We recently sat down with Jonathon Acuff, creator of StuffChristiansLike.net, and he answered a few questions regarding his latest book project, also called Stuff Christians Like, and some things he’s been rethinking lately. He was also kind enough to let us giveaway a few books. Stay tuned to the end of the interview and see how to you could win a free book.

RETHINK MONTHLY: Jonathan, we like Stuff Christians Like. In fact, we love what you’re doing. You seem to understand Christianese so much that often we wonder if you were born and raised in a closet in the back of a old Baptist church. So, we’re dying to know … were you?

JON ACUFF: Good question. My dad actually started a Southern Baptist Church in New England when I was a child. Watching him take the gospel to an area that hadn’t experienced much of the Southern Baptist approach really helped set the foundation for what I write about.

RM: OK, so maybe you weren’t actually conceived in a closet in the back of a old Baptist church but you do get church culture – this is evident by the response you’ve received with your Stuff Christians Like blog. Now that you’ve written a book with the same name, how has the response been? Tomatoes or roses?

JA: I would say that the response has been 98% positive but like most writers, I take the 2% most seriously. People have been amazingly kind but I get wrapped up in the negative stuff sometimes and let that weigh too heavy.

RM: What’s been the greatest thing you’ve taken away from Stuff Christians Like, the book and the blog? And what else has come out of this experience?

JA: I think the most important thing is that we raised $60,000 to build two kindergartens in Vietnam. That’s something that regardless of the blog and the book will really make a difference. I feel blessed to have done the book, but I know that having hundreds of kids have a place to go to school will make a big impact.

RM: Great, Jonathan. We’re really looking forward to seeing how the book impacts our culture. One last question – anything goes. What has been one thing, whether it’s God or life or Lady GaGa music, you’ve been rethinking lately?

JA: I’ve been rethinking how I define success. As greater opportunities pop up, which are not really cause I’m cool or talented but more because God does crazy things, I am being forced to rethink what really matters.

About Stuff Christians Like
On a whim, Jon Acuff started a satirical blog called stuffchristianslike.net. Acuff hoped this reaction to the popular site Stuff White People Like would start dialog about how silly it is to slap a God-spin on popular secular ideas.

Since the blog started in March 2008, it has had over 6 million page views with over half a million pages views in November alone. Over one million unique visitors from 210 countries (98 percent of the world) have visited the blog and left over 65,000 comments. Out of 112 million blogs in the world, Stuff Christians Like is ranked in the top .01 percent.

About Jon Acuff
Jon Acuff is the comedic genius behind the hit blog Stuff Christians Like which explores the funny things Christians do – including their love for side hugs, crock pots and metrosexual worship leaders. Now, this pastor’s kid, with a mind for branding, a sarcastic mouth and a heart for God is challenging how we laugh about faith in a new book. Acuff is a copywriter and blogger and lives in Atlanta, with his wife and two daughters.

Enter to Win
To be entered to win Stuff Christians Like, the new book by Jon Acuff, simply post a comment on this page. Make sure to include your email address and you will be entered to win 1 of 4 free books. A drawing will be held next Monday, May 3rd, 2010 and winners will be notified via email. Thanks for participating and good luck!

Winners Announced
The winners of our book giveaway have been announced. They are: Elliot, Vin, Krister, and Joseph. Thanks for all who participated in our contest. Look for more contests to come in the future.