Love Story - The Myth that really Happened

by Glen Scrivener

We all love stories. We can't help it. They fill our vision and capture our heart. And these stories all follow familiar patterns: rags to riches; the monster defeated; love lost and then found again. Across the ages and down through history these themes have resonated with people. Is it possible that these themes go deeper than the story books? Could it be that we tell such stories because we are in such a story. And might the ultimate Hero have shown up, turning it all from fiction to fact. That's the claim of this book. In Love Story we explore Jesus as the true Hero and Easter as the 'myth that really happened'.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction, Christian Living, Faith, Christianity

73 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

Glen directs the evangelistic charity Speak Life. He is an ordained Anglican who writes, speaks, and makes media to equip the church and reach beyond it. He is married to Emma and is the author of 7 books, including 321, Long Story Short and The Gift.

Reviews

[Tim Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short, sharp book (only 70 or so pages), that takes a closer look at the Easter story through four alliterative lenses:
1. Love Stoops
2. Love Suffers
3. Love Sacrifices
4. Love Stands
What I think Glen has done so well is write an evangelistic text that touches on existential questions, lived experience, history and theology, and he does it all in a way that is approachable and even enjoyable to read.
If you were looking to give someone a book that would encourage them to consider the claims of Christianity, but didn't think they were quite at a "lets read through a whole gospel" stage, this would be a fantastic candidate!

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of Love Story is that Easter or the resurrection of Christ is the myth that really happened or a fairy tale that is true. Through stories we have, be it on classical literature or on our screen, they try to emulate (unknowingly) this redemption narrative. Glen opens this book with the story of the conversation of Lewis and Tolkien about Easter. Then carried over to the the next chapter about comicbook superhero origins and its importance. For me this comparison is a big deal to me because I can easily relate and I think others will, given that our media is saturated with superhero movies and TV shows.

Glen Scrivener continues to impress me on this “Easter as the ultimate fairy tale” thing by presenting the first verse on Genesis and in the OT story of Hosea and Gomer. I was moved when he said that God wants to let Hosea feel what its like to love, i.e. God loving Israel. Its deep and penetrating. I asked myself if this is this book about Valentine or Easter. I would say it’s both! But the author doesn’t just settle for the “ultimate fairy tale” theme in this book. By now you’re getting the point and wants to go deeper. Well, Scrivener obliged to do that for the reader. After stating the Easter is the ultimate love story, he then dissect what kind of love God wants to show us in this great romance. And he somewhat corresponds each characteristics to each day of passion week from Maundy Thursday culminating to Easter.

I would have thrown in the towel in reading this book because of two things: sinner’s prayer and evidential apologetics. However, I like how places the sinner’s prayer and evidential apologetics, with taste and proper context that wont distort the gospel of presented in this book. The final part of the book are truly moving and convicting, and all I can say that Scrivener has written must read book this coming Lent. Highly recommend!

My verdict:

4.5 out of 5

[Itzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story that explores Jesus as the true hero of Easter. I had met the author and that's how the book came to me :) so glad it did. Thank you, Glen!

[Andrew McAuley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter genuinely made me smile at the warmth of God’s love.
Loved it from start to finish!

[Joshua Slade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cracking little read that shows readers the hope provided by the God of love, light and life in a world of disconnection, darkness and death. Glen points out that the Easter story is THE original, true myth that all our other ones mimic in some shape or form, and that our hearts are hardwired in a 'life from the dead' way. By believing in the 'life from the dead' God, we can enter the Love Story for ourselves.

[Chad Veal]

Was given to me at Hope Fellowship (Cambridge) on Easter Sunday. Read it on the plane ride back.

[Debbra Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read but very gospel based book...perfect for Easter

[Jacinta patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet. He explains the love story at the heart of the universe. Compelling, light, and deep. Love Glen’s words.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely perfect! incredibly well written and so informative, yet simple. a rich depth of knowledge, accessible and understood by the average person