Catherine Claire, Review: David Gregory, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger

A soon-to-be word-of-mouth phenomenon is hitting bookshelves across America today. David Gregory’s Dinner With a Perfect Stranger is sure to be the buzz in evangelical circles, and perhaps has the grit to go beyond a mere Prayer of Jabez-like faddish following to become one of the more memorable and gutsy works of contemporary Christian literature.

When I first heard the concept behind Dinner with a Perfect Stranger I inwardly oozed skepticism. The simple premise is this: skeptic, Nick Cominsky, receives an embossed dinner invitation to attend dinner with none other than Jesus Christ. Silently scoffing, I imagined another stomach-turning romp into the wilderness of bad Christian fiction. But the thin 100 pages and the audacity of the concept itself lured me to read further. What I found was a pleasant surprise. Every time my cynicism crept in, Nick Cominsky beat me to the punch. And pretty soon, before I knew it, Nick and I both had set aside our doubts to hear what this stranger had to say. Here’s how it worked:

Nick has had enough of schmaltzy Christians trying to “outreach” him. He and his wife Mattie have been invited to spaghetti dinners and golf-scrambles, homemade ice cream socials and bowling leagues. They’ve had enough of corny sermon titles and those Christian bumper stickers. So when the anonymous dinner invitation crosses Nick’s desk at work, he initially thinks it’s just another gimmick from the church down the street. But then, and here’s the part that cracks me up even as it saddens me, he doubts the church would have had the resourcefulness to dig up his work address or the class to invite him to a nice restaurant like Milano’s. Finally, the fact that there’s no church name on the invitation seems a dead give-away to Nick. After all, if he knows anything about these church-folk it is that is they won’t fail to take credit whenever they can. Nick chalks up the dinner invitation to the practical-joking antics of his work cronies and decides to play along. At least it’ll be a free dinner and perhaps an amusing one to see what his friends have cooked up.

It’s here where the doubtful eyes of Nick Cominsky help to diffuse my own disbelief. Once at dinner, Nick wonders at Jesus’ greeting, his dress, what he orders---in other words, all the same things that any of us would be questioning. Figuring this most be an actor his buddies have hired, he decides to see if he can stump him with some questions. Instead of a light-weight or a fraud, Nick finds this Jesus fellow to be genuine, wise, and winsome. His answers are satisfying, his questions provoking, and his knowledge of Nick himself eerie in its thoroughness. Dinner whirs by as Nick and Jesus discuss issues ranging from world religions to questions of heaven and hell, or more personally Nick and Mattie’s relationship or the loss of Nick’s dad.

Aside from the fact that Jesus sounded an awful lot like C.S. Lewis at times, I found myself enjoying David Gregory’s creative foray into re-casting the Gospel story for people of our day. Waterbrook Press has banked big on this book by printing a whopping 100,000 copies for a first-printing. If I were a gambling woman, I’d also place my bets on this book. But instead I’ll place my prayers that it will be the kind of book that David Gregory has written it to be: one that thoughtfully engages unbelievers while sharpening and re-awakening the wonder in those of us who believe.

So if you’re up for a blind date this summer, let me recommend a lovely little Italian place and Dinner with a Perfect Stranger. I’m glad to make the introductions.

© 2005, Catherine Claire.

Comments

[Jo Worthington]

Catherine -

Enjoyed your review of 'Dinner With a Perfect Stranger'.

Have you heard that a movie version has already been made?
It's called 'The Perfect Stranger'.

[Catherine]

I hadn't heard that. Also, a correction from my friend Sandi. When all was said and done, Waterbrook did a first printing of 175,000!

[Catherine]

David Gregory on evangelism and on why/how he wrote the book here: www.billygraham.org/DMag_article.asp?ArticleID=588
I really like the idea he presents on a continuum.

[Greg Deese]

An outstanding peice. Very nicely done and I am sure it will do great.
Greg Deese

[Hannetjie Labuschagne]

Thank you for sharing your experience with Jesus. I ve read the book twice and God is really speaking to me through your book and answered so many questions I had. I ve lost my mother when I was 17 years (now 51) and it never crossed my mind the He was there the day of the motor accident.

"Thank You Jesus"

Hannetjie Labuschagne
SOUTH AFRICA

[Kip Bridges]

I found the book rather arrogant. I am sure you do not have the guts to post this, but to reduce other religions to a couple of sentences lowers the relevenace of God in the lives of millions of people World wide.

[Lou Viggiano]

Hi Cathrine, just wanted to let you know that I read the book and his others and I just loved them... Thye were thought provoking and amusing in a great way. The book had such an amazing effect on me and my wife that we bought 15 copies to hand out over Christmas to family and friends.... and with the assistance of the book we brought a lonely soul to Christ.... and she is forever grateful... I hope this book can work miracles for other and more I just hope that it can bring more to Christ everyday.....God Bless.. and I truly enjoy your review...