Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a firsthand faith by Glenn Packiam is one of the best books Ive read in a long while! Perhaps I feel this way because my pastor just spoke a bit lately on knowing God for yourself rather than through the knowledge that others have gained through spending time with Him. We MUST know God for ourselves that is what relationship is all about! And this book encourages, no urges, the reader to do exactly that!Although this is not a large volume, it is packed full of Biblical references and life applications, sound advice and a wealth of historical information. I am so glad I had the opportunity to devour this wonderful work of non-fiction! I know that every Christian would benefit from reading this book that is bound to take their relationship with God to the next level!

Glenn Packiam, an associate worship pastor at New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado, was on staff when the shock of his life came. His senior pastor had been found in a very public sin, and was asked to step down. Glenn realized that his walk with Christ was a second hand walk. Just as second hand cigarette smoke will kill non-smokers, a second hand relationship with Jesus will bring you spiritual death. Join Glenn, as he explores and deepens his relationship with Jesus. Each chapter ends with discussion questions, making this book a wonderful tool for a book group. A well written book, with interesting stories and spiritual truths, Glenn has written a book to definitely share with friends and family.

Glenn Packiam, the author, was a young pastor songwriter who had everything going for him and suddenly one Thursday his world crumbled when the head pastor of his church was found to not be what he was thought to be, in other words, he was sinful. From this shock, Mr. Packiam discovered something that many of us have discovered ~ not all pastors, ministers, leaders, and other scholars in the Christian world really know what they are talking about. They don't know God. They know bits and pieces of God, especially those pieces that we all like to think about, the God of prosperity, of rewards, of love, of forgiveness, of all the good things. The God of Psalm 23. But, he is also the God of Psalm 22, the God who doesn't seem to be always there, the God who demands vengeance. This book is written in a manner that the average person can understand, it is not scholarly nor brilliantly theological. That's a good thing, the average person doesn't bother to read those kind of books and gain insight from them. Mr. Packiam has chosen to write about the God of the Ark of the Covenant. How the Ark has shown some of His characteristics over the centuries. And how these characteristics are different from the way that most Christians view God, especially now that main-stream media churches are presenting him in an almost New Age type way. Do as God says, follow the rules, and you will be blessed. Of course, this is wrong but we are so brain washed and so materialistic that we believe it anyway. It's time Mr. Packiam declares, to get out the bible and discover for ourselves what and who God is. This book is an excellent reminder that our relationship with God is exactly that, a relationship, and we need to treat it as such.