Books for Prep | |
 - Divine Nobodies in Wide Open Spaces Are you struggling to find God in your religion? God is in relationship, not in religion. For a long time, I couldn't figure out why I wasn't "getting it"....I'd go to church every Sunday, led Bible studies and other study groups, knew all the Christian lingo...but felt like a fraud and felt like something was missing. Something definitely was. Jim Palmer found it and he writes about it in both "DivineNobodies" and "Wide Open Spaces". He's living in the questions of his life ("What if God isn't a belief system, a set of doctrines?"), and he's really good at asking the questions that matter. If you are a seeker, you will love both of his books. Although you can read either one first, I'd recommend reading them in the order they were written, "DivineNobodies" published in 2006, then "Wide Open Spaces" in 2007. Also, check out his website/blog at [...]. Rating: - Knowing God in your own wayThis book, along with Jim Palmer's Divine Nobodies, delivered me from a year-long broken heart caused by my church. Thank God for people like Jim who share their story in hopes of helping others realize that God exists outside of organized religion. Since reading this book I have become more aware of God's unconditional love and his powerful presence in everything around me. From now on I too will be using the "freedom filter". It works! Rating: - Recommended to people who are ready to color outside the lines of traditional faithJim Palmer has had a fascinating spiritual journal. Though his resume includes working in pastoral ministry at Willow Creek Community Church and pioneering an emerging church in Nashville, Tennessee, Palmer has found his own faith grow wildly by stepping outside the confines of traditional religion and experiencing the fullness of God in everyday life. WIDE OPEN SPACES is the follow-up to his debut, DIVINE NOBODIES, and invites readers to look for a deeper spirituality beyond the status-quo. Palmer believes that the kingdom of God that includes love, peace and freedom is awaiting every follower of Jesus who will open his eyes and hear what God wants to do. Each chapter of WIDE OPEN SPACES takes a different snapshot of Palmer's spiritual journey and ideas. The chapter titles play on pop culture phrases and references such as "The Devil Wears Levis 501 Jeans" and "Humankind is from Mars, God is from Venus." The subtitles, though, more clearly identify the purpose of each chapter-length essay. They ask thought-provoking questions such as "Does It Matter If We Can't Do It?" "Is the Reality of Evil an Inconvenient Truth?" and "Can We Trust Our Gut?" Along the way, readers get insights into Palmer's thought process, background and life. Though well written throughout, the best chapter of the book is also the first, "My God Can Whup Your God! Is God a Belief System?" Palmer writes, "One of the most freeing discoveries these past few years in my relationship with God (and it's still sinking in) is that God is not a belief system or a fixed set of theological propositions. On the one hand, it seems patently obvious that a list of claims about God can't actually be God himself. There isn't a lockbox at the center of the universe containing a divine computer program and doctrinal code. Hopefully we've all realized that THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY is fiction and that the number forty-two doesn't answer anything of ultimate significance." Despite such realizations, Palmer points out that for years Christianity was thought of as a well-defined set of propositions and practices. As a result, he spent many years treating his belief system as his savior. While important, solid doctrine is not the basis for salvation; instead, it's a relationship with Christ. Palmer shares quite transparently that for years his sense of security and comfort came from being right about God. Now he finds his security and comfort in knowing God and discovering His compassion, goodness, favor, forgiveness, beauty, truth and love. As demonstrated throughout the book, he finds it in more places than you can imagine. WIDE OPEN SPACES is a well-written book that contributes to the emerging conversation on where the church has been as well as where it is going and what that journey looks like in one little Christ-follower's life. It is recommended to people who are ready to color outside the lines of traditional faith and delve into a deeper relationship with Christ. --- Reviewed by Margaret Oines Rating:  - Fed up with church?Palmer's former life as an executive pastor is a little bit fresh, making his outline of a new kind of orthopraxy both refreshingly freedom-focused and depressingly churchy in its expression. Still, Palmer is vulnerable (and cautious not to overstay his welcome) in sharing his changed perspective on Christ and Christ's message. The result is a challenge to orthodoxy that almost sings (especially his careful explication of American culture's sky-god). If you're fed up with traditional church, read this book. Rating: - Wonderful, thought provokingI found this book to be incredibly amazing and thought provoking. I am currently reading Palmer's first book "Divine Nobodies" and i would recommend that as well. it really struck a chord with me and everyone should think about picking it up! 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