Centered

First off, random question for a story I’m working on: Have you ever attempted — successfully or unsuccessfully — to rent a car without a major credit card?  If so, I’d love to hear your story.  E-mail me at steve [at] thebostonwriter [dot] com.  Thanks so much for your help!  OK, back to your regularly scheduled blogramming …

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Well, it’s about time. It’s finally published. An e-mail from my friend and mentor, Kent:

Friends,
I want to invite you to join me in testing an exciting new tool I have developed with the help of some friends. It’s a short gift book called Centered, and it is designed to help people take a deeper look at what it really means to follow Jesus.

Last Sunday 250 Million people in the U.S.A. did not attend church. That’s five people out of every six—and their number is growing by about 10,000 per day.

Many of these people are very interested in spiritual reality, just not church. Chances are you know some of these people. If you’d like to take your conversation with them to a deeper level and help us learn from your experience, here’s what you can do:

• Buy a copy of Centered at the website listed below, read through it and jot down your impressions, good and bad.
• On reflection and prayer, give or lend the book to one of your friends who seems open to spiritual things with the offer to discuss what they think of it over a cup of coffee (or whatever!).
• After that conversation, write out your impressions of what impact the experience has had on you and your friend and e-mail them to me. [I can put you in contact with Kent if you get to step 3]

That’s it. Early indications are that this tool will make a big difference for many people—and I will be delighted and grateful if you choose to be part of the team that helps us refine it even more. (But still love you if this isn’t a good time for such a venture!)

Here’s the website.

Blessings in this season. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Kent

I have read Centered, and I give it my glowing endorsement (for the little it’s worth…). Let me say one thing, however: This isn’t an oversized gospel tract. It isn’t intended to replace a conversation or a relationship. It is intended to be used as a tool alongside a conversation and a relationship. And its freshness, lack of “Christianese” language, truth, simplicity, and beauty will make it a delightful conversation partner indeed.