O Me of Little Faith - Blog Tour

I think Donald Miller summed up my evangelism doubts/hang-ups in Blue Like Jazz when he said telling others about Jesus makes him feel as goofy as a palm reader. Something about telling nonbelievers the "story" of Christ...I just start tripping over my feet. "Well, you see, there was this guy named Jesus and he died, no wait he was born first, from a virgin, yes a virgin, and he never ever sinned..." Frankly, it's a little bizarro at times. Why would this non-believer person want to believe ME? And what if they believe something else...like a very special family member that's Buddhist - 60+ years Buddhist! - why would she want to forsake all she knows and come to my side because of some story I told her? And why isn't her guy's story just as good?

In Jason Boyett's latest book, O Me of Little Faith, he talks a lot about doubt. It's honest, moving, a little too self-deprecating at times, but definitely worth the read. Many of the questions he tackles are ones I myself have struggled with like "What if religion and longing for God is just the way our brains are wired?" or "Is faith just a crutch we've developed to give life meaning...?" And don't get me started on HELL! Does there really have to be a hell?!

But one thing Boyett says is a bit startling to me..."I don't experience God very much at all..." And in a very 'I'm confident in my God' sort of way I just have to say - You are SO missing the boat, buddy. God is everywhere. At the risk of sounding corny...the first blooms of spring, walking into His house, a life born, a life lost, a song on the radio, a word from a friend, the art of a Japanese Maple, a summer rain, watching your children sleep - you just have to open your eyes. Have your questions and your doubts, and know they will all be answered someday, but God is ALL around.

And as for me and my doubts and hang-ups, it's really not going to be the "story" that gets my family member or anyone for that matter. Yes, the story may be awesome, but at the end of the day, we have the true God. And as goofy as it all sounds, that's all we really need to know.

Shout-Out to the Author: Oh yeah, I'm a former West Texas Southern Baptist, too :)

And if you want my free copy for this Blog Tour, please let me know your info in the comments. I'll take it down and then delete it. :)