Honest Advent: Awakening to the Wonder of God-with-Us Then, Here, and Now

I've preached the Advent/Christmas story for over 20 years. Scott Erickson's Honest Advent makes connections I've never considered. Deep connections, rich connections, honest connections. I first found Scott through Instagram (@scottthepainter), then through his book collaborations with Justin McRoberts (buy these books, too!), then through his prints, and now through his first solo book. His writing is poetic, yet also like you're talking with a friend over coffee. His illustrations/icons are engaging, thought-provoking, deceptively simple (look closer, there's more to see), helping his book to speak on multiple levels. I'm switching most of my library to digital, yet this is a book I'm glad I have in print. It feels great in your hand with simple color choices, the texture of the paper, and artistic type choices. Consider this for your book club. Consider buying a bunch to hand out at Thanksgiving dinner. If you're a pastor or small group leader, be sure to check out all the creative resources on the book's website. honestadvent.com

I have been following Scott for about a year, his artwork and speaking events always bringing me hope and joy in my darkest hours. The second I was able to pre-order this book I did, and found myself counting down the days until release day. To be invited to read it early was an amazing gift, as it came to me in a month of weariness and exhaustion. As Scott's art and words usually do, I was moved toward hope. Growing up, I had a nagging feeling that the stories I was hearing were lacking something. As an adult, able to discover and dig deeper into the Word for myself, I realized it was never the Bible but those teaching it to me - humans have such a propensity to clean everything up to be more appealing, it shouldn't have been so surprising to me to find that we had done it even to His word given to us. My first Christmas as a mother I found myself crying at every mention of Mary -- how beautiful was the gift, how messy and complicated and hard, and how much harder knowing Who she carried in her womb and then her arms? To see this beauty - in all it's messy and bloody and hard - depicted alongside a raw and honest look at what God-with-us means was just what I needed. I can't wait to revisit this with my family in December, as we step into the glory of the season where we can boldly proclaim: Be Not Afraid.

From the first time I saw Scott's are years ago, I have been intrigued by the rawness of it. It invokes deeper thought and feelings. It's more than just a pretty drawing or painting. It's emotion - the deepest kind. When I first got Honest Advent, I wanted to wait until the Christmas season to read it, but since I was in the launch team, I read it in October. At first, I just looked at the pictures and let myself sink into the emotion of therm. I thought about my own birthing experiences and the absolute miracle of each one. I remembered how I felt (at 44) being told I was pregnant - AGAIN! The total disbelief and yet how perfect and right it was. Then, I began to read the words. Thank you Scott for asking questions that so many of us that grew up in the church have feared to ask. And for putting into words what my heart would not say out loud!

I always say that Scott Erickson's art gave me the experience of Visio Divina before I knew it was a thing. His images present holy realities with a simplicity and frankness that makes you keep looking (and looking and looking and thinking about what you saw days and weeks later). I'm a words person so this observation-based way of engaging with the truths of scripture was completely new to me. The first of his images I enountere (shared here) was of the depiction of the full-term, head down baby inside the woman's body. A mother myself, I've only ever seen an image like that in prenatal books and OBGYN offices. The reality of the incarnation, the virgin birth, the 9 months of waiting, the actual pregnant-ness of Advent, the birth to come absolutely bowled me over. All of Advent and through Christmas, that piece of art was still stirring me. Powerful. The art alone (paired with it's inspired scriptures) is an experience in and of itself and is worth the cost of the book. Since art is universal, I'm planning to use the images as the basis for our family advent study with my kiddos (ages 4, 6, and 8). But Erickson has also framed his work with accessible, short, pertinent theoughts to guide our meditation AND questions for reflection and discussion. So I'll be sitting with the whole book in my personal time and discussing with friends too. This book is the whole package.

“What happens when we substitute the mechanics for the essence is that the wonder can go away. I’m not saying we have to start over every time to keep things interesting. It’s helpful to find familiar rituals and practices that keep us grounded. But maybe what’s happened to our celebration of Christmas is we’ve gotten so familiar with certain seasonal mechanics that we’ve begun to lose the wonder of its essence.” (Honest Advent intro) Candidly, I'm already a fan/collector/reader of Scott Erickson's content and art; so reading this early was not a tough sell. In Honest Advent, Scott gave me words and images that bring to life one of the most central aspects of our Christian faith…that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) And that dwelling means ALL THE THINGS…birth, hunger, thirst, sorrow, joy, vulnerability, pain, fear, wonder, love. The beautiful art illustrates the story so well - creating a set of “Advent Icons” that bring the incarnation of Jesus to life. Thank you, Scott, for bringing back a sense of wonder in my favorite season - the season of expectation!

Lots of Americans know nothing about the season of Advent, and many think that the four or so weeks before Christmas are for decorating, partying, programs, and shopping. Scott Erickson, the author of this book of 25 daily meditations on the Advent/Christmas scriptures, observes that, for most Americans, scripture's story of the coming of the Christ child has been sanitized to the point where it has lost most of its meaning. These meditations explore the reality of what it must actually have been like, and relate it tellingly to our lives today, with important questions for readers to ponder. Erickson is also an artist, and his illustrations add to the impact of each meditation. Warmly recommended.

This book examines the mess and mystery of Incarnation. What do these ancient stories mean to us today? How is "God with us" still working in our lives? I've followed Scott Erickson's work on Instagram for many years, and the images and meditations he's shared around Advent are some of my favorites. I love how Erickson's words and art help me look at overly-familiar stories, visuals, and ideas from a different perspective. As I've spent many years involved in church and studied Christian thought at a conservative Christian college, this is no small feat! And as I've gone through a multi-year season of deconstruction and reconstruction, Christian voices like Erickson's have been guides and comforts. I have only read a few chapters so far, as I will be reading along with my mom and a few friends this advent season. I am really looking forward to sharing this experience with them!

Love this!! I’ve purchased several different books and devotional readings for the Advent season over the last decade or so but this one is unique and timely. The artwork is incredible and thought-provoking. It is enough on its own. Then Scott shares his thoughts which unravels the images and adds a perspective to Advent that has taken me deeper into my faith journey. I buy too many books and was going to wait on this one until I read my last purchase. By the second chapter/art piece via a preview, I convinced myself this would be an early birthday gift and purchased the book guilt-free. This is one that will go beyond the Advent season for me, one I know I will refer to throughout the year when I need reminders or need to dig deeper.

Scott writes like he talks - its funny and deep all at the same time. He draws you in with imagery and examples that are just... Different. His work is honest and raw. From the introduction: "Familiarity is a helpful tool. But familiarity kills wonder." Whoa. In this time of dealing with life being oh so different and turned upside down, Honest Advent is exactly what I need to guide my soul thru this Advent season. The devotions are vulnerable and intimate - reminding us of the sacredness and specificity of Christ coming to Earth. So even though this Christmas season will be so different than years past, it is exactly the right time to be still and work thru Honest Advent with great hope for our coming Emanuel.

What a breath of fresh air this book is. Scott’s perspective, use of imagery and his artwork, honesty ... truly my only complaint is that this didn’t land in my hands sooner. There isn’t enough space in this box to give you my notes so hear this - it’s all you need - BUY THE BOOK. READ IT. AND THEN READ IT SOME MORE. And buy a copy for your friends while you’re at it.

I've preached the Advent/Christmas story for over 20 years. Scott Erickson's Honest Advent makes connections I've never considered. Deep connections, rich connections, honest connections. I first found Scott through Instagram (@scottthepainter), then through his book collaborations with Justin McRoberts (buy these books, too!), then through his prints, and now through his first solo book. His writing is poetic, yet also like you're talking with a friend over coffee. His illustrations/icons are engaging, thought-provoking, deceptively simple (look closer, there's more to see), helping his book to speak on multiple levels. I'm switching most of my library to digital, yet this is a book I'm glad I have in print. It feels great in your hand with simple color choices, the texture of the paper, and artistic type choices. Consider this for your book club. Consider buying a bunch to hand out at Thanksgiving dinner. If you're a pastor or small group leader, be sure to check out all the creative resources on the book's website. honestadvent.com

I have been following Scott for about a year, his artwork and speaking events always bringing me hope and joy in my darkest hours. The second I was able to pre-order this book I did, and found myself counting down the days until release day. To be invited to read it early was an amazing gift, as it came to me in a month of weariness and exhaustion. As Scott's art and words usually do, I was moved toward hope. Growing up, I had a nagging feeling that the stories I was hearing were lacking something. As an adult, able to discover and dig deeper into the Word for myself, I realized it was never the Bible but those teaching it to me - humans have such a propensity to clean everything up to be more appealing, it shouldn't have been so surprising to me to find that we had done it even to His word given to us. My first Christmas as a mother I found myself crying at every mention of Mary -- how beautiful was the gift, how messy and complicated and hard, and how much harder knowing Who she carried in her womb and then her arms? To see this beauty - in all it's messy and bloody and hard - depicted alongside a raw and honest look at what God-with-us means was just what I needed. I can't wait to revisit this with my family in December, as we step into the glory of the season where we can boldly proclaim: Be Not Afraid.

