The Thoughtful Pastor Blog Looks at "Soul Print" by Mark Batterson

"Soul Print" came in last Friday and sat on my table staring at me.  I leafed the book for about 10 minutes and could see that this was not the usual "pray and process" style of book that I have read to death.   I read a little about the author and his National Community Church but knew nothing really about him.   Monday was a holiday and I dug in and read the entire book while in the various doctor's offices waiting for my wife.  I found this to be fresh and focused.  "Soul Print" is only 183 pages but packed with insight that lead to "out-sight"  Batterson offers an interesting look at the importance of being the unique person that God makes you to be.

The author insists that this is not a self help book on page 2. Before the first story Batterson declares, "Self-Help is nothing more than idolatry dressed up in a rented tuxedo.  So let me be blunt; you aren't good enough or gifted enough to get where God wants you to go.  Not without His help." However, with God's help in discovering your unique self, there is "nothing God cannot do in you and through you if you simply yield your life to Him.  All of it.  All of you."  I have read dozens of "self help-fixit" books and they all add a little value but ultimately fail. They usually attempt you to fix your Self rather than discover your Self.  With God you know more about who you are and find what you can become.  Apart from God, the path is pretty rocky.  None of this is new.  However, this presentation is pretty fresh even if his writing style is a bit frantic and dis-jointed.

"Soul Print" is a mash-up of the life of David, the Old testament king, and a loose autobiography of the author set up like a theater play.  It works.  David, Mark Batterson and I journey together on a path of discovering ourselves-and must discover God first in order to do it.  The author is easy to read, doesn't take himself too seriously and is just plain funny! It is not flippant.  The book also makes its point.  Some of the lightness of the book runs the reader's thinking deep and even dark.  No spiritual stone is unturned in fresh language, little churchy jargon and well applied scripture.

You can check out Chapter One for free by going to:  http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/2010/11/19/sneak-peek-soulprint-by-mark-batterson/

I like the book and am richer for the journey.  This is not my usual fare but I am glad for the privilege of reading it.  Oh yeah, the Legal Stuff:  Multnomah press gave me this book free in exchange for this review.  would you do me a favor? Please go to this link and give me a quick rating for this review. http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/4470/srch:soulprint/month:all/year:all  It just takes a moment.    I thank Multnomah for risking negative comments and you for reading my blog.

Alan Van Hooser, "The Thoughtful Pastor Blog"