So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman
What would you do if you met someone you t hought just might be one of Jesus' original disciples- still living in the twenty-first century? That's Jake's dilemma as he meets a man who talks of Jesus as if he had known Him, and whose way of living challenges everything Jake had previously known.
So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore is Jake's compelling journal that chronicles thirteen conversations with his newfound friend over a four-year period and how those exchanges turn Jake's world upside down. With this stranger's help, Jake faces his darkest fears, struggles through brutal circumstances, and comes out on the other side in the joy and freedom he always dreamed was possible.
If you're tired of going through the motions of Christianity and want to mine the depths of what it really means to live deeply in Christ, you'll find Jake's story will give you hope for your own. This book probes the difficult questions and offers some far-reaching answers. It just might turn your world upside down as well!
Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman are long-time friends and former pastors who continue to help people live deeply in the life of Jesus. Wayne lives in Moorpark, CA, and has written numerous books and articles that he shares at Lifestream.org. Wayne also cohosts a weekly podcast at thegodjourney.com. Dave lives in Visalia, Ca. A retired hospice chaplain, he continues to actively teach and counsel others on this journey.
My Thoughts:
Jake Colsen first meets John while on an anniversary trip with his wife and is immediately intriqued with this man who seems to know Jesus in a way that Jake has only dreamed of. They don't exchange phone numbers or emails and Jake doesn't even know John's last name but throughout the book they meet at those times when Jake seems to need John's wisdom the most whether her realizes it then or not.
This book takes us on Jake's journey to know Jesus. The path isn't quite what he expected and at times while reading it you wonder why he had to go deal with some of the things he faced. But it all makes sense when you realize that he's having to give up his dependence on other things and other people to make way for him to completely trust in Jesus. It's hard for Jake to understand the process he's going through and John is there to help him along the way.
I loved this book. As I read it, it really struck me how much we try to rely on ourselves, our circumstances, and other people to show us our self worth when we're supposed to be relying on Jesus. We work so hard to build our relationship with Jesus and at times, like Jake, we can't see that we're going about it the wrong way.
