Inaworldthat’sdifficulttomakesenseof,andaseasonthat’ssooftenovertakenbyconsumerism,hereyou’llfindheart-stirringillustrationsandthought-provokingmeditationsdesignedtoshowyoutheraw,powerfullysacredstoryofChristmasinanewlight.Hasthejoyoftheholidayseasonbecomepainfullydissonantwiththehardedgesoflife?DoyoufeelwearyfromthewayChristmashasbecomeapolished,predictablebrand?Youaren’talone.Fortoomanyofus,Christmashaslostitswonder.WhatifwestoppedtreatingtheChristmasstoryassomethingthathappenedalongtimeagoandstartedbelievingthatit’sastorythat’sstillhappeningtoday?FromcelebratedartistandstorytellerScottEricksoncomesHonestAdvent,25daysofillustrationsandmeditationsthatwillhelpyourekindlethewonderofthisseason.HonestAdventcreatesaspaceforyoutoencountertheIncarnateChristinunexpectedplaces:likeapregnancyannouncementinaneraofpoliticalunrestandempiricalbloodshed,themorningsicknessofaMiddleEasternteenager,andtheshockingbiologyofbirththatgoesfarbeyondthesanitizedbrandofChristmasasweknowittoday.WithinthepagesofHonestAdvent,Ericksonteachesusthevaluablelessonshe’slearnedabout:FindinghopeandlightinthedarkestwintersWhatitmeanstoembracetheunexpectedHowGoduseseverydayvulnerabilitytohelpusunderstandourselves,andourfaith,betterThroughpowerfulbenedictions,prayers,andquestionsforhonestreflection,you’lldiscoverhowthewonderofGod-with-Usisstillhappeningtoday:inyourunexpectedchangeofplans,yourunaccomplisheddreams,yourovercrowdedlodging,andyourhumblestoriesofnewbeginnings.PraiseforHonestAdvent:“ScottErickson’sbeautifullycraftedbookhelpedmeseeGod-with-Uswithfresheyes.HonestAdventisnoshallowseasonalgiftbook;it’saninvitationtoexplorethedivineflourishesofeverydayhumanvulnerabilities.Atransformativeread,regardlessofthetimeofyear.“--JonathanMerritt,authorofLearningtoSpeakGodfromScratch“Beautiful.Evocative.Awake-upcalltothemysteryoflife.“--JohnMarkComer,authorofTheRuthlessEliminationofHurry
prayers HONEST BEAUTIFUL AWAKE
