- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers (31 Aug 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0849945992
- ISBN-13: 978-0849945991
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 15.5 x 1.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 960,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
In May 2008, Anne Jackson asked a question on her blog, 'What is one thing you feel you can't say in church?' Hundreds responded. Everyone had a story. 'Permission to Speak Freely' is the unique new project and movement of author Anne Jackson, who is finished with keeping brokenness in the dark. Bringing to light the original intent of God's sanctuary as a place of help and healing, Anne reveals that through confession, both to God and to others, we can live lives that are whole and healed. Told with disarming transparency, Anne shares what led to her own addictions and the ensuing lifestyle that left her wounded and withdrawn, but ultimately rescued and redeemed. She includes dramatic stories of others who also learned to abandon their fear, pride, and masks; to identify their hurts; and to find the courage to speak freely. Their confessions, submitted as mixed media pieces, photography, and sketches, were collected from people across the world, and are included throughout the book. Readers will share in the opportunity to find their own path to redemption and freedom.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Patent shoes, promises and pain abound here! This is not the kind of book you 'enjoy'. Jackson's raw honesty is engaging and beautifully crafted in style, design, words and art. This book emerges from a tidal wave of responses asked by a question on her blog:- What is one thing you feel you can't say in the church? Hundreds responded and this publication is the resulting reflection including much of her own experiences. I think one of the reasons, I was caught up in the book, is that so much of what Anne writes about is so very sadly true and painfully real. People hurt, and too often the church is the cause of the hurt, or refuses to acknowledge the hurt. Brokenness is so a huge part of the human experience, but is buried or has a temporary plaster applied to it, rather than let the Holy Spirit get about the work of healing. The book engages powerfully yet sensitively with fear. Anne writes: "I realize fear isn't only affecting me, but humanity as well. As I look around today, I see him hooking into many people I encounter. Their hearts are fighting for their dreams, yet fear claws away at their spirits, telling them their dreams are impossible,........ but fear soaks into their bloodstream like a paralyzing virus and prevents them from taking a step in the beautiful, wonderful, difficult life in front of them."
Fear wants to stop our stories........ and this book is filled with people's honest statements, doubts, struggles and hope. Too often churches cause everybody to dress up their brokenness and disguise their pain. Jackson draws back the curtain back to show us what's really happening in the hearts and minds of many people. As the book moves along, Anne paints a very practical picture of the steps necessary to walk in freedom. She writes about the power of admission and confession: and the importance of knowing the difference. "...there is a difference between admission and confession... Admission is just sharing something that's wrong so you can get it off you chest. Confession, on the other hand, is the beginning of transformation."
Celebration, rescue and transformation are the heartbeat of this book. Jackson writes about getting the facts out into the light, and then allowing the truth of God to bring the freedom. Fear, confession & grace abound. Maybe not enjoyable but this book is so needful as a liberating and rare contribution to the marketplace, by an attractive author and publisher partnership. Unique and challenging!
Fear wants to stop our stories........ and this book is filled with people's honest statements, doubts, struggles and hope. Too often churches cause everybody to dress up their brokenness and disguise their pain. Jackson draws back the curtain back to show us what's really happening in the hearts and minds of many people. As the book moves along, Anne paints a very practical picture of the steps necessary to walk in freedom. She writes about the power of admission and confession: and the importance of knowing the difference. "...there is a difference between admission and confession... Admission is just sharing something that's wrong so you can get it off you chest. Confession, on the other hand, is the beginning of transformation."
Celebration, rescue and transformation are the heartbeat of this book. Jackson writes about getting the facts out into the light, and then allowing the truth of God to bring the freedom. Fear, confession & grace abound. Maybe not enjoyable but this book is so needful as a liberating and rare contribution to the marketplace, by an attractive author and publisher partnership. Unique and challenging!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've 'known' Anne since late 2005 via the blogosphere and have been following her writing both online and in print ever since. She is a real gift to the world with a message that needs to be heard.
