‘Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life’ by Nick Vujicic – Book Review

I have been familiar with a young man by the name of Nick Vujicic (pronounced Voy-a-chich) for about a year now. When I first heard of him, and saw a video of him on YouTube, I was amazed and intrigued. When I learned he put his story in book form, ‘Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good, Life,’ I knew I had to read it. And I am so glad I did!

Here is the synopsis of this book:

Life Without Limits Is An Inspiring Book By An Extraordinary Man. Born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic overcame his disability to live an independent, rich, fulfilling life, becoming a model for anyone seeking true happiness. Now an internationally successful motivational speaker, Nick spreads his central message: the most important goal for anyone is to find their life’s purpose despite whatever difficulties or seemingly impossible odds stand in their way.

Nick tells the story of his physical disabilities and the emotional battle he endured trying to deal with them as a child, a teen, and a young adult. “For the longest, loneliest time, I wondered if there was anyone on earth like me, and whether there was anyone on earth like me, and whether there was a purpose to my life other than pain and humiliation.” He shares how his faith in God has been his central source of strength and explains that once he found his own sense of purpose – inspiring others to make their lives and the world better – he found the confidence to build a rewarding and productive life without limits.

Nick offers practical advice for realizing a life of fulfillment and happiness by building trust in others, developing supportive relationships, and gaining strength for the journey. He encourages the reader by showing how he learned to accept what he could not control and focus on what he could.  

Here is the biography of this author:

Nick Vujicic is a motivational speaker and the direction of the nonprofit organization Life Without Limbs. A longtime resident of Australia, he now lives in southern California.

Here is the trailer for this book:

And here is Nick featured on the ‘The 700 Club.’ Tears will flow!:

In the Introduction, Nick tells us about himself and what he hopes to accomplish in his book:

My name is Nick Vujicic (pronounced Voy-a-chich). I am twenty-seven years old. I was born without any limbs, but I am not constrained by my circumstances. I travel the world encouraging millions of people to overcome adversity with faith, hope, love, and courage so that they may pursue their dreams. In this book I will share with you my experiences in dealing with adversity and obstacles, some of them unique to me but most universal to us all. My goal is to encourage you to overcome your own challenges and hardships so you can find your own purpose and pathway to a ridiculously good life. (p. vii)

Nick came up with a valuable list:

          To live without limits, I founded I needed:

          A powerful sense of purpose

          Hope so strong it cannot be diminished

          Faith in God and the infinite possibilities

          Love and self-acceptance

          Attitude with altitude

          A courageous spirit

          Willingness to change

          A trusting heart

          Hunger for opportunities

          The ability to assess risks and to laugh at life

          A mission to serve others first

Each chapter in this book is devoted to one of these attributes, explained in such a way that I hope you can put them to use in your own journey toward a fulfilling and meaningful life. I’m offering them to you because I share God’s love for you. I want you to experience all the joy and fulfillment He intended for you. (p. ix)

This is one of the most encouraging books I have ever read. Here is a wonderful example:

Life may be kicking you around right now. You may wonder if your fortunes will improve. I’m telling you that you can’t even imagine the good that awaits you if you refuse to give up. Stay focused on your dream. Do whatever it takes to stay in the chase. You have the power to change your circumstances. Go after whatever it is you desire. (p. 15)

Over 550 churches in Metro Detroit had an outreach this year called EACH - Everyone A Chance to Hear. There was a campaign 40 days after Easter called 2 Word Story in which we chose 2 words which defined our lives before and after Jesus. My story is ‘Hope? Hope.’ So I was especially interested in the sections of this book which deal with hope:

Time and again in my life and in my travels, I have witnessed the incredible power of the human spirit. I know for certain that miracles happen, but only for those who hang on to hope. What is hope? It is where dreams begin. It is the voice of your purpose. It speaks to you and reassures you that whatever happens to you doesn’t live within you. You may not control what happens to you, but you control how you respond. (p. 33)

Here is one more passage dealing with hope:

Hope is a catalyst. It can even move obstacles that seem immovable. When you keep pushing, refusing to give up, you create momentum. Hope creates opportunities you never would have anticipated. Helpful people are drawn to you. Doors open. Paths are cleared. (p. 42)

Doesn’t it make sense to be positive rather than negative about our circumstances?!