From the first time I saw Scott's are years ago, I have been intrigued by the rawness of it. It invokes deeper thought and feelings. It's more than just a pretty drawing or painting. It's emotion - the deepest kind. When I first got Honest Advent, I wanted to wait until the Christmas season to read it, but since I was in the launch team, I read it in October. At first, I just looked at the pictures and let myself sink into the emotion of therm. I thought about my own birthing experiences and the absolute miracle of each one. I remembered how I felt (at 44) being told I was pregnant - AGAIN! The total disbelief and yet how perfect and right it was. Then, I began to read the words. Thank you Scott for asking questions that so many of us that grew up in the church have feared to ask. And for putting into words what my heart would not say out loud!

I always say that Scott Erickson's art gave me the experience of Visio Divina before I knew it was a thing. His images present holy realities with a simplicity and frankness that makes you keep looking (and looking and looking and thinking about what you saw days and weeks later). I'm a words person so this observation-based way of engaging with the truths of scripture was completely new to me. The first of his images I enountere (shared here) was of the depiction of the full-term, head down baby inside the woman's body. A mother myself, I've only ever seen an image like that in prenatal books and OBGYN offices. The reality of the incarnation, the virgin birth, the 9 months of waiting, the actual pregnant-ness of Advent, the birth to come absolutely bowled me over. All of Advent and through Christmas, that piece of art was still stirring me. Powerful. The art alone (paired with it's inspired scriptures) is an experience in and of itself and is worth the cost of the book. Since art is universal, I'm planning to use the images as the basis for our family advent study with my kiddos (ages 4, 6, and 8). But Erickson has also framed his work with accessible, short, pertinent theoughts to guide our meditation AND questions for reflection and discussion. So I'll be sitting with the whole book in my personal time and discussing with friends too. This book is the whole package.

“What happens when we substitute the mechanics for the essence is that the wonder can go away. I’m not saying we have to start over every time to keep things interesting. It’s helpful to find familiar rituals and practices that keep us grounded. But maybe what’s happened to our celebration of Christmas is we’ve gotten so familiar with certain seasonal mechanics that we’ve begun to lose the wonder of its essence.” (Honest Advent intro) Candidly, I'm already a fan/collector/reader of Scott Erickson's content and art; so reading this early was not a tough sell. In Honest Advent, Scott gave me words and images that bring to life one of the most central aspects of our Christian faith…that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) And that dwelling means ALL THE THINGS…birth, hunger, thirst, sorrow, joy, vulnerability, pain, fear, wonder, love. The beautiful art illustrates the story so well - creating a set of “Advent Icons” that bring the incarnation of Jesus to life. Thank you, Scott, for bringing back a sense of wonder in my favorite season - the season of expectation!

Lots of Americans know nothing about the season of Advent, and many think that the four or so weeks before Christmas are for decorating, partying, programs, and shopping. Scott Erickson, the author of this book of 25 daily meditations on the Advent/Christmas scriptures, observes that, for most Americans, scripture's story of the coming of the Christ child has been sanitized to the point where it has lost most of its meaning. These meditations explore the reality of what it must actually have been like, and relate it tellingly to our lives today, with important questions for readers to ponder. Erickson is also an artist, and his illustrations add to the impact of each meditation. Warmly recommended.

This book examines the mess and mystery of Incarnation. What do these ancient stories mean to us today? How is "God with us" still working in our lives? I've followed Scott Erickson's work on Instagram for many years, and the images and meditations he's shared around Advent are some of my favorites. I love how Erickson's words and art help me look at overly-familiar stories, visuals, and ideas from a different perspective. As I've spent many years involved in church and studied Christian thought at a conservative Christian college, this is no small feat! And as I've gone through a multi-year season of deconstruction and reconstruction, Christian voices like Erickson's have been guides and comforts. I have only read a few chapters so far, as I will be reading along with my mom and a few friends this advent season. I am really looking forward to sharing this experience with them!

Love this!! I’ve purchased several different books and devotional readings for the Advent season over the last decade or so but this one is unique and timely. The artwork is incredible and thought-provoking. It is enough on its own. Then Scott shares his thoughts which unravels the images and adds a perspective to Advent that has taken me deeper into my faith journey. I buy too many books and was going to wait on this one until I read my last purchase. By the second chapter/art piece via a preview, I convinced myself this would be an early birthday gift and purchased the book guilt-free. This is one that will go beyond the Advent season for me, one I know I will refer to throughout the year when I need reminders or need to dig deeper.

Scott writes like he talks - its funny and deep all at the same time. He draws you in with imagery and examples that are just... Different. His work is honest and raw. From the introduction: "Familiarity is a helpful tool. But familiarity kills wonder." Whoa. In this time of dealing with life being oh so different and turned upside down, Honest Advent is exactly what I need to guide my soul thru this Advent season. The devotions are vulnerable and intimate - reminding us of the sacredness and specificity of Christ coming to Earth. So even though this Christmas season will be so different than years past, it is exactly the right time to be still and work thru Honest Advent with great hope for our coming Emanuel.

What a breath of fresh air this book is. Scott’s perspective, use of imagery and his artwork, honesty ... truly my only complaint is that this didn’t land in my hands sooner. There isn’t enough space in this box to give you my notes so hear this - it’s all you need - BUY THE BOOK. READ IT. AND THEN READ IT SOME MORE. And buy a copy for your friends while you’re at it.

I’ve just started the introduction and already I know this book will be healing for so many as we approach the holiday season. I believe more of us are becoming disenchanted with Christmas, as we know it, and this book brings a fresh perspective to traditions connected to the season. I, and I believe many others, desperately need to breathe new life into the meaning of these time-honored traditions of Advent and Christ’s birth. “Honest Advent” does exactly that. Through imagery and writing, Scott reminds us of Christ’s humanity as well as our own. Scott challenges us to stop holding the story of the gospel, especially the incarnation of Christ, in an impersonal detached way, which is often on display during the Christmas season. The images conjured up feelings of awkward vulnerability as I saw Mary as she truly was, a mother in labor. These are just a few examples of what can be learned about God and our relationship with him as we ponder the meaning and significance of Advent through the beautiful artwork and humble observations offered by Scott in this book. I highly recommend the purchase and I hope it challenges you to invite new traditions and perspectives into your Christmas traditions.

This is the kind of content we need this year. Beautiful imagery, moving and thought provoking text. Such a new and fresh perspective on an old and (frankly, often watered down) story. The story of Jesus’ sacred and holy birth, but also the normal, and still, and quiet of that night. The motherhood of it, the messy and the beautiful. I’m still processing the wonder of it all, and I invite you all to do the same.

I do not share Scott’s sense of wonder about the Advent season. For me, Advent is a time of guilt and stress about family obligations that often overwhelm the season, but I’m hopeful that Honest Advent turns me around on that this year. Scott has a unique voice that comes though in this book in the same way it does in his performances and visual art: honest, humorous, realistic about the brokenness in the world, optimistic for the future, and centered on Love. One thing I’ve noticed about Scott’s work (both Honest Advent and his spoken performances) is that you always want more and never want it to be over. I frequently found myself peeking at the next day’s entry. If you’re grumpy like me at Christmas, maybe Honest Advent will make this year a little brighter.

"Where is Jesus now on His birthday? I honestly want to know. This was actually the scariest question to me a few years ago as I was examining the Christmas celebration I grew up with. I was afraid that all I would find was a love for the mechanics but no real experience with the essence of Jesus. I wanted to have an honest Advent. One that actually prepared me for the coming of the Hope of the World – because I, and I believe we, need that hope more than ever." -from the introduction This quote basically sums up how I've also been feeling the past few years. My Christmas experiences as a child were full of warmth and wonder. As an adult, it has become increasingly difficult to hold onto those qualities during the season, what with the common emphasis on commercialism and cheap sentimentality. This book serves as an entry point back into the spirit of Wonder and Mystery that characterizes the birth of Jesus. I look forward to reading it this Advent and re-reading it year-round afterwards. :)

I have been following Scott Erickson for a few years now. His innovative and precise style of artwork has always inspired me. This book is no different. The images alone are beautiful and thought-provoking, but add that to his deep, philosophical style of writing, it's just awesome. His writing style is poetic and humorous. He is able to articulate deep theological understanding in very few words. I so appreciate his precise language and imagery. I can't wait to go through this in the Advent season as we muddle through the end of the craziest year of our generation. Bringing new perspective and hopefulness and earthiness to the most miraculous and monumentous day in human history. The day that the baby Savior came in order to live the life that would be given for all of us. I'm so very thankful for this book.

