"Scandrette guides us down a winding, beautiful path through an urban park of whole-life Jesus-y spirituality. It's a story-weaver's bountiful spread—filled with chocolate and wine and artisan bread—of the present Kingdom of God. See that the Lord is good, indeed."

—Mark Oestreicher, president, Youth Specialties

"Through Mark's rich insights and reflections, and especially through his stories ? about Jack, Richard, Gary, Caroline, Emperor Arcadia (you'll never forget him!), Michelle, Beryl, and many others, you'll get an honest and inspiring view of what 'the emergent conversation' is really about, and what it's for."

—Brian McLaren, author/activist (brianmclaren.net)

"Soul Graffiti is not so much a book as it is an encounter—a deadly serious encounter—with a Christianity that is urban, American, un-institutionalized, and now. If you truly like your own Christian walk just the way it is, you definitely should not read this book."

—Phyllis Tickle, religion analyst and compiler, The Divine Hours

"Mark Scandrette guides us in this beautifully written and brilliantly illustrated book along a path towards actualized spirituality in a postmodern world. The book provides new avenues to ancient truths."

—Tony Campolo, professor of sociology, Eastern University

"Soul Graffiti chronicles Mark Scandrette's brave exploration into an intentional, lived Christianity. In a world numb to religion, inhabiting the way of love may be the only apologetic left."

—Sally Morgenthaler, www.trueconversations.com

"In Soul Graffiti, Mark Scandrette strips away the religious traditions that cloud our view of Jesus and gives us the courage to investigate the transformational message. If the challenge for churches and for individual followers of Christ is to live out the gospel, this is the help we need."

—Nancy Ortberg, founding partner, Teamworx2

"Scandrette, a pastor who is president and co-founder of ReIMAGINE!, a Bay Area center for spiritual formation, believes that 'we were made to orient our entire beings to the good dreams of our maker.' We do that by imitating Jesus, the radical messenger of the good news (gospel) of God rather than the saccharine or sentimental Jesus often marketed to us. Dividing his book into four sections, Scandrette explores Jesus as companion, artist, healer and mystic, inviting readers to become apprentices of Jesus. Scandrette provides stories of ordinary people struggling to follow Jesus, and offers spiritual practices for those who want to do likewise. The book's focus on the responsibility of each Christian to be part of the 'genesis-vision' of God — in other words, to be a co-creator with God — will speak to contemporary readers who find Jesus more compelling than the institutional church. They will also appreciate its eclectic mix of ecology, social justice, biblical theology and a smattering of wisdom from other faith perspectives (e.g., the 'Jesus Dojo'). This practical and down-to-earth book includes questions for contemplation and spiritual practices in each chapter, making it useful for group study." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

In Soul Graffiti  Mark Scandrette—writer, poet, and leader in the Emergent church movement—uses vivid stories of his own life and the lives of the many people he has encountered in his home in the Mission District of San Francisco to explore what “good news of God” might mean for our particular time and place. He seeks to answer the central question:

 

“How can we be about making a life in the way of Jesus?” Soul Graffitiis a simple and lyrical exploration of the essential message of Jesus as it relates to the experiences of contemporary spiritual seekers. He integrates theological insight with awareness of human psychology, culture, and daily life. Written to appeal to the sensibilities of those who inhabit a post-Christendom milieu, Mark Scandrette’s deepest hope is to give readers greater motivation for, and a fuller sense of what it means to make a life in, the way of Jesus.

 

With a profoundly postmodern sensibility, this heartfelt and personal book makes a meaningful and practical connection between the message proclaimed by Jesus and the daily life of those who seek to follow his path.