In Being Human: The Image of The Serving God, Lutheran pastor Terry Kyllo invites the reader to explore Jesus’ profound relation of the Serving God. A God utterly committed to loving and healing everyone and everything think in a contemporary world that seems intent upon inflicting damage to the hopes, aspirations, and spiritual lives of the Christian community. Very highly recommended reading for Christians of all denominations and traditions, Being Human offers a compelling vision of just what it really means to believe in Jesus in the context of the modern world. Pastor Kyllo maintains that we are made in the image of a loving God, and it is in serving God that we serve the world, as well as find purpose, meaning, and joy in our personal daily lives.
John Taylor – Midwest Book Review
Many view Christianity as a religion of crabbiness, arrogance, narrow mindedness, and judgmentalism. With much passion Terry Kyllo in Being Human offers an alternative understanding centered on love, grace, compassion, community – and the crucified and risen Jesus whose deepest desire is that we be truly human. I recommend this book for those who wish to learn about the Christian faith, those who have been hurt by judgmental Christians, and Christians who desire to mature in understanding.
Daniel Erlander – Lutheran Pastor and Author of Baptized We Live and Manna and Mercy
“Being Human: The Image of the Serving God” is a theological reflection that intends to help Christians experience the intellectual and social relevance of Christian faith within the context of their contemporary experiences. The author, Terry Kyllo, intentionally places his readers in critical conversation with the power of Christian faith by refusing to water the faith down in the mistaken belief that normal church going people are incapable of understanding the nuances of Christian tradition. Kyllo respects the intelligence of his audience, which in turn makes this small book one of the most interesting and refreshing examples of pastoral theology I have read in recent years.”
Paul O. Ingram – Department of Religion, Pacific Lutheran University
As a parish priest I yearned for a book that I could put in the hands of inquirers about Christianity, Jesus, the problem of evil, Why go to Church? and other basic questions. Terry Kyllo’s book fills that void and with his ecumenical experience as a Lutheran Pastor, also serving in an Episcopal venue, “Being Human” should prove helpful to anyone interested in exploring The Christian Faith
The Rt. Rev. Sanford Z. K. Hampton – Assistant Bishop of Olympia (Retired) & Bishop Suffragan of Minnesota (Resigned)
“Being Human: The Image of the Serving God” is an outstanding resource for anyone seeking to articulate the Christian faith in the language common to those not steeped in a theological tradition or familiar with any theological language. Pastor Kyllo addresses many of the issues being asked by those unfamiliar, but curious, about the Christian faith. Being Human will be a refreshing read for leaders of all faiths as well as a tremendous resource for the vast numbers of our faith communities seeking to know about Jesus Christ and the Christian faith while searching for the meaning in their lives.
Pastor Dick Wendt – Former Director of Outreach, Region 1, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
In a complicated and changing world some are tempted to give up the search for meaning and others try to force the issue. But between the choices of abandonment and management, between faithlessness and religion is another option. Being Human is an engaging and concise look at life and meaning through the eyes of God’s grace. Terry Kyllo has delivered a gift of grace for those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to those who have heard but haven’t understood the church’s language, and to those of us who seek to share that Gospel in this challenging time.
Paul Sundberg – Pastor – Trinity Lutheran Church, Lynnwood, WA
I must congratulate Pastor Kyllo on this excellent introduction to Christian life and thought. Written with the “seeker” in mind (people interested but uncertain about and perhaps even suspect of “organized religion”), this book presents the basics of the faith in clear, non-technical language. He seeks to address some of the distrust issues that many in our culture have regarding the church and does it without condescending or over technical language. This is a book that made me think, “I should have written this!” I must admit, however, that I am very glad Rev. Kyllo beat me to it, so to speak–he has done a wonderful job presenting a loving, accepting God. I plan to use this book in a variety of ways in our own congregation, form adult classes to handing it to those people who show up with their own questions about faith and religion. I think it will be an excellent discussion starter.
Pastor Martin W. Eldred – Joy Lutheran Church Eagle River Alaska
Being Human: The Image of the Serving God by Terry Kyllo. I finished Kyllo’s short book a month ago and have been furiously recommending it to everyone I’ve seen since. Kyllo offers a different way of being Christian- “a radical departure from as-seen-on-TV Christianity.” One that is committed to following Jesus’ example of service. Kyllo deals with the imperfections of faith communities, the problem of evil and competing views for how one is saved. Kyllo believes that our world suffers simultaneously from two famines. The famine of meaning and the famine of community. He offers us a way back to both, through an understanding of what God intended a human life to look like and how to be human in God’s image.
This would be an excellent book for those seeking to understand what makes Lutheran Christianity distinctive. I would also suggest it to those who’ve been turned off to Christianity by their experience in other churches. Kyllo makes a compassionate, compelling case for a Christian way of being human.
Pastor Travis Norton – Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Helena Montana