The book is beautifully formatted and produced (good job, Zondervan), but I was disappointed to see the author explain that he would sometime refer to God using It or They pronouns. This, along with a few other references, made the book feel like it was written to Christians who are deconstructing their faith, by Christians who are deconstructing their faith.

I am a Pastor and I discovered Scott Erickson's instagram account during Advent last year. Choosing to follow his instagram account was such a simple, life giving choice I made. I was running on fumes and his images and words gave me life that sparked energy as I showed up to event after event or marathon of Christmas Eve Services. So when he posted that this book was being labored into life I could not wait for it's arrival! And after having read the book, I can say whole heartedly that it will give life to your Advent. Erickson's art and words connect you with the rawness of humanity and how interwoven the divine chose to become in the narrative of our collective and individual lives. As a female clergy I so deeply appreciate his care in showing the importance and integral part Mary is as theotokos (Mother of God), it's a part that often gets shied away from that Erickson dives head in on - and I LOVE it. If you feel like Advent flies by in a whirl of color and too much money spent, ground your self in Honest Advent and you'll find presence in the moment as you draw closer to the Incarnation.

Scott Erickson’s art and words have been some of the greatest spiritual formation tools I have encountered in my life, and it was not a surprise that Honest Advent felt like a breeze from the Spirit ready to reignite the fire of wonder for the mystery of God-with-Us. I believe Honest Advent is the book we need today and the book we will need every time in the future when we feel stuck in the mundane and we need to become unfamiliar with this old story of the incarnation so that we can recover the joy familiarity has stolen. I will probably spend all of next year celebrating Advent because I want to sit with these meditations and art for as long as possible.

Honest Advent reflects the heart of the advent message articulately and accessibly. In reading it, I am invited to draw nearer to the Lord in ways I maybe didn’t think were permitted. I am reminded, as I need to be, that there is a place for me at His table, and that the good news of God’s “Be not afraid” is accessible for us all, wherever we are in our lives. Scott Erickson’s reflections, life stories, and art feel like a life-giving breath and pause, allowing us readers precious space to consider anew God’s involvement in the details of our lives and re-frame our heart questions into what are the real, meaningful questions to ask. I loved the invitation to release controlled outcomes, and look attentively for a God surprise. This book is a worthwhile book for any and all seasons, but is sure to give you fresh eyes to see the good news of Immanuel.

Honest Advent is a must read for this next season. We are in the middle of the hardest season for our generation so far and Scott's words and images draw us into something so needed. He does not try to push pain aside or make promises of an Advent where you come out all together shiny and new. He offers a way into being vulnerable. Let us all see and hear in this coming season is what he is asking of us for Advent. How else can God with Us be real except in the very real vulnerable life we have now. Please do go and buy this book and support a wonderful writer/artist/teacher. Buy it for all the people you know. Start a book group for Advent and get vulnerable.

I love the advent season and I love Scott’s work, so I knew this would be a winner. It’s a combo of visual and written meditations that accompany the reader through “waiting for the coming Hope we deeply long for.” 2020 is teaching us all lessons on waiting for the coming Hope, and this book is truly honest and gritty and raw in the best and needed ways. I read through this early, but I’m excited to slowly move through it again when advent season comes. Honestly though, it also felt totally appropriate to be reading in the middle of October because it’s just about life - the messy and beautiful mysterious mixing of divine and human.

In full transparency, life has been so busy that I haven’t been able to read this text in whole. However, as part of an early release, I read the introduction over and over as Scott drew me in immediately with his relevant questions and desire to look deeper into the Advent season and the story of Jesus. This book digs into the Advent story through the lens of a woman (after all, Jesus was brought into this world through one), and I feel that his desire to talk about the woman’s perspective of the Christmas season allows me to feel seen and heard as a woman of God. The Honest Advent seeks to stir up conversation and see the hope of God during a season that is filled with frills. Overall, Scott’s artwork has prompted me to ask myself a deeper “why” and challenged me to not just take things as they come. As this year has been a challenge for us all, it has also been a year of great growth for me and Scott’s artwork, thoughts, words and questions prompt this desire for learning in me. I am excited to see how this book does the same.

Wow. Scott has given an us incredible gift in the way he shares his art and fresh insights in this book. The title really sums it up so well. It’s such a raw, honest reminder of the Truth. I’m so thankful for this book in this advent season, but would recommend it as a devotional type book for any time of year!

“Familiarity is a helpful tool. But familiarity kills wonder...Wonder is an interesting phenomenon, because it’s that moment when all of our narratives and stories about life disappear in the rapturous experience of actually being here. Actually being alive. Being present with the glorious now.” -Scott Erickson Scott’s newest book has ushered in a new wave of wonder when it comes to Advent. It’s such a familiar story, but his written art and approach bring a new, raw, honest perspective - not to mention the stunning visual art that accompanies his beautiful words! I can’t wait to enjoy this book for years to come, to bring me back to enjoying the presence of the glorious now - the glorious that comes to us through this wondrous Advent season.

This book is incredible. My personal experience as a creative in the church is a lack of significance on the creative aspect of the birth of Christ - the willingness to be vulnerable, to summarize Scott’s words. However this book brings it back, showing us that one can indeed be worshipful, in awe of Christ through the creative process, through the messiness of birth (not the clean idealized version we hear in Sunday School), through the morning sickness, through the questions, through the mundaneness of the every day. I’m so happy I purchased this not only for myself but as a gift for my dad. I look forward to adding this to my Advent tradition with my husband, and even to referring to it every other month of the year.

A wonderful devotional for advent, that is a refreshing departure from the purely cerebral devotionals that dominate the advent reflection space. The incorporation of art really brings in another dimension of participation in worship, and the author's writing invites incorporating the other senses into the experience of Mary's pregnancy, waiting, and faithfulness. As a minister, I would recommend this to Christians of all ages and levels of experience. 5 stars!

Scott Erickson, who are you? To look at Advent through this lens is blowing my mind. Day by day the readings sneak into my heart. You put skin on the coming of the birth of Jesus in a way that stops me in my day and makes me quiet. I am wondering and pondering and looking forward, waiting. Thank you.

I first bought this on my kindle. I loved it so much that I went back and bought the paperback. I have finished it and already passed it on to my sister. Each chapter is wonderful. I read several chapter more than once. I plan to read it yearly as my Advent devotional.

In this year when everything feels broken and impossible, nobody has the stomach or heart for a sanitized Advent story again. We need something real and raw and true. Through beautiful, tender words and the most thoughtful art, Scott Erickson cuts through all the Christmas pageantry and brings you to the God who has no interest in sanitizing anything, whose messy, very human story is more important now than ever. I feel heard and seen by Love in a way I never have before, and I’m forever grateful to Mr. Erickson for helping me experience this immediacy and realness of Christ. Do your tired heart a favor and read this book - you’ll be so glad you did.

“..this is not a book about the extremes of birthing and illustrations to put the edginess back into the Christmas story. It’s a celebration of divine participation through the body of a woman, and it has been with great humility and reverence that I created imagery depicting the female body in moments of pregnant journeying.” Honest Advent Through this incredible book, Scott helps us all remember that our Savior, though fully God, is also fully human. Jesus has a memory and a Mother. And to forget those two things enables the Christmas story to remain just that, a story. We end up losing the realness of the journey of Jesus and Mary; and realness is needed today more than ever. Thank you, Scott!

I got this book in time for the Advent season this year and decided to read one chapter a day each morning. It has been an incredible way to start each day, actually taking in the season for what's it meant to be about (without all the pageantry and cheesy flannel graphs). I will definitely be reading it again to sit longer with Scott's insightful words and consider how to better live into the reality of the incarnation of Christ in the person of Jesus. Thanks to you, Scott, for sharing your honest thoughts while choosing to not throw the (divine) baby out with the bathwater

Scott’s first solo book is already making an impact on my Advent season. I’ve never stopped to consider that the honesty of Advent is about a birth and that much can be gleaned for life and celebration from embracing that process. I am looking forward to embracing Honest Advent as part of my preparation for Christmas this year. The introduction and first few devotional topics have already give me great insight not only into myself but into the greater mystery of who God is and how He is with us. Be blessed by this, let us be Honest in our approach to Advent this year.

