Strange Places

Recently I’ve spotted my book in some interesting places. This first picture was one I snapped a short time ago in a bathroom. My book is at least in good company there, sandwiched between titles by Sproul and MacArthur. While I won’t identify the owners of this bathroom, those who know me may be able to read the clues in the monogrammed towels and figure it out.

spotted.jpg

This second photo was snapped by a friend (or really the younger brother of an old friend) while traveling in Cambodia. He writes, “I took your book along with me to Cambodia when I went there for an internship. I also took it along with me to Rabbit Island, off the southern coast of Cambodia, by Kep. While reading it, I was struck by just how far this book has traveled….and took a picture, thinking you might enjoy seeing your book in exotic locales.”

spotted2.jpg

If you’ve got my book in a strange place or have spotted it in a strange place, send along a picture!

Comments (16)

1
Anonymous's picture

I had planned on buying your book while at the T4G conference. I saw it during my first time around but when I went back to get it the next day I couldn’t find it. I don’t know if they had sold out their copies or if I just couldn’t find my way inside what must have been the largest bookstore in history. I’ll just have to order it. Then I can send you a picture of your book in the hands of a frenchman!

Thanks for your good work at the conference.

2
Anonymous's picture

I don’t know if they had sold out their copies or if I just couldn’t find my way inside what must have been the largest bookstore in history.

I’m quite sure they sold all of the copies they had brought along. I’ll take that as a good thing!

3
Anonymous's picture

Tim - This reminds me of another ‘hypothetical’ story about meeting some theological bigwigs in a restroom.

4
Anonymous's picture

Well, it’s not Phil Johnson…

Grant Jeffrey? Nah…

Ooh, I know! George Jones! He’s a Calvinist now! (And he changed his middle name too…)

OK….it would really help if we knew…

1. Is that last letter a J or something else? The first two are G and F.

2. Is this the man or woman’s towel? I am guessing the man’s because it looks like it desperately needs to be washed!

5
Anonymous's picture

I once took your book to a very strange place (Canada) hoping to get it signed by an illustrious author who ended up being a faithful husband and father and staying home with his sick daughter instead of gallivanting off to meet other authors at a last-minute, not-so-well-attended book signing.

6
Anonymous's picture

Tim, does Nebraska count as a strange place?

Actually, I also meant to pick up a copy of your book at T4G but didn’t have much time to spend in the bookstore. But it’s on my list of next books to buy - after I process through the stack of freebies I brought home from BoB/T4G.

Re: the towel monogram - isn’t the last name initial usually in the middle? If so that would make this GF (with an unintelligible middle initial). But since I’m not familiar with what kind of people’s bathrooms you hang out in, still have no clue. :-)

7
Anonymous's picture

Sorry Tim, this had to be done.

Seriously though, did you know your book was on the Kindle? Pretty cool.

8
Anonymous's picture

Couldn’t resist having a little fun with this one.

Just inside the perimeter of Area 51

Inside the Space Shuttle cargo bay

Outside a Mongolian Hut

With a tourist in Red Square

Tom

9
Anonymous's picture

Ok, I am used to comment links being below the post. So now I have this in the right place.

Here is my photo of your book, along with some of my favorites.

http://eckertfamily.smugmug.com/gallery/4753844_UVYaj

10
Anonymous's picture

Tim, I don’t have the pleasure of knowing you, but I am very blessed to know the owners of that towel, and have actually seen your book there! Hope your baby is doing better!

11
Anonymous's picture

This will be fun! One of your books made it across the Pacific Ocean to Japan. I’ll have to think of some interesting places to take the picture. Thanks for the great idea!

12
Anonymous's picture

Watch out! Walvoord and Chafer are in the bathroom, too!

13
Anonymous's picture

It’s not an exotic place but it was very interesting! Yesterday I was at Glen Eyrie (The Navigators headquarters) and saw a gentleman reading your book on the patio of the castle. The bright orange cover caught my eye as I was walking past. If I hadn’t been with a group, I’d have sat down and asked what he thought of the book as well!

14
Anonymous's picture

Tim:I think you are asking the wrong question of why your book has shown up in this mystery bathroom… I think a better question would be why you would have a camera in the bathroom in the first place? ;-)

15
Anonymous's picture

Hi Tim,

Here’s a few pictures I’ve called “The Overbooked Collection”.

http://notinvain.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/overbooked-the-discipline-of-spiritual-discernment-by-tim-challies/

It was good to meet you at T4G. Thanks again for helping put together the Canadian meeting.

16
Anonymous's picture

well unlike Tom above, this is a real picture, no photoshop. I live in Tosontsengel, Mongolia and have a signed copy of your book. It’s a little blurry because a herder guy who works for me took the picture, his first.

http://gallery.mac.com/jbhenry/100036