Fierce compassion.

Have you ever confronted it?
I’m not talking about zealotry, obsession or make believe, I’m talking about that rare and real love that gives up everything of self, and laviciously pours itself out on others, burning into our brokenness, lighting the dark places. What Christmas is really about. Hope.

Since I’m a Buy Nothing Christmas type, it may seem a bit odd for me to recommend Christmas gifts.

But I am.
Three books, about or by three people that are fiercely compassionate - the antithesis of what you see on many Christian blogs btw. All three are bloggers, not big in the self-promotion department, busy going about their Fathers business and Lordy, they can write.

The first is self-published and will be available in a couple of days.

Today at the Mission is a Canadian blog, and it is not light reading.

My purpose in creating Today at the Mission is to share with you the world of homelessness. It’s a very different world than the one most of us live in;  a world with it’s own language, culture, rules and design. Before I began working in the Mission I was only vaguely aware of the existence of this world, and had absolutely no idea what it was really like. Unless you’re in it, you have no idea either.

The people who know who ‘rhymes with kerouac’ is and where the mission is, guard the secret well. As it should be. For it frees him to take us into this world he has chosen to enter in it’s starkness, amazing grace, pain and loss with fierce compassion.

1) Today At the Mission, the book. (update: available here)

I’m listening to her and thinking, ‘where on earth does this stuff come from’? Then it dawned on me… this young woman is struggling to shoulder the burden of Christian culture. We’ve been told, over and over again, in sermons and praise and worship songs, in videos and books and magazines and bible studies and conferences that we’ve got to live like this… that the Christian life is one of victory and confidence and success, that if we hurt there’s something wrong with us. No matter what the problem may be there’s a five point plan, on dvd, cd’s or cassette tapes, operators are awaiting your call. You’ll also get a complimentary subscription to our magazine, filled with helpful information you won’t want to be without. We’ll give you the tools you need so you’ll never have to hurt again. You’ll never have a question that can’t be answered, a problem that can’t be solved, a crises that won’t immediately end because… you’ll be just like the rest of the Christians, living something that’s almost, but not quite, like real life.

All profits from sales go back into The Mission.
As it should be.

2) G.P. Taylor Sin, Salvation & Shadowmancer

This is published by a major Christian publisher in the US, but don’t let that fool you, this is not a book for a Sunday-go-to-meeting-warm-the-pew kind of person. Taylor writes amazing tales, (there are four out now) he also self published his first book while he was a vicar. And almost overnight he became ridiculously famous. This is the story of his life, as told to Bob Smietana. And Bob has an amazing talent of telling it to us. This bio is striking a deep chord with ministers and priests.
As it should.
If you have a minister or priest in your life, this is a great gift for him or her. If you want to be challenged, shaken and hope filled, give it to yourself.

The danger in being a vicar comes when we become so concerned about everyone else’s spiritual health ( and their emotional and physical health as well) that we neglect our own. We can become so busy working for Jesus that we have no time to be with Jesus ourselves.

3) Real Live Preacher

When life seems chaotic, you don’t need people giving you easy answers or cheap promises. There might not be any answers to your problems. What you need is a safe place where you can bounce with people who have taken some bad hops of their own.

Real Live Preacher lives in Texas, and for awhile just blogged and wrestled with his words. The blog stories attracted a lot of readers and a book deal. And Real Live Preacher told his readers his name was Gordon Atkinson. The book has helped him find new readers, new opportunities for his words, and he has another book out. But, the first one is always special.

All three authors are guys that have had their chins on the pavement - and you know they’ve reached out and touched the hem of His garment. They don’t have a lot of time for some of the silliness of religion. What they have is fierce compassion and the ability to introduce you.
As it should be.