Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos
Imaginary Jesus is an hilarious, fast-paced, not-quite-fictional story that’s unlike anything you’ve ever read before. When Matt Mikalatos realizes that his longtime buddy in the robe and sandals isn’t the real Jesus at all, but an imaginary one, he embarks on a mission to find the real thing. On his wild ride through time, space, and Portland, Oregon, he encounters hundreds of other Imaginary Jesuses determined to stand in his way (like Legalistic Jesus, Perpetually Angry Jesus, and Magic 8 Ball Jesus). But Matt won’t stop until he finds the real Jesus—and finally gets an answer to the question that’s haunted him for years. Be warned: Imaginary Jesus may bring you face-to-face with an imposter in your own life.
Matt Mikalatos works full time for Campus Crusade for Christ. His regular blog posts are funny, unique and thought-provoking. Imaginary Jesus is Matt's first novel. He is already hard at work on his next book.
Imaginary Jesus single copy for just $10 - click here
An Army of Ordinary People by Felicity Dale
Great teachers and coaches use stories to motivate, captivate and educate. A good narrative grabs our imagination, helps us to relate to the characters, and improves our recall of the principles. Jesus Christ relied heavily upon stories as His primary instructional method.
An Army of Ordinary People by Felicity Dale is a book of stories that will help you grasp why organic churches are growing in popularity and increasing in influence. Millions of Americans want to know how to be the church rather than simply go to church. This is a book that takes you by the hand and shows how. With a cast of characters as varied as those to whom Jesus ministered, Army innocently highlights the fact that the “simple church” approach is viable for anyone who is serious about knowing God more deeply.
Felicity Dale’s stories about the simple churches that she and her husband Tony have known are proof that organic ministries operate differently than anything we have seen on this continent in our lifetime. The ability to assemble people and direct their efforts within these non-traditional ministries is less dependent upon organizational competencies such as public speaking, management prowess and fundraising than upon such spiritual commitments as availability, faithfulness and obedience. If you search for a common thread among those who lead these churches, you’ll find that it is their determination to love and serve God and His people. These are simply ordinary people doing ordinary stuff that is enabling God to produce an extraordinary result.
To experience what God has in store for them, those in the organic church movement employ the simplest but most profound of concepts: waiting on God’s Spirit, following His will, serving people, worshiping without fanfare or self-consciousness, enjoying intimate relationships with other Christ followers, and making faith a lifestyle rather than an event. They believe that what the Bible says is true, and because they have the eyes of faith, they perceive and receive miracles from God. In fact, their smaller context for ministry allows them to test their faith more intensely and to observe and revel in the amazing outcomes in ways that are often impossible in a larger setting.
Organic churches are not perfect. They have issues, like any gathering of people or any group that seeks to accomplish something significant. But one of the beautiful realizations that Army brings to light is that simple churches are not seeking to redefine “the church” as they are engaged in returning it to its original, biblical form – sometimes unknowingly. Both forms – the conventional form we know best these days as well as the organic form, which was the original model – have value in today’s marketplace.
I’m willing to bet that you will read the many stories of common people who are immersed in the organic church, you may find yourself thinking, “I could do that.” You’ll read the experiences outlined in these pages and be astounded by what God has done in the lives of these people and millions like them. God looks for people who are looking for Him, and blesses those who want to be a blessing to others. It’s not, as they say, rocket science. All it takes is some faith and a little bit of courage – enough to let God direct your journey. The journeys depicted by Felicity Dale show that it takes no special coaching or reservoir of Bible knowledge. It takes a willing heart, an open mind and a bit of determination. As these stories demonstrate, the lives of those who allow God to lead them will, thankfully, never again be the same.
An Army of Ordinary People single copy for just $10 - click here
Imaginary Jesus is an hilarious, fast-paced, not-quite-fictional story that’s unlike anything you’ve ever read before. When Matt Mikalatos realizes that his longtime buddy in the robe and sandals isn’t the real Jesus at all, but an imaginary one, he embarks on a mission to find the real thing. On his wild ride through time, space, and Portland, Oregon, he encounters hundreds of other Imaginary Jesuses determined to stand in his way (like Legalistic Jesus, Perpetually Angry Jesus, and Magic 8 Ball Jesus). But Matt won’t stop until he finds the real Jesus—and finally gets an answer to the question that’s haunted him for years. Be warned: Imaginary Jesus may bring you face-to-face with an imposter in your own life.
Matt Mikalatos works full time for Campus Crusade for Christ. His regular blog posts are funny, unique and thought-provoking. Imaginary Jesus is Matt's first novel. He is already hard at work on his next book.
Imaginary Jesus single copy for just $10 - click here
An Army of Ordinary People by Felicity Dale
Great teachers and coaches use stories to motivate, captivate and educate. A good narrative grabs our imagination, helps us to relate to the characters, and improves our recall of the principles. Jesus Christ relied heavily upon stories as His primary instructional method.
An Army of Ordinary People by Felicity Dale is a book of stories that will help you grasp why organic churches are growing in popularity and increasing in influence. Millions of Americans want to know how to be the church rather than simply go to church. This is a book that takes you by the hand and shows how. With a cast of characters as varied as those to whom Jesus ministered, Army innocently highlights the fact that the “simple church” approach is viable for anyone who is serious about knowing God more deeply.
Felicity Dale’s stories about the simple churches that she and her husband Tony have known are proof that organic ministries operate differently than anything we have seen on this continent in our lifetime. The ability to assemble people and direct their efforts within these non-traditional ministries is less dependent upon organizational competencies such as public speaking, management prowess and fundraising than upon such spiritual commitments as availability, faithfulness and obedience. If you search for a common thread among those who lead these churches, you’ll find that it is their determination to love and serve God and His people. These are simply ordinary people doing ordinary stuff that is enabling God to produce an extraordinary result.
To experience what God has in store for them, those in the organic church movement employ the simplest but most profound of concepts: waiting on God’s Spirit, following His will, serving people, worshiping without fanfare or self-consciousness, enjoying intimate relationships with other Christ followers, and making faith a lifestyle rather than an event. They believe that what the Bible says is true, and because they have the eyes of faith, they perceive and receive miracles from God. In fact, their smaller context for ministry allows them to test their faith more intensely and to observe and revel in the amazing outcomes in ways that are often impossible in a larger setting.
Organic churches are not perfect. They have issues, like any gathering of people or any group that seeks to accomplish something significant. But one of the beautiful realizations that Army brings to light is that simple churches are not seeking to redefine “the church” as they are engaged in returning it to its original, biblical form – sometimes unknowingly. Both forms – the conventional form we know best these days as well as the organic form, which was the original model – have value in today’s marketplace.
I’m willing to bet that you will read the many stories of common people who are immersed in the organic church, you may find yourself thinking, “I could do that.” You’ll read the experiences outlined in these pages and be astounded by what God has done in the lives of these people and millions like them. God looks for people who are looking for Him, and blesses those who want to be a blessing to others. It’s not, as they say, rocket science. All it takes is some faith and a little bit of courage – enough to let God direct your journey. The journeys depicted by Felicity Dale show that it takes no special coaching or reservoir of Bible knowledge. It takes a willing heart, an open mind and a bit of determination. As these stories demonstrate, the lives of those who allow God to lead them will, thankfully, never again be the same.
An Army of Ordinary People single copy for just $10 - click here
