How do the life and teachings of Jesus address the most critical global problems in our world today? In Everything Must Change, you will accompany Brian around the world on a search for answers. Along the way you'll experience intrigue, alarm, challenge, insight, and hope. You'll get a fresh and provocative vision of Jesus and his teachings. And you'll see how his core message can infuse us with purpose and passion to address the economic, environmental, military, political, and social dysfunctions that have overtaken our world. Jesus' message is more than a ticket to heaven or a formula for personal prosperity. It is an invitation to personal and global transformation. It is a radical challenge to the underlying stories that drive our suicidal systems-social, economic, and political. It invites us to imagine what would happen -if people of faith moved beyond political polarization and a few hot-button issues to the deeper questions nobody is asking. -if the world's leading nations spent less on weapons and more on peace-making, poverty-alleviation, and creation-care. -if a renewed understanding of Jesus and his message sparked a profound spiritual awakening in a global movement of faith, hope, and love. -if we believed that God's will really could be done on earth and not just in heaven. If you are hungry for a fresh vision of what it means to be a person of faith, Everything Must Change applies the good news of Jesus to a world in need, igniting a revolution of hope that can change everything. Beginning with you. Beginning now. Editorial ReviewsFrom Publishers WeeklyStarred Review. McLaren, a leader in the emerging church, issues a salvo of arguments for radical hope in the face of profound dilemmas. The prolific author and pastor identifies the earth's four deep dysfunctions that have created a suicide machine: crises in prosperity, equity, security and spirituality. What could change, he asks, if we applied the message of Jesus--the good news of the kingdom of God--to the world's greatest problems? Here McLaren builds on the theme of his 2006 book The Secret Message of Jesus--that bringing about the kingdom means transforming the world we live in--to propose that we create a hope insurgency. Using a close reading of the Gospels to challenge conservative evangelicals' emphasis on individual salvation, not to mention end-times theology and, by implication, the prosperity gospel, McLaren argues for establishing a beloved community based on justice, peace, equality and compassion. McLaren's conclusions are not new, but his ability to be clear and persuasive--and get the attention of a segment of America's Christians--are exceptional. While his critics will find yet more material for challenging McLaren's views, his supporters will consider this book a riveting call to a new conversion. (Oct. 2) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.From AudioFileWith light enunciation, Lloyd James narrates this (self-proclaimed) unconventional pastor's call for a new kind of Christianity. James captures the author's anger with God for allowing national and international disasters. He deftly delivers McLaren's analysis of the perfect storm that led to what he calls the four foundational crises--in prosperity, equity, security, and spiritual beliefs. McLaren calls the four a "suicide machine" because their focus is destructive instead of service oriented. He says Christians should address these crises but cannot because religion has spiritually failed. In the final analysis, the author replaces the "good news" message of salvation the Bible offers with a bad news message that "good works" are the way to heaven. G.D.W. AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.