Buy, Take Up and Read

According to Augustine, the key point in his conversion came when he heard the sing-song voice of a little girl telling him to “tolle lege” or “take up and read.” The book she was referring to was The Bible, and when Augustine obeyed, his eyes fell upon Romans 13 and the rest is, as they say, history.

Now comes another otherworldly voice offering a good piece of advice– “Buy, take up and read.”
dougs book.jpg

This time the book is entitled How Jesus Ended Up in the Food Court: Seventy-Seven Devotional Thoughts You Never Thought About Before by my good friend Doug Mendenhall. Doug is a graduate of Abilene Christian University and a writer and editor at the Huntsville Times. For several years now, Doug has been serving up some heapin’ helpins’ of spiritual nourishment in his regular column “Soul Food.” Although I still don’t have a copy of the book (don’t worry Doug, I haven’t forgotten the six signed copies that I pledged to purchase), based on the way Doug’s words have help satisfy my spiritual appetite over the years, I feel confident in recommending it sight unseen. For a board certified Eyeguy who mostly holds to the old adage “seeing is believing,” that’s saying a lot.

So, redimo, tolle lege–“buy, take up and read.” After all, Doug’s got to cover the cost of publishing this puppy, plus he’s got five wonderful kids to feed and put through college!

(For those of you who live in the Huntsville area, Doug already has a few cases sitting in his office. Stop by the Huntsville Times building and pick up some copies–they’ll make great Christmas gifts. Tell him the Eyeguy sent you.)

10 Comments

  1. Brady

    Thanks to a friend, I got an advance copy of the book. I’ve read several of the stories and liked them much.
    Congratulations to Doug on his good work. Bonne lecture.

  2. Mike the Eyeguy

    Doug told me that you two had a professor who was a mutual friend. Apparently he wrote a blurb on the back. All you ACU guys stick together don’t you?!

  3. Nancy

    Mike,

    Aren’t you the one with all the author friends?!

    Looks like a great book. Congrats, Doug.

    Nancy

  4. Mike the Eyeguy

    Nancy, yes I am! I’m hoping that all this hanging with the literati will rub off on me and result in my own book someday. My life’s desire is to do a book signing at Barnes and Noble even if only two people (you and Doug) do show up.

    Folks, Doug’s book is already making it big across the pond (see Brady’s comment above). Let’s not the let Europeans get the best of us on this one–it’s bad enough that they beat us in soccer.

    Redimo, tolle lego.

  5. Mike the Eyeguy

    UPDATE 7/25/06:

    Not to brag or anything, but I just got back from lunch with the Doug Mendenhall, and I have my copy (do you?). It looks even better than expected, if that’s possible. I don’t care if it does have nearly the same style cover as “The Dummies” books.

    Anyone care to guess where we went for lunch? Go ahead, take a wild stab at it. That’s right, THE FOOD COURT! Is that rich or what? Was Jesus there, you ask? I didn’t see a robed and sandled rabbi walking around anywhere, but I’m betting he was on the premises somewhere, probably enjoying a good laugh and a Chick-fil-A #1 combo.

  6. Jason Bybee

    Mike,
    If I tell Doug that Mike the Eyeguy sent me, do I get some kind of hometown discount?

    And don’t worry. I’d show up at your book signing, too.

  7. Nancy

    But, the question, is would Jason Bybee show up at MY book signing??

    Okay, you’ve convinced me to put Jesus in the Foodcourt on my Amazon queue for my next order. I’m a sucker for Chic-fil-a imagery.

    N

  8. Mike the Eyeguy

    Jason,

    I’m afraid even the Eyeguy doesn’t have that much clout, but he will sign it for you!

    I was very impressed with his blurbs on the back–Homer Hickam, Dr. Tom Olbricht (Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion, Pepperdine and formerly ACU), Rheta Grimsley Johnson (nationally syndicated columnist and an atheist, no less) and Dr. Rubel Shelly.

    Thanks for the vote of confidence on the book signing!

  9. Mike the Eyeguy

    Nancy,

    I promise you that if you can manage a book signing at the Barnes and Noble at Valley Bend Shopping Center in Huntsville that I will be there, along with Jason–even if I have to drag him kicking and screaming.

    Chick-fil-A has saved many a young mother on an outing with hungry kids, what’s not to like about them? Combine that with Jesus and Doug’s witty and insightful commentary and you can’t lose.

  10. Jason Bybee

    Yes, Nancy, you KNOW I’d be there for your book signing, so long as I get a couple free copies. Perks, you know?

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