The Power of Ugly by Jamie Stilson (a pastor at the Vineyard Community Church in Cape Coral, Florida) was quite simply a delight from start to finish. I mean, how can you go wrong with a picture of bear scat decorating the cover? The Power of Ugly will alternately have you reeling in laughter and cringing – and then saying “Whoa” as Jamie’s ugly sledgehammer of humor and earthy spirituality strikes deep. What a delicious mixture of theological reflection and observation and humor and life and ugliness – all with a wonderful frankness and honesty that totally disarms any lingering religiosity in the reader (or so offends that religiosity that the book is ceremoniously dumped).Please note: Jamie does not claim to be a Seal…but you will have to decide for yourself if his stories really are as true and ugly as he says. (After quoting Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:32 “I am not lying!” he does acknowledge, “Well, I may have embellished a little.”)
Review by “Wordhaver,” Associate Pastor, Vineyard Church of Boise To Read more visit http://vineyardboisebookcellar.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/the-power-of-ugly/
National Director Vineyard USA—————–
“Jamie Stilson is an ugly man. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. To understand what I mean, you need to read his revolutionary and well-written piece. In France they erect placards and advertisements on bus shelters every Easter-time that say ‘The Grace of God is Folly’ (obviously, in French!). That slogan captures something very New Testament, very Gospel, very Jesus. And in his book The Power of Ugly Jamie Stilson expounds on that Folly, that Grace and our utter and eternal dependence on it, and makes it all memorable with his hilarious stories (when I think of him in future I will always be assailed with a mental image of him in his tighty-whities–-ugly!)
“This book has the potential to become a new classic on the subject of Grace. Grace for life; Grace for relationships; Grace for ministry; Grace for adversity and persecution; Grace to counteract the pressure of a consumerist approach to church and the Christian life. Using Biblical story and text with the honesty I have always known him for, Jamie shows us how the real folly is to subscribe to standards of ‘pretty’ and polished, how pastors are dying on their feet because of the imposition on them of a yoke that Jesus did not design, and how discovering fresh freedom from the inside out is an urgent pursuit if we are going to survive for the long haul and stay sane.
“The Power of Ugly cuts close to the bone. It explores religious paradigms and pokes fun at Christian mythology in words without religious frills. Jamie expresses himself in words that might offend some, but the offense is essential if we are to get the message. The strength and passion of his message is a sledge-hammer that breaks through a musty, stifling cellar of lies we’ve all believed, and lets in God’s fresh air. Every prospective pastor should read it; every jaded burned-out pastor should read it; everyone exhausted by the legalisms of the church should make it their new devotional read for the year; everyone who wants a sound reason to break away from the plastic, image-conscious, performance-driven picture of ministry should read it. Read it and laugh at yourself in Jamie. Read it and weep. Read it and let yourself off the hook. Just read it!”
Costa Mitchell
National Director Vineyard Southern Africa
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“Jamie Stilson pulls back the veil on the ugliness of our lives and powerfully reminds us of the love of a beautiful God…even in our ugliness. Jaime never takes him self or life too seriously, but he is very serious about hurting people. Jaime reminds us of God’s tender heart for hurting people. This book will stir your heart as it shakes you out of the paradigm you are living in to see God, people and the church in an ‘ugly’ new way. Prepare to let God change you as Jaime opens the world of ugly.”
Jeff Swearingen
Founding Pastor, Crosspoint Christian Church
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“I once read this, ‘Friendship is like a prism through which the many variations of beauty are revealed in our lives.’ Jamie Stilson has been one of those great friends ever since I first met him nearly 25 years ago. But in this case, he has been the kind of friend that has helped reveal the “ugly” in my own life. Whether traveling to Africa together or just doing lunch together every Monday for the last 14 years, Jamie has shown me how to take God seriously without taking myself too seriously. Jamie has helped me to see my own ugliness and my need of God’s humbling grace. I absolutely loved reading his book, “The Power of Ugly,” because it so represents who he is-authentic, earthy, funny, insightful and in love with Jesus. This is a must read. You will laugh and you will cry. You will be challenged and you will be blessed. For sure, you will get a fresh new view of your ugly self and of God’s beautiful grace.”
Dennis Gingerich
Founding Pastor, Cape Christian Fellowship