This book is an invitation to shed our disenchantment and rediscover wonder. It's written with powerful and much needed honesty that speaks to our longing for depth. We are reading it with our sorta bookclub - a variety of people from various parts of the World- and there is something for all of us. Scott Erickson has also created beautiful imagery and art to go along each chapter - and every image is an invitation to stop, to consider, to rest, and to wonder once again. Buy this book! You won't regret it!

Scott Erickson's Honest Advent is a theologically-rich, yet accessibly provocative journey toward the peace of Christ in the form of a baby. This 25-day Advent reader gives voice to the eternal longings and groanings of humanity - peace, hope, love, truth, dirt, and pain. While reading through this, I was reminded time and time again - through art and word - that being human is okay. I cannot imagine a more timely and relevant book than this to journey through Advent with. Thank you, Scott, for this contribution to theology and art.

I sipped slowly on this Advent book much longer than Advent went this year, because it deserved it. What a dream of a book. This is lovely and true and pure and I am a changed person after reading it. 10000/10 recommend it for any time of the year to read and ponder.

I was raised in a tradition celebrating advent and the incarnation each year in church pews, but never in a way that connected to my real, raw humanity. Never in a way that acknowledged birth, hunger, need. As a woman and a birth-giver, these images and words brought sacred attention to the parts of the story that we don’t grow up hearing about from the pulpit. The parts that, because they are hidden, we may be in danger of dismissing. Each new chapter and image crafted by Scott made me feel more a part of the narrative of the Divine story of Advent and drew me closer to the wonder if it all.

This book will reawaken you to see Advent and the birth of Christ in a new way. It’s a glimpse of our Savior in a way that we should all see Him and it’s healing and refreshing.

This book is beautifully designed. As a mom the images of motherhood are creative relevant. I’ve only read a bit & peeked through the chapters to save the big reading for Dec. I’m so excited to dive into Honest Advent this season. Thank you Scott for creating a visual and written gem.

I was raised at nauseum with Lenten practices, reflections and contemplation but never considered the preparation that goes into Advent. Scott illustrates the beauty of the sacred feminine, holding the Divine in each of us, preparing us to bring our own gifts out into the world. Loved it!

I loved this book so much. What a great way to enter into the Christmas season. Christmas not as a celebration of materialism or church pagentry but light coming into darkness. No BS, very real treatment of entering into a spiritual relationship with the God of love.

I can't remember a time when I didn't feel a strange sense of disappointment during advent. Don't get me wrong, the materialist in me loves Christmas, but I've always felt my practice of advent is lacking reality and a sense embodiment of what the season is supposed to be. Honest Advent in its words and images is a breath of fresh air for my soul. Buy this book. Do it. It's a great addition to your advent practice.

A refreshing opportunity to consider Advent and Christmas in a grounded, natural, holy way. The images drawn and written bring Christmas into reality.

Whether I'm watching Scott Erickson in a video, reading one of his poetic social media posts, staring at a piece of his artwork, or reading this book, I am amazed at his ability to take spiritual ideas or Biblical principles and make them directly applicable to my life. He usually does this by simply sharing his own life struggles or joys, giving me something real to grab onto. He also does this in this book, taking the Christmas story that I've heard over and over and over my entire life and breaking it down and reminding me that the people in this story are real people. And, how might that change the way I approach this season of Advent? Why does it matter that Mary was a real human being with the same thoughts, concerns and emotions that I have, or my wife has? Suddenly, God's plan of redemption comes alive and I can actually see myself in the characters and I can relate to God's emotions and his heart in ways I haven't before. I don't believe the Gospel any more than I did before (since that's the work of the Holy Spirit), but I understand it more personally and relate to it more deeply because of Scott's visual and written works of art. Thank you!

This book is a great intro (whether it's advent season or not,) to understanding humanity, and God's purpose in that. The American evangelical church loves to help us "overcome" being human in a way that has been so harmful to so many and has caused a lot of unnecessary trauma. I appreciate Scott's art and honesty in grappling with the mystery of God coming down to earth to be with us. Definitely recommend!

This book is beautifully written and each image invites further reflection, expanding, and wonder. I was so grateful to have these words accompany me through the Advent season -- words that allow God to be God, a welcoming mystery and moving Spirit in my life. Thank you, Scott for emphasizing the humanness of Christ and the sacredness of our own humanity. The way in which you do not "put God in a box" and allow your readers to continue the exploration of who God is for each of us is freeing and real. This book and Scott's art reveal the divine in our humanity and invite greater knowing of ourselves and God.

I love this book! I got it a few days before Christmas and I have read it twice. I love that Scott’s art accompanies the writing. One thing I especially appreciate is how he draws attention to how much Honor the incarnation brings to our physical body. I highly recommend this book and have gifted it to others.

Much to reflect upon here. And I am sure I will return. Thanks to Scott Erickson for the guided tour.

In Honest Advent, Erickson extends an invitation to experience anew the incarnation of Christ. Through crisp, honest images and gritty, yet grace-filled words, a fresh perspective is given to a centuries-old story. Those willing to embrace wonder and mystery are rewarded with the sweet taste of Divine essence and a glimpse into the eternal of God.

Telling the story of Advent - of revelation and waiting and waiting and living into a story that we often bypass as merely the season before Christmas. Erickson tells the story by becoming part of it, by reminding the readers of the raw humanity incorporated in the story that brings the Savior to the world.

I looked forward to each advent morning excited about what I might read, see and be challenged to think. Scott's art and teaching speaks to me daily on IG.

As someone who loves the Christmas season for a variety of reason, I found this book to be a refreshing and honest view of the advent narrative. The simplicity and humor Scott brings to a well loved seasonal story makes it a must have for the bookshelf!

I have been a fan of Scott for a long time and this is his best work yet. I am so thankful for this beautiful and powerful book. It is a refreshing, authentic and vulnerable re-look at the Christmas event and what it means for us today. I can’t recommend this book enough! - Rick Schmitz – Pastor, Westwoods Community Church

I’ve been telling all my friends how much I love this devotional, so I figured I would tell you all too! It really is wonderful and speaks of so much truth. It’s definitely not your average advent devo, but I think that’s why I like it so much. And as an artist, the art between each chapter is an added bonus.

Touching, inspiring and thought provoking

This book is incredibly profound and heartfelt. I would reccomend for everyone who wants to experience Christmas more fully, but especially women. The imagery of womanhood, pregnancy, and birth is unlike anything I have ever heard from the church.

Scott’s art is powerful on it’s own, but combined with his honest reflections of the beauty and messiness of the birth of Jesus, it is just what this crazy world needs right now! The reality of God with us! The incarnation even in the mess of it all! I highly recommend!Get one soon! And get his other books too!

I read this as an ebook preview and got my pre-ordered copy today. It’s even better in real life! Love the images and the devotions are inspiring and real. I love his perspective and that’s he’s not afraid to point out the hard things. Amazing study for advent or any time.

beautiful illustrations. looking forward to reading this

The perfect Advent book study! We're hosting this study with a few other friends and we all love this book. The content is superb and the visual meditations are extremely helpful as we walk through the Advent season.

This was such an incredible way to experience Advent this year. I have never in my life heard someone talk about the Christmas Story in such an open and honest, non-sanitized way. It was refreshing, eye-opening, and educational. Would highly recommend!

Loved this books so much. Put it is beautiful crafted and felt like a breathe of fresh air compared to other advent books. Room to imagine and contemplate.

Want to like, but Scott is a woke left-wing radical who follows the prescribed gender narrative. I think there is good intention here, but the fluff outweighs the weight of truth.

This book brought to me the reminder of Jesus’s human experiences, producing a deeper connection with the divine-human one. It made Advent come alive, renewing me while I wait.

I highly recommend this book for Advent reading.

Best advent book I’ve ever used! It was very appropriate fir 2920!

This book is truly a work of art. The images are stunning and thought provoking. The written content is so deep and so real while also being easy to read. This will be a book I return to year after year during the Advent season.

This is perhaps one of the best Advent books I’ve ever read. Read it. Read it again and experience the true miracle of the with-ness of this Jesus.

Refreshing, honest, beautifully composed. The best part, of course, was how it made me think of the birth of Christ in totally new ways. Erickson’s work is thoughtful and thought-provoking. I’ll return to Honest Advent next year and for years to come.

