Australian author and blogger Jo Hilder writes about faith, cancer, mental illness, addiction, family and marriage in a series of searingly honest and refreshingly funny essays. Includes her cracking diatribe on homosexual marriage equality "Why Christians Are Not The Boss Of Marriage," the story of her husbands alcoholism "Jesus Lives In A Rehab - Who Knew?" and her criticism of franchise Christianity in "Why I Don't Blame You For Thinking The Bible Is Stupid." Nice things people were not paid to say about Jo Hilder: "With haunting and hilarious honesty, Jo Hilder can be as reflective as Henri Nouwen, as bold as Anne Lamott, and as thunderous as fellow Aussies AC/DC. Jo's inspiring faith journey is truly high voltage." Bert Montgomery, writer/teacher/minister Psychic Pancakes & Communion Pizza Elvis, Willie, Jesus & Me "Jo Hilder is a refreshing and authentic writer who draws you into the intimacies of her life. A fantastic read with laugh-out-loud humor scattered throughout, 'God, You Can Take My Mental Illness' is a great collection of personal essays. Jo confronts myth after myth of what the Christian life is supposed to look like. Marriage, mental health and alcoholism are themes she visits often, but it is threaded together with faith, hope and love. This book will provide readers reassurance that God is not looking for perfect lives...just honest ones." Pam Hogeweide, author Unladylike: Resisting the Injustice of Inequality in the Church "The only way I know of to develop a writing voice worth sharing is to become a person who has weathered a great storm well. Jo has weathered more than her share and the result is beautiful. Surviving cancer and marital difficulties has left Jo a witty, gritty, and fearless writer. Reading Jo's work makes me laugh, think, and get angry. She makes me feel, which just might be the greatest gift a writer can share." Larry Shallenberger, pastor and author Divine Intention: How God's Work in the Early Church Empowers Us Today. "Jo's voice is exactly what the Christian world needs right now - unabashed, unashamed, and uninhibited. Jo's work has become essential at Burnside Writer's Collective, where her authentic, relatable voice prods readers to push the envelope of their spiritual experience and break into a new kind of being." Kim Gottschild - Associate Editor, Burnside Writer's Collective Cupcake Countenance Columnist Burnside Writers Collective "Jo Hilder is cantankerous, opinionated, objectionable, tough, courageous, raw, vulnerable, insightful and above all daringly honest. Just the qualities needed in one who confront emperors inside and outside of the Church and point to their nakedness. When other people pretend that the tough issues can be glossed over or treated with simplistic doctrine, Jo points to the fact that there's a complicated elephant in the room that can't be ignored. Never one to blindly follow the crowd or to regurgitate someone else's teaching, Jo's ideas stem from her breadth of life experience, depth of original insights and her courageous capacity to be true to herself and tell it exactly as she sees it. Should I ever act like a naked emperor I'll look to Jo to recommend an honest tailor." Paul Macklin - Director, Amazing People "Before you read this, I want you to know that I think you should like Jo Hilder because she's Australian. Australians are the best, what with their different slang and their summers being in the winter. But I bet that once you start reading, you'll end up liking Jo because her writing is incisive, witty, and, most importantly, very, very honest." Jordan Green, Editor-in-chief Burnside Writers Collective