Customer Reviews

Jesus with Dirty Feet: A Down-to-Earth Look at Christianity for the Curious & Skeptical

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ok, let me get this out of my system. The purpose of this book is not to prove any theological point, to explain the actions of whatever group at whatever time, blah blah blah, etc etc etc.
The purpose of this book, as Mr. Everts said while speaking one of the many times I've heard him speak, this book's purpose was to take all the stereotypes of who Jesus and Christianity is, throw them away, go back to the beginning and explain them without theological dogmas getting in the way. For example, I love Everts' comment on the church. His general statement is that calling a church a building is the same thing as calling a Christian a two by four. Explination, through the years people have twisted and labeled parts of Christianity to the point where Churches are building where people go on Sunday, but if we take a look at what the Bible teaches, the church a bunch of Christians; a.k.a. the body of Christ.
Now, you also have to understand Everts' target audience. Though this book is great for pretty much anyone, it's intended focus was college kids who have dismissed Christianity for what they think it is rather than what it is.
Now that that's clear, let me say that this is a wonderful book. As almost everyone else has said, is a short book with a style of writing where you can easily fly through this book in a day or two, if that.
When I was in college, I was in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. A couple of our attendee's were dorm R.A.'s, and they would buy boxes of this book and everyday set one in every stall of the dorm bathrooms or give one to every student on their floor. The response was amazing.
In the end, this book is excellent while being very inexpensive. Buy one. If you don't like it, give it away. Not every seed grows in every soil. It might do nothing for you, but change the life of another.

The title says it all. This book is a down-to-earth, logical look at the life of Jesus. He was a real guy!! Its simplistic approach makes the truths about Jesus very clear. Many times people misunderstand who Jesus is and why he came. Since this book is written in a very easy-to-understand way, it is a great book for those who are curious and questioning their beliefs. It is great reading for Christians, also. It really made me think about Jesus in a different, more approachable way, and it also helped me realize that Christianity isn't about falling asleep in the back pew, it's about love and faith. I greatly recommend this book to any and all who want a unique and real perspective of who Jesus really is, and what Christianity is all about.

I read this book after hearing Don Everts speak at a weekend conference. He is a challenging speaker to say the least, calling Christians to not play the "two inch Olympics" game by patting ourselves on the back for doing the basics but to do more, to listen for the voice of God and do what He asks.

As for Jesus with Dirty Feet -- this book isn't meant to answer all the deep, tough theological questions about Jesus. Nor is it meant to answer the question of why people use the Bible to excuse their bad behavior (i.e. the Crusades, or slavery). Those questions, for the most part, are answered in the fact that people are selfish and it is easy to take things out of context to fulfill one's selfish desires.

Jesus with Dirty Feet is a book meant to introduce you to the bare bones of who Jesus was -- not the excuse for genocide and slavery, etc. -- and to realize that Jesus wasn't born floating six inches off the ground peering hatefully down on humanity. Getting the basics right allows for the deeper questions to be answered without the prejudice of preconceived notions. When I purchased the book we were offered two copies for the price of one and given the challenged to give our second copy to a non-Christian who was curious or skeptical -- this book is a great door-opener and is wonderful for prompting discussion.

This is a wonderful little book that packs a punch and delivers exactly what it promises. "Jesus with dirty feet" is a down to earth look at Christianity. This little book burns through two thousand years of "stuff"(I deliberately used that word) to get back to what this whole thing is all about and how simple it is(not easy but simple). Thank you Don Everts for a refreshing and totally accessable look Christianity. What this book does not promise is the answer to all your theological questions and 2000 years of church history. This book is less than 100 pages long and the demands of another reviewer were a little unfair. Wonderful book for post-modern folks. A must read, I'm on my fifth.

This book tears at years of lies and myths concerning Jesus and his ministry. It magnifies the simplicity of Jesus' life and message. This book is a great introduction to Jesus for non-Christians and a refreshing read for believers. One can read this book in just a few hours, and the words are in a prose form making it an easy read. It is also really cheap, so there is really no excuse for people to not read this book. I promise that no one who reads this book will be disappointed and left without an opinion.

