Nov 15, 09:33 AM by Mike Mitrovich
Mad Church Disease | A book review
Let me start by saying this: I am tired. I am exhausted. I am burned out. One place I would expect to find hope and rest and peace is in God’s holy church.
Instead, I am finding stress, worry, lethargy, self indulgence, turmoil, heartbreak.
Just as I’m starting to define this and what it means to me, I come across a blog: flowerdust.net. I read on that blog that the author, Anne Jackson, has written a book called Mad Church Disease – a book about what I’m experiencing. And she’s giving away 10 advance copies.
255 people hoped to win. I was one of ten who actually did.
Because of the way I read this type of book and the way I choose books off the shelf, I would probably NOT have chosen Mad Church Disease at a store.
I would have chosen poorly.
First Impressions
I really dig Anne’s writing style. In fact, her writing style alone is really what carried me through the first 100 pages of Mad Church Disease. For me, around page 100 is where this book really begins.
The first part of the book is Anne’s story and a definition of what “Mad Church Disease” is. I didn’t need that definition because I’m living in the midst of it already.
By about page 90, I was thinking “man, I was really hoping to like this book more.” Around page 100 I said, “Aha! HERE is the book I was looking for!”
Getting Better
I had to giggle just now as I went to look at where the turning point in this book was for me. It was at the chapter titled “Getting Better.”
The rest of the book could be summed up with these words from the book of Luke:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.”
Anne addresses the cure for Mad Church Disease in relation to these areas of health. Heart. Soul. Strength. Mind.
While I struggle to put out the daily fires of my personal burnout, Anne’s perspective is helping me to look at the long-term cure.
Thank you Anne Jackson.
Mad Church Disease, by Anne Jackson, is being published by Zondervan and is due out in January 2009. This book is a very easy and quick read, but I think will really be proven after multiple reads.
I recommend this book for anyone doing “Christian work”. Whether for insight on burnout you might be experiencing, or just to become aware of this burnout and ways you can facilitate unity in your church.
You can read a sample chapter at www.madchurchdisease.com.
Check it out!
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4 comments on "Mad Church Disease | A book review"
1
mike,
thank you so much for the review! i am so excited that god used some of the principles i’ve learned in the last year to help. i appreciate you taking the time to read this!
2
I certainly appreciate the opportunity!
I think those later sections will really help give me some focus as try to process “where I’m at” going forward.
Thank you.
3
Being from the Pacific Northwest, check out Mark Driscoll – Mars Hill Church in Seattle. He’s using every technical means possible. He also exposes the incredible stupidity often apparent in Christianity all the while proclaiming the truth of Christ’s love, forgiveness and enabling power to live the life of a Christ follower.
4
oops – I need to clarify that bit about stupidity! What I meant was he exposes the often stupid behaviour and thinking patterns of SOME christians – inluding SOME christian leaders. Hope that clarifies it.