Product Description

Looking for delightful and heartwarming stories that present familiar spiritual truths in new and insightful ways? Then you'll definitely enjoy this collection of brief parables in the form of humorous letters sent to Pastor Mike from a fictional parishioner. The letters chronicle a five-year timeframe in the life of the small town of Maybe,Michigan, the bucolic home of such colorful establishments as the Busy Bee Caf?, Thelma's Cut-n-Curl, and America's first Refrigerator Magnet Museum.

Following a folksy formula reminiscent of Garrison Keillor's News from Lake Wobegon, the homespun letters report on the people and rhythms of everyday life in a typical small town. You'll share in events like graduations, county fairs, and weddings, and see how they offer a subtle yet compelling platform for examining universal themes of community, faith, and relationship. Each letter is linked to a scripture passage, and engages listeners with an easygoing, conversational tone.

The uplifting and captivating material in Letters From Maybe can also be used in a variety of pastoral settings. The letters can be read from the pulpit as a pleasant change of pace, and they make excellent meditations or meeting starters for small groups and retreats. Convenient topic and scripture indexes are included so that you can easily locate a letter relating to a specific subject.

Topics covered include:

? Discipleship

? Miracles

? Acceptance

? Gossip

? Generosity

? Persistence

? Forgiveness

? Companionship

? Loyalty

? Deceit

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #733189 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 228 pages

About the Author
Michael Pearson is currently the Director of Connectional Ministries for the United Methodist Church's Desert Southwest Annual Conference. He previously pastored several congregations in Arizona and Michigan. Pearson has led workshops throughout the United States on church planting and advertising for growth, and he is one of the directors for the General Board of Global Ministries Development Fund. He is a graduate of Albion College, Michigan State University, and United Theological Seminary.

Customer Reviews

Great to keep in the bathroom
Okay, maybe you don't keep books in the bathroom, but this one should be kept there! I am always looking for something to read (I'm a male) and this book is perfect! It is complete with short letters written by fictional parishioners. Rev. Pearson must have a heck of a sense of humor. If you are looking for some light reading that will make you chuckle and want to share the stories, then this is a great book for you!

Vacation in "Maybe!"
I must confess...that I love the quirky, vulnerable, fallible citizens of "Maybe." They're our everyday selves cast in a slightly less-worldly light, in a somewhat gentler locale. When I read Elizabeth's letters I feel temporarily transported to a sweeter location, and I experience a deep desire to find a comfy front porch on which to sit and greet my neighbors... "Letters From Maybe" reminds me how comforting it is to confide in a friend, and how much meaning there can be in a simple gesture. Pastor Mike's uniquely humorous collection is one you'll savor, and want to revisit again and again.

Heartwarming Stories
I enjoyed these stories very much. In style, they reminded me a lot of Philip Gulley's "Front Porch Tales", although I didn't think they were quite as good overall. The stories are humorous, feel-good ones, and they can be read as the basis for daily or periodic devotionals. I definitely recommend this book.