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Seriously Funny: Life, Love and God...musings Between Two Good Friends
A little while ago, concerned that the next time they got together, one of them would be in a coffin, Jeff Lucas and Adrian Plass decided to start exchanging letters - and this book is the result.
Breathtakingly honest, Seriously Funny is a celebration of 21st century Christianity - as well as a no-holds barred expose of its sillier side. And they are equally hard on themselves - their most embarrassing moments are a joy to read.
Breathtakingly honest, Seriously Funny is a celebration of 21st century Christianity - as well as a no-holds barred expose of its sillier side. And they are equally hard on themselves - their most embarrassing moments are a joy to read.
168 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
8 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Plass
137 books105 followersAdrian Plass is a writer and speaker who has produced over thirty books in the last twenty years. The best known of these is probably The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, a gentle satire on the modern church, which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide. This and other books have travelled to other countries and are translated into a number of foreign languages. Other books include biography, novels, short stories, a fictionalised account of the author's experiences as a residential child care worker, and collections of poems and sketches. A bemused Anglican, Adrian lives with his wife and daughter in a small market town near the Sussex South Downs.
Adrian has been in demand as a speaker in venues as varied as prisons, schools, churches, festivals, literary dinners and theatrical settings. His work also includes contribution to national and local radio and television. Live presentations combine humour, poetry, and story telling, largely revolving around his own inadequacies and struggles as a Christian and a human being.
In recent years Adrian has been joined by his wife Bridget in presenting a more varied and dramatic style of performance. Adrian and Bridget met at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and have found particular satisfaction in being allowed to ‘do a bit of acting’. They have also been privileged to work alongside World Vision on several occasions, visiting Bangladesh and Zambia, writing two books and touring both in the UK and abroad with the aim of encouraging people to take up child sponsorship
Their work now takes them as far away as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Africa, while trips to Europe have introduced the added dimension of speaking through interpreters. Not easy when you're trying to be funny!
Adrian's latest books include ‘Jesus Safe Tender and Extreme‘, published by Zondervan, ‘Blind Spots in the Bible’, published by BRF, and most recent of all ‘Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation’ published by Authentic Media. He and Bridget have also collaborated with friends in Canada to produce a CD of his favourite sketches from the last 20 years called ‘Preaching to the Converted’ while ‘A Touch of Plass’, CTA’s documentary video, is now out on DVD.
2008 began with a visit to Bolivia for Bridget and Adrian in collaboration with the charity Toybox to look at projects involving street children. Later on there will be a DVD, a book and a number of presentations promoting their work.
Adrian's central motivation continues to be his love for Jesus, although some may feel he expresses it rather eccentrically. His passion is to communicate the need for reality in faith, and a truth that he learned during a difficult stage in his life: "God is nice and he likes me..." Some have described his work as being ‘one long confessional’. They may well be right!
Adrian has been in demand as a speaker in venues as varied as prisons, schools, churches, festivals, literary dinners and theatrical settings. His work also includes contribution to national and local radio and television. Live presentations combine humour, poetry, and story telling, largely revolving around his own inadequacies and struggles as a Christian and a human being.
In recent years Adrian has been joined by his wife Bridget in presenting a more varied and dramatic style of performance. Adrian and Bridget met at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and have found particular satisfaction in being allowed to ‘do a bit of acting’. They have also been privileged to work alongside World Vision on several occasions, visiting Bangladesh and Zambia, writing two books and touring both in the UK and abroad with the aim of encouraging people to take up child sponsorship
Their work now takes them as far away as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Africa, while trips to Europe have introduced the added dimension of speaking through interpreters. Not easy when you're trying to be funny!
Adrian's latest books include ‘Jesus Safe Tender and Extreme‘, published by Zondervan, ‘Blind Spots in the Bible’, published by BRF, and most recent of all ‘Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation’ published by Authentic Media. He and Bridget have also collaborated with friends in Canada to produce a CD of his favourite sketches from the last 20 years called ‘Preaching to the Converted’ while ‘A Touch of Plass’, CTA’s documentary video, is now out on DVD.
2008 began with a visit to Bolivia for Bridget and Adrian in collaboration with the charity Toybox to look at projects involving street children. Later on there will be a DVD, a book and a number of presentations promoting their work.
Adrian's central motivation continues to be his love for Jesus, although some may feel he expresses it rather eccentrically. His passion is to communicate the need for reality in faith, and a truth that he learned during a difficult stage in his life: "God is nice and he likes me..." Some have described his work as being ‘one long confessional’. They may well be right!
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 11, 2018
Loved this book. So refreshingly real, relatable and honest. Through their 'thinking aloud' and anecdotal way of writing to each other, they manage to uncover some punchy life lessons, often whilst making you laugh a lot at the same time!
July 20, 2016
Very entertaining book! I highly recommend. I enjoyed their views on theology and whit along the way. It's refreshing to read a book like this.
November 1, 2020
Thought-provoking and funny
An enjoyable read by two Christian authors who look at life and faith in a way that rings true. A very good read.
An enjoyable read by two Christian authors who look at life and faith in a way that rings true. A very good read.
September 18, 2024
You can't go far wrong with Adrian's books. Nice to know he's still as insecure and confused as he was in the 80s!
August 2, 2011
It's difficult to criticise the idea of putting letters together into a book. I seem to recall it being done successfully elsewhere. There is the sense though that these have been adapted for wider circulation, and the two protagonists come across for a large proportion as a christian equivalent of the Grumpy Old Men tv show. They criticise others for being negative to them, but are surely now doing exactly the same thing. Later chapters improve and there are a few funny takes and sensible observations, but it's all safe, traditional ground. There are some nuggets of wisdom here though, you just need to wade through some other ranting to find them.
