This week I’m giving away THREE copies of Michael Kelley‘s book, Boring: Finding an Extraordinary God in an Ordinary Life.
I recently had the chance to ask Michael a few questions about his book:
Margaret: For readers who aren’t familiar with the book, what is the main idea?
Michael: The main idea of Boring is simple, but elusive I think: There is no such thing as ordinary when we follow an extraordinary God.
We live in a culture that is constantly looking toward the bigger, the better, and the more exciting. Because we are, any time we bump up an area of life that’s common—the stuff of everyday life, we treat it as something to either grit our teeth and just get through, or to escape from. Whether that means changing diapers, paying taxes, or going to the same job day after day, we think equate significance with excitement and can’t imagine that these seemingly mundane parts of life might actually be an essential part of God’s design.
I hope the book will help us see that meaning is found not outside of these ordinary areas of life but right in the middle of what we think of as boring.
What were the biggest challenges or struggles during the writing process?
The writing process is always difficult, but with this book, I found it particularly difficult to bear the weight of the message in my own life. Just like everyone else, there are parts of my life that are arduous. I drive the same route everyday. I have the same parenting struggles as any parent. My marriage has the same tendency to drop into routine as everyone else’s.
In writing about the true meaning found inside these mundane parts of life, I had to confront just how often I find myself bowing at the altar of the big and exciting. In writing, my view of everyday things like driving to work, being a dad, and going to church every Sunday needed to be confronted to see if I was truly seeing the significance of what I was doing or if I was always looking to something more exciting.
What is the biggest compliment and worst criticism of your book so far?
Michael: The biggest compliments I have received have come from people in my life who would consider themselves to be “ordinary” – they have regular jobs, live in regular homes, and do the regular stuff of life. It’s been great to hear them respond how the way they have viewed these components of their lives have changed. Because of the great presence and purpose of God, these regular parts of life suddenly have new meaning and significance.
One of the criticisms I’ve heard is that I am telling people something contrary to what they’ve grown accustomed to hearing in Christian teaching right now – not to take risks. Not to quit their jobs. Not to do something big and huge and grand for Jesus. It’s true that this is part of the message, but I think seeing that as the full message is missing the point. My hope is not to dissuade people from doing things like that but instead to recognize that the true measure of Christian commitment isn’t confined to the enormous decisions; more often, it’s lived out in these small everyday choices of following Jesus in the day to day.
Who should read Boring and why?
This book is for the stay-at-home mom and the office job dad. It’s for the regular church member and the ordinary citizen. It’s for the person who has ever looked at the seemingly mundane details of life and wondered if they are really doing anything that’s worthwhile. It’s for all of us ordinary people who are following an extraordinary God.
My hope, as you read the book, is that you would be awakened to the myth of the ordinary as you see an extraordinary God who is constantly moving and working. I’m praying that you might see the greater purposes in a few specific, but often ordinary areas of life that we tend to push to the margin. And maybe, when we get to the end, we will have begun to view God, and life, and a whole new way. Perhaps we will have begun to see that there really is no such thing as ordinary when you are following an extraordinary God.
To win ONE of THREE copies of Boring, enter a comment on the original post at MargaretFeinberg.com. Winners will be selected and announced on Friday.
Congratulations to the winners: Shelly Wotton, Anna Jane, and Jim
Would love to win.
Being a Christian, I have found, is just doing the next thing The Lord puts in front of you, knowing somehow it is for His glory.
I’m ordinary, and would love to win!
I need to read this book. Continually bored by the boring parts of my life.
It’s good to be reminded that the ordinary day in and day out living of life is significant and no less important than “big and exciting.”
Pick me! 🙂
I would love to read this book! God bless
Being post divorce 3 years, being unable to work, I am finding my life very mundane. Recently connected with a new church and community to work on myself and reconnect with Holy Spirit. Wanting to find the “more” in life I think this book would be a great asset
I would be the stay home mom. I love to hear stories of the extraordinary and believe they can be found anywhere.
I’d love to win a copy of this book… Just the title makes one think of how may times we take for granted who we are in Christ and it sounds like a powerful tool to use with our never ending ” teens” who are number one at “being borded” all the time… This book just might help with new in sight as to give new perspective for this “teen syndrome ” 🙂
God bless you!
And thanks for always bringing us new books to search for
This looks like a great book, with an important message for society today – a great reminder that we can accomplish amazing things for God even in the seemingly mundane activities throughout a “boring” day. Thank you for the post!
This book sounds like one I would enjoy reading. Lately, I’ve been trying to be more aware of the normal every day things as appreciate them. Working with preschool age children helps me to discover the wonder of seemingly ordinary things. Children look at clouds, airplanes and the sky with such wonder and amazement. I want to see things with wonder too!
