Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace [Paperback]

Anne Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2010

Permission to Speak Freely is the unique project which brings to light the original intent a sanctuary as a place of help and healing.

Told with disarming transparency, Anne shares what led to her own addictions and the ensuing lifestyle that left her wounded and withdrawn, but ultimately rescued and redeemed. She includes dramatic stories of others who also learned to abandon their fear, pride, and masks; to identify their hurts; and to find the courage to speak freely.

Their confessions, submitted as mixed media pieces, photography, and sketches, were collected from people across the world, and are included throughout the book.

Endorsements:

Arranged in the format of essays, poetry, and artistic rendering of "confessions," this short but compelling book is written within the context of Jackson's Christian faith.  She states up front that this is not a self-help book.  Still, anyone who struggles with isolating secrets may find hope and consolation in her story of redemption and freedom. Her message, "You are not alone," is powerful. - Sacramento Book Review

Anne's book is a gift to anyone who reads it. She opens the door to freedom and restoration by engaging readers in story, 'user-generated' art, and biblical truth. We're reminded that confession is the key--while making it clear: the church simply must be a safe place for this to happen. - Nick Purdy, Paste Magazine



"Anne Jackson tells the truth in such a way you can hear it. She is an objective journalist, and as such an endangered species. She's living proof that the truth, if stated clearly and objectively, can be fascinating." - Donald Miller
, Author, Blue Like Jazz

"In a day where so many of us are quick with our answers, Anne is saying that the questions matter, and that perhaps we're loved by a God who can handle our questions, can handle our messes. And perhaps we're called to meet each other in these broken places. This book is an invitation to honesty and freedom, and to the possibility that we've been created to be truly loved and truly known."
 - Jamie Tworkowski, 
Founder, To Write Love on Her Arms



Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jackson's 2008 blog query-"What is one thing you feel you can't say in church?"-evoked huge response and birthed a Web site that became this book, whose purpose is "to show you that you're not alone in your battle with fear and secrets." Jackson doesn't pull punches when she talks about fear, brokenness, and confession. "When you confess something that's shattered in your life,... you're acknowledging that you need the Cross" is the typical forthright statement you'll find here. One of Jackson's best "permissions" is what she calls the "Gift of Going Second," when you confess or reveal something first, which allows others the freedom to follow in candor, giving a gift that keeps moving forward. Included are pages of full-color, confessional artwork submitted to her by mail or blog, as well as her heartfelt encouragement to "step up and confess-not only the bad, but confess the good and noble as well." This is a pointed, much needed glimpse at the toughness of life and at the grace and goodness that can come when one person speaks freely.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap

"There is redemption and freedom that occurs when darkness is forced into the light, sometimes disguised as awkwardly spoken words. Somebody is waiting on you to tell your story. To share how you're being rescued. To share how scary it is but how beautiful it is. So take a step. Confess the beautiful and broken. It happens one word at a time." -- Anne Jackson

In the voice of an engaging but battle-scarred friend, Anne Jackson questions a church culture that "sacrifices the beauty of confession and brokenness for religious trappings and the malady of perfectionism." Read through the poems, essays, stories and confessions in this book and join Anne on this journey. It's time to face our fears. It's time to live in a community of healing confession. It's time to move past shame and into hope. It's time we had permission to speak freely.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 194 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849945992
• ISBN-13: 978-0849945991
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (146 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,541 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Anne Jackson has written two books, Mad Church Disease - Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic (Zondervan, February 2009) and Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace (Thomas Nelson, August 2010).

She is currently writing a third book to be published with Thomas Nelson in early 2014.

Anne speaks internationally at colleges, conventions and churches on issues like social justice, sexuality, health, addiction, and general Biblical themes of grace and restoration. She has traveled around the United States and to 18 countries telling the stories of hope found in least likely places.

Since 1999, Anne has been communicating for and with corporations, non-profits, faith-based organizations and publishing giants. In addition to her position as a bi-weekly columnist for Relevant Magazine, she has written features for publications such as Cosmopolitan, Leadership Journal, Christianity Today, Neue, Reject Apathy, Youth Worker Journal, Outreach Magazine, PurposeDriven.com, ChurchLeaders.com, The United Methodist Reporter, and BeliefNet.com.

Anne hasn't always been just a writer. For three years in the late 90s, she managed a profitable bookstore. She then took a year to learn the ins-and-outs of non-profit budget analysis. When she realized math was her arch-nemesis, she jumped into the world of communication, first as a marketing and business development associate for a top-50 dot.com and then as a graphic communications designer and ad copywriter. In 2003, she took her first ministry position and spent six years on staff at various churches in communication, technology and project management roles. In 2009, Anne left her steady paycheck and health insurance behind and currently desires to help as many people as possible as a freelance writer, strategy consultant, and all-around Jill of Most Trades. Anne has helped raise over $2 million dollars for various non-profit organizations and she'd like to help you, too.

Anne has partnered with:

Zondervan Publishing (author)
Thomas Nelson Publishing (author, copy editor, Bible contributor)
Baker Books (developmental editor)
The Youth Cartel (managing editor)
Seth Godin (eBook contributor, copy editor)
Blood:Water Mission (copywriter)

... and many other people and organizations ranging from human resource firms to real estate investors to advertising and new media agencies to churches to her friends and even her little brother.

