More Lost Than Found: Finding a Way Back to Faith

by Jared Howard Herd

“I vaguely remember finding Jesus when I was a child, but I vividly recall losing him.” Jared Herd grew up the son of a preacher, baptized in religion before he was ever baptized in church. As a child, his parents went through a painful and public divorce, and Jesus became a distant memory, like an artifact of childhood that gets put away and forgotten. Eventually Jared broke a promise he made to himself and walked back into church. He realized the problem wasn’t God—it was how he had been told to think about God. Like Jared, teenagers and young adults are leaving the church in astonishing numbers. Something is obviously wrong. Is the problem Jesus? Or is the problem how we have been told to think about Jesus? Perhaps you’ve always wondered how music, movies, friends, or anything on the outside of Christianity could relate to your life inside of it. Perhaps something in your life keeps you from believing you would ever fit in as a believer. Maybe you were always told what to become, but no one tried to understand how you became who you are. In More Lost Than Found , Jared Herd comes alongside anyone who has ever struggled with faith to reengage them in the truth they long to hear. If you have ever felt you didn’t fit at church or had questions about God, maybe it’s time to give your faith another chance. God wants to find you where you are.  In More Lost Than Found Jared Herd writes with both honesty and hope as he shares his journey and welcomes us all to re-examine true faith in the midst of a fragmented culture.  Like he speaks, Jared crafts More Lost Than Found with humor and grace as he seeks to repair pathways once broken and ushers a new generation into the wonder and mystery of the Gospel. ―Louie Giglio, The Passion Movement, Passion City Church Jared Herd is a powerful and free spirit, ruled by truth and grace. He is a voice that comes to us every so often, reminding our mind and soul which direction to amicably go—closer to God. Not only am I grateful to have his writings, I am even more astounded to have him as a friend. Let us all find what we seek. ―Matt Schulze, actor, leading roles in Fast and Furious, The Transporter, and many more

Jared Herd belies our usual assumption that to be “wise” one must be “old.” Here is a young guy who teems with shrewd discernment. He is a vigorous boundary-crosser, moving readily back and forth between old and new, secular and sacred, “pop” and serious, innovation and tradition. In the midst of it, he senses a purpose other than his own and a calling out beyond self.  Readers are invited to such boundary-crossing toward a future where faith matters enormously. ―Walter Brueggemann- world renowned theologian, Columbia Theological Seminary

In More Lost than Found, Jared Herd presents us the Christian faith in a way that is engaging, intellectual, and disarming.  He moves between popular culture and his own biblical convictions with a humble and honest voice, while pulling his audience back to a God they've grown weary of. As someone who has worked for over 50 years in the entertainment industry, I can tell you how rare it is to find someone who can speak to the next generation. Jared Herd is one of those voices.  I'm grateful for his work and his friendship.
―Michael Jay Solomon, founder, Solomon Entertainment, former president of Warner Bros International Television 

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2011

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this easy read. While easy to access, it does provide thought provoking questions and observations. Some might consider it too surface - but that would be an injustice to the book as a whole.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was up at Rancho Bernardo church for my grandson's dedication by his parents. Jared delivered a unusual sermon at the service and I was intrigued more than a little bit by his slant on things. He cited the books of Solomon as an example of how religion and spirituality have an intersection at the judgement of any action as "righteous". His point in extreme charactatur was that a rich man or the lowest in the kingdom can be either true to the simple dictate to be kind and loving regardless of station. His message was to approach truth/reality not as an easy class struggle, but one where all share the fruits of their actions.

The book is what I might have expected from a pastor, but not from a member of some religious bent. He emphasizes the movement away from "Christian behavior " and towards a more fluid faith in trying to approach reality without the lens of judgement. I especially found the chapter on modern spiritual leaders that pose as popular personalities or musical artists that spend almost as much time preaching the good word as popularizing their artistry on popular songs or culture.

Very much appreciated Jared herd's original take on popular culture and the state of the union. He is not exactly crying for truth from the desert, but close enough to appreciate his take on things!

