Any book that features the apostle Peter (nicknamed "Pete" for modern-day) chasing down a Jesus in a powder blue sash in the first few chapters is at least interesting. But beyond all the hilarity (and there is plenty), there is a challenging message here. The book is written in first-person and deals with the fact that the main character, though he has been a Christian for a long time, suddenly has his eyes opened to the fact that the Jesus he follows, the Jesus he spends time with and talks to daily, is actually a product of his own imagination. In order to find and follow the real Jesus, then, he must search out and get rid of his imaginary Jesus...and that one is on the run. Along the way he encounters Testosterone Jesus (a popular men's retreat speaker), King James Jesus, Legalist Jesus, Political Jesus, and Liberal Social Justice Jesus, among many others. I think my favorite imaginary Jesus is Magic 8 Ball Jesus--you know, shake him and you'll get a random answer to whatever question you ask. I was actually laughing out loud through much of this book.

But when it comes down to it, Mikalatos drives his point home in a very real way. We love to construct Jesus out of our own heads, making him what we want him to be, what we can predict and control and understand. Jesus agrees with us and doesn't make us too uncomfortable. The real Jesus, the one in the Bible, the one who has power over all heaven and earth, is much more difficult, uncomfortable, and unpredictable. We are afraid. We are afraid he might ask us to do something we don't like, or give up something we really want to keep in our lives. Real Jesus is a powerful sort of loving that doesn't let us stay the way we are, but compels us to turn our lives upside down.

In short, check out this book--it's totally worth it. The author has a new book coming out sometime later this year entitled "Night of the Living Dead Christian". I can't wait.

Not to completely change gears, here's an update for us. I am teaching 5 Zumba classes a week (sometimes 6) and meeting many wonderful women in my classes and trying to form some relationships. I have also joined a MOPS group and am working on some friendships there. Daniel is still working at The Outdoor Store and enjoying the many varied folk that come in to shop (including some regular customers such as the Tibetan Buddhist monks, who apparently love North Face clothing). Ethan is loving Trinity Lutheran Preschool and we have found an adopted church home at Owego Nazarene while we continue to make contacts in the area. I have been spending a lot of time reading and journaling, which is a discipline that I didn't do a good job making time for in my previous life in Watertown. Getting to know the real Jesus more and more is challenging, exciting, heavy, and freeing, all at the same time.

Please continue praying for our family and our mission here in Ithaca!