Smith Judah - Life is-- : Gods illogical love will change your existence

Praise for Life Is _______.

Judah is the most compassionate and giving person I have ever met. His teachings are easy to understand and full of truth and real life. I like Judah even though he dresses funny!!

BUBBA WATSON, TWO-TIME MASTERS CHAMPION

In a day and age of terror, fear, confusion, and chaos, so many people are wondering what exactly life is. Judah Smith, in his engaging, relevant, fun, loving, and deeply profound way, helps us all to see exactly what this thing called life is all about. This is the book that you want to give to all your friends. Trust me.

CHRISTINE CAINE, FOUNDER OF THE A21 CAMPAIGN

Life IS... so many things! Perhaps we can all agree, it is an adventure. Highs and lows, tragedy and triumph, crazy storms and smooth sunsets. And when it comes to navigating this journey called life, Judah Smith does it better than anybody I know. Ive seen him preach his voice empty on the biggest of stages, in public. Ive seen him cry his eyes empty mourning the loss of his beloved father, in private. Ive seen him show love and compassion to the famous and the faceless. Ive seen him lead his powerful church in the thousands, and lead his family of five, with even more grace. The only constant in Judahs life is Jesus and His gospel. Perhaps there is something to that. This book is a must read.

CARL LENTZ, CO-PASTOR, HILLSONG CHURCH, NEW YORK CITY

Judahs way of translating to everyone is incredible. He has no other motive but to help people. The best guy I know. Love you Judah.

JUSTIN BIEBER, SINGER-SONGWRITER

Judah has impacted my life deeply through his way of pouring Gods Word into my everyday life. He has a voice, a way of communicating in such a relevant way, speaking truth into our generation. Im grateful for his constant reminders of how much God loves me and the power of using my voice. He is, in my definition, a true leader.

SELENA GOMEZ, ACTRESS AND SINGER

There are very few people in life that you can turn to for anything. Sometimes it is just a text, phone call, or a good hang. Other times it is some much needed advice or guidance. Whatever it is, I am lucky to say that Judah is one of those people for me.

RICKIE FOWLER, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER

Judah Smith is one of the most gifted communicators to grace this generation and I am honored that he would call me his pastor. His teaching style is as unique as his personal style; and you cannot leave his presence without feeling loved, valued, enlightened, and enlarged. His revelations based deep in biblical truth and his knowledge of the Word of God will deepen your spiritual understanding and open your eyes to what lifeand the One who created itis all about.

BRIAN HOUSTON, SENIOR PASTOR, HILLSONG CHURCH

All we long for and everything well ever need are wrapped up in the stunning love of Jesus that pursues and perfects us. Judah Smith champions the heart of the Fathers love once again with his fresh and unique voice in his latest, Life Is _____. Read it. Breathe it in. Believe it. Walk in it!

LOUIE GIGLIO, PASTOR, PASSION CITY CHURCH AND PASSION CONFERENCES

If were not careful, we can float through life without truly taking advantage of it. Are you satisfied, do you feel complete, do you know what God truly wants for you? Judah once again reminded me of these things in a powerful follow-up to Jesus Is _____.

JASON KENNEDY, E! NEWS HOST

Judah has an unbelievable ability to convey how God really feels about us as people. In a landscape littered with religious ideals and structure, Judah cuts through the rigors and delivers the simple message and truth that God undeniably and illogically loves us. Always has and always will.

RYAN GOOD, PRODUCER OF JUSTIN BIEBERS BELIEVE; JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER; AND PUNKD

2015 by Judah Smith

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Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. Nelson Books and Thomas Nelson are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are from Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

ISBN-9781400204786 (eBook)

Information is on file with the Library of Congress

ISBN-9781400204779

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To the love of my life, Chelsea Rene Smith

Contents

Russell Wilson

It is a true honor and with great excitement that I get the gracious opportunity to introduce my friend in Christ, Judah Smith. Judah is one of the most influential and inspiring people you come across in life due to his intense passion for life and people all over the world. He leaves you always wanting more and ultimately makes you a better person. His intense passion for the Word of God and willingness to dive deep into Gods lessons creates a desire to learn more about Jesus. Although he is an amazing friend, amazing pastor, amazing Seattleite, an above average basketball player, and an excellent golfer (he thinks he is a mix of Larry Bird and Bubba Watson), he is most impressive when teaching who Jesus really is to all of us.

We are all friends of God. After ten minutes with Judah you discover his love for Christ, his love for his beautiful wife and family, Christians and non-Christians, and his church: City Church. Judah Smith has one mission in life: to express the importance of the desperate need we all have for Jesus to enter our lives and turn us inside out and make us completely brand-new.

One of my fondest moments of Judah Smith is when he talked to our team before we won Super Bowl XLVIII (48 for those of you who dont know your Roman numerals or simply werent rooting for the Seattle Seahawks). Judah spoke from one of the most important scriptures of the entire Bible: 2 Corinthians 5:17, which reads, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (NIV).

This scripture is so imperative in growing in our relationship (yes, relationship!) with Jesus because we all fall short of the glory of God, yet through our mistakes in life and wrong decisions and sinful nature, Jesus is there to make us brand-new! We as Christians, as well as non-Christians, miss out on the simple fact that God sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins because of his miraculous love for us! As a result, we are cleansed and start each morning and day brand-new in hopes for our hearts to be solely focused on living for the one who died on the cross for our sins.