Pop Goes the Church Makes Some Noise
Tim signing a copy of his new book, Pop Goes the Church, for my assistant, Julie Smies
My friend, Tim Stevens (Granger Community's executive pastor) hates signing books as well as stepping into the media spotlight (see his comments here). But he's going to need to suck it up, 'cause it's comin'! His new book, Pop Goes the Church, is available, and it's making some noise.
You'll note in his post that he's in Indy today doing interviews with the Indianapolis Star and appearing live on Indy's local Fox morning news show. Although I've told him this is just the beginning of an escalating interest in his book, this is about more than book signings, media appearances and conference engagements.
Tim's new book will make some noise because:
- Christians can't keep "doing church" in a vacuum as though the only place God shows up in our church buildings.
- Most of pop culture isn't an intentional tool for exploring God and faith; it's most often a simple reflection of desired hope, painful regret and, though unrecognized, an indelible stamp of God's image on every human life.
- doing church without acknowledging and speaking into the culture with an engaging, hopeful message is to choose blindness to the context in which we live.
- Christians tend to wear "badges of holiness" based on what they stand against rather than reflecting the gracious, redemptive image of God by living out what we stand for.
- America is skeptical of the evangelical church; this book's message is not self-righteous and condemning.
- This book reveals the approach to ministry that Granger Community Church has practiced for 21 years under the leadership and teaching of Mark Beeson, Granger's senior and founding pastor.
- Tim's style is engaging and humorous; his passion is God-driven and his calling is undeniable. He loves God and the people Jesus came to redeem through his here-and-now kingdom.
I thank God for Tim... for his leadership, his passion, his live laid out for the kingdom and for his personal friendship.
If you haven't gotten your copy of the book yet, check it out here.
