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Boring: Finding an Extraordinary God in an Ordinary Life
We all need reminding that God is not absent from the seemingly insignificant details of life. Today we live with a false separation between sacred and secular that was never meant to be. Work, paying bills, changing diapers . . . when Jesus enters any situation He makes even the most mundane things extraordinary.
Bored enlivens this truth as author Michael Kelley uses the narrative of Saul's rise to kingship in the Old Testament to make his fine point: we can give ourselves to ordinary life -- parenting, marriage, work, etc. -- because we fully believe in God's presence and power within those situations. They are no longer boring but important.
See every relationship, every act of kindness, and every moment for what it is: a part of God's exciting plan for your life.
Bored enlivens this truth as author Michael Kelley uses the narrative of Saul's rise to kingship in the Old Testament to make his fine point: we can give ourselves to ordinary life -- parenting, marriage, work, etc. -- because we fully believe in God's presence and power within those situations. They are no longer boring but important.
See every relationship, every act of kindness, and every moment for what it is: a part of God's exciting plan for your life.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2013
38 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kelley
7 books11 followersMichael Kelley is an author, editor, and communicator whose previous works include Holy Vocabulary: Rescuing the Language of Faith and The Tough Sayings of Jesus. Born in Texas, Michael holds a Master of Divinity degree from Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. Michael and his wife have three children and live in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 7, 2013
I received this book as part of the Goodreads first-read program. I really enjoyed it! The author is able to talk about ordinary events in everyone's lives and make them extraordinary! Eating breakfast with your children is not just breakfast! When God and spirituality is a part of your daily life, you realize that you are not boring and ordinary....
He goes through all different parts of a normal life, for most people, and intersperses bible quotes into the discussion, making them relevant to our daily lives. This is a very easy to read book, you don't have to have any theological background at all to read and apply the teachings!
I would have given this 5 stars as it is interesting and very well written. However, I have just a few minor issues with a few things, but that is just me... I am not a theologian, so I will not bring up these very minor points here, nor do I think this is the place to do it! That being said, the book really is for everyone, no matter what religion or denomination! It is biblically based, so it is written mainly for Christians, but I believe anyone can be helped by this book! Don't let what you think is an ordinary boring life get you down, pick up this book instead!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this one!
He goes through all different parts of a normal life, for most people, and intersperses bible quotes into the discussion, making them relevant to our daily lives. This is a very easy to read book, you don't have to have any theological background at all to read and apply the teachings!
I would have given this 5 stars as it is interesting and very well written. However, I have just a few minor issues with a few things, but that is just me... I am not a theologian, so I will not bring up these very minor points here, nor do I think this is the place to do it! That being said, the book really is for everyone, no matter what religion or denomination! It is biblically based, so it is written mainly for Christians, but I believe anyone can be helped by this book! Don't let what you think is an ordinary boring life get you down, pick up this book instead!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this one!
September 26, 2013
It’s not often that an author would’ve glad that I’ve read and reviewed his boring book. When I get to hash tag quotes from it as #boringbook, most would think I’m insulting him. Yet, this is the boring book that you will want to digest, and you’ll find it anything but. Rather, it addresses all the boring areas of your life and offers you profound solutions for recovering meaning and joy in them. Michael Kelley’s premise in Boring is that even the most routine and mundane area of life – places where we’re tempted to overlook opportunities for significance – are actually moments of profound invitation for the Christian.
Michael begins with the obscure story of pre-king Saul looking for some of his dad’s lost donkeys. It’s a tale that most of us zip by 1 Samuel 8. We read quickly because it’s, well, boring. And that’s why the book is sublimely powerful. As Michael unpacks this seemingly irrelevant incident, he reveals that what we often consider as mundane, routine and boring are not viewed as such by God. Rather, God is in process of doing something significant – in Saul’s case of providing Israel with its first king.
“..the donkeys aren’t a distraction from the work of God; the donkeys are the mechanism that God used to awaken Saul to something deeper.. What if those ordinary details of life are actually the mechanism by which we get to see and experience God and His redemptive plan in a living and vibrant way?”
For the rest of the book, Kelley provides chapter after chapter of seemingly boring areas of life in which God’s activity is profoundly present yet maddeningly obscure for those of us paralyzed by the familiar. Our finances are boring. Our work is boring. Some would say the day-in, day-out of kids, spouse, car, eating, etc are so mundane as to numb the soul.
For the rest of the review, check out my blog.
Michael begins with the obscure story of pre-king Saul looking for some of his dad’s lost donkeys. It’s a tale that most of us zip by 1 Samuel 8. We read quickly because it’s, well, boring. And that’s why the book is sublimely powerful. As Michael unpacks this seemingly irrelevant incident, he reveals that what we often consider as mundane, routine and boring are not viewed as such by God. Rather, God is in process of doing something significant – in Saul’s case of providing Israel with its first king.
“..the donkeys aren’t a distraction from the work of God; the donkeys are the mechanism that God used to awaken Saul to something deeper.. What if those ordinary details of life are actually the mechanism by which we get to see and experience God and His redemptive plan in a living and vibrant way?”
For the rest of the book, Kelley provides chapter after chapter of seemingly boring areas of life in which God’s activity is profoundly present yet maddeningly obscure for those of us paralyzed by the familiar. Our finances are boring. Our work is boring. Some would say the day-in, day-out of kids, spouse, car, eating, etc are so mundane as to numb the soul.
For the rest of the review, check out my blog.
July 19, 2014
I personally found this book very thought provoking. It is written in a casual manner, so it is an easy read in a fairly short amount of time if desired. Plus the chapters are not too long. I choose to read it slowly over a long period of time in order to take each chapter and digest what was said and try to apply it more to my life. Perhaps this is why I gave it a higher rating than others: I did not read it all a once.
As for content, I was pleasantly surprised! I thought it would be the typical explanations one hears of "God has a plan for you" or "All works to his glory" etc. But he provides insights into various aspects of daily life that I never considered before. As a result I look at people around me, the everyday and professional work I do, etc. in a different way.
What particularly helped me love this book is that it came at a time in my like in which I felt stuck and was not doing as much for God as I thought it should. As a result I saw how the things of everyday life can be just as important as serving in a mission over seas (but i will add that such work is crucial as we need people to help reach out to people who would no otherwise hear the Word)
As for content, I was pleasantly surprised! I thought it would be the typical explanations one hears of "God has a plan for you" or "All works to his glory" etc. But he provides insights into various aspects of daily life that I never considered before. As a result I look at people around me, the everyday and professional work I do, etc. in a different way.
What particularly helped me love this book is that it came at a time in my like in which I felt stuck and was not doing as much for God as I thought it should. As a result I saw how the things of everyday life can be just as important as serving in a mission over seas (but i will add that such work is crucial as we need people to help reach out to people who would no otherwise hear the Word)
February 28, 2019
This was a timely reminder that the mundane can be a powerful opportunity for proclaiming the glory of God. When I want to shoot off to the next "adventure," God is calling me to be faithful in the details of the everyday. Faithfulness in my work. Faithfulness in loving the people around me. Faithfulness in walking the dog. Whatever the "boring" task, it must be seen from the greater perspective of God's calling me to live for Him, "whether I eat or drink," or just take out the trash for His glory.
November 7, 2013
Fabulous! Such a refreshing read coming from one who can relate 100% to the struggles of the author. Love the challenge to embrace the ordinary because it is not truly ordinary when we have an extraordinary God!
January 2, 2019
I read this book because it was part of my church's book club this time around. We joked a lot about the name and about why we were reading such a boring book. It was hard for me to get into the book for some reason. It did contain some amazing nuggets of truth regarding how our lives can be so much more than ordinary when we view life through a gospel lens. Every mundane action we do serves eternity if we recognize that fact. I like that this book challenged my perspective, but it wasn't a super exciting read. Good to remember glory can come from the boring pursuits of our lives.
September 13, 2013
I received "Boring" as a giveaway through Goodreads. I chose this book to read because I'm always fretful that I haven't done something 'grand' for God yet with my life. This was exactly what I needed to hear and will definitely stay on my re-read list to help keep my perspective straight.
This book is encouraging and motivating; I highly recommend it.
This book is encouraging and motivating; I highly recommend it.
August 22, 2015
I got this book as a first-read, and I found it to be lackluster. I thought the concept was very interesting, but Kelley's writing and analysis were both very simplistic. This reads more like a self-help book than an actual philosophical work, which was more what I was expecting. Kelley did have some interesting ideas, but I thought his tone and style of writing talked down to the reader.
September 15, 2013
I enjoy the easy style thee author presented his materials. As I explore this non fiction world of faith I found another way of interpreting the 'mundane' aspects of my life. I appreciate the insights.
January 11, 2014
I have no problems giving this book five stars. It is an excellent reminder for all of us ordinary Christians. The chapters,on marriage and parenting are especially good with great insight from a young man
October 6, 2013
Really good book that makes you do some deep thinking. I really like books like this that back up ideas with supporting evidence.
September 7, 2013
I thought it was very delightful with alot of insightful tidbits.
Enjoyed it very much
Enjoyed it very much
September 16, 2013
***Goodreads Giveaway Win***
Very insightful!
Taken to heart!
Very insightful!
Taken to heart!
October 16, 2013
In Boring, Michael Kelley teaches us that God is found in life’s ordinary tasks. We don’t have to travel to the heart of Africa or build an orphanage to have purpose or value. Michael says,
The truth is that we will all spend 90 percent of our time here on earth just doing life. Just being ordinary. If this were a self-help book, I might follow that realistic, slightly de-motivating statement up with something like: “Break out of the ordinary. Pursue your bliss. Go skydiving. Do something important. Carpe diem.” The same motivation, in Christian terms, might read: “God’s will is that you have a life of adventure. Get out there and make an eternal difference. Do something big for God.” . . . What if God actually doesn’t want you to escape from the ordinary, but to find significance and meaning inside of it? (4, 5)
Michael encourages Christians to understand God as active and present in our every day life. He notes many of us interpret our lives as functional deists. God winds things up then lets them run their course. Michael encourages us to find significance and meaning in the ordinary like changing diapers or paying bills.
We can pay the bills, go to the job, play with the kids, change the diapers, and whatever ordinary boring details real life involves, but we can do so in faith. We can actually begin to believe that what we are doing has significance and purpose. We can believe in the great and intricate plan of God, embracing His “forness” and the extent of “all” and believe that the donkeys matter. They have significance.
And so do we.(40)
He backs this up with a robust discussion of contentment and finding our value not in having less necessarily but finding ultimate value in Christ (50). He aptly reminds us, “God is not a miser. . . . He’s given us everything He has to give in Christ” (53).
Michael uses the story of Saul seeking the lost donkey as a backdrop to his discussion of the ordinary. He also weaves in and out of stories to make his point. That’s definitely one of his strengths and something which made his last book Wednesday’s Were Pretty Normal one of my favorite of last year. He then moves through a variety of topics and connects each of them with our identity in Christ and gratitude for God’s gifts. Those topics range from marriage, work, children, money (a particularly helpful chapter), worship in church, and ends with a helpful discussion on obeying one step at a time (“Our priority should be to do what we know we are to do today, this moment, and not be distracted.” 201-203).
For those who might feel discouraged their Christian life isn’t radical enough or sacrificial enough or whatever enough Boring will reorient your theology of work and life towards Jesus Christ. Michael provides foundational purpose and significance to your every day life. If you’re like me and the mundane, repetitive grind of your nine to five wears you thin many days and sometimes you wonder “What other more important stuff God has for me?”, Boring will help you find the extraordinary God in the ordinary.
How can, as C. S. Lewis says, we restore “the sense of divine vision. . . to man’s daily work”? What tasks do you find particularly mundane or boring? Have you ever thought of your daily tasks as a prologue to the really important stuff of the Christian life? How does your identity in Christ impact your daily living?
The truth is that we will all spend 90 percent of our time here on earth just doing life. Just being ordinary. If this were a self-help book, I might follow that realistic, slightly de-motivating statement up with something like: “Break out of the ordinary. Pursue your bliss. Go skydiving. Do something important. Carpe diem.” The same motivation, in Christian terms, might read: “God’s will is that you have a life of adventure. Get out there and make an eternal difference. Do something big for God.” . . . What if God actually doesn’t want you to escape from the ordinary, but to find significance and meaning inside of it? (4, 5)
Michael encourages Christians to understand God as active and present in our every day life. He notes many of us interpret our lives as functional deists. God winds things up then lets them run their course. Michael encourages us to find significance and meaning in the ordinary like changing diapers or paying bills.
We can pay the bills, go to the job, play with the kids, change the diapers, and whatever ordinary boring details real life involves, but we can do so in faith. We can actually begin to believe that what we are doing has significance and purpose. We can believe in the great and intricate plan of God, embracing His “forness” and the extent of “all” and believe that the donkeys matter. They have significance.
And so do we.(40)
He backs this up with a robust discussion of contentment and finding our value not in having less necessarily but finding ultimate value in Christ (50). He aptly reminds us, “God is not a miser. . . . He’s given us everything He has to give in Christ” (53).
Michael uses the story of Saul seeking the lost donkey as a backdrop to his discussion of the ordinary. He also weaves in and out of stories to make his point. That’s definitely one of his strengths and something which made his last book Wednesday’s Were Pretty Normal one of my favorite of last year. He then moves through a variety of topics and connects each of them with our identity in Christ and gratitude for God’s gifts. Those topics range from marriage, work, children, money (a particularly helpful chapter), worship in church, and ends with a helpful discussion on obeying one step at a time (“Our priority should be to do what we know we are to do today, this moment, and not be distracted.” 201-203).
For those who might feel discouraged their Christian life isn’t radical enough or sacrificial enough or whatever enough Boring will reorient your theology of work and life towards Jesus Christ. Michael provides foundational purpose and significance to your every day life. If you’re like me and the mundane, repetitive grind of your nine to five wears you thin many days and sometimes you wonder “What other more important stuff God has for me?”, Boring will help you find the extraordinary God in the ordinary.
How can, as C. S. Lewis says, we restore “the sense of divine vision. . . to man’s daily work”? What tasks do you find particularly mundane or boring? Have you ever thought of your daily tasks as a prologue to the really important stuff of the Christian life? How does your identity in Christ impact your daily living?
January 11, 2015
This book is how to find an extraordinary G-d in an ordinary life.
To preface this review, I want to disclose that the review copy I received was an advance copy. Therefore, edits may have been made after the manuscript issued to me for review.
The PR group that contracted me for review has this to say about the book:
Today we live with a false separation between sacred and secular that was never meant to be. Work, paying bills, changing diapers . . . when Jesus enters any situation He makes even the most mundane things extraordinary.
Boring enlivens this truth as author Michael Kelley challenges readers: we can give ourselves to ordinary life—parenting, marriage, work—because we fully believe in [G-d's] presence and power within those situations. They are no longer boring, but important.
On every page, Michael’s writing provides biblical truth that is relatable and engaging to everyone. You’ll begin to see every day at work, every relationship, and every moment for what it is: a part of [G-d's] exciting plan for your life.
Kelley writes in such a manner as to capture the reader’s attention. He begins to tell a tale of daily life, and at each plot point where the person’s life could have leapt out of reality and into an action book, the character experiences another part of the everyday mundane life. What would be called boring in a book or movie is what we call regular, casual, expected…you get the picture. Our lives are ordinary, and that is what Kelley wants to point out. Our lives are doing the dishes, changing dirty diapers, mowing the lawn, taking vacations, reading books, rinse, wash, repeat. Our lives are, by all accounts, seemingly boring. But what if they really weren’t?
Could we have a secret life? That’s what Hollywood is attempting to explore. Could the everyday mundane transform into a grandiose adventure? That’s what The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is supposed to be about. But my name is not Walter Mitty. And bet your bottom dollar, neither is yours. So what about us? Kelley explores this avenue and points out that while mundane, and sometimes literally boring, our everyday routine is a point of comfort for us. It may be monotonous, but it can be counted on and gives the stability for a family. Isn’t that part of the American Dream?
Kelley points out that chasing that dream, going big, doing “great things for G-d,” all of that – it places a smudge on our regular lives. So, according to the wishful thinking and a Christian perspective, I could judge myself: my working a regular sales job to bring home money to buy nice things, pay rent, and raise our children is failing the Great Commission. Except that it isn’t. Kelley focuses on the issue, and that is what makes this book worth reading: the problem is our definition of significance.
Looking for a self-help book? This may fit the bill. But if you’re like me, and you live an ordinary life but have that internal craving for something more, then this book might just be what you’re looking for. As for readability, Kelley does a good job. It’s a simple read that draws you in. And before you know it, your book review is at 550 words because you are so caught up in the hopes that Kelley might get you over that wall of self-defeat.
Disclosure: I was contracted to write an honest review in exchange for a reviewer copy of the product. The opinions stated in this review are solely my own.
To preface this review, I want to disclose that the review copy I received was an advance copy. Therefore, edits may have been made after the manuscript issued to me for review.
The PR group that contracted me for review has this to say about the book:
Today we live with a false separation between sacred and secular that was never meant to be. Work, paying bills, changing diapers . . . when Jesus enters any situation He makes even the most mundane things extraordinary.
Boring enlivens this truth as author Michael Kelley challenges readers: we can give ourselves to ordinary life—parenting, marriage, work—because we fully believe in [G-d's] presence and power within those situations. They are no longer boring, but important.
On every page, Michael’s writing provides biblical truth that is relatable and engaging to everyone. You’ll begin to see every day at work, every relationship, and every moment for what it is: a part of [G-d's] exciting plan for your life.
Kelley writes in such a manner as to capture the reader’s attention. He begins to tell a tale of daily life, and at each plot point where the person’s life could have leapt out of reality and into an action book, the character experiences another part of the everyday mundane life. What would be called boring in a book or movie is what we call regular, casual, expected…you get the picture. Our lives are ordinary, and that is what Kelley wants to point out. Our lives are doing the dishes, changing dirty diapers, mowing the lawn, taking vacations, reading books, rinse, wash, repeat. Our lives are, by all accounts, seemingly boring. But what if they really weren’t?
Could we have a secret life? That’s what Hollywood is attempting to explore. Could the everyday mundane transform into a grandiose adventure? That’s what The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is supposed to be about. But my name is not Walter Mitty. And bet your bottom dollar, neither is yours. So what about us? Kelley explores this avenue and points out that while mundane, and sometimes literally boring, our everyday routine is a point of comfort for us. It may be monotonous, but it can be counted on and gives the stability for a family. Isn’t that part of the American Dream?
Kelley points out that chasing that dream, going big, doing “great things for G-d,” all of that – it places a smudge on our regular lives. So, according to the wishful thinking and a Christian perspective, I could judge myself: my working a regular sales job to bring home money to buy nice things, pay rent, and raise our children is failing the Great Commission. Except that it isn’t. Kelley focuses on the issue, and that is what makes this book worth reading: the problem is our definition of significance.
Looking for a self-help book? This may fit the bill. But if you’re like me, and you live an ordinary life but have that internal craving for something more, then this book might just be what you’re looking for. As for readability, Kelley does a good job. It’s a simple read that draws you in. And before you know it, your book review is at 550 words because you are so caught up in the hopes that Kelley might get you over that wall of self-defeat.
Disclosure: I was contracted to write an honest review in exchange for a reviewer copy of the product. The opinions stated in this review are solely my own.
September 14, 2013
I had the opportunity to read "Boring" by Michael Kelley after winning a copy through a Goodreads Giveaway.
The topic targeted by Kelley's work is one that I believe is a growing issue for people today. More than that, it is one I have found myself continually wrestling with through each passing year. We are bored. We have more money, possessions, entertainment, available relational stability, freedom, liberty, and opportunity than most people in the world yet we are bored, confused, and feel a deep lacking of purpose in our lives. Perhaps you can relate.
Kelley combats this way of thinking through an excursion into the extraordinariness of God. The book itself is split into two overall sections: the first half is devoted to a high-view construction of how God invades the ordinary while the final half delves into some specific arenas where this boredom can slip into our lives (marriage, parenting, church attendance, money, etc).
His thesis is simple - the ordinary, day-in-day-out realities of our existence can be transformed through a greater awareness of the extraordinary God who is near. Significance in life is not found outside of your current circumstances, but in the constant realization of God's loving direction within your current circumstances . In other words, living purposefully is not about doing different things, but doing the same things differently in light of the Gospel.
I appreciate this book for what amounts to an overly relatable subject for me. It has been my observation that evangelical Christianity has become obsessed in recent days with "being radical." The way its communicated from conference platforms and mass publications suggests the image in one's mind that the purposeful Christian life is to sell all of your belongings and move to the slums of India where the Gospel is desperately needed. And though there are certainly some who may be called to such a journey, what about those like me? What about the ones who see the waywardness of my materialistic city; the emptiness of humanistic thought; the hollowing-out of self-serving ambition? Can that not be radical? Is it not of value to the Kingdom of God?
Boring offers (what I believe is) a much more realistic worldview for the rest of us - those who will wake up each morning, walk through the same routine, go to bed, and wake the next day to do it all over again. By all means, this is not a sexy form of Christianity. Is it ordinary? Yes, but a life lived in relationship with the extraordinary God of the universe redefines the conditions of your life so that personal purpose is no longer built upon circumstantial feeling, but the true character and nature of God who is near. This transcends our circumstances.
Kelley's book is a straightforward, simple read with nothing out of the ordinary, but it is a compilation of material that speaks to an issue wreaking havoc in our hearts and needs to be addressed. Boredom does not belong within the heart of a Christian as it indicates the greater problem that is losing sight of the all-encompassing purpose of God in the lives of His People. Boring is a book I have been waiting to read in light of my own impatience with life and it did not disappoint.
The topic targeted by Kelley's work is one that I believe is a growing issue for people today. More than that, it is one I have found myself continually wrestling with through each passing year. We are bored. We have more money, possessions, entertainment, available relational stability, freedom, liberty, and opportunity than most people in the world yet we are bored, confused, and feel a deep lacking of purpose in our lives. Perhaps you can relate.
Kelley combats this way of thinking through an excursion into the extraordinariness of God. The book itself is split into two overall sections: the first half is devoted to a high-view construction of how God invades the ordinary while the final half delves into some specific arenas where this boredom can slip into our lives (marriage, parenting, church attendance, money, etc).
His thesis is simple - the ordinary, day-in-day-out realities of our existence can be transformed through a greater awareness of the extraordinary God who is near. Significance in life is not found outside of your current circumstances, but in the constant realization of God's loving direction within your current circumstances . In other words, living purposefully is not about doing different things, but doing the same things differently in light of the Gospel.
I appreciate this book for what amounts to an overly relatable subject for me. It has been my observation that evangelical Christianity has become obsessed in recent days with "being radical." The way its communicated from conference platforms and mass publications suggests the image in one's mind that the purposeful Christian life is to sell all of your belongings and move to the slums of India where the Gospel is desperately needed. And though there are certainly some who may be called to such a journey, what about those like me? What about the ones who see the waywardness of my materialistic city; the emptiness of humanistic thought; the hollowing-out of self-serving ambition? Can that not be radical? Is it not of value to the Kingdom of God?
Boring offers (what I believe is) a much more realistic worldview for the rest of us - those who will wake up each morning, walk through the same routine, go to bed, and wake the next day to do it all over again. By all means, this is not a sexy form of Christianity. Is it ordinary? Yes, but a life lived in relationship with the extraordinary God of the universe redefines the conditions of your life so that personal purpose is no longer built upon circumstantial feeling, but the true character and nature of God who is near. This transcends our circumstances.
Kelley's book is a straightforward, simple read with nothing out of the ordinary, but it is a compilation of material that speaks to an issue wreaking havoc in our hearts and needs to be addressed. Boredom does not belong within the heart of a Christian as it indicates the greater problem that is losing sight of the all-encompassing purpose of God in the lives of His People. Boring is a book I have been waiting to read in light of my own impatience with life and it did not disappoint.
December 3, 2013
There are wonders all around me, and yet I find myself bored, restless. Why is this? Is it simply the hardness of my heart? Can I blame the extra caffeine for my apparent inability to sit with a child, to do a puzzle, to watch the light of learning dance in his eyes? Why, sometimes, do I find myself unable to rejoice in this small thing?
Some days I can write beautifully about motherhood because I can see the beauty in it; in the children God has made, in my hands, being His hands, used to care for them. We make up pretend names, we smile, we pretend and play until the day ends and we are tired but happy.
And yet some days, my soul seems to have grown old. Old and boring. Old and bored. As if the miracle of the soul happening in front of me-- the little boy, sharing cheerfully with the other little boy-- is something I’ve seen a hundred times, something not worth celebrating, something as boring as one little blade of grass in my front yard.
It was on a day like this that I received Michael Kelly’s book. It was good medicine for my soul.
In it, he argues, “We find ourselves bored in life not because of the absence of the extraordinary but because of our paralyzing lack of vision.” (40)
Michael Kelley addresses his newest book to the average person, the one who feels ordinary, small, and perhaps, bored. He implores us to open our eyes, to see God working in and through our lives, in the major life events, in the kitchen, and in the morning commute. His book helps pry those eyes open.
My favorite part of this book is the concept of “chasing donkeys.” The author retells the story of Saul, and points out how God was in control, leading Saul right into His plan, even in the midst of the most mundane even frustrating daily chores, like chasing donkeys. If God works all things for our good (ie, to make us more like Jesus and draw us closer to Him), does this not include the broken dishwasher in my kitchen? The toddler who needs extra attention?
It does, and Kelley encourages me to see my daily chores with God’s ends in view. Marriage, children, finances; all of these can be seen in a new light, and in general, I thought the author’s insights into these specific areas were helpful. His chapter on church, however, I found lacking. Community and service are important elements of church life, but I wish he would have spoken of those without neglecting the most important reason for church: our need for spiritual nourishment, and reception from God through His Word and Sacraments.
----
After reading this book, I find myself more content with my station in life, and filled with wonder at the work of God around me and in me.
Some are called to a radical life, to be a bright star streaking through the sky. Most of us, however, are simply called to shine in our own little corners, living daily acts of faithfulness, loving God, loving neighbor, giving off a slow, steady, dependable light. And as we do this, we are the hands and feet of an extraordinary God who provides for His people.
I recommend this book to the bored, the restless, and those who long for meaning in the mundane.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2014
In his book, Michael Kelley proposes a theory as to why boredom is such an issue lately, stating the fact that the real problem is our definition of significance. He believes ordinary is actually a myth. Significance can be found in the middle of the ordinary and mundane.
The first half of the book focuses on explaining his view on boredom and the myth of ordinary. As you move to the second half of the book, the author tackles boredom on a practical level, specifically focusing on the relevant areas of life such as: friendships, parenting, money management, work ethic, church and christian life.
I enjoyed the book, it was an easy read. He doesn't really present new and never-heard-of ideas and perspectives on boredom. He mainly explains it from a biblical, christian perspective.
What I really liked were the relevant biblical illustrations presented in a catchy, graphic style. I also think the practical part of the book (the second half of it) was presented in an authentic way: with personal stories (which I always love in a book like this) which gave me the impression that Kelley actually struggled with the issues he presents here and he speaks from experience. In my perspective that's what makes these self-help sort of books relevant and worth reading.
I gave it 4 stars, mainly because I liked the way it approaches such a subject with simplicity and authenticity. I chose not to give it 5 stars because the writing was not impressive enough.
There's more here: http://biancatcreviews.blogspot.ro/20...
The first half of the book focuses on explaining his view on boredom and the myth of ordinary. As you move to the second half of the book, the author tackles boredom on a practical level, specifically focusing on the relevant areas of life such as: friendships, parenting, money management, work ethic, church and christian life.
I enjoyed the book, it was an easy read. He doesn't really present new and never-heard-of ideas and perspectives on boredom. He mainly explains it from a biblical, christian perspective.
What I really liked were the relevant biblical illustrations presented in a catchy, graphic style. I also think the practical part of the book (the second half of it) was presented in an authentic way: with personal stories (which I always love in a book like this) which gave me the impression that Kelley actually struggled with the issues he presents here and he speaks from experience. In my perspective that's what makes these self-help sort of books relevant and worth reading.
I gave it 4 stars, mainly because I liked the way it approaches such a subject with simplicity and authenticity. I chose not to give it 5 stars because the writing was not impressive enough.
There's more here: http://biancatcreviews.blogspot.ro/20...
August 21, 2016
This may be the most underrated book that I have read. Michael Kelley addresses an issue that has plagued the minds of many. Very often I look at my life and try to look for the extraordinary in it when I should actually be looking at the faithfulness of God in the little things.
The author puts for new perspectives in to mundane areas of life such as marriage, parenting, employment, finances, and church. He shows in each one how God has purposefully made each thing to bring glory to him. Even if those things are ordinary or boring to us, God often uses these things to shape us and better us.
Michael Kelley sums it up very well in the final chapter:
"Because an extraordinary and active God is there, constantly working, there is no such thing as ordinary anymore. It's not an ordinary marriage. It's not just a couple dollars. It's not the sake old parenting struggles. It's not another day at the office. Everything is the same, but everything is suddenly very different. That's what this book has been about - not escaping the ordinary, but reshaping our view of the ordinary in light of the extraordinary God."
I highly recommend this book to any who feels like they're stuck in a rut in life. Kelley puts together a great Gospel entered view on how we should respond to the mundane. It has shaped how I view the things in life that don't change and the things that happen almost everyday.
The author puts for new perspectives in to mundane areas of life such as marriage, parenting, employment, finances, and church. He shows in each one how God has purposefully made each thing to bring glory to him. Even if those things are ordinary or boring to us, God often uses these things to shape us and better us.
Michael Kelley sums it up very well in the final chapter:
"Because an extraordinary and active God is there, constantly working, there is no such thing as ordinary anymore. It's not an ordinary marriage. It's not just a couple dollars. It's not the sake old parenting struggles. It's not another day at the office. Everything is the same, but everything is suddenly very different. That's what this book has been about - not escaping the ordinary, but reshaping our view of the ordinary in light of the extraordinary God."
I highly recommend this book to any who feels like they're stuck in a rut in life. Kelley puts together a great Gospel entered view on how we should respond to the mundane. It has shaped how I view the things in life that don't change and the things that happen almost everyday.
November 13, 2013
Ordinary is Boring – or Maybe It Isn't
Most of us lead ordinary lives: going to work, playing with the kids, cooking meals. It all sounds pretty tame, but beneath the surface God is working, and God is extraordinary. Kelley illustrates this premise with the story of Saul, a young man doing his job, chasing his father's lost donkeys. Little does he realize that he is on a collision course with the prophet Samuel and destined for national importance. Not all of us are Saul, but with God working through us none of our lives are unimportant.
I particularly enjoyed the first three chapters of this book. They challenge you to think about your life and how you view the mundane tasks of living. As the author points out, Chesterton said that a mark of strength is the ability to do the same thing over and over. The weak man is the one constantly searching for something new. Finding contentment in our lives is one of the most rewarding things we can do.
The final chapters off specific suggestions for viewing parts of our lives, husbands and wives, children, money and work. While these chapters were well done, I didn't completely agree with his theology. I thought at times it was a stretch. However, other readers may not feel this way. I recommend this book if you think your life is boring. You may be surprised.
I reviewed this book for PR by the Book.
Most of us lead ordinary lives: going to work, playing with the kids, cooking meals. It all sounds pretty tame, but beneath the surface God is working, and God is extraordinary. Kelley illustrates this premise with the story of Saul, a young man doing his job, chasing his father's lost donkeys. Little does he realize that he is on a collision course with the prophet Samuel and destined for national importance. Not all of us are Saul, but with God working through us none of our lives are unimportant.
I particularly enjoyed the first three chapters of this book. They challenge you to think about your life and how you view the mundane tasks of living. As the author points out, Chesterton said that a mark of strength is the ability to do the same thing over and over. The weak man is the one constantly searching for something new. Finding contentment in our lives is one of the most rewarding things we can do.
The final chapters off specific suggestions for viewing parts of our lives, husbands and wives, children, money and work. While these chapters were well done, I didn't completely agree with his theology. I thought at times it was a stretch. However, other readers may not feel this way. I recommend this book if you think your life is boring. You may be surprised.
I reviewed this book for PR by the Book.
August 21, 2018
A good book. I found it difficult to teach our sunday school class from. It felt like each chapter looked at one area, but from about 5 or 6 perspectives. All good stuff, but tough to stay focused on for discussion.
One good snippet from the book:
"When we become convinced that God, in His grace, has held nothing back from us in Christ, then we can stop our wandering eyes and hearts from continually seeking out something else."
and
"We don’t need something new. We need something old. We need to do the same things that saints of old have been doing in order to deepen our understanding and apprehension of the greatness of God. We need to see that it’s not some kind of secret formula or latest methodology that exposes the myth of the ordinary. Instead it’s through these means of grace that many of us have cast aside as outdated and legalistic that God has chosen to deepen our relationship and experience with Him. The Quiet Time and Other Boring Stuff To put it practically, maybe it’s time we actually start having a quiet time again. And not just that. Maybe we need to practice devoted prayer, memorize Scripture, and fast. Maybe we need to do all these things that are meant to characterize the life of the disciple."
One good snippet from the book:
"When we become convinced that God, in His grace, has held nothing back from us in Christ, then we can stop our wandering eyes and hearts from continually seeking out something else."
and
"We don’t need something new. We need something old. We need to do the same things that saints of old have been doing in order to deepen our understanding and apprehension of the greatness of God. We need to see that it’s not some kind of secret formula or latest methodology that exposes the myth of the ordinary. Instead it’s through these means of grace that many of us have cast aside as outdated and legalistic that God has chosen to deepen our relationship and experience with Him. The Quiet Time and Other Boring Stuff To put it practically, maybe it’s time we actually start having a quiet time again. And not just that. Maybe we need to practice devoted prayer, memorize Scripture, and fast. Maybe we need to do all these things that are meant to characterize the life of the disciple."
