Mud & Poetry: Love, Sex, and the Sacred

by Tyler Blanski

What is the secret to a happy, lasting, God-filled marriage? Is it a two car garage? A big bank account? Amazing sex?  No. In  Mud & Poetry , American singer/songwriter and author Tyler Blanski suggests that marriage is not just another tired pursuit of the American Dream. Marriage is a mission. It is a way to live the  Great  Commission.

God is on a mission to bring himself glory through through his male-and-female creation. Marriage is a sacrament. Singleness, especially consecrated Celibacy, can also be a living sign of Christ's love for his Church. For Christians, celibacy and marriage complement each other.

You see, every Christian has a sex life, even if they're not having sex. Sometimes love is muddy and confusing. Sometimes it's beautiful and poetic. But our relationships have the potential to transform us spiritually.

In playful and creative prose, Tyler Blanski invites readers to discover the beauty and power , the mud and the poetry, of God's mission for human sexuality.

Genres: Spirituality, Christianity

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2010

Reviews

[Gretchen Holtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to get through this book. It was an easy read, but it had a lot of thought to really chew on. It's a book that's basically for young men, but I wanted to see what the thought process of a young Christian man was. It's excellent. Tyler is very open about his life as a devout Christian male in 21st Century America. He's poetic in his telling of his philosophy, which makes it a very provocative read. If you don't want a how-to book, then read this. Did I disagree w/ some of it? Of course. But there was so much good stuff. Tyler knows his stuff. His thoughts may change in 10 years, but for now, he is a single, God-fearing young man who has a good head on his shoulders and is preaching the Gospel in a way that relates to 99.9% of us. This is a glimpse in his life and love for God. This book has helped me change how I see relationships, and for that, I am thankful!

[CJ Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this was a lot better than I expected. Solid theological ramblings on love and sex. Will recommend to several friends.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

My greatest critique is that the writing did not mesh with the printing format. A book like this that describes Guinness and brandy while pondering the intersection of Christian faith with love should be dog-eared, coffee stained, and rough paged. The book, its font, its page edges are too clean, too perfect for this accumulated wisdom. This being said, I love the book. I am re-reading it, slowly, to savor and glean more. Good books get better with re-reading, great books speak to you with new messages each time you open them. This is a good book with the promise of becoming a great one. I hope the text grows with me.

I loved his concept of marriage in a graveyard. Morose, yes, but entirely accurate. Marriage looks to an end, generally with physical death and divorce is an death in itself. It is a covenant on earth for finite beings. I have often thought this without the means to articulate the concept or the bravery to hint at my unusual perspective. Mr. Blanski strikes me as bold, daring, and brave. These are not easy or comfortable concepts to discuss especially in Christian circles. But like a shaken bottle of root beer, his perspective explodes off the page and lends reality and humanity to "lofty" concepts. You cannot escape his meaning or the truth of his words.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate Mr. Blanksi's honesty and soul searching efforts in this book. He gives thoughtful insight into being human and being a christian.