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Wednesday, Mar. 03, 2010

Christian humorist Zacharias has serious message

From the time her father died in the Vietnam War when she was just 9 years old until she was a sophomore in high school, author Karen Zacharias lived in a 12- by 60-foot trailer in Columbus.

Zacharias returns to her native state Friday to sign copies of her most recent book at The Lamb’s Well, a locally-owned Christian bookstore in Warner Robins, from 2 to 5 p.m.

It is no surprise that her book, with the tongue-in-cheek title “Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide? (’Cause I Need More Room for My Plasma TV),” harkens back to her days as a trailer transient.

The book confronts what Zacharias calls the “prosperity gospel” — the notion that God rewards goodness with material riches — and how that notion affects faith when the economy takes turns for the worse.

In her book, she writes, “We treat God like a slot machine, yanking on the prayer cable, hoping that the triple 7’s will appear!”

But God is not humanity’s sugar daddy, Zacharias said.

“To suggest that God’s love is somehow related to material things is to say to God that the blood of Christ is not enough. I need more,” she said.

Through what she calls modern day parables, Zacharias tells stories about how regular, everyday Americans have faith — or lose their faith — in a materialistic world.

Zacharias “writes with humor, but she also writes with a strong foundation of the Scriptures,” said Beth Crumbie, assistant manager and book buyer for The Lamb’s Well.

Zacharias is excited to return to Georgia, especially to the Macon area, where she got her start as a writer. Her first book, “Benched: The Memoirs of Judge Rufe McCombs,” was published by Mercer University Press in 1997.

“Georgia is home to me,” Zacharias said. “It’s in my head. It’s in my heart.”

Zacharias hopes to challenge how people think about God, money and how God’s love manifests itself in life.

“I’m not saying I have all the answers, but I know the one who does,” she said.

For more information about Zacharias and her books, visit her blog at www.karenzach.com.

The Lamb’s Well will host another Christian author Saturday. Novelist K.M. Paradice will discuss and sign copies of his Christian thriller, “The Chronicles of the Sons of None,” from 2 to 4 p.m.

If you go Who: Karen Zacharias What: Signing her new book, “Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide? (‘Cause I Need More Room for My Plasma TV)” When: Friday, 2-5 p.m. Where: The Lamb’s Well, 115 Margie Drive, Warner Robins, (478) 971-2677