November 11, 2014
This was really a 3 and a half star book. I save 5 for outstanding, 4 for very good and 3 for good. Lots of good info here and many things to think about. Here is a quote that sums up much of what is discussed in greater detail with examples throughout the book: We can, through Christ, begin to see the extraordinary God not in spite of our ordinary lives, not by escaping the monotony, but right in the middle of it.
I was thinking about my ordinary life in a muddled fashion and I chose this book to provide some much needed clarity. it was helpful. The only drawback for me is that I am a spoiled baby boomer. I am accustomed to most books being written to, for and about me and my demographic. As an older boomer I am having to adjust to the idea that many authors are primarily addressing a younger generation. That is how it should be but I confess I prefer reading an author who knows no generation and writes for us all.
I was thinking about my ordinary life in a muddled fashion and I chose this book to provide some much needed clarity. it was helpful. The only drawback for me is that I am a spoiled baby boomer. I am accustomed to most books being written to, for and about me and my demographic. As an older boomer I am having to adjust to the idea that many authors are primarily addressing a younger generation. That is how it should be but I confess I prefer reading an author who knows no generation and writes for us all.
April 28, 2014
This book is 207 pages long, divided into eleven (11) chapters with an introduction and notes. It was an easy, two-day read. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars for technical merit. The book is great, it delves into some fantastic principles and applications that are needed in the church today. However, some of the syntax is a bit wonky. In addition, I found a few typos in the text. I understand this is as much a critique of the editor as the author, but this is a review of the book and that comes into play.
However, in the midst of the mundane, Michael Kelley does come through with several memorable moments. He is very good at laying a foundation and them summarizing his points with a poignant phrase...
Find the full review on my blog: http://jmnz.us/QL8UB1
However, in the midst of the mundane, Michael Kelley does come through with several memorable moments. He is very good at laying a foundation and them summarizing his points with a poignant phrase...
Find the full review on my blog: http://jmnz.us/QL8UB1
May 2, 2014
This book had some great ideas, but overall the title is accurate - it's just boring. I expected to find something extraordinary, but it turned out to be just another self-help book that happens to be about God.
God really is found in the small stuff, and the first few chapters show the wonder of creation and life. However, this might have been better off as a pamphlet, because after the first few chapters I lost interest.
Boring is easy to read, and simply written. Just nothing really new to see here.
God really is found in the small stuff, and the first few chapters show the wonder of creation and life. However, this might have been better off as a pamphlet, because after the first few chapters I lost interest.
Boring is easy to read, and simply written. Just nothing really new to see here.
November 16, 2013
a very practical and encouraging book. gives a solid biblical framework for "reshaping our view of the ordinary in light of the extraordinary God."
i found the chapters on parenting and the church to be particularly helpful. "in the middle of the mundane there is something of cosmic significance going on" -- kelley winsomely exhorts us to not overlook this or take it for granted. easy to read, engaging illustrations, solid handling of biblical texts.
this book was given to me as a first reads winner through goodbook, with no obligation to review it.
i found the chapters on parenting and the church to be particularly helpful. "in the middle of the mundane there is something of cosmic significance going on" -- kelley winsomely exhorts us to not overlook this or take it for granted. easy to read, engaging illustrations, solid handling of biblical texts.
this book was given to me as a first reads winner through goodbook, with no obligation to review it.
April 23, 2015
I won an advance copy of this book in a Goodreads contest. I wasn't sure what to expect, but found that it was an excellent reminder of what life is supposed to be! This is the kind of book that reminds you of things you probably already know, but have forgotten in the chaos of your everyday existence. It would be a great resource for anyone who feels they are stuck in a rut. I plan on buying several copies to give to family, friends, and acquaintances!
December 9, 2013
Most of us Christians will live boring lives. Going to work, changing diapers. We might read those "Do Great Things For God" books but ending up doing the same mundane actions of daily life. Kelley says our mundane lives can actually be ones where we see God move and take part in what He is doing. This is a good book of encouragement to all Christians in every walk of life. See my full review at http://bit.ly/1cuSeVw.
October 14, 2013
I won this book as a goodreads giveaway.
The book was a very quick and simple read. Perhaps a little too simplistic because it had a hard time keeping my attention. Not for everyone, but you never know til you try it
The book was a very quick and simple read. Perhaps a little too simplistic because it had a hard time keeping my attention. Not for everyone, but you never know til you try it
January 21, 2014
A refreshing new twist about the mundane things of life. I read the book thinking it would have biographical snippets weaved throughout. Yes, one finally arrived at the last chapter. I had a greater expectation for this book because of the recommendation.
October 7, 2013
Loved this book. Reads like a long chat with a good friend.
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