Product Description

Many people find themselves asking, "Is this it?" "We all read about the life Jesus describes and are painfully aware that our lives don't match his words," says Vince Antonucci, a disarmingly funny and edgy pastor. Raised by a Jewish mother and abandoned by his professional poker-playing father, Antonucci found Jesus at age twenty after studying the New Testament. When he finally went to church, he was disappointed to discover a "boring, stale religion." Through provocative storytelling and raw honesty, Antonucci unearths the life Jesus lived and wants us to experience, challenging us to move past spiritual boredom into a faith that's exciting, beautiful, and powerful. Recommended for all Christians thirsty for a fresh perspective on Christianity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #291970 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780801068188
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
In this ultimately disappointing book, Antonucci, a Virginia-based pastor, criticizes the superficial subculture of American Christianity. Antonucci's working assumption is that many Christians are actually disenchanted by their spiritual lives and wonder why they don't have the abundant life Jesus promised. The solution to this deadening state of affairs? Christians need to shake loose the trite trappings of Christian-speak and get back to the adventure of faith. Antonucci takes aim at some of the beloved shibboleths of evangelicalism, suggesting, for example, that instead of talking about having a relationship with Jesus, Christians should worry about whether (as per John 15) they abide in Jesus. Some of his turns of phrase are thought provoking, as when he urges readers to be the good news before they worry about sharing it. But his autobiographical vignettes go on too long, and his message—that the Bible asks us not to behave well or even to believe in Jesus, but to follow him—is not greatly different from many Christian-living books. Too often, Antonucci replaces the clichés he disdains with more platitudes. On prayer: spending large quantities of quality time with God—face-to-face will make believers glow. In short, this book promises more than it delivers. (Feb.)
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From the Inside Flap
EXCERPT FROM CATALOG I don't think people who lived in the Bible times had it easy, but at least when Jesus said, "Follow me" they could see the guy. You knew whether you were following him or not because ... "Whoa, there goes Jesus!" He'd be off somewhere and you'd still be eating your cheese fries (because chili cheese fries hadn't been invented yet--man, they had it rough) and you'd realize, "Whoops, I guess I didn't follow." I think in many ways those of us who live today have it easier, but following an invisible guy can be tricky. . . . . I decided to look at the original followers of Jesus in the Bible. I was still a little annoyed with them, because they had the advantage of getting the non-invisible Jesus, but I hoped maybe I could learn something. What did it look like for them to follow Jesus? Did following Jesus lead them to obedience and morality? Yes. But was it more than that? Way more. It's wacky. People follow Jesus into a storm your momma would have made you come in from. People give up everything and leave their jobs to follow Jesus. . . . Jesus says that to follow is to serve. . . . People stop following Jesus in droves because it's too weird, or too scary. . . . Everywhere I looked, it seemed like following Jesus led people to be astonished and afraid. . . . Jesus was constantly on the move. He had an agenda. And following him meant you would be going where he was going and doing what he was doing. Following Jesus is a long obedience in all different directions.

From the Back Cover
"Some people have something worth saying, but they're as boring as the phone book. Other people are interesting, maybe even funny, but they are a few cards short in the deck of meaning. Vince is one of those rare pastors and writers who is both hilarious and substantial, and his faith isn't just a T-shirt: it's in his bones and marrow."--Brian D. McLaren, author (brianmclaren.net)

"I Became a Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt is the funniest and most sincere spiritual growth book I've ever experienced. If you've never known the joy of walking with Christ, Vince's humor will entertain you as the truth of God's love will melt you. This book will grab you from the first page and won't let go until you're closer to Jesus. Vince's writing is hauntingly authentic, gut-wrenchingly funny, and profoundly spiritual. I had no idea I could laugh so hard, be moved so deeply, and crave Jesus more and more--all from reading one book."--Craig Groeschel, founding and senior pastor, LifeChurch.tv; author, Chazown

"I don't want to hear the same truths regurgitated in the same ways over and over again. Tell me something I don't know. Challenge the way I think. Make me look in the mirror. And call me to a more Christ-centered life. I like Vince Antonucci for all of those reasons. His is a fresh voice in a world of tired ideas. This book will make you laugh and make you think. It will also make you reexamine your life. If you're serious about trading in your souvenir religion for authentic spiritual passion, this book is a must read."--Mark Batterson, lead pastor, National Community Church; author, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day

"Vince Antonucci is a powerful new voice for what it means to live an authentic Christian life today. He vividly describes a spiritual life filled with honesty, joy, humor, and conviction. Vince challenges us to stop trivializing our faith and pursue Jesus wholeheartedly. This book is a breath of fresh air!"--Jud Wilhite, senior pastor, Central Christian Church, Las Vegas; author, Stripped: Uncensored Grace on the Streets of Vegas

"I can't remember a time when I've been so encouraged and challenged by the same book. If you're serious about learning how to follow Jesus in the real world, you must read this."--Brian Jones, author, Second Guessing God

"Vince writes masterfully on his journey with Jesus and where it is taking him. He's a real deal kind of guy that I know and believe in. I loved it. I think we are seeing the emergence of a bright new author. This book is really good and is going to do a lot of good."--Bob Roberts Jr., founding pastor, NorthWood Church; author, Glocalization

"Refreshing, hysterical, insightful . . . real! Vince does a great job reminding those of us who have been around the church a long time to take a new look at it, to see it from a non-Christians perspective, to look at our 'Christian life' and ask, 'Would anyone want what we have?' It would be a great book to hand to a new Christian. His practical look at what a 'true' relationship with Jesus really looks like would save many a new believer from years of 'stumbling around' trying to figure it all out."--Jim Putman, senior pastor, Real Life Ministries; author, Church Is a Team Sport

"In I Became a Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt, Vince Antonucci gives an uplifting, insightful, and helpful recall of why following Jesus is worth all we have to give."--Doug Pagitt, pastor, Solomon's Porch; author, A Christianity Worth Believing

"A church without this book is like a kitchen without a church key (a.k.a. bottle opener): faith gets still and functional rather than sparkling and fun.It's amazing! It's funny! It's a total God-thing! As Vince tells us his own story he also challenges us to live a life more authentically and fully following Christ. This is a book that will entertain you, inspire you, and help you experience everything God has for you. Read it and share it with a friend."--Dave Ferguson, lead pastor, Community Christian Church / NewThing Network

"Vince Antonucci's personality comes through in his writing; as a person and as an author he is both refreshing and challenging. This book entertains and captivates, I found myself laughing out loud as I read, but more importantly this book will convict, even dare you to take a fresh look at how you see your faith."--Kyle Idleman, teaching minister, Southeast Christian Church

"Vince Antonucci is one of the most riveting communicators I know. At every opportunity, he speaks passionately and convincingly about the church's role in reaching people far from God . . . because he was one. As you read this book, you won't stop laughing at Vince's twisted view of the world, at least until he nails you in the forehead with a life-disturbing truth. This book will transform Christian culture, and I'll be one of the first to take off my T-shirt."--Ben Arment, pastor, Reston Community Church

"Raucously humorous, Vince takes you on a journey toward authentically following Christ in a way that will have you laughing out loud one moment, then pondering biblical truth in a surprisingly fresh way the next. You won't put it down."--John Burke, author, No Perfect People Allowed

Customer Reviews

Lousy t-shirt a rare find!
I think that this is Vince's first book, and after reading "I became a Christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" I hope that it is not his last. I was challenged over and over to rethink some of the assumptions that the church has made about itself over the years.

I know that there are a lot of people that have either grown up in church or become a Christian only to find that the experience was less than fulfilling. Vince uses a lot of funny stories to remind us that God cares about people, and that following Jesus will lead us to an adventure.

If you are ready for the life Jesus really promised, not the one on the sidelines watching others live, (or want to know what that life is really like) then this book will be a joy. As a minister I appreciated Vince's honesty more then anything, this is not another "Hey look at me" book.

This book tops a lousy t-shirt
I read the reviews on this book before buying it for myself and thought the reviews must have been submitted by Mr. Antonucci's friends -- that the book couldn't be that good. Nope, it is that good! Guess you could conclude that the reviews were more than a tease (forgive the lousy pun).

Refreshing
Vince hits a home run in his first book! I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to know how faith in Jesus can be so impactful. I've traveled the globe with Vince - he's real deal and what he writes is straight from the heart and relevant to all of us especially the church today. Keep livin' it Vince and writin' about it - bobby g - author Transformation, Glocalization, & The Multiplying Church.