Took advantage of some down time today to finish reading The Passionate Church by Mike Breen and Walt Kallestad. Took me 2-3 weeks to read through it (trying to get into the practice of reading at least one chapter of a book a day, preferably two).

I'd have to say that I have mixed emotions around this book. I absolutely love the way that Breen has taken concepts of what it means to be a disciple of Christ and processed them into a visual format. The LifeShapes found throughout the book are easily understood, for the most part, and equally easy to communicate to others. I think this is probably the best method of discipleship that I have seen in my life, and something that would be a great tool for churches and Christians to use in going out and making disciples.

Some chapters were simply incredible. I went back through when I had finished and evaluated the LifeShapes according to the impact that they had on me and how powerfully they were communicated. The book started strong for me, and ended strong for me, with a few chapters in the mix that just didn't deliver.

The one thing that I will have to say is that the book felt neutered to me. Some of the concepts, and the overall nature of the book, feels like it is more provocative and revolutionary in its approach than it comes across as. Knowing a little behind the people and situation surrounding the book, my suspicion is that the publisher had a hand in watering it down to make it more palpable for a greater market.

That being said, Breen and Kallestad do a great job of communicating within the parameters that they are given and there are truly shining moments and concepts that I believe will alter how I step forward from this day forward as a Disciple of Christ and a Disciple Maker.

I'd recommend this book as a good steady read for someone looking for 'something more' from what they perceive the Church should be.