I signed up to BookSneeze to review books and here is my first of Andy Andrews book, The Noticer.
I read this whole book on the flight from Atlanta to Philly for business. It is a quick read and has it's moments. I think the added value of this is that it can be done with small groups with questions at the end and how they apply to your life.
The character/narrator at the beginning describes a pretty tough life and from what I can tell this is a story about the author's life. {Andy Andrews} Pretty tough. Centered on the Mobile Gulf Coast. Then he meets a man named Jones. Just Jones. The spiritual tie ins come starting in the first chapter when Jones asks the narrator of this story to step into the light. Reminds me of the movie "Simon Birch," where dark and light play such a huge role.
The key phrase for Jones is that he says "We need to start noticing a few things. We need to check your heart. We need to gather a little perspective."
This to me is so key, in that when I meet with a man with a problem in his life, I am always wanting to see where his heart is. Where he sees God. I liked this tie in and it comes up thru out the book as Jones meets different people and gives them perspective right when they need it. Their option is whether they accept the wisdom or not.
In this book all the people accept Jones wisdom and it changes their life from the actions they take. That is why it is in Christian Fiction. As even Christians don't do that.
That is one thing that confused me was Jones real for Andrews or just made up. I didn't ponder it too long but it is the premise for his life turnaround.
The key item in Chapter One for the narrator is that Jones ask him to ponder this question. "What is it about me that other people would change if they could?"
Once again this is a great question if you have some men mentoring you that will HONESTLY tell you these things to help you improve. Most people don't do this.
Next Jones helps a married couple about to divorce. I thought this was a weak spot to use Gary Chapman's Love Languages tied into this chapter. Thought Jones would have given both of them the book instead of looking like he was pulling that out of a hat....
He then deals with a man that is a worrier and this connects to workaholics....In Chapter 5 we find out that some people call him "Garcia." He speaks to some high school kids in this chapter about life, marriage and wisdom. "One way to define wisdom is the ability to see, into the future, the consequences of your choices in the present." Are as simple as John Maxwell puts it, "Your present decisions determine your future situations."
The wisdom he gives these young people about relationships was really good. I liked that and about marriage.
Another chapter deals with a landscaping/real estate guy that doesn't honor his word and of course that heart issue affects how he treats the workers that work for him. (like dirt). and needless to say his relationship with his wife was not good either and he was living on the edge of losing it all....Jones has some good wisdom and the chapter goes along enough for you to see the character trying to change his business and life.
Later on the author, goes with Jones and meets a young man under the pier the same way the book started.
Then Jones disappears and all that is left of his briefcase. This chapter lags and reminded me of a Murder She Wrote episode. There is no way that all those people would wait as long as they did to open Jone's briefcase and see what what was in it.
I won't spoil anymore of this book.
As I said it was an easy read and I think the Reader's Guide was a good idea to add for discussion of the deeper points of the book.
I reccommend this book to anyone who is struggling in life thru job loss, relationships and in prioritizing life and work.....then I would follow up with the bible verses on those areas and stories of some of those characters and how God intervened in their lives.
Putting Life into Perspective is what God calls us each to do.
One of the questions towards the end is Do you have a "Jones" in your life? are you a "Jones" to anyone else?
Discipleship and mentoring is something I do and also have three men I count on to keep an eye on me. Their wisdom and time with them means more to me than they will ever know. In Proverbs 27:17 men are encouraged to be as iron sharpening iron. Some times there are sparks and the can get "wee weeded up" as I President said. But, they still care for one another.
Andrews writes," Rebuild with a grateful heart. You may have lost a house, but you did not lose your home. Remember you are still breathing...(pg 95). I thought this was really close to what Truitt Cathy said many years ago about "When do people need encouragement? If they are breathing... " People always need someone to smile, to say good job...to just say hello!
I met with a dear brother who works discipling major league baseball players and he gave me a complement and I quickly said its nothing ....he calmly said...no brother...take the complement you have done well....
Men are so use to performance that we even have a hard time taking complements.
Get a copy of this book and then get some extras to give to others. Mine is gone already into some one's hands. Can't wait to discuss.
The way Andrews rights about Orange Beach too makes me want to go down there on vacation to the Sea N Suds......Thanks Andy for writing this. God Bless!
