Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith

God wants us to know Him deeply and personally. But there are no shortcuts to God."The way to life-to God!-is vigorous and requires total attention."(Matthew 7:14, The Message)God has offered us firsthand knowledge of His love, His grace, and His power. Yet so often, we too easily settle for someone else's descriptions, the Cliff notes from another's spiritual journey. We are content for "God-experts" to do the heavy lifting and then give us the bottom line. And like any secondhand information, after enough times through the grapevine, the truth about God deteriorates and crumbs of rumor are all that remain.But when life derails, and things don't go as we had planned, our thin view of God is challenged. In those critical moments, we can choose to walk away from God, or to let our questions lead us home. When we choose to wrestle with God, to engage Him for ourselves, we-like Jacob and Job and David-will see rumors die and revelation come alive.It's time to hear the magnificent, Divine Invitation. It's time to take God up on His offer and embrace the mystery and majesty of knowing Him for ourselves.Review"Digging through the ruins of a `house built on sand,' Glenn Packiam lays bare the shameless lies of a way of religion that is without foundations in Jesus or Scripture. But it is far more than exposé. This is an honest, personal, detailed story of a Christian leader refusing cynicism and embracing forgiveness and hope."--Eugene H. Peterson, professor emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, B.C., Canada“What a great read! Page after page I found myself hooked. Glenn has written a book that not only engaged my mind, but also made my heart beat faster for Jesus.”--David Nasser, author and speaker“Glenn Packiam is not only a gifted songwriter and worship leader, penning songs that capture the heart of our generation, but he is also a gifted writer whose textured voice needs to be heard. Secondhand Jesus is a much-needed challenge for every believer to embrace knowing God like they never have before.”--Margaret Feinberg, popular speaker and author of Scouting the DivineReview"Glenn Packiam is not only a gifted songwriter and worship leader, penning songs that capture the heart of our generation, but he is also a gifted writer whose textured voice needs to be heard. Secondhand Jesus is a much-needed challenge for every believer to embrace knowing God like they never have before."Review"What a great read! Page after page I found myself hooked. Glenn has written a book that not only engaged my mind, but also made my heart beat faster for Jesus."About the AuthorGlenn Packiam is an executive pastor at New Life Church, where he oversees spiritual formation and serves as the teaching pastor for NewLifeSundayNight. Glenn is also the writer of several well-known worship songs including "Your Name" and "My Savior Lives." He is the author of Lucky: How the Kingdom Comes to Unlikely People and Butterfly in Brazil: How Your Life Can Make a World of Difference. Glenn and his family live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.