Jake's Story

[Anna Marta]

We just finished reading through Jake's Story for the first time. Will go over it together later chapter by chapter. Presently we are each highlighting and commenting on what strikes us so we can share later.

Has anyone else read it? If so, what effect has it had on your journey?

[Willow]

I think I read it awhile back... It confirmed many of my feelings about church and relationship styles (and lack of them) within the church

[jane]

sorry, didn't read it..
jane

[newlife]

What is Jake's Story?

[Anna Marta]

You can find it here <<http://www.jakecolsen.com/jakefront.html >> and read it online or download it as a pdf file, which what we did.

It is an inspiring book written by 2 men that deals with Jake's journey from waking up to the emptiness in him caused by "doing church" to his coming to a new understanding of God as a real person in God's desire to be a part of Jake's life and the impact of this on others. This is probably a poor summary, so please don't let it keep you from reading it yourself.

Reading it has started a process for me/us and I think it is a healthy one. Yesterday my husband and I spent nearly 9 hours sailing our neighbor's boat out on the fjord. We came home after dark having experienced a lot of nature's changing beauty. For the FIRST time in my life (I am 60) I felt totally free from guilt and the pressure of having to be a part of an organized church. We are both at peace with our decision after reading Jake's Story. We are losing our fear of being lost if not INSIDE a church as a member. With the wind blowing and the sea all around us we looked at each other and laughed at how much we are still in love with each other and how we both feel so loved by God.

Funny how God arranges things to help us put things in perspective. Those 9 hours were better than 2 weeks vacation! We returned to the real world ready to meet it as a renewed cord of 3 strands again. This is no small thing when you know that we are financially in a delicate place- unemployed and in the process of recovering from bankruptcy. Owning nothing but our clothes, furniture and an old car - we're happy. It's only taken - a terminal illness, a bankruptcy and 3 abusive church experiences for God to fully gain our attention so He could show us how it is he who provides and teach us what He sees is of true value.

I don't wish this on anyone, but for some of us, it takes what it takes to bring us to end of ourselves and the beginning of God's reality.

[SpinningHead]

Are you meaning the book, "So, you don't want to go to church anymore?"

Because if you are....it was AWESOME!! I love that book and want to buy a box and give them out as Christmas presents, birthday presents, Happy Monday presents...

[Anna Marta]

Yes! That is the book I am talking about! Awesome is only the first adjective I can use. I've been sending the pdf file to some friends who I know need the consolation and understanding.

Did you know there is another book that can be downloaded too called "He Loves Me?" by one the authors? I went to the web site http://www.lifestream.org/ to download it.

Then I went to http://www.thegodjourney.com/ to hear the pod casts. The one there now called Passion for What is great. Listening to these guys talk about how things get screwed up was enlightening for me. It also convicted me to BE CAREFUL myself :eek: :eek: :eek:

I am experiencing my whole basic structure shifting when it comes to my old paradigms. We hardly know how to describe what God is trying to do in our house! :eek:

We just know that as long as we stick with what we think God is telling us and keep checking out with the great minds of the century here on this forum :cool: :cool: we should be safe - before jumping into any more shark infested waters.