[Mikki Bunnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the message of this book. The author put what I feel into words.

I gave 4 stars instead of 5 because his analogies are problematic, so be aware.

[Michael Sostre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read after picking it up from a Little Free Library on my street. Fine and I can see it being impactful for the right person at the right time. Very 2011, so not as impactful reading 13 years later.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"More Lost Than Found helps readers reconnect with a faith worth believing.

If you look at the statistics about people raised in the church who are now leaving it, you’ll realize that something has gone horribly wrong. Has God’s truth lost relevance? The answer to this question, says Jared Herd, director of XP3 college ministries, is an absolute no. Next-generation Christians are drifting from the institutional faith because they no longer see their very real struggles or their need for deep connection with God adequately addressed there.


In More Lost Than Found, youth expert Jared Herd comes alongside anyone who has drifted from faith to reengage them with the truth they long to hear. With amusing anecdotes and brilliant insight, he gives readers the permission to struggle with their faith while, deep down, knowing they still believe it and want to believe it. In this refreshing, true-to-life message, readers find a companion for their faith journey, rediscover the truth they grew up believing, and are invigorated to lay hold of it once again."


Here are some quotes that have me thinking.


""Perhaps the violent rejection of that message by those on the outside isn't an issue with Jesus-it's an issue with how the Savior has been translated for them."


"Children born hundreds of years ago were born into a story, and parents made sure their children knew that story and felt a part of it."


"Most people I know who walk away from faith don't walk away because of doubt. They walk away because of pain."


I have really enjoyed reading this book. It has given me a new perspective as a parent and a children's ministry volunteer. There is a part of the book that talks about connecting the older generation with the younger generation through story that really has me thinking as both.

[Rachel]

December 6, 2012
I received this book free through www.booksneeze.com. I am giving my reviwe freely. I will not be paid for said review.
Book: MORE LOST THAN FOUND – Finding a way back to faith. By Jared Herd

As I read this book I felt like I was talking to someone I knew. Someone I could trust. I remember going to church as a child. It was a small community church. As I was older married, divorced, married again. I went through a variety of different churches. In the latter of the churches I went to I did feel lost. This book opened me to that. Though going to a church.. a building with walls, words, yada yada.
While reading this book I was awakened to the fact that I was found. I came full circle and found myself in the same type of church growing up. Imagine that. It too “ , not leaps” to get there. In his book he talks about music. Music is one of the most powerful things for me. Just this week I was ready to give in. Music stopped me and brought me back to where I needed to be.
Some how I really connected with this book. “Having faith,in faith” .
Thank you to Jared Herd. I look forward to reading more of his books.

[Rachel Blom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jared Herd has put into words what many 20 and 30 somethings feel in his book More Lost Than Found. There’s a disconnection with how faith, how Christianity is experienced, is lived out. He describes a ‘fishbowl effect’, where church and life are separated, where church and culture are at odds and where Christianity is more comfortable providing scripted answers than real faith.

It’s both an easy read and a hard read, this book. It’s easy because Herd writes attractively, if somewhat unstructured and rambling at points. The book could have benefitted from a more defined central message for sure. But it’s also a hard read, because much of what he says is true, but is far easier to diagnose than to heal and ‘fix’.

For a full review, see http://www.youthleadersacademy.com/bo...

[Kennedy Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Easy to follow but really challenges the mindset of the christian church.

[Zaida Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first, Christian non-fiction I've read all the way through! Hooray for growing up! It'shard for me to rate it because I don't have much to compare it against but I did like it and related to some of it. I think it had some really good points about the seeming disparity between "Christian culture" and society. There are a few things that I was on the fence about but I think some of the points/ideas he brought up are worth discussing in larger context.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book speaks to those who have lost their faith and are truly search for a way back. Jared Herd attempts to write in a Donald Miller, Rob Bell style. The content was ok, but I didn't track well with it. Personally, I think he intentionally wrote to a younger audience than me. It's possible a 20-something might relate better to it than me.