Her humility and openness is really refreshing and serves as a wonderful example for how Christians in particular can both find freedom and grace through confession, and leave behind the legacy of hypocrisy that we've so tragically picked up. Anne is passionate about seeing God's light shine freely into the dark places of our lives.
Her latest book, 'Permission to Speak Freely', is undoubtedly going to influence many, many people's lives. It wrestles with the themes of fear, confession, and grace against the backdrop of stories and struggles from both her own life and the lives of others.
Anne's own stories in particular are what, for me at least, truly brought the book to life. I can imagine that some readers will be shocked by just how far she goes in opening up about so many parts of her life, but it is that openness that is the gift that, in time, so many will benefit from.
In the book, Anne talks about 'the gift of going second' and how, when someone goes first with being open and confessing issues within their own lives, they make it easier for the rest of us to do the same. Thanks to Anne's openness, 'Permission to Speak Freely' has given all of us this gift of going second.
The book overflows with grace and compassion and it will undoubtedly help countless people find greater freedom and wholeness.
Her humility and openness is really refreshing and serves as a wonderful example for how Christians in particular can both find freedom and grace through confession, and leave behind the legacy of hypocrisy that we've so tragically picked up. Anne is passionate about seeing God's light shine freely into the dark places of our lives.
Her latest book, 'Permission to Speak Freely', is undoubtedly going to influence many, many people's lives. It wrestles with the themes of fear, confession, and grace against the backdrop of stories and struggles from both her own life and the lives of others.
Anne's own stories in particular are what, for me at least, truly brought the book to life. I can imagine that some readers will be shocked by just how far she goes in opening up about so many parts of her life, but it is that openness that is the gift that, in time, so many will benefit from.
In the book, Anne talks about 'the gift of going second' and how, when someone goes first with being open and confessing issues within their own lives, they make it easier for the rest of us to do the same. Thanks to Anne's openness, 'Permission to Speak Freely' has given all of us this gift of going second.
The book overflows with grace and compassion and it will undoubtedly help countless people find greater freedom and wholeness.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
141 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Beautiful, Raw, Tender, Lovely, Provocative
5 Aug 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
*****
This new book by author Anne Jackson should be read by every Christian who is concerned about being real, and who is concerned about the church--even if, especially if you've been wounded by and/or alienated by the church. The subtitle of this book is "Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace"--the book revolves around the fear that we all have, the blessing that confession (speaking the truth) can be, and the grace that God offers us, especially in relationship with others.
But this is not a typical Christian self-help book, which I think is its strength. It is an amalgamation of art, stories (including many from the author's own life), poetry, and more. Reading it delivers an experience of feeling that can be rare sometimes in the Christian world--the feeling that we can be real, we can be who we are, we can say how we really and truly feel (yes, all of it) and it is okay, even good. It sort of gives you permission to feel. To be. To receive love from God and from others. This is hard to describe in a review. Most of all this book delivers a wonderful experience, like taking a bath in God's love and grace.
The book reminds me in some ways of the PostSecret books by Frank Warren, and the art is similar in that it is confessional and real. But this book is Christian, and it includes lots of text (unlike the PostSecret books) in the form of short chapters, poetry, confessional autobiography, and lessons the author has learned--the latter is my favorite part of the book. I found it slightly disorganized (not a bad thing in this case) and profound. I loved it!
I have recently recommitted my life to Christ and returned to the church and found this to be a healing balm for my soul. In my return, I'd been concerned about losing the authenticity I've gained in my life away from the church, and was not sure how to be a Christian and still be loving instead of legalistic and judgmental (as I'd been in the past when I attended church). This book helped me greatly.
The ideal reader for this book is the Christian who feels broken or tired or muzzled or hyper-conforming or hidden or numb or frustrated or lonely or isolated. If you feel this way, this is the book for you. It is based on Scripture, but not filled with references; it is not a theology book. It is also not for people who want to be told what to do (as in "Six Ways to Feel Better Fast", for example). It does include occasional adult themes and language, but in an appropriate manner with the purpose of the book--I did not find anything in this book offensive.
Highly, highly recommended.
*****
This new book by author Anne Jackson should be read by every Christian who is concerned about being real, and who is concerned about the church--even if, especially if you've been wounded by and/or alienated by the church. The subtitle of this book is "Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace"--the book revolves around the fear that we all have, the blessing that confession (speaking the truth) can be, and the grace that God offers us, especially in relationship with others.
But this is not a typical Christian self-help book, which I think is its strength. It is an amalgamation of art, stories (including many from the author's own life), poetry, and more. Reading it delivers an experience of feeling that can be rare sometimes in the Christian world--the feeling that we can be real, we can be who we are, we can say how we really and truly feel (yes, all of it) and it is okay, even good. It sort of gives you permission to feel. To be. To receive love from God and from others. This is hard to describe in a review. Most of all this book delivers a wonderful experience, like taking a bath in God's love and grace.
The book reminds me in some ways of the PostSecret books by Frank Warren, and the art is similar in that it is confessional and real. But this book is Christian, and it includes lots of text (unlike the PostSecret books) in the form of short chapters, poetry, confessional autobiography, and lessons the author has learned--the latter is my favorite part of the book. I found it slightly disorganized (not a bad thing in this case) and profound. I loved it!
I have recently recommitted my life to Christ and returned to the church and found this to be a healing balm for my soul. In my return, I'd been concerned about losing the authenticity I've gained in my life away from the church, and was not sure how to be a Christian and still be loving instead of legalistic and judgmental (as I'd been in the past when I attended church). This book helped me greatly.
The ideal reader for this book is the Christian who feels broken or tired or muzzled or hyper-conforming or hidden or numb or frustrated or lonely or isolated. If you feel this way, this is the book for you. It is based on Scripture, but not filled with references; it is not a theology book. It is also not for people who want to be told what to do (as in "Six Ways to Feel Better Fast", for example). It does include occasional adult themes and language, but in an appropriate manner with the purpose of the book--I did not find anything in this book offensive.
Highly, highly recommended.
*****
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Excellent sophomore release from Anne Jackson
13 Aug 2010
Format:Paperback
In 2009 Anne Jackson a popular blogger released her first book, Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic, with the intent of providing a how-to-guide to help church leaders, pastors and volunteers from becoming burnout with church work. Although I loved the book and wrote a rave review I felt as though Anne's desire was not to provide a how-to-guide but rather to tell her story of burnout. Somewhat successful her book sold well but struck a nerve with older church leaders who felt her thirty years of life was not enough experience to speak to the subject of burnout.
What I feel Anne wanted to share but failed to communicate in Mad Church Disease is beautifully portrayed and profoundly written in her sophomore release, Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace. The book is built on the premise of one question written on her blog in 2008: "What is the one thing you feel you can't say in the church?" Instead of copying the likes of the Post Secret community, Anne dives deep into her own personal story and exposes the hurt, burnout and pain she suffered through years of love/hate relationship between her, the church and church people.
Motivated by honesty and humility this book is ripe with grace, forgiveness and truth. PTSF is fantastic read for anyone who has been hurt by the church or church people, it is an excellent reminder that confession of sin has the power to transform and the gift of forgiveness empowers us to move on. Each of us has our own story, while reading PTSF one can not help but identify with Anne's story in one way or another.
"And so I began to wonder. Can a book actually change the world? My gut feeling? No. Book's can't. But people can." (pg. 183 PTSF) I believe in her book Mad Church Disease Anne's heart was to help people change, she wrote a book with steps to do that, honestly I don't think it helped as much as she had hoped. A few years and experiences later, Anne has come to place where five steps to avoiding burnout give way to the power of the human story. All of us want to learn how to change and be better, but somewhere along the way we skip steps and forget the principles. However, when someone stands up in the dark corners of the world where our deepest hurts, habits and hang-ups lurk and says "I have been there," those are the people we are drawn too, those are the people that give us permission to say what is hidden deep in our souls. Anne Jackson doesn't need to give you permission to speak freely, but when you finish reading her book, you will definitely find yourself in a place where confession gives way to transformation.
