Man With an Attitude: A Handbook of Life Challenges from the Jesus Story
By Eugene Stecher (2020) 89pp Kindle Direct Publishing ISBN:9798667593850
What if Jesus is not the teacher who gave the ultimate word about life here and hereafter, but rather ateacher whose attitude about living can be reconstructed through modern Biblical studies? Using his life’s work as both a minister and psychologist, Eugene Stecher answers that latter question by using the work of the Jesus Seminar to remaster Jesus’ ancient challenges into present day, guiding maxims for authentic living. He summarizes his insights into a handbook that lists eight general attitudes, each with accompanying corollaries called facets.
He begins with Jesus’ mission from his Father as containing the commandment that we make our lives count. Living authentically means carefully engaging our world as it changes and challenges us. Learning from the parables of Jesus, we are encouraged to grow in awareness by studying the passionate commitments of those who also have engaged with the world. Taking what we have learned from our observations, we are then encouraged to develop our own passionate concern for others. Such work requires self-care, especially as we push ourselves to discover and then address what is crucial to us in our own times. The author’s over-arching purpose is to find in the mystery of Jesus the strength to break free from a world that can anesthetize us to ever-present injustice and materialism.
In his book, the author also introduces an interactive component which allows for the readers’ observations, as well as questions that might be asked in a group setting. This educational dimension makes this handbook a valuable resource for those who wish to explore the relevance of Jesus’ ministry in our own times. With a minister’s compassion and a therapist’s touch, the author brings to life a modern scholar’s understanding of Jesus’ challenges to his world and ours.
Eugene Stecher’s book can be ordered through Amazon.com books here and through independent book stores here.