In a world rife with contention, division and self-interest, Brady Boyd--pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo.--sows seeds of hope and kindness. In Extravagant, he explores how people can consciously move toward leading a more carefully considered life centered on offering generosity to enrich others, improve themselves and deepen their faith in God.
Christian perspectives and quotes from learned thinkers anchor Boyd's compelling, well-researched narrative. However, the wisdom offered here can easily be applied and adapted to believers and seekers on all spiritual paths. Biblical stories of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son and the anointing of Jesus' feet with expensive perfume are dissected into teachable moments applicable today. Boyd is a firm believer that "we teach what we need to learn." Thus, he humbly shares experiences from his own life and those he's encountered in ministry--and beyond--who have demonstrated generosity in action. This includes offering and volunteering energy, efforts and service, ideas and talents, and financial backing. By providing concrete examples, strategies and steps to take in order to recognize the needs of others to live a more generous life, Boyd shows how conscious awareness and acknowledgement changes the hearts and souls of recipients and benefactors alike.
Boyd (Remarkable) believes in the "immediate, redemptive work of God in people's lives." But he stresses that a transformation to living a more generous life can be achieved only by working "methodically, intentionally over time." Boyd's illuminating insights are a perfect primer for living a more self-aware, spiritually fulfilling life. --Kathleen Gerard, blogger at Reading Between the Lines