This book is just what I was looking for heading into the holiday season. Scott cuts straight to the core and pushing you to face who you are in light of Christ. It’s a must have for Advent!

These twenty five days of honest advent were breath taking. Some days I cried with tears of empathy and other days I felt expansion in my heart to a new way of partaking in Gods story of incarnation and coming to earth as a human.

Beautifully illustrated, Honest Advent is a real, raw look at the Advent season. It strips away sanitized versions of the Christmas Story and invites you into deeper understanding.

This book gave words to the unrest and longing in my heart for something more than even the advent I thought I knew. It made me weep and also grin with tears in my eyes. Truly breath-taking. Don’t expect a fluffy read. This will move you and shake you.

Advent in a new way, I really enjoy the approach and the message; the art is amazing and it makes you reflect about christmas

I read this book in the midst of one of my most personally difficult advent seasons. I couldn’t have more gratitude to Erickson for writing words that allowed me to connect with God in such a comforting way.

Excellent book for anyone wanting to experience Advent in a fresh way. Scott’s beautiful, thought-provoking art and prose were a welcome addition to my seasonal observance, and I look forward to reading again next Advent.

I loved the beautiful, thought provoking artwork throughout the book. Scott also had some deep theological Points. I made Lots of highlights in this book! I look forward to rereading next Christmas season.

Beautifully written! Such an incredible way to rediscover the heart of Jesus. I felt like every word was written specifically for me and gave me a lot to digest and think about. Would definitely recommend.

I absolutely loved reading this book. It brought up so many points that I had never thought about dealing with the birth and humanity of Jesus and what it meant for him to come to earth for us.

Beautiful artwork combined with thoughtful words. A new perspective for the season. I thoroughly was challenged and enjoyed it greatly.

Such a timely read. I’ll be purchasing additional copies as gifts!

The best for staying grounded during the advent season.

I loved this book and highly recommend! It beautifully asks you to really contemplate your personal relationship with God 🎄❤️

Such a wonderful book for the advent season, exactly what I needed!

Thoughtful and insightful. Read during advent— would gift to friends and family next year!

Love reading this for Christmas!

incredible book! loved the thoughts and wonder that it awaken within me!

So much truth in this. I recommend to all.

The first day was great and it went downhill from there. If you are not a mom, have kids, or want to hear about childbirth/parenting every day this book is not for you. It is a bit rambling, full of everday slang and cultural references that are not timeless and will be outdated quickly. I also really don't like the use of "it" for God. I REALLY REALLY wanted to like it but there are many other great Advent resources out there so I wouldn't recommend this one.

As intended by the author, this book awakens the wonder of God-with-Us in the reader by helping us in contemplating how the incarnation (or arrival of Jesus) happened back then, and also how it is happening here and right now by providing images and short meditations meant as tools to awaken us to new perspectives and truths that the Divine is cultivating in us already. Erickson lifts up the experiences of women and of pregnancy to draw us deeper into the mystery of Christmas and the anticipation that Advent is meant to develop within us. While this book is predominantly centered on Advent it also takes us far beyond the typical focal points of that narrative and invites us into a deeper dive regarding spirituality and our participation in this physical world and what that means for our engagement or abiding with the Divine who has come to meet us in Christ. Simply put, this is one of the best advent books I've ever come across. To top it off, this book is inviting toward all people and easily accessible for the readers (be they individuals or groups). This book is a gift.

What a gift Scott Erickson has : to create space for us to reflect + wonder + break through the mundane + grasp the raw beauty of this expectant coming of a baby into our world. I love how he draws us in with his artwork, to think beyond our cultural patterns and traditions, and have fresh eyes and a tender heart to see Christ, Emmanuel, God-with-us, in a new and wondrous way. My heart is softened and soul refreshed thru his insights and wisdom and invitation. This book is going to be a gift to many of our family & friends this year!

This devotional is a beautiful way to consider the down-to-earth, human aspects of the birth of Christ. It bridges the gap between the holy/limitless and the human/finite Christmas story. You'll find yourself thinking again about what it must have been like for Mary and Joseph to participate in a birth just like any other, and yet, like nothing they would ever experience again. It brings Christ right into our homes, our human experience and invites us to know Him more intimately, and to feel known by God in that same way. This is one of those books you'll want to come back to every year, even if it's just to hold these images in your hands and sit with the one who is infinite and yet was finite.

Scott's honesty and window into the incarnation and all the "fecal muck" that go with it are such a gift as we tread through the muck that is 2020. Through art, scripture and prose he thoughtfully connects Eve, morning sickness, and so much more of the often neglected parts Jesus's birth to God's great grace and love for us. I raced through the advanced copy I received, but I can't wait to sit down with the copy I ordered during Advent and savor all that is there. This isn't a flowery advent devotional to brighten your holiday, this is the connection to a God who sees us and loves us that we desperately need this year.

Oftentimes—perhaps largely because over two thousand years have passed—the story of Christ's birth and the events leading up to it have dulled a bit. Our society has mythologized, sentimentalized, and watered it down over the years. All too easily the scandal of the Savior and King of the world coming into this life in the lowly, albeit humiliating, manner that he did loses its edge amid the sweet carols and peaceful nativity scenes we render on our lawns and atop our mantles. Too many sanitized retellings have rendered listeners numb to just how appalling and disgraceful it truly is. In this beautiful book, Mr. Erickson brings back the edges to the Advent story, making it more relatable, recognizable — sharpening those dulled corners. His art and words remind us of this honest truth: Mary and Joseph were real people. Jesus, a real newborn baby. Complex human beings who experienced an array of emotions amid a tumultuous point in their lives. This book looks at Advent — all its grit and and gore and glory — through a refreshingly honest lens. Mr. Erickson’s art and words helped give me eyes to see and ears to hear the wonders of God’s love in a fresh way. I look forward to reading this annually as a new Advent tradition. Don’t miss out.

The twenty-five brief chapters in this book each explore one simple concept from the Advent story. Each is preceded by a simple picture to set the tone. What I most appreciated is Erickson's creative ability to explore elements of Advent we don't normally encounter. Yes, he talks about peace, and plenty about birth. We're also prompted to consider the inn not as a packed Hilton but the more likely scenario of a family home with too many relatives, along with the still relevant emotions regarding family tensions and politics. We learn about the changing regard for shepherds and how that relates to Jesus' place, and ours. The closing chapter is about releasing us from fear - relevant always and especially now. I was introduced to this book through a book group. It's a great choice for group reading and discussion.

This time two years ago, as I rocked my month-old baby, I was feeling like I wanted to experience the Christmas story in a different way. At the time, a friend suggested a study to me, but it fell short, leaving me with no deeper connection or revelation. Entering into this holiday season, however, my Christmas wish from years past finally came to fruition with Erikson’s "Honest Advent"! Erikson has painted a picture (many actually!) of Christ’s birth that is the most accurate I have ever encountered. In each reflection, which includes scripture, his breathtaking art, and thought provoking commentary, Erikson makes enough room for the reader to meditate in the weightiness of the miracle, while simultaneously laughing and experiencing the messy, very real parts of birth. As he explains throughout, it’s these very real and messy parts of Christ’s birth and the surrounding story that our “aesthetically pleasing” Christmas often overlooks. This need for an “aesthetically pleasing” Christmas often bleeds into the need for an “aesthetically pleasing” Christian life--leading us to think that, “...we can only experience God-with-Us by cleaning up all of life’s messy details” (120). As Christians, we either subconsciously, or perhaps consciously, buy into the narrative that God will only meet us when. When we fix this. When this is over. When this is a little more cleaned up. When I just stop doing that dumb thing over and over, etc. Each mediation in this book is a beautiful, challenging rebuttal of that false narrative. If you were like me a few years ago, yearning to enter into your Savior’s birth story, striving to find yourself in it, wanting to connect to the individuals who gathered around the swaddled King, I cannot recommend Honest Advent enough. The layout and setup are engaging. You can take as much time as you want with it each day, yet the daily reflections are short enough to fit into even the busiest of schedules this time of year. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite closing meditations from the book-- “May your present stage of life be the mighty ground for divine participation” (95).

