Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell

I read Velvet Elvis quite a while ago, and just now recommended it to Karen. It's still one of my favorite books.

I love the way Rob Bell writes, how he discusses and searches, and takes you on the search. It's not a passive book, it's engaging and demands that you think for yourself. He's talking about the defenitions of Christianity, about the foundations of our faith, and challenging the readers to find out for themselves what it means to be a follower of Christ.

I love the way he in the beginning describes christianity as a trampoline, where the theology is like springs that stretch and bend, and we are the jumpers - enjoying life with Jesus and throughout  our lives inviting others to jump as well.

Another part (there are many) I love is when he talks about the constant repainting of faith, how it constantly moves and how each generation is a part of the search, and how we need to question and wrestle with what it means to follow Christ today. Not that God changes, but that we need to find out for ourselves what it means.

I can strongly recommend this book. Take it one part at a time, and allow yourself to wrestle with it. Don't take everything just like it says, but let it mean something to you, and let it challange you to get deeper into God's word and find out what He is really about.

By Jennie, 21, Sweden

I also loved this book and was very challenged by it. His section about rabbis really stuck out to me in particular. Rob Bell talks about how the rabbis picked certain people to be their students, people they believed to have what it takes be like them and to continue with their set of teachings. The kids that were picked were the smartest ones. Then Jesus came and picked fishermen and tax collectors-and you and me. And thats what really got to me, that Jesus has so much faith in me, that he believes that i have what it takes. He chose me...John 15:16.

A lot of the things in this book really made me think and i would definitely recommend it.

 By Karen, 21, Ireland