TOP TEN QUESTIONS
on Nov 06, 2009

I am sitting at home in the living room. The sun is shinning - unusual for Michigan this time of the year. Actually, the sun just went behind a cloud. Anyway, it is a beautiful day. I am chilling out between dates on the book tour. The tour is at the halfway stage.  We began in Kalamazoo, Michigan where I spoke at a fundraiser for an organization that works with the poorest of the poor - DCK (Deacon's Conference of Kalamazoo). Then I did several events in Grand Rapids, spent 4 days in NYC, went to Chicago and then Santa Cruz. Along the way I did a number of radio and print interviews. At most places where I spoke, I also answered questions from the audience.  So I have started to compile a list of questions. They are not listed in any kind of order.

1. Jesus was humble. How did you develop humility during your year?

2. Did you struggle with consumerism during the year?

3. After the year, you stopped living Jewishly. What have you kept doing?

4. I can't believe you voted for Obama. What in the world were you thinking?

5. Did you choose 12 disciples to follow you?

6. What kind of beer did you drink?

7. What did you do about dependence on foreign oil?

8. What lessons did you learn?

9. Did you ever walk on water?

10. How did your ALS impact your journey?

Well, this is the beginning of questions. There were a lot more.

  • Tagged in: Untagged 
  •
    Comments (13)Add Comment
    Top Ten Answers?
    written by aaron, November 06, 2009
    Will you be answering the top ten questions on the blog?
    ...
    written by Linda Lyzenga, November 07, 2009
    if you're looking for disciples, I'd be honored...
    I know the answers!
    written by Jennifer, November 08, 2009
    Okay, I just bought your book. Ironically, I bought it for my husband's birthday but since he's currently finishing up another book, I've confiscated it. I must admit, that was my intention all along... Happy Birthday! (We're married so we're "one" so technically it was my birthday too...) I have only read through January (2 children under 3 make reading difficult) and can answer half of those questions. The most incredulous of the first 10? Have you walked on water? Ha! Well, have you walked on a boat on water? LOL, isn't that what "most" Christians do in their path to be Jesus-like? Hmm... Maybe you won't get what I mean by that...!
    Kind of bummed you are not answering the questions :)
    written by Carrianne, November 09, 2009
    Saw you speak this weekend at Jacobs Well Church-it was my first time there- I feel blessed to of heard you speak- I loved it smilies/smiley.gif Cheers from the House of Prayer KC
    Kind of Bummed you didn't answer the questions!
    written by Carrianne, November 09, 2009
    smilies/cheesy.gif
    I saw you speak this weekend at Jacob's Well Church-It was my first time there, I loved what you had to say- you're a cool man- and you really do look Jewish hehe smilies/smiley.gif

    Cheers from the House of Prayer -KC
    A Small Thanks
    written by Cara Wood, December 08, 2009
    Ed, I just want to thank you for your book, The Year of Living like Jesus. Not only is it inspiring, witty and moving, it is a great call for Christians today to get back into the mould of actually living like Jesus did ... or even just taking the time to seek out and learn more about how he did live. I especially appreciated your insight into Jewish culture as I hadn't known much about their traditions before reading your book and have also really respected your desire to delve deeper into prayer through different traditional means as well as seeking out your own meaningful ways to talk to God.
    I used to attend Messiah Missionary Baptist Church as well (I have now moved to New Zealand with my husband ... I was one of the other four - after you and your wife began attending - white people in the church), and had continually enjoyed your preaching while there as well. It was great for me to be reading this book in New Zealand and find anecdotes about Messiah along the way.
    Thank you for your book and thank you for your challenges. May God bless you greatly and have deep mercy on you.

    Cara
    Injustice at the cost of law
    written by Katrina Green, December 26, 2009
    I read your book today and I was amazed. I started a girls ministry and will be launched soon and during the implementation and preparing for the launch, I meditated on the four gospels closely. Jesus will point out things to you. The closer I felt to christ the more injustice I saw around me, driving around in the inner city that I was raised in and work in, churches and pastors are present more than ever but seems that we have more lost sheep than ever and it appears that many believers tend to focus more on "Theology than purpose" I also wrote about it in my blog as well...I just want to say thank you!!! I was blessed by all that I read!!! Please follow my blog...

    http://awakeningthebutterflywithin.blogspot.com/2009/11/injustice-at-cost-of-lawis-it-possible.html

    Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


    © Copyright – All rights reserved
    November 2009

    Katrina Green
    President
    Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

    "It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

    COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

    Launching Spring 2010!