"'Be Not Afraid' could be a legitimate substitution for 'Merry Christmas.'" In the Last Battle, C.S. Lewis tells the tale of an imposter who masquerades as Aslan, committing horrendous acts against the people of Narnia. In the story, it says that the hearts of the Narnians grew faint because the Aslan they believe was good turned out to be evil. Haven't we all had experiences with the imposter, where due to our human experience, our hearts fail, because for a moment it seemed like the goodness of God was only a fairytale? Scott Erickson is one of those people whose life proclaims to failing hearts, "It wasn't a dream. He's better than you think." Reading this book is an invitation to be reconciled to goodness - to find God in places you didn't expect to find him - perhaps even places the imposter marked as "off limits" (in women, in the humble, in the mundane). Reading this book is an invitation to be reintroduced to wonder again through the all-too-familiar Christmas story. May you find Him again and again.

This book is everything I never knew I needed for Advent. I have done many studies during the Christmas season, but Scott brings a solidly relatable new view to the waiting. The short yet profound readings for each day and the visual art for mediating have already changed my heart. If we need anything in this year of insecurity and division and hopelessness it is this book. Scott shows that our struggles and daily pains are echos of Mary’s in between (Aunnunciation-Christ’s birth). I am so thankful that I got this early enough to meditate through it a couple of times this year.

It's like sitting in a coffee shop or on a bench in a park with a friend you respect and admire and having a conversation with them about the Advent. You may not always agree with everything this friend thinks or says, but you appreciate that every time you're together they offer a fresh perspective and challenge your thinking. Some of these meditations may resonate so deeply with you that they bring you to tears. Some of them may make you uncomfortable. I would encourage you to read these meditations, not as law or as a definitive guidebook. Don't approach this book expecting a traditional, liturgical guide through the advent season. Read these meditations with an open heart and an open mind. And instead of rebuffing the ones that challenge you and declaring, "That's not what I know to be true!" sit in the discomfort and ask yourself why it makes you uncomfortable. Read it as if you're listening to a beloved friend sharing his heart with you. Pause, ponder what was shared. Pray over it. Talk about it with others. It would be an exercise well worth the effort. Read through it, be moved by the meditations that ring true through your soul, and ponder the things that make you uncomfortable. This book has deep and meaningful thoughts that are well worth reading, whether you agree with every part of it or not. If you're at all interested in thinking through what has become commonplace with a fresh perspective, I encourage you to read through this book. This would even be a great book to read and discuss with several friends, especially if you all tend to challenge each other's thinking. There's refreshing food for thought found in these pages, and I think it's definitely worth ingesting.

Imagery is everything. Scott Erickson brings the Incarnation to the forefront of Christmas thought. Reading Honest Advent (HA) is as though having a conversation with your best friend if your best friend was also an introspective artist. I have followed Erickson since he served as Artist in Residence at Ecclesia, a church in Houston, TX. His art continues to point others to Christ, which is a breath of fresh air in today's age. Although I may disagree with his occasional choice of Bible translations, the NLT or MSG (for ex., NLT is a dynamic equivalence, and I prefer a more formal translation such as CSB or even ESV). I understand why Erickson chose such translations since their conversational tones match much of the book. One major takeaway from HA is how it makes the Nativity Story thoroughly and utterly relatable. For example, in Ch.10, Erickson describes classical images of Mary: "It's honoring to portray her as well-rested and dressed in her Sunday best rather than just waking up in the morning with an achy back and morning-sickness breath. . . But this process becomes unhelpful when we separate our own fleshy humanity from the humanity found in these sacred stories. Because when we dismiss the aches and pains, the fluids and hair, the naked fleshiness under all the fancy clothing, we can dismiss ourselves from being ones who could also find ourselves in a sacred story. It's the meeting place where the Spirit of God meets every person- our physical bodies." HA is a recommended read for those seeking to understand the true meaning of the Advent season as it looks forward to Christ's birth via beautiful imagery and brief analyses on select Texts.

Those already familiar with the art of Scott Erickson know all about his uncanny skill to make the old seem new and vital again. But his modernizing of centuries-old iconography is far more than throwing on a fresh coat of paint. The images he creates evoke deep contemplation, and will stay with you for days and weeks on end. For those new to his work and imagination, I am thrilled in thinking about what they are about to discover. It turns out, he's a pretty great writer too! Each of these series of devotional reflections begins with a central image, followed by Scott's musings on the cultural distortion of the Christmas season, winding journeys of faith, and the inherent messiness of the Church, family, and community. Ranging in tone from hilarity, to melancholy, to heartache, Scott is unfailingly sincere and richly thoughtful throughout as he invites us into a fully embodied embrace of the season of Advent. It being late October, it won't be long before our stores and screens are inescapably littered with sparkly images of the kind of Christmas that can only be purchased. The invitation of "Honest Advent" is instead to slow down; entering into season of genuine anticipation, reminded of the incomprehensible truth of the Divine joining us in all of the "goop" (figuratively and literally) of humanity. This book and artist are a gift to the faithful, the questioning, the curious, the spiritually recovering, and perhaps even the hostile. This Christmas and those following will look profoundly different in many hearts and homes for what Scott so generously offers here. Get this book, and a few more while you're at it, for the dialogue it may raise with friends and family in the weeks ahead.

I have been an admirer of Scott Erickson's art for some time now and was delighted to see that he has written and illustrated a book of advent readings. I found these twenty five readings to be refreshing and novel in a world that is filled with the tried and true formulaic inspirational Christmas banter. What Scott has done is bring forth for the reader a down to earth human look at what the incarnation was about and what it cost all those who were involved. There are several notable readings that stick out to me on topics such as vulnerability and the goop of humanity that we all are a part of in the birth process. The artwork is also excellent and imaginative. This will surely become an annual Christmas reading for our family for years to come. Grab several copies of Honest Advent for yourself as well as family and friends.

4.5 stars I absolutely love just about anything Scott comes up with, and this is no exception. Obviously, I read this a bit before Advent, thanks to being included in the book launch club. I think what I find most unique about his work is his boldness to accurately portray the physical aspects of Christ's life. So if you will be offended by illustrations of birth/nursing/etc., this isn't for you. But the profound illustrations are only improved upon by his relatable, encouraging devotional thoughts, summed up by a single-sentence blessing at the end of each chapter. The only thing that weirded me out a little was his us of "its" or "they" in reference to God. While I understand that God portrays both male and female attributes in Scripture, and describes Himself thus, the inclusive language felt a little PC. Just my opinion; don't @ me. :P If you don't follow Scott on Insta, you're really missing out. And while you're at it, preorder this little book! It will be a wonderful addition to your Advent reading.

This book is divine. If you want to stretch what you think you know about the Christmas story, read this. If you want to feel both the immensity and the simplicity of Advent, read this. If you have been searching for a more vulnerable and honest (the title really is true!) take on stories you've heard for years, read this. Scott Erickson is masterful in his exploration of the Advent season, touching on themes of motherhood, childbirth, anticipation, and incarnation with wonder and physicality. This book sheds light on the intense humanity that we so easily overlook in the Christmas story and reminds us that Jesus is not nearly as untouchable as we make him out to be. This book reminds us of the sanctity of humanity. A must for this Advent season.

When I first came across Scott's work in 2015 on Instagram, I quickly hit the "follow" button. One of Scott's goals has always been for artwork to move you; to pull something within you and bring it to the forefront of your mind as meditate upon it. But perhaps what is more moving than the artwork that Scott wonderfully creates, are the words that accompany it. This book is no different! Scott's consistency to awaken prayer, meditation, and his ability to provoke thoughts and questions that lead you to the Giver, and ultimately grow in your relationship with this Giver of your life, do no waver in Honest Advent. I have enjoying being refreshed by the hope-filled message he injects into you with every page, while also building on the highly-anticipated celebration of the coming of Jesus during the advent season. Scott is insightful, theological, poetic and yet authentically humorous along this journey. I would recommend this book for those who desire is to not only grow in their anticipation of the advent season but also grow in the relationship with our Lord. Honest Advent is truly a work of art form cover to cover and I pray that it moves you as much as it has moved me.

After years of studying the story of Christ during the Advent season, I was excited to get my hands on an early copy of Honest Advent. I’ve loved the author’s artwork and mini devotionals he shares on social media for some time. The first peek I got at the artwork for Honest Advent, I knew that this was something really special. It’s easy for Advent material to focus on the grandiose, and to stay light/easy to digest. The great thing about Honest Advent, the thing that sets it apart for me the most, is the way it brings the supernatural to the natural. It takes this most amazing, mysterious turn of events - Christ becoming human to come and save us - and doesn’t shy away from the messiness of reality. A mother who pushes a baby out of her body, a baby who eats/sleeps/poops, a family who will experience all the ups and downs of the newborn phase - this book brings the nature of humanity to the divinity of Christ in a refreshing way I haven’t seen in Advent material before. On top of all that, the artwork is astoundingly beautiful, as always! I am very much looking forward to studying the material more in depth as Advent approaches.