What I feel Anne wanted to share but failed to communicate in Mad Church Disease is beautifully portrayed and profoundly written in her sophomore release, Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace. The book is built on the premise of one question written on her blog in 2008: "What is the one thing you feel you can't say in the church?" Instead of copying the likes of the Post Secret community, Anne dives deep into her own personal story and exposes the hurt, burnout and pain she suffered through years of love/hate relationship between her, the church and church people.
Motivated by honesty and humility this book is ripe with grace, forgiveness and truth. PTSF is fantastic read for anyone who has been hurt by the church or church people, it is an excellent reminder that confession of sin has the power to transform and the gift of forgiveness empowers us to move on. Each of us has our own story, while reading PTSF one can not help but identify with Anne's story in one way or another.
"And so I began to wonder. Can a book actually change the world? My gut feeling? No. Book's can't. But people can." (pg. 183 PTSF) I believe in her book Mad Church Disease Anne's heart was to help people change, she wrote a book with steps to do that, honestly I don't think it helped as much as she had hoped. A few years and experiences later, Anne has come to place where five steps to avoiding burnout give way to the power of the human story. All of us want to learn how to change and be better, but somewhere along the way we skip steps and forget the principles. However, when someone stands up in the dark corners of the world where our deepest hurts, habits and hang-ups lurk and says "I have been there," those are the people we are drawn too, those are the people that give us permission to say what is hidden deep in our souls. Anne Jackson doesn't need to give you permission to speak freely, but when you finish reading her book, you will definitely find yourself in a place where confession gives way to transformation.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
My Wife Stole My Book, Loved It, and Wrote a Review!
24 Aug 2010
Format:Paperback
Anne simply asks the question, "what is the one thing you feel you can't say in the church?" From page one the book enters into her story and her pain and experience with the church. In the midst of a very explicit and relatable story comes poems, pictures, and confessions of the people who answered this very question.
Anne forces and enables the conversation of why the church is a place that people feel they need to hide who they are. Why do we hide our secrets from a place that we feel should be "safe?" Why do we feel MOST JUDGED in a place where we believe judgement is in the hands of the Maker?
This book was VERY INTERESTING and provoked a lot more thought into the very topic of WHO the church is. From page one to the end I could NOT put the book down. My copy can no longer be sold on amazon with the word "new" next to it. It is very much "OLD," "UNDERLINED," "USED!" My hand was cramped more from all the underlining I did than holding the book itself! Anne allowed the biblical teachings of the church to shine through in the midst of the journey she took her readers on through the right of sanctuary the Christian church adopted in the 4th century to the abolishment of it in the 18th century. She brought church and church history forward in a way that was appealing and inspirational.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to future readers who especially feel that the role of the church is based on religion and law. If this is you PLEASE read this book, and challenge yourself to be open-minded with the message!
Anne forces and enables the conversation of why the church is a place that people feel they need to hide who they are. Why do we hide our secrets from a place that we feel should be "safe?" Why do we feel MOST JUDGED in a place where we believe judgement is in the hands of the Maker?
This book was VERY INTERESTING and provoked a lot more thought into the very topic of WHO the church is. From page one to the end I could NOT put the book down. My copy can no longer be sold on amazon with the word "new" next to it. It is very much "OLD," "UNDERLINED," "USED!" My hand was cramped more from all the underlining I did than holding the book itself! Anne allowed the biblical teachings of the church to shine through in the midst of the journey she took her readers on through the right of sanctuary the Christian church adopted in the 4th century to the abolishment of it in the 18th century. She brought church and church history forward in a way that was appealing and inspirational.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to future readers who especially feel that the role of the church is based on religion and law. If this is you PLEASE read this book, and challenge yourself to be open-minded with the message!
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