iCrucified

One word describes this little book, me myself & I AM; “wow.” I really can’t believe how close I came to passing it over for review. This is a true case of “you can’t judge a book by its cover…” The book’s physical qualities do not give any foreshadowing of the treasure trove that awaits the person holding it in their hands. Now, I know those are lofty words and there is a need for explanation or qualification for that praise, so allow me to share some additional thoughts.

First, this is not a “reader” type of book. You won’t sit down with it and get drawn into its story. The twist for this little volume is “you.” You are the story; you and God…and for each person, the story will be different. There are literally hundreds of thought-provoking multiple choice, essay,  and survey style fill-in-the-blank  questions to lead the reader into retrospective-introspection with a focus steered toward the “when and how” God has been and is working in their life.

Secondly, I have not been able to stop the flood of ideas on the potential uses for this book. I am a Pastor by vocation and happen to be involved in the direction of small groups, Christian Education, and many other aspects of discipleship. I believe me, myself, & I AM can be used in mentor-discipleship relationships, small groups, spiritual formation, marriage counseling, youth groups, and ice-breakers for larger gatherings…and these are just a few ideas. I really think it is a remarkable little volume and can see it becoming a “swiss army knife” in my curriculum builder toolbox.

Finally, I think progression of the questions (chapters?) can be useful in helping the person who is a novice in journaling. It can be beneficial in teaching the discipline and getting into the habit without a lot of effort in deciding “what to write or journal about.” The format is logical and follows a pattern that leads the “journaler” into the ways of introspective contemplation; a great tool, indeed. I look forward to using this book as a tool in my life and my ministry to/with others.

Book:  Me Myself & I AM   

Author:  Created by Matthew Peters in partnership with Elisa Stanford

Summary: A new experience of God comes one question at a time in this fun and provocative journal. Made up entirely of insightful, profound, and occasionally ridiculous questions, Me, Myself, and I AM invites you to open to any page, open yourself to God, and be the author of yourown story.

Questions range from spiritually intriguing-

You overhear God talking about you. What do hear him saying?

to thought-provoking-

You are on a long car trip with a close friend who is not a Christian and the conversation turns to faith. What is your biggest fear about what your friend will ask or say?

to challenging-

Do you believe that all of Jesus’s followers have a responsibility to tell others about him?

to just plain fun-

If your life before you became a Christian were a movie, its title would be:

Animal House

As Good as It Gets

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It’s a Wonderful Life

Me, Myself, and I AM will entertain, inspire, and get you thinking about your spiritual life from brand new angles. Whether you use Me, Myself, and I AM as a reflective tool, a way to start conversations with friends and family, or as a spiritual time capsule to look back on years later, their own words will create a powerful journey of self-discovery.