If you can’t judge a book by its cover, can you judge an author by his hair?
I have unfortunately discovered that I can receive free copies of books if I will review them on the website Blogging for Books. This is a bit like an alcoholic discovering there are Free Beer Tuesdays at the local grocery store or the workaholic being offered an amazing IKEA foldout bed for her office.
A good idea. Or maybe not so much.
My first pick was Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God by Mark Batterson and here’s the review I wrote.
Just as Aslan isn’t safe, but he’s good, the Holy Spirit isn’t tame, but he’s trustworthy. Borrowing from Celtic Christians who refer to An Geadh-Glas, the wild goose, Batterson shows how we tend to cage the Holy Spirit and need to be the kind of person who resists urges. Who hasn’t found false safety in one of these cages? Responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure, or fear? But we have been called to the wild by following The Wild Goose.
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You can see why I was drawn to the subject. It’s tempting to feel like I am on my own wild goose chase as my time in my current job has a clock on it. My heart longs to follow The Wild Goose, but what if it’s all in folly? And so the cage of fear calls to me, “Come sit, I’ll keep you safe.” SLAM, the door is locked. Not really safe after all.
I could go through every single cage and share how it has whispered in different ways. And I bet you can too.
This is not a book with formulas. This is no “do this, get that” kind of cheap theology.
Get it. Read it. And only then, look at Batterson’s hair. That’s all I’m saying.
Q4U: Which cage is calling to you this week? Have you ever been surprised by an author’s hair style?
Disclosure: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Second disclosure: Not sure whether to thank or curse Leigh Kramer for introducing me to Blogging for Books. I read about it on her blog and want to put at least one of you in a similar position :). You’re welcome!
Third disclosure: There are amazon affiliate links in the posts and any money generated goes to support this site.
There are actually a bunch of sites that offer free books to bloggers. If you go to my site and go to the bottom of the sidebar you will see some more. Just had to help ya out…..hugs! :o)
Yet another to curse or bless :) … really glad to hear though!
Bahahahaha! Clearly you’re supposed to THANK me. :)
I’m totally going to track down a picture of his hair now.
That was the first thing I did after reading this blog!! :)
Yes! a taker! :)
Thanks for the review! Have you read Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber? I thought of you several times, she writes at one point about street signs “pointing her towards God”
Well that comment almost cost me $9.34 :) … I’m working on impulse control! But it looks/sounds REALLY good. I’m going to see if it’s at the library and get it next time I’m home. If I can wait :)
I borrowed it from the library. . to be honest. . there were so many amazing “quotes” and passages I sorta wished I owned it. . I was jotting down a lot of notes. You’ll LOVE it!! :)
Amy V. H.
I just read your post and missed your announcement in January. You have aged with so much cour age and strength of character. What an absolute blessing it is to know you. I will continue to pray for direction knowing that God can use you anywhere in any place through any means. In person or in writing you have such a wonderful sense of humor and wisdom to speak directly to my messier middle then most – so thank you.
I hope to see you next time you are here.
Love,
Patti
Patti … I love you too! And will most definitely stop by when I’m in town! Amy :) …. toodle-loo!
Hi Amy,
I tried to contact you on the About page, but maybe that wasn’t the most effective. I’m writing from MOPS International and we’d like to republish a poem you wrote about Mother’s Day and wondered if we could obtain permission. Can you contact me or send me a good email address for you so we can talk about it?
Thanks!
Jackie Alvarez
Hi Jackie, how strange! I did reply on Feb 17th and just sent you a copy of that email. I can be reached at messymiddle@gmail.com. Yes, you can use the poem! Sorry you thought you hadn’t heard from me :). Amy