Jon Acuff's Blog, page 74

It’s Time To Start… TODAY!

It’s finally here! No more waiting, no more pre-ordering, no more countdowns… START officially releases today!

I’m so excited to see this day come and to be able to share with all of you what I’ve poured into START!  I want to thank everyone for your support leading up to this day. It’s been an awesome journey, but it’s just the beginning!

Here are some places where you purchase START beginning today:

Buy it on Amazon

Buy it on DaveRamsey.com

Buy it on Barnes & Noble

Buy it on Books A Million.

Last night Dave Ramsey and I threw a huge party right in the middle of Times Square to celebrate and kick off the START Book Tour with a couple hundred friends.  It was amazing! Here’s a quick recap:

In case you missed it, here is the killer book trailer the Ramsey video team put together.

So there you go!

It’s time to START!

 

Do you speak Christianese?

(It’s guest post Friday!  Here’s one from Tim Stewart.  You can check out his blog here.  If you want to write a guest post for SCL, here’s how!)

Do you speak Christianese?

Brethren and sistren, how is your daily walk? How are your quiet times and devos? Remember that seven days without prayer makes one weak! For me, I’ve just been counting it all joy. I’m too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed. I hope you don’t think I’m superspiritual or that I’ve arrived. After all, I’m not perfect, just forgiven. Some people have accused me of being so heavenly-minded that I am no earthly good, but have patience with me please—God’s not finished with me yet!

Why just this morning I was sending God knee-mail and getting into the Word. I was reading the red letters and making sure that the gold was in my heart and not just on the gilt edges of my Bible. I gleaned some pearls and re-read my life verse.

I’ve been feeding on the Word a lot lately because I’m looking for a helpmate to help me fill my quiver. I don’t believe in missionary dating, so I’m putting out fleeces left and right, hoping God will point me toward my helpmate.

In fact, I recently started chatting up a lovely Proverbs 31 woman in my missional community. She caught my attention one Wednesday evening because she had shared some unspokens during the popcorn prayer time. I could barely concentrate on the sword drills that followed.

I took her to St. Arbucks for some intentional hang-out time. When we spoke, it was like deep calling unto deep. It turns out we have a lot in common. We both know about ACTS and WWJD, and we’ve both kissed dating good-bye. And we’re both certain we don’t have the gift of singleness! Hallelujah! That Prayer of Jabez really works.

She said she’s a mercy person with a heart for the nations in the 10/40 window, and that she’s currently raising support for a short-term mission trip to an unreached people group. When I heard her say that, I got a check in my spirit, because I’m not sure whether I’m called to be a tent-maker or if my mission field will be my workplace. So for now we’re both guarding our hearts and putting thoughts of anything else on the altar. We both want what God has for us—all in his kairos timing, of course. In the meantime, we only exchange side-hugs for us so we don’t defraud each other or create any soul-ties.

It just goes to show how important it is to be exactly in the center of God’s will! That’s the way to earn a W.D. degree, have jewels in your crown, and someday get that extra story on your mansion in heaven. PTL!

Well that’s all for today’s update. Don’t forget! Stay salty, both in season and out of season! Share the gospel always, using words when necessary! And my personal favorite: You might be the only Bible that someone reads today! Can I get an Amen?

Now you tell us… what’s your favorite Christianese word or expression? Do you know some that are so hilarious you can’t say them without the giggles? Was there a time you had to translate someone’s Christianese into plain talk so someone could understand it? Share your Christianese-related anecdotes with us in the comments!

For more great writing from Tim, check out his blog!

This book is a lie.

Who are you kidding?

Caillou is afraid to go into his driveway. There’s no way he’s going into space.

What do your voices tell you?

One day, in a 1920s cabin next to a train track and Normal Rockwell houses, my friend Al Andrews asked me a question.

Al runs a non-profit called “Porter’s Call” in Franklin, Tennessee. About ten years ago, he recognized that a lot of the clients who came to his counseling practice were musicians. Some of them were in desperate need of a safe place to restore their stories, but they couldn’t afford traditional counseling. Others were selling tens of millions of records and needed a place where they could be themselves, not the idea or image of themselves that everyone sees on the Grammys.

So Al met with the record labels in Nashville and told them, “Look, you’re spending millions of dollars creating these superstar musicians. You’re surrounding them with musical talent, stylists, designers and support staff. But then their lives fall apart in the process. What if you sponsored Porter’s Call, and it became a place where musicians and musician’s families could receive free counseling?”

The labels loved the idea and, for the last decade, Al has been creating a safe haven for artists. It’s an amazing bit of geography in a city that otherwise tends to grind musicians up.

My dad went to college with Al, so he lets me slide around the “Must be a musician on a record label to go to Porter’s Call” rule. One afternoon, Al asked me:

“What do your voices tell you?”

I thought that was kind of a crazy question and considered answering it with counseling jargon I’ve learned in the last few years:

“My parents didn’t hug me enough.”

“I’d like to learn how to do some reflective listening.”

“Can we spend this session unpacking some of my father wounds?”

I decided to answer his question with a question of my own, so I asked Al what he meant.

He got quiet for a few seconds, and probably scratched his beard thoughtfully, because that’s what therapists in movies are always doing.

Al then said, “Well, I’ve asked thousands of people that question over the years, and I’ve learned something, no one has a positive internal voice. No ones internal voice tells them, ‘You’re skinny enough. You sure are pretty. People are going to love that new project you’re working on. It’s going to be a huge success.’ Which makes me curious about what your voices are telling you.”

“Most of us tend to think they’re telling us the truth. We’ve heard them for so long that we trust them. We think they’re looking out for us, that they’ve got our best in mind, that they’re trying to protect us or help us. We think our voices are friends, but they’re not. They’re foes.”

I walked out that afternoon without an answer. I drove home thinking about that question: “What do my voices tell me?”

For weeks, the question haunted me. I didn’t write any emo poetry about it or tattoo it in tribal font on my wrist, but it stayed with me.

In order to shake it, I decided to do something really simple. I decided to write down the messages my voices give me.

I wasn’t going on a vision quest or fighting a she-bear, but I could at least listen for the voices and write them down if I had any.

The first one I heard was pretty obvious.

For years and years, every morning I’ve heard the same question in my head and my heart. One of my voices always asks, “Are you happy enough?” It’s a small question, but the conversation it causes is anything but small.

Voice: Are you happy enough?

Me: I’m pretty happy. I’m not happy all the time. I mean sometimes I’m sad.

Voice: Whoa. You’re not happy all the time? You’re working your dream job right now. You write and speak for a living. You work for Dave Ramsey! If you’re not happy all the time right now, then I don’t know if you’ll ever be happy.

Me: Yikes. That kind of makes me unhappy just thinking about it. What should I do to fix that?

Voice: Maybe there’s something you can do perfectly today that will make you perfectly happy.

Me: Good idea. Which thing?

Voice: Hard to say. Better play it safe and just do everything perfectly today.

Me: I have to be perfect all day? That’s a lot of pressure. That kind of makes me unhappy.

Spin, spin, spin.

Before I know it, my best creativity, best time, and best energy has been commandeered by this voice. And it’s not the only voice. There are many I hear throughout the days and weeks of my journey.

They are the voices of fear and doubt, and they are governed by a simple truth: They only get loud when you do work that matters. Want to stay on the road to average? Want to rock vanilla right to the grave? Okay, fear and doubt will leave you alone.

However, with the very first step you take on the road of awesome, fear and doubt stir from their slumber. The minute the purpose door creaks on its hinges and you push it open, the pointy ears of fear and doubt perk up. Continue on the road to awesome, and fear and doubt begin whispering lies and confusing statements meant to get you back on the average, safe path.

Recognizing I was not the only one who sometimes had a hard time hearing God’s voice amidst all the squabble of voices, I decided to do something.

I launched a new site.

Why? Because fear fears community. Fear always wants you to feel alone, like maybe you’re the only one who has doubts. And I wanted to have a safe place where people could admit the voices they hear.

In the first 24 hours, 1,000 voices were posted. And they are terrible and beautiful and hopeful. There’s no like button, all you can do is share a voice and click “me too” so someone else knows they are not alone.

Today, I dare you to share a voice.

Today I dare you to click me too.

Today I dare you to spend a minute on nomorevoices.com

FREE e-book of Start when you pre-order the hardback.

I’ve got a new book coming out on Monday, April 22. (The trailer is below.)

For the next 6 days, you can get the ebook version for free when you pre-order.

Got a Kindle? Awesome.

Got a Nook? Awesome.

Love reading books on your iPad? Awesome.

If you pre-order, you’ll get the book for free.

Just fill out this form after you order.

Click here to buy on Amazon.

Click here to buy on DaveRamsey.com.

Click here to buy on Barnes & Noble.

Click here to buy on Books A Million.

Christian Zombies?

I have so many questions for this guy, Jeff Kinley:

1. Is this a book about killing Christian zombies?

2. If yes, are these Christians who became zombies or zombies that then became Christians?

3. If the latter, how hard is that mission field? You get called as a missionary to the zombie community. Rough.

4. Or is this a book about killing regular zombies in a Christian fashion?

5. If yes, what’s the most Christian way to kill a zombie? I’m almost positive holy water doesn’t do anything.

6. How many of these zombies are former elders? (My dad is a pastor, and I swear he’s worked with some Christian zombies before.)

7. Or is this book about how we should all be dead to our sin and act like “Christian zombies?”

Those are my questions. Now that you’ve seen this book, what are your questions?

 

 

 

Global warming & Miley Cyrus’ navel ring

(It’s guest post Friday!  Here’s one from Pam Lyon.  You can check out her blog here.  If you want to write a guest post for SCL, here’s how!)

Global Warming:

Are we doing it? Is God doing it?

At the end of the day, I think there is one thing we can all agree on:

I don’t want to drive a Prius to save the world because it is shaped like a suppository.

Also, if there is a rapture and I’m left behind, I don’t want to be in a smart car when that guy’s empty Hummer crashes into me.

Is it wrong that I’m not worked up about global warming? Perhaps. I’m not worked up about much that happens outside of my own family. I think that’s what you call “self-centered.” I should be more “outward focused,” but I just can’t work up enough energy to start a fight with people I don’t know.

Global warming? I’m always cold anyway. Bring it on.

There is one place I find myself potentially becoming a crazy picket line lady: the grocery store magazine rack. I know it is probably because my children have reached the eye level of Miley Cyrus’ navel ring on a magazine cover. So, really, I guess I’m still being self-centered.

I heard on the radio that children are sponges (we’ve all heard that before). However, I heard an argument for explaining certain things to your children, so that you are the one who fills their sponge. Then later, when they hear from classmates about sex, etc., any false or skewed information sort of rolls off their sponge.

I liked that idea, until my seven-year-old daughter stood in front of the grocery store magazine rack with an alluring woman on the front and asked me what “sexy” meant. How do you explain that one?

I explained that “sexy” is for marriage. It’s sort of a “Come hither,” look. (You should always define one confusing word with more confusing words).

“What does ‘come hither’ mean?”

“‘Come hither’ means ‘Come over here for something special…some…some…Mike & Ikes.”

“Why would she share her Mike & Ikes?”

“She shouldn’t–unless she gets married.”

“You have to share your Mike & Ikes when you get married?”  “Yes, but it’s okay. You want to by then.”

“But what if you don’t feel like it?”

“You often don’t. Sometimes you’re too tired and—”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“I’m never sharing my Mike & Ikes.”

“Good. Don’t.”

“I’m never getting married.”

“Then don’t give any of those ‘sexy’ looks, or someone might want to share your candy.”

“Agreed.”

Sponge filled.

But “sexy” is everywhere, and on EVERY magazine cover. Okay, not Cat Fancy or American Quilt, but who could notice those when everyone else is trying to give away their Mike & Ikes?

I have not seen the earliest issues of Playboy, but I have this feeling they were tamer than what we see on the grocery store rack. What I especially hate right now are the covers where the women always look as if they are in the process of taking their clothes off…in a graceful way. The sporty girl in the wet suit top has her fingers hooked on the hem of the top as if she’s about to ease it up and over her head.

Have you worn a wet suit? I know that, as soon as they snapped her photo, two burly women had to help her get out of that tight shirt with the tiny neck hole, leaving her head temporarily shaped like a newborn’s. They should show that part. That would cool our jets.

Or consider the models who always have their thumb hooked into their waistband easing it down just a bit…

“Why is she doing that, Mommy?”

“Maybe she had a big lunch. You know how Pappaw always tugs on his pants after dinner? Oh, see look. She did. She had a Triscuit. I can see the corner poking out in her waist. Wow, there just wasn’t room for an entire Triscuit in there.”

We’re a little out of control. I just want everyone to simmer down. I want us to quit giving out our Mike & Ikes so easily or at least appearing as if we want to.

Let’s wait until we get married to invite people hither.  By the time we get hither, we won’t be so concerned about how good one person’s Mike & Ikes are compared to another person’s. We’ll just be pleased to be part of the whole transaction.

For more great writing from Pam, check out her blog!

Jesus was an Avenger?

This is a silly photo. But I can appreciate one thing; They left out Hawkeye and the Black Widow in this photo. Which is how I believe Jesus himself would have wanted it.

Hawkeye’s not that bad. But, as I’ve said before, the idea of pairing a pistol-carrying superhero next to a Norse god and a radiation-generated super monster is ludicrous. “What’s that you say? Alien horde threatening to take over the planet? Don’t worry, I have six bullets in my gun. We’ll be fine.”

Who knew that all along Jesus was an Avenger?

You don’t have to attend choir practice.

A Jesus Juke is a phrase I came up with to describe that moment when you’re talking about something normal and someone tries to juke in some Jesus out of nowhere. The first one recorded in history is when I saw a guy next to me at the airport doing pushups in the terminal and someone said, “Don’t you wish we were all this disciplined with our Bible reading.”

Since then, I’ve seen hundreds. When folks say they are excited about the Super Bowl, we Christians say, “Don’t you wish people were as excited about church on Sunday?” As if it’s impossible to both enjoy football and Jesus in the same life.

I thought I had seen every Juke possible … until I checked my email.

This is a page of a bulletin, in which someone essentially says, “You don’t have to attend choir practice, but then Jesus didn’t have to die on the cross for us either, did he?” The idea of comparing choir practice to Christ dying on the cross for us is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.

This isn’t the typical Serious Wednesday where I inevitably write about the Prodigal Son story. Let’s be honest, I’ve written about that a million times, but this really is serious. You and I need to be the generation to completely end the practice of Jesus Jukes. We can be the change. I know we can!

I believe in us.

How do you know you live in the south?

McDonald’s paints this on their windows.