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Immersion: Live the Life God Envisioned for you.
Immersion is a book using the author's swim from Alcatraz Island to the shores of San Francisco as a metaphor for living out the Great Commandment. There are group studies at the end of each section for bible study and discussion groups.
280 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 16, 2012
I am reviewing this book for BookSpoils for which I received a free electronic copy and nominal gift certificate.
As is commonly encountered in the Evangelical Christian tradition, the author reached a critical point in his life. In his case, the bottom came from depression and anxiety. After seriously considering suicide as a solution, his father convinced him to give spirituality a chance. Through a developing faith life, professional help, and life-style changes, he was able to manage his mental health problems, find purpose in his life and, in this book, mine his life experience for lessons worth sharing.
I was pleasantly surprised that this book avoided several common pitfalls. McNees never sensationalizes his pre-conversion years with language designed to shock the reader. Nor does he write of his post-conversion life with saccharin` piety, as if a Christian commitment were akin to a visit from Tinkerbelle sprinkling fairy dust. His approach to spirituality is holistic, giving good relationships, professional resources, intellectual pursuits, healthy life-style and service to others their proper due in a balanced life.
The book is divided into short chapters clustered into themed sections. Long-distance swimming is the guiding metaphor for the spiritual life. This metaphor is used consistently and effectively. Each chapter also contains personal anecdotes which were well narrated and perfectly matched to the point being made. I never left a chapter wondering about the point of a story nor skimming past unnecessary details. If anything, chapters were more likely to leave me desiring to hear more about a given topic.
Each themed section ended with a single page of questions for a group study. This feature was the weakest area, in my opinion. I would have liked to have seen this expanded. There needed to be more questions to break open the content of the section, more challenge to examine the implications for each member’s personal life. This group guide contained a suggestion for living out the lessons presented. This needed to be strengthened with more specific actions. Throughout the book, the author employs language to make the book accessible to a new-comer to the life he is describing. However, in this final section he seems to assume that the reader can make the connections with experienced skill.
Another feature that I would have found helpful would have been the addition of personal reflection/journal questions at the end of each chapter. McNees is clear that both young and veteran Christians need to examine their lives regularly in each of the areas he explores. Ending each chapter with several “how-am-I-doing?” questions, even suggesting variations for the neophyte and the old-timer would have re-enforced the importance of on-going refocusing.
Finally, I think the book would have benefited from a better balance. Chapters that were less than 3 pages in length made the section feel a bit choppy. Some sections were as short as a single chapter while others were six chapters long. A bit more consistency in the division of reading material would have lent the book better to weekly group study.
Balance was also needed in content. Although I applaud the inclusion of a multi-dimensional approach to life, limiting a section on the implications of the command to love God with one’s entire being to advice about healthy living seems incredibly narrow. Likewise, when unpacking the implications of the command to love neighbor, McNees introduces the idea of a radical call to service that draws one out to the stranger in a concrete way. But, his next chapter seems to back off of the challenge with a reassurance that we only need to reach out to those in our circles of family and neighborhood.
I was disappointed with the appendixes. One offered a 40 day guide to implement the lessons. But, it contained six nearly identical statements; read section #?, complete the corresponding worksheet and meet with a study group to discuss that section. This appendix needs to be dramatically expanded or omitted. The worksheets which appear in another appendix and are supposed to be employed from the first week of the process, use a division of life and a system of time budgeting that is not explained until the final chapter. If these worksheets are used as intended, they need to be explained sooner. Had I been using them, I would have found that final chapter redundant at best.
All in all, I thought this was a nicely written guide. It gave me a number of points to consider in my own life. I would like to see a bit more: more guidance for personal and group reflection, more instruction for implementing the lessons, more expanded treatment of key Christian practices such as personal prayer and finding/committing to a worshipping community. The subtitle of this book is “Living the Life God Intended for You”, a question he asks his reader to consider at several points in the text. If McNees is serious about that question, then he needs to develop an entirely new section, one that teaches the reader how to discern God’s will for their life.
