Out of Your Comfort Zone: Is Your God Too Nice?

Kendall strives to take the "nice" out of the God many people believe in today in this U.S. edition of his popular U.K. book. "He simply isn't always a nice God," the long-time London pastor says. Kendall provides enough examples of God not being nice to sway many Christ followers. For one, he says, God "plays hard to get" to "see what is in our hearts." God also takes us out of our comfort zones, says Kendall, and loves to use the "yuck" factor: "If something can make you say 'Yuck,'... be careful because God in heaven may just look down and say, 'Good. This will work.' " One of his most pointed chapters provides 25 signs that readers may be Pharisees, those proud legalists so reviled by Jesus in his ministry. Kendall's many personal examples highlight his charismatic leanings, and his discussion of God's sovereignty is sure to annoy some. Readers looking for a closer focus on their lives and a more literary read should pick up Mark Buchanan's Your God Is Too Safe . Kendall's chatty style and use of Scripture focuses more on God's attributes, offering readers a thorough, unique and loving look at the God who isn't "nice." (July 11)