Foreword by Brennan Manning, author of The Ragamuffin Gospel
Afterword by David Mullins
Release Date: September 1, 2000
Broadman & Holman Publishers
Format: Hard Cover, 256 pages, 6 x 9
ISBN: 0-8054-2135-1
Price: $24.99

During his life, Rich Mullins challenged the sensibilities of what it means to follow Jesus in today's world, and now in his death, he challenges all to build upon his legacy of joy, compassion, brokenness, unblinking honesty, and wonder of an Awesome God.

Rich Mullins rose to fame and fortune in the music industry and then gave it all away to live in obscurity among Native Americans on a reservation in New Mexico, teaching children the joy of music and the hope of the gospel. Then his life, so full of promise, came to a tragic end in an auto accident.

Author James Bryan Smith describes this book as a "devotional biography," giving readers an insight into Rich's life, but more importantly, allowing the readers to learn what was most important to Rich; urging people to draw near to God. The book focuses on the key themes of Rich's life including Family, Creation, Suffering, Simplicity, and the Love of God.

The only biography authorized by the Mullins family, the book includes a sixteen-page insert of pictures from Rich's life and discussion questions at the book's end called "Growing Deeper." Also includes a free companion CD of Rich's music arranged in order of chapter titles.

James Bryan Smith teaches theology and is chaplain at Friend's University in Wichita, Kansas. His previous books include Embracing the Love of God, A Spiritual Formation Workbook, and Devotional Classics (co-edited with Richard Foster). Jim's deep friendship developed with Rich Mullins over the last seven years of Mullins' life. In fact, while Mullins attended Friend's University, he lived in an attic apartment in the Smiths' home for two years.

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(click on image for a larger picture) This book is now available to order at Eighth Day Books, The Better Book Room, Lifeway, Amazon, CBD, or your local bookstore.

Paperback released

Foreword by Brennan Manning, author of The Ragamuffin Gospel
New Afterword by David Mullins
Release Date: August 1, 2002
Revised edition (August 2002)
Broadman & Holman Publishers
Format: Paperback, 272 pages, 5 x 8
ISBN: 0805426353

The most exciting part of this new paperback release is that it features two never before published spiritual writings of Rich Mullins. One is an essay on the Beatitudes, Rich's personal commentary on Matthew 5. As Jim Smith writes in an introduction, "The essay, "Social Aspects of the Beatitudes," is the closest one can come to hearing Rich teach in an extended way on a single topic.  As is typical of Rich, his thoughts on this well known text from Matthew 5 is filled with unique ideas, many of which go against the grain of our common understanding."

The second piece is a poetic reflection on knowing Jesus and overcoming our fears. Jim writes "The short piece, "Scared of the Dark," was written only two days before he died...It is interesting that the last thing he wrote was about Jesus, who was the center of his life, and also about overcoming fear and saying goodbye, which had already begun in his heart and would be completed two days later."

Both these pieces are exciting, priceless editions to Jim's already wonderful book. These are a treasure to those who loved Rich and were moved by his life and ministry.

There is a different picture on the back cover, from Jonathan Meyers' photo shoot (which turned out to be Rich's last professional photo shoot) . Go to http://www.jamphotography.com for more of those pictures.

Also, part of the new edition are endorsements offered by Richard Foster, Brennan Manning, David Mullins, Derek Webb, Steve Stockman, John Fischer, Jimmy Abegg, and others..

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