"The church of today struggles to be effective because in many ways it bears little resemblance to the church of the first century." - Jason Homan In "Before the Box", author Jason Homan takes us on a journey through the church describing the boxes (traditions, expectations, and extremes) in which modern Christianity has encased itself. To move forward in our spiritual lives and to make our churches most effective for Jesus, we must get back to a time before these traditions, expectations, and extremes, a time "Before the Box." Hi! Thanks for your interest in my book! I was born into a pastor's home in Michigan, USA and moved to Canada with my family when I was seven years old. -- I didn't have much choice in the matter.: -) Early in life I made the choice to become a follower of Jesus Christ. That was the most important decision of my life. Since then, things have not always been easy. Because along with the fun and happiness that is my daily existence; life has also at times given pain, challenges, and disappointments. In these times, I have been grateful for God's help and guidance as I have walked through this life. I attended FaithWay Baptist College of Canada and earned my undergraduate degree in theology. Shortly after that I married a fantastic, pretty and talented girl named Debbie. After working with some of the most dynamic ministries in Canada we settled on Cape Breton Island where I have pastored the good people of Northside Baptist Church for nearly fifteen years now. Hobbies... That one is tough. My hobby really seems to be whatever I'm doing at the moment, but I probably like carpentry, guitar, my old truck, and technology the best. A few years ago it seemed that God wanted me to use all of the avenues of communication that were available to me to convey the message of the love of Jesus, and make the lives of others just a little brighter. So, this book is a part of that effort. I hope that it is a help and encouragement to you.