We all know the Bible tells us not to judge. Nick made this amazing observation; I had never thought of it this way:

When you judge yourself harshly or put intense pressure on yourself, you become judgmental of others. Loving and accepting yourself as God loves you opens the door to a much greater sense of peace and fulfillment. (p. 74)

It never occurred to me that we are harsher on others when we’re harsh on ourselves.

It is important that our worldview go beyond the barriers of our own life:

Whatever you want for yourself, do it for others. If you make even small acts of compassion a daily habit, you will feel empowered and liberated from your own hurts and disappointments. You shouldn’t expect to benefit from being generous or supportive to others, but good deeds can lead to surprising rewards.

I’m an advocate of unconditional generosity because it honors God and multiplies His blessings. Yet I also believe that when you do unto others, blessing come to you as well. So if you don’t have a friend, be a friend. If you are having a bad day, make someone else’s day. If your feelings are hurt, heal those of another. (p. 215)

Nick is an incredible man – what a spirit! Obviously, we know that amazing and indomitable spirit is actually the Holy Spirit. This man has the most incredible positive attitude. Many people will think, ‘If he can be happy, what’s wrong with me?!’ That thought has occurred to me when I see him speak. He has made the most of the life God has given to him, and he loves to share hope and encouragement with as many people as possible. As fate would have it, he will be speaking here in Michigan this week. I am trying to figure out if there is a way for me to see him.

I highly recommend this book. People of every stripe can relate to Nick, and can be inspired by how he has overcome the barriers that potentially may have disabled other people who did not have his outlook on life. His strong faith is also incredible. I am so encouraged! And I will be reading this book again and again, and passing it along to my husband. Everyone should read this book!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Doubleday Religion, and was provided by them for review purposes.

‘Branded: Sharing Jesus With a Consumer Culture’ by Tim Sinclair – Book Review

The Metro Detroit area has a movement entitled EACH – Everyone A Chance to Hear - wherein 550 churches and ministries have joined together to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. So evangelism has been at the forefront of my mind and the minds of many in this region. So I was intrigued by the debut book from Tim Sinclair, ‘Branded: Sharing Jesus With a Consumer Culture.’

Here is the synopsis of this interesting book:

How Do We Market Jesus? We sport “Jesus Saves” bumper stickers on our cars and “WWJD” bracelets on our wrists. We post Bible verses on our Facebook profiles and Tweet profound quotes from Christian thought leaders. But when it comes to sharing our faith verbally, we become tongue-tied.

What would life look like if we stopped mass-producing Jesus and started marketing our faith by sharing relationally, from person to person? Using examples from our consumer culture, Tim Sinclair shows Christians that sharing Jesus has nothing to do with our trinkets or our t-shirts. It has everything to do with being personally branded by Jesus. With being permanently marked by our Savior.

Witty but true, Branded offers motivation and inspiration to put our God above our gadgets and to share our faith in ways that are honest, authentic, and – most importantly – effective.

Here is the biography of this author:

Tim Sinclair is a husband to Heather, and father to Jeremiah and Elijah, and (for the past three years) a co-host to Pam on the duo’s daily radio show. “Mornings with Tim and Pam” is heard by hundreds of thousands of people in Illinois and Indiana on Family Friendly WBGL, and is one of the top Christian morning shows in the country. The two have been nominated for “Air Personalities of the Year” at the ECHO Awards in Orlando, Florida.

Tim is a pastor’s kid who briefly attended the University of Illinois before getting into radio and marketing full-time in 1998. Since then, he has helped write, voice, and produce commercials that have been heard on thousands of radio stations around the world. Some of his past clients include McDonald’s, Word Records, Moody Publishers, and KSBJ/Houston. Tim and his family live in Illinois.

To connect with Tim: follow him on Twitter, on Facebook, or visit his website.

I found an interesting video on YouTube of Tim; here he is auditioning for the Public Address Announcer job for the Chicago Cubs. Great voice!

In the Preface, Tim shares his reason for writing this book:

I’m convinced that when it comes to sharing Jesus to and with the world around us, it’s critical that we recognize our own unique situations, talents, abilities – and then effectively use them to reach people within our individual spheres of influence. Other than the boundaries and guidelines provided by the Bible, nothing else should create a game plan for us because there is no right way for anything. There is no one-size-fits-all methodology.

I’ll set the background, and you take it from there. (p. 10)

In the Introduction, he shares why it’s so important that we share Jesus with those we know rather than to strangers on a street corner:

Your impact (and mine) on our friends, family, and co-workers has nothing to do with the sayings on our bumpers or the symbols around our necks. It has nothing to do with the number of Bible verses we tweet or the biblical names we give our kids. It has nothing to do with how many times we go to church or how often we put our money in the offering plate.

Rather, sharing Jesus with today’s culture has everything to do with being personally branded by Christ. With being permanently marked by our Savior. I can’t promise you the process won’t hurt a little, but I can promise you that it will be well worth it. (p. 12)

Tim shares the reason he thinks we as Christians are failing to reach the lost:

What’s the bottom line? Christians often try to change a person’s culture rather than let God change her heart. We try to force others to act like us, with the hope that they’ll eventually believe live us. That’s entirely backward. Heart changes lead to changes in actions, not the other way around.

In many cases, I think these Christian tendencies are a form of self-preservation. We would rather bring people onto our turf (where we’re comfortable) than step onto someone else’s. We would rather alter their lifestyle, culture, and habits, instead of change our routine. Subconsciously maybe we fear we’ll be eaten alive if we venture outside what we consider safe territory.

Jesus is bigger than the Christian culture-bubble you and I have put Him in. He can reach people anytime, anywhere. Not just Sunday morning at 9:30. Not just when people have started doing or saying the “right” things. Not just once people have turned their back on their culture. (p. 45)

I have to admit that I used to follow that line of reasoning – that we needed to change the culture. It is now clear to me that Tim’s assessment is the accurate one. We need to present Jesus to people, and let Him do the work in their heart.

Clearly, Jesus is not the problem when it comes to sharing Him with others:

When it comes to Jesus, I think it’s safe to say the product isn’t the problem. Jesus offers comfort for the brokenhearted. Rest for the weary. Strength for the weak. Healing for the sick. Peace for the stressed. Hope for the hopeless. I don’t know of a person who couldn’t use these things once in a while.

So the evaluation process must move on to Jesus’ marketing team. Us. You and me. It’s hard to admit sometimes but Christians (as a whole) are ruining the world’s appetite for Jesus. We are often the ones standing in the way of Christ, despite our best efforts to lead people to Him. (p. 50)

Tim makes an important point about another reason why Jesus is rejected:

I firmly believe that at least 90 percent of life’s problems are a result of unmet expectations. We get the most frustrated, the most hurt, the most offended, when our theories don’t live up to our realities. And that’s exactly what happened with Tiger [Woods]. Because of the picture Tiger painted of himself, our society had high expectations for him, and ultimately those expectations were not met. (p. 102)

I admit I was extremely disappointed last week about a particular situation. The reason was that I had unrealistic expectations. We need to be so careful that we don’t paint an unrealistic picture of one’s life as a Christian. We still will have trials; however, Jesus will help us through them.

In the Conclusion, Tim makes this important point about follow-up:

While Branded has relied heavily on traditional marketing principles, it’s critical that we not be so focused on attracting people to Jesus (marketing), that we leave them fending for themselves once they show up (customer support). Christianity already has too many customers and not enough marketers. (p. 120)  

The back of the book includes insightful discussion questions for each chapter. 

I think this is a valuable tool for small groups, as well as individual study. I plan on contacting our small group leader to recommend this book for our fall study.

'Branded' is a fast read, but it also is very insightful. As Tim stated at the beginning of the book, he asked some tough questions. But they are important questions that need to be asked, and I am grateful to Mr. Sinclair for bringing them to us in this book.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Kregel Publications. I am pleased to be part of the Litfuse Publicity Group’s blog tour with these other bloggers.

‘Ethnic Blends: Mixing Diversity into Your Local Church’ by Mark DeYmaz and Harry Li – Book Review

I currently attend a church that is not very ethnically diverse (although we do a lot of outreach). I am drawn to books that explain how to reach out to people of other nationalities. The latest book on my reading list in that category is ‘Ethnic Blend: Mixing Diversity into Your Local Church’ by Mark DeYmaz and Harry Li.

Here is the synopsis of this book:

Experience the 21^st Century’s New Reformation. Increasingly, church leaders are recognizing the intrinsic power and beauty of the multi-ethnic church. More than a good idea, it’s a biblical, first-century standard with far-reaching evangelical potential.

How can your church overcome the obstacles in order to become a healthy, fruitful multi-ethnic church of faith? And why should you even try?

In Ethnic Blends, multi-ethnic church pioneers Mark DeYmaz and Harry Li provide an up-close and personal look at seven common challenges to mixing diversity into your local church. Through real-life stories and practical illustrations, DeYmaz and Li show how to overcome the obstacles in order to build a healthy multi-ethnic church. They also include the insights of other effective, multi-ethnic church pastors from the United States and Australia.

Here are the biographies of these authors:

Dr. Mark DeYmaz is the founding pastor of the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, a multi-ethnic and economically diverse church where significant percentages of Black and White Americans, together with men and women from more than 30 nations, walk, work and worship God together as one. A recognized leader in the emerging Multi-ethnic Church Movement, Mark’s book, Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church (Jossey-Bass/Leadership Network, 2007), provides the biblical mandate for the multi-ethnic church and outlines seven core commitments required to bring it about. He posts weekly on his blog, Glue. Mark is currently a contributing editor for Leadership Journal and a former member of Little Rock’s Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission. He is a graduate of Liberty University, Western Seminary in Portland, OR, and has a DMin from Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, AZ. In addition, he is a co-founder of the Mosaix Global Network based in Denton, Texas, an organization dedicated to inspiring unity and in the local church throughout North America and beyond. He lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with his wife, Linda, and their four children.

Harry Li is the Campus Pastor of Mosaic and came on staff in 2002, when the church was six months old. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Idaho where he taught for 10 years. Harry and his wife, Melanie, reside in Little Rock and have three daughters, Anna, Katie and Meredith.

Here is the book trailer:

In the Foreword, Michael O. Emerson, PhD, a sociology professor at Rice University, explains why this book is needed:

We need guidance on what challenges to expect, how to address them, how to worship and walk together, how to form community, and how to work for justice. Ethnic Blends brings us a giant leap forward on these questions. It provides firsthand accounts and draws on the best of a variety of experiences. The authors discuss a range of obstacles that those engaged in multi-ethnic ministry will inevitably face. Each chapter directly takes on real issues and provides honest, biblically and experientially informed responses. A treasure chest. (p. 16)

In the Introduction, entitled ‘Acquiring the Taste,’ Pastor DeYmaz opens this way, using a coffee analogy, which is a running theme throughout the book:

Together with my colleague of eight years, Harry Li, I have led our congregation in pursuit of what we sometimes refer to as ethnic blends – the intentional mixing of diversity into the local church. With a desire to inspire, guide, and encourage ministry leaders who long to see local churches reflect the unity and diversity of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, we are writing this book to promote the further development of multi-ethnic churches throughout North America and beyond. For we have seen that the multi-ethnic church, like a good cup of coffee, produces an aroma that is refreshingly attractive – especially to those without Christ in an increasingly diverse and cynical society (pp. 19-20)

Pastor Li describes their church and how he and Pastor DeYmaz want to reach many people:

Our church is truly a mosaic of broken individuals, yet united together, we form one beautiful picture in Christ. I’m so thankful that God has blessed our work in ways no person could even take credit for. Thankfully, his supernatural provisions and awesome displays of power remain as evident today as they were in the beginning, when I first arrived in Little Rock to help blaze a trail. Both Mark and I hope that after reading this book, you too will join us on this road less traveled. And we hope your own efforts, and contributions to the multi-ethnic church movement, will someday make the road even wider for the masses soon heading our way. (pp. 31-32)

Due to the increasing racial diversity of the United States, it is important that churches reflect that diversity as well:

Failure on our part to recognize the changing landscape or to adapt in accordance with Scripture may soon render our work, or worse yet our message, irrelevant. For in an increasingly diverse and cynical society, people will no longer find credible the message of God’s love for all people when it’s proclaimed from segregated churches. In these changing times, those without Christ will respond not to platitudes but rather to practice, not to words but only to an authentic witness of God’s love for all people that is daily displayed in life and action. And I believe that this witness is best matured and manifested through healthy multi-ethnic churches. (pp. 36-37)

Following Christ’s example will help us to love and reach those different from us:

When men and women of diverse backgrounds walk together as one in Christ in and through the local church, they reflect the Father’s love for all people. More than that, a oneness of mind, love, spirit, and purpose proclaims the gospel in a most powerful, tangible and compelling way. For as his own union with the Father uniquely empowered Christ to proclaim God’s love for the world, our union with him, and, he says, with fellow believers uniquely empowers us to do the same. Yes, in pursuing the “perfection of unity,” we will see the world come to know him as we do! (p. 41)

The gentlemen proclaim that there are seven core commitments of a multi-ethnic church (pp. 44-50):

1.   Embrace Dependence

2.   Take Intentional Steps

3.   Empower Diverse Leaders

4.   Develop Cross-cultural Relationships

5.   Pursue Cross-cultural Competence

6.   Promote a Spirit of Inclusion

7.   Mobilize for Impact

There are many obstacles to having a multi-ethnic church, including personal differences among the difference cultures. However, they are worth the effort:

Given these personal challenges, why would anyone chase the multi-ethnic dream? There is really only one reason: if the kingdom of heaven is not segregated, the church on earth should not be either! That’s why, in these days of increasing diversity and opportunity, we believe that local church pastors, planters, and reformers must embrace the New Testament vision of the multi-ethnic church for the sake of the gospel. Without a solid grasp of God’s vision for the church, it will be difficult to face the personal challenges and opposition to your ministry. (pp. 67-68)

It is important to understand the group to whom you’re ministering:

Pastors and church planters must make it a priority to pursue cross-cultural competence if they hope to discover the nuances of each culture and their effect on the overall body of Christ. Ultimately, your effectiveness in ministering to a broad range of people within the church will hinge on your ability not only to understand but also to respect and rightly interpret for others various cultural perspectives related to Christ, the church, and the gospel. (p. 149)

The gentlemen point out that the apostle Paul often faced opposition, as described in the New Testament. Paul provides a role model for how to get along with others:

In circumstances like these, our natural tendency is to grow hard-hearted toward those who push back at us. Or we go to the opposite extreme and become a people pleaser to avoid conflict and win approval. Neither extreme is appropriate or Christlike. We must learn to remain tenderhearted and gracious, even when sharing hard truths with others. Paul modeled this sort of persistence and patience as he ministered in Athens, looking for others who were hungry to learn and responsive to the message (Acts 17:34) (p. 172)

In one of the section written by other pastors, David Anderson, Senior Pastor of Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia, Maryland, explains that the enemy of our souls seeks to bring forth discord in our churches:

Satan, the great deceiver and divider, works overtime to separate Christians, catch them while they are weak, worn, conflicted, confused, and, most of all, asleep. Just as Jesus’ friends dozed off when they were supposed to stay awake and pray for him while he was facing the most difficult spiritual and emotional battle of his life in the garden of Gethsemane, we as believers have been lulled to sleep while the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to watch each other’s backs at all times, but especially in prayer. When we are careful to cover each other and stay unified against our common enemy, we find less time to argue and divide over our differences regarding race, ethnicity, denominational preferences, and the like. (p. 201)

When difficulties come, the pastors offer this advice/wisdom:

Instead of allowing yourself to get discouraged, stay focused on God and allow his Spirit to fire you up time and time again. Remember that those who pursue the path of the peacemaker, investing their lives in multi-ethnic ministry, are following in the very footsteps of Christ and the apostle Paul, Take to heart the words of Paul as he reflected on his own work of planting and developing multi-ethnic churches. He wrote to Timothy, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim, 3:10-12). (pp. 209-210)

Our church is spearheading a movement called E.A.C.H. – Everyone A Chance to Hear (you can learn more about the initiative here). The idea is to give everyone in the Metro Detroit area – and beyond! – the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Being that Metro Detroit is ethnically diverse, we all need to learn more about how to uniquely reach all people groups.

Although I am a lay Christian, I enjoy reading books which are written specifically to ‘professional Christians.’ Many people are under the mistaken impression that the pastorate and people employed by churches and parachurch ministries are the one who are supposed to do all the work. But Jesus told all of us to preach the gospel. It is exciting to learn more about how to be more effective in that endeavor. I thank Pastors DeYmaz and Li for bringing forth this information to help everyone be effective in reaching out to all people!

You can order this book here.

This book was provided by Zondervan Publishers for review purposes.