    "Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25

    Thanks, Ed!
    written by Elisa, December 26, 2009
    Just finished the book and wanted to say thanks - Giving our life for the cause of Christ is no small feat -- I've been struggling with it for years -- and I am not talking about the Jewish customs, festivals, prayers, etc -- too much for me. But, I have had a strong calling to write and I plan everything out perfectly - -you know, up at 4 a.m., write until 5:30, get ready, get kids ready, leave by 7 to get to work, and so on my schedule goes -- but more often than not, I find that it is very difficult to make my body get out of bed at 4 a.m., much less not get frustrated when my children also decide to get up, or the fact that I look at the computer screen and it is blank, my cursor blinking waiting for those God-inspired words... so more often that not I fail to give my life to Christ, not thinking about the future or whether the book would even be published or not, but only about fulfilling the urge God has given me-- and finding the determination within myself to do it. Anyway, all of that to say though I know there are days you don't feel successful and days you must want to scream at God for ALS, I do want to thank you for your dedication and writing this book -- the lives the Lord touches through you will not be known this side of eternity.
    Alcohol
    written by Preston R. Murchison, January 02, 2010
    I work as a bookseller, and I just finished your book this morning. I found it to be very interesting, and an easy read. I am also the son and grandson of Baptist ministers. I still hold on to my faith, but often I disagree with what my dad and other Baptists believe. And I often think that believers make religion harder than it needs to be. God sent us an example and a teacher. I think that people have a tendency to go along with a particular passage written in the Bible and take it out of context. For instance, in Ephesians, there is a verse that says that we should not be drunk with wine, but with the Holy Spirit. Of course, Baptists use this to say that all alcoholic beverages are evil. But that doesn't match up with the actions of Christ. After all, Jesus' first public miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding party after everyone had drank everything else! They weren't just sipping wine with their dinner, they were celebrating! I'm not saying that people should get blitzed, but if anyone gives you trouble for having a beer, you should remind them that Jesus wasn't making Welch's Grape Juice at that wedding!

    Thanks for sharing your experiences, and may God continue to bless you and use you for his good!
    Todah Rabah!
    written by Susan Reitsma, January 04, 2010
    Pastor Ed, I was drawn to your book for several reasons, the first being that I had read AJ Jacob's "The Year of Living Biblically" and loved it.The second being that since 2002 when I went with Ray VanderLaan to Turkey and Israel, I have sought to follow Jesus with "All my heart, all my soul and all my mind, and to love my neighbor as myself." Easier said than done!Your book blew me away! To follow your rabbi down His path so closely, and with ALS!! You have inspired me with your courage, your honesty, and your insights. Thank you for sharing your journey, your struggles and your passion with the world. I am praying God lets us have you for a long time.
    Susan Reitsma Twin Falls, Idaho, January 3, 2010
    Living Jesus spirtually
    written by Tim Stromer, January 05, 2010
    It's weird, it seemed while reading the book I was reading about a man who tried to flow Jesus in every possible earthly form, except what he wasn't able to do because of his ALS, but it didn't seem to follow Jesus as much spiritually. There were awesome nuggets of insights, truth, and just great stories. Pastor Jim's angles at the end seemed to be the starting place that never started. Growing our hair, eating certain ways, all these things have a from of godliness, but where was the power? I was hoping you'd get to raise the dead, and it would have been WAY cool to see you healed of your ALS. We can't follow Jesus with every jot and tittle,(As you saw) but we can be just like Him. His word promises that! All the rules seemed so empty, hollow, vain. I longed to see you change the world, just like He did. Not by wrote, but by the power of His Spirit, which is how we are to live everyday. If I am not living by The Spirit, I am fulfilling the desires of my flesh. I hate that! Thanks for writing your journey down, I wish I knew you so that these words could come from a friend.
    In Him,
    tim
    Former Pastor
    written by RG Shafer, February 01, 2010
    Ed
    I read your book all the way thru in 4 days. At first I thought you were a kook. About halfway thru I came to the conclusion that you are some one who has tiried to love the Lord with all your heart and all your strength. I prayed for your healing today and trust that you will have many good days. I was diagnosed with cancer in July, had 2 surgeries and chemo, by December I was pronounced cancer free. I had many people praying for me. Don't give up, anyone who chooses to live for Christ will go thru a journey of hardship that his light might shine bright for Jesus. It is only the current difficulties that make your faith a contrast to the them and tell a story that unbelievers cannot understand. God bless
    Bob
    book
    written by todd decator, February 02, 2010
    I dont read alot but i think im going to read this one

    Write comment
    *
    *

    busy
Recent posts
Categories
Tags