Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith

This book is for anyone who's been in the church/the faith for any length of time and ever asked themselves "What is this even about and what are we doing here?"

I've found this book to be authentic and raw at it's very core as Packiam deals with some of the major "rumors" about God in our culture today. It's a sobering thing to think you've lived your entire life as a Christian, and yet in the dark and quiet moments, question whether you really know who God is or what He is about.

As we go through life and either experience trying times on our own or witness the tribulation of those dearest to us, we come face to face with those questions. We may even attempt to throw out a few answers, but unless we do the work of seeking Him out, we can never experience true authenticity in our relationship with Christ.

Packiam has presented the challenge to me to find out who God is, independent of what the "experts" have to say, no matter how compelling the song lyrics or how often downloaded the sermon podcast may be. As Paul says in Phillipians 3:8 "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things". Truly knowing Him surpasses all thing and we should not be satisfied with Rumors.

What the...

Don't get excited. I've made no resolution to start blogging again. I have, however, been thinking about lots of blogging things lately. And I'm trying to write songs and have found that my creativity is at an all-time low and I'm hoping that if I start writing down thoughts more often, things will start flowing a bit better. And who has time for actual pen-to-journal writing? That requires an energy commitment that I'm just not ready for. Commitment-phobe? I think not. Energy efficient? Yes. And going green. How trendy of me. Someone call Al Gore, I'm saving the earth.

Speaking of going Green, I got a call from the North Texas alumni association the other day. Some 16-year old TAMS student, no doubt, calls to update my address, get the low-down on my current job situation, raise money, etc.

Energetic TAMS kid: "Oh you're in marketing? Cool! How'd that happen? A communications degree, you say? What exactly does that even mean? Oh you're not sure? This is uncomfortable. Would you like to donate money to an education for kids who are getting degrees that will actually give them a life skill?"

So I listen to his little fundraising spiel and as he's going on and on, I say:

"Hey, it's been fun, but I've got to run out the door. Is there any way you can send me an email about all of this? "

Energetic TAMS kid: "Um, yeah I can't do that. We're going green here at North Texas. But I'd be happy to call you back at a time that's more convenient for you."

Long pause.

Me: "I don't mean to be rude, but can you explain how exactly "going green" means you can't send me an email?"

Energetic TAMS kid: "Well, we'd have to pay someone to send the email and it uses up all that energy. But I can see if my supervisor will make a special exception."

Oh trust me, it's considerably less energy than this conversation is taking. And by "going green" I now understand he means "saving green". But whatever. Does he not have a computer in front of him? And a special exception? This is not like asking for the vegetarian meal on a plane. Hit send. I'll send money. Good trade off. I'm was a Comm major and even I can figure that one out.

Me: "Yeah, yeah kid. Call me tomorrow."

Thank goodness for caller ID.