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This Ordinary Adventure: Settling Down Without Settling
by
Christine Jeske,
Adam Jeske (Goodreads Author)
They started out living the dream. They promised themselves and each other that every day would be an amazing day. They even stuck that phrase--"Amazing Days"--on their refrigerator, like Martin Luther pounding his conviction into a door and launching the next great era of the church. "Ready or not," they told the world, "here we come." They traveled the planet, doing miss...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
August 24th 2012
by IVP Books
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I am always surprised when I win books from the First Reads Giveaways on Goodreads. This surprise was good, because this book was just a wonderful read. At first, I thought this book was goon to be difficult; I have nothing in common with the authors; they married in college. I taught college classes and yet haven't been on a single date. They have children and I am scared of children. They are Christian and, well, I am not.
Yet, the differences in the seemingly obvious did not hinder the effect...more
Yet, the differences in the seemingly obvious did not hinder the effect...more
One could describe the Jeske's book as a travelogue of their spiritual adventures. They weave their story into a narrative of sucking the marrow of life and seeing God in unexpected places--from malaria to common spiders' webs. Every thematic chapter includes not only statements of transformative insight but also the stories of where--and more importantly, from whom--they were learned. We are introduced to a wise, banana-stealing widow, a couple of crazy African motorcyclists, genocide survivors...more
How do we live faithfully? Adam and Chrissy, from the beginning of their lives together, even before they were together, wrestle with this question. I love that they wrestle with it and then live out what they decide and find these amazing days. Chrissy in an early chapter gives the description of what seems to be their life pattern: Listen. Believe. Go. See Christ there. Repeat.
I love their honesty as well. This "living out faithfulness" is hard and they are honest about the struggles, fears, a...more
I love their honesty as well. This "living out faithfulness" is hard and they are honest about the struggles, fears, a...more
Impressed by the way I was moved while reading, more times than not, I found a chapter either making me laugh out loud and immediately be urged to read it to my husband or with a joyful tear in my eye. The Jeske's storytelling is not only captivating but encouraging. I found myself torn between reading on or taking out a pen to plan an adventure for the next ordinary adventure in my own life. I'm not one to say who should pick up this book but I could see a great number of people from different...more
At first glance, it may be tempting to write off Adam and Christine Jeske as counter-cultural, globe trotting hippies. But don't!! Through poignant stories and honest tales of their (truly amazing) international adventures, the Jeske's have forged their own unique path into adulthood. Even more impressive is their transition back to America and into the world of 9-5 jobs, home-ownership, Target shopping, and American child-rearing as they return "home" and put down roots. The book is part travel...more
Jan 15, 2013
Fox
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2013,
non-fiction,
memoir,
religion,
politics,
first-reads,
philosophy,
self-help,
short-stories
I won this book through the GoodReads First-Reads giveaway.
I wasn't entirely sure what I expected to get from this book. The title, of course, intrigued me as did the description. Nevertheless, I don't entirely feel that either quite does the book justice. The book is more than just a treatise on what it means to be a Christian in the modern world and it's a bit more than what it means to be involved in the world in a positive way. For me, the book seemed to be more about what it means to live a...more
I wasn't entirely sure what I expected to get from this book. The title, of course, intrigued me as did the description. Nevertheless, I don't entirely feel that either quite does the book justice. The book is more than just a treatise on what it means to be a Christian in the modern world and it's a bit more than what it means to be involved in the world in a positive way. For me, the book seemed to be more about what it means to live a...more
Not really a story as it jumped around a lot with just a lot of their experiences, but was interesting and some good lines that really made me think, like about those living in poverty so why would you waste money on hair gel and how we are so controlled by fear and why we shouldn’t be.
The kind of book that I should have read using a highlighter as I read it. I just wish it had more structure - some kind of story line.
The kind of book that I should have read using a highlighter as I read it. I just wish it had more structure - some kind of story line.
This book was so refreshing. This book also surprised me. I thought I would be reading a book about fun adventures. I found God challenging me to see life as an adventure with him, and to also see God's deep deep love for us in a whole new way. Wow. I love the rawness and the complexity of Adam and Chrissy's processes, and I appreciated their humor. Definitely is a book I will be chewing on for a while.
Passion for God and people explodes in the life of the Jeskes like Coke erupting from a shaken can. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. I felt discipled around the globe as though I was a live-in guest watching their every move. I am challenged to not only find the amazing in the ordinary but to see, in fact, ordinary sometimes is amazing.
I hesitate to say this was a fail, which is why I guess two stars is defined as "it was ok." The writing is excellent, and I can't really explain what I didn't love without sounding negative, other than to say that overall it came across to me as a therapeutic exercise for the authors in recounting their many (voluntary) trials. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, and there are quite a few really good bits on spiritual lessons learned. Something about the tone in most of the story parts just was...more
This book was interesting, lively reading. Sometimes hard to believe, and it seems they over think things at times, stressing a bit much about "amazing days." I appreciate winning this book and know just who I will share it with!
Won as part of the Goodreads first reads program. Review to come.
A world-changing, continent-hopping family has to settle down in Anywhere, USA and discover how to find adventure in their now seemingly ordinary lives.
I loved this book! Adam and Chrissy do a great job of inspiring people to live amazing lives even in ordinary circumstances.
May 20, 2013
Courtney Johnson
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