As is commonly encountered in the Evangelical Christian tradition, the author reached a critical point in his life. In his case, the bottom came from depression and anxiety. After seriously considering suicide as a solution, his father convinced him to give spirituality a chance. Through a developing faith life, professional help, and life-style changes, he was able to manage his mental health problems, find purpose in his life and, in this book, mine his life experience for lessons worth sharing.
I was pleasantly surprised that this book avoided several common pitfalls. McNees never sensationalizes his pre-conversion years with language designed to shock the reader. Nor does he write of his post-conversion life with saccharin` piety, as if a Christian commitment were akin to a visit from Tinkerbelle sprinkling fairy dust. His approach to spirituality is holistic, giving good relationships, professional resources, intellectual pursuits, healthy life-style and service to others their proper due in a balanced life.
The book is divided into short chapters clustered into themed sections. Long-distance swimming is the guiding metaphor for the spiritual life. This metaphor is used consistently and effectively. Each chapter also contains personal anecdotes which were well narrated and perfectly matched to the point being made. I never left a chapter wondering about the point of a story nor skimming past unnecessary details. If anything, chapters were more likely to leave me desiring to hear more about a given topic.
Each themed section ended with a single page of questions for a group study. This feature was the weakest area, in my opinion. I would have liked to have seen this expanded. There needed to be more questions to break open the content of the section, more challenge to examine the implications for each member’s personal life. This group guide contained a suggestion for living out the lessons presented. This needed to be strengthened with more specific actions. Throughout the book, the author employs language to make the book accessible to a new-comer to the life he is describing. However, in this final section he seems to assume that the reader can make the connections with experienced skill.
Another feature that I would have found helpful would have been the addition of personal reflection/journal questions at the end of each chapter. McNees is clear that both young and veteran Christians need to examine their lives regularly in each of the areas he explores. Ending each chapter with several “how-am-I-doing?” questions, even suggesting variations for the neophyte and the old-timer would have re-enforced the importance of on-going refocusing.
Finally, I think the book would have benefited from a better balance. Chapters that were less than 3 pages in length made the section feel a bit choppy. Some sections were as short as a single chapter while others were six chapters long. A bit more consistency in the division of reading material would have lent the book better to weekly group study.
Balance was also needed in content. Although I applaud the inclusion of a multi-dimensional approach to life, limiting a section on the implications of the command to love God with one’s entire being to advice about healthy living seems incredibly narrow. Likewise, when unpacking the implications of the command to love neighbor, McNees introduces the idea of a radical call to service that draws one out to the stranger in a concrete way. But, his next chapter seems to back off of the challenge with a reassurance that we only need to reach out to those in our circles of family and neighborhood.
I was disappointed with the appendixes. One offered a 40 day guide to implement the lessons. But, it contained six nearly identical statements; read section #?, complete the corresponding worksheet and meet with a study group to discuss that section. This appendix needs to be dramatically expanded or omitted. The worksheets which appear in another appendix and are supposed to be employed from the first week of the process, use a division of life and a system of time budgeting that is not explained until the final chapter. If these worksheets are used as intended, they need to be explained sooner. Had I been using them, I would have found that final chapter redundant at best.
All in all, I thought this was a nicely written guide. It gave me a number of points to consider in my own life. I would like to see a bit more: more guidance for personal and group reflection, more instruction for implementing the lessons, more expanded treatment of key Christian practices such as personal prayer and finding/committing to a worshipping community. The subtitle of this book is “Living the Life God Intended for You”, a question he asks his reader to consider at several points in the text. If McNees is serious about that question, then he needs to develop an entirely new section, one that teaches the reader how to discern God’s will for their life.
June 11, 2023
Excellent Read!!
January 26, 2012
Review by Steven King, MBA, MEd
What covers 70% of the planet, constitutes 60% of the human body, makes up 70% of the human brain, and comprises 83% of our blood? While a person can go without food for weeks, he cannot survive more than a few days without…
…water.
Given that this clear liquid is perhaps the most important element known to man, is it any wonder that so many metaphors hint at it? Consider how living as a Christian has been has been equated with “swimming upstream,” or the fact that non-Christians resent it when Christians do not “go with the flow.” Certainly, existing as a Christian in the modern era requires the tenacity of a champion swimmer: to learn not to fight the current but how to thrive in spite of it.