An honest book about what the coming months are really about. This year, in particular, is a perfect time to be reminded: That God is with us. That this isn’t a story from thousands of years ago. That Christmas isn’t about the money spent and gifts received. That we all come needing something... rest for our weary souls, care when we feel lost and confused, hope for our worn out minds and bodies, a safe place to be. And in this book, Scott Erickson uses his striking art to remind us that God meets us now in our daily lives, in our own vulnerability. Today. Always.

"There is no mountaintop you can take your friends to and say, “Look, here’s God,” while you point to a giant, floating, cross-legged, golden-bearded man who winks at you and says, “I knew you were coming.” That’s not the world we live in. There is no visible evidence of God that way here. But if you look through the Scriptures, you’ll find that physical evidence is not the evidence we are offered for faith to rely on." The book title promises honesty, and it provides that combined with reverence, awe, and humility. I read this book early, not in advent, and even then, the spirit of waiting for Jesus, of walking through the birth story of Christ not as a fable or children's tale, but slowly, noticing the details, wondering at the edges of the story, appreciating the physicality of what we know from scripture. The pictures are beautiful and the chapters short and poetic. I felt the reverence of the story in a way I hadn't in a long time. This book was light in the darkness. I loved every second of it.

What I appreciate about this book is the way Scott is able to illustrate the authentic images of the advent narrative, shifting my perspective to engage with the story in fresh ways. I liken it to my experience as a mom. My kiddo wears cloth diapers, and never in my visions of being a mom did it include washing nasty gross diapers. It was the rosy dreams of snuggling my kiddo and smelling sweet baby smells, not the baby poop I am faced with every time I wash his diapers. Gross, right? And yet, with each load of laundry, I am confronted with the realness of being a parent, the humanness of my kiddo and my views of parenting shift each time. In the same way, I felt with each image and writing, I was confronted with the rosy image of Advent I have had since childhood, to engage in a new perspective and see the humanity in the Advent story, the gritty, the gory, and the beautiful. I recommend this book to refresh your view of Advent, to see the hope of this season however you need to hold hope this season and this year.

So many true words in this Advent offering. If you are looking for a liturgy to practice in this season, a liturgy that is anything but boring or rote, that will challenge you, and maybe even grow in you feelings of hope, let this book be your guide. Honest Advent is written for people who want to center their Christmas on the story of Jesus rather than the story of Consumerism, but Erickson's language is accessible no matter what your religious background. Honest is an accurate description for this book: you don't need to understand God or have any answers, you can just walk along with Erickson as he asks hard questions. And as you meditate on wonder, vulnerability, birth and life, and even gifts, maybe a little bit of joy and peace will sneak into your heart, too.

Dang. This book is something truly special that I hope everyone get's the chance to read. Each page overflows with new perspectives, Scott's humble voice, and provoking thought in how we (as a Christian community, and even society as a whole) have misrepresented the season of Advent for so long. I felt the tension of wanting to sit still and process after reading each chapter while simultaneously being anxious for what the next chapter presented, and I am sure you'll feel the same sort of dichotomy. Scott's writing is so casually profound that he makes it easy for his readers to follow along with his formative ideas for how we ought to recenter ourselves around the greater mysteries that surround the season of Advent. So go read it, soak up Scott's big brain, and let the mysteries of the Triune God make you wonder, cause that what Advent is about!

I love how Scott Erickson’s work shifts my perception. His modern art always leaves me contemplative of what was, or at least how I used to view it; what is, or the reality of how I currently understand it to be; and the mystery of what is to come. Through his work I always find the presence of Christ is a thread of continuity that stitches the three together--this beautiful book does the same for Advent.

“Nostalgia is the familiar feeling rooted in a patterned experience that gives comfort in the face of present mystery… Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with the familiarity found in nostalgia. Familiarity is a helpful tool. But familiarity kills wonder.” - Scott Erickson Honest Advent brings the wonder back to the words that we say and sing every year around Christmas - “God With Us.” God with us - knee deep in all of the mess of humanity. This small book of 25 illustrations and meditations is such a gift in this present year, reminding us that Jesus came facing the same vulnerabilities that we encounter and struggle against. Read this book, sit quietly with the meditations, and receive the invitation to perhaps be willing to give up some of the nostalgia this Christmas and to instead, rediscover the wonder of God Incarnate.

Scott Erickson’s icon-ic artworks have the ability to get under your skin and seep into your heart, and like a seed in good soil, a bountiful harvest follows. I’m the Pastor of a church in Wollongong, Australia and we have used many of Scott’s images in reflections and contemplations, and a few years ago we walked through lent using his book ‘Prayer’ (co-authored with Justin McRoberts). This year we’re using ‘Honest Advent’ to take us deeper into the wonder of this season of incarnation. Both Scott’s art and the reflection accompanying each piece will cause you to see afresh an old and often too well-worn story. This book will challenge you to see the very bodily reality of ‘God-with-us’ in all it’s rawness, vulnerability and beauty. And it will invite you to then see your own bodily reality as gift, as beautiful and full of hope.

Scott's Honest Advent is such a good read. It’s not a page turner, in the best sense. You’ll want to camp on the chapters. Marinate in his questions. Contemplate and the images. These familiar stories - cursed in some what by their familiarity - are considered in fresh, honest ways that breathe life into them. The reflections are both there and then AND here and now. I could see Scott’s humor and his vulnerability, and because of this I could see my own vulnerabilities too. The images with each chapter aren’t superfluous - they are focal points for reflection and meditation after reading. Each chapter feels accessible and at the same time freshly thought-provoking. You will certainly want a copy - and then a few more for your friends.

Experience Advent with fresh eyes and new perspectives. Scott Erickson literally and figuratively paints the uncertainty, the hope, the wonder, the mystery, the rawness of the virgin birth of our Lord and Savior. His reflections each day bring new aspects of Jesus and Mary to light, and they are very thought-provoking and meditative. He approaches Advent with a curiosity that is so fresh to someone like me, who has heard the story of Christ’s birth countless times. Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday, and this book will bring extra special meaning to the Advent season this year and future years as well.

The past few years I have picked out an advent season devotional book to read leading up to Christmas. This year I was super excited to learn that Scott Erickson was creating this book of readings and beautiful artwork. It is written in a way that is easy to understand yet also thought provoking. The imagery really adds to each chapter’s concept. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a twist to their regular advent reading (well I would actually just recommend this book to everyone).

Such a great book. If you’re looking for a tidy, feel good, cute donkeys at the manger Christmas devotional, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a companion this Christmas season to help you cultivate wonder at the miracle of God-with-us, you’ve come to the right place. The imagery that Scott offers us for our contemplation, and the insightful thoughts he shares alongside of them are a gift to us, especially this year as we come to Christmas with a heartbreaking year behind us.

The way I view advent has shifted over the past ten years. Rather than simply a lead up to Christmas Day, the advent season has become the place where many longing for light in the darkness has a home. Where my cries for beauty in the midst of a mess make sense. Where God reaches down and shows us how beloved we are, through pregnancy and birth. I joyfully opened Scott Erickson’s brand new book Honest Advent, and the images and words jumped off the page. If this year has been dark and messy for you, this book is a bit of golden light.

This book is a visual feast. As someone who is a visual AND auditory learner, reading this devotional with my eyes and my heart was a truly beautiful experience. Scott’s art is poignant, powerful and alluring. It invites you to look again, to peer closer into the narrative of Heaven. This is a beautiful exploration into the story of the greatest miracle the Earth has ever known— God With Us, revealed in us, Emmanuel.

Ever feel like, “Haven’t we been here before?” As you approach Christmas and the Rutgers surrounding it? This is a great push to look at it deeper and not as before as Scott adds more dimensions, nipples and more to the story of Jesus very human birth and what it truly is for Him to be Emmanuel (God with us). Grab a copy and shake it up, be pushed and challenge yourself to wrestle with new elements this Advent season.

This book is for the disillusioned pleading for revelation; for the grief-stricken peeking over their shoulder for a glimpse of comfort; and for the wanderer wondering if they're still safe in the arms of Love (you are). This book is for humans who are courageously ready to embrace their humanity and understand His. Honest Advent may be read as quickly or as meditatively as you desire. It's approachable, yet bountiful. This book is abundantly everything I hoped it would be, and will continue to reorient my soul, not just during the holiday season, but year-round.

