Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words Are Vanishing--and How We Can Revive Them, (Paperback)

Alright, I am only giving this 5 stars because there's not more! I think this book is long overdue and brings to light many of the questions we all have about talking about God and faith in the world we live in. Jonathan weaves together stories of his upbringing as a pastor's kid, adult with questions and issues like us all, and the stories of those who have been alienated or excluded from knowing Jesus because of His followers' ineptitude or shortcomings. If you believe in anything, you ought to be able to articulate it, yes? If you want to do so, this book is for you. From linguistic studies, research on the power of prayer, conflicts as to how/why the state of religion is what it is to everything in between, Jonathan gives a well-balanced challenge to us all-- start from scratch and learn as much about God as you can, THEN share about your faith and what it means to you. Don't shy away from tough conversations or give in to the pressure of those who believe differently than you--use that opportunity to learn--and perhaps we will see that the end result is exactly what God asked of us: to grow the Kingdom by loving one another. This is a timely, well thought out collection of thoughts that will call you out, make you sad, encourage you with hope, and explain some of the real reasons we're not always ready or able to share about who God is to us. Of course, you don't have to agree with everything in order to weigh its value in a conversation. Don't be afraid to talk about God. Re-calibrate, restore and redeem words that we've forgotten or neglected. Read the Scriptures and understand the context. I read so much that occasionally books can seem similar, but this is not the case for "Learning To Speak God from Scratch." Starkly original, it feels like you're having a coffee conversation with someone much older than his years, yet wise beyond them. I looked so forward to reading this each evening that I am now saddened that I've finished it and (until I get his other work) there won't be any new moments to share with my honest friend Jonathan. I am seeking out his other books and will continue to recommend this read to family and friends. I received an ARC copy from Convergent books. All opinions are my own