Crazy Happy

September 1, 2020

Fusco (lead pastor, Crossroads Community Church, Vancouver, WA; Upward, Inward, Outward) espouses the viewpoint that only a relationship with Jesus (based on literal, traditional interpretations of the Bible) can bring about true happiness. Fusco structures the book by connecting each of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount with the Fruits of the Spirit from Paul's letter to the Galatians. For instance, the second chapter relates Matthew 5:3 ("Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven") to Galatians 5:22 ("The fruit of the Spirit is love"). The author's prose is engaging, informal, and liberally sprinkled with personal anecdotes as well as wide-ranging footnotes that reference everyone from New Testament writers to David Bowie. While promoting a fairly rigid, traditional brand of Christianity, Fusco chooses to focus on Jesus's more accessible qualities, such as love, strength, and faithfulness, and how those qualities can be applied to our everyday lives. The book includes a foreword by pastor Rich Warren. VERDICT Fusco's enthusiasm for his topic is on full display and will certainly charm like believers.--Gail Eubanks, Univ. of Missouri, Springfield

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 21, 2020
In this vibrant work, TV and radio host Fusco (Upward, Inward, Outward) explores notions of living a good life by taking a close look at the Beatitudes and the nine attributes (“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control”) that compose the Fruits of the Spirit. By pairing each of the Beatitudes (“blessed are the hungry” or “blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice”) with one of the nine Fruit of the Spirit attributes, Fusco offers insights on living a better life: “mourning produces joy in the kingdom of God” and “comes from lives that allow God to meet us and work through brokenness.” Fusco’s Christian devotion is evident throughout (“true beauty works itself out in our lives only as we are made one with Jesus”) as he illustrates how, even in adverse or difficult circumstances, hope can be found. Fusco acknowledges that embracing negative experiences may sound “crazy,” but assures readers that one must “unlearn the cultural doctrines we’ve inherited” to “live in the beauty of God’s kingdom.” Christian readers longing for happiness will connect with Fusco’s uplifting reflections.