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Wide Open Spaces: Beyond Paint-by-Number Christianity | Jim Palmer | fantastic christian thought piece
 
 


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Wide Open Spaces: Beyond Paint-by-Number Christianity
Jim Palmer

Thomas Nelson, 2007 - 224 pages

average customer review:based on 10 reviews
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     highly recommended  highly recommended



Jim Palmer's critically acclaimed Divine Nobodies was only half the story - the deconstruction and shedding of a religious mentality that hindered his knowing God. In his next book, Jim takes the reader along into the wide open spaces of exploring and experiencing God beyond religion. Jim writes, "It is no secret that God can be lost beneath the waving banner of religion. Divine Nobodies is my story of how this happened to me. Sometimes you have to disentangle God from religion, even Christ from Christianity, to find the truth. With the help of some unsuspecting nobodies, I uncovered a new starting line with God. As I've put one foot in front of another, I've experienced God in ways that are deeply transforming."

Each chapter revolves around a central question related to knowing God on fresh terms: Is God a belief system? Is the Bible a landing strip or launching pad? Can what we're feeling inside be God? Are we too religiously minded to be any earthly good?

Brian McLaren wrote, "I am tempted to say that Jim Palmer could well be the next Don Miller, but what they have in common, along with an honest spirituality and extraordinary skill as storytellers, is a unique voice."

The Library Reviews said of him, "Jim Palmer's casual, yet compelling writing style cuts through the religious rhetoric and gets to the real issues?readers will love this author! His sense of humor is alternately mixed with shocking sentences and poignant moments. Laced throughout is a refreshing honesty that ties his ideas together with a ribbon of reality?each turn of the page strips away a little more of the contrived mystery of Christianity until the simplicity and sincerity of it stands in realistic splendor."

More and more people seek a deeper spirituality beyond status-quo religion. Others are left empty and weary from a shallow and narrow pop-Christianity. Palmer says that God's kingdom of love, peace, and freedom can be a present reality in any person's life. He proclaims that God is indeed in the process of birthing something deep and wide among unlikely people in unconventional ways, which is changing the world...one "nobody" at a time.




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Jargon-free Spiritual Exploration

Jim accomplishes what might be one of the most difficult tasks in spiritual writing: Exploring faith and spirituality without resorting to impersonal tradition-based jargon. In Wide Open Spaces, Jim explores his struggle to make the Apostle Paul's teaching Christ being the center of all of our relationships.

As he did in Divine Nobodies, Jim writes unguardedly. He is honest, self-depreciating and humorous.

My own exploration of the issues has led me to, perhaps, some different conclusions than Jim. But Jim nails what matters most-- love.

Just two books into his career, and Jim should again be grouped with the likes of Lamott and Donald Miller.


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fantastic christian thought piece

With some beautiful insight on the Christian faith, Jim Palmer tells of his faith journey without the support of the church institution. This book could easily fall into the trap of church-bashing, but Palmer has more of a "that didn't work for me but it could work for others" attitude. Through his own experiences and insights, he encourages the reader to look at his/her own spiritual journey and leads towards a deeper understanding of his/her concept of God and religion.
Anyone who appreciates the Don Miller style and depth of writing will enjoy Jim Palmer's new book. This is one of the few books I will keep and reread for many years to come. Happy reading!


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your neighbor wants you to read this book!

I am likely one of a few who never read Divine Nobodies. I was lured to this book by the emphatic reviews and perspectives offered by the reviews both professional and the ones on Amazon. I was also enticed by the book McLaren claimes is by the NEW Don Miller (I pray for whatever happened to the last one).

Jim offers a refreshing perspective for those tired of church. This goes for those from everything from Traditional to Mega to Emerging church. Jim redefines church for the past couple of generations that have been stifled by the institutional merchants of religion that have occupied the leadership of most churches.

Jim is not peddling some new model. He is modeling however a life led by daily communion with the Spirit of God. It is a connection that is often preached, but rarely exhibited in the institutional church. Our centuries of reliance upon leadership to identify where God is at work has left us blind to the Kingdom that God is building all around us. Jim challenges us to open our eyes, remove the lens of the modern faith, and to follow the model of Christ with reckless abandonment. Stop going to a church and start behaving like a little Christ. Stop being defined by a faith that revolves around your thoughts about Christ, and redefine others perspective of those that follow Jesus by showing love. Stop trying to proselytize through confrontation, and put your arm around the shoulder of a stranger. Jim's approach to faith is a breath of fresh air. Every page and story brings a better perspective of a life lived in connection to a living God.

As a warning to some, Jim does bring to the table some perspectives that are seeming Eastern at times. They may be difficult to buy. Oddly enough, I do not believe he cares if you buy them. Ponder on them and grind them out. Digging tough these deep and hugely consequential thoughts will greatly add to your faith.

Now go and love.


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Wonderful, thought provoking

I found this book to be incredibly amazing and thought provoking. I am currently reading Palmer's first book "Divine Nobodies" and i would recommend that as well. it really struck a chord with me and everyone should think about picking it up!


Fed up with church?

Palmer's former life as an executive pastor is a little bit fresh, making his outline of a new kind of orthopraxy both refreshingly freedom-focused and depressingly churchy in its expression. Still, Palmer is vulnerable (and cautious not to overstay his welcome) in sharing his changed perspective on Christ and Christ's message. The result is a challenge to orthodoxy that almost sings (especially his careful explication of American culture's sky-god). If you're fed up with traditional church, read this book.


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reviews: page 1, 2



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