With this mindset, Dr. Mark McNees has written a practical treatise establishing how Christians can succeed today with "Immersion: Living the Life God Envisioned for you." McNees is the founding pastor of the Element 3 Church in Tallahassee, Florida and draws upon his experiences swimming competitively to give Christians realistic advice for victorious living.
His athletic prowess has helped him compete in triathlons and even complete the grueling Swim from Alcatraz: an open water swim where participants swim from Alcatraz Island to the shore of San Francisco, California. While the distance is a little over a mile, the fast moving current makes the distance swam almost two miles instead. To be successful, swimmers have to mentally prepare for, and accurately navigate, the speed of the current.
"Immersion" rightfully implies that the Christian life cannot be lived apart from the world—instead; Christians should live productive lives while being fully engaged in culture. McNees develops his ideology by taking the Great Commandment (to love God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength) and the Great Commission (to love your neighbor as yourself) and tying them to a swimming motif. Such a framework divides Immersion into seven parts:
Part 1 Life Immersed--The Great Commandment
Part 2 Water--Loving God with all your heart
Part 3 Breathe--Loving God with all your soul
Part 4 Navigate--Loving God with all your mind
Part 5 Kick--Loving God with all your strength
Part 6 Stroke/Pull--Loving others as yourself
Part 7 Swim to Win--Putting it all together
I appreciate McNees’ complete transparency when he admits that he has not always had it together in his life. His struggles with excessive weight, depression, and a nagging sense of hollowness will communicate volumes to those who face similar struggles. When it looked as if suicide might be the only way to beat his pain, his father’s gentle rebuke ultimately encouraged him. His dad said, “You haven’t tried everything – you’ve never tried Jesus.”
Unlike other Christian authors who jump from one version of Scripture to another in an attempt to find the precise word order that “proves” their point, McNees utilizes the New Living Translation (NLT) for every Scripture quoted. His biblical interpretation is sound and his scriptural application is spot on. You can read this work with full confidence that the author will not lead you into false Christian teachings. In addition, between each part of the book, the author has included a devotional guide which would be ideal for any small group Bible study.
To take the guesswork out of how to live a fully immersed life, McNees has included a novel idea to help Christians live these concepts. His W.H.O.L.E. template is an acronym that encourages the reader to holistically evaluate the Christian life by considering:
Worship—Am I spending time with God?
Heart—How is my emotional life?
Others—Am I living the Great Commission?
Learning—Am I feeding my mind?
Eating/Exercise—Am I being a good steward of my body?
Dr. McNees has written an enjoyable book that I could not put down. If you want to experience authentic Christianity and live life above your brokenness, "Immersion" is for you.
What covers 70% of the planet, constitutes 60% of the human body, makes up 70% of the human brain, and comprises 83% of our blood? While a person can go without food for weeks, he cannot survive more than a few days without…
…water.
Given that this clear liquid is perhaps the most important element known to man, is it any wonder that so many metaphors hint at it? Consider how living as a Christian has been has been equated with “swimming upstream,” or the fact that non-Christians resent it when Christians do not “go with the flow.” Certainly, existing as a Christian in the modern era requires the tenacity of a champion swimmer: to learn not to fight the current but how to thrive in spite of it.
With this mindset, Dr. Mark McNees has written a practical treatise establishing how Christians can succeed today with "Immersion: Living the Life God Envisioned for you." McNees is the founding pastor of the Element 3 Church in Tallahassee, Florida and draws upon his experiences swimming competitively to give Christians realistic advice for victorious living.
His athletic prowess has helped him compete in triathlons and even complete the grueling Swim from Alcatraz: an open water swim where participants swim from Alcatraz Island to the shore of San Francisco, California. While the distance is a little over a mile, the fast moving current makes the distance swam almost two miles instead. To be successful, swimmers have to mentally prepare for, and accurately navigate, the speed of the current.