January 31, 2021
Varianta în limba română nu apare... deși este din 2011!
June 1, 2022
What a gem. Christian writers Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas teamed up to produce this book. It consists of letters they exchanged over some months, with a brief introduction by each of them at the beginning. I'm assuming the letters - if they really did start their existence that way - have been heavily edited; but it hardly matters. The personalities of the two writers comes across with that wonderful mixture of humour and deep 'aha' moments that I've found so often with Adrian Plass's writing.
There are amusing - sometimes embarrassing - incidents recorded by both, demonstrating their fallibility and humanity; something often missing in books by 'famous' authors (Christian or otherwise). There are some clever gems scattered around, easy to miss if reading too fast. And there are a great many thought-provoking discussions about church life, and boredom, and Christian conferences, and ways that God might - or might not - speak.
I would recommend it highly to any Christians who might be feeling cynical, or disillusioned, or just trying their best in a low-key kind of way to follow Jesus.
Latest full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
There are amusing - sometimes embarrassing - incidents recorded by both, demonstrating their fallibility and humanity; something often missing in books by 'famous' authors (Christian or otherwise). There are some clever gems scattered around, easy to miss if reading too fast. And there are a great many thought-provoking discussions about church life, and boredom, and Christian conferences, and ways that God might - or might not - speak.
I would recommend it highly to any Christians who might be feeling cynical, or disillusioned, or just trying their best in a low-key kind of way to follow Jesus.
Latest full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
May 29, 2013
I'm not sure if the title is a play on words, if it is then I have missed the joke. There are some very funny scenes portrayed, and there are some very serious and provocative discussions on the Christian life - should you decide to take them seriously at that point. The book is a series of letters between the two writers/speakers. I decided part way through that they had always been intending to publish them, but by the end I was not so sure. The tone is very easy going and friendly, and they take care to respect each others views and 'eccentricities'.
Its an enjoyable read, one quick similie that I particularly enjoyed described Christian's as postmen delivering the word of God to others and pointed out that postmen do not own the message, just deliver it carefully. If I were in the book there would now be some careful caveats to limit the scope, but I'm not in the book, so I needn't bother.
Well worth a read.
Its an enjoyable read, one quick similie that I particularly enjoyed described Christian's as postmen delivering the word of God to others and pointed out that postmen do not own the message, just deliver it carefully. If I were in the book there would now be some careful caveats to limit the scope, but I'm not in the book, so I needn't bother.
Well worth a read.
May 21, 2013
For a long time both Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas have been renown for their ability to utilize humor to get across important messages. There is some of that in this read, however what challenged me was the open and honest way there were willing to talk about stuff we often just don't or won't talk about. The fact that people in encountering Jesus may not have huge life changing encounters, however they do come to experience the abiding presence land love of Christ. The willing exploration of how those of us in the church might still not get the grace application bit for those seeking 'something'. How we need to just listen at times and show some kindness. If you are open to having your thinking possibly challenged, take a read. Bless ya real good!
October 16, 2010
Totally enjoyed it. I was handed to me by some friends, and I dashed through it in a day and a half. Great light hearted reading with some great insights. Nothing mind bending, but very funny, honest, and for an American good to see that British Christianity is struggling with the same things we are.
September 26, 2012
I just like knowing that there are other Christians as mad as me with vivid imaginations. I also like that these two are not all-knowing holier than thou gurus but fellow pilgrims who stuff up, react humanly but who still always turn back to God and plod on. Great read.
February 11, 2019
Outstanding
Laughing and crying through the tome, I felt as though I were sitting with brothers whose paths had often intersected with my own American walk. What a refreshing read! I was honestly saddened when it came to an end. Thank you, Adrian and Jeff!
Laughing and crying through the tome, I felt as though I were sitting with brothers whose paths had often intersected with my own American walk. What a refreshing read! I was honestly saddened when it came to an end. Thank you, Adrian and Jeff!
May 1, 2012
This book gives you a giggle and also makes you think. Entertaining and challenging.
September 27, 2011
A light-hearted read, yet provoking at times. Good stuff.
December 7, 2012
The partnership between Plass and Lucas is brill, makes you laugh and cry, nice to know that even mature 'well known' and loved Christians can also struggle at times.
February 20, 2013
Top class, properly funny and so refreshing to read something by Christian writers firmly rooted in real life. Highly, highly recommended.
February 27, 2025
Thought provoking and funny.
February 8, 2023
Amusing in parts with some wise observations and moments of great honesty. Nevertheless it felt rather contrived at times, almost as if it was playing for laughs, which I suppose it was.
November 8, 2013
Very funny. Christians as I've never seen them before. ;)
September 22, 2015
I loved this book. It was easy reading whilst also challenging ~ a difficult thing to pull off. A real exploration of faith in practice, written in a series of letters between two friends.
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June 21, 2019Makes me smile and think.
It's down to earth honest and has humour but at the same time deadly serious. It makes me smile and reflect on my own life as a follower of Jesus
It's down to earth honest and has humour but at the same time deadly serious. It makes me smile and reflect on my own life as a follower of Jesus
December 28, 2019
There is quite a risk of not meeting expectations if you title a book seriously funny. So it was for me. I like Adrian Plass a lot, I did not know Jeff Lucas.
June 29, 2021
Any book that announces itself with such a title has a good deal to live up to. Unfortunately this one doesn't.
August 18, 2013
Tongue in cheek but refreshingly irreverent at times.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews