The Art of Being You: How to Live as God's Masterpiece

by Bob Kilpatrick, Joel Kilpatrick

I heard a well-known Christian musician say at a concert that God was in the business of fixing broken people. I went home and thought about that for a while, and I came to a different conclusion...

That different conclusion, reached by singer/songwriter Bob Kilpatrick, has some interesting and exciting applications for re-thinking what it means to be a Christian.

Rather than casting God in the usual role as architect and great mechanic of the universe, Kilpatrick instead paints a portrait of God as an artist—passionate, visionary—who considers humankind his masterpiece. God doesn't see Christians as broken beings chugging along in a fixed-up life. He sees us as new creations, whole, complete, and a stunning part of his creative process. It's a powerful perception of God, one that determines how much we understand and enjoy God, which, in turn, affects the entire course of our lives.

We'll stop perceiving God based on what we lack, what we need repaired, and how weak we are, and come to know God as a creator who sees each one of us as a work of beauty and value. If we believe our relationship with God is one of artist/masterpiece/creative process, then we have every reason to rejoice in every stage of that process.

The Art of Being You offers every reason to believe that God is preparing us for an amazing heavenly display.

Genres: Self Help, Christian

224 pages, Hardcover

First published December 3, 2010

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent view of God as the Artist in the process of completing a masterful work in the life of each of his children, including me.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes you think about what kind of thinker you are: art or math. And does it need to change.

[John Martindale · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I started this audiobook, I wondered if I should continue, considering I've had quite the aversion to most devotional like Christian books during the last several years, but I continued and I am glad I did. At times throughout, it did seem to be a hairbreadth away from being evangelical cheese, but I thought it never fully cross that line. The book is Kilpatrick unpacking the "our relationship with God and our life is like art" metaphor and contrasting this with "Our life and relationship with God is like math" simile. I thought it worked for the most part, and I am a sucker for metaphors, so I really liked it. Bob has some great stories, good insights and I liked his perspective on a lot of things. I did go on ITunes to check out his music, and it did sound like evangelical cheese to me, but hey, lots of Christians love it, so who am I to judge?

[Terri Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read, but quite deep in the point the author is trying to make. One of my favorite quotes: "God's art in us is incomplete. We are all works in progress. But God uses works in progress to bless others. You may feel ordinary, but you should never underestimate the power of your art, even before it is fully complete." Just do what you know you should do...even if you feel incapable of doing it.

[Daniel St john · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started off slowly for me and I almost put it down, but touched it out. I'm glad I did. This book had several really key points about how God sees each of us as a work of art. Sometimes we try to get in the way of the artistic piece because we don't agree with what God is trying to make us into. Sometimes we pursue fixing all the things wrong with us over pursuing God. God likes our weakness and imperfections because through them he can show what he can do.

[Cindy Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short book, but very profound. Bob Kilpatrick gets to the heart of how each of us are God's artwork in progress, and that we're being molded through the circumstances that come into our lives, even the painful trials. It's a bit humbling, to be honest, and I had to put the book down several times because the matter hit so close to me heart.

[Kelly Ropson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily the best book I've ever read. It completely changed the way I view my life, my relationship with God, and how I interact with God.

[Beckynovacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what I needed to read. A breath of fresh air!