I consider this to be one of my reading highlights in the last two years. Burke is masterful in his ability to provide compelling anecdotes from his church ministry in Austin, Texas. Further more he articulates the cultural trends noted by Richard Florida’s The Rise of the Creative Class. Most importantly, however, is the fact that he brings a wonderful intellect to the writing of the book and supports it with research from scholarly sources. Dan Kimball may be the apostle of the emerging church movement, but John Burke should be recognized as the Dean.

Burke’s brings a pastor's heart to the culture mix found in Austin, a city whose motto is “keep it weird.” We might think that people from broken homes, childhood abuse, drug additions, and alternative life styles are not found in our community or aren’t attracted to our churches. The majority of those seeking spiritual experiences now and those interested in joining a church have not been raised in a church from their youth. 

In particular I want to recommend chapters 7-9. Chapter 8 is remarkable in its approach. The author reaches out to homosexuals and lesbians in a loving, Christlike manner and yet adheres to Biblical principals. Chapters 7 and 9 likewise have great insights into proclaiming God's message in a culture that embraces multiple truths and multiple religions. You can win the battle with the best arguments, but lose the war through a lack of loving relationships. In our present culture relationships often hold greater weight than sound arguments and solid reasoning. We have a wonderful message to proclaim about our relationship with Jesus Christ. Once that relationship is demonstrated, the truth can follow.

Comments by Terry B. Ewell, August 2007