Swashbuckling Faith: Exploring for Treasure with Pirates of the Caribbean

By Tim Wesemann

Book Overview

Pirates, Patches, and Parrots What unexpected markers do you find along your faith journey, ones that lead you closer to God? In Swashbuckling Faith , author and former pastor Tim Wesemann helps you find surprising doorways to God's truth in the scenes and dialogue of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series. Created merely to entertain, these movies find Captain Jack Sparrow and his cohorts unintentionally leaving behind traces of truth ready to be explored and expanded in light of the Bible. Wesemann springboards from these glimpses to explore scriptural lessons on faith, prayer, contentment, spiritual warfare, forgiveness, hope, and much more. When your biblical perception starts finding treasures of truth in popular culture and everyday occurrences, you'll set sail for the adventure of a lifetime "Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please, sir." Captain Jack Sparrow (that's Johnny Depp, to you lovers of cinema) is the charming pirate in the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movies that buried Hollywood in gold. The films captured imaginations young and old, but now Tim Wesemann invites you to depart on an even greater adventure--for real Following the treasure map of God's Word, this dangerous exploration will reveal priceless gems of not-so-buried, no-so-pirate booty You'll uncover hidden traces of truth and priceless pearls of faith. Lessons on prayer, contentment, spiritual warfare, forgiveness, and hope will awaken you to messages your true Captain is conveying all around you. Because even a pirate movie, looked at through new lenses, can point the way to tangible riches of biblical truth. "Funny and whimsical with just a touch of sheer insanity." Dr. Timothy Paul Jones Pastor and author of Finding God in a Galaxy Far, Far Away "Shiver me timbers As a parent of teens and preteens, I can't wait to share these briny depths of faith and inspiration with my family " Tricia Goyer Award-winning author of Life Interrupted "A veritable treasure trove of wisdom and piratey-good fun that's not only entertaining to read, but draws you closer to God." Mike Nappa Bestselling and award-winning author " Swashbuckling Faith is a fresh, funny, and surprisingly rich book that falls somewhere between a devotional and a pirate manual." Dave Meurer Author of If You Want Breakfast in Bed, Sleep in the Kitchen "Full of life-changing, priceless gems from God's Word. You'll be 'hooked '" Rhonda Rhea Radio personality, humor columnist, author of Who Put the Cat in the Fridge Story Behind the Book Tim Wesemann is not a pirate, nor does he act as one on TV. While "swashbuckler" may not appear on his resume, he loves exploring for biblical treasure and often discovers it where you might least expect it--including a secular movie with pirates who pillage, plunder, and pilfer. Even scenes and dialogue from Pirates of the Caribbean served to help grow his faith in God. While the movie is a favorite in the Wesemann household, Tim also draws from past experiences as a pastor and his present insights as a fulltime Christian author and speaker.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590527046
• ISBN13: 9781590527047
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Multnomah Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.8" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Creative and inspiring

This book is an excellent and entertaining devotional for Christians. Swashbuckling faith uses examples from the movie to help us learn more about God's love for us through Jesus. The author has an amazing way of drawing you in to the topic very creatively as he brings spiritual truths to light in a very practicaly way. I highly recommend this book for Christians young and old.

A book for the Jack Sparrows in all of us

Pirates of the Caribbean, the original Disney movie, had plenty of supernatural elements to it. But is there anything we can learn from it about Christian living? In Swashbuckling Faith, former pastor Tim Wesemann contends that there are pearls of truth throughout the film worthy of our exploration. The book contains 32 brief chapters, each a lesson using the movie's plot as a springboard (or plank) for discussion. Each chapter begins with a "pirate's hook," a snapshot from the movie illustrated the pearl of truth. The topics range from honoring codes and mutiny to captains needing crews and trusting our anchor. Perhaps my favorite treasure/lesson in the book was "One Good Deed Deserves..." In the movie, Commodore Norrington tells Jack, "One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness." Wesemann pillages this spiritual truth wonderfully: "Maybe a better question is whether one good act should redeem us from a lifetime of iniquity." (30) With almost any book of this nature, one naturally expects a certain amount of cheesiness. While there are cheesy elements in Swashbuckling Faith (such as the JSV Bible translation- Jack Sparrow Version), it's kept at an appropriate level without going too far over board. Tim Wesemann is a poetic writer who skillfully navigates the deeper waters of living faith. Avast me heartys, this be a fun and practical read whether yer landlubbin or out to sea. Now, bring me that horizon...

Treasure in its own right!!

Tim Wesemann has a writing style that leads a reader down a comfortable journey. In this book he outlines the treasures and the choppy waters we can face as we walk a Christian life. The journey in this book is wonderfully humorous but just as equally inspiring. If you are looking to mature in your faith, this book can certainly fit the bill in an entertaining way. The only problem is that it was such an easy read that I finished it way too fast. Now I'll have to go back and read it again and again (what a problem to have)!

Pardon me while I stand up and applaud !

Who ever would have thought that Jack Sparrow's piratical ways could have meaning for a Christian ? Tim Wesemann creatively combines spiritual truths with humor and an unmistakable passion for furthering his and our relationship with God.It's like being handed a map for your faith ! Dig up this treasure....And be a good little pirate and share the gems with your friends.

Errrrrrrrrh, What a fabulous Book

This is a book that I just couldn't put down. It was a real boost to my faith. It was entertaining, interesting, challenging and faith building. I will go back to it again and again for encouragement and fun. I can't recommend it enough.