Anne is an advocate for Compassion International and Blood:Water Mission. She was a cyclist on the 2010 Ride:Well Tour, a cross-country cycling tour in Summer 2010. The two-month long, 3000 mile trip from San Diego to Myrtle Beach raised awareness and funds for water projects in Africa. She's also a big fan of The Mentoring Project and To Write Love on Her Arms.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Raw, Tender, Lovely, Provocative August 5, 2010

By O. Brown HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

*****
This new book by author Anne Jackson should be read by every Christian who is concerned about being real, and who is concerned about the church--even if, especially if you've been wounded by and/or alienated by the church. The subtitle of this book is "Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace"--the book revolves around the fear that we all have, the blessing that confession (speaking the truth) can be, and the grace that God offers us, especially in relationship with others.

But this is not a typical Christian self-help book, which I think is its strength. It is an amalgamation of art, stories (including many from the author's own life), poetry, and more. Reading it delivers an experience of feeling that can be rare sometimes in the Christian world--the feeling that we can be real, we can be who we are, we can say how we really and truly feel (yes, all of it) and it is okay, even good. It sort of gives you permission to feel. To be. To receive love from God and from others. This is hard to describe in a review. Most of all this book delivers a wonderful experience, like taking a bath in God's love and grace.

The book reminds me in some ways of the PostSecret books by Frank Warren, and the art is similar in that it is confessional and real. But this book is Christian, and it includes lots of text (unlike the PostSecret books) in the form of short chapters, poetry, confessional autobiography, and lessons the author has learned--the latter is my favorite part of the book. I found it slightly disorganized (not a bad thing in this case) and profound. I loved it!

I have recently recommitted my life to Christ and returned to the church and found this to be a healing balm for my soul. In my return, I'd been concerned about losing the authenticity I've gained in my life away from the church, and was not sure how to be a Christian and still be loving instead of legalistic and judgmental (as I'd been in the past when I attended church). This book helped me greatly.

The ideal reader for this book is the Christian who feels broken or tired or muzzled or hyper-conforming or hidden or numb or frustrated or lonely or isolated. If you feel this way, this is the book for you. It is based on Scripture, but not filled with references; it is not a theology book. It is also not for people who want to be told what to do (as in "Six Ways to Feel Better Fast", for example). It does include occasional adult themes and language, but in an appropriate manner with the purpose of the book--I did not find anything in this book offensive.

Highly, highly recommended.
*****

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent sophomore release from Anne Jackson August 13, 2010

By Benji Zimmerman

Format:Paperback

In 2009 Anne Jackson a popular blogger released her first book, Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic, with the intent of providing a how-to-guide to help church leaders, pastors and volunteers from becoming burnout with church work. Although I loved the book and wrote a rave review I felt as though Anne's desire was not to provide a how-to-guide but rather to tell her story of burnout. Somewhat successful her book sold well but struck a nerve with older church leaders who felt her thirty years of life was not enough experience to speak to the subject of burnout.

What I feel Anne wanted to share but failed to communicate in Mad Church Disease is beautifully portrayed and profoundly written in her sophomore release, Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace. The book is built on the premise of one question written on her blog in 2008: "What is the one thing you feel you can't say in the church?" Instead of copying the likes of the Post Secret community, Anne dives deep into her own personal story and exposes the hurt, burnout and pain she suffered through years of love/hate relationship between her, the church and church people.

Motivated by honesty and humility this book is ripe with grace, forgiveness and truth. PTSF is fantastic read for anyone who has been hurt by the church or church people, it is an excellent reminder that confession of sin has the power to transform and the gift of forgiveness empowers us to move on. Each of us has our own story, while reading PTSF one can not help but identify with Anne's story in one way or another.

"And so I began to wonder. Can a book actually change the world? My gut feeling? No. Book's can't. But people can." (pg. 183 PTSF) I believe in her book Mad Church Disease Anne's heart was to help people change, she wrote a book with steps to do that, honestly I don't think it helped as much as she had hoped. A few years and experiences later, Anne has come to place where five steps to avoiding burnout give way to the power of the human story. All of us want to learn how to change and be better, but somewhere along the way we skip steps and forget the principles. However, when someone stands up in the dark corners of the world where our deepest hurts, habits and hang-ups lurk and says "I have been there," those are the people we are drawn too, those are the people that give us permission to say what is hidden deep in our souls. Anne Jackson doesn't need to give you permission to speak freely, but when you finish reading her book, you will definitely find yourself in a place where confession gives way to transformation.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My Wife Stole My Book, Loved It, and Wrote a Review! August 24, 2010

By John M. Alexander VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Anne simply asks the question, "what is the one thing you feel you can't say in the church?" From page one the book enters into her story and her pain and experience with the church. In the midst of a very explicit and relatable story comes poems, pictures, and confessions of the people who answered this very question.

Anne forces and enables the conversation of why the church is a place that people feel they need to hide who they are. Why do we hide our secrets from a place that we feel should be "safe?" Why do we feel MOST JUDGED in a place where we believe judgement is in the hands of the Maker?

This book was VERY INTERESTING and provoked a lot more thought into the very topic of WHO the church is. From page one to the end I could NOT put the book down. My copy can no longer be sold on amazon with the word "new" next to it. It is very much "OLD," "UNDERLINED," "USED!" My hand was cramped more from all the underlining I did than holding the book itself! Anne allowed the biblical teachings of the church to shine through in the midst of the journey she took her readers on through the right of sanctuary the Christian church adopted in the 4th century to the abolishment of it in the 18th century. She brought church and church history forward in a way that was appealing and inspirational.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to future readers who especially feel that the role of the church is based on religion and law. If this is you PLEASE read this book, and challenge yourself to be open-minded with the message!