Review of "Out Of The Question"

I just completed reading Out of the Question, Into the Mystery by Leonard Sweet.

I’ve read a lot of Sweet’s books. For me, like others, his books have provided signposts to a new journey of faith as followers of Jesus. So I wasn’t surprised that I liked it. I was surprised by how extraordinary it was. Like a sommelier who has a case of Taittinger tucked away for the big celebration, I always got a sense that we were drinking good stuff but somewhere in the back of Leonard Sweet’s mind there was a special case of the really good stuff. This book came from that case.

He begins with the question, “How did we miss the person and get the point instead?”, and then uses relationship as the analytical point for every area of our lives – faith, theology, community, evangelism, ecology, possessions and spirituality. The book concludes with a section at the end of questions for contemplation and interaction.

“Big deal,” you might say. Lots of people are talking about those issues. Not like this. Sweet has found a way to appease my inner maven with tons of information without making the book feel like a boring college lecture. It was deeply motivational while being completely instructional. If it had been a blog it would have been filled with links.

I have books that have spoken to me so deeply that I put them on a “re-read” list and review them often, at least once a year. For some it was when I read them, for other it is what they contain. Some are “Christian” books, all contain some truth that I need to be reminded of on a regular basis. Before this book that collection had nine books. Now it has ten.

Comments

[Patrick]

Sweet always seems to blow me away by looking and describing things from different angles... I like that! So, when does the book come out?

[will]

I think it comes out in September. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. Like I said, I've read Sweet. This one is the best I have read yet.

[Bill]

Okay, now I've got to ask...what are the other nine?

[will]

Don't mean to bait you on the other nine, but watch for an upcoming blog.