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Flashbang: How I Got Over Myself
Mark Steele found himself trying to be a good Christian, but felt he wasn?t making any permanent difference. His life was turning into a flashbang ? something that makes a lot of noise but leaves no permanent indentation. In this hilarious memoir, Steele gives autobiographical accounts of enduring 40 days of facial paralysis, suffering public embarrassment at a Presidential Inauguration, receiving treatments of shock therapy from a first-timer and giving blood in a Mexican hospital. Each story brings Steele closer to the realization that being a Christian is more than just saying you are. In the end, he reveals his secret to living a more meaningful life?how he got over himself.
247 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2005
2 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Mark Steele
23 books15 followersMark is the Founder, President, and Executive Creative of Steelehouse Productions. Mark is also a well-known author, speaker, comedian, and film writer/director. Mark graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1991 with a degree in Drama, Television, and Film Telecommunications. He then spent the next seven years as a writer and director at Impact Productions. In 1998, Mark launched Steelehouse Productions with his longtime friend and associate Kevin Anderson.
Mark also has a long-standing history of stand-up comedy and performance in both stage and film as well as producing and directing film projects for both the corporate and artistic worlds. He speaks regularly at media and artistic conferences and events across America.
Mark has written several books incorporating humorous stories from his personal life while weaving in spiritual truths. Flashbang, Half-Life/Die Already, and Christianish have been released to great commercial success and overwhelmingly positive reviews. Mark also writes extensively for VeggieTales in his role as Chief of Creative Affairs for Big Idea Entertainment, Inc.
Tulsa World Review: Flashbang
Crosswalk Review: Christianish
He is a frequent contributor to Relevant magazine and Collide magazine, and recently retired from creating and producing the Steelehouse Podcast weekly with friend and fellow director Jeff Huston.
Relevant Magazine: “Gnashville”
Relevant Magazine: “Who Is Really Lost?”
Collide Magazine: “Rough Edit”
Mark’s next book is his first collection of fictional short stories entitled “Ounce of God” (2012).
Mark also has a long-standing history of stand-up comedy and performance in both stage and film as well as producing and directing film projects for both the corporate and artistic worlds. He speaks regularly at media and artistic conferences and events across America.
Mark has written several books incorporating humorous stories from his personal life while weaving in spiritual truths. Flashbang, Half-Life/Die Already, and Christianish have been released to great commercial success and overwhelmingly positive reviews. Mark also writes extensively for VeggieTales in his role as Chief of Creative Affairs for Big Idea Entertainment, Inc.
Tulsa World Review: Flashbang
Crosswalk Review: Christianish
He is a frequent contributor to Relevant magazine and Collide magazine, and recently retired from creating and producing the Steelehouse Podcast weekly with friend and fellow director Jeff Huston.
Relevant Magazine: “Gnashville”
Relevant Magazine: “Who Is Really Lost?”
Collide Magazine: “Rough Edit”
Mark’s next book is his first collection of fictional short stories entitled “Ounce of God” (2012).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 14, 2009
This books is for those that are probably both right and left brained. He takes you on an introspective journey as well as outward observations of what really matters with respect to faith. Highly recommend as an unconventional read.
July 12, 2008
It started off really good. I laughed out loud and got something out of it. Then about 2/3 through, it tanked--fizzled like a flashbang. It kind of killed the effect of the first part.
March 25, 2013
"The staggering truth was that God loved me raw though I only chose to come to Him refined." A truth that is oh so hard to learn. I find this book funny, weird (with all the internal dialogue), touching and honest :)
November 12, 2009
not a bad read. not an amazing read. or even a great read. but definitely not a bad one.
February 11, 2018
I Loved it, heaps of real life stories then he kind of pulls them I to what he is trying to get across.If our very own kiwi radio presenter Simon Barnett wrote a book I could see it being a very similar line.
February 1, 2016
Flashbang. Allow Mark Steele to provide the definition;
There is a weapon used by our nation's police force and military that is, in fact, not a weapon.... One that sounds off a resounding concussion [and] emanates a stunning bright light that is not actual fire... An explosion but not an explosion. A distraction with no destruction. A big noise and a lot of flash that leaves no lasting mark.
It is called the flashbang. (Flashbang, pg.xvi)
I first read this book in 2010. Why I've never officially reviewed it here is a mystery, because it is one of my favorite books. Mark Steele is a comic and runs Steelehouse Productions, doing all sorts of creative and artistic things.
Mark has written other books, which I have reviewed, but I return to this book from time to time for a few reasons. First, it's a hilarious read. Mark writes in a style where one feels like you might be having a conversation with him right in the room. He openly admits to adding details to stories for the sake of entertainment, without leaving out the truth of the matter.
Secondly, Mark writes here about topics that I need to hear about. Getting over oneself and living for maximum impact for the sake of Jesus. These are things I should never forget, a theme Mark returns to in this book frequently.
Filled with stories, this book will not keep you from the large stack of other books you may be feeling the need to get to. The dog-eared pages of the copy I own have many underlined passages, reminders of things I should be working on, stories that have helped me see truth in a new way.
Make no mistake about it, this book is not merely for entertainment, although it accomplishes that. Mark writes with an unrelenting purpose that people get over themselves for the sake of living with another purpose. God. But not just God as an idea or a concept. God as a person to chase after, at the cost of leaving ourselves behind. The bottom line can be summed in one more quote I will leave you with, found near the end of this book.
The staggering truth was that God loved me raw though I only chose to come to Him refined. (pg.234)
There is a weapon used by our nation's police force and military that is, in fact, not a weapon.... One that sounds off a resounding concussion [and] emanates a stunning bright light that is not actual fire... An explosion but not an explosion. A distraction with no destruction. A big noise and a lot of flash that leaves no lasting mark.
It is called the flashbang. (Flashbang, pg.xvi)
I first read this book in 2010. Why I've never officially reviewed it here is a mystery, because it is one of my favorite books. Mark Steele is a comic and runs Steelehouse Productions, doing all sorts of creative and artistic things.
Mark has written other books, which I have reviewed, but I return to this book from time to time for a few reasons. First, it's a hilarious read. Mark writes in a style where one feels like you might be having a conversation with him right in the room. He openly admits to adding details to stories for the sake of entertainment, without leaving out the truth of the matter.
Secondly, Mark writes here about topics that I need to hear about. Getting over oneself and living for maximum impact for the sake of Jesus. These are things I should never forget, a theme Mark returns to in this book frequently.
Filled with stories, this book will not keep you from the large stack of other books you may be feeling the need to get to. The dog-eared pages of the copy I own have many underlined passages, reminders of things I should be working on, stories that have helped me see truth in a new way.
Make no mistake about it, this book is not merely for entertainment, although it accomplishes that. Mark writes with an unrelenting purpose that people get over themselves for the sake of living with another purpose. God. But not just God as an idea or a concept. God as a person to chase after, at the cost of leaving ourselves behind. The bottom line can be summed in one more quote I will leave you with, found near the end of this book.
The staggering truth was that God loved me raw though I only chose to come to Him refined. (pg.234)
October 13, 2010
While Mark and I both have problems getting over ourselves (neither of us having perfected that trick), I found myself butting up against a number of little things that kept me from getting along with the author. It started when I didn't like his description of what a flashbang is. The metaphor of big, noisy distractions in our spiritual lives held together, though, so I put the book down to cool off a while before coming back.
But there were still little Velcro hooks holding me back from appreciating this book more. Abasements that didn't ring quite true, flashes of social conservatism or orthodoxies that I simply don't agree with, and once, somewhere toward the middle, the use of the term "Chinamen." I bet I would have liked this book a bit more if an editor had helped cut about 50 pages. Maybe I just get cynical with time as I read.
But there were still little Velcro hooks holding me back from appreciating this book more. Abasements that didn't ring quite true, flashes of social conservatism or orthodoxies that I simply don't agree with, and once, somewhere toward the middle, the use of the term "Chinamen." I bet I would have liked this book a bit more if an editor had helped cut about 50 pages. Maybe I just get cynical with time as I read.
July 3, 2007
Mark Steele's book is very funny with a lot of different life stories to keep you laughing and get a point across. His main goal is to let the reader see how he used to do things to gain popularity and for his own benefit, under the guise of working for God.
Instead we see how he learns to take changes and really give up himself for others. Most of these epiphanies come during mission trips where he's completely out of his comfort zone.
The book is very entertaining. The message is decent though I would have preferred more practical ways that we can change our own lives. Instead we see how his own life experiences have changed his life. It's much closer to an autobiography with a message of humility and taking chances.
Instead we see how he learns to take changes and really give up himself for others. Most of these epiphanies come during mission trips where he's completely out of his comfort zone.
The book is very entertaining. The message is decent though I would have preferred more practical ways that we can change our own lives. Instead we see how his own life experiences have changed his life. It's much closer to an autobiography with a message of humility and taking chances.
May 31, 2009
This book.. I love it. Mark Steele is hilarious and christian, and his book is the same and thats really hard to find sometimes. Great stories very relateable and not difficult to understand. I laughed, I almost sort of maybe cried but pretended not to because I was at work..
its good, I like it, so should you!
its good, I like it, so should you!
May 25, 2007
Mark Steele is a captivating writer and his book is an easy read. He appears to exagerate for effect, but he gives some great insight into life and the importance of learning how to get over oneself and live a life that truly impacts the world for change.
June 27, 2007
Even though the switching of perspective gets kind of confusing at times, I thought this book was a great read. It was funny which is what kept me reading it, but it also had a very good message underlying through the whole book.
June 17, 2008
I read this in China and liked it a lot because it made me laugh and think. Steele is a very honest writer and he writes in a somewhat understandable chaotic way, which is sort of how I think my brain works.
June 19, 2009
I know it's cliche to say "I laughed out loud!" but seriously: I mean no hyperbole. I had a consistent fit of the giggles all the way through. I made the mistake of reading this in the presence of other people once. Mark Steele, I heart you.
October 23, 2013
I enjoyed the first half of the book, though ibwas slightly disappointed that I wasn't laughing as much as I was expecting to. It was a good book, I think I liked the last chapter the best because that's when he really opened up about his life and his struggles.
April 30, 2009
Three stars for making me laugh out loud quite a bit.
March 21, 2009
fun read. Enjoyed Mark's perspective on ministry.
July 21, 2009
This book made me laugh out loud several times. It also brought tears to my eyes. The author has a unique story-telling style, which I really enjoyed!
January 3, 2016
This is my favorite book and I've read it at least 3 times. So many of his stories made me laugh out loud.
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February 20, 2016one of the funniest writers ever...with good stuff
June 1, 2009
So funny, and so to the core of our humanity as christians.
May 4, 2016
Laugh out loud funny. Some talk of being a Christian but not overbearing. Really enjoyed
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews