Tamar’s 10 in ’15 Book Challenge – Not a Fan

1 Samuel 12:1-14:52

Well, I’m posting this a little early this month, mostly because I have homework to work on this week. But I’m also posting this early because I am on chapter 8 of 14 and I can tell you that thus far, I’m not a fan of Not a Fan. While I completely agree with almost all his scripture and his entire premise for his book, I don’t agree with the way he’s going about doing it. For a follower like me who is so head over heels in love with her Savior that I am constantly plauged with worry that I’m not “doing” enough; that I’m not enough for Him, this has not been a good book for me to read. Well, OK, it has been, but only to test my ability to take everything with a grain of salt and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts and actions and to remind me that is NOT about me.
I’m not sure if you’ve been able to tell over the last week by my posts, but I have really been struggling with old demons through this book! Everything religious in me has come back and tormented me in it. In fact, it might even be the kind of book I would have written before I experienced the GREAT power of the freeing love of Jesus. And yet, I have experienced it. I now KNOW what it’s like to be loved with such a ferocity that it washes away all sin. I know what it’s like to be loved with such tenderness that it soothes ancient wounds that run soul deep. I KNOW what it’s like to be loved to the point that it compells me to do what is right and good and just. I KNOW what it’s like to be loved by Jesus and not condemned by Him.
In the beginning of his book Kyle Inman criticizes those who offer Christ without fully detailing the cost of following Him. And to a certain extent I agree with him. But really, if we’re honest with ourselves we all know that there are consequences to every decision in life, good and bad. Inman is right, over and over in the New Testament Jesus tells people the cost of following Him and they turn away from Him. But, I think anyone who has experienced what I have would agree that at no point were the costs of following Jesus weightier than the benefits!
Sure it’s not easy being a Christian, it never has been and it never will be! But, NEWS FLASH, life isn’t easy either! I mean seriously, at what point has anyone ever said, “Gee! I sure am glad that this natural disaster happened and killed thousands of people including my family.” There are days when life is hard and it hurts and it’s not fun and people are mean and you just want to give up. EVERYBODY has those days, Christian and non-Christians. The real difference in life comes for those who believe in Christ. For those who believe, yes there will be trouble in this world, BUT we can take heart because Jesus has overcome this world and so can we!
My friends, rain falls on the just and the un-just alike. The real difference lies in the Truth that the just have the hope of becoming dry again while the un-just don’t. Life is hard and it hurts, but those of us who believe in Christ and profess that belief have a helmet of salvation & the sheild of His faithfulness to protect us against those blows. What’s more, we not only have things to protect us, we have a sword of the Spirit to defend ourselves as well! Yes, in this world we will have trouble, but we too can overcome that trouble with the TRUTH! Jesus loves us!
Jesus loves YOU! You are a beloved Child of God if you choose to believe in His Son. Yes, there are consequences of following Him, there will people who won’t like you simply because you’re a Christian. That’s OK, not everyone is going to love you anyway. And there are plenty more people out there who will LOVE you simply because you’re their new brother or sister in Christ. And really, what’s more important than having someone who will ALWAYS be there for you when the going gets really tough? Jesus promises to do that, and He has always held up His end of that bargain with me. ALWAYS. There isn’t enough tea in China for me to give that one thing up. If I had to give up all the other benefits of Christ, I could, but my relationship with Him? No way! That guy has pulled me out of more sticky situations than I can count! And I’m not referring to the physical ones, those He usually leaves me in to learn my lessons. I mean the sticky spiritual situations where the powers and principalities of this world are dragging me down the drain and often causing me to throw the baby out with the bathwater!
Love is more powerful than fear. Love casts out fear. And it is not possible for fear to pull in love. Yet that is the very tactic that Not a Fan uses to try to inform people of a relationship with Jesus. So while the scriptures and the premise in his book are Biblically sound, this is not a book that I can recommend to you to read. This girl is not a fan of Not a Fan.

Now, if you recall, when I first announced this Book Challenge I told you that there would be a reward for everyone who participated. Today is when you get to participate! 😀 Simply leave a comment below letting me know that you read the book, feel free to comment on how you felt about it, or if it taught you anything. For everyone who participates this month you will receive the free e-book of the month Dandelion Season! 😀 So comment below and I’ll email you a copy of your very own! 😀

If you read all ten books with me and comment on each 10 in ’15 Book Challenge post, you will receive one SIGNED book of your choice from the “Books” tab on TamarKnochel.com for FREE! So keep reading my friends! Let’s grow together! 😀

*Note: if you read this book with me, were traumatized and need an antidote, may I suggest either Dandelion Season, The Pink Polka Dot Kitty,  or better yet, BOTH!*