Are you feeling spiritually bored? Do you come away from church asking "Is this it?" If you're craving a fresh perspective on Christianity, get ready to experience a faith that's exciting, beautiful, and powerful! Using provocative stories and raw honesty, Antonucci shows how Jesus lived---and reveals what he wants and expects from his followers. 208 pages, softcover from Baker.
In this ultimately disappointing book, Antonucci, a Virginia-based pastor, criticizes the superficial subculture of American Christianity. Antonucci’s working assumption is that many Christians are actually disenchanted by their spiritual lives and wonder why they don’t have the abundant life Jesus promised. The solution to this deadening state of affairs? Christians need to shake loose the trite trappings of Christian-speak and get back to the “adventure” of faith. Antonucci takes aim at some of the beloved shibboleths of evangelicalism, suggesting, for example, that instead of talking about having a relationship with Jesus, Christians should worry about whether (as per John 15) they “abide” in Jesus. Some of his turns of phrase are thought provoking, as when he urges readers to “be the good news” before they worry about sharing it. But his autobiographical vignettes go on too long, and his message—that the Bible asks us not to behave well or even to believe in Jesus, but to follow him—is not greatly different from many Christian-living books. Too often, Antonucci replaces the clichés he disdains with more platitudes. On prayer: “spending large quantities of quality time with God—face-to-face” will make believers “glow.” In short, this book promises more than it delivers. (Feb.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars(3.5 out of 5 stars)
3 of 3 Reviews Showing:
0.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by R. Ark (Virginia Beach), April 01, 2008
Neat cover but that's about it. Not saying it's awful just ordinary. Seems like the author is trying too hard to be a comedian at times
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Pat (Batavia, NY), February 21, 2008
If you are looking for encouragement to revitalize your faith, you will want to pick up a copy of this book and read it cover to cover. Though the subject is serious, Vince Antonucci writes with such humor that he not only keeps your attention, you are enthralled by his words. An honest look at how we let our faith become stale and evolve into stifling religion, the author encourages us that living an exciting life of faith is not only possible, but what God wants for us.
As for myself, I buzzed through these pages. I laughed, I related to the stories, and I came away with a clear picture of how exciting living a life of Faith can be. This book is not only an excellent read, it is life changing!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Tom Cooperider (Fayetteville, NC), February 02, 2008
I think that this is Vince's first book, and after reading "I became a Christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" I hope that it is not his last. I was challenged over and over to rethink some of the assumptions that the church has made about itself over the years.
I know that there are a lot of people that have either grown up in church or become a Christian only to find that the experience was less than fulfilling. Vince uses a lot of funny stories to remind us that God cares about people, and that following Jesus will lead us to an adventure.
If you are ready for the life Jesus really promised, not the one on the sidelines watching others live, (or want to know what that life is really like) then this book will be a joy. As a minister I appreciated Vince's honesty more then anything, this is not another "Hey look at me" book.
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