Epic

I just finished reading John Eldredge's book "Epic". If you're familiar with and enjoyed Wild At Heart, then you'll enjoy this. This book is not long, it's only 104 pages, but that doesn't mean it's not good. In this book, he explains the Gospel using epic stories that we all are familiar with (Lord Of The Rings, Star Wars, Braveheart, Titanic, The Matrix, and so on).

Basically the theme of the story is, why do we connect so much most stories we read and the movies we watch? Because they all are shadows of the Story of real life that we are in, with God as the Author. We have eternity written on our hearts. As Eldredge points out, notice how most stories have a common theme. In the beginning things are well, something happens later where things go wrong and there's a need of redemption, and then there's someone who plays the hero to come to the rescue at the end. And so it's the same in our life. First there was Eden, then the fall, then Jesus came to rescue us.

It's the type of book that will move you to start seeing God in unfamiliar places, and give a new appreciation for the stories we read, as well as the Story we are living ourselves. It's well written, and it will challenge those used to a silly, insipid version of Christianity. Eldredge says in the book about answering life's questions, "Christianity claims to do that for us. Not the Christianity of proper church attendance and good manners. Not the Christianity of holier-than-thou self-righteousness and dogmatism. Not another religion, thank God. That is not Christianity. Oh I know it's what most people, including the majority of Christians, think Christianity is all about. They are wrong. There is more. A lot more. And that more is what most of us have been longing for most of our lives. A Story. An Epic. Something hidden in the ancient past. Something dangerous now unfolding. Something waiting in the future for us to discover."

I couldn't agree more.