Jesus with Dirty Feet is a phenomonal look at Christ without sterotypes and preconceived ideas that modern day society places on Christianity and Jesus himself.

The book provides a captivating and provocitive look at who Jesus is, what he came here for and what he had to say about himself, life and God.

Everts wrote the book using sense lines which made reading the book very pleasurable, and this style also added the simplicity needed to break down some very deep topics.

I have been a Christian for many years and found something new and different about this book and Everts unencumbered perceptions of Christ.

I am a Singer/Songwriter, and I liked the book so much I was inspired to write a song about it! That is powerful stuff!

Jennifer Hill

I recently listened to Don Everts speak at a CHIC, a national Covenant youth conference, and he was wonderful. In a matter of minutes he had compared Jesus to tofu, a warhead candy, and a moose. We treat Jesus like tofu; we eat it because it is good for us and not because we necessarily enjoy or like it. When he was alive he was treated kind of like a warhead candy. People got a slight taste of him and they either wanted to spit him out as fast they could or waited to learn more. Everts went on to talk about his intimate encounter with a moose in Colorado. He was awestruck, amused, scared, and amazed. He said we need to work on treating Jesus the same way, even though we love to treat in like tofu. I bought this book soon after listening to him speak and I loved it. I've grown up in a Christian home and I found myself wondering what am I really following? Who am I really following? This book was put into simple text and only took about an hour and a half to read. It helped me see through the thousand year old opinions and traditions that the church has created and the prepackaged Jesus that many of us are subjected to. I loved it, but it may not be for you. Everyone has a different way they like to learn and take in information. Good luck and enjoy.

Amanda (momentsnvrfade - aim)

The great value of this book is that it re-examines and portrays the bold, gritty, wild, fearless adventure that was the earth-life of Jesus Christ. If you are tired of the "stale crackers" "yawn-in-the-pews" approach of theological geniuses and know-it-alls of the last century or so, give this book a try. While it is no substitute for the original source material found in the Holy Bible and would be best read alongside Matthew, Mark, Luke, and/or John, I recommend "Jesus with Dirty Feet" to anyone desiring to encounter Christ in the Scriptures with fresh eyes.

As for the claim that this book contains "Moral evasion," I was puzzled by the hateful, hostile, vulgar tone of Mr. Mazza's review until I clicked on "more about me" to better understand his point of view. I am less puzzled now. In his own words, he describes himself as a

"'theological free agent.' I am an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church, an ultra-inclusive (one might say anarchic) denomination headquartered in Modesto, California."

He further states that his interests include satanism.

All of this has taught me a valuable lesson. In the future, if I read a review that seems equally hostile, I will look into the reviewer's background whenever possible.

Don Everts uses poetry and simplistic thought to explain the origin of the Christian faith in Jesus With Dirty Feet. Some readers might find the text of this book distracting, and I would agree. The words wander all over the page, moving in all directions and forms.

However, that doesn't take away from the beauty of Everts' words. The author strips away all of the religion and tradition of Christianity, looking at it with a fresh perspective. The result is a biography of Jesus minus the religious propaganda.

This book is directed at seekers trying to find out what Jesus is all about. It breaks down the history and origins of the Christian faith, giving just the basics, but still doing so beautifully. Great for anyone who is wanting to learn about Christianity.

What a wonderful little book! I have read it 5 or 6 times now and every time find myself saying, "yeah! that's right". Before you read this book it is important to know that it is only 96 pages, therefore, it is not going to answer all of your theological questions or clear up 2 thousand years of Christian history. But what this book promises, it delivers. A down-to-earth look at christianity. That is what I hear people wanting at my college campus. People want the church to be "real" and relavent. Some people may feel the book is too simple, I disagree, it was refreshingly "real". This book pulls us back to what is really important is Christianity....Christ.