Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is a daily devotional book written from the perspective of God. Each day there is a short passage that serves as a reminder of God’s love. To be honest, I wasn’t sure of what to expect at first, but each devotional is supported by scripture. I also found that each day served as encouragement to face the trials and temptations that were in my life at the time.

I also have to confess that I prefer “Streams in the Desert” to this devotional. I am more of a narrative person, so I enjoy hearing stories and specific examples of faith demonstrated, but don’t let that deter you. This book is a wonderful encouragement for anyone trying to daily live out the convictions and love of Christ in their life. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for daily guidance.

Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.

In my own life, I had never though much about perspective. Situations would come and go and my attitude never made a difference in the outcome, or so I thought. It wasn’t until I read Andy Andrews book, “The Noticer” that my perspective changed.

The book tells the stories of the residents of Orange Beach, Alabama. They have the same problems and fears as any other town in America, but they also have Jones. Not Mr. Jones, just Jones please. He is a noticer. A what? Yeah, a noticer. He notices things about people and offers them “perspective.”

Take for example a 27 year old who was just lost his job. He is clueless on what comes next in his life and is scared. Jones would sit that kid down and offer him perspective. He would say, “Like all things that seem like a big deal… this ain’t a big deal. Okay?” By the end of the conversation that 27 year old would not look at himself as an unemployed 27 year old who is clueless on what is next. He would be a 27 year old who has the extra time to spend with this creator, many more chances to show God’s love by serving others whenever they need it, and finding out what his true passions are in life.

That is perspective. That is what Jones did for me.

The Noticer is a book that will entertain while imparting wisdom into your everyday life. It will remind you that what you are going through in life is no different from what others are experiencing. It will offer you perspective and leave you with some seeds to plant in someone else’s life. In the end we all should strive to be a “noticer” for others. Because sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.

It’s Wes. Not Mr. Wes, just Wes.

I just finished reading Matthew Paul Turner’s book, Churched. He tells the story of his childhood growing up in a fundamentalist Baptist church and school. First, I have to tell the author something. You better be glad you are older than me and beat me to this book, because if you didn’t write it I would have!

I related to almost every story in this book. I felt the uneasiness Turner feels growing up trying to “win” souls for Jesus all the while trying to live the perfect life so we won’t be punished. (In Turner’s case, hoping his mom wouldn’t die in a car accident because he sinned)

Stories from his school days also echoed my experiences. I still remember the time in 2nd grade when I cheated on the spelling test bonus word. It was “firefighter.” I knew I had all the other ones correct, but wasn’t sure on this one. So I slid my spelling word list out of my book and looked at how to spell “firefighter.” I got a 105 on the test. I took my sheet, with smiley faced sticker attached, to my mom who was waiting in the car to pick me up. For some reason, I still have no idea why but I imagine it had to do with God killing us all on the way home, I told her that I cheated. That didn’t go over well. The next day, I was crying in my teachers arms telling her that I had cheated on the word “firefighter.” My 105 was crossed out and I only got a 100. My sticker was also taken away.

This book had me laughing out loud at some of the experiences the author had. Everyone’s journey is different, but I felt a connection with this story. I vividly remember the “wheat and the tear” preachers that came through my church and knew it was time for the entire congregation to get saved again. I remember the music minister calling a meeting with me to tell me that I wasn’t allowed to hang out at youth group hangouts at his house because he could tell by looking at me that I wasn’t living “right.”

As you can tell, this book took me down memory road, but it also allowed me to get a better sense of my own journey. How I got to where I am and how thankful I am that I found out who God really is to me. Also, the style of writing in this book draws you in from page 1 and you can clearly picture every situation that is presented. It was a nice break from the usual Christian(ish) books that we tend to find ourselves reading.

From burning CD’s for Jesus (I’m still happy I burned New Kids on the Block) to walking door to door to tell people they are going to hell, Turner goes from the a mess of rules and regulations to falling in love with Jesus. I recommend this book to anyone, but especially for those who grow up “Churched.” It offers a humorous look into one person’s childhood and transition from a “God of Punishment” to a “God of Love.”

Also, even though I have yet to met the author, I do go to church with him and that’s always pretty cool. I still can’t believe Pete doesn’t have highlights…

I am currently reading a book called, Soul Cravings and it has already opened my eyes to what my soul craves. I am barely 50 pages into the book and I have already learned about my craving for intimacy and what that means.

I wanted to leave you with some notes that I jotted down that deal with love. Once we accept that we are designed for love, then we can learn about our soul cravings, understand them and know where they came from.

A few things I have learned:

- There is no subject more discussed among human beings that is more captivating and more elusive than love.

- How is it that the same thing that can make your life a rhapsody can also leave you gutted, like a dead fish wrapped in a
day-old newspaper.

- The more you love someone, the more the person can hurt you.

- Sex is a shortcut to love. There is no such thing as “free sex”. It always comes at a cost. Either your heart, or your soul.

- To give up on love is to choose a life that is less than human. To give up on love is to give up on life.

- The most powerful evidence that our souls crave God is that within us there is a longing for love.

- We are created to know God and to know love. It is love that moves God toward us and love that pulls us toward God.
Follow love and it will leave you to God.

- Without love there is no life. To love is to be fully human.

- God is the One we deserve the least, the One we need the most and the One who desires us the most.

- If God is love, it is maddening when we are running from God and yet searching for love.

- It is insanity to run from God and search for love.