Next Door Savior: Near Enough to Touch, Strong Enough to Trust

This book introduced me to the writtings of Lucado. I have read and re-read this book so many times over. I am a big fan of Lucado but I would have to say, hands down that this one in particular is, by far, the best. This book certainly accomplishes it's goal and title of presenting "the Savior" as both able and attainable. You know, the image that the church has projected of God has been one where God sits in His throne, annoyed or angry with humanity. Lucado helps "bring God closer" to the reader and allows the reader to feel the nearness of a God that longs to touch thier life.

I have read this book at least twice and have shared it with friends several times over. I gave my original book to a friend and had to buy another, just so I could keep it in my home. I love Max Lucado's books to begin with, but this particular book really touched my heart, soul & spirit. My favorite chapter is 10 - The Trashman, it makes me cry every time I read it... and I have read it many, many times. This is a wonderful book to keep and to share with friends and family. Give it to those who don't "believe" and those who already do. This book is a fabulous read!!!

This is my first Max Lucado book and I loved it! It took me a while to read it because I don't read that often but something made me keep coming back to try and finish it. He made everything so simple and easy to understand. The real life examples were great! I would recommend it to anyone!

Ok, I repent. I have never read a Max Lucado book before. Just about everyone I know has, but I found excuse after excuse to avoid reading them. In do not know why. Maybe I figured that I had more important, or more entertaining reading to do. But the truth be told, I have never been a big fan of devotional books. But then I received this book as a birthday present from two dear friends in my church and what a blessing it has been. Lucado is a master of the English language. You will not find more beautiful prose written anywhere. It is simply beautiful. Lucado takes a look at the life of Christ as if Christ is your neighbor next door. Thus, the book has a contemporary feeling. We are not reading about something that happened in ancient times, but we are learning how the living Christ is working in the world around us. Not only is this a well-written book, it is an insightful book as well. The author has a way of looking at well know verses in a fresh new way. And yes, he even gave me insight to Scripture that I had overlooked. Written in short chapters, it lends itself to being read devotionally- one chapter per day. You cannot rush Lacado. It is not a quick read. It is too insightful, to beautiful to speed-read. This is one good book.

It is fair to say that Lucado never disappoints the reader-his faith is deep and his words are fresh, original and marvelously chosen. The turns of phrase conjure up entire scenes in our imagination. For instance, he speaks of Jesus as "The maker of the world with a belly button" and "Heaven's human". (Page 5). He says of Jesus, "His vibrato made dentures rattle and rafters shake" (page 6). And Lucado writes with a pastor's heart.This book is an invitation to anyone who will accept it, to see what Jesus can do. Lucado depicts Jesus as the One who unties the knots we make in life, and who is glad to hear our request for His help. Someone with some odd characters in His family tree. Someone who knows how we feel; who has been there Himself. Who knew the need to get away for awhile. Who was physically unremarkable yet spiritually unmatchable. And One whose every concern was for you. Lucado says Jesus is "not ashamed of you. Nor is he confused by you. Your actions don't bewilder him. Your tilted halo doesn't trouble him." (Page 17).The great thing about this book is that it puts the reader at ease in Christ's presence. If Jesus is the "friend of flops" and "shady people" (we think to ourselves) then maybe, just maybe, He is our friend, too. If he could take Matthew, a guy who "ranked barely above plankton on the food chain," and make of him one of the founders of our faith, then (we wonder silently) what might He do with the likes of us?This is emphasized in a passage Lucado uses to describe Jesus' reaching the unreached, the very people he came to save, at that party at Matthew's house: "...the crowd inside tells you this is anything but a clergy conference. Earrings on the guys and tattoos on the girls. Moussified hair. Music that rumbles teeth roots. And buzzing around in the middle of the group is Matthew, making more connections than an electrician.... Sinners and saints in the same room, and no one's trying to determine who is which. But an hour or so into the evening the door opens and an icy breeze blows in. The Pharisees...the religious police and their thin-lipped piety." (Pages 23 & 24).If that doesn't makes you want to read the rest of the book, you will be missing a rare pleasure.Lucado, who is Pulpit Minister at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the most recognized Christians in the world today, and this is one of the top best-selling religious books of 2003.