Lucky: How the Kingdom Comes to Unlikely People [Paperback]

Glenn Packiam (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2011

Glenn Packiam redefines the word lucky in the context of Jesus’ beatitudes in Luke’s Gospel.

 

Lucky uncovers how the poor, hungry, mourning and persecuted are blessed because the Kingdom of heaven—its fullness, comfort, and reward—is theirs in spite of their condition. This is Christ’s announcement: the Kingdom of God has come to unlikely people.

 

Like the people Jesus addressed, we are called lucky not because of our pain or brokenness but because in spite of it, we have been invited into the Kingdom. The trajectory of our lives have been altered. What’s more, we now have a part in the future that God is bringing. Like Abraham, we have been blessed to carry blessing, to live as luck-bearers to the unlikely and unlucky.

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

I have just finished reading the book you are holding in your hands. And I’m feeling lucky. I’m feeling lucky to have spent a few hours in the company of a pastor who cares enough about the gospel of Jesus and the kingdom of God to take them seriously on their own terms, to respect their intergrity.” Eugene H. Peterson, professor emeritus of Spiritual Theology at Regent College

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

Glenn Packiam is executive pastor at New Life Church, where he oversees spiritual formation and serves as the teaching pastor for NewLifeSundayNight. Glenn is also the writer of several well-known worship songs including "Your Name" and "My Savior Lives." He is the author of Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith and Butterfly in Brazil: How Your Life Can Make a World of Difference. Glenn and his family live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434766381
• ISBN-13: 978-1434766380
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,166,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Glenn Packiam is an Executive Pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he oversees Spiritual Formation and serves as the teaching pastor for NewLifeSundayNight.

Glenn is the author of "Lucky: How the Kingdom Comes to Unlikely People" (David C. Cook, 2011), "Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith" (David C. Cook, 2009), and "Butterfly in Brazil: How Your Life Can Make a World of Difference" (Tyndale, 2007).

Glenn was also one of the founding leaders and songwriters for the Desperation Band and has been featured on several Desperation Band and NewLifeWorship recordings. His debut solo album, "Rumors and Revelations" released with Integrity Music in 2009. Glenn has written a few well-loved worship songs like "Your Name", "Everyone (Praises)", and "My Savior Lives."

What all this means is that Glenn talks with a lot of people, plays a lot of music, and drinks a lot of coffee. And all of that makes for a wonderful life. Glenn, his wife, Holly, their two daughters, Sophia and Norah, and their son, Jonas, are enjoying life in the shadow of the mighty Rocky Mountains.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Encouraging, Simple and Profound - we are Lucky to Have This Book, March 3, 2011

By 

Ryan Curnutt (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucky: How the Kingdom Comes to Unlikely People (Paperback)

You might not realize that a book simply called "Lucky" actually covers as much as this great book does. Reading "Lucky" made me recall my seminary days, as I rediscovered some of the essential truths about the Kingdom-focus of Jesus' message, something that we can so easily lose track of. For those who haven't been to Seminary, this book will be great exposure to parts of Jesus' message that, though often neglected, are essential to understanding God's work in creation. However, unlike my seminary professors, Packiam has the great ability to explain this simply and easily - without doing it any injustice.

More importantly, though, is that "Lucky" doesn't just expose its reader to lofty theological principals. Instead, it makes them real for our lives. Its main point is promise. There is so much to be hopeful for, so much to be grateful for - we are, after all, very lucky. Even if you are poor or lowly or rejected by the world's standards, God accepts you and blesses you. Further, being blessed - lucky - is a promise that changes the way we live. Since, the world's standards no longer matter, being lucky means that we can reject the world while still engaging it.

I recommend this warm and encouraging book. You will find it easy to read, but it is also deep and engaging. Most importantly, though, it teaches us directly from Scripture. "Lucky" reminds us of the central truths of Jesus message about the Kingdom, and those who belong in it (we, the unlikely).

*I recommend it both for individual reading or for a book study group.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brady Boyd, New Life Church, March 9, 2011

By 

Brady Boyd "Senior Pastor of New Life Church" (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lucky: How the Kingdom Comes to Unlikely People (Paperback)

This book is spectacular and from one of the best young writers I know. Read it and consider how God is involved with you and me when all is well and when all is broken. We are indeed a blessed people, a fortunate tribe, a lucky generation.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucky us, March 7, 2011

By 

JDH - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucky: How the Kingdom Comes to Unlikely People (Paperback)

Packiam has done a great job with this easy to read book based on Jesus' sermon on the plain from Luke 6. The main thesis is that God's kingdom comes to the most unlikely and unexpected people..namely, the poor, the hungry and those who weep.

Chapter 3, THE GOD-DEPENDENT, is absolutely brilliant and for me the best chapter the book.

The author makes so many great observations throughout the book, but I'll just mention two:

that all our efforts have limits(79-81).. that to hunger for God is.."much deeper than a craving for an experience. It is to meditate on Him, on His life and His words. It is to take Him into us so that we become what we eat." (103)

Highly recommended!