WEIRD: Because Normal Isn't Working [Hardcover]

Craig Groeschel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2011

Normal people are stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Many of their relationships are, at best, strained and, in most cases, just surviving. Even though we live in one of the most prosperous places on earth, normal is still living paycheck to paycheck and never getting ahead. In our oversexed world, lust, premarital sex, guilt, and shame are far more common than purity, virginity, and a healthy married sex life. And when it comes to God, the majority believe in him, but the teachings of scripture rarely make it into their everyday lives. Simply put, normal isn't working. Groeschel's WEIRD views will help you break free from the norm to lead a radically abnormal (and endlessly more fulfilling) life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, a pace-setting multicampus church and creators of the popular and free YouVersion Bible App. He is the author of several books including Weird,The Christian Atheist and It. Craig, his wife, Amy, and their six children live in Edmond, Oklahoma SPANISH BIO: Craig Groeschel es pastor fundador y pastor principal de LifeChurch.tv. LifeChurch.tv es una de las principales iglesias del pais ubicada en varias localidades con mas de ocho cultos de adoracion semanales congregados en doce localidades, incluyendo un campus en linea. LifeChurch.tv reunio a mas de 2.000 iglesias para participar por espacio de un mes en una serie denominada Una Oracion.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310327903
• ISBN-13: 978-0310327905
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (143 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv. Meeting in multiple locations around the United States, and globally at Church Online, LifeChurch.tv is known for the innovative use of technology to spread the Gospel.

With a passion for serving the Church and partnering to reach people for Christ, LifeChurch.tv develops and shares resources and applications with churches worldwide.

Craig, his wife, Amy, and their six children live in the Edmond, Oklahoma area where LifeChurch.tv began in 1996. He speaks at conferences worldwide and has written several books, including his recent release: The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living As If He Doesn't Exist.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's practical!, April 2, 2011

By 

Charles H. Thompson III - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: WEIRD: Because Normal Isn't Working (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

This is a balanced book. Let me explain what I mean. Craig deals with situations the ordinary American believer and unbeliever faces. Things such as time management, responsible financial decisions, marriage, parenting, sexual purity, intimacy, relationship with God, and morals. He approaches the topics with personal stories, others' examples, Bible centered advice, and ways to apply the solutions to life practically. What he said about time is worth mentioning here. God gave us enough time to accomplish His will for our lives, we do not need more time. We need to handle the time we have right. The chapter on marriage stirred my heart to put more effort into my relationship with my wife. The chapter on parenting encouraged me to live Jesus before my daughter and keep an eternal perspective of her becoming Christ-like instead of achieving the world's idea of success. He said to be real with kids by being human and admitting failure. One last thought, Craig states no one starts a marriage thinking they will have an affair, but so many people do today. He shows insightfully how someone gets to the place they have an affair when they thought it could never happen. The tips to be vigilant in this area are great.

66 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The weirdest pastor I know, April 5, 2011

By 

Steven Furtick - See all my reviews

This review is from: WEIRD: Because Normal Isn't Working (Hardcover)

Pastor Craig is the weirdest man I know. In the best possible way. I think this book will give you permission to be the kind of Christian you've always secretly known God is calling you to be. You want to overthrow the system of complacency? You want to beat mediocrity? You want to make the devil nervous when you walk in a room? Get this book. There's no better pastor in America than Craig Groeschel. I've never met anyone like him. Prepare yourself. It's about to get weird up in here.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but doesn't dig deep enough, May 7, 2011

By 

A. Davis (Birch Tree, MO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: WEIRD: Because Normal Isn't Working (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

"Normal is to strive for the center of what the world lives like. Weird is to live to be in the center of God's will" p. 120

Craig Groeschel claims to be weird and he encourages his readers to be weird as well. Why? Because normal just isn't that great. In his book, Weird, Groeschel compares the norm for time management, money, relationships, sex, and values with biblical teachings in order to show that "weird" is better.

Groeschel does a very good job exposing the pitfalls of normal ways of life. I think the honest reader would readily agree. In each area, Groeschel delivers biblical insight and practical steps toward something different. Some of his advice will seem very familiar, whereas some will be more challenging. Groeschel attacks the prosperity gospel in his section on money, which may surprise many readers. He also teaches sexual purity for adults, whereas most Christian authors seem to only address this as a topic for adolescents.

However, much of the book just doesn't seem to go far enough. It loses steam. The sections on time and money are much more detailed and valuable than those on relationships and sex. In the end, I think Groeschel could have gotten his point across in a magazine article. To truly get a lot out of this topic, a series of books may have been better.

For many, this may be a good start. Perhaps it is the initial challenge to no longer consider the Christian life as synonymous with the "American Dream."

If your use of time and money has become a problem or you struggle in your relationships or with sexual sin, this book may be a good place for you to start. If you are already reading David Platt or Francis Chan, there is nothing new here.