soul graffiti: making a life in the way of jesus
Scandrette, M. (2007). Soul Graffiti: Making a Life in the Way of Jesus. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Mark 1:14 says that "Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God." Mark Scandrette thinks that the message and method of Jesus were a lot like graffiti-immediate, street level, and personal. Jesus spoke as one who knew the struggles and joys and longings of the people he encountered. The good news Jesus proclaimed is relevant for our day if the real issues of our lives, the places where we feel pain, loneliness, and failure are acknowledged as part of the story. The "good news of God" must speak to the whole person: our bodies, our minds, our emotions, and our relationships with people and the planet we call home. And like graffiti at its best, the message becomes a two-way conversation of intimacy and respect.
Mark Scandrette (www.markscandrette.com) is the executive director and founder of ReIMAGINE (www.reimagine.org), a center for spiritual formation in San Francisco that sponsors city-based learning initiatives, peer learning groups, and The Jesus Dojo, a year-long intensive formation process inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus. Mark is a founding member of SEVEN, a monastic community working as advocates for holistic living and integrative Christian spirituality. With extensive experience providing leadership in churches and community based organizations, Mark has been a minister, writer, and spiritual teacher for 15 years. Mark is also a senior fellow with Emergent (www.emergentvillage.com), a growing generative friendship among missional Christian leaders. He is married to Lisa Scandrette, an educator and textile artist. They have three children and live in an old Victorian in San Francisco's Mission District.