Life Is Hard. God Is Good. Let's Dance.: Experiencing Real Joy in a World Gone Mad

The author (Brant Hansen) has always been a breath of fresh air because he keeps it real. His humility and down to earth life is something that makes me feel the love of God through. He speaks with hope and humor. Each chapter is what we all can identify with. Easy and light reading with solid TRUTH and encouragement.

For some reason, joy keeps hitting me in the face this season. Wherever I turn, the topic of joy comes up. Reading “Hunting Magic Eels” a couple of weeks ago, I was struck when, on page 107, Beck wrote, “Start with joy if you’re looking for enchantment. Let gladness be your guide to the gateway of heaven.”So, when Brant Hansen's new book came out Tuesday, I smiled when I saw the title, “Life is Hard. God is Good. Let’s Dance: Experiencing Real Joy in a World Gone Mad.” Maybe God is trying to tell me something!I’ve enjoyed every one of Brant’s books, and this one doesn’t disappoint. It’s a mix of humor and encouragement that draws you in and makes it feel like a conversation with a friend who sees more in you than you’ve seen in yourself.“Yes, pain is real. Suffering is real. But in Jesus’ worldview, despair is not the deepest reality. We know it is a fleeting thing. It’s joy that underpins everything. It’s the deepest note that rings through our lives, even in tragedy.” - page 10In Acts 14, as Paul is speaking to a group of people who have never heard of Jesus, he says, “He has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy” (verse 17).The presence of joy points to the presence of God.Joy is the deepest note that rings through our lives.Start with joy if you’re looking for enchantment.I think God’s trying to tell me something. Maybe he’s trying to tell you also. It’s dark and cold right now, and I’m not talking about the season and the weather. We all need to focus on joy.

My book club and I are reading this book together. So far it has been very good. The author is very funny and helps illustrate his points with humorous examples. He has good insights as well.

I have read all of Brant’s books, and this one was as great as the rest. His books cause me to laugh out loud with some of his stories, but also resonate on a much deeper level. His writing is deep but simply put and easy to understand. He is really relatable. I enjoy listening to the Brant and Sherri Oddcast podcast too and have enjoyed watching their journey over the years!

Anything by Brant Hansen is a good read in my opinion! He is funny and witty and tells lots of stories. You can help but relate to everything he talks about. Great book!

I have been thinking about joy and peace quite a bit lately, as I try to be calm in anxious situations (i.e. life), control my anger, and be a better husband and father. This book looked interesting and topical, so I decided to give it a read.The book is loosely structured into a series of small chapters, each one of which is like a little essay on a particular topic related to Christian joy and peace, and related matters. You could certainly skip around, but it probably makes the most sense to read straight through. Each chapter is a nice bite sized (5-10 minute) nugget, and I generally only read 1 per day so I could chew on it a bit.The writing style is really excellent. Though I'd never heard of Brant Hansen before, I can see why he's got a bit of a following. There's a lot of humor in his writing style, which keeps it feeling light, while at the same time he manages to hit at the core of some deep issues. He is particularly adept at finding examples from life and good metaphors as well to illustrate the deeper points. He draws a lot from his travels and work with CURE as well as other charitable groups, which is great.My minor quibble is that he seems to be going out of his way not to offend - not that we should be offending people, but, e.g. on several occasions he seems to go out of his way to avoid the word "Christians" in favor of softer ways of describing Christians. I also don't like some of the authors he cites from a theological perspective (e.g. Dallas Willard) and paraphrase Bible translations (e.g. NLT). Overall, though, the theology espoused by the author does seem in line with traditional Christian doctrine.It's also not a structured book like, e.g. something by Tim Keller that builds on itself and makes a grand point in the end. That's not the intention, of course. But don't expect to come out of it with a new structured framework for understanding Christian joy. What you are getting instead (and just as valuable) is a set of insights into what it means to live Christian joy.

Brant Hansen has had a long association with CURE, and for good reason. He takes the opportunity of this book to share stories of seeing how God's goodness shines through the good work done by CURE. Those stories aren't the only thing in the book, but they're some great stories. The entire book is filled with honesty, awe and Brant's quirky yet delightful humor. Pay special attention to the illustrations, they're Hansen originals! Brant uses this book to show how and why we can experience the joy of the Lord for ourselves. No matter the circumstances of our life Jesus is still with us so joy can still be had. The joy of the Lord doesn't require us to follow complex instructions, but we won't always find it easy either. ...mostly because we're human and easily distracted. The joy and love Brant has for God and our Savior flows freely through the book and, if you don't resist, will flow straight from God to you, too.

Brant Hansen has the gift of presenting Christian theology through everyday life experiences. His stories place the reader in the context of living in God’s kingdom today. He encourages the reader to be open to partnering with God in His kingdom work, doing what we are able to do and letting God do only what He can do. From scriptural lessons, Hansen roots us in living in the joy of God’s Kingdom.

I paid Rs. 914/- for the book but I don’t have any information of the book. LIFE IS HARD, GOD IS GOOD. Let’s Dance by Brant Hanson

I read this book in 2 sittings . It is sooo good!Brant Hanson is so very real and relatable. The book is humorous and full of great teaching. Brant has a way of putting life in perspective by reminding us of who Jesus is and how he lived. I plan to buy 2 more copies to give as gifts. Everyone should read this book!I would give it 10 stars if I could

I enjoy Brant’s easy and fun way of writing, all the while it’s very thoughtful and challenging (in a good way). Another great book about being disciples of Jesus.