personality sooo I decided to keep it!”

 4.  Your blog posts, and I assume the entries in the book will be similar, are incredible.  They are concise, quick, hard-hitting and don’t waste any of my time.  They make me look at myself through the lenses of God’s Word each day in a matter of seconds.  How do you pitch a perfect pitch, in such small nuggets?  Is it hard to not elaborate with a big grand speech?

“I am horrible at small talk. Definitely not a time waster, that’s for sure. It’s honestly just a practice of me writing in a journal and having a daily quiet time for the past 14 years. Plus, why use big words when you can just tell-it-like-it-is?”

 5.  When I get this book, what’s going to happen to my life?

“Connect with Jesus. That’s the bottom line. And who knows where that will lead…. (don, don, don).” 

6.  I know your passion is for “20-something’s”.  How relevant is Faithbook of Jesus for someone who is just outside of that chalkline?

“No matter how old you are, the Word is encouraging and powerful like a double-edged sword. The stories are definitely meant for 18-35 year olds because there are not any daily devotionals for single & married folks within that range.” 

7.  Tell us why we all need to click on this link down here and get a copy of Faithbook of Jesus.

“Be the first to read a 20-somethings devotional written by a 20-something. And, you’ll like how sarcastic, challenging, and upbeat it is to keep you going strong ALL year!

FUN FUN FUN FUN thanks for interviewing me :)”

Renee Johnson is a spirited speaker and writer to twentysomethings. She graduated from Biola University and has had the pleasure of working with the top nationally-known Christian speakers and writers at Outreach Events. Her devotional blog reaches hundreds of readers. Renee’s mission in life is to “spur others forward” (Hebrews 10:24) using the lessons learned from her own trials to encourage others in their walk with God. Sign up for weekly devotionals at http://www.devodiva.com. Learn more about Renee and her ministry at http://www.devotionaldiva.com.

A couple of weeks ago I set out to do what proved to be the impossible for me. I determined to abstain from all social media while I spent 2 weeks slaving over my manuscript in hopes of sending it to some publishers this spring. See my failed plan HERE.

I failed, miserably!!  In a sense though, I’m glad I failed.  Not because I want to fail at getting my book published, that’s my lifelong dream and I’m going after it with all I’ve got! 

But here are a couple reasons that I’m glad I failed:

1.  There is no way to stay sane while spending two weeks doing nothing but writing.  What was I thinking? 

2.  There is no way I would have had enough inspiration to pop out a couple thousand more words without the joy of interacting with friends.

3.  How about inspiration?  It doesn’t just come from your noggin’.  Seeing and hearing what people are going through is what pushes me on and drives me to rake the scriptures over for the truth of God’s power in their circumstances. 

4.  I just love y’all….that simple.  (and maybe I’m just a media addict, which is totally contrary to what I’m trying to accomplish) 

So, you get the point.  I blew it.  I opened my big fat mouth and didn’t have the discipline (or desire) to follow through.  For that I apologize. 

Still not writing a lot of blog posts yet.  That’s why you’ve been inundated with videos!  :) 

Thanks for hanging out and reading the blog, even when the posts are crap!  Once you get the book, you’ll understand and then make everyone you know go and buy a copy right then!!  Ok, that’s just a wish….

The other day I was looking at general stats on my blog traffic.  I noticed that my guest post by Emergent Jesus and my interview with Matthew Paul Turner had made it into my top 5 blog posts.  It’s not even their freakin’ blog!!  Dang those cool guys get all the attention. 

Anyway, I couldn’t help but wonder…..which one of the two would win in arm-wrestling….

So I tweeted about it, at which point Matthew Paul Turner responds and puts me in check, telling me that he would DOMINATE Emergent Jesus because Emergent Jesus was clearly a girl….Then Emergent Jesus threatened to get Mark Driscoll’s Jesus after him because Mark’s Jesus is a carnivorous drunk….It’s getting crazy….so just go check out their Twitter pages to see the crap talkin’.

So, I want to know what you think.  Which one would dominate?  What would happen if Matthew Paul Turner had a come to Emergent Jesus moment….on the arm wrestling table???  Please mark your answer on the poll down below….

@JesusNeedsNewPR     VS.     @EmergentJesus

This one is a freakin’ treat!! If you have never experienced the righteous comedy that is Matthew Paul Turner, this is for you. I hope it blows your freakin’ suit off. I hope it blows your comb-over…well…..over! You get the point!

MPT has a blog that will either make you laugh, or will make you want to show up at whatever Nashville coffee shop he is writing in and throw rocks at him. Personally, he makes me laugh like a freakin’ idiot and I’m not affraid to admit it. First, here is my interview with him and then following it will be some info about him, his blog and his books. Dig it people! Dig it!!

1.  Let’s begin with the basics, in the event that a reader lives under a rock.  Or a pew.  Your blog…oh man your blog….”Jesus Needs New PR”…..tell us why and where that came from?

“The idea for Jesus Needs New PR began as a book. The blog was simply a way in which to promote that. But after working 18 months on the manuscript, the publisher deemed it too controversial to release. Four other publishers said the same thing. So the book got canned. But the website remains.”

2.  I check in on that blog frequently.  Some days you even make me blush and I used to be a meth addict who lived in his car.  That’s hard core.  I’ve seen some of the flack that you catch because you aren’t afraid to “put it out there” just like it is.  Have you always had guts?

“I’m not sure it takes guts to blog like me, I just think over the years I’ve earned the ability to talk/write/blog about topics that other people won’t touch. But that’s not all that gutsy. Quite honestly, it takes a lot of more guts to overcome a meth addiction than it does to point out one of John Piper’s mean Tweets. I should be interviewing you.”

3.  Which drives you more:  the blog or your books? 

 ”I love doing both. But writing books pays the bills. Or at least some of them… :)”

4.  Your latest work, Hear No Evil, is about to release to the masses.  What impact do you want it to have on the lives of readers?

“My hope for “Hear No Evil” is that it make people laugh, engage their own stories, and perhaps inspire them to create something unique of their own. And if while reading the stories in this book, people learn something or begin a journey toward change or hope, then that’s a bonus.” 
 

5.  I just read the 1st chapter and now I’m sucked in.  What can I expect when I get to thumb through the others?

“More story. More opinion. Hopefully, a few grins or laughs. But more than Churched (my last book), Hear No Evil turns the magnifying glass back on me. It’s really my coming of age story in a lot of ways.”

 6.  People connect to your writings because they’re real.  To quote a snippet of chapter 1 of Hear No Evil, makes the kid in me leap up like I’m in “frogger”.  You say, “At my church whenever somebody capable of emotional honesty became a member, it created a situation similar to my father’s lectures about a new puppy: “As long as it never poops on the carpet, I’ll let it be an ‘inside dog.’” Anyone was welcome to join us for worship on Sundays, as long as they never emotionally pooped on the carpet.Most of us kids were “house-trained” before we’d memorized our multiplication tables.”    I’m fairly sure that you weren’t raised in the dirty south, AKA the Bible Belt, but your experience with church as a kid would lead one to think so.  How much influence do your early church experiences have on what you want to communicate to the world?

“When Churched released, I knew that some people would relate to my story. But when the letters started pouring in, I was literally blown away by how many people related. For obvious reasons, when I engage my past in my writing, people relate. Perhaps they relate to the story or the time frame or the “child,” but they relate. I think writing about my past is an integral part of what I do. It’s not ALL of what I do… but it plays a significant role.”

 7.  If I’ve never seen your blog, heard your name, read your work or anything like that, why should I click this link and pay 10 bucks to read Hear No Evil? 

“Because Aaron B. Reddin said so. That, and the fact that there’s a story included about my desire to become the Michael Jackson of Christian music. I think those are two good reasons. :)”

This guy just cracks my junk up! This crazy cat resides in Nashville, TN. He has a cool wife that makes “cake balls”, and a super cool kid. I really encourage you to check out his blog, HERE. Also, make sure you follow him on Twitter, HERE. He won’t let you down, but he may blow your “Sunday best” right off your chest!!

But most importantly….BUY HIS NEW BOOK RIGHT HERE!!!!  It’s not released until February 16th, but you can pre-order it now and save yourself a few bucks!  Do it!  Right now!  For real.  I promised him that if you didn’t buy the book right this minute that I would round-house kick each of you in the face from point blank range.  Just sayin’.  I’ll do it. 

