Monday, January 9, 2012

7 - Book Review and GIVEAWAY!



I have been excited about this book release for months and was so excited to get to review a copy for you guys. 

I knew Jen Hatmaker many years ago when we went to OBU together. Then, for mine and Big Daddy's 10th anniversary, we went on a cruise and Jen and her husband were on there too. Talk about a small world! Running into her again after all those year, led me to look her up on facebook to stay in touch. She has several other great devotions but this book was different. Watching her live it out on facebook, and knowing how hilarious she is, made me more excited to read 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess.

In 2011, Jen and her family embarked on a 7 month journey towards simplicity. She decided to intentionally reduce 7 areas in their lives in order to make more room for Jesus and His work. The 7 areas were: food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending, and stress. They tackled one area a month and this book is a humble journal of her thoughts and discoveries during this time. There are so many things that hit home with me that I can't even begin to do the book justice (which is why I am excited to be giving away a copy of it to one of you!). I found myself agreeing with and "virtually highlighting" so many things as I read along. Here are a few of my faves:
  • "At some point, the church stopped living the Bible and decided to just study it...."
  • "So when I say I don't have time, I'm a gigantic liar. I have time. I just spend it elsewhere."
  • "We've invented a thousand shades of gray, devising a comfortable Christian existence we can all live with; super awesome, except the Bible doesn't support it."
  • "Sometimes the best way to bring good news to the poor is to bring actual good news to the poor. It appears a good way to bring relief to the oppressed is to bring real relief to the oppressed. It's almost like Jesus meant what He said. When you are desperate, usually the best news you can receive is food, water, shelter."
Ouch. I love Jen's honest critique of herself and her family. I also love that this book isn't written to make you feel guilty or as a cookie cutter answer to the world's problems. She truly has a heart for the "least of these".  Noticing her excess and making reductions was done in a spirit of repentance. This project opened HER eyes, and through her sharing, MY eyes to our excess in so many areas. How many times have we said we have nothing to wear or eat when our closets and pantries are overflowing? How many times do we not have time to go serve the needy when we waste hours on TV and facebook? It's embarrassing, really. We have so much and are so blessed.  It's time to take notice and then use our "excess" to bring actual good news to the poor and oppressed.

I could go on and on about this (and likely will in the next few months as changes begin to take place in the E household!), but let's get to the giveaway...I received a copy of this awesome book from the publisher to give away to one of you. WooHoo! All you have to do is follow my blog publicly (click the button at the right...hey, everyone wants more followers so I'm totally taking advantage of this!) and post a comment below. Easy peasy! I'll close the comments on Friday night and have the kids pick a random winner on Saturday.

Whether you win or not, go read this book and be ready to have your eyes opened!

19 comments:

  1. Sounds like a really good read. FYI, we started as a family the "1000 gifts from God" on Christmas. We share with each other on Sundays. It has been great family time for us. Thanks for posting it on FB.

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  2. Saw this on FB when you first mentioned you were reading it and it sounded great. Tried the library site and didn't find it. So, I'm very excited to think I could win it!! (And if I don't, I'll try an interlibrary loan! I definitely sounds worth the $1.00 fee.) Looking forward to reading more about its effect on the E family's lives.

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  3. Ok I follow you and will also post on FB.. do I have an in with the kids?? haha.. JK.. I'll buy this great book... we are all so blessed with much more then we need... I'm so proud of you and your family to take this challenge and to let the LORD work in your lives. Your family will surely be blessed as you bless others. I love you,
    Mom

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  4. Okay, I'm publicly following your blog now instead of secretly stalking, I mean, following. :)

    Sounds like an awesome read, thanks for sharing it!

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  5. the books sounds awesome......another good book is the Book of Awesome..lol..........enjoying your blog and my book of a 1000 gifts is going well......thanks again for the idea...

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  6. I think I already follow you. I think that books sounds awesome! Can't wait to hear about how it encourages your family. You can feel free to pick me to win the copy! :-)

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  7. After your first post about it, I read wh I old on amazon, can't wait to read it. After I attempt to finish renovation of the heart it is on the list

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  8. Supposed to say "what I could" on amazon. still learning to type on this thing

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  9. What a great experiment! I definitely want to read that book!

    (btw, I've followed you for evers!)

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  10. I think we all could shed a little (ok, A LOT) of the excess in our lives. Thanks for the reminder!

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  11. Hi friend. I added that lasagna soup recipe in my comments section. I hope you try it. So easy and so good on a cold day.

    This book....right up my alley. I would love to read it!

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  12. Hi Leslie! Love reading your blog! Thanks for the chance to win and read Jen's book, sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing!

    Emily McClung

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  13. Sounds like an awesome book - something all of us should read.

    Lynn Hoch

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  14. I would love to read this as it is easy to be shaped by what the world advertises as enough ... and there are so many areas in my life that need purging ... it would be perfect timing for the new year.

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  15. Hello! I saw Jen speak about a year ago and. her message has changed my life! I have been drooling for this book since that day! Love your post and look forward to following your blog. Be blessed in your efforts to spread the Good News!

    Erin York

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  16. Hi Leslie!

    Wow! What an awesome and timely blessing it was for you to meet up with your friend again so that you could reconnect with her. Small world...yes! Especially when compared to our great big God! Her book sounds amazing...I am sure it will richly bless whoever receives it!!

    :) Donia

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  17. I love her! Was just thinking about picking up her book but now I hope I win it instead! I've been following your blog for quite a while so I'm not a new follower.

    Jennifer

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  18. Oh I'm not sure if I'm too late, been a little distracted with a "bug" at our house!!! I'm hoping I win!! :)

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  19. Thanks guys! This kids are at Grandmas until tonight so I'll have them draw when they get home. Good luck!

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I would love to hear your thoughts!!