I’ve been joking a bit about my new book.
The phrase I’ve used is “its not yo mama’s bible study.”
NOT YO MAMA’S BIBLE STUDY
This is a very true and appropriate phrase. Exodus to Freedom isn’t your typical, run-of-the-mill journey through Exodus. This is a journey with purpose which calls for change. It is basically a spiritual exodus that takes place inside your heart and hopefully spills over to the inside of the modern-day church.
The joke part of the above is that the study has been compared to banana pudding. To be specific it is a recipe that Paula Dean made famous a few years ago.
BANANA PUDDING BIRTHDAY PARTY
It all began at the office when we were celebrating the birthday of a former employee. That person loved banana pudding; but not just any banana pudding. Her favorite type of banana pudding had to be the version of banana pudding that Paula Dean had created.
Why? Because it was DIFFERENT from all the other banana pudding recipes.
So that is the treat we served for her. I have to agree that this version of banana pudding was definitely different in many ways; all of them good and delicious. I would go so far as to say it was the best I’ve ever tasted.
THE BEST OF THE BEST
That is what I hope people will say after they read Exodus to Freedom. I haven’t told many; but Exodus to Freedom was my firstfruits offering to The Lord for this year. Offerings need to be “the first and the best” of your annual crop, or the fruit of your labors. I think this book could fit that description.
As I wished my friend a happy birthday, and indulged in my portion of the very tasty banana pudding that someone had made especially for her; I began to think of how that banana pudding compared to my latest book.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE
First of all; it was different and unique.
I think that is why Paula Dean must have named her banana pudding “Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding.”
My book was “different” and “unique” too. Both the book, and the banana pudding, were “different” in a good way. You still get the basic product you are wanting to get; like the bananas and the pudding. With my book, you still get the whole story of The Exodus, which has been done a million times in a million different ways; but this one – is just a little different.
So what is so different?
AN ELEMENT WAS CHANGED
The banana pudding didn’t have vanilla wafers, as traditional banana puddings do. The cookie in this mix wasn’t the same familiar cookie that people were used to finding in banana pudding. It contained a cookie made by Pepperidge Farms called Chessmen Butter Cookies. They aren’t cheap. (72 cookies cost about $33.) However; they sure are delicious!
These cookies are the main ingredient which is different in this recipe that makes it so special. Once you have had banana pudding made this way; you will not go back to the old fashioned way you loved before.
It is that good.
YOUR HABITS MIGHT CHANGE UNEXPECTEDLY
Well; my book is like that too!
If you truly take the truths from this book to heart; it might change the way you are now doing life.
Some of the subjects are not your run-of-the-mill, over-discussed subjects of the Exodus. It is still the same delicious story, only with a new cookie called “truth.”
THE COST YOU PAY FOR TRUTH
Sometimes truth can be costly.
You know what though?
It is the truth that will set you free.
This book doesn’t beat around the bush about the truth. Let’s face the facts. Truth is the missing ingredient from most of our worship today. Many churches are baby-sitting and entertaining instead of preaching truth. Not all of them for sure; but many.
Just as that changed cookie in the banana pudding recipe which makes it so special; the changed ingredients of this book will help you to grow spiritually. Not only is the book based solely on scriptural truth; but each chapter contains thought provoking study and group discussion questions at the end. This does make the book a little bit more expensive (because it is actually two books in one) but the little “extra” that you get for a slightly higher price is totally worth it.
OTHER SPECIAL INGREDIENTS
There are also a few other things that Paula Dean does to her pudding that sets it apart from the others. For instance she adds sweetened condensed milk, whipped topping and cream cheese into her other pudding ingredients. This makes the pudding sweeter, lighter and richer.
You know that is how this book turned out too.
Exodus to Freedom is sweeter to read because it takes the story of the Exodus to a whole new spiritual level than many studies of The Exodus. Nothing is left out, and the subjects inside are rich with meaning which shed new light into how to walk with Jesus through the world we are living in today.
A VERSATILE TEACHING
One thing I loved about that little birthday party was the fact that banana pudding can be so versatile. It can be used for so many different occasions. In this case we replaced the usual birthday cake with this tasty and original treat.
It was good for the occasion, and kept things from getting boring and predictable. Of course; everyone wanted to talk about this delightful recipe. It was a great conversation starter. The rest of the party just flowed out from that one topic.
The book is very versatile too.
Exodus To Freedom is easy to read and understand. The book is interesting for an individual to read; yet perfectly suited to small group or structured studies within church congregations. The questions at the end of each chapter flow with the information of each chapter. These thought-provoking questions cause any individual to stop and digest what they have read. The questions also provide great starters for group conversations and discussions.
So please don’t put off buying this book. It will carry you deeper into the mysteries of The Exodus while helping you use that knowledge for living out your life today. Each chapter will take your small group discussions to a whole new level. I think you are going to enjoy the great detail that this study will reveal.
Go to Amazon.com and place your order for Exodus to Freedom today.
Of course; if you need to know more about Paula Dean’s Pudding recipes; here is that link too:https://www.pauladeen.com/recipe/not-yo-mamas-banana-pudding/.
I hope this article has done all that it can do to make you hungry in two different ways!
Gail Landgraf/Author of Exodus to Freedom/Banana Pudding Extraordinaire