Are you sick of seeing mediocrity in the Church, and yearning for something more? You know that Christ has incredible, wonderful plans for you, but you just don't know how to see it. During the summer of 2012, I was approaching graduation from Ashland University, and I was praying about what God wanted me to do next. He said to me, "Paul, you still have a lot more left to learn, but it would be a discredit to my name to say that I have taught you nothing." I have seen God move firsthand in my life, and I want to share that experience with the world. I'm 23 years old, and I know and firmly believe that we all have mountains of wisdom to obtain from age and experience. But, I also believe, alongside of that, that personal experience is immensely powerful, and that can come from any age. We just need to be discerning with how we receive it. I wrote this book to define the line between being a nominal or "routine" Christian, and juxtapose it with a picture of what a life lived with Christ can look like in this day and age, the 21st century. This is NOT an all-inclusive list, but it is a raw, authentic look at scripture and my life to show that God can indeed make something out of nothing. On the flip-side, Satan wants to destroy us all. And, if he cannot stop us from being Christians, then his next attack will surely be to mis-define God's plans for our lives and corrupt the way we live. Jesus Himself says in Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV) to the church of Laodicea, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." And this is the problem that I seek to address: When unbelievers, or even other Christians, see a "Christian" living a lukewarm life, it sets a bad example for Christianity and misrepresents what following Christ is truly supposed to look like. In my own life, I struggled with this as well, so this book is an intertwining of personal testimony along with Biblical studies of what it looks like to overcome "routine Christianity." I've struggled with this in my own life. I grew up in the church. I showed up on Sunday mornings, and that was it for me. But God showed me that there is so much more to life with Him that cannot be contained by the limits of an hour or two a week with Him. I want to share that fullness with you. Don't JUST go to church, but BE the church.
About the Author: Paul Lattimer was born in Akron, OH, and grew up with his parents Robert and Mary Lattimer and his brother Scott Lattimer in Hudson, OH. He attended Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy for high school where he played football and wrestling and was heavily involved with the Venture Crew division of the Boy Scouts of America. Then, Paul ventured to Ashland University as an Integrated Mathematics major, but he switched to a Religion major with a concentration in Practical Theology and minors in Mathematics and Psychology after Jesus Christ rescued and restored his life while on a mission trip to Las Vegas, NV. Paul thanks God for radically transforming his life during his college years and redirecting his path. While at Ashland University, Paul graduated cum laude with Academic Honors Program completion and was inducted into several academic honoraries such as Alpha Lambda Delta, Theta Alpha Kappa, Psi Chi, Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Notably, he cofounded the Dorm Prayer ministry at Ashland University with his good friend and colleague Cory Smith and lovely, beautiful, bride Micaela Lattimer. After graduation, Paul and his wife traversed the continent of Asia on a ten month mission trip with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Harbour City to share the gospel and love of Jesus Christ with the nations. Currently (as of December 2014), Paul is attending Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, OH, as a Master of Arts in of Practical Theology candidate. Praise the Lord. Sotrum!