Next Door Savior: Near Enough to Touch, Strong Enough to Trust [Hardcover]

Max Lucado (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 3, 2003

We applaud men for doing good things.

We enshrine God for doing great things.

But what about a man who does God things?

One thing is certain. We can't ignore him. If these moments are factual, if the claim of Christ is actual, then he was, at once, man and God.

The single most significant person who ever lived. Forget MVP. He is the entire league. The head of the parade? Hardly. No one else shares the street. Who comes close? Humanity's best and brightest fade like dime-store rubies next to him.

Dismiss him? We can't. Resist him? Equally difficult. Why would we want to?

Don't we need a God-man Savior? A just-God Jesus could make us, but not understand us. A just-man Jesus could love us, but never save us. But a God-man Jesus?

Near enough to touch. Strong enough to trust. A next door Savior.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

If Christian publishing phenomenon Lucado has been criticized for anything, it's for repeating the same basic themes in his books: Christ, his death on the cross and the grace and forgiveness offered to those who follow him. This latest doesn't deviate, but somehow manages to make these themes crisp and compelling. The essays, each built around an episode in the life of Jesus, are often unabashedly poignant, at times humorous and always hopeful. Lucado's unique retellings cast Jesus as a compassionate personal friend who isn't put off by anyone's past mistakes. In one essay, Jesus urges a reluctant Matthew (the tax collector) not to ditch his old acquaintances, while Matthew argues "But Jesus, these guys... half of them are on parole. Josh hasn't worn socks since his Bar Mitzvah...." A reach-for-the-hanky story portrays Jesus as "The Trashman," willing to take the burdens of others on himself. Throughout this book-as he has in others-Lucado explores the paradox of Jesus as both fully human and fully divine: "Midwifed by a carpenter. Bathed by a peasant girl. The maker of the world with a bellybutton. The author of the Torah being taught the Torah." Lucado clearly portrays God's love, forgiveness and concern about the smallest details, "for even though he is in heaven, he never left the neighborhood." Solidly grounded in Scripture, drenched in the trademark Lucado anecdotes that have endeared him to legions of fans, this book may be his best in a decade.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

". . . crisp and compelling. . . . this book may be his best in a decade."
-- Publishers Weekly (Publisher's Weekly ) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; First Edition edition (September 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849917603
• ISBN-13: 978-0849917608
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,145,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In just under two decades of writing, Max Lucado has accomplished more than most writers hope for in a lifetime. Most of his books have appeared on one or more best seller lists, including those published by the "New York Times," "USA Today," "Publishers Weekly," and the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA). Aside from hardcover books, Lucado's writings have also been published as children's books, videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, music CDs, mass paperback booklets, apparel, giftware, bookmarks, calendars, study Bibles, workbooks, curricula, and plush products. In spring 2003, Hallmark/Dayspring Cards launched a new gift card line featuring excerpts from Lucado's writings--and has already sold more than one million cards.

All this success has drawn more than a little attention to a previously low-profile Texas author and minister. Lucado has been featured in a wide range of media, including "USA Today," "Larry King Live," and "NBC Nightly News." He has spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast before the President of the United States. He has traveled with internationally renowned musicians as a special speaker on their music tours, such as the highly successful "Come Together & Worship Tour" (sponsored by Chevrolet) with Grammy Award-winning artists Michael W. Smith and Third Day.

Journey to the Top
Lucado was born in 1955 in San Angelo, Texas, and raised in Andrews, Texas, the youngest of four children. His father was an Exxon oil field mechanic who, Lucado remembers, always smelled of grease cleaner. "It makes it easy for me to see a God who is loving and kind--because my dad was," he says. His mother was a nurse who grew up working in the cotton fields.

Lucado went through a period of rebellion against his parents' values and their God during his teens and into college. But it wasn't long before he found himself drawn back to his roots, back to God. He married, spent time serving as a missionary in Brazil, and returned to the States, where he began working as a church minister and writing on the side.

Secret to Success
From all accounts, Max Lucado is not a man consumed by sales, awards, and achievements. He often turns down media interviews since they impede on family and ministry commitments. He spends the bulk of his week serving as senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. And he is truly surprised by his own success--more impressed by his one-in-a-million wife and three amazing daughters than by his successful writing career.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Savored Slowly, February 14, 2004

By 

Robert Wynkoop (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Next Door Savior: Near Enough to Touch, Strong Enough to Trust (Hardcover)

Ok, I repent. I have never read a Max Lucado book before. Just about everyone I know has, but I found excuse after excuse to avoid reading them. In do not know why. Maybe I figured that I had more important, or more entertaining reading to do. But the truth be told, I have never been a big fan of devotional books. But then I received this book as a birthday present from two dear friends in my church and what a blessing it has been.

Lucado is a master of the English language. You will not find more beautiful prose written anywhere. It is simply beautiful. Lucado takes a look at the life of Christ as if Christ is your neighbor next door. Thus, the book has a contemporary feeling. We are not reading about something that happened in ancient times, but we are learning how the living Christ is working in the world around us. Not only is this a well-written book, it is an insightful book as well. The author has a way of looking at well know verses in a fresh new way. And yes, he even gave me insight to Scripture that I had overlooked. Written in short chapters, it lends itself to being read devotionally- one chapter per day. You cannot rush Lacado. It is not a quick read. It is too insightful, to beautiful to speed-read. This is one good book.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another wonderful book from Max, February 11, 2004

By 

C. S. Stockwell "math person" (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Next Door Savior: Near Enough to Touch, Strong Enough to Trust (Hardcover)

Max Lucado has a wonderful way of writing that makes you feel as if he were in the room talking to you. Through all his books, he's been able to show God's love for us in everyday English and modern situations. He is also not shy about using his own shortcomings as illustrations, which helps the reader see that he is very much a normal person, struggling with the same problems we all do. That's probably another reason why readers can connect with him. His self-deprecating sense of humour is absolutely charming as well. Often in his books I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
In reading his books, you get a sense that God isn't this all-distant being somewhere up in the sky. That, yes, God is almighty and just, far above our ability to comprehend, but at the same time, as near as your next door neighbour from whom you can borrow a cup of sugar. In that sense, this book is aptly named.
I loved the story in here about meeting President Bush. Wouldn't you know it, they're practially neighbours... :-)
As far as the discussion guides are concerned, if you've seen his last few books, they all have them, so it shouldn't be that big of a surprise. I imagine if small groups get together to read this book, it provides a starting point for their conversation. Hey, some books have study guides that are separate, and you have to pay extra for them! So this is a two-for-one. Good deal, huh.
The mailbox on the cover? Well, I confess I'm not quite sure how the British get their post - mail slots at the house, perhaps - haven't been there in a long while. But many American neighbourhoods have mailboxes in front of the driveway, so I imagine it's to invoke the image of the neighbourhood.
Anyway, this is a book well worth reading. It's quick reading too, and like most of his books, you walk away feeling comforted somehow.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book I Can't Finish, March 23, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Next Door Savior: Near Enough to Touch, Strong Enough to Trust (Hardcover)

I have been reading this book for a while, but I cannot finish it because I keep starting over from the beginning. Every chapter makes me feel great about God's love for us. It is my first Max Lucado book, but not my last. I recommend for everyone especially new Christians it brings Jesus to our neighborhood.