Excerpt
Why did the banana cross the road?
Bananas may be nature’s perfect food. Rich in potassium, low in calories, and high in taste, we
Americans consume them by the ton. From banana pudding to banana nut bread to frozen chocolate covered bananas
on a stick, you can make almost anything out of them. There are banana splits and banana shakes, banana muffins and
New England-style banana Foster. You can eat them plain or put them in fruit salad or mix them into ice cream or
my personal favorite, slice them on top of a bowl of Wheaties. Ummm, the perfect food on top of the perfect breakfast cereal.
But the banana smorgasbord may be coming to an end. Recent published reports warn bananas may soon go the way of the dodo
and the dinosaur. If something isn’t done quickly, bananas may disappear within ten years. We aren’t eating them into
extinction. After all, unlike money, they do grow on trees and those trees spread across the tropics around the world. Therein
lies the problem. The vast majority of banana trees regardless of location are virtual carbon copies of one another. The modern
banana lacks genetic diversity. Therefore, any parasite or disease that strikes one tree has the potential to wipe out the world’s supply.
Isn’t it ironic? The fruit we eat in a thousand different ways finds itself threatened by its uniformity.
The banana crisis shouldn’t surprise us. Uniformity always makes a species weaker. The more alike plants or people may
be, the more at risk they actually are. This is especially true of the human race. Most of us feel threatened by those aren’t like
us. Whether the pigmentation in the skin is different or someone’s ideas run counter to our own or their outlook in life is just plain
strange, diversity makes us uncomfortable. Variety may be the spice of life, but most people prefer their life bland. Those strange people
with their strange ways of doing things perplex us. And worse.
-- Greater Than
Read More
Unconventional thoughts on the infinite God.
We know God is greater than we can ever imagine. But what does that mean? In this "undevotional"
Mark isn't afraid to ask tough questions because he knows God never flinches.
With forty powerful, story driven meditations, he challenges you to lay it all
on the line as you get to know an infinite God. He dares you to wrestle with
life's complexity and, at the same time, allow yourself to be wowed by the
Creator of the universe. From Navpress's TH1NK
line.
Review
"Whenever I read the writings of Mark Tabb, I
realize two things. One, this guy is very aware. He soaks in life's
situations. And two, he is gifted at communicating God's Word as it relates to
this crazy and sometimes fascinating life. Greater Than is forty prime
examples of Mark's ability to put God's Word and will into our everyday
lives."
--Clay Crosse, recording artist
"This book will challenge teens and adults
in a way that is fresh and exciting. The stories suck you in and prepare you to
hear from God. Greater Than is a gripping book that is guaranteed to hold
your attention and present truths that are relevant for teens and
adults."
--Brock Gill, illusionist, evangelist
"God is stirring a generation of students
with a desire to jump into the deep end of God's pool. They want to experience
Him fully, know Him intimately, understand Him clearly, and live for Him
intensely no matter what the cost. In Greater Than, Mark Tabb calls
students into the depths of God's heart. The journey will be thrilling, and the
destination will blow you away."
--Lance Shumake, president of Iwitness Ministries
From the Author
I wrote this book in response to a question from my youngest daughter. After expressing her frustration with finding
a good devotional, she asked, "Why don't you write one, dad?" Greater Than is my answer. But don't expect this to be an
ordinary devotional. Instead, think of it as a collection of my undevotionals on steroids. You will find sarcastic humor along
with heartfelt honesty. Some chapters are deeply personal, others expose the absurdity of expending all of our time and energy on
things that don't last. The first section explores God and His character. The second probes inside the questions that leave us
wondering why God does the things He does. The last section shows how faith means hanging on to the invisible hand of God even when
we wonder if He is anywhere near us. As part of Navpress's TH1NK line, the book will especially appeal to high school and college
students along with everyone who is sick of easy answers and glib clichés. This book may be my favorite of all I've written. I hope
it becomes yours as well. 
Order "Greater Than" |
from Amazon.com
 |