"Immersion" rightfully implies that the Christian life cannot be lived apart from the world—instead; Christians should live productive lives while being fully engaged in culture. McNees develops his ideology by taking the Great Commandment (to love God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength) and the Great Commission (to love your neighbor as yourself) and tying them to a swimming motif. Such a framework divides Immersion into seven parts:
Part 1 Life Immersed--The Great Commandment
Part 2 Water--Loving God with all your heart
Part 3 Breathe--Loving God with all your soul
Part 4 Navigate--Loving God with all your mind
Part 5 Kick--Loving God with all your strength
Part 6 Stroke/Pull--Loving others as yourself
Part 7 Swim to Win--Putting it all together
I appreciate McNees’ complete transparency when he admits that he has not always had it together in his life. His struggles with excessive weight, depression, and a nagging sense of hollowness will communicate volumes to those who face similar struggles. When it looked as if suicide might be the only way to beat his pain, his father’s gentle rebuke ultimately encouraged him. His dad said, “You haven’t tried everything – you’ve never tried Jesus.”
Unlike other Christian authors who jump from one version of Scripture to another in an attempt to find the precise word order that “proves” their point, McNees utilizes the New Living Translation (NLT) for every Scripture quoted. His biblical interpretation is sound and his scriptural application is spot on. You can read this work with full confidence that the author will not lead you into false Christian teachings. In addition, between each part of the book, the author has included a devotional guide which would be ideal for any small group Bible study.
To take the guesswork out of how to live a fully immersed life, McNees has included a novel idea to help Christians live these concepts. His W.H.O.L.E. template is an acronym that encourages the reader to holistically evaluate the Christian life by considering:
Worship—Am I spending time with God?
Heart—How is my emotional life?
Others—Am I living the Great Commission?
Learning—Am I feeding my mind?
Eating/Exercise—Am I being a good steward of my body?
Dr. McNees has written an enjoyable book that I could not put down. If you want to experience authentic Christianity and live life above your brokenness, "Immersion" is for you.
February 13, 2013
In this book on Christian living, author Mark McNees uses the metaphor of our life with Christ being like swimming a race. To get the most out of it, we must be fully immersed. There isn't really anything groundbreaking about the text, and the way it was written made me skim quite a bit.
With that said, though, there are a few quotes that I liked, the best of which I set forth below for your reading pleasure. If they grab you, then you might want to grab the book.
"[T]rue healing is a relentless pursuit of who God has envisioned you to be."
"God has entrusted us with our past experiences in order to prepare us to be the tangible hand of Christ."
"Our relationship with God is like any relationship in our life. It is a constant battle with our selfish nature, the battle between our own selfish desires and the desires of the person with whom we are in a relationship."
"Perfectionism at its worst can stop someone from living out the vision God has for their life because they never think their gift is good enough to share. When this happens, the enemy wins. You are not perfect, but you can be excellent."
"Loving God with all one's heart is patterning one's emotional life to glorify Him."
"...one must trust Him -- emotinoally resting in the certainty that He has the best vision for our lives, even with it goes against natural instincts."
"I believe one of life's greatest callings is to be the tangible hand of Christ -- to be the person who reaches out and pulls someone farther than they could go on their own."
With that said, though, there are a few quotes that I liked, the best of which I set forth below for your reading pleasure. If they grab you, then you might want to grab the book.
"[T]rue healing is a relentless pursuit of who God has envisioned you to be."
"God has entrusted us with our past experiences in order to prepare us to be the tangible hand of Christ."
"Our relationship with God is like any relationship in our life. It is a constant battle with our selfish nature, the battle between our own selfish desires and the desires of the person with whom we are in a relationship."
"Perfectionism at its worst can stop someone from living out the vision God has for their life because they never think their gift is good enough to share. When this happens, the enemy wins. You are not perfect, but you can be excellent."
"Loving God with all one's heart is patterning one's emotional life to glorify Him."
"...one must trust Him -- emotinoally resting in the certainty that He has the best vision for our lives, even with it goes against natural instincts."
"I believe one of life's greatest callings is to be the tangible hand of Christ -- to be the person who reaches out and pulls someone farther than they could go on their own."
August 15, 2012
This book was fine but not one that I'll really remember. I read a lot of spiritual/inspirational books, and this doesn't really give any new insight into anything. I liked how he used the swimming analogy throughout, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to my friends that are more mature Christians. This would be good for those still new in their faith though.
April 30, 2013
enjoyed the analogies to exercise.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews