Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

The first review of (that I'm aware of) comes from Aaron Armstrong at . Here's the conclusion of Aaron's thorough and gracious review:

"Cruciform is a great encouragement and a bold challenge to believers to examine their lives, to create space for repentance and to live in such a way that, in word and deed, we are able to communicate the message of the cross. I would highly encourage you to read the book and see how God might use it to open your eyes to the opportunities He has already placed in your life to do exactly that."

Be sure to read the rest of the review at Aaron's excellent blog: While you're there check out Aaron's other reviews and posts, then add his blog to your reading list.

The answer to this question lies in the words cruciform ("cross-shaped") and life.

First, the Cruciform Life is cross-shaped. It is shaped by the cross into the shape of the cross. The cross (representing the life, death, and resurrected life of Jesus as He is offered in the gospel) is the soul-shaping core of the disciple's existence. When the gospel is "of first importance" to you and "Christ is formed in you" then your life takes on the shape of the cross: you begin to live the vertical life of loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and you begin to live the horizontal life of loving your neighbor as yourself (1 Corinthians 15; Galatians 4:19; Matthew 22:36-40).

The Cruciform Life is a way of life. It is a way of being alive and doing life in the place God has planted you. It is not a program. It does not offer tips and techniques. It is not something you do only on Sundays. The Cruciform Life is a day-in-day-out lifestyle of gospel-driven love for God and others.

The Cruciform Life is faith in Jesus Christ expressing itself through love for God and others (Galatians 5:6). It means that no matter where we are in our various spheres of influence we seek to live a life that embraces the gospel by faith so that it can express the gospel through love.

Find out more about The Cruciform Life in . You can also download the Cruciform Life Quick Reference Card .

My first copy of Cruciform has just arrived on my doorstep! Today is the official release day for the book, so you can now get it in print, ebook (Kindle, iPad, Nook, etc.), and PDF formats at and in and from Amazon.com.

Thanks be to God for this wonderful opportunity to share his Story and mine with others. And thanks to CruciformPress for allowing me to be part of their publishing family.

Two new tools for living the Cruciform Life are now available as free PDF downloads at the CruciformLife.org website.

The "My Section of Tables" card will help you map out and move into the area of influence into which God has placed you to serve him and others with an at-your-service heart.

The Cruciform Life Quick Reference Card will give you a quick overview of the basics of living the Cruciform Life. It includes one of the Celtic cross illustrations designed by my friend .

You can download these tools

A free downloadable Bible Study Guide for individuals and groups that corresponds with each chapter of .

I (Jimmy) will be teaching a Sunday morning Adult Bible Class based on the book during April and May. As I do, I'll be developing the study guide using this class as the "pilot study". After the class is over I'll put it all together and offer it on this website as a free PDF download.

If you want to be notified when the study guide is available for download, please click on this link for the page and fill out the name and emal form there.

is now available for PRE-ORDER. Click on the book title or the book cover to pre-order your print copy now. Will be shipped on April 1st.

I've had the privilege of enjoying the "theatrical theology" of Charlie and Ruth Jones (a.k.a. ) at various conferences and churches over the years. These folks will have you laughing one minute, crying the next, and worshipping Jesus for his amazing grace the whole way through.

So, I am quite honored that Charlie read my book and offered these kind words to encourage others to read it, too. Thanks Charlie!

"I have been accused of being a "grace freak" by more than a few people. Well, now I have a great comeback: "You think I'm a grace freak� go read Jimmy Davis' book! I am a kid in a sandbox compared to him!" I love his use of the Celtic cross for explaining our various roles in the Christian life. I love his stories. I love to hear how God used tragedy and heartache to bring about glory. I was so encouraged by this book. May his tribe increase!

Within the Evangelical world the word and concept of "Grace" is pretty hot right now. And as you would expect some people have jumped on the bandwagon just because it is so hot. They want to be "in." Jimmy Davis is not one of those people. He knows and understands Grace because he has had a deep, life changing experience with Grace and the God who bestows with such delight. His illustrations and stories are riveting and his exegesis is right on the money� and both lead me to a deeper understanding of Grace. Buy this book. Enjoy it. Eat it. Live it."

Charlie Jones of , specializing in Theatrical Theology

"The Christian life has its beginnings and its continuance in the work of the cross as Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins and to impart new life to us. The Christian life is cruciform as we die to sin, to selfish individualism, to our own desires and ambitions, to the mindset of the world and to the life dictated by the old nature, and become like Christ himself in his death."

Derek Tidball, , page 26.

Two dear friends have written very kind and encouraging words about Cruciform: Living the Cross-Shaped Life. We weren't able to get them into the print edition of the book, but I've added them to my endorsement page here on this site. Thanks Chuck for teaching me how the gospel of Christ motivates obedience to Christ. Thank you Damon for growing in grace with me all these years.

"Cruciform is a beautiful description of the process of how we grow into the likeness of Christ. Read these pages and see how God is using the cross to reshape the life of Jimmy Davis into a man after God's own heart. Practical, insightful, and Biblical, you will relate to his story, and think of how God continues to write your own. Elvis may not have completely left the building, but he is certainly on his way out. And Jesus is filling it and making himself gloriously known."

Chuck DeBardeleben, Senior Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Gainesville, GA
"Before getting to read the pages of Cruciform, I've been reading the pages of Jimmy Davis's life. They match up. Jimmy is a struggling pilgrim who has had a hunger for the Cruciform Life for as long as I have known him since middle and high school. I can remember even as a high school student noticing that Jimmy has been hungry for something bigger than himself. The content of Cruciform is so valuable and worth your investment of time, but knowing Jimmy the past 30 years is why I invite you to look at how Jimmy's heart has been growing into the shape of the cross. You'll find that in the pages of Cruciform."

Damon Kelly, Minister to High School Students, Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, TN

In conjunction with the release of my book on April 1st, 2011, I am moving the blog to this new home here at CruciformLife.org.

Stay tuned for more information about the book and new blog posts related to living the cross-shaped life.