How imperfect people like you and I can pursue community with other imperfect people.
From Publishers Weekly
There are no normal people, asserts prolific author and pastor Ortberg (If You Want to Walk on Water, You%27ve Got to Get Out of the Boat; The Life You%27ve Always Wanted), and the sooner Christians accept this disquieting truth, the healthier they and their churches will be. In this mediocre treatise on Christian community, Ortberg implicates Christians who are constantly on the run and on the most superficial terms with their fellows. Citing numerous biblical stories where Jesus turned the tables on foes and drew in unlovable and undesirable people, Ortberg nicely communicates his passion for seeing past external appearances and delving deeply into people%27s hearts and souls. Christians, he says, must learn to communicate on Jesus%27 terms; they should practice unconditional love, strive for authenticity and build mutual trust. While Ortberg warns readers to be circumspect with personal disclosure, he contends that the modern Christian church has failed miserably in biblical communication, especially in loving confrontation. Still, the overall message of this book is upbeat, as Ortberg reminds readers of the positive aspects found in solid relationships, which he names as genuine forgiveness, deliberate inclusion and heartfelt gratitude. While this message is ageless, it is certainly not new; "Christian living" bookshelves are crowded with volumes on spiritual formation, congregational life, group prayer and communication. Among these, Ortberg%27s offering loses its impact quickly because of poor organization, various tangents and over-long chapters.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Rarely has a book done the job so effectively."
-- CBA Marketplace
". . . upbeat . . ."
-- Publishers Weekly (Publisher%27s Weekly ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Everybody%27s Normal Till You Get to Know Them By John Ortberg
Publisher: Zondervan; Unabridged edition (March 1, 2003)
Language: English
Read by Jay Charles
ISBN: 0310250838
Audio CD in MP3
Size: 173 MB