7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

In the opening of Seven, Jen writes about the genesis for this experiment, how she realized that even though she and her husband Brandon had left the large church they were serving at in Austin to start Austin New Church with the simple mantra: "Love your neighbor, serve your city," she began to realize that she had never intentionally surrendered the comforts of her life.When she considered the amounts of excess in her life, she identified some areas we have too much of in our culture: food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending, stress. Then she decided to see what would happen if she intentionally fasted from the excess: Seven months, seven areas, reduced to seven simple choices. I'm embarking on a journey of less. It's time to purge the junk and pare down to what is necessary. Seven will be an exercise in simplicity with one goal: to create space for the Kingdom of God to break through.What follows is an INCREDIBLE read, my friends. Really, truly incredible.One of the things I treasure the most about Jen's writing is that she is 1) seriously hilarious and 2) unflinchingly honest. Although the topic practically begs for it, there is not one trace of self-righteousness to be found. That's the truth. She records how the experiment unfolds, confessing the times she breaks the rules and sharing how irritable her family got at various points as they were dragged along in her crazy.The topics she covers include: real food, spending less (or nothing!) on clothing, creation care, consumerism, Sabbath rest and so much more.She talks about how most of us, we cry over the orphan crisis and we feel sick over child trafficking. We cringe at how much we spend on birthday parties, knowing there are children starving everywhere. We read Shane Claiborne and feel depressed for days. We know we are living the MORE MORE MORE life our culture offers, and we feel so much tension about what to do about it.Jen writes: We're so conditioned to being the problem that we've forgotten that we are actually the answer. God is not angry at you; how could he possibly be? You're his daughter, his son, you're on the team. Don't imagine he is sitting us all down for a lecture. Rather, he's staging a rally, gathering the troops. The church is rising like a phoenix right now, collecting speed and strength and power.THIS is the life-giving, hope-bringing, love-empowering message of Seven. It is NOT a lecture. You will not walk away from it feeling like crap. You will be inspired. If nothing else, you'll be entertained.

Jen Hatmaker's "7" is like a voice screaming in the midst of chaos that is the American lifestyle. The message delivery of "7" is atypical of most Christian-based "self-help" or "as Christians we really should be doing X" type books. First of all, the author approaches each topic within 7 from an attitude of repentance and humility that comes across as completely genuine. I don't know that I'd be willing to admit some of the things Jen does. Successes, struggles and failures are laid bare for the world to see, which is very refreshing. There is no condemnation or lofty attitudes from the author that she is better or superior to any average reader.One of the key words I've seen after someone has read the book is "wrecked". This is a great one-word summary of how deeply these topics should impact each reader. If you're not spurred to some kind of deep self-reflection or action after reading this book, I believe there are only two reasons why - you live an extremely minimalist lifestyle or you live in extreme poverty. Jen humbly points out how these various areas of life have distracted the church from its purpose. We've stopped distinguishing ourselves, we've stopped being all we can and should be as God's hands and feet on this planet.The truths from God's word and examples from Jen's life are revealed in simple, humorous and refreshing ways. You'll laugh, you'll sob, your heart will break, you'll repent and most importantly you'll be ready to say "I'm in!".The main concern I had before reading this book was that it would be a book only for women. While there certainly were portions of the book I could not identify with as a male and even found myself rolling my eyes a few times, men NEED to read this book. There are far too many Christian men living life on the sidelines, and the message in this book will light a fire that's been a slowly dwindling ember in so many!

I first heard Jen speak, then I read her book, "Interrupted", in a day and a half on the way home from the convention where I heard her speak. Then I sent her an email and she responded. Then we became "friends" on FB. What I love about Jen, and this book is chock full of it, is her hard core honesty and desire to live out the Gospel in the way God is calling her and her family and her church community, and let's not forget about The Council. I could not wait to read "7", but didn't want to read it alone. So, I asked a bunch of other pastors wives to read it together and talk about it online. I attempted to read it one chapter (which is one month of 7) per week. I did not allow myself to devour it in a day and a half this time. I finished it in a matter of a couple of weeks instead of 7 weeks and I was literally so sad to finish it today. Not only is her content superior, the writing is too. She has balanced successfully the spiritual with the hysterical. Tears, laughter, more tears, and more laughter...you get the picture. I highlighted at least 75% of the book and cannot wait to interpret/translate for myself and my family. Again, it was chock full of authenticity about living out the Gospel call today in our crazy world, individually, as a family, as a church, and as a world. Her almost daily FB posts will have to tide me over until the next blog post at jenhatmaker.com. Did I mention that Jen is taking what all the radical Christians are writing and making it applicable to our lives and not in any sort of dumbed down way, but in a super hard core inspiring way?

If you want to experience second hand what most of us Christians *should* be thinking about and doing, read this book. I love Jen's sarcastic, funny, honest, self-deprecating style. And I hate how she's made it impossible for me to continue living a comfy life, merely giving out of my abundance. Prepare to be changed, brothers and sisters, if you truly open yourselves to what Jesus is teaching us through Jen. Thanks Jen! ( you can read that with authenticity or sarcasm, both work ;). )R-.

I received the book quickly and it was in very good shape.I would use this service again in the future.

I loved this book, and found myself reaching for it at every opportunity. The back of the book is headed with the question 'Do you feel trapped in the machine of excess?' I wouldn't say I feel trapped, but I am aware of having too much 'stuff' and spending too much time and energy on things which are not ultimately of much value. This book looks at seven areas of excess: Clothes, shopping, waste, food, possessions, media and stress.The challenge which Jen takes up was pretty extreme, but you can take up her ideas without being quite as drastic as she was. I found the chapters on clothes and possessions especially interesting. At the beginning of the clothes section she counts all the items of clothing she had, and there were 327 items there, yet only a fraction of them regularly worn. I bet any woman reading this review can relate to this... though I'm not sure many would then commit to wearing just 7 items for an entire month! The challenge to give away 7 things a day for a month also made me think.Jen puts a lot of herself into the book so you feel very connected as you follow her journey. It's also interesting to hear how her family deal with her projects, and take them on too in various ways.I highly recommend this book. Engaging, thought provoking, challenging, and powerful.

Well written, encouraging and exhorting others to do more/better without making a oerson feel condemned or worthless.Jen has a lovely sense of humour that shows herself to be very human but forgiven as well.One issue: in her month to more spiritual discipline, Jen follows a routine of pausing throughout the day that comes more from a mystical, rather than Christian background.

I loved this!! I laughed out loud (it often felt like reading a humorous parenting blog) but often found myself fighting tears. Its not a template or formula, rather the account of one woman's journey that we can all get a lot from. I loved how real and honest she was along the way, and I am filled with a real sense of hope after reading this. It's an easy read you can fly through nut you won't want it to end.