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God in the Alley: Being and Seeing Jesus in a Broken World

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A friend of mine reluctantly read this book, thinking it would make him feel guilty. I suppose a lot of us approach a book like this with mixed feelings, hoping to be challenged but scared of where that might take us.

The book is called God in the Alley, and the subtitle says a lot: it's about "being and seeing Jesus in a broken world." For those of us who are sheltered, we are introduced to unfamiliar places and people, not far from home but far from our experience. I'm introduced to the underside of a park in Toronto that I've visited many times, and I learn where the high-priced working girls offer their services, and where the low-rent girls work. We meet crackheads, prostitutes, and victims of unimaginable abuse. And, surprisingly, we meet Jesus in the lives of these broken people.

"That's what I want this book to be about: the cultivation of our ability to both be Jesus and to see Jesus," writes Greg Paul, "if only by a dim flickering light - the afterimage on the darkened retina of a momentary, brilliant burst." Those of us who think our lives are not all that bad might overestimate our abilities to be Jesus, but Paul challenges us: you can't be Jesus if you aren't truly seeing him.

"If I truly want to be present as Jesus was and is, I must choose to act in very specific ways. Theory, or doctrinal correctness, is not enough. Seeing Jesus is a discipline of stillness. If I really want to see him, I'll need to avoid being consumed by trying always to do things in his name, and I'll need to learn to be motionless, intent on beholding what is in front of me."

Being present involves not only breaking through the comfort of middle-class life. It also involves breaking "beyond the internal barriers I have erected to protect myself.

So we read stories. These stories are not sanitized or romanticized. There is a lot of messiness in this book, and surprisingly, the messiness shows up in the good guys like Paul just as much as it does in the sinners. Even more surprising, we meet Jesus in surprising people: in those who are broken and who have little going for them. In one of the most moving stories, we meet a modern-day version of the story of Hosea and Gomer. Jesus shows up in the most surprising places, and if we're not careful we'll miss seeing him there.

Greg Paul teaches us to see Jesus in people rather than to see people as projects. He offers hope that we, too, may be able to develop the skill of seeing Jesus, just as he has, and ultimately in being Jesus to the people that we meet.

Paul reflects that at one point, if he had been asked how to be the presence of Jesus, he would have talked about being pure and strong and faithful. Although these are important, Paul explains today that he would answer differently.

"I am more likely to have Jesus revealed to me and through me in weakness than in strength, sinfulness than in purity, or doubt than in perfect faithfulness....I come to this astonishing conclusion: Jesus is found in brokenness..."

"The surprise of this brokenness is not just that the Almighty allowed himself to be broken, and that he invites me to touch him there in that brokenness. It's also that my own brokenness - that hidden, ugly, twisted stuff that I had expected would disqualify me forever from his friendship, and that, if it were known, would torpedo all my other relationships too - is precisely the place where he desires to touch me, and it is the place where I am most able to truly connect with other people."

I began this book expecting that it would teach me about how to serve those the middle class usually ignores. I finished realizing that it did much more than that: it introduced me to my own brokenness, with the "most attractive cover" we can find to hide the mess underneath, and it introduced me to the presence of Jesus in some of the people we see as being most broken. It gave me hope that I, too, can be and see the presence of Jesus in a broken world.

Although Christians would not consider me to be a Christian, (because I also believe in the best of what other religions have to offer) nontheless, to me Greg Paul demonstrates what it takes to embody the "Spirit" of Christianity. Jesus didn't sit in a comfortable pew every Sunday. He was 'in the trenches' as Greg Paul and his staff are.

This book is a great read. It will get you thinking about what it must be like to live in the 'shadow' city areas. It may motivate you to ask yourself deeper questions as to fate and purpose and God? Why them? Why must this be? Where is God in all of this? How can I help?

The personalities described in this book along with their successes and failures, help us understand our common humanity - these were folks who once had dreams and hopes too (and some still do) - despite the fact that reality has faded their aspirations greatly. How could we cope in their place? How can these people still show an indomitable spirit to survive the madness and pain they are exposed to every day?

Buy this book. It is raw and real. People of all faiths (those who are open-minded) will find these true stories to be uplifting and encouraging (no candy-coated trite Bible verses).

Is it possible to demonstrate the highest of spiritual principles on the street? Greg Paul wrestles to understand the complexity of this question and writes honestly about this issue sharing his experiences, vulnerabilities and insights.

This short book is very relevant to all Christians today. It is a quick read but not easy. It is challenging and thought-provoking. I highly recommend this book.

If you love and follow Jesus pick this book up.
If you are curious as to why people might love and follow Jesus, pick this book up. If you don't care but just need a good laugh, a heart tug and cry, pick up this book.

Thank you Greg Paul for a wonderful little BIG book!
Great big thoughts and ideas in this one that will stay with me for a lifetime.

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. I had been bogged down with my seminary reading for the better part of the last 3 years, and while I absolutely love scholastic theology, I also understand the need for a practical application of the $30,000 worth of theological concepts that I learned in seminary. This book served as a great diversion from abstract, philosophical, theological perspectives and gave me a chance to walk with a real pastor through his journey "with" Jesus. You will need to read the book to get a full appreciation for what the author means when he uses the word "with." I guarantee he will challenge you to get "up and out" and to DO the work of the gospel. This book inspired me to get my hands back on the plow. Too much scholastic theology can make one stale and irrelevant. Though I keep constant watch on myself for relevance, one can get caught up in spewing rhetoric onto a page, and find oneself guilty of being a great articulator of biblical concepts, but a total failure at servanthood. Greg Paul is guilty of no such thing. Dare I quote the venerable Leonard Sweet who says of this book, "I dare you. No, I double dare you to read this book at more than one sitting." I'll say no more.

This book reminded me of "The Gutter" by Craig Gross. And like Craig's book, I couldn't put this book down. As I read it, I laughed and cried, but most of all, I was inspired. This book put into words the longing and aching of my own heart to see and show Jesus among the outcast and downtrodden of this world.

The book is not a book of deep theology, but through the stories and simple truths it contains, it reveals some of the deepest and simplest theology that exists: the power of presence (theologians call it "incarnation"). And the best place to experience the presence of God is among the sin, pain, and suffering of this world.

Another thing Greg reveals is that all of us have pain and sorrow, fear and regret. Therefore, it's not just the drug addicts, homeless, and prostitutes who need the love of Jesus. All of us need Jesus. And when we go to others in their life of pain and fear, sometimes Jesus shows up to speak into ours.

I don't re-read many books, but this will be one I read again.

Great book that was simple and sincere. Greg Paul just tells his story and what he's learned. I wish more could write this way. Very humble and a good read.