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Just as my husband was diagnosed with leukemia I retired from full time ministry. As his caretaker life has really, really changed. There has been a lot of isolation, waiting and limitations. In all of this our good God has demonstrated His faithfulness over and over. It would be a blessing to me to read someone else’s perspective on those times when we need to get through very narrow days with joy and a sense of God’s plan and purpose.
Pick me!!!
xoxo
I am an ordinary woman who has recently retired to spend more time with my family and to experience the wonder of our loving God. I would love to receive this Book and after reading it to be able to share it with the other ladies in my Bible Study group.
I would love to win this book. I have been struggling with boredom within my life and daily routines. I need more purpose and inspiration in my life.
I need to read this book. I am struggling with this very thing right now.
Moses waited 40 years for something extraordinary, and then another. Lots of Christian friends of mine always seek new spiritual insights. I think it’s a fantastic notion to wait and simply enjoy God’s presence day to day, and also prepare to give extraordinarily at a moment’s notice. We are his children and also his army.
Sounds wonderful! Hope to win a copy. Thanks!
This sounds like a great book for a stay-at-home mom like me, in which lots of our daily tasks feel boring. Would love to read!
I was appreciate the article on “Boring”. The Gospels are full of what might have been ordinary moments in which Jesus moved so powerfully!!! We are His light here on earth and it’s key to recall the extraordinary opportunities we have every day!! Maybe we will be the one with a small lunch to share or the one to carry the one to the rooftop to be let down for healing!! Thanks!!!
I’d love a copy! Sounds great!
I’d like to read this book. Thanks for doing this giveaway!
I believe God wants us to see the extraordinary in our lives, our everyday, mundane lives. I love the emphasis that God is constantly at work making something of what we think is nothing or routine. I love God’s creativity in everything.
I would love to read this book! I think after doing the “Wonderstruck” study and “One Thousand Gifts”, it would be a good reminder of the great things big or small that God has created and in the midst of! I have been praying for you Margarett.
Looks like a wonderful book. Enter me in the drawing, please.
I feel like my life is boring at times….and that there must be something more so I would like to read what this author says on the subject. Thanks,
I’d like this book.
Reading this post reminded me of Romans 12:1-2 in the Message paraphrase. About how God wants us to lay down our everyday, regular life as an offering to Him. That’s what He really wants. Not just the BIG moments and decisions, which are quite rare in comparison. He doesn’t want me to run from or be embarrassed about my little life. He wants to breathe life into my little world through me. How amazing and humbling! Thanks for the opportunity to enter, Margaret 🙂
Would love to read the book!
Sounds like an awesome book!!
Oh wow! I would love to come to know my extraordinary God more through this book!
This looks like an interesting read. Sometimes a “boring” day is just what I need to refuel.
This reminds me of Eugene Peterson’s “A Long Obedience . . . .” I would love to win a copy of this. I enjoyed seeing Margaret at the AACC conference in Nashville. She gave a wonderful talk that had great impact on me and my friends who were with me. Praying for healing for her.
It is so easy for us to get caught in the “futility trap” and not be able to see the bigger picture of how God uses the seemingly ordinary. I am looking forward to reading this book and am hopeful to win it.
I want my life to be as extraordinary as God is, and I especially want to be an extraordinary example to others. Thanks for the chance to read this book
A great reminder to celebrate the sacred in the everyday art of life!
Looks like a great book! I would love to win a copy!:)
Sometimes I feel if I’m not doing big and exciting all the time, I’m letting not only myself down but also God. This sounds like a book I need to read. I’m trying to learn that slowing down is okay, and that ordinary stuff also makes a difference. I’d love to win a copy!
Interesting title. My life feels extraordinaire more often than not. Praise God for all our lives!
Very excited about this book!
As a person often feeling like he’s at least one degree removed from excitement, Michael Kelley’s book seems an apt read. Wouldn’t winning the contest be in direct contradiction with something Boring?
I am eager to receive and pass on ” Boring” to a friend that is in deep need of this refelction, a friend that is lost in the mundane ordinary aspects of her life. My life is the total opposite of hers; my life is filled with the majestic sparkling joy-filled wonder of His love, grace and mercy. Possibly this author’s words can move my friend toward the extraordinary so that she can feel as I do when I open my eyes each day.
I have always told my kids that if they are bored, it is their fault! Even the mundane can be interesting if you make it that way. I would love to know what Michael Kelley has to say on the subject! I need it for me, not just my 4 kids! Can’t wait to read this book!
I would love this book. This line in the article above “My hope is not to dissuade people from doing things like that but instead to recognize that the true measure of Christian commitment isn’t confined to the enormous decisions; more often, it’s lived out in these small everyday choices of following Jesus in the day to day.” really hit me. My husband are about to embark on our first mission trip to Papua New Guinea. We will be ministering to New Tribes Missionaries there. I know that when I return home that everything might seem slightly less grand then what I just experienced and I’ll need that reminder that following Jesus isn’t taking one big mission trip but is lived in the day to day! Can’t wait to read it!
Sounds really good!