What do you think?
Rate this book
Xealots: Defying the Gravity of Normality
Life is the opposite of what you think it is. We rely heavily on strength assessments to determine clarity of direction. However, it's often not in the how we find life but in the passionate pursuit itself. Life is about the journey not just the end result. It's discovered not only by examination of one's strengths and gifts but perhaps more their weaknesses and pain. It's not only about one's vision but the strength of your relationships.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2011
13 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 30, 2013
This is another situation where I wish I could give to ratings. This book is jam packed full of truth, and would be a great read for high schoolers, college students, new believers, and those who would say they've never really had an "active" faith. However, it's really an introduction to what Watchman Nee called the "Normal Christian Life" and covers way too many topics to be deeply impactful long term. BUT, I think it could serve as a great spark.
To illustrate, here are the topics covered (and a suggestion for a book that would help you go deeper on each one if you read this book and got excited about one of the topics)
How you view yourself: Your Identity in Christ; The Exchanged Life
How You See and Interact with Others: Connecting, Dr. Larry Crabb; Leadership & Self-Deception, Arbinger Institute
Engaging Culture: Culture Making, Andy Crouch
Spiritual Disciplines: Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster; Prayer, Richard Foster; Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life, Charles Spurgeon
Fasting: God's Chosen Fast, Arthur Wallis
Defining Success: Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper
Embracing Pain: The Wounded Healer, Henry Nouwen
Forgiveness & Repentance: Peacemaking, Ken Sande;
Overemphasizing Life Planning: Just Do Something, Kevin DeYoung
The Call to Die: Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Holy Spirit: Sensitivity to the Spirit, R.T. Kendall
Being the Father in The Prodigal Son story: Return of the Prodigal, Henry Nouwen
Overall theme of the true Christian life: Normal Christian Life, Watchman Nee; Whole Life Transformation, Keith Meyer; The Life of God in the Soul of Man, Henry Scougal; A Testament of Devotion, Thomas Kelly
To illustrate, here are the topics covered (and a suggestion for a book that would help you go deeper on each one if you read this book and got excited about one of the topics)
How you view yourself: Your Identity in Christ; The Exchanged Life
How You See and Interact with Others: Connecting, Dr. Larry Crabb; Leadership & Self-Deception, Arbinger Institute
Engaging Culture: Culture Making, Andy Crouch
Spiritual Disciplines: Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster; Prayer, Richard Foster; Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life, Charles Spurgeon
Fasting: God's Chosen Fast, Arthur Wallis
Defining Success: Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper
Embracing Pain: The Wounded Healer, Henry Nouwen
Forgiveness & Repentance: Peacemaking, Ken Sande;
Overemphasizing Life Planning: Just Do Something, Kevin DeYoung
The Call to Die: Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Holy Spirit: Sensitivity to the Spirit, R.T. Kendall
Being the Father in The Prodigal Son story: Return of the Prodigal, Henry Nouwen
Overall theme of the true Christian life: Normal Christian Life, Watchman Nee; Whole Life Transformation, Keith Meyer; The Life of God in the Soul of Man, Henry Scougal; A Testament of Devotion, Thomas Kelly
November 29, 2011
This guy can sure cast vision for a countercultural life. And provide a heckofa pep talk in 150 pages. Just what I desperately needed. Highly highly recommend. And not just because Margaret Feinberg did first.
September 30, 2018
Read to understand read to act read to feel. A body within me he lives ❤️ so good
But there is another way to respond. It’s abnormal. The way of the XEALOT is to embrace pain and suffering as a gift. When I refer to pain, I mean our addictions, sins, weaknesses, and trials. By the way, this is one of the most important aspects of understanding your destiny. The uniqueness of the XEALOT is that he doesn’t ignore or even simply confess his pain. He embraces his pain. He sees it as a gift and even as a guide. As counterintuitive as it may seem, it’s in the dark seasons of life that God leads us to experience intimacy and find direction. XEALOTS recognize pain as the prelude to change, a season of new opportunities. Death leads to resurrection. Resurrection leads to ascension. Pain points us to a destiny that we could not have otherwise achieved. I love this ❤️
But there is another way to respond. It’s abnormal. The way of the XEALOT is to embrace pain and suffering as a gift. When I refer to pain, I mean our addictions, sins, weaknesses, and trials. By the way, this is one of the most important aspects of understanding your destiny. The uniqueness of the XEALOT is that he doesn’t ignore or even simply confess his pain. He embraces his pain. He sees it as a gift and even as a guide. As counterintuitive as it may seem, it’s in the dark seasons of life that God leads us to experience intimacy and find direction. XEALOTS recognize pain as the prelude to change, a season of new opportunities. Death leads to resurrection. Resurrection leads to ascension. Pain points us to a destiny that we could not have otherwise achieved. I love this ❤️
July 17, 2020
“Following Jesus is more than about good feelings, a prosperous life, and calling him your buddy. It’s about obedience to these imperatives. Yes, joy is a part of the journey, but like any relationship, there will be highs and lows, moments of frustration and disappointment. Still, in the end, following Jesus is less a matter of knowing our passion, our inner desire, that thing that makes us feel fulfilled and happy. It’s actually the opposite of the self-directed life. It’s learning to die, each day, in obedience to God’s will and his purpose for our lives.” - p. 106
December 14, 2017
An inspiring book that I would recommend to any Christian looking to further their connection with God.
November 7, 2019
Just okay. Felt more self helpy than biblical
May 19, 2014
I took a chance on this because of the description. It mentions dealing with suffering and being different.
Bordering on new age, Gibbons has a high enough view of Scripture to have some good thoughts on worry, knowing God, true ambitions, etc. He has stories of his own life and of others. Some is a little fluffy and wandering, but there are some good tidbits. It's a quick and easy read.
Bordering on new age, Gibbons has a high enough view of Scripture to have some good thoughts on worry, knowing God, true ambitions, etc. He has stories of his own life and of others. Some is a little fluffy and wandering, but there are some good tidbits. It's a quick and easy read.
June 26, 2014
I really thought provoking book that I will reference in the future. Really hits a lot of different areas of life and relationship with God that is contrary to most people's definition of success. I really like that about it
April 24, 2012
A quick, yet powerful read that calls us to live our faith out in a counter-cultural manner. Highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews