Paul Asay, a prodigious observer and writer on all matters related to faith and culture, has brought together a light-hearted (but introspective) take on how God uses human creativity and storytelling to speak truth and grace. As Asay explains in the introduction: “(Jesus) wasn’t worried about his message being compromised by rubbing elbows with society’s unsavory elements. And honestly, I don’t think God worries about that either…I think God is a natural storyteller.”

Burning Bush 2.0 offers a fresh take on the idea that all story (whether book, movie or other media) and creativity is part of God’s gift. Or as the words of the ancient psalmist would echo: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” In essence, one can find God’s voice and message in secular, as well as sacred creativity, and Asay makes a strong case for the myriad ways the sacred and secular today are a rather mixed bag. One might say God’s message now is showing up more frequently in unexpected places, as God blesses creativity and works through our best, yet sinful and broken, efforts.

Asay brings hundreds of illustrations and examples into his thesis. The book is loaded with inspiration and insight from unexpected sources such as popular movies, television programming, music, cultural iconography and the Internet; but Asay speaks to what many in the church have discovered (perhaps unwittingly): There are Christian messages to be found in movies such as Batman and Spiderman and in television shows such as “The Big Bang Theory” or “The Walking Dead.” In fact, what some church leaders may find in Asay’s books are dozens of new ideas for movie clips that can be used in youth ministry, worship and Bible studies.

There is much that readers can take away from this book, including a deeper understanding of how pop culture intersects with faith (where and how). Although some readers may not find the book insightful for their understanding of how God reveals truth in our world today, most would discover a provocative discourse. Everyone, I think, would end up appreciating Asay’s storytelling and gracious approach to the intersection of pop culture and church.