Brandon Clements

I met Jeff Goins last September at the STORY Conference in Chicago. I had been following his blog for a while and as we talked, I found liked him more and more. Being two young guys in ministry who also love to write–we had a lot to chat about. Thus a cyber-friendship became a real-life friendship, and as they say, the rest is history. I’ve continued to appreciate and learn a ton from him since.

Jeff just released his first print book this week, titled: Wrecked: When A Broken World Slams Into Your Comfortable Life.

The cover has the image of an upside-down turtle (which I love)–a great picture that captures the disorienting feeling attached to encountering the brokenness of the world firsthand.

Jeff’s job gives him a unique perspective with a lot of insight into this issue–he helps tell stories for missionaries for Adventures In Missions, a large mission organization based in Georgia.

Drawing on his own personal stories of encountering brokenness in the world both abroad and here in the states, as well as stories of friends and missionaries, he relates exceedingly well to the tension so many young Christians feel when they first get their world turned upside down. When they take that first mission trip…see their first glimpse of true poverty.

But it is not your typical, “Get out there and do something meaningful!” Christian book. It certainly has elements of purpose, meaning, and sacrifice–which I appreciate and applaud. But my favorite part of the book is the humility and the depth of insight it shows.

Jeff does not say “You’re wasting your life unless you do _____!” Instead, with a lot of wisdom and grace, he points out some difficult truths:

• That in order to find your life, you have to lose it.
• That losing your life for the sake of God and others may not look like what you think.
• That it may very well be less glamorous than you’d hope for, less cool than some of the stories you hear.
• That it will require not only ongoing sacrifice, but ongoing commitment.
• That though commitment feels like the plague for much of our generation–it is an extraordinary gift that brings so much meaning to life.
• That it won’t always be easy, but it will be good. In fact, the best. Because God only gives good gifts.

“The thing you try to avoid the most is often the remedy for your own self-centeredness.”

Ouch, Jeff.