Sunday, June 25, 2006
VELVET ELVIS
As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I have been reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. It's a pretty easy read though if you take the time to follow all of his footnotes and scriptural references, it would take considerably longer to read.

Now, I have to tell you something ... I have shelves full of books I've not yet read. I buy them with good intentions but then another book, perhaps a newer or shinier one, comes along and I read it instead.

Okay, now here's the other part of that story -- for every book I have that I have never read, I probably have another book that I started to read and someplace between 2/3 and 3/4 of the way through the book, my improvised bookmark (usually an airline ticket stub or a small piece of notepaper) is sticking out, indicating that I never finished the book. There again, I intended to finish the book (in most cases) but something brighter and shinier came along.

I love books, I love the written word, I love reading -- I just seem to have "Literary ADHD".

Anyway, back to Velvet Elvis ... I don't want to spoil the book for you so I won't give you a lot of details but here's my advice ... read the last chapter ("Movement 7" as Rob calls it) first and then go back and start at the front of the book.

Rob seems to go off in some sort of odd directions early on in the book. He has some great details on Jewish history and traditions but even those can leave you wondering why you care and where he's going. Wherever you're at on your spiritual journey, I think there will be reasons you will be tempted to put the book down and quit reading it. There were times when, had I not already blogged about reading the book and were it not really a pretty simple read ( without following all the footnotes), I probably would have quit reading and left it sitting on our bookshelf with a piece of notepaper mid-way through.

"Movement 7," though, is powerful and it brings the first six chapters into perspective and meaning. It is a summary of how we all know that the church ought to be. It paints a picture of love and care for others -- unconditional just like God's love for us. Knowing where Rob is going in the book will, I think, rather than spoil the book, make the other chapters more meaningful. You will see where he's leading and why. And then "Movement 7" will be a compelling conclusion to it all.

Enjoy the read. Let me know if you want to borrow my copy. At the end, though, concentrate on the question of "What next?" That's what I hope to do.

  posted at 6:54 AM  
  0 comments



0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home



Who Am I?

Name:
Todd M

Location:



An ordinary guy. A wife I love very much. A great son. Wonderful friends. A metal roofing business and a sales training business. A loving church family. A few trade associations. A Christian school. And a four-pound poodle. Just trying to follow God and see where He leads.

My Complete Profile


Buy My Book! (please)
  • Trying To Lose My "Self" In Israel

  • Past Posts
  • CAMP INVENTION
  • GOD IS GRINNING
  • REMINDERS
  • PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM
  • PASTOR PAULEY
  • HOW DO YOU HANDLE YOUR DISCONTENT?
  • ANOTHER JOKE
  • SACRIFICE OR NAP BY THE FIRE?
  • SQUEEZE ME or WHAT'S YOUR FORTUNE, COOKIE?
  • LIGHTS FLASH BUT I'M OKAY

  • Great Blogs
  • Dan Gildner
  • Hope Shifts
  • Trey Morgan
  • Hey Jules
  • DadBloggers
  • David Porath
  • Antique Mommy
  • Tony Morgan
  • Chris Reeder
  • Gary Lamb
  • Perry Noble
  • David Foster
  • Scott Hodge
  • Mark Meyer
  • Donald Miller
  • Sidney First Leadership Community
  • Irenic Thoughts
  • Sidney First UMC

  • Archives
  • May 2006
  • June 2006
  • July 2006
  • August 2006
  • September 2006
  • October 2006
  • November 2006
  • December 2006
  • January 2007
  • February 2007
  • March 2007
  • April 2007
  • May 2007
  • June 2007
  • July 2007
  • August 2007
  • September 2007
  • October 2007
  • November 2007
  • December 2007
  • January 2008
  • February 2008
  • March 2008
  • April 2008
  • May 2008
  • June 2008
  • July 2008
  • August 2008
  • September 2008
  • October 2008
  • November 2008
  • December 2008
  • January 2009
  • February 2009
  • March 2009
  • April 2009
  • May 2009
  • June 2009
  • July 2009
  • August 2009
  • September 2009
  • November 2009
  • December 2009
  • January 2010
  • March 2010
  • April 2010
  • June 2010
  • September 2010
  • July 2011

  • Gargantuan List of Methodist Bloggers

    Credits and Links



    istockphoto





    Christian Blogger Network


    Blogarama