by Jonathan Acuff
ABOUT THE BOOK
Sometimes, we fall in love on mission trips even though we know we’ll break up when we get back. Sometimes, you have to shot block a friend’s prayer because she’s asking God to bless an obviously bad dating relationship. Sometimes, you think, “I wish I had a t-shirt that said ‘I direct deposit my tithe’ so people wouldn’t judge me.”
Sometimes, the stuff that comes with faith is funny.
This is that stuff.
Jonathan Acuff’s Stuff Christians Like is your field guide to all things Christian. In it you’ll learn the culinary magic of the crock-pot. Think you’ve got a Metro worship leader? Use Acuff’s checklist. Want to avoid a prayer handholding faux pas? Acuff has you covered. Like a satirical grenade, Acuff brings us the humor and honesty that galvanized more than a million online readers from more than 200 countries in a new portable version. Welcome to the funny side of faith.
GETTING TO KNOW JONATHAN ACUFF
Who is Jonathan Acuff?
For the last ten years, I've written advertising for clients ranging from the Home Depot to Chick-fil-A. I also write a blog called Stuff Christians Life. My wife and I live with our two daughters outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
Tell us a little bit about your background and your family.
I grew up in Massachusetts with two younger brothers and a younger sister. My dad is a minister and that’s how I learned about a lot of the things I write about on SCL.
How did you get started in writing?
A teacher in the third grade laminated some poems I wrote and I fell in love with it then.
How do you find time to write?
I get up at 5AM before anyone in my family is up.
What would you say to someone who wants to become a published author?
Pick a time to write and then do it. Don’t debate whether you will write each day, just write.
Where did you get the idea for the blog... which then became book?
There was a popular site called Stuff White People Like. I feel like it’s weird that we Christians always steal popular secular ideas like making “Got Milk?” say “Got God?” I thought it would be a good idea to discuss that problem by committing that problem.
What are the major themes?
I try to clear the clutter of Christianity away so we can see the beauty of Christ.
What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
That they’ll know how fun and full of laughter a life of faith can be.
There aren't many books that make me laugh out loud. The problem with Stuff Christians Like
is that it had me laughing so much, it threw me out of stealth reading mode. My teenage son quickly realized he was missing out on the fun. From then on, it was a battle to see who'd pick up the book first and get to say, "Oh, you've got to hear this."What makes Stuff Christians Like
so funny is the honesty of it. Anybody who's been in church for awhile can relate to these short entries with titles like Dominating the "Please Turn to..." Bible Race During Church, Side Hugs, and Using "Let Me Pray About It" As a Euphemism For "No." But don't fear. Despite his razor sharp wit, there's never a question about Acuff's motives. He's one of us, and he's laughing with us, not at us. If you need a pick-me-up, do yourself a favor and get a copy of Stuff Christians Like. Just don't read it during church... unless you want to cause a commotion.NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for reviewing purposes.
WHAT STUFF DO YOU LIKE?
As a part of the release celebration of Stuff Christians Like
, you've got a chance to share your favorite "stuff" Christians like. In 500 words or less, write your own version of Stuff Christians Like and you could be featured on Jonathan's blog - which reaches over 120,000 readers each month and has been read by 1.4 million people since it began two years ago. Check out http://stuffchristianslike.net/ for examples and inspiration. Post your entry on your blog or Facebook and email the link to info(@)blogtourspot.com. Entries must be received by midnight, CST Friday, July 2.
2 comments:
I've been wanting to read this. Thanks, Jen! It looks hilarious. I also appreciate learning how he finds time to write. I guess we all have that struggle, don't we?
I know I have that struggle. For me, though, it's not a matter of not having the time. It's more like, having too much unstructured time and not managing it well. It's the perfect breeding ground for procrastination. I'm hoping that by doing the ACFW challenge in July, I'll create a habit that I can hold on to!
Oh, but back to the book... it is SO funny. And since it started out as a blog, each piece is relatively short. So even if you only have a tiny bit of reading time, you can squeeze one in here and there. It's a great summer book. Have fun!
Post a Comment