Book DescriptionThe heart of God can be found in the unlikeliest places, in the unlikeliest people.
Jamie Blaine is an unconventional, and actually quite accidental, psychiatric crisis interventionist whose work takes him to "the least of these." A gifted storyteller, Blaine shares heart-wrenching and sometimes hilarious stories of everyday people who need to know God is there in their darkest hours-people dealing with secret shame, doubt, desperation, even suicide. Humans looking for wholeness, looking for Jesus.
Painting beauty where it seems none exists, Midnight Jesus helps readers transcend their own struggles, showing how truth can come from the strangest places. They will meet people like * Skeeter and Wookie, two homeless guys who show that community happens wherever there is shared need and a willingness to give * Pastor Ponder who holds an altar call after his sermon at the psych ward and says it's the best church service he's ever had * Kat, the tattooed hairdresser who dreams about Jesus and longs for spiritual connection, who shows that you can't judge a book by its cover * Jesus, who makes an invisible cameo in every story
As Blaine writes, "I am one wrecked and dirty treasure, but God still decides I am worth the effort to save." Jamie Blaine is the kind of writer whose view of the commonplace transforms life into the transcendent.
About the Author
Jamie Blaine is a licensed sex and suicide specialist who has worked in psych wards, megachurches, rehabs, radio stations, and roller rinks. He is the non-fiction editor of the L.A. literary collective The Nervous Breakdown, contributor to the online faith magazine OnFaith, writer for Salon.com, The Weeklings.com, Bass Guitar magazine, Drummer U.K. magazine & America's best-selling street paper The Nashville Contributor.
MY REVIEW AND THOUGHTS:
I gotta give this one 5 stars. SPOILER WARNING. From the very beginning, I could relate to this book. One sentence says “I wonder if I’m the only guy…with heavy metal and gospel CDs in my backseat. Probably so.” This really struck home with me because that describes me. In fact, having a Master’s degree, working as a psychotherapist, and having been involved with church ministries most of my life describes me. So often I have felt like an outsider no matter who I am with because I’m too liberal for one group and too conservative for another. It’s rare to meet other people who can fit into both (or not) like I do. I’m glad I found this book. Another line that struck me is “Jesus also upset a lot of church people.” Man, did he! So true! He did! He broke their “rules” and upset the church leaders during his time on earth. I think if he were walking the earth today, the same thing would happen again. Churches have gotten too far off base from what they were meant to do and have stupid laws and rules that don’t help anybody. In fact, they hurt a lot of people. This is my opinion, and the line of thinking that this book drew out of me.
Here is one more part of the book I will share.
I’m paraphrasing from the book a bit, but consider this: A place where you know you are safe, you can be honest, you can deal with your story, and work through whatever truths you need to face. If you want to rise above, we are here to help. We will not deny the hard truths.
Was the author talking about a church, or a psych ward? I guess you will have to read the book to find out. One last closing thought: If your church doesn’t meet that description, you are part of what is wrong with the world today.
I don’t say this very often, but I would label this book a MUST READ.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review. I was not required to post a positive review, and all opinions are my own.
Jamie Blaine is an unconventional, and actually quite accidental, psychiatric crisis interventionist whose work takes him to "the least of these." A gifted storyteller, Blaine shares heart-wrenching and sometimes hilarious stories of everyday people who need to know God is there in their darkest hours-people dealing with secret shame, doubt, desperation, even suicide. Humans looking for wholeness, looking for Jesus.
Painting beauty where it seems none exists, Midnight Jesus helps readers transcend their own struggles, showing how truth can come from the strangest places. They will meet people like * Skeeter and Wookie, two homeless guys who show that community happens wherever there is shared need and a willingness to give * Pastor Ponder who holds an altar call after his sermon at the psych ward and says it's the best church service he's ever had * Kat, the tattooed hairdresser who dreams about Jesus and longs for spiritual connection, who shows that you can't judge a book by its cover * Jesus, who makes an invisible cameo in every story
As Blaine writes, "I am one wrecked and dirty treasure, but God still decides I am worth the effort to save." Jamie Blaine is the kind of writer whose view of the commonplace transforms life into the transcendent.
About the Author
Jamie Blaine is a licensed sex and suicide specialist who has worked in psych wards, megachurches, rehabs, radio stations, and roller rinks. He is the non-fiction editor of the L.A. literary collective The Nervous Breakdown, contributor to the online faith magazine OnFaith, writer for Salon.com, The Weeklings.com, Bass Guitar magazine, Drummer U.K. magazine & America's best-selling street paper The Nashville Contributor.
MY REVIEW AND THOUGHTS:
I gotta give this one 5 stars. SPOILER WARNING. From the very beginning, I could relate to this book. One sentence says “I wonder if I’m the only guy…with heavy metal and gospel CDs in my backseat. Probably so.” This really struck home with me because that describes me. In fact, having a Master’s degree, working as a psychotherapist, and having been involved with church ministries most of my life describes me. So often I have felt like an outsider no matter who I am with because I’m too liberal for one group and too conservative for another. It’s rare to meet other people who can fit into both (or not) like I do. I’m glad I found this book. Another line that struck me is “Jesus also upset a lot of church people.” Man, did he! So true! He did! He broke their “rules” and upset the church leaders during his time on earth. I think if he were walking the earth today, the same thing would happen again. Churches have gotten too far off base from what they were meant to do and have stupid laws and rules that don’t help anybody. In fact, they hurt a lot of people. This is my opinion, and the line of thinking that this book drew out of me.
Here is one more part of the book I will share.
I’m paraphrasing from the book a bit, but consider this: A place where you know you are safe, you can be honest, you can deal with your story, and work through whatever truths you need to face. If you want to rise above, we are here to help. We will not deny the hard truths.
Was the author talking about a church, or a psych ward? I guess you will have to read the book to find out. One last closing thought: If your church doesn’t meet that description, you are part of what is wrong with the world today.
I don’t say this very often, but I would label this book a MUST READ.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review. I was not required to post a positive review, and all opinions are my own.
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