I’m gonna go right ahead and tell you that you may not want to read any further than this if you are easily offended, because I’m gonna make a statement about this book that may make you never come back to my blog.

Ok, if you’re still reading then you must really want to know what I think. Well here it is: This book is the enema that most Christians, and the Church as a whole needs.

Let me tell you why. Brain Tome understands something that few ever will. He understands the central theme of the gospel. Freedom.

The fact of the matter is that most Christians live their lives in bondages. If for some reason they actually identify them, they try to learn a way to live with them and manage them. To be frank, many are wasting the work of Jesus. Jesus doesn’t want to help you learn to live with bondage, he wants to eradicate it from your life. I don’t care if you buy that or not. It’s true.

Tome has insight into freedom that must be incorporated into the Church. Period. This book is a MUST read, if you even think you know Jesus Christ. Don’t believe me? Then waste your life away living with your every struggle. Or, buy the book and get after your freedom!!!!

Follow Brian on Twitter, HERE!  And then buy the book here:

OK friends and family.  This is one that will require your help.  Don’t click away.  Hear me out. 

Most of you know my story of being freed from addiction to meth almost 8 years ago.  Most of you know that I am vehemently opposed the approach of many “recovery programs” due to their possibly unintentional breeding of hopelessness. 

The Church as a whole is just as guilty as AA, NA, etc…

The Church has “recovery programs” that do not teach or show people that their addictions can be COMPLETELY DESTROYED.  Secular recovery theories are brought into such programs as Celebrate Recovery, where people are encouraged/pressured to continue confessing addiction over themselves.  Thus, breeding hopelessness. 

Without the understanding that you can be totally free from your addictions, there is no hope for your future and the work of Jesus was absolutely pointless for your life. 

I believe this so strongly, that I will not rest until I find a way to change the Church’s view of and approach to addiction recovery. 

I’ve been piddling around with writing my first book on this topic for over a year now.  It’s time to make this point to the masses.  While I still have a little bit of time off due to recovering from back surgery, I want to pump a crap-load of hours into completing my manuscript. 

This is where the social media blackout, and your help come in:

I plan to begin a total social media blackout starting Monday.  This will give me the time to pump out a cool thousand or two words per day.  Hopefully, allowing me to wrap up the initial writing. 

What I need from you: 

Prayers – this text will be so powerful that I need a strong prayer cover while bringing it to life.

Encouragement – without knowing that others believe in this truth, I am vulnerable to drying up.

Support – no, I’m not beggin’ for dollars.  I do however need a “volunteer” editor, someone to help me shoot 2-3 promotional videos, any connection you may have with a publisher or literary agent.

Comments – the only media outlet that will remain in my sight is my email (hopefully).  If you would kindly leave a comment here to support and encourage me, it will hit my phone in an email and I will gladly receive the love. 

Guest Blog Posts – I would like to russell up some guest blog posts over this weekend and get them scheduled to post over the next couple weeks to help keep this blog alive and pumpin’.  Please let me know if you would be so kind as to write something for me. 

Share – PLEASE retweet this post, or past the url into a FB status or just email it to someone you know who is passionate about addiction recovery. 

So, there you have it.  My hearts desire is to see people step into the freedom that Jesus has already placed into motion.  I’m tired of seeing Christians use Jesus as a crutch while they learn to live with their addictions and strongholds.  I’m tired of seeing the Church breed hopelessness. 

If people can’t be free from their addictions, then Jesus didn’t really die to give them life abundant.  What do we really believe?

Please take a moment to leave a comment of support and encouragement, and PLEASE retweet or share this post with anyone who may find interest. 

There really is nothing to this post.  I mean it. 

I just haven’t posted since my surgery, which was 9 days ago.  I don’t remember much of the nine days.   5 of which were spent in the hospital. 

Anyway, for those that would like to know, it went well.  I think.  I feel better except for the fact that I can’t bend, twist, lift, etc…

With all this downtime, you would think I would pump out blog posts like a real blogger.  Nope.  Not me.  I got nothin’.  We’ll be lucky if I write something before February.  Sorry, or you’re welcome, which ever suits you.  Miss you all and can’t wait to re-engage the human race in a few weeks.