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Earlier this year I was asked to participate in a blog tour and review of the book “Picking Dandelions:  A Search for Eden Among Life’s Weeds” by Sarah Cunningham.

I’m hesitant to agree to a lot of reviews because my desk is already covered in book, resource, and CD/DVD reviews from publishers and record labels.  Hat’s off to a couple of websites with decent traffic, I suppose.

For whatever reason, I agreed and the book arrived shortly thereafter.  After reading through the entire book I would summarize it with words that my wife would use … it’s a “feel good” book.

You know, one of those books that just makes you feel good.  You connect.  You identify.

Sarah takes us on a journey of her life (much of which is still to be lived) and her experiences growing up in this life as a Christian.  I found myself laughing at the stories she tells as I could so easily identify with them.  I love her use of stories and humor.

Ultimately, this book is about identifying the bad and recognizing the good.  It came at a perfect time for me as the word “gratitude” has been stamped on my spirit for 2010.  Over and over, God is teaching me to be grateful and reminding me of how much I should be grateful.

Sarah, in a true display of authenticity and vulnerability, shares her own flaws and hangups.  She takes us on a journey through life with unexpected twists and turns.

For the “churched” – you can truly relate.  If we are not experiencing a tension of how to be “in the church” and how to “be the church” and “do the stuff” that Jesus tells us to do … we aren’t living.  Sarah lives this out in print and takes us through her own journey of “christian-dom” and how it has blessed her, and how it has frustrated her.

As I spoke to Sarah after reading the book she couldn’t help but ask about my perspective as a man.  It seems the book may have been unintentionally targeted to women.  My response?  Everything I read connects to me as a man.  I feel the same frustrations.  I have the same flaws.  I have the overwhelming need to find the good in life, and need help and reminders to do so.  Not to mention, I like an easy read that puts my soul at rest.

I hope you’ll checkout the book here on Amazon.Com.

In the meantime, I’ve invited Sarah to stop by and field some of your questions.

How do deal with the “weeds” in your life?  How do you focus on the good, and not the bad?
How do you think the church is doing with “outward ministry” – meaning, beyond the 4 walls of our structures?
What is the biggest change that God is taking you through at the moment?  Be vulnerable.  Be authentic, and share.

Let the conversation begin.