Facts and figures are good, spreadsheets rule, and no one enjoys a good pie chart more than I do! But as fun (yes, fun) as they are to make and look at, none of them inspire. None of them allow us to capture a vision or imagine the unimaginable.
That’s what stories do best.
This morning at our regular Band of Brothers meeting, we discussed the power of stories. Specifically, we talked about how the story of how we found God or what He has done in our lives can impact others.
- For those still searching for God, stories provide a glimpse into the heart, mind and experience of someone who has already found Him.
- For those of us that have already placed their faith in Jesus, stories inspire us to help someone else find Him.
The Unexpected Journey (Thom Rainer, Zondervan, 2005) is a book of stories. It tells the stories of twelve Christian men and women that had very different starting points, but who now share a saving faith in the same Jesus. The people he interviewed included:
- A former Mormon.
- A former Jew.
- A former Hindu.
- A former Atheist.
- A former Jehovah’s Witness.
- A former Agnostic.
- A former Witch.
- A former Buddhist.
- A former Unitarian.
- A former New Ager.
- A former Muslim.
- A former Satanist (yes, Satanist!).
The Unexpected Journey is an easy, inspiring and sometime eye-opening read. If you are a Christian already, it will inspire and challenge you. If you are still unsure about what to think about God, it might help to read how these twelve people found Him.
I would highly recommend the book…and I’ve got a copy if you’d like to borrow it!