This book is an incredible resource not only for churches and small groups, but also for the individual! Erickson engages the season of Advent in a way that reminds that challenges the ways we have grown to communicate about Advent: he reminds us of its sacred beauty while inviting us to consider the humanity present throughout the Lord's coming. I would highly recommend reading this book and allowing yourself to sit in the hope and anticipation of the Advent season, while remembering the incredible beauty of the incarnation! What a blessing this book already has been!

2020 has been a mess. Pandemic + Pandemic + Protests leaves us yearning for a Christmas that isn’t just fluff and tinsel. This moment calls for something more vulnerable, more authentic, more...honest. This is the perfect book for the 25 days of Christmas as a devo. The daily art is just as stirring as the chapters. My church is using this as a daily devotional to simultaneously strip away the wrapping paper while also recapturing the magic of December. This book won’t feel cumbersome to read while sticking with you for the day. Gift yourself some honesty this Advent.

As a minister, I’ve gone through a lot of Advent devotionals. But this one opened my eyes to the stories in a fresh way through the author’s art and thoughtful reflections. I look forward to having it as a companion throughout the journey of the season and to share this book with others.

Several years ago I began to embrace the Advent season as an honest, grounding, and holy practice in the midst of Christmas chaos. I've read so many books, so many bible studies for Advent. This book from Scott Erickson is refreshing. The artistry, wit, and honesty he offers brings me back to the mystery and beauty of this season. And if there was ever a year we needed to ground ourselves back to the wondrous compassion of God this is it. So pick us this book as a lovely companion for your Advent season

Scott, offers so much to those who seek to engage Advent in a meaningful way! The images that are though provoking accompanied by the text which is rich , hospitable and generous. This volume is a threshold inviting me to explore and experience the deeper possibilities offered in Advent! I heartily recommend this beauty to you!

Scott's work has been a breath of refreshing air in a Christian culture that so often becomes stale and repetitive, and his latest book is no exception. The prints in Honest Advent are not only beautiful but thought-provoking and made me see advent with a new perspective and Scott's reflections give relatable language to deep theological truths. This book is unlike anything I've read before and I cannot recommend it higher. It will breathe new life into your advent season and maybe even refresh your faith.

Such a refreshing book. Many Christians, like myself, are tired of hearing the same fabricated Christmas message; what Scott does with Honest Advent is creatively and accurately bringing the details of the virgin birth to light. God With Us came into the mess of humanity, and Scott brilliantly illuminates the arrival of the Messiah in such a masterful way. Thank you for your faithfulness, Scott!

This book has given life to my soul & I suspect I will reread on repeat through the whole Advent season. Its prose invites you to wake up to beauty, mystery & explore the holy experience of awaiting the birth of Jesus on earth through the lens of pregnancy. I've never experienced an Advent read like this, and it seems like this text was waiting for the very cultural moment we find ourselves in — I hope it gives life to your soul as well.

This collection of stories, images, and verses uses the lens of Advent to help give us a way to view the holiday season in a more mindful way while telling familiar stories about Christmas in a real and raw way. I appreciate the thoughtfulness and artistry that went into creating a really unique book and believe that Honest Advent can bring meaning to any season of life (advent, or otherwise!). Each chapter explores themes that I will be thinking about for weeks and months to come!

In the midst of this time of constant uncertainty, Erickson's book is truly a gift. Raw, uncensored, and refreshingly honest, this advent devotional is perfect for people that want to move beyond a Christmas narrative that is pretty and uncomplicated. Through compelling images and brilliant and prophetic writing, Honest Advent reminds us all that God is present in this mess. I cannot wait to re-read it as I journey through what may be the most unconventional advent ever!

In times where it can be really hard to lean into traditional ways of celebrating (only positivity! All the Christmas music!), this book truly illustrates the God With Us message Scott writes in the introduction. Holding both beauty and brokenness, love and loss, this book helps celebrate what is good and beautiful, and also acknowledge that things aren't "as they should be" yet. I can't wait to use this book as a foundation for my advent practice.

This book came at a time when I desperately needed some hope. Thank you, Scott Erickson for multiplying our hope and for the reminders of how real and available it is.

If you are tired of the same played-out Christmas-y traditions surrounding the birth of Jesus, buy this book! It will help you look on the incarnation of Jesus with new eyes. It is set up like a devotional for the 25 days leading up to Christmas, with a Bible verse, art, and meditation for each day. The art is beautiful and the meditations have a refreshing perspective on Jesus' birth, what Christmas is all about!

I love this book! It will be my go -to Advent reading every year. Scott's artwork is breathtaking. Simple, spare, yet so profound. His accompanying words are so rawly real, and make me think outside the lines of what I've always been fed. *sigh*

I’m not devoutly Catholic, but what a refreshing take on advent! I enjoy the honest and raw illustrations.

Scott Erickson's new book is amazing. His attention to detail in his drawings are thought provoking and engaging. His words are so carefully selected and shed light on the feelings we are most adept at hiding. In a climate and context with so much uncertainty and chaos, Erickson's devotional is filled with encouragement and grounded in the invitation of the God whose Love is constant.

This book was profoundly psycho-spiritually helpful to me. Meaning, in terms of the way that I thought about God and my own life, and some of the things I was struggling with, it was helpful. It also opened the door for new emotional content. I appreciate the words and images Scott shares here and I think you will too.

The best book I read in 2020. Grateful for REAL books that share the joy and pain of life. I was inspired and found new meaning in stories I’ve heard so many times.

This book offers a powerful view in advent and the reality of Jesus being fully man and fully God. It’s creative, inspiring and a book that will enrich the advent season. Scott Erickson continues to create beautiful and poignant art that challenges my thinking!

The imagery continues to captivate your thoughts hours after seeing and experiencing them. Favorite quote “The difficulty in letting God grow you is the trust that is asked of you when you aren’t quite clear what the outcome looks like.” Divine growth is written all over these pages. Erickson has provided questions to ask yourself, to ask God.

I enjoy the book so far, about halfway through. However, it doesn’t sit well with me when the author refers to God as “it.”

These words, these images are an invitation, a deep fresh breath of knowing, of being known. Thank you, Scott Erickson, for this honest, accessible and heartening guide. For me, it has been an onramp to a deeper level of being, of finding the sacred and it could not have come at a better time.

You will not be disappointed by this book - if so, shame on you. ;) An inspiring and creatively, thought-provoking wonder of a book. A 11 out of 10 suggestion. True to its name, an honest and refreshing look into one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. 2020 needs this kind of love!!!

Many advent reflections gloss over the hardships faced in the Christmas story - this book takes it back to the raw truth and meets the reader in their own season of discomfort. Already bought more to give as gifts!

This book takes a very engaging twist to the Advent story but remains focused on the foundation of scripture. the author also leverages his gift of Art not only in words but in the imagery through out. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Beautiful artwork that will make you stop and think. Relatable stories to make you stop and think. Scripture to make you stop and think. I’m thankful to share this book with my family and carve out times to “stop and think” as Advent season begins!

So refreshing to read a book that reiterates in such a refreshing and creative and honest way - what it looks like to interact with the gospel that sometimes can be taken as common when it is holy.

Honest Advent is so meaningfully filled with the truths revealed in a refreshingly compassionate, raw, and awe inspiring way. This is the "living" Advent each of us need reminding of, or to discover for the first time.

This book was just what I needed to bring a fresh perspective on Christmas!!!! I love Scott Ericksons artwork. It is so good and thought provoking. It leaves so much room for prayer and contemplation. You should buy this book!!!!! Even if it's not Christmas time, go get it!!!

The art and words work so beautifully together. I feel challenged during a time of longing. The rawness of focusing on social issues, rather than focusing on consumerism is relevant and refreshing.

I have been following Scott's work for a few years. This book is incredible! It gives imagery in a fresh way to a familiar story... in only a way that Scott could do! This images and the stories behind it will stick with me (and my family) for a long time!

Despite doing advent devotionals for years, this book brings the advent season (& beyond) into a new light. The pictures bring half the meaning to this book. There have been multiple chapters I have tears welled up. Thank you Scott for another great book!

This book truly was a gift my heart needed this season. Scott captures the true essence of what the birth of Jesus is at its core. Through the intersection of art and words a life changing encounter with the Creator awaits.

I have read A LOT of advent books. The incredible art work, along with the thought provoking text made this, hands down, one of the best! Thanks Scott!

Although I haven't yet finished the entire book, I can't wait to this advent season. Scott's words and visuals bring wonder back into advent. I can't wait to share this book with friends and family.

I think I will read this book many times. I love the focus on the humanity of the advent story. Scott has a way of helping me see the gospel in a new light.

Worth every penny, every minute reading.