Book Club

Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them by John Ortberg

Ok, I've been reading this book since last summer. Considering it is only 234 pages, you might wonder why it's taken me SO long to finish it (especially those of you who know how quickly I devour books).
Here's the reason why-- this book has SO much for you to think about, you really need to take the time to read it slowly and process the information that Ortberg is giving you to think about. Personally, I think this would be a great book to do with small groups because the whole book is about Community. However, even reading it on your own (like I did) you learn a TON and you can pass it on to others in word and action.
Ortberg is addressing the issue of community in a fantastic way. Basically he's saying, God created us to live in community, but in our broken human state, we can't achieve the closeness we desire. Ortberg calls it the porcupine dilemma: "We need each other, but how do we get close without getting hurt? How do we get past all those quills and grow together in Christ?"

It I highly recommend this book to everyone. Ortberg presents his material through biblical and life stories. Seriously, everyone needs to read this book! It's a key to unlocking the barriers between yourself and the rest of humanity (because they really are there, even if you don't want to acknowldege them).