Jamie SnyderCritiques

Easy to read, and it zeroed in on some idiosyncrasies of mine. Review forthcoming on Jesus in Books.

Not the greatest book I've read. Very light in content and somewhat pithy at times. It lacked flow. Idleman's intro was great, but this book seems to be lacking...

This book is good for Christians who like:

Lists.
Adjectives.
Short Sentences.
Easy Reading.

The book asks a great question that has kept my thinking (Would anyone know I am a Christian if Sundays didn't exist?), but the meat of the book is weak. The ARC I received feels like a draft and not a finished piece. And with the number of one word lines it feels like they were attempting to stretch it out to make it seem like the idea could possibly be book length. I know it is the trend right now for Pastors to write books, but maybe, just maybe not every pastor is cut out to be a writer. If you want to be challenged by these same ideas by a good writer try out Mark Scandrette. "Practicing the Way of Jesus" and "Free" are ten thousand times better than "Real."

I got this book in exchange for a review. This book is not difficult to read and it is basically a series of meditations. The basic premise is to challenge the church pew christian to be a "real" christian whose beliefs are evident and impactful to all. I found the book a bit unhelpful in that it asked a lot of questions but didn't provide any guidance or suggestions to what the answers would look like. The questions were good but it left me hanging with no place to go.

I read Read in exchange for review from Bethany House. The book teaches people how to become a 24/7 follower of Jesus Christ. I been reading the book for a few weeks now and I love the book.

Awhile ago in Church, someone had said we need to be followers and not fans of Christ. So many Christians identify with Christ (like myself), but don't truly follow Christ's commands. Here I am a few years ago having premarital sex, yet going to church praising the Lord every Sunday. Cussing out relatives. Being disobedient to the word.

The book says there is a cost when we follow Christ, yet there is also a cost when we choose not to follow Christ.

"Truth never looks away. You can pretend truth doesn't exist, you can close the eyes of your heart, you can simply turn and look the other way, but truth never looks away or blinks." (p. 13).

"If Sunday din't exist, would anyone know you where a follower of Jesus?.....Most people conclude someone is a Christian or not based on that person's Sunday religious activities and behaviors. You may not even be inclined to advertise your faith, but inevitably if you attend church long enough, it will come out in conversation. So, if Sunday didn't exist, you would no longer have a building to point to as being the place you attend church...If Sunday didn't exist, we would no longer be able to use our Sunday activities as evidence that we are followers of Christ." (p. 15)

The second passage is what got me reading the book more. Snyder author said many Christians put so much emphasis on Sundays, yet not following Christ during the week. If your faith on Sunday does not align up with your beliefs then the week, then something has to change.

Each chapter in the book is short. Each chapter also has a reflection and discussion, in addition to a prayer. The first chapter's questions, for example, deals with how people view Sunday? Does your faith spin on the axis of Sunday? (p. 23).

I loved the book. I do recommend the book as individual or small group bible study.

This book revolves around the question how does somebody know that a person is a Christian. The author provides a series of meditation in trying to come to answer this question. The style of the books seems to me it was a sermon series that eventually became a published book. I do not know if this is true, but this reflects the style of the book. Each chapter comes with a series of questions and a prayer. The book is not a difficult read and it could be read in a day, but it would probably be more profitable over a period of time.

This book gives the reader who takes the time a lot to think about. Jamie Snyder asks the question, If people did not know that I go to church would they know I am a Christian? That alone is a great question to ask ourselves, but he goes on to show the characteristics of early Christians that are not the typical idea that we may have of what a follower of Christ should look like. He reminds us, though, that it is not our effort that will bring these about, but it can only be God working through and in us when we surrender to Him.
For this book to impact your life you must take the time to think about the points brought up and the Scriptures used to support them.

It took me a while to get past the first chapter of this book. It’s a short book and easy to read, but in the first chapter, Jamie Snyder, author of REAL, BECOMING A 24/7 FOLLOWER OF JESUS, asks: “Would anyone know I am a Christian if they didn’t see me at church?” Wow.

I had to think about that and process it for a while because as Snyder explains, so many of us define our relationship with Jesus around worship services on Sunday – and that’s all. So I had to wonder…how WOULD someone know that I was a Christian?

Through the remainder of the book and using frequent Bible references, the author shares stories and examples on how we can be a 24/7 follower and demonstrate unbridled generosity, daring courage, rebellious joy, risky faith, relentless hope, scandalous grace, and mad love seven days a week. He has an easy-to-read writing style, and a dry sense of humor.

Each chapter ends with a prayer and questions that can be used in personal reflection or group discussion.

Originally I had intended to read this book and then donate it to our church library, but I’ve underlined and circled so many things, I will have to buy a new copy of the library. I’m keeping this one to read again. I learned a lot of things from this book – too many to list here – so I highly recommend this book.

(This review is based upon a copy of this book which was provided free of charge from Bethany House Publishers. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.)

Real raises some questions which may be tough for Christians to answer. Snyder challenges believers to be more than just Sunday followers, content to obey a set of rules and only be accepting of people who already fit in. He wants Christians to really follow Jesus' example and be a bit radical and outrageous.

Enjoyed the book a nice follow up to Radical, short and to the point chapters, with plenty of Bible references. For a first time writer I thought it was well done.

There are two ways to read this book: the first is a comfortable, La-Z-Boy browse, in which you'll conclude this is a personable, very down-to-earth Christian writer who connects with people well and humorously.

The second way to read Real is a little more disturbing: you slow down, ponder the hard questions Jamie Snyder asks, and realize that there's much more to being a genuine Jesus follower than skimming books and showing up on Sunday. Each chapter focuses on the risky, challenging, un-selfconscious, crazily generous traits of truly dedicated Christians. Don't skip the reflection questions at the end of each chapter. They are painfully hard, but will help you refocus on the quest to become truly "real."

Thanks, Bethany House and Early Reviewers program, for the challenge!½

How would you act as a follower of Jesus outside of church, Mr. Snyder gives us a lot of examples that will open your eyes to self examine each of our lives as followers of Jesus. I know that we all need to be able to step out of our safe little boxes and live big for Jesus. Live big for Jesus and you won't regret it.
This book was provided by Bethany House for an honest review.