My Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos - Book Review

With a title like My Imaginary Jesus, you might think this book was sacrilegious but you'd be mistaken.  Matt Mikalatos has taken this strange idea and used it to readers face to face with some (hard?) spiritual truths.

Matt stars as the protagonist of this story, a Christian who discovers the Jesus who accompanies him is imaginary.  He meets the Apostle Peter and a talking donkey named Daisy who join him as he tries to discover who the real Jesus is (just writing that seems absurd).  Along the way, Matt meets many other Jesuses: Testosterone Jesus, Magic 8-Ball Jesus, Legalist Jesus, TV Jesus, Free Will Jesus, and a multitude of others (again, it sounds sacrilegious).  At times almost too over-the-top, My Imaginary Jesus slowly pulls back and reveals some startling truths.  I particularly liked the section that speaks to Communion.

Several times as I was reading, I found myself wanting to share the story with my wife or pastor.  It is well-written and touching.  I am curious, though, about how much of Matt's actual life made its way into the book.

I give this a hearty recommendation!

I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

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Please vote for my review for God Gave Us Love.  You can link here or by using the tool below.  The higher my reviewer ranking, the more I have available to choose from in which to review in the future.  Thanks!

Science Fair

Once again, Lexi participated in the school Science Fair.  This year she did an experiment to see whether a thin or thick wire would conduct electricity faster.  She hooked up a battery to a small lightbulb and did some tests.  She did not place this year, but the judges were so impressed with her enthusiasm about her project, they created an award for her.  Go Lexi!

Presidents' Day Project

Cami and Griffin learned about Lincoln and Washington at school.

Hard to Argue With It

Cami - "Can I have one of your blank pieces of paper?"

Me - "What happened to all your notebooks with blank paper?"

Cami - "They got all colored up."

God Gave Us Love by Lisa Tawn Bergren - Book Review

God Gave Us Love by Lisa Tawn Bergren is a cute children's book designed to share God's love with kids.  It is the story of a young polar bear and her Grampa.  They go on a fishing trip, where some otters disturb them.  The young bear then states she doesn't like the otters.  This allows Grampa to show and tell numerous examples of how God gave us love.  It is a sweet and simple lesson in how great and generous God is and how we should share his love with others, unconditionally.

Griffin thought is was "kinda good" because it was very loving. 

Cami thought it was "good" and the Bible says to love, and it was all about loving.

Lexi thought it was "true" because God actually gave us love and wants us to love each other.

God Gave Us Love passed the young children test, and it passes mine as well.  A brief caution to parents: this is not your typical children's book with few words.  The text is long for this size and type of book. 

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, in exchange for an honest review.

Books that are about "Something"

Last week I finished a book called Paper Towns by John Green.  He is a writer who particularly writes for high school guys.  That's a generalization, but anyway.  He is one of the hot names in young adult fiction right now. Paper Towns was his second or third book, I forget.  The main thing, though, is that it grabbed me and wouldn't let go.  I'm not sure exactly what it was, but I found myself identifying with the characters, Quentin in particular.  I don't want to recap the story; click here for a summary. What I wanted to share was that the story stayed with me.  I kept finding myself thinking about it.  It seemed bigger than it was, like it was about "Something".  The last time I had this sense after reading a book, I had just finished the Time Traveler's Wife.  Read either or both of them.  They are well worth the time.  And let me know if you figure out what they are REALLY about.

Tweet This!

Now on Twitter.  @bigsandwich6

The Giant XLVI letters

If you are interested, right now our CBS affliate, WISH TV, has a live web cam on the Circle showing the letters.  It's pretty cool.  Link here.

P.S. - Teaching Griffin "boy" things

Tonight I taught Griffin how to make fart noises by blowing in the crook of his elbow.

Super Bowl Village

Wednesday evening, Trisha and I took the kids downtown to the Super Bowl Village.  The weather was great and the crowds weren't too bad.  We looked it like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (hopefully not) and the kids were really excited.  Griffin even got his picture taken with Colin Cowherd of ESPN.  It was a fun time and we saw some really cool things.

Trisha and Lexi about a block from the giant XLVI sign.

The Lombardi Trophy displayed on the JW Marriott Hotel.

The giant XLVI sign, which displays old Super Bowl highlight like on tv.

Near the ESPN studio on Pan Am Plaza.

Griffin and ESPN's Colin Cowherd, who could not have been any nicer.

The Super Bowl Indy Cars (there was one for each team scattered strategically around the